Gate opening / closing device for compactor container

Abstract

To improve the efficiency of maintenance work in a gate opening / closing device for a compactor container by temporarily and securely holding a gate plate at a predetermined intermediate opening angle by a lowering limit regulating device during maintenance of a gate support frame or a gate plate.SOLUTION: The gate opening and closing device for a compactor container Ct has an entrance 10i that is opened and closed by a gate plate 22, and a gate support frame 21 that supports the gate plate 22 so that it can slide up and down at one end, and is provided with a descent limit control device ST that can constantly control the gate plate 22 from descending below a height of a predetermined intermediate opening degree.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 30

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gate opening and closing device for a container for a compactor, which has a container body having an entrance that is opened and closed by a gate plate, and a gate support frame disposed at one end of the container body and supporting the gate plate so that the gate plate can slide up and down, and when waste is pushed into the container body from the compactor through the entrance, the gate plate is raised and lowered by a gate lifting device to open and close the entrance. [Background technology]

[0002] The above-mentioned container for compactor is conventionally known, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the gate opening and closing device for the container in Patent Document 1, a fork 25 that can be inserted into and removed from an insertion hole 28 provided in the upper part of the lid body 19 (gate plate) is fixed to the lifting cylinder of the gate lifting device, and the fork 25 is inserted into the insertion hole 28 as the container approaches the compactor, thereby interlocking the gate plate with the gate lifting device, so that the gate plate can be driven to move up and down. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 58-23284 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the compactor container of Patent Document 1, when maintenance work is performed on the opening / closing door 15 (gate support frame) or the lid body 19 (gate plate), the lid body 19 is raised by a gate lifting device relative to the opening / closing door 15 to keep the lid body 19 in an open state. In this case, when the maintenance work is performed for the purpose of cleaning and removing dust and the like that has accumulated on the lower end of the opening / closing door 15 (gate support frame) or the lid body 19 (gate plate) and its surrounding areas, if the lid body 19 (gate plate) is kept in a fully open state, the lid body 19 will be opened more widely (i.e., raised higher) than necessary, which will cause a decrease in work efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, it is conceivable to keep the lid body 19 (gate plate) open at a predetermined intermediate opening degree during the above-mentioned maintenance work. However, even in this case, if the lid body 19 (gate plate) falls below the intermediate opening degree due to, for example, a malfunction of the gate lifting device (lifting cylinder), there is a risk that this will interfere with the maintenance work.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a gate opening and closing device for a compactor container that can solve the above problems of conventional devices with a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a container body having an entrance at one end which is opened and closed by a gate plate, and a gate support frame disposed at one end of the container body and supporting the gate plate so that the gate plate can slide up and down, and when waste is pushed into the container body from a compactor through the entrance, the gate opening and closing device for a compactor container is configured to raise and lower the gate plate using a gate lifting device to open and close the entrance.The first feature of this gate opening and closing device is that it is provided with a descent limit regulating device that can constantly regulate the gate plate from descending below a height of a predetermined intermediate opening.

[0008] In addition to the first feature, the present invention has a second feature in that a pair of left and right support grooves are provided on the left and right side frame portions of the gate support frame in which the left and right portions of the gate plate are fitted and supported so as to guide the left and right portions so as to be slidable up and down, and the descent limit regulating device has a stopper member that is supported by the gate support frame, protrudes into the support grooves, and is capable of selectively taking a stopper operating state in which the gate plate can be engaged with the gate plate to regulate the gate plate from descending below the height of the intermediate opening, and a stopper released state in which the stopper member retracts from the support groove and allows the gate plate to descend below the height of the intermediate opening.

[0009] In addition to the second feature, the present invention has a third feature in that the stopper members are formed of stopper pins removably inserted from outside into the left and right side frame portions of the gate support frame.

[0010] In addition to the second feature, the present invention has a fourth feature in that the stopper member is composed of a stopper plate that is removably inserted into the left and right side frame portions of the gate support frame from their outer sides, the stopper plate is slidably supported in a plurality of slits provided in the side frame portions and is movable within the side frame portions between a first insertion position in which the stopper is released and a second insertion position in which the stopper is activated, and at least some of the slits have a recess into which a portion of the stopper plate is recessed so that the stopper plate is lower when it is in the second insertion position than when it is in the first insertion position, and the recess makes it possible to suppress movement of the stopper plate from the second insertion position to the first insertion position.

[0011] In addition to the second feature, the present invention has a fifth feature in that a first retaining mechanism is provided between the gate support frame and the stopper member, which retains the stopper member in the stopper activated state to the side frame portion.

[0012] In addition to the second feature, the present invention has a sixth feature in that a second retaining mechanism is provided between an outer surface of the container or an outer surface of the gate support frame and the stopper member, for removably retaining the stopper member in the stopper released state.

[0013] In addition to the second feature, the present invention has a seventh feature in that the lowering limit regulating device is configured so that the height of the lowering limit of the gate plate regulated thereby can be selectively set from a plurality of lowering limits having different heights, and the predetermined intermediate opening degree can be selected from a plurality of different intermediate opening degrees set in advance. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the first feature of the present invention, since the gate plate is provided with a descent limit regulating device capable of restricting the gate plate from descending below the height of the predetermined intermediate opening degree at any time, the descent limit regulating device can temporarily and reliably hold the gate plate at the predetermined intermediate opening degree during maintenance work of the gate support frame or gate plate, and therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the gate plate from descending below the predetermined intermediate opening degree during the maintenance work. Furthermore, even if the gate plate is held at the intermediate opening degree in this way, it does not become a factor in reducing work efficiency when the main purpose of the maintenance work is to clean and remove dust and the like that has accumulated and adhered to the lower end and surrounding areas of the gate support frame and gate plate, and rather, by keeping the gate plate at the intermediate opening degree, it can contribute to improving work efficiency as a whole.

[0015] According to the second feature, a pair of left and right support grooves are provided on the left and right side frame portions of the gate support frame in which the left and right portions of the gate plate are fitted and supported so as to guide the left and right portions so as to slide up and down, and the descent limit regulating device has a stopper member that is supported by the gate support frame and protrudes into the support grooves and can selectively take a stopper operating state in which the gate plate can be engaged to regulate the gate plate from descending below the height of the intermediate opening degree, and a stopper released state in which the stopper member retracts from the support groove and allows the gate plate to descend below the height of the intermediate opening degree. Therefore, by having the stopper member protrude into the support groove and placing it in the stopper operating state, the descent of the gate plate to maintain the intermediate opening degree can be accurately and easily regulated.

[0016] According to the third feature, the stopper members are composed of stopper pins which are removably inserted from the outside into the left and right side frame portions of the gate support frame. Therefore, by inserting and removing the stopper pin from the outside into and from the gate support frame, the stopper pin as a stopper member can be easily placed in the stopper operating state, which contributes to further improvement of work efficiency.

[0017] According to a fourth feature, the stopper member is composed of a stopper plate that is inserted and removably attached to the left and right side frame portions of the gate support frame from the outside thereof, so that the stopper member can be easily manufactured from an easily manufactured plate material. Moreover, the stopper plate is slidably supported in a plurality of slits provided in the side frame portions and can move within the side frame portions between a first insertion position in which the stopper is released and a second insertion position in which the stopper is activated, and at least some of the slits have recesses into which parts of the stopper plate are recessed so that the stopper plate is lower when in the second insertion position than when in the first insertion position, and the recesses can suppress the movement of the stopper plate from the second insertion position to the first insertion position, so that even if the stopper member is made of a plate material, it can be easily held in the stopper activated state (second insertion position) with a simple structure that utilizes the recesses of the slits (hence gravity).

[0018] According to the fifth feature, a first retaining mechanism is provided between the gate support frame and the stopper member, which retains the stopper member in the stopper activated state on the side frame portion of the gate support frame. Therefore, when the stopper member is in the stopper activated state, it is retained on the side frame portion by the first retaining mechanism, and therefore the stopper activated state can be reliably maintained.

[0019] According to the sixth feature, a second holding mechanism is provided between the outer surface of the container and the stopper member, which removably holds the stopper member in the stopper-released state on the outer surface of the container. Therefore, when the stopper member is not in use, it can be held and stored on the outer surface of the container via the second holding mechanism. Therefore, not only is there no need to worry about losing the stopper member in the stopper-released state, but the next time it is used, the stopper member can be quickly removed from the second holding mechanism and used, which contributes to improved work efficiency.

[0020] According to the seventh feature, the descent limit regulating device is configured so that the height of the descent limit of the gate plate regulated thereby can be selectively set from a plurality of descent limits having different heights, and the predetermined intermediate opening degree can be selected from a plurality of different intermediate opening degrees set in advance, so that the predetermined intermediate opening degree can be adjusted to an optimum opening degree depending on the content of the maintenance work. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a waste pushing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, particularly showing a state in which a container is in an initial position during a forward movement process. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an overall side view of the waste pushing system, particularly showing a state in which the container is in the approach position A1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a side view of the waste pushing system, particularly showing a state in which a container is in a pushing position A2. [Figure 4] Enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 1 taken along the arrow 4X. [Diagram 5] Enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 2 taken along the arrow 5X. [Figure 6] A diagram corresponding to Figure 5 showing the gate plate raised to the upper limit position when the container is stopped at the approach position. [Figure 7] An enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 3 taken along the arrow 7X. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the waste pushing system, particularly showing the state in which the container is returned to the return position A1′ during the return process. [Figure 9] 9X-9X cross section of Figure 5 [Figure 10] 10X-10X cross section of Figure 7 [Figure 11] 11X-11X sectional view of Fig. 10 [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the main parts of the waste pushing system (particularly the container and the gate lifting device) with the container body cut away. [Figure 13] Plan view showing the container support stand and its accessories [Figure 14] 14X-14X sectional view of Fig. 13 [Figure 15] A front view seen from the direction of the arrow 15X in Figure 13. [Figure 16] 16A and 16B are front views as seen from the direction of the arrow 16X in FIG. 13, in which (a) shows a state in which the stopper member 52 of the lock mechanism 50 is in a stopper position 52X, and (b) shows a state in which the stopper member 52 is in a standby position 52Y. [Figure 17] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a waste pushing system according to a second embodiment (corresponding to FIG. 4); [Figure 18] 18 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system, showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container driving device is extended to its extension limit and the locking hook is swung upward to a locking position from the state shown in FIG. 17 (corresponding to FIG. 17). [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system, showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container drive device is contracted to an intermediate contraction position from the state shown in FIG. 18 to draw the container to the approach position A2 (corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 18). [Figure 20]FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container drive device is contracted to its contraction limit from the state shown in FIG. 19 to pull the container to the pushing position A3 (corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 19). [Figure 21] 21X-21X sectional view of Figure 20 [Figure 22] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the waste pushing system, showing a state in which the hydraulic cylinder of the container drive device is extended to its extension limit from the state shown in FIG. 20 to push the container back to the return position A1′ during the return movement process (corresponding to FIG. 8 and FIG. 20). [Figure 23] FIG. 1A is a side view showing a simplified state change of an operating mode of a fail-safe stopper mechanism according to an embodiment in accordance with a container position; FIG. 1B is a side view showing a simplified state change of the operating mode of a fail-safe stopper mechanism according to a modified example; [Figure 24] A front view of the main part of the locking device L in a locked state with the gate plate locked in the closed position, seen from the compactor side. [Diagram 25] 25A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact portion and its periphery (cross-sectional view taken along line 25AX-25AX in FIG. 24), and FIG. 25B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement portion and its periphery (cross-sectional view taken along line 25BX-25BX in FIG. 24). [Figure 26] 25(A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact portion and its periphery (corresponding to FIG. 25(A)), and FIG. 25(B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement portion and its periphery (corresponding to FIG. 25(B)). [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 27X-27X in FIG. 24) showing a connection portion and its surroundings in the locking device L, in which the locked state is shown by solid lines and the unlocked state is shown by dashed lines. [Figure 28] Enlarged cross-sectional view of the 28X arrow in Figure 4 [Figure 29]FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion showing the engagement structure between the lower end surface of a gate plate and the upper surface of the lower frame portion of the gate support frame, where (a) shows the engagement structure of the first embodiment, and (b) to (d) show the engagement structures of the first to third modified examples, respectively. [Diagram 30] Enlarged rear view of the lower right half of the container [Diagram 31] 31A is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the main parts of a lowering limit control device provided on the right frame portion of the gate support frame, where (A) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the stopper pin in the stopper activation state cannot be removed from the right frame portion by the first retaining mechanism (enlarged cross-sectional view of line 31AX-31AX in FIG. 30), and (B) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 31A showing a state in which the same stopper pin can be inserted and removed from the right frame portion. [Diagram 32] 31, (A) is a view seen from the arrow 32AX in FIG. 31, and (B) is a view seen from the arrow 32BX in FIG. [Diagram 33] 33A is a cross-sectional view (enlarged cross-sectional view along line 33AX-33AX in FIG. 4) of a main part showing a state in which a stopper pin in a stopper release state is held by the second holding mechanism so as not to be able to slip out from the side of the container, and FIG. 33B is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 33A showing a state in which the same stopper pin can be inserted and removed from the holding frame of the second holding mechanism. [Diagram 34] FIG. 30 is a rear view showing an enlarged view of a main part of the right lower half of a container to which a modified version of the descent limit regulating device is applied. [Diagram 35] 34A and 34B are horizontal cross-sectional views showing the main part of a modified example of a lowering limit regulating device ST in the right frame part of a gate support frame, in which (A) shows a state before the stopper plate is inserted into the right frame part, (B) shows a state after the stopper plate has been inserted into the right frame part to a first insertion position, and (C) shows a state after the stopper plate has been inserted into the right frame part to a second insertion position (enlarged cross-sectional view of line 35CX-35CX in FIG. 34). [Diagram 36] 35(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 36AX-36AX in FIG. 35(A), (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 36BX-36BX in FIG. 35(B), and (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 36CX-36CX in FIG. 35(C). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] First, Fig. 1 to Fig. 16 show a first embodiment of a compactor-container according to the present invention, that is, a system for pushing waste into a container Ct by a compactor Cp. The main parts of the system will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system includes a container Ct that can move in the forward and backward directions on a support base B installed on the ground, a compactor Cp that can push waste into the container Ct through an entrance 10i at the rear end of the container Ct when the container Ct is at a pushing position A3 (see Figs. 3 and 7) on the support base B, a container drive device D1 that can reciprocate the container Ct in the forward and backward directions from a predetermined initial position A1 (see Figs. 1 and 4) away from the compactor Cp to a predetermined return position A1' via the pushing position A3, a gate lifting device Dg that is disposed between the container Ct and the compactor Cp and drives the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 that can open and close the entrance 10i to move up and down, and a fail-safe stopper mechanism 50 that restricts the movement of the container Ct so that it does not go beyond a predetermined position.

