Garbage truck

Abstract

To provide a garbage truck capable of efficiently loading garbage.SOLUTION: A garbage truck includes: a garbage storage box arranged behind a vehicle body; a garbage input box connected to a rear part of the garbage storage box; a loading device 5 arranged in the garbage input box and configured to take a loading action to transfer garbage in the garbage input box to the garbage storage box; and a control device 7 for controlling the loading action of the loading device 5. The control device 7 includes: loading state determination means 72 for determining whether or not an amount of garbage put into the garbage input box has reached a loading reference value used as a criterion for determining whether the loading action is to be performed by the loading device 5; and drive control means 73 for starting the loading action of the loading device 5 when the loading state determination means 72 determines that the input amount has reached the loading reference value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refuse collection vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of the above-mentioned garbage collection vehicle, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a garbage box and garbage dumping chamber are provided behind the driver's cab, and a pressure plate is provided in the garbage dumping chamber for transferring garbage to the garbage box is known.

[0003] The refuse collection vehicle is also provided with a switch for activating the pressure plate, and an operator operates the switch to activate the pressure plate while watching the situation inside the refuse insertion chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-170644 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned conventional garbage collection vehicles, the timing of transferring the garbage in the garbage chamber to the shipping box is left to the discretion of the worker. For example, the efficiency of loading garbage into the shipping box may decrease depending on the timing at which the worker operates the switch, such as when the pressure plate is activated when there is only a small amount of garbage in the garbage chamber, or when the pressure plate is forgotten to be activated even though the garbage chamber is full of garbage.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a refuse collection vehicle that can efficiently load refuse. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The garbage collection vehicle of the present invention comprises: A garbage collection box disposed at the rear of the vehicle body; A trash input box connected to the rear of the trash storage box; A loading device disposed in the trash bin, the loading device being configured to perform a loading operation to transfer trash in the trash bin to the trash storage box; A control device that controls the loading operation of the loading device, The control device includes a loading state determination means for determining whether or not the amount of garbage input into the garbage input box has reached a loading reference value that is a criterion for determining whether or not to cause the loading device to perform the loading operation; and a drive control means for starting the loading operation of the loading device when the loading state determination means determines that the input amount has reached the loading reference value.

[0008] According to the garbage collection vehicle of the above configuration, the drive control means is configured to start the loading operation of the loading device when the amount of garbage put into the garbage dump box reaches the loading reference value, so it is possible to avoid starting the loading operation of the loading device when only a small amount of garbage has been put into the garbage dump box, or not starting the loading operation of the loading device and filling the garbage dump box with garbage, thereby making it possible to efficiently load garbage into the garbage dump box.

[0009] In the garbage collection vehicle of the present invention, The loading state determination means may make the determination after determining the amount of trash thrown into the trash throw box as the amount of trash thrown into the trash throw box.

[0010] In this manner, the drive control means is configured to start the loading operation of the loading device when the amount of garbage put into the garbage dump box reaches a loading reference value, thereby preventing the loading operation of the loading device from starting when only a small amount of garbage has been put into the garbage dump box, or preventing the garbage dump box from becoming filled with garbage because the loading operation of the loading device has not been started, thereby enabling garbage to be loaded into the garbage dump box efficiently.

[0011] In addition, in the garbage collection vehicle of the present invention, The loading state determination means may make the determination based on the amount of trash that is taken up by the trash in the trash dump box.

[0012] According to the garbage collection vehicle having the above configuration, the drive control means is configured to start the loading operation of the loading device when the occupancy rate of garbage in the space inside the garbage dump box reaches a loading reference value, thereby preventing the loading operation of the loading device from being started when only a small amount of garbage has been dumped into the garbage dump box, or the garbage dump box becoming filled with garbage without the loading operation of the loading device being started, thereby enabling garbage to be loaded into the garbage dump box efficiently.

[0013] In addition, in the garbage collection vehicle of the present invention, The loading state determination means may make the determination using the weight of the garbage in the garbage dump box as the dump amount.

[0014] According to the garbage collection vehicle of the above configuration, the drive control means is configured to start the loading operation of the loading device when the weight of garbage in the garbage dump box reaches the loading reference value, thereby preventing the loading operation of the loading device from starting when only a small amount of garbage has been dumped into the garbage dump box, or preventing the garbage dump box from becoming filled with garbage because the loading operation of the loading device has not been started, thereby enabling garbage to be loaded into the garbage dump box efficiently.

[0015] In the garbage collection vehicle of the present invention, The loading state determination means may be configured to initialize a result of the determination after the drive control means starts the loading operation of the loading device.

[0016] According to the garbage collection vehicle having the above configuration, after starting the loading operation of the loading device, preparations can be made to start the next loading operation, so that the loading operation of the loading device can be efficiently repeated.

[0017] In the garbage collection vehicle of the present invention, The control device has a danger determination means for determining whether or not a worker is present within a danger area set behind the waste bin, The drive control means includes: The loading operation of the loading device may be started when the danger determination means determines that an operator has not entered the danger area and when the loading state determination means determines that the input amount has reached the loading reference value.