[0024] The system further includes a control panel U having a built-in control device Uc for controlling the operation of the compactor Cp, the container drive device D1, the gate lifting device Dg, the stopper mechanism 50, etc., and the control panel U is installed in an appropriate location that does not interfere with other equipment. The support base B is formed in a ladder shape in a plan view by framing a plurality of vertical frames, horizontal frames, and support frames together.

[0025] In this specification, the term "front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the container Ct when it is pushed by the compactor Cp, and in particular the front direction corresponds to the pushing direction of the compactor Cp. The term "left-right direction" refers to the left-right direction of the container Ct when it is pushed by the compactor Cp, and corresponds to the width direction of the container Ct and the gate plate 22.

[0026] The compactor Cp comprises a hollow body 1 which is open at the front end and long in the front-to-rear direction, a hopper 2 which is connected to the upper wall near the front of the body 1 and can supply input waste into the body 1, a piston 3 which is slidably arranged on the inner periphery of the body 1 to push forward the waste supplied into the body 1 through the hopper 2, and a piston drive device 4 (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder) which drives the piston 3 back and forth.

[0027] The trunk 1 has at its front end a square-shaped outlet tube 1o that is slightly smaller in diameter than the main body of the trunk 1 and has an upper wall 1ot that is inclined downward toward the front, and the front end opening of the outlet tube 1o functions as an outlet, i.e., an extrusion port, for the waste pushed out by the piston 3. The trunk 1 is installed and fixed on a number of bases 5 that are fixed on the ground.

[0028] In the embodiment, a partition gate 6 is disposed in the body 1 behind the outlet tube 1o and in front of the hopper 2, which divides the inside of the body 1 in front of the piston 3 into front and rear. The partition gate 6 can be raised and lowered between a lower limit position where it blocks the middle of the body 1 and an upper limit position where it opens it, and is driven to be raised and lowered by a lifting drive device 7. By advancing the piston 3 to just before the partition gate 6 while the partition gate 6 is in the lower limit position, the waste can be pre-compressed in the body 1 before being pushed into the container Ct, and by raising and opening the partition gate 6 after the pre-compression, the pre-compressed waste can be pushed into the container Ct by the compactor Cp.

[0029] Incidentally, since the partition gate 6 and the lifting drive device 7 are well known, a detailed description of their structures will be omitted.

[0030] Furthermore, the partition gate 6 and the lifting drive device 7 may be omitted if necessary.

[0031] When the compactor Cp is operated with the outlet tube 1o inserted and connected to the inlet 10i at the rear end of the container Ct (i.e., with the container Ct in the pushing position A3 shown in Figure 3), waste can be pushed from the compactor Cp into the container Ct through the outlet tube 1o and the inlet 10i.

[0032] A support base B that is long in the front-rear direction is fixed to the ground in front of the compactor Cp, and a pair of left and right guide rails Br that are L-shaped in cross section and extend in the front-rear direction are fixed to the upper surface of the support base B. Correspondingly, wheel receiving frames 15 are fixed (for example, welded) to the bottom of the container Ct at intervals in the front-rear and left-right directions, and four wheels 14 are rotatably supported on each wheel receiving frame 15. Therefore, the container Ct can roll in the front-rear direction on the left and right guide rails Br via the left and right wheels 14.

[0033] A container Ct that can be transported by a conventionally known container transport vehicle (not shown) can be loaded and unloaded from this guide rail Br. The container transport vehicle is equipped with a loading and unloading device (e.g., a hook arm, etc.) to which the container Ct can be attached and detached and which enables the above-mentioned loading and unloading operations. The loading and unloading device can be engaged with and disengaged from a lift bar 19 fixed to the front wall of the container Ct, and when engaged, the container Ct can be lowered from the container transport vehicle onto the guide rail Br by a conventionally known method and can be forcibly moved in the front-rear direction along the rail Br to a predetermined initial position A1 (see Figures 1, 4, etc.).

[0034] The fact that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1 on the guide rail Br is detected by an initial position sensor provided on the support base B or a predetermined portion on the ground. In this embodiment, a photoelectric sensor 8 (shown only in Figs. 9 and 10) consisting of a light emitting portion 8a and a light receiving portion 8b facing each other across the moving path of the container Ct is used as the initial position sensor. The fact that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1 is detected by the photoelectric sensor 8 detecting a specific portion of the container Ct, for example, the rear end portion (i.e., the light receiving portion 8b is blocked by the specific portion of the container Ct). A notification means (for example, a notification lamp, a buzzer, etc.) that notifies the detection allows a worker to recognize that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1, and stops the work of lowering the container Ct from the container carrier onto the guide rail Br, whereby the container Ct is placed at the initial position A1.

[0035] Incidentally, the fact that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1 may be detected by a sensor other than the photoelectric sensor 8 (for example, a proximity sensor disposed between the bottom of the container Ct and the support base B).

[0036] The container Ct has, as its main parts, a box-shaped container body 10 having a bottom wall 11 that is rectangular in plan view, with at least most of its upper surface being horizontal and flat, side walls 12 (i.e., left and right side walls and a front wall) that stand vertically from at least three sides of the bottom wall 11 (in this embodiment, the left and right side sides and the front side), and a ceiling wall 13 that is connected to the upper ends of the side walls 12 and faces the upper surface of the bottom wall 11, sandwiching the container space therebetween.

[0037] A first hinge bracket b1 is fixed to the rear end of the ceiling wall 13 of the container body 10, and a support arm 21a extending integrally from an upper portion (more specifically, an upper portion of the gate support frame 21) of a tailgate 20 serving as an opening / closing door for opening and closing an entrance 10i at the rear end of the container body 10 is pivotally connected to this, so that the tailgate 20 can swing to be opened and closed in the front-rear direction about the pivotal connection portion relative to the container body 10. In addition, a pair of left and right reinforcing vertical frames 18 (e.g., I-shaped frames) each extending in the front-rear direction are fixed (e.g., welded) to the underside of the bottom wall 11 at a distance from each other on the left and right.

[0038] A conventionally known locking mechanism (not shown) that locks the tailgate 20 in a closed position relative to the entrance 10i (in other words, a state in which the gate support frame 21 is in close contact with the rear end of the container body 10) is interposed between the gate support frame 21 and the container body 10. When the container Ct is dumped with its front raised by a container transport vehicle with this locking mechanism unlocked, the entire tailgate 20 opens and rotates under its own weight, allowing the waste contained in the container Ct to be discharged.

[0039] Between the tailgate 20 and the container body 10, a sealing member (not shown) for sealing the gap is disposed as is well known in the art.

[0040] In the embodiment, the entrance 10i of the container Ct is shown opening at the rear end of the container body 10, but the opening position of the entrance 10i is not limited to the rear end of the container body 10, and the entrance 10i may be opened, for example, in one of the side walls of the container body 10, either the front, rear, left or right.

[0041] The tailgate 20 includes a rectangular gate support frame 21 having an opening 21o corresponding to the entrance 10i of the container Ct, and a rectangular flat gate plate 22 slidably supported by the gate support frame 21 to open and close the opening 21o. The left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22 are fitted and supported in vertical support grooves 21sg provided on the opposing surfaces of the left and right side frame parts 21s of the gate support frame 21 so as to be vertically slidable, and the gate plate 22 can be raised and lowered by the vertical sliding to a lower limit position, i.e., a closed position 22Z (see FIG. 9), which closes the opening 21o (and therefore the entrance 10i), and an upper limit position, i.e., an open position (see FIG. 10), which opens the opening 21o. The upper frame part 21u of the gate support frame 21 is formed with a slit 21ua (see FIG. 6), into which the gate plate 22 is inserted so as to be vertically slidable and removable. Although not shown, reinforcing ribs extending lengthwise and widthwise are fixed to the front and rear side surfaces of the gate plate 22.

[0042] The gate support frame 21 also comprises the left and right frame portions 21s, each extending in the vertical direction, the upper frame portion 21u, extending in the left-right direction to integrally connect the upper ends of the left and right frame portions 21s, and the lower frame portion 21d, extending in the left-right direction to integrally connect the lower ends of the left and right frame portions 21s, and at least the left and right frame portions 21s and the lower frame portion 21d are constructed of hollow rigid frames.

[0043] 28 and 29(a), the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d has a mountain-shaped slope portion 100 in which a front-rising slope surface 101 and a rear-rising slope surface 102 are connected to each other at their respective upper edge portions e and form a mountain shape in a side view. Thus, due to the downward guidance effect of these slope surfaces 101, 102 (mountain-shaped slope portion 100), waste such as dust is easily guided and discharged below the slope surfaces 101, 102 (i.e., outside the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d), and is less likely to accumulate on the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d.

[0044] For example, even if the lower end surface of gate plate 22 presses against dust and other particles remaining on the upper surface of lower frame portion 21d when it is lowered, the dust and other particles are smoothly guided and discharged downward along inclined surfaces 101, 102, thereby effectively preventing dust and other particles from firmly adhering to and accumulating on the upper surface of lower frame portion 21d. This not only facilitates the maintenance work of cleaning and removing the dust and other particles, but also reduces the frequency of maintenance, thereby contributing to improved work efficiency.

[0045] In the first embodiment, as is clear from Figures 28 and 29(a), the front-rising inclined surface 101 is formed relatively short in the front-to-rear direction (and therefore also in the up-down direction), and the rear-rising inclined surface 102 is formed relatively long in the front-to-rear direction (and therefore also in the up-down direction). However, the relationship in length between the two inclined surfaces 101, 102 in the front-to-rear direction may be set inversely to that in the embodiment, or the two inclined surfaces 101, 102 may be formed to have approximately the same length in the front-to-rear direction (and therefore also in the up-down direction).

[0046] 28 and 29(a), the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 is constituted by the lower surface of a V-shaped frame 22v that extends in the left-right direction of the container body 10 and has a uniform inverted V-shaped cross section, and the upper surface side of the V-shaped frame 22v is fixed (for example, by butt welding) to the plate body lower end 22d of the gate plate 22. Moreover, both left and right ends of this V-shaped frame 22v extend into the aforementioned support grooves 21sg provided on the opposing inner surfaces of the left and right frame parts 21s of the gate support frame 21, and are fitted into and supported in a vertically slidable manner.

[0047] Thus, the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 (i.e., the lower surface of the V-shaped frame 22v) is formed into a concave surface 200 that functions as an engagement surface that can engage with the front-upward inclined surface 101 and the rear-upward inclined surface 102 on the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d, or the upper edge portions e of those inclined surfaces 101, 102. By engaging the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 (i.e., the concave surface 200) with the mountain-shaped inclined surface portion 100 on the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d in this manner, it is possible to suppress back and forth rattling of the lower portion of the gate plate 22 in the fully closed position (i.e., the lowermost closed position 22Z).

[0048] 29, the concave surface 200 is formed by the inner surface of an inverted V-shaped groove V in a side view, in which a first inner surface 201 inclined upward toward the front in response to the upward-facing inclined surface 101 and a second inner surface 202 inclined upward toward the rear in response to the upward-facing inclined surface 102 are continuous at the upper ends of both the inner surfaces 201, 202. As a result, by appropriately combining and setting the shape of the concave surface 200 (the inner surface of the groove V) with the shape of the upper surface of the mountain-shaped inclined surface portion 100 of the lower frame portion 21d, the aforementioned effect of suppressing rattling in the front-rear direction can be easily adjusted.

[0049] 28 and 29(a), the lower included angle α formed by the front upward inclined surface 101 and the rear upward inclined surface 102 on the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d of the gate support frame 21 is set to be smaller than the lower included angle β formed by the first inner side surface 201 and the second inner side surface 202 of the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 (i.e., the inner surface of the recessed groove V described above) (in other words, the gradient of each of the inclined surfaces 101, 102 is steeper than the gradient of the first and second inner sides 201, 202). As a result, when the gate plate 22 is in the fully closed position (i.e., the lowest closed position 22Z), the apex of the mountain-shaped upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d and the apex of the inner surface of the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 (i.e., the recessed groove V forming an inverted V-shape) can be directly engaged (i.e., in line contact), and rattling in the front-rear direction of the lower part of the gate plate 22 can be effectively suppressed.

[0050] Incidentally, the engagement structure between the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d of the gate support frame 21 and the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 is not limited to the embodiment shown in Fig. 28 and Fig. 29(a), and various variations are possible. For example, in a first modified example shown in Fig. 29(b), the lower included angle α' formed by the front-upward inclined surface 101 and the rear-upward inclined surface 102 on the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d of the gate support frame 21 is set to be larger than the lower included angle β' formed by the first inner side surface 201 and the second inner side surface 201 of the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 (the inner surface of the recessed groove V) (in other words, the gradient of each of the inclined surfaces 101, 102 is set to be gentler than the gradients of the first and second inner sides 201, 202).

[0051] 29(b), when the gate plate 22 is in the fully closed position, the front and rear upward inclined surfaces 101, 102 of the mountain-shaped upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d can be directly engaged (i.e., in line contact at two points, front and rear) with the lower edge portions 201e, 202e of the first and second inner sides 201, 202 of the lower end surface of the gate plate 22, making it possible to more effectively suppress back and forth rattling of the lower portion of the gate plate 22. Moreover, by making line contact at two points, front and rear, as described above, the weight of the gate plate 22 can be distributed and received by these line contact portions, thereby reducing the load burden at each line contact portion and contributing to improved durability.

[0052] 29(c), the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d of the gate support frame 21 is configured with a front-upward inclined surface 101', and the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 is formed with a front-upward inclined surface 200' corresponding to the front-upward inclined surface 101'. This front-upward inclined surface 200' functions as an engagement surface for the front-upward inclined surface 101' on the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d, and engages with the front-upward inclined surface 101' or the upper edge e of the inclined surface 101' depending on the magnitude relationship of the gradients between the front-upward inclined surface 200' and the front-upward inclined surface 101'.

[0053] Thus, in this second modified example as well, the upper surface of lower frame portion 21d has inclined surface 101' that rises toward the front, which makes it easier for dust and the like to be smoothly guided and discharged downward to inclined surface 101', effectively preventing dust and the like from accumulating and adhering to the upper surface of lower frame portion 21d. This not only facilitates the maintenance work of cleaning and removing the dust and the like, but also reduces the frequency of maintenance, thereby contributing to improved work efficiency.

[0054] Furthermore, in a third modified example shown in Figure 29 (d), the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d of the gate support frame 21 is composed of a rear-upward inclined surface 102', and the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 is formed into a rear-upward inclined surface 200'' corresponding to the rear-upward inclined surface 102'. This rear-upward inclined surface 200'' functions as an engagement surface for the rear-upward inclined surface 102' on the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d, and engages with the rear-upward inclined surface 102' or the upper edge e of that inclined surface 102' depending on the magnitude relationship of the gradient between this rear-upward inclined surface 200'' and the rear-upward inclined surface 102'.

[0055] Thus, in this second modified example as well, the upper surface of lower frame portion 21d has rearward-rising inclined surface 102', which makes it easier for dust and the like to be smoothly guided and discharged downward along inclined surface 102', effectively preventing dust and the like from accumulating and adhering to the upper surface of lower frame portion 21d. This not only facilitates the maintenance work of cleaning and removing the dust and the like, but also reduces the frequency of maintenance, thereby contributing to improved work efficiency.

[0056] Meanwhile, a long and narrow support groove 22g extending in the vertical direction is provided on the side end surfaces of the left and right parts 22s of the gate plate 22. A tip of a hinge pin 21p is fitted and held in this support groove 22g so as to be vertically slidable and relatively rotatable, and a base of this hinge pin 21p is protruded inward in the horizontal direction from a second hinge bracket b2 erected on the upper surface of the upper frame part 21u of the gate support frame 21.

[0057] Next, a specific example of the container drive device D1 capable of driving the container Ct to approach or move away from the compactor Cp will be described. In the first embodiment, the container drive device D1 includes a rod-shaped engaged portion 10k fixed to the bottom of the container Ct and extending in the left-right direction, a pair of first and second engaging claws t1 and t2 on the left and right as engaging members engageable with and disengaged from the engaged portion 10k, a pair of endless chains 41 on the left and right to which the first and second engaging claws t1 and t2 are respectively fixed, a pair of front and rear sprockets 42 and 43 on the left and right that are rotatably supported on the support base B so as to wind the chains 41 around them, a motor 44 that rotates and drives one of the front and rear sprockets 42 via an interlocking mechanism (a separate chain transmission mechanism in the embodiment), and a sensor 45 that can detect, in cooperation with the control device Uc, that the container Ct is in a predetermined position (i.e., the initial position A1, the intermediate approach position A2, the push-in position A3, or the return position A1') based on the amount of rotation of the motor 44.

[0058] The engaged portion 10k has both ends fixed (for example, welded) to the left and right vertical frames 18, 18 of the bottom of the container Ct, respectively.

[0059] The left and right chains 41, 41 are connected to each other at the locations where the first and second locking claws t1, t2 are fixed via a crossbar 47 for locking claw synchronization. In addition, the control device Uc is configured to be able to control the operation of the motor 44 based on the detection results of the sensor 45 (e.g., the amount of motor rotation).

[0060] The first and second locking claws t1, t2 in the embodiment are fixed to the chain 41 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. When the container Ct is driven forward from the initial position A1 toward the push-in position A3 (i.e., leftward in Figs. 1 to 3), the chain 41 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in Fig. 14. At this time, the first locking claw t1 engages with the engaged portion 10k, so that the container Ct is pulled toward the compactor Cp.

[0061] On the other hand, when the container Ct is driven in the return direction from the push-in position A3 toward the return position A1' (i.e., to the right in Figs. 1 to 3), the chain 41 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in Fig. 14. At this time, the second locking claw t2 engages with the engaged portion 10k, so that the container Ct is pulled out to the opposite side to the compactor Cp.

[0062] Moreover, the sensor 45 in the embodiment is a sensor capable of measuring the rotation state including the amount of rotation of the motor 44. When a container Ct unloaded from a container transport vehicle is carried into the initial position A1 or carried out from the return position A1' to the outside, the first and second locking claws t1, t2 are waiting in the waiting position (see solid line in FIG. 14) away from the engaged portion 10k, so that the two locking claws t1, t2 do not hinder the carrying in and carrying out of the container Ct.

[0063] Next, when the container Ct reaches the initial position A1 and stops, the motor 44 is started by an operator's operation input to the control panel U, etc., and the chain 41 is rotated counterclockwise. When the first locking claw t1 engages with the engaged portion 10k (see the chain line in FIG. 14) in accordance with the rotation of the chain 41, the control device Uc detects the engagement by a sudden increase in the load current of the motor 44, and the amount of motor rotation from the time of detection (engagement) is measured by the rotation sensor 45 and output to the control device Uc.

[0064] In this case, the control device Uc temporarily stops the movement of the container Ct when it determines based on the amount of motor rotation that the container Ct has reached the predetermined approach position A2 and push-in position A3, respectively.

[0065] In the embodiment, as a method for detecting the engagement of the first locking claw t1 with the engaged portion 10k, the control device Uc detects the engagement from a sudden change in the load current of the motor 44 that accompanies the engagement, but the detection method is not limited to the embodiment, and other sensors (for example, a proximity sensor interposed between the container Ct and the support base B, or an optical sensor such as a photoelectric sensor) may also be used.

[0066] The approach position A2 (see Figs. 2, 5, and 6) is an intermediate work position where the container Ct is temporarily stopped in order to raise (open) or lower (close) the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20, and at this position, the rear end of the container Ct and the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp face each other and are close to each other in the front-rear direction. The push-in position A3 (see Figs. 3 and 7) is a push-in work position of the container Ct to receive the waste pushing action from the compactor Cp, and at this push-in position A3, not only the tailgate 20 of the container Ct but also the rear end of the container body 10 are arranged to overlap with the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp (more specifically, the outlet tube 1o) in the front-rear direction.

[0067] In the embodiment, in the process in which the container Ct is driven by the container driving device D1 to move back and forth from the initial position A1 through the pushing-in position A3 to the return position A1', a stopper mechanism 50 capable of restricting the movement of the container Ct so that the container Ct does not go beyond a predetermined position (in the embodiment, the pushing-in position A3 and the return position A1') is arranged independently of the container driving device D1.

[0068] As is clear from Figures 13, 16 and 23(a), this stopper mechanism 50 includes a pair of front and rear engaged parts 51f, 51r protruding from the bottom of the container Ct at a distance in the front-to-rear direction, a single stopper member 52 journalled 52p to a fixed plate Bt on the support base B so as to be able to selectively move (rotate) between a stopper position 52X where it can engage with the engaged parts 51f, 51r and a standby position 52Y where it cannot engage with them, and an actuator 58 (e.g. a hydraulic cylinder) which is operated and controlled by the control device Uc to drive the stopper member 52 to rotate between the stopper position 52X and the standby position 52Y.

[0069] The actuator 58 is rotatably pivotally connected 58p to the fixed plate Bt via a bracket 59. Each of the engaged portions 51f, 51r extends in a rod shape in the left-right direction, and both ends of each are fixed (for example, welded) to the left and right vertical frames 18, 18 of the bottom of the container Ct, respectively.

[0070] Incidentally, the stopper member 52 in this embodiment is divided into two stopper member halves 52a, 52b that are the same in the front-to-rear direction, and both halves 52a, 52b can rotate by the same amount in the same rotation direction via a synchronizing link mechanism 54. Incidentally, the stopper member 52 may be formed of an integral member (for example, only one stopper half 52b) instead of being divided as described above, in which case the other stopper half 52a and the synchronizing link mechanism 54 can be omitted.

[0071] Thus, when the container Ct is carried into the initial position A1 or carried out from the return position A1' by the container transport vehicle, the stopper member 52 is held at the standby position 52Y, so that it does not interfere with the carrying in and carrying out of the container Ct. Also, in the forward process in which the container Ct leaves the initial position A1 and moves toward the push-in position A3, the stopper member 52 is held at the stopper position 52X, and in this state, the stopper member 53 engages with the front engaged portion 51f, so that the forward movement of the container Ct is restricted so that it does not pass the push-in position A3. On the other hand, in the return process in which the container Ct moves from the push-in position A3 toward the return position A1', the stopper member 52 is held at the stopper position 52X, and in this state, the stopper member 52 engages with the rear engaged portion 51r, so that the return movement of the container Ct is restricted so that it does not pass the return position A1'.

[0072] 23(b) shows a modified example of the above-mentioned stopper mechanism 50. The stopper mechanism 50 of this modified example includes a single engaged part 55 protruding from the bottom of the container Ct, a pair of front and rear stopper members 56, 56 journaled on a support base B and arranged at a distance in the front-rear direction so as to be able to selectively move (rotate) between a stopper position where the engaged part 55 can be engaged and a standby position where the engaged part cannot be engaged, and an actuator that is actuated and controlled by the control device Uc to drive each stopper member 56 to rotate between a stopper position 56X and a standby position 56Y.

[0073] Thus, in the above-mentioned modified example, during the outward movement of the container Ct from the initial position A1 toward the push-in position A3, only the rear stopper member 56 is held at the stopper position 52X, and in this state, the rear stopper member 56 engages with the engaged portion 55, thereby restricting the outward movement of the container Ct so that it does not pass the push-in position A3. On the other hand, during the above-mentioned return movement of the container Ct, only the front stopper member 56 is held at the stopper position 56X, and in this state, the front stopper member 56 engages with the engaged portion 55, thereby restricting the return movement of the container Ct so that it does not pass the return position A1'.

[0074] The forward limit position of the container Ct restricted by the stopper mechanism 50 may be set to approximately coincide with the regular push-in position A3 of the container Ct, or the forward limit position may be set slightly shifted rearward from the regular push-in position A3. The backward limit position of the container Ct restricted by the stopper mechanism 50 may be set to approximately coincide with the regular return position A1' of the container Ct, or the backward limit position may be set slightly shifted forward from the regular return position A1'.

[0075] Incidentally, the above-mentioned stopper mechanism 50 is used as a fail-safe means for preventing the container Ct from going beyond the forward movement limit position or the return movement limit position by activating the stopper members 52, 56 to the stopper positions 52X, 56X at a predetermined control timing when the container Ct moves forward and backward. However, instead of this usage example, the stopper members 52, 56 may be normally held in the standby positions 52Y, 56Y, and the stopper members 52, 56 may be activated to the stopper positions 52X, 56X only in emergency situations where it is necessary to prevent the container Ct from running out of control due to a malfunction of the container driving device D1, etc.

[0076] Next, with reference mainly to Figs. 4 to 12, an example of a gate lifting device Dg capable of driving the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 to lift and lower in order to open and close the entrance 10i of the container Ct will be described.

[0077] The gate lifting device Dg includes a fork F that is removably inserted into a receiving hole 22ah formed through the upper end 22a of the gate plate 22, an opening / closing drive member 35 that fixes and supports the fork F so that the fork F moves up and down as a unit, and a lifting drive device 30 that drives the fork F to move up and down via the opening / closing drive member 35. The opening / closing drive member 35 is formed of a highly rigid hollow frame that extends horizontally in the left-right direction (i.e., the direction across the container Ct).