[0018] According to the refuse collection vehicle having the above-mentioned configuration, the loading operation of the loading device can be carried out safely and efficiently. Effect of the Invention

[0019] As described above, the refuse collection vehicle of the present invention can provide the excellent effect of being able to efficiently load refuse. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a refuse collection vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration of the refuse collection vehicle according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an imaging area of ​​an imaging means of the refuse collection vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a throw-in area set in the refuse collection vehicle according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, a refuse collection vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the refuse collection vehicle 1 according to this embodiment includes a chassis 2 having a driver's cab 21, It comprises a garbage collection box 3 arranged at the rear of the vehicle body (more specifically, behind the driver's cab 21 on the chassis 2), a garbage drop box 4 connected to the rear of the garbage collection box 3, a loading device 5 arranged inside the garbage drop box 4, an imaging device 6 that takes images of the area behind the garbage drop box 4, and a control device 7 that controls the operation of the loading device 5.

[0023] The dust collection box 3 is a box-shaped part for storing dust, and has an opening 31 that opens toward the rear.

[0024] The trash dump box 4 has an insertion opening 41 that opens rearward at the rear end. The trash dump box 4 is designed so that trash is dumped through the insertion opening 41.

[0025] The loading device 5 is disposed inside the trash drop box 4. The loading device 5 of this embodiment also has a pusher plate 51 that pushes the trash inside the drop opening 41 into the trash storage box 3.

[0026] The imaging device 6 is configured to capture an image of the area behind the trash bin 4. The area behind the trash bin 4 is a work area where a worker performs the work of inserting trash into the insert opening 41.

[0027] 3, the area captured by the imaging device 6 (imaging area A1) may capture the input opening 41 and the inside of the trash input box 4. The imaging device 6 may be configured so that its orientation (the orientation in which the imaging area A1 is captured) can be changed.

[0028] In addition, since the imaging device 6 captures the input opening 41 from above looking down, the lower edge 41a of the input opening 41 is captured at the top of the captured image, and the upper edge 41b of the input opening 41 is captured at the bottom of the image (below the lower edge 41a of the input opening 41).

[0029] Furthermore, although the imaging device 6 in this embodiment is installed above the input opening 41, it may be installed in another location.

[0030] The control unit can control the loading device 5 based on the image captured by the imaging device 6. This control unit is configured by a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), non-volatile memory elements such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores in advance various programs executed by the CPU and data necessary for the execution of the programs, and a volatile memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a so-called working memory of the CPU, and its peripheral circuits.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, the control unit configured in this manner executes a program to functionally include a danger determination means 71 that determines the presence or absence of a worker in a danger area (the area marked A2 in Figure 3) set behind the garbage drop box 4, a loading state determination means 72 that determines whether the amount of garbage dropped into the garbage drop box 4 has reached a loading reference value that is the criterion for determining whether or not to cause the loading device 5 to perform a loading operation (hereinafter referred to as loading determination), and a drive control means 73 that starts the loading operation of the loading device 5 when the loading state determination means 72 determines that the amount of garbage dropped into the garbage drop box 4 has reached the loading reference value.

[0032] The danger determination means 71 is configured to execute a process of setting a danger area A2 which is deemed dangerous if a worker enters the imaging area, a process of detecting a worker from an image captured by the imaging device 6, and a process of determining whether or not a worker has entered the danger area.

[0033] The danger determination means 71 may be configured to detect people other than the worker (such as passersby) or detect parts of a person (such as the head or limbs). Also, when it is determined that a worker has entered a danger area, it may be configured to notify that fact.

[0034] The loading state determination means 72 is configured to execute a process of setting a throw-in area A3 within the imaging area A1 where it is determined that trash has been thrown into the trash throw-in box 4, a process of detecting trash from an image captured by the imaging device 6, and a process of making a loading determination after taking the number of pieces of trash thrown into the trash throw-in box 4 (throw-in number) as the throw-in amount. The loading state determination means 72 detects a garbage bag, which is a type of garbage, based on an image captured by the imaging device 6, for example, and when the garbage bag crosses the lower edge 41a of the throw-in opening 41 from the top to the bottom of the image, detects that the garbage bag has been thrown into the garbage throw-in box 4 by the worker, and increases the throw-in number each time the throw-in of trash is detected.

[0035] The input area A3 may be set as a range coinciding with the input opening 41 and may be stored in the ROM in advance. The loading state determination means 72 may store trash other than the garbage bag G (e.g., cardboard boxes, etc.) as trash, and detect that the stored trash has been input into the trash input box 4 when the stored trash is present in the captured image.

[0036] Incidentally, after the drive control means 73 starts the loading operation of the loading device 5, the determination result of the loading state determination means 72 is initialized.