[0078] The lifting drive device 30 comprises a pair of left and right bases 31 that are installed and fixed to the ground between the compactor Cp and the container support base B, a pair of left and right support pillars 32, 32 that are erected on the bases 31 and extend vertically, and that guide and support both ends of the opening / closing drive member 35 so that it can be raised and lowered, an upper frame 33 that connects the upper ends of the left and right support pillars 32, 32 and extends in the left-right direction, and a pair of left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 that are interposed between the left and right support pillars 32, 32 and both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35, respectively, and extend in the vertical direction along the support pillars 32, 32.

[0079] The left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 are provided with a synchronization mechanism (e.g., a hydraulic control unit using a synchronization valve, a sensor, etc.) in the hydraulic circuit that operates them, so that the left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 can synchronize and expand and contract by the same amount, thereby enabling the opening / closing drive member 35 to be raised and lowered in a balanced manner.

[0080] A pair of left and right support columns 32, 32 are arranged in parallel at positions sandwiching the movement trajectory of a container Ct that can move forward and backward relative to the compactor Cp from the left and right. In addition, front and rear guide rails 32ra, 32rb extending in the vertical direction are respectively protruded from the front and rear surfaces of each support column 32. Then, upper and lower pairs of front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b that are rollably engaged with the front and rear guide rails 32ra, 32rb are rotatably supported by left and right brackets 38, 38 joined to both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35. The upper and lower pairs of front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b stably sandwich the support column 32 from the front and rear via the front and rear guide rails 32ra, 32rb, whereby the opening / closing drive member 35 is held on the left and right support columns 32 so as to be able to rise and fall while maintaining a stable horizontal posture.

[0081] In this way, the opening / closing drive member 35 has its left and right ends guided and supported so as to be able to roll on the left and right support pillars 32, 32 via front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b and guide rails 32ra, 32rb, and is driven to rise and fall along the support pillars 32 by the left and right hydraulic cylinders 34.

[0082] Meanwhile, the bases of a pair of left and right forks F extending forward, i.e., toward the container Ct, are fixed by suitable fixing means (for example, welding, bolting, etc.) to the intermediate portion near both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35. Each fork F is formed in a substantially horizontal band-like shape, and its tip portion, i.e., the front end portion, is formed in a slightly tapered shape in a plan view or has a rounded tip corner portion, so that it can be smoothly inserted into a receiving hole 22ah of a gate plate 22, which will be described next.

[0083] On the other hand, an extension wall portion that extends upward from the upper surface of the gate support frame 21 is integrally provided at the upper edge of the rectangular gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 over the entire width direction (i.e., left-right direction) of the gate plate 22. This extension wall portion forms the upper end portion 22a of the gate plate 22, and is provided with left and right receiving holes 22ah, each of which is formed as a horizontally long through hole into which the left and right forks F are inserted so as to be removable in the front-rear direction. By inserting each fork F into the receiving holes 22ah, the gate plate 22 is interlocked with the opening / closing drive member 35 so that it can be driven to move up and down.

[0084] The left and right receiving holes 22ah are disposed so as to be at the same height as the forks F when the opening / closing drive member 35 and the gate plate 22 are both at their lowest positions. Therefore, when the container Ct, whose entrance 10i is closed by the gate plate 22, is moved sufficiently close to the compactor Cp side from the initial position A1 described above (more specifically, when the container Ct reaches the approach position A2 described above), the forks F are inserted sufficiently (i.e., a predetermined amount or more) into the receiving holes 22ah.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the receiving hole 22ah provided in the upper end 22a of the gate plate 22 is formed as a long hole that is long in the left-right direction, but it may be formed as a circular hole or an oval hole. Furthermore, the extension wall portion that becomes the upper end 22a of the gate plate 22 may be connected to only a partial area in the width direction (i.e., left-right direction) of the gate plate 22 at the upper edge of the gate plate 22.

[0086] Meanwhile, a pair of left and right locking devices L capable of locking the gate plate 22 in the closed position 22Z to suppress rattling of the gate plate 22 (and therefore leakage of contents in the container Ct due to rattling) in a situation where the container Ct is separated from the compactor Cp and the forks F come out of the receiving holes 22ah (for example, during transportation by a container transport vehicle) are interposed between the gate plate 22 and the gate support frame 21 near both left and right ends of the upper part of the gate plate 22. In particular, Figs. 24 to 27 specifically show an example of the locking devices L.

[0087] Each locking device L is provided on the gate plate 22 and includes a locking member 80 that is normally held in a predetermined locking position 80A that locks the gate plate 22 in the closed position 22Z, and an unlocking mechanism Lx that moves the locking member 80 to an unlocked position 80B in conjunction with the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah.

[0088] The locking member 80 has a cylindrical shaft portion 85 as a base body that extends roughly along the extension wall portion 22a serving as the upper end portion of the gate plate 22, and this shaft portion 85 is rotatably fitted into and supported by support bosses 86b of a plurality of brackets 86 fixed (e.g., welded) to the extension wall portion 22a.

[0089] An engagement portion 81 is fixed (e.g., welded) to the outer end of this shaft portion 85, and engages with the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 to maintain the locking position 80A when the locking member 80 is in the locking position 80A. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 81 is composed of a hook plate whose base is fixed to the shaft portion 85 and which rotates together with the shaft portion 85.

[0090] Additionally, upward supporting protrusions 21b are integrally provided on the upper portions of both the left and right ends of the gate support frame 21. An intermediate portion of an engaging pin extending parallel to the shaft portion 85 is fixed to the upper portion of the supporting protrusions 21b, and this engaging pin constitutes the engaged portion 25. The locking claw portion 81t at the tip of the engaging portion 81 made of the hook plate described above can be engaged with and disengaged from the pin-shaped engaged portion 25. If necessary, a return portion for preventing disengagement is provided on the engaging surface of the locking claw portion 81t with the engaged portion 25.

[0091] Thus, when the locking member 80 is in the locked position 80A, as can be seen in FIG. 25, the locking claw portion 81t at the tip of the engaging portion 81 is engaged with the engaged portion 25, thereby holding the locking member 80 in the locked position 80A and suppressing rattling (i.e., up-and-down vibration) of the gate plate 22.

[0092] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 26, when the locking member 80 moves to the unlocked position 80B (more specifically, swings around the axis of the shaft portion 85), the locking claw portion 81t disengages from the engaged portion 25 (i.e., releases the lock) in response to the movement, and the gate plate 22 can be raised and lowered by the opening / closing drive member 35.

[0093] The locking member 80 has an abutment portion 82 that abuts against the fork F so as to directly receive the unlocking force from the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah. The abutment portion 82 has a pair of bell crank-shaped support arms 82a whose bases are fixed to the middle portion near the inner end of the shaft portion 85, and a roller 82r rotatably supported by both support arms 82a, and the roller 82r abuts against the fork F so as to be able to approach and separate from the fork F.

[0094] Furthermore, a base of a spring receiving arm 84 serving as a connection part is fixed to the middle part of the shaft part 85, and a biasing member 83 that constantly biases the shaft part 85, and therefore the locking member 80, toward the lock position 80A is connected to the tip of this spring receiving arm 84. In this embodiment, a tension coil spring is used as this biasing member 83, and one end of this coil spring is engaged with a spring receiving piece 22as fixed (for example, welded) to the extension wall part 22a of the gate plate 22, and the other end of the same spring is engaged with the tip of the spring receiving arm 84.

[0095] The biasing member 83 is not limited to a coil spring as in the embodiment, but may be any spring material (such as a torsion spring or leaf spring) that is at least connected to the locking member 80 and constantly biases the locking member 80 toward the locking position 80A.

[0096] In the locking member 80 of the embodiment, the engaging portion 81, the connecting portion 84, and the abutting portion 82 are connected to the shaft portion 85 so as to be spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the shaft portion 85 and to rotate together with the shaft portion 85. The fork F, the abutting portion 82, the shaft portion 85, and the engaging portion 81 of the locking member 80 cooperate with one another to configure the above-mentioned lock release mechanism Lx.

[0097] Meanwhile, a container fastening mechanism 70 (see Figures 4 and 12) is disposed between the support base B and the bottom of the container Ct to prevent the container Ct from separating from the compactor Cp due to the strong pushing load when the container Ct is at the pushing position A3 and the compactor Cp is performing the pushing operation.

[0098] This container lashing mechanism 70 comprises a rod-shaped lashing member 71 extending in the left-right direction and supported at both ends on the bottom of the container Ct via a pair of left and right hanging walls, a lashing hook 72 rotatably supported on a fixed base 74 installed on the ground and capable of engaging with and disengaging from the lashing member 71, and a drive device 73 selectively switchable between a lashing position where the lashing hook 72 engages with and lashes the lashing member 71 at the push-in position A3 of the container Ct and a release position where the lashing member 71 is released, and the drive device 73 is also operated and controlled by the control device Uc. Note that the structure and function of such a container lashing mechanism 70 are well known and therefore will not be described further.

[0099] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a descent limit regulating device ST is provided in the gate support frame 21 and its periphery, which can regulate the gate plate 22 from descending below a height of a predetermined intermediate opening degree at any time. In this case, the "predetermined intermediate opening degree" refers to an intermediate opening degree of the gate plate 22 that does not interfere with maintenance work, including cleaning and removing dust and the like attached to the upper surface of the lower frame part 21d of the gate support frame 21 and the lower part of the gate plate 22. Next, an example of the descent limit regulating device ST will be described with reference to Figs. 30 to 33.

[0100] As is clear from Fig. 31, the main component of this descent limit regulating device ST is a tapered, cylindrical rod-shaped stopper pin 90. This stopper pin 90 is supported by the left and right side frame parts 21s of the gate support frame 21 and protrudes into the support grooves 21sg of the side frame parts 21s, functioning as a stopper member that can selectively take a stopper operating state in which it can engage with the gate plate 22 to regulate the gate plate 22 from descending below a predetermined intermediate opening height, and a stopper released state in which it retracts from the support grooves 21sg and allows the gate plate 22 to descend below the intermediate opening height.

[0101] In particular, the side frame portion 21s of the first embodiment has an inner wall 21si in which the above-mentioned support groove 21sg is recessed, an outer wall 21so, and a front end wall 21sf and a rear end wall 21sr that respectively connect the front ends and rear ends of both side walls 21si and 21so, and is formed in a rectangular cross section, as is clear from Fig. 31. The bottom of the support groove 21sg of the inner wall 21si and the outer wall 21so are integrally connected via a cylindrical collar 96 extending in the left-right direction, and a pin hole h1 for inserting the stopper pin 90 removably from the outside is provided by a center hole of the collar 96 and circular holes provided in both side walls 21si and 21so on the same axis as the collar 96.

[0102] A base plate portion 91b of a crank-shaped operating lever 91 is fixed (for example, welded) to the base of the stopper pin 90. A front plate portion 91a of the operating lever 91 integrally projects outward from one end of the base plate portion 91b, and this front plate portion 91a is offset from the rotation axis of the stopper pin 90 and functions as a knob that can be operated by an operator.

[0103] 32, a first holding mechanism H1 capable of holding the stopper actuated state by preventing the stopper pin 90 from slipping out of the pin hole h1 is provided between the stopper pin 90 and the side frame portion 21s. In the state in which the stopper pin 90 is prevented from slipping out by the first holding mechanism H1, the tip of the stopper pin 90 is in a position protruding into the support groove 21sg of the side frame portion 21s.

[0104] Therefore, when the left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22 are fitted and supported in the support groove 21sg so as to be able to slide up and down, the lower end surfaces of the left and right sides 22s (specifically, the lower surfaces of the V-shaped frames 22v mentioned above, i.e., the concave surfaces 200) engage with the stopper pin 90 held in the stopper activated state by the first holding mechanism H1, thereby reliably restricting the gate plate 22 from descending below the height of the predetermined intermediate opening.

[0105] The first holding mechanism H1 includes a stopper claw 21t protruding and fixed to the outer surface of the outer wall 21so of the side frame 21s at a position corresponding to the arc-shaped outer periphery of the base plate 91b, and a notch 91bk formed in a shape and size that allows it to appear and disappear from the stopper claw 21t and provided on the outer periphery of the base plate 91b of the operating lever 91. When inserting the stopper pin 90 into the pin hole h1 of the side frame 21s, the stopper pin 90 is first inserted into the pin hole h1 until the base plate 91b abuts against the outer surface of the outer wall 21so, and during the insertion, the stopper pin 90 is aligned so that the stopper claw 21t and the notch 91bk match, as is clear from FIG. 32(B), thereby allowing the stopper claw 21t of the base plate 91b (particularly the notch 91bk) to pass through.

[0106] Thereafter, the front plate portion 91a (knob) of the operating lever 91 is pinched and the stopper pin 90 is rotated so that it faces downward, whereby, as is clear from each of Figures 31 and 32(A), the phase of the stopper claw 21t and the notch portion 91bk shifts, and the movement of the base plate portion 91b outward in the axial direction (and thus the removal of the stopper pin 90) is prevented by the stopper claw 21t. In this removal prevention state, the moment effect resulting from the weight of the front plate portion 91a (knob) prevents the stopper pin 90 from rotating uncontrollably, and the above-mentioned removal prevention state is effectively maintained.

[0107] The first retaining mechanism H1 has as its main components the above-mentioned pin hole h1, an operating lever 91 with a notch 91bk fixed to the stopper pin 90, and a stopper claw 21t fixed to the side frame portion 21s of the gate support frame 21, but the components of the first retaining mechanism H1 are not limited to those in the first embodiment.

[0108] 4 and 33, in the first embodiment, a second holding mechanism H2 capable of temporarily and detachably holding the stopper pin 90 in the stopper release state on the outer surface of the container Ct is provided between the outer surface of the container Ct and the stopper pin 90. The second holding mechanism H2 includes a holding frame 93 fixed (for example, welded) to the outer surface of the container Ct (for example, the outer surface near the rear end of the side wall 12).

[0109] The holding frame 93 is, for example, a U-shaped frame having upper and lower side walls and an intermediate wall integrally connecting the upper and lower side walls, and a plurality of pin holes h2, h3 into which the stopper pin 90 in the stopper release state can be inserted and removed from above are formed on the same vertical line in the uppermost surface of the holding frame 93. A stopper claw 94 having the same structure and function as the stopper claw 21t of the first holding mechanism H1 is fixed to the uppermost surface of the holding frame 93. The method of engagement and disengagement between the stopper claw 94 and the base plate portion 91b with the notch 91bk of the operation lever 91 on the stopper pin 90 side is basically the same as the method of engagement and disengagement between the stopper claw 21t of the first holding mechanism H1 and the base plate portion 91b with the notch 91bk.

[0110] 33(B), when the phases of the cutout portion 91bk of the base plate portion 91b and the stopper claw 94 are matched, the base plate portion 91b (cutout portion 91bk) is permitted to move in and out of the stopper claw 94 (and thus the stopper pin 90 is permitted to be inserted and removed from the pin holes h2 and h3), enabling the stopper pin 90 in the stopper release state to be attached and detached from the holding frame 93. Also, as is clear from FIG. 33(A), by shifting the phases of the cutout portion 91bk and the stopper claw 94 after the stopper pin 90 is inserted into the pin holes h2 and h3 of the holding frame 93, the stopper pin 90 is restricted from coming out of the holding frame 93.

[0111] The second holding mechanism H2 has as its main components the above-mentioned pin holes h2, h3, the operating lever 91 with a notch 91bk fixed to the stopper pin 90, and the stopper claw 94 fixed to a holding frame 93 fixed to the outer surface of the container Ct. However, the components of the second holding mechanism H2 are not limited to those in the first embodiment, and may be any structure that can at least hold the stopper pin 90 detachably on the outer surface of the container Ct.

[0112] Furthermore, the stopper pin 90 in the stopper release state may be stored in a location other than the outer surface of the container Ct (for example, a container work area or a suitable location on the body of a container towing vehicle) without being stored on the outer surface of the container Ct by the second holding mechanism H2, and in this case, the second holding mechanism H2 can be omitted.

[0113] In the compactor container Ct of the first embodiment described above, the descent limit regulating device ST capable of restricting the gate plate 22 from descending below a height of a predetermined intermediate opening degree is specially provided on the gate support frame 21, and this descent limit regulating device ST is placed in the above-mentioned stopper release state in the normal use state of the compactor container (for example, during the operation of pushing waste from the compactor Cp to the container Ct). In particular, when performing maintenance work such as cleaning on the upper surface of the lower frame part 21d of the gate support frame 21 or the lower part of the gate plate 22, the descent limit regulating device ST is temporarily switched to the above-mentioned stopper operation state.

[0114] That is, when performing this maintenance work, for example, the gate plate 22 is raised to a height position slightly higher than the height of the predetermined intermediate opening degree by the gate lifting device Dg, and in this state, the stopper pin 90 of the lowering limit regulating device ST is inserted and held in the side frame portion 21s to set the stopper operation state. At this time, as is clear from the dotted line in Fig. 32, for example, the stopper pin 90 is close to and faces the lower end surfaces of the left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22 (i.e., the concave surfaces 200 of the V-shaped frame 22 described above) with a small vertical gap therebetween, but is not in an engaged state.

[0115] During the above maintenance work, if the gate plate 22 descends due to, for example, a malfunction or erroneous operation of the gate lifting device Dg (hydraulic cylinder 34 of the lifting drive device 30), the lower end faces of the left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22 immediately enter into an engaged state with the stopper pin 90. Therefore, during the maintenance work, the gate plate 22 will not descend below the predetermined intermediate opening degree.

[0116] Incidentally, as another mode of using the stopper pin 90, for example, in a state where the gate plate 22 is raised by the gate lifting device Dg to a height position slightly higher than the height of the predetermined intermediate opening degree, the stopper pin 90 of the lowering limit regulating device ST may be inserted into and held in the side frame parts 21s, and then the gate plate 22 may be lowered by the gate lifting device Dg to engage the stopper pin 90 with the lower end surfaces of the left and right parts 22s of the gate plate 22. In this case, the stopper pin 90 and the lower end part of the gate plate 22 can be placed in an engaged state from the beginning of the maintenance work, so that the gate plate 22 will not be lowered below the predetermined intermediate opening degree.

[0117] Thus, since the descent limit regulating device ST can reliably regulate the gate plate 22 from descending below the height of the predetermined intermediate opening during maintenance work, it is possible to reliably prevent the gate plate 22 from descending below the predetermined intermediate opening during maintenance work. Furthermore, even if the gate plate 22 is held at the predetermined intermediate opening during maintenance work (i.e., not in a fully open state), this does not cause a decrease in work efficiency when the main purpose of the maintenance work is to clean and remove dust and the like attached to the upper surface of the lower frame part 21d of the gate support frame 21 and the lower part of the gate plate 22, and rather, by keeping the gate plate 22 at the intermediate opening (i.e., not raising it to the fully open position), it can contribute to improving work efficiency as a whole.

[0118] In the first embodiment, the stopper pin 90 as the stopper member is supported by the side frame portion 21s of the gate support frame 21 and protrudes into the support groove 21sg of the side frame portion 21s to be in the stopper operating state, so that the descent of the gate plate 22 can be accurately and easily restricted to maintain the intermediate opening degree. In this case, the stopper pin 90 can be easily placed in the stopper operating state by inserting and removing the stopper pin 90 from the outside of the side frame portion 21s, which provides excellent operability and contributes to further improvement of the work efficiency.

[0119] Furthermore, a first retaining mechanism H1 that holds the stopper pin 90 in the stopper operating state to the side frame portion 21s is provided between the gate support frame 21 and the stopper pin 90 serving as a stopper member. Therefore, when the stopper pin 90 is in the stopper operating state, it is held to the side frame portion 21s by the first retaining mechanism H1, thereby reliably maintaining the stopper operating state.

[0120] Furthermore, since a second holding mechanism H2 that detachably holds the stopper pin 90 in the stopper release state on the outer surface of the container Ct is provided between the outer surface of the container Ct (for example, the outer surface of the rear part of the side wall 12 of the container main body 10) and the stopper pin 90, when the stopper pin 90 is not in use, it can be held and stored on the outer surface of the container Ct via the second holding mechanism H2. This not only eliminates the need to worry about losing the stopper pin 90 in the stopper release state (i.e., when not in use), but also allows the stopper pin 90 to be quickly taken out of the second holding mechanism H2 and used when it is next used, improving work efficiency.

[0121] However, the descent limit regulating device ST is not limited to the first embodiment described above, and for example, Fig. 34 to Fig. 36 show a modified example of the descent limit regulating device ST in which a stopper plate 300 is used as the stopper member instead of the stopper pin 90. Next, the modified example will be described.

[0122] As can be seen in Figure 35, this stopper plate 300 is composed of a horizontal and sturdy flat plate that is slidably inserted into and supported by an inner slit 21sgs formed in the inner wall 21si (particularly the groove forming wall portion that forms the support groove 21sg) of the side frame portion 21s of the gate support frame 21 and horizontally crossing the support groove 21sg, and an outer slit 21sos formed in the outer wall 21so of the side frame portion 21s at approximately the same height as the inner slit 21sgs and extending horizontally.

[0123] The stopper plate 300 also has a wide plate body 300a that can engage with the lower ends of the left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22 (i.e., the lower ends of the V-shaped frames 22v) that fit into the support grooves 21sg so as to be able to slide up and down, thereby preventing the gate plate 22 from descending below the height of the specified intermediate opening, and a narrow knob portion 300b that is integrally connected to the base end of the plate body 300a and can be operated even from the outside of the side frame portions 21s.

[0124] To place this stopper plate 300 in the stopper activation state, for example, first, in a horizontal position, the plate body 300a is inserted inward in the left-right direction through the outer slit 21sos from the outer side of the side frame portion 21s (i.e., the state in Figure 35(A)) to the first insertion position 300X (see Figure 35(B)) within the side frame portion 21s, and then inserted rearward in the front-to-rear direction through the inner slit 21sgs to the second insertion position 300Y (see Figure 35(C)) within the side frame portion 21s.

[0125] At the first insertion position 300X, the plate body 300a of the stopper plate 300 does not engage with the lower ends of the left and right sides 22s (i.e., the lower edges of the V-shaped frames 22v) of the gate plate 22 that slides up and down within the support grooves 21sg, and therefore does not restrict the descent of the gate plate 22. That is, when the stopper plate 300 is at the first insertion position 300X, the stopper plate 300 is in the stopper release state.

[0126] On the other hand, at the second insertion position 300Y, the plate body 300a of the stopper plate 300 engages with the lower ends (i.e., the lower edges of the V-shaped frames 22v) of the left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22 sliding up and down in the support grooves 21sg, and the downward load that the stopper plate 300 receives from the gate plate 22 due to this engagement is received by the side frame portions 21s via the lower inner side walls of the inner slits 21sgs. Then, due to the above-mentioned engagement, the stopper plate 300 can restrict the gate plate 22 from descending below the height of the predetermined intermediate opening degree, that is, the stopper plate 300 is in the stopper operating state when it is at the second insertion position 300Y.

[0127] 36(C), when the stopper plate 300 reaches the second insertion position 300Y, the knob 300b of the stopper plate 300 descends by its own weight into the recess 302 recessed downwardly of the inner end of the outer slit 21sos, and the downward recess 302 engages with the knob 300b to suppress the return movement of the stopper plate 300 from the second insertion position 300Y to the first insertion position 300X. Therefore, the downward recess 302 and the knob 300b cooperate with each other to form a first holding mechanism H1 that holds the stopper plate 300 in the stopper operating state to the side frame 21s.

[0128] Thus, even in the above-mentioned modified example of the descent limit control device ST, the stopper plate 300 as a stopper member is in the stopper activated state when it is held in the second insertion position 300Y, thereby making it possible to control the gate plate 22 from descending below the height of the specified intermediate opening degree.

[0129] Furthermore, since the stopper member of this modified example is composed of the stopper plate 300 which is removably inserted from the outside into the left and right side frame portions 21s of the gate support frame 21, the stopper member can be easily manufactured using an easy-to-manufacture plate material. Moreover, the stopper plate 300 is slidably supported in a plurality of slits 21sos, 21sgs provided in the side frame portion 21s, and is movable within the side frame portion 21s between a first insertion position 300X in which the stopper is released and a second insertion position 300Y in which the stopper is activated. At least some of the slits 21sos have recesses 302 that recess a portion of the stopper plate 300 so that the stopper plate 300 is lower when it is in the second insertion position 300Y than when it is in the first insertion position 300X. The recesses 302 make it possible to suppress movement of the stopper plate 300 from the second insertion position 300Y to the first insertion position 300X. Therefore, even if the stopper member is a plate material, it can be easily held in the stopper activated state (i.e., the second insertion position 300Y) with a simple structure that utilizes the recesses 302 of the outer slits 21sos (and therefore gravity).

[0130] Incidentally, in this modified example of the descent limit regulating device ST, a second retaining mechanism H2 like the descent limit regulating device ST of the first embodiment is not provided on the outer surface of the container Ct, but even in this modified example, a second retaining mechanism H2 may be provided that detachably holds the stopper plate 300 in the stopper release state on the outer surface of the container Ct.

[0131] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

[0132] When a container Ct is transported near the compactor Cp by a container transport vehicle (not shown), the container Ct is lowered from the container transport vehicle onto a guide rail Br of the support platform B by a conventionally known loading and unloading device, and moves to and stops at the initial position A1 (see Figs. 1 and 4). During this container lowering process, the control device Uc holds the stopper member 52 of the stopper mechanism 50 at the standby position 50Y to avoid interference with the engaged parts 51f, 51r at the bottom of the container Ct, but when the container Ct stops at the initial position A1, it is switched to and held at the stopper position 52X.

[0133] When it is confirmed that the container Ct has stopped at the initial position A1, the control device Uc rotates the motor 44 of the container drive device D1 in the forward direction to rotate the chain 41 counterclockwise in FIG. 14. As a result, when the first locking claw t1 on the chain 41 engages with the engaged portion 10k at the bottom of the container Ct, the container Ct receiving the driving force of the chain 41 starts moving backward (i.e., moving forward) toward the compactor Cp from the time of the engagement. At the same time, the control device Uc starts measuring the amount of motor rotation from the time of the engagement, and rotates the motor 44 in the forward direction based on the amount of rotation to move the container Ct backward toward the approach position A2 close to the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp. Then, when the container Ct reaches the approach position A2, the motor 11 (and therefore the container Ct) is stopped (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0134] In this case, the control device Uc has the amount of motor rotation required for the container Ct to move from the initial position A1 to the approach position A2 set and stored in advance, so the control device Uc can detect that the container Ct has reached the approach position A2 from that amount of motor rotation.

[0135] When the container Ct reaches the approach position A2, the fork F of the gate lifting device Dg is inserted sufficiently (i.e., a predetermined amount or more) into the receiving hole 22ah of the upper end of the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20, i.e., the extension wall portion 22, and this insertion ensures that the fork F, and therefore the opening / closing drive member 35 and the gate plate 22 are properly linked and connected, so that the gate plate 22 can be driven to move up and down by the opening / closing drive member 35. That is, from this state, the opening / closing drive member 35 is driven to move up to the upper limit position by the lifting drive device 30 (hydraulic cylinder 34) of the gate lifting device Dg, and in conjunction with this, the gate plate 22 is raised to the upper limit position. As a result, the gate plate 22 opens the opening 21o of the tailgate 20 to open the entrance 10i of the container Ct.

[0136] At this time, the lower end of the gate plate 22 in the upper limit position is out of the groove from the open upper end of the support groove 21sg of the gate support frame 21, so that the upper end of the gate plate 22 is suspended by the fork F of the gate lifting device Dg. However, even in this state, the lower end of the gate plate 22 is supported (pivotally supported) in such a way that the lower end of the gate plate 22 can swing back and forth around the hinge pin 21p relative to the gate support frame 21, due to the engagement between the hinge pin 21p fixed to the second hinge bracket b2 on the container Ct (gate support frame 21) and the support grooves 22g of the left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22.

[0137] Next, the control device Uc resumes the normal rotation of the motor 44 while holding the opening / closing drive member 35 (and therefore the gate plate 22) at the upper limit position, and moves the container Ct further backward toward the compactor Cp. When the container Ct reaches the push-in position A3 as a result of this movement, the control device Uc stops the normal rotation of the motor 44, and the container Ct stops at the push-in position A3. In this case, the amount of motor rotation required for the container Ct to move from the approach position A2 to the push-in position A3 is set and stored in advance in the control device Uc, so that the control device Uc can detect that the container Ct has reached the push-in position A3 from the amount of motor rotation.

[0138] During the above-mentioned forward movement of the container Ct, even if the container Ct tries to pass the pushing position A3 due to a malfunction of the motor 44, etc., the stopper member 52 at the stopper position 52X engages with the front engaged portion 51f of the bottom of the container Ct, thereby restricting the container Ct from passing over.

[0139] In addition, during the process of the container Ct moving backward from the approach position A2 to the push-in position A3, even if the lower end of the gate plate 22 suspended from the fork F as described above comes out of the support groove 21sg of the gate support frame 21, the hinge pin 21p fixed on the container Ct is in a fitted state with the lower part of the support groove 22g of the left and right sides 22s of the gate plate 22, so that as is clear from Figures 3 and 7, the gate plate 22 tilts forward around the hinge pin 21p in conjunction with the approach of the container Ct to the push-in position A3.

[0140] When the container Ct is stopped at the push-in position A3, the front end of the body 1 of the compactor Cp, i.e., the outlet tube 1o, is inserted into the container body 10 by a predetermined amount through the inlet 10i of the container Ct, as is clear from Figures 3 and 7. In this inserted state, the rear of the container Ct and the front end opening of the compactor Cp (i.e., the outlet tube 1o) are directly connected to each other, so that the container Ct can receive waste from the compactor Cp, and are overlapped with each other over a predetermined range in the front-rear direction. This overlap effectively prevents waste from leaking out between the compactor Cp and the container Ct when the compactor Cp is subsequently pushed in.

[0141] Incidentally, in the compactor Cp, the waste introduced from the hopper 2 can be pre-compressed in the body 1 of the compactor Cp by reciprocating the piston 3 with the partition gate 6 closed. This pre-compression may be omitted as necessary, but in any case, if the compactor Cp is operated to push the container Ct while the container Ct is held at the pushing position A3, the waste is pushed into the container Ct from the front end opening of the body 1 of the compactor Cp.

[0142] Then, when the container Ct becomes full of waste, the pushing operation of the compactor Cp is stopped, and then the container Ct is moved forward (i.e., returned) from the pushing position A3 to the return position A1' via a temporary stop period at the approach position A2 by the container drive device D1 operated and controlled by the control device Uc. Note that the stopping of the pushing operation of the compactor Cp and the start of the return of the container Ct from the pushing position A3 may be arbitrarily performed by a worker through manual operation of the control panel U, or may be automatically controlled by the control device Uc based on the detection of a waste full sensor in the container Ct.

[0143] The forward movement (return) process of the container Ct from the push-in position A3 is the reverse of the backward movement (going) process, and links the forward movement of the container Ct by the container drive device D1 with the lifting and lowering of the gate plate 22 by the gate lifting and lowering device Dg. That is, the control device Uc moves the container Ct forward from the push-in position A3 to the approach position A2, pauses it at the approach position A2, and during the pause, lowers the gate plate 22 in the vertical position from the upper limit position to the lower limit position. Thereafter, the container Ct is moved forward again from the approach position A2, and when it reaches a predetermined return position A1', it is stopped there.

[0144] In this case, the control device Uc has the amount of motor rotation required for the container Ct to return from the pushing position A3 to the approach position A2 and the return position A1' respectively set and stored in advance, so that even during the return process of the container Ct, the control device Uc can detect that the container Ct has reached the approach position A2 and the return position A1', respectively, from the amount of motor rotation.

[0145] In particular, the return position A1' may be set to the same position as the initial position A1 or to a position adjacent thereto.

[0146] Thus, when the container Ct reaches the return position A1' and stops, the container Ct is then loaded onto the container transport vehicle by the unloading device (not shown), but before that, the stopper member 52 of the stopper mechanism 50 is switched and moved from the stopper position 52X to the standby position 52Y. Therefore, there is no risk that the stopper member 52 will hinder the loading operation of the container Ct onto the container transport vehicle.

[0147] According to the first embodiment described above, the chain-type container drive device D1 includes the chain 41 having the first and second locking claws t1, t2 as locking members that can be engaged with and disengaged from the bottom of the container Ct, a pair of sprockets 42, 43 around which the chain 41 is wound, a motor 44 that rotates and drives one of the sprockets 42, a sensor 45 that can detect that the container Ct is at the push-in position A3 or the return position A1', and a control device Uc that controls the motor 44 based on the detection by the sensor 45. As a result, the container Ct can be accurately stopped at the push-in position A3 or the return position A1' if at least the sensor 45 and the control device Uc are normal.

[0148] In addition, a stopper mechanism 50 capable of restricting the movement of the container Ct so that the container Ct does not pass at least the pushing-in position A3 and the return position A1' during the process of the container Ct reciprocating from the initial position A1 through the pushing-in position A3 to the return position A1' is provided independent of the container driving device D1. As a result, if the container driving device D1 develops some kind of abnormality and the container Ct attempts to pass the pushing-in position A3 during the outward movement or the return position A1' during the return movement, the stopper mechanism 50 independent of the container driving device D1 can reliably stop the container Ct at the pushing-in position A3 / return position A1', thereby improving the safety of the work.

[0149] The stopper mechanism 50 (see Figs. 13, 16 and 23(a)) of the embodiment includes front and rear engaged parts 51f, 51r protruding from the bottom of the container Ct at intervals in the front-rear direction, and a single stopper member 52 pivotally supported 52p by the support base B so as to be selectively movable between a stopper position 52X engageable with the engaged parts 51f, 51r and a waiting position 52Y not engageable, so that the container Ct can be reliably stopped at the push-in position A3 (forward movement) and the return position A1' (forward movement) by mechanical engagement between the engaged parts 51f, 51r and the stopper member 52. Moreover, the single stopper member 52 on the support base B side can be commonly used for the multiple engaged parts 51f, 51r on the container Ct side, which contributes to cost reduction.

[0150] The stopper mechanism 50 of the modified example (see FIG. 23(b)) includes a single engaged part 55 protruding from the bottom of the container Ct, and front and rear stopper members 56, 56 that are pivotally supported 56p on the support base B and arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction so as to be able to selectively move between a stopper position 56X that is engageable with the engaged part 55 and a waiting position 56Y that is not engageable with the engaged part 55, so that the container Ct can be stopped reliably at the push-in position A3 (when moving forward) and the return position A1' (when moving backward) by the mechanical engagement between the engaged part 55 and the front and rear stopper members 56, 56. Moreover, the single engaged part 55 on the container Ct side can be used in common for the front and rear stopper members 56, 56 arranged side by side on the support base B, which contributes to cost reduction.

[0151] In addition, in the above embodiment and its modified example, a control example has been shown in which the stopper mechanism 50 restricts the movement of the container Ct, particularly the container Ct from passing the push-in position A3 during the forward movement process and the container Ct from passing the return position A1' during the return movement process. In addition to this control example, a control example can also be implemented in which the stopper mechanism 50 restricts the container Ct from passing other specified positions (for example, the initial position A1 or the approach position A2).

[0152] Furthermore, the stopper mechanism 50 may be used as a dedicated stopper mechanism (i.e., a combination mechanism of a dedicated stopper member and an engaged portion) used exclusively to regulate at least one of the pushed-in position A3, the approach position A2, the initial position A1, and the return position A1'.

[0153] In the above embodiment, the gate plate 22 is specially provided with a locking member 80 that is normally held at a predetermined locking position 80A that locks the gate plate 22 at the closed position 22Z, and this locking member 80 moves (i.e., rotates about the axis of the shaft portion 85) to the unlocking position 80B in conjunction with the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah (i.e., when the container Ct approaches the compactor Cp to the approaching position A2). The locking member 80 has an engaging portion 81 that engages with the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 to hold the locking position 80A when the locking member 80 is in the locking position 80A, and the above engagement is released in response to the movement of the locking member 80 to the unlocking position 80B.

[0154] As a result, when the container Ct is separated from the compactor Cp (and therefore the fork F cannot be inserted through the receiving hole 22ah), for example, during travel, the gate plate 22 can be locked in the closed position 22Z by the locking member 80 held in the locking position 80A, so that the gate plate 22 can be reliably prevented from floating up and rattling relative to the gate support frame 21 due to travel vibrations, and leakage of the contents of the container due to such rattling can be effectively prevented.

[0155] On the other hand, when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah as the container Ct moves closer to the compactor Cp (particularly as it moves to the approach position A2), the locking member 80 moves in conjunction with the fork F to the unlocked position 80B (i.e., rotates around the axis of the shaft portion 85), thereby releasing the gate plate 22 from the gate support frame 21, and the opening and closing drive member 35 can open and close the gate plate 22 without any hindrance.

[0156] Furthermore, the locking member 80 can be automatically switched between locked and unlocked using a simple configuration that utilizes the relative displacement between the fork F and the gate plate 22 that accompanies the approach and retraction of the container Ct from the compactor Cp, thereby reducing costs.

[0157] Furthermore, the abutment portion 82 of the locking member 80 in the embodiment abuts against the fork F such that a sufficient unlocking force is received from the fork F when the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah, and the locking member 80 can move to the unlocking position 80B. This allows the locking member 80 to be mechanically and accurately linked to the operation of inserting the fork F into the receiving hole 22ah of the gate plate 22 in conjunction with the movement of the container Ct to the approach position A2 relative to the compactor Cp.

[0158] In this case, the abutment portion 82 in this embodiment in particular has a roller 82r that is rotatably supported on the locking member 80, so that when the fork F abuts against the abutment portion 82 (more specifically, the roller 82r), noise and damage due to friction can be effectively suppressed.

[0159] Furthermore, since the locking member 80 of the embodiment is connected to a biasing member 83 that constantly biases the locking member 80 toward the locking position 80A, the biasing force of the biasing member 83 can accurately hold the locking member 80 at the locking position 80A under normal circumstances. Also, when the waste pushing operation by the compactor Cp is completed and the container Ct leaves the compactor Cp (and therefore the fork F leaves the receiving hole 22ah of the gate plate 20), the biasing force of the biasing member 83 can automatically and reliably return the locking member 80 to the locking position 80A.

[0160] Furthermore, the gate plate 22 of the embodiment is held by the gate support frame 21 so as to be slidable in the up-down direction, the receiving hole 22ah is formed through the extension wall portion 22a as the upper end portion of the gate plate 22 which projects upward from the gate support frame 21 when the gate plate 22 is at the closed position 22Z, and the opening / closing drive member 35 can drive the gate plate 22 to move up and down in a state in which the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah. As a result, vibrations and rattles caused by the lifting of the gate plate 22 which are likely to occur when the container Ct is traveling can be effectively suppressed by the lock member 80 at the lock position 80A.

[0161] Furthermore, in the locking member 80 of the embodiment, the aforementioned engaging portion 81, connecting portion 84, and abutting portion 82 are connected to the shaft portion 85 so as to be spaced apart from one another in the axial direction and to rotate together with the shaft portion 85. This allows the long shaft portion 85, which serves as the base body of the locking member 80, to be disposed substantially along the upper end portion 22a of the gate plate 22, suppressing the upward bulk of the locking member 80 and enabling the device to be made more compact. Moreover, the aforementioned abutting portion 82, connecting portion 84, and engaging portion 81 of the locking member 80 can be disposed in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 85 while reasonably avoiding mutual interference, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the locking member 80 as a whole.

[0162] In particular, the gate plate 22 of the embodiment is composed of a rectangular plate body capable of closing the entrance 10i of the container Ct, and an extension wall portion 22a that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the container Ct and extends in the width direction of the gate plate 22 is connected to at least a part (all in the illustrated example) of the upper edge of the gate plate 22, and a receiving hole 22ah is provided in the extension wall portion 22a. This makes it possible to widely reinforce the periphery of the receiving hole 22ah with the sturdy extension wall portion 22a, so that when the gate plate 22 is raised, a large load transmitted from the fork F to the periphery of the receiving hole 22ah can be distributed and reasonably received by the extension wall portion 22a, thereby improving durability. Moreover, by providing the receiving hole 22ah in the extension wall portion 22a extending in the width direction of the gate plate 22, the degree of freedom in setting the arrangement and shape of the receiving hole 22ah is also increased.

[0163] Furthermore, by forming the extended wall portion 22a across the entire width of the gate plate 22 as in the embodiment, the extended wall portion 22a can be easily processed and manufactured without complicating the shape of the upper edge of the rectangular gate plate 22, thereby reducing costs and improving productivity.

[0164] In particular, the opening / closing drive member 35 is supported at both ends by a pair of left and right pillars 32, 32 that are fixed in a vertical upright position on the ground and are arranged at a distance from each other, and the pair of left and right pillars 32, 32 are arranged in positions that can sandwich the movement trajectory of the container Ct. Therefore, the opening / closing drive member 35 can be stably supported by the pair of left and right pillars 32, 32 that are sufficiently spaced apart from each other, and a long support span can be secured, thereby further stabilizing the raising and lowering operation of the gate plate 22.

[0165] Moreover, at least one pair of front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b that sandwich the corresponding support pillar 32 from the front and rear are rotatably supported on both the left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35, so that the opening / closing drive member 35 can be raised and lowered smoothly and without any rattling by sandwiching the support pillar 32 between the front and rear rollers 36a, 36b; 37a, 37b.

[0166] In addition, the opening / closing drive member 35 is driven to rise and fall by a pair of left and right hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 linked to the periphery of both left and right ends of the opening / closing drive member 35, so that the opening / closing drive member 35 can be driven to rise and fall in a balanced manner by the left and right cylinders 34, 34, and the load acting on the guide support parts of the left and right support columns 32, 32 for the opening / closing drive member 35 is well balanced. This allows the opening / closing drive member 35 to be raised and lowered more smoothly along the left and right support columns 32, 32.

[0167] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 17 to Fig. 22. In the first embodiment, the container driving device D1 is driven by a chain transmission mechanism, but in the second embodiment, the container driving device D2 is driven by a telescopic cylinder.

[0168] That is, the container driving device D2 of the second embodiment comprises an engaged part 61 protruding downward from the bottom of a container Ct, a locking hook 62 as a locking member that can be engaged and disengaged with the engaged part 61, an inner pipe 63 as a movable support member that supports the locking hook 62 and can move only in the forward and backward directions together with the locking hook 62, and a hydraulic cylinder 60 as an extendable cylinder that can drive the container Ct in the forward and backward directions between the initial position A1 and the pushed-in position A3 via the inner pipe 63 and the locking hook 62.

[0169] 21, the locking hook 62 comprises a pair of left and right band-shaped hook bodies 62m, 62m arranged side by side with a gap therebetween and extending linearly in the front-to-rear direction, a tip pin 62p1 connecting the tips of the hook bodies 62m, 62m, and a base pin 62p2 connecting the base ends of the hook bodies 62m, 62m and pivotally connecting them to the inner pipe 63 so that they can swing up and down. The engaged portion 61 is inserted removably into a gap space with open upper and lower ends defined between the hook bodies 62m, 62m, the tip pin 62p1, and the base pin 62p2 with a clearance in the front-to-rear direction, and the locking hook 62 can be locked to the engaged portion 61 by this insertion.

[0170] The locking hook 62 can swing up and down around the base pin 62p2 between a locking position (see Figs. 18 to 20) where it is locked to the engaged part 61 in a horizontal position facing the front-rear direction, and a standby position (see Figs. 17 and 22) where it is in a forward-downward position and cannot be locked to the engaged part 61, and the up-down swing drive is performed by a hydraulic cylinder 65 that is interposed between the locking hook 62 and the inner pipe 63 and whose operation is controlled by the control device Uc. The hydraulic cylinder 65 has a cylinder portion pivotally connected 65p to the inner pipe 63, and a piston rod portion pivotally connected via a link mechanism to a downward arm portion that is integral with the base of the hook main bodies 62m, 62m.

[0171] In the second embodiment, the locking hook 62 is formed in a straight line when viewed from the side, but a hook-like shape similar to the fastening hook 62 may be used.

[0172] The inner pipe 63 is formed in a square tube shape having a rectangular cross section extending in the front-rear direction, and is fitted and supported in the outer pipe 64, which is also square tube-shaped, so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The outer pipe 64 is fixed in a forward-facing position on a fixing base 69 immediately below the compactor Cp, with its axis facing in the front-rear direction.

[0173] A push plate 66 is fixed to the upper front end of the inner pipe 63 so as to be able to come into and out of contact with the lower rear end of the container body 10 (the engaged portion 61 in this embodiment) when the hydraulic cylinder 60 is extended, thereby pushing the container Ct forward, and a cushion member 67 made of a hard elastic material that absorbs impact when the push plate 66 comes into contact with the container Ct is joined to the surface of the push plate 66 facing the container Ct. Thus, during the extension process of the hydraulic cylinder 60, a forward (return) driving force is transmitted to the container Ct via the inner pipe 63, the push plate 66, and the cushion member 67 that are linked to the extension operation.

[0174] 20 and 21, one set of container driving devices D2 of the second embodiment is disposed immediately below the center in the left-right direction in an area spanning the movement trajectory of the container Ct on the support base B and the front part of the compactor Cp. In this relationship, the container fastening mechanisms 70 described in the first embodiment are disposed in parallel on the left and right sides of the container driving mechanism D2 so as not to interfere with the container driving mechanism D2.

[0175] Other structures of the second embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment. Each component of the second embodiment is given the same reference numeral as the corresponding component of the first embodiment, and further structural description will be omitted.

[0176] Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

[0177] When the container Ct is transported close to the compactor Cp by the container transport vehicle, the container Ct is lowered onto the guide rail Br of the support base B in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment, and is then transported and driven to the initial position A1, where it stops (see Figure 17).

[0178] When the photoelectric sensor 8 or other sensors confirm that the container Ct has stopped at the initial position A1, the control device Uc extends the hydraulic cylinder 60 of the container drive device D2 to advance the inner pipe 63 (and therefore the locking hook 62 at the standby position). Then, when the hydraulic cylinder 60 reaches its extension limit, the inner pipe 63 (locking hook 62) linked to the hydraulic cylinder 60 stops at its forward limit. From this state, the control device Uc rotates the locking hook 62 upward around the base pin 62p2 from the standby position to the locking position, and engages it with the engaged portion 61 at the bottom of the container Ct. At this time, the locking hook 62 has some play in the engagement portion with the engaged portion 61, as is clear from FIG. 18.

[0179] Next, the hydraulic cylinder 60 is contracted to move the inner pipe 63 (the locking hook 62) backward, and the container Ct moves forward, that is, is pulled toward the compactor Cp. Then, during the pulling, when a proximity sensor (not shown) provided between the bottom of the container Ct and the support base B detects that the container Ct has reached the approach position A2, based on the detection result, the control device Uc stops the contraction of the hydraulic cylinder 60, therefore the backward movement of the container Ct, and temporarily stops the container Ct at the approach position A (see FIG. 19).

[0180] Accordingly, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the gate lifting device Dg lifts the gate plate 22 of the tailgate 20 to its upper limit position, opens the opening 21o of the tailgate 20, and opens the entrance 10i of the container Ct.

[0181] Next, the control device Uc resumes the contraction operation of the hydraulic cylinder 60 while keeping the gate plate 22 at the upper limit position, and pulls the container Ct further toward the compactor Cp (i.e., moves it backward). As a result, as is clear from Fig. 20, the hydraulic cylinder 60 reaches its contraction limit and stops contracting, and the container Ct stops at the push-in position A3. At this time, the push plate 66 with the cushion member 67 at the front end of the inner pipe 63 faces and approaches the lower rear end of the container body 10 (the rear surface of the engaged portion 61 in this embodiment) with a small gap therebetween, and this small gap becomes a factor that generates an ineffective stroke when the hydraulic cylinder 60 starts to extend from the push-in position A3 (i.e., moves the container Ct backward).

[0182] During the forward movement of the container Ct from the approach position A2 toward the push-in position A3, the gate plate 22 tilts forward around the hinge pin 21p in conjunction with the approach of the container Ct to the push-in position A3, as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 7).

[0183] Next, the control device Uc, like the first embodiment, operates the compactor Cp to push the waste from the compactor Cp into the container Ct at the pushing position A3.

[0184] Then, when the container Ct becomes full of waste, the controller Uc stops the pushing operation of the compactor Cp and then extends the hydraulic cylinder 60. In this case, the extension force of the hydraulic cylinder 60 is transmitted to the rear end lower part (engaged part 61) of the container body 10 via the inner pipe 63 and the push plate 66 with the cushion member 67, and the container Ct starts to move forward (going). As a result, the container Ct moves forward (i.e., returns) from the pushing position A3 to the initial position A1 via a temporary stop period at the approach position A2.

[0185] Furthermore, the pushing operation of the compactor Cp can be stopped and the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 60 can be resumed at will by an operator manually operating the control panel U, or the control device Uc can automatically control this based on the detection of a waste-full sensor inside the container Ct.

[0186] Meanwhile, in the forward movement (return) process of the container Ct from the push-in position A3, the forward and backward movement of the container Ct by the hydraulic cylinder 60 of the container drive device D2 and the lifting and lowering of the gate plate 22 by the gate lifting device Dg are linked in the reverse order to the above-mentioned backward movement (going) process. That is, when the container Ct moves forward from the push-in position A3 to the approach position A2, the control device Uc stops the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 60 based on the detection result of the proximity sensor to temporarily suspend the container Ct at the approach position A2, and during the temporary suspension, lowers the gate plate 22 in the vertical posture from the upper limit position to the lower limit position.

[0187] Thereafter, the control device Uc resumes the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 60, thereby moving the container Ct forward from the approach position A2 toward the initial position A1. In this case, as is clear from Fig. 22, when the hydraulic cylinder 60 reaches its extension limit (i.e., full stroke), the extension automatically stops, and the container Ct stops at a predetermined return position A1'. Next, the container Ct is loaded onto the container transport vehicle by the loading / unloading device (not shown).

[0188] Incidentally, the return position A1' is slightly deviated from the initial position A1 due to the aforementioned invalid stroke at the beginning of the return movement of the container Ct from the pushed-in position A3, but the deviation is so slight that it does not cause any practical problem.

[0189] When the container Ct starts to return from the push-in position A3, the locking hook 62 is rotated downward about the base pin 62p2 to the standby position. This downward rotation to the standby position may be performed after the container Ct has stopped at the return position A1', but is performed before loading onto the container transport vehicle.

[0190] In the second embodiment described above, the container driving device D2 includes a locking hook 62 as a locking member that can be engaged and disengaged with the bottom of the container Ct, an inner pipe 63 as a movable support member that supports the locking hook 62 and can move in the forward and backward directions together with the locking hook 62, and a hydraulic cylinder 60 that can drive the container Ct between the initial position A1 and the push-in position A3 via the inner pipe 63 and the locking hook 62, and the hydraulic cylinder 60 is interposed between the outer pipe 64 and the inner pipe 63 so that the container Ct is in the initial position when the hydraulic cylinder 60 is in the extension limit position and the container Ct is in the push-in position A3 when the hydraulic cylinder 60 is in the contraction limit position.

[0191] As a result, even if the container Ct attempts to move beyond the appropriate position due to a failure of the hydraulic cylinder 60 or the hydraulic circuit (not shown) that operates it, the hydraulic cylinder 60 will reach its extension or contraction limit at that time, and excessive movement of the container Ct will be restricted by the stroke limit of the hydraulic cylinder 60 itself. Therefore, the container Ct can be stopped accurately at the push-in position A3 (when moving forward) or the initial position A1 (when moving back).

[0192] Other advantages of the second embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0193] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims.

[0194] For example, in the first and second embodiments, the gate lifting device Dg is disposed between the compactor Cp and the container Ct and is independent of the compactor Cp and the container Ct, and drives the gate plate 22 to rise and fall, but the gate lifting device is not limited to the embodiments. For example, as in Patent Document 1, a gate lifting device capable of driving the gate plate 22 to rise and fall may be installed in the compactor Cp, or a crane device independent of the compactor Cp and the container Ct may be used as the gate lifting device.

[0195] In the first and second embodiments, the stopper member (stopper pin 90, stopper plate 300), which is a main component of the descent limit regulating device ST that regulates the descent of the gate plate 22 from its raised state below a height of a predetermined intermediate opening degree, is shown to be round bar-shaped (Figure 31) or flat plate-shaped (Figure 35). However, the structural form of the stopper member is not limited to the embodiments, and various other structural forms can be implemented as long as it can be engaged to regulate the descent limit of the gate plate 22.

[0196] In the first and second embodiments, the switching movement of the stopper member (the stopper pin 90, the stopper plate 300) between the stopper activated state and the stopper released state is performed manually, but the switching movement may be automated using an actuator (for example, an extendable cylinder, a motor, etc.).

[0197] In the first and second embodiments, the lowering limit regulating device ST (more specifically, the stopper pin 90 and the stopper plate 300 as the stopper member) has a single height setting pattern for the lowering limit of the gate plate 22 to be regulated by the lowering limit regulating device ST (i.e., the predetermined intermediate opening degree to be maintained), but this height setting pattern is not limited to the embodiment. For example, the height of the insertion position of the stopper pin 90 and the stopper plate 300 into the side frame portion 21s (in other words, the height of the pin holes h1 to h3 into which the stopper pin 90 is inserted, and the height of the slits 21sgs and 21sos into which the stopper plate 300 is inserted so as to be removable) may be made selectable, so that the lowering limit of the gate plate 22 can be selectively set and changed from among a plurality of lowering limits having different heights. In this case, the predetermined intermediate opening degree to be maintained by the gate plate 22 can be easily selected from a plurality of different intermediate opening degrees set in advance, and the optimal intermediate opening degree can be selected according to the maintenance work content.

[0198] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the container Ct carried by the container transport vehicle is moved back and forth in the forward and backward directions on the support base B to the initial position A1, and then driven by the container driving devices D1, D2 toward the pushing position A3. However, the container Ct carried by the container transport vehicle may be moved back and forth in the left and right directions on the support base B to the initial position A1, and then driven by the container driving devices D1, D2 toward the pushing position A3.

[0199] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the photoelectric sensor 8 detects that the container Ct has reached the initial position A1, but the arrival of the container Ct at the initial position A1 may be detected by various sensors other than the photoelectric sensor (for example, a proximity sensor provided between the container Ct and the support base B).

[0200] In the first and second embodiments, the hydraulic cylinder 34 is used as the telescopic cylinder that functions as the actuator of the gate lifting device Dg. However, an air cylinder may be used instead of the hydraulic cylinder, or a hydraulic or electric motor may be used as the actuator of the gate lifting device Dg.

[0201] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, a container Ct having a ceiling wall 13 is shown, but the container of the present invention may be a type that does not have a ceiling wall 13, or may be a type that has an opening and closing ceiling.

[0202] In the first and second embodiments, only the tip of the fork F is tapered (for example, conical), but most or all of the fork F including the tip may be tapered.

[0203] In the first and second embodiments, the tip of the fork F is conical and the receiving hole 22ah into which it is inserted is formed into an oval shape, but the receiving hole 22ah may be a circular hole. Alternatively, the tip of the fork F may be a tapered shape other than a cone, such as a polygonal pyramid (e.g., a triangular pyramid, a square pyramid, etc.), in which case the receiving hole 22ah may be a polygonal hole (e.g., a triangle, a square, etc.).

[0204] In the first embodiment, the chain 41 used in the chain transmission mechanism of the container driving device D1 is an endless chain, but a chain with ends (that is, a sprocket-winding type chain) may also be used.

[0205] In the first embodiment, the sensor 45 capable of detecting the amount of rotation of the motor 44 is used as a sensor for detecting whether the container Ct is in a predetermined position (i.e., the initial position A1, the approach position A2, the pushed-in position A3, or the return position A'). However, other sensors, such as a proximity sensor interposed between the container Ct and the support base B, may also be used.

[0206] In addition, in the first embodiment, a fail-safe stopper mechanism 50 for reliably stopping the container Ct at a predetermined position, i.e., the pushing position A3 (when moving forward) or the initial position A1 (when moving back), is shown as being arranged separately and independently from the container driving device D1. However, a stopper mechanism 50 having a similar structure and function may also be arranged separately and independently from the container driving device D2 in the second embodiment.

[0207] In the second embodiment, the container Ct is in the initial position A1 at the extension limit of the hydraulic cylinder 60 arranged between the outer pipe 64 and the inner pipe 63, and in the pushed-in position A3 at the contraction limit. However, a modified example can be implemented in which the container Ct is in the initial position A1 at the contraction limit of the hydraulic cylinder, and in the pushed-in position A3 at the extension limit. In this modified example, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be expected.

[0208] In the first and second embodiments, the fork F is fixed to the opening / closing drive member 35 which is provided separately from the cylinder 34 of the lifting drive device 30 and is driven to move up and down by the cylinder 34. However, the tip of the piston rod of the cylinder 34 or a fixed object at the tip (e.g. a bracket) may also be used as the opening / closing drive member.

[0209] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the locking member 80 has an abutment portion 82 that can abut against the fork F and an engagement portion 81 that can be engaged and disengaged with the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21, which are separated in the axial direction, and the two portions 82, 81 are linked via a transmission portion (shaft portion 85) that can transmit the unlocking force (rotational force) that the abutment portion 82 receives from the fork F to the engagement portion 81. However, such a transmission portion (shaft portion 85) may be omitted, and in that case, for example, the abutment portion 82 and the engagement portion 81 may be integrally connected to each other, so that the engagement portion 81 can be moved in accordance with the movement of the abutment portion 82.

[0210] In the first and second embodiments, the abutment portion 82 provided on the locking member 80 and capable of abutting against the fork F is shown to include a support arm 82a fixed to the transmission portion (shaft portion 85) of the locking member 80, and a roller 82r journaled thereon and abutting against the fork F so as to be able to move toward and away from it; however, the roller 82r can be omitted if necessary, and in that case, for example, the free end of the support arm 82a may be directly abutted against the fork F so as to be able to move toward and away from it.

[0211] In the first and second embodiments, the engaging portion 81 provided on the locking member 80 so as to be engageable with and disengageable from the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 is configured as a hook with a locking claw 81t, and the engaged portion 25 of the gate support frame 21 engageable with and disengageable from the hook is configured as an engaging pin, but such a configuration in which the engaging portion 81 and the engaged portion 25 can be engaged with and disengaged from each other is not limited to the embodiments. For example, contrary to the embodiments, the engaging portion 81 on the locking member 80 side may be configured as an engaging pin, and the engaged portion 25 on the gate support frame 21 side may be configured as a hook. Alternatively, instead of a pivoting hook as in the embodiment, the mating side of the engagement pin may be a receiving member having an engagement recess (e.g., an engagement groove, notch, etc.) or engagement hole that can be engaged and disengaged with the engagement pin, and in this case, the receiving member may be rotated in conjunction with the fork F, similar to the engagement portion 81 in the embodiment, or the engagement pin may be slid back and forth or left and right in conjunction with the fork without rotating the receiving member, thereby engaging and disengaging with the engagement recess or engagement hole of the receiving member.

[0212] In the first and second embodiments, the receiving hole 22ah of the gate plate 22 is a through hole, and the roller 82r of the abutment portion 82 is abutted against the fork F after the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah. However, the front-rear positional relationship between the receiving hole 22ah and the roller 82r may be reversed. That is, the roller 82r may be disposed in front of the receiving hole 22ah so that the roller 82r abuts against the fork F immediately before the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah, and the fork F is inserted into the receiving hole 22ah after abutting against the roller 82r, so that the locking member 80 moves toward the unlocking position 80B. In this case, the receiving hole 22ah in the gate plate 22 does not necessarily have to be a through hole. For example, the receiving hole 22ah may be a bottomed hole as long as a sufficient insertion allowance for the fork F into the receiving hole 22ah can be secured.

[0213] In the first and second embodiments, the gate plate 22 is guided and supported by the gate support frame 21 so as to be vertically slidable, and the gate lifting device Dg, which serves as an opening / closing drive device, drives the gate plate 22 to move up and down to forcibly open and close the entrance 10i of the container Ct. However, the gate plate 22 may be guided and supported by the gate support frame 21 so as to be horizontally slidable, and the opening / closing drive device may reciprocate the gate plate 22 in the horizontal direction to forcibly open and close the entrance 10i of the container Ct.

[0214] In the first and second embodiments, when the container Ct is moved to the approach position A2 relative to the compactor Cp, the insertion depth of the forks F into the receiving holes 22ah of the gate plate 22 is set to be sufficiently long to prevent the forks F from slipping out of the receiving holes 22ah when the gate plate 22 is raised or lowered. However, a slipout prevention mechanism for more reliably preventing the forks F from slipping out may be provided between the opening / closing drive member 35 and the upper end portion 22a of the gate plate 22.

[0215] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d in the gate support frame 21 has at least one of the front-rising inclined surface 101 and the rear-rising inclined surface 102, and the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 has engagement surfaces 200, 200', 200" that can engage with the sloped portions of the inclined surfaces 101, 102 or the upper edge portions e of the inclined surfaces 101, 102, but the manner of mutual contact between the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d and the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 is not limited to the embodiments.

[0216] For example, the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 may have an engagement surface (not shown) that can engage with the lower edge portions of the inclined surfaces 101, 102. Also, a part or all of the upper surface of the lower frame portion 21d may be formed as a substantially horizontal flat surface rather than an inclined surface, or the lower end surface of the gate plate 22 may also be formed as a substantially horizontal flat surface rather than a concave or inclined surface. Also, the engagement, i.e., contact, between at least a part of the inclined surfaces 101, 102 and the engagement surfaces 200, 200', 200" may be any of surface contact, line contact, and point contact. [Explanation of symbols]

[0217] Cp...compactor, Ct...container, Dg...gate lifting device, H1, H2...first and second holding mechanisms, ST...descent limit control device, 10...container body, 10i...entrance, 21...gate support frame, 21s...left and right side frame portions of gate support frame, 21sg...support groove, 21sos, 21sgs...outer slits and inner slits as multiple slits, 22...gate plate, 22s...left and right portions of gate plate, 90...stopper pin as stopper member, 300...stopper plate as stopper member, 300X, 300Y...first and second insertion positions, 302...recess

Claims

1. A gate opening and closing device for a container for a compactor, comprising: a container body (10) having at one end thereof an entrance (10i) opened and closed by a gate plate (22); and a gate support frame (21) disposed at one end of the container body (10) and supporting the gate plate (22) so as to be vertically slidable, wherein when waste is pushed from a compactor (Cp) into the container body (10) through the entrance (10i), the gate plate (22) is raised and lowered by a gate lifting device (Dg) to open and close the entrance (10i), A gate opening and closing device for a compactor container, comprising a descent limit regulating device (ST) capable of regulating at any time the descent of the gate plate (22) below a height of a predetermined intermediate opening degree.

2. The left and right side frame portions (21s) of the gate support frame (21) are provided with a pair of left and right support grooves (21sg) that are fitted with and support the left and right portions (22s) of the gate plate (22) so as to guide the left and right portions (22s) so as to be vertically slidable, 2. The gate opening and closing device in a compactor container according to claim 1, characterized in that the descent limit regulating device (ST) has a stopper member (90, 300) that is supported by the gate support frame (21) and protrudes into the support groove (21sg) and can selectively take a stopper activated state in which the gate plate (22) can be engaged with the gate plate (22) to regulate the gate plate (22) from descending below the height of the intermediate opening degree, and a stopper released state in which the gate plate (22) retracts from within the support groove (21sg) to allow the gate plate (22) to descend below the height of the intermediate opening degree.

3. 3. The gate opening and closing device for a compactor container according to claim 2, wherein the stopper member is composed of a stopper pin (90) removably inserted into the left and right side frame portions (21s) of the gate support frame (21) from their outer sides.

4. The stopper member is composed of a stopper plate (300) which is removably inserted into the left and right side frame portions (21s) of the gate support frame (21) from the outer side thereof, the stopper plate (300) is slidably supported in a plurality of slits (21sos, 21sgs) provided in the side frame portion (21s) and is movable within the side frame portion (21s) between a first insertion position (300X) in which the stopper is released and a second insertion position (300Y) in which the stopper is activated; 3. A gate opening and closing device for a compactor container as described in claim 2, characterized in that at least some of the slits (21sos) have a recess (302) into which a portion of the stopper plate (300) is recessed so that the stopper plate (300) is lower when in the second insertion position (300Y) than when in the first insertion position (300X), and the recess (302) makes it possible to suppress movement of the stopper plate (300) from the second insertion position (300Y) to the first insertion position (300X).

5. 3. The gate opening and closing device in a compactor container according to claim 2, characterized in that a first holding mechanism (H1) is provided between the gate support frame (21) and the stopper member (90, 300) for holding the stopper member (90, 300) in the stopper operating state to the side frame portion (21s).

6. 3. The gate opening and closing device for a container for a compactor according to claim 2, characterized in that a second holding mechanism (H2) is provided between an outer surface of the container (Ct) and the stopper member (90, 300) for detachably holding the stopper member (90, 300) in the stopper release state to the outer surface of the container (Ct).

7. 3. The gate opening and closing device for a compactor container according to claim 2, wherein the descent limit regulating device (ST) is configured so that the height of the descent limit of the gate plate (22) regulated thereby can be selectively set and changed from a plurality of descent limits having different heights, and the predetermined intermediate opening degree can be selected from a plurality of different intermediate opening degrees set in advance.

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