[0037] The loading state determination means 72 may be configured to initialize the determination result based on, for example, the posture of the loading device 5 (the posture at the completion of the loading operation) or the detection of completion of the loading of the garbage from the garbage bin 4 to the garbage storage bin 3, the output of a command to start the loading operation to the loading device 5 (the actuator for operating the loading device 5), the occupancy rate of the garbage in the garbage bin 4 falling below a predetermined value, the weight of the garbage in the garbage bin 4 falling below a predetermined value, etc. The loading state determination means 72 may be configured to monitor any one of the above conditions and initialize the determination result when the monitored condition is satisfied, or may be configured to monitor a plurality of the above conditions and initialize the determination result when any one of the monitored conditions is satisfied. Furthermore, in the case where the amount of trash thrown into the trash dump box 4 (the number of pieces thrown in) is used as the amount of trash thrown in, as in this embodiment, a process of initializing the amount of trash thrown in (a process of resetting the number of pieces thrown in to zero) may also be executed when initializing the judgment result.

[0038] The drive control means 73 of this embodiment is configured to start the loading operation of the loading device 5 when the loading state determination means 72 determines that the input amount has reached the loading reference value when the danger determination means 71 has not determined that there is a dangerous state. Note that when starting the loading operation of the loading device 5, the operator may be alerted by audible (warning voice "Loading will start", horn) or visual (lamp, character display).

[0039] The loading operation started by the drive control means 73 automatically stops after all the series of operations included in the loading operation have been performed. When the danger determination means 71 determines that a dangerous state exists, that is, when a part of a human body overlaps the danger area A2, the loading device 5 is stopped. The loading device 5 may be automatically stopped when the amount of garbage input into the garbage input box 4 decreases by a predetermined amount.

[0040] The configuration of the sewage collection vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is as described above. Next, the operation of the sewage collection vehicle 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0041] The loading state determination means 72 counts the number of pieces of trash thrown into the trash throw box 4 (the throw-in number) and determines whether or not the throw-in number has reached a loading reference value.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the danger determination means 71 continuously determines whether or not a worker is present in the danger area.

[0043] Then, when the danger determination means 71 determines that a worker has not entered the danger area and the loading state determination means 72 determines that the amount of garbage dumped into the garbage dump box 4 has reached the loading standard value (e.g., four bags), the drive control means 73 starts the loading operation of the loading device 5.

[0044] Then, after the drive control means 73 starts the loading operation of the loading device 5, the determination result of the loading state determination means 72 is initialized.

[0045] As described above, according to the garbage collection vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the drive control means 73 is configured to start the loading operation of the loading device 5 when the amount of garbage dumped into the garbage dump box 4 (in this embodiment, the number of garbage dumped into the garbage dump box 4) reaches a loading reference value, thereby achieving the excellent effect of efficiently loading the garbage in the garbage dump box 4 into the garbage storage box 3.

[0046] For example, in a conventional garbage collection vehicle 1, if the loading operation of the loading device 5 is started when only a small amount of garbage has been put into the garbage dump box 4, the garbage loading efficiency decreases. However, in the garbage collection vehicle 1 of this embodiment, if the amount of garbage put into the garbage dump box 4 has not reached the loading standard value, the loading operation of the loading device 5 is not started, thereby making it difficult for the garbage loading efficiency to decrease.

[0047] Furthermore, if the loading operation of the loading device 5 is not started for a certain period of time, the garbage dump box 4 may become filled with garbage, and the worker may have to wait while holding the garbage in his / her hands until an empty space becomes available in the garbage dump box 4. However, in the garbage collection vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the loading operation of the loading device 5 is started when the amount of garbage dumped into the garbage dump box 4 reaches the loading standard value, so that the worker can smoothly dump garbage into the garbage dump box 4.

[0048] Furthermore, if excessive garbage accumulates in the garbage dump box 4, the load on the loading device 5 (the load applied when the loading operation is performed) increases; however, with the garbage collection vehicle of this embodiment, the garbage in the garbage dump box 4 can be transferred to the garbage storage box 3 before an excessive amount of garbage accumulates in the garbage dump box 4, thereby reducing the load on the loading device 5 and enabling the loading operation to be carried out smoothly.

[0049] Furthermore, in the garbage collection vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the judgment result is initialized after the drive control means 73 starts the loading operation of the loading device 5, so that after starting the loading operation of the loading device 5, preparations can be made to start the next loading operation, thereby making it possible to efficiently repeat the loading operation of the loading device 5.

[0050] In the case where the loading state determination means 72 derives the number of pieces of garbage thrown into the garbage dump box 4 as the amount of garbage thrown in, as in the garbage collection vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the imaging device 6 only needs to be able to capture an image of garbage moving from the worker's hand toward the inside of the garbage dump box 4, so it is possible to derive the amount of garbage thrown in even if the proportion of the inside of the garbage dump box 4 captured in the imaging area is small or the inside of the garbage dump box 4 is not captured in the imaging area. Therefore, it is possible to increase the proportion of the work area captured in the imaging area, thereby improving safety.

[0051] Furthermore, in the garbage collection vehicle of this embodiment, the loading operation of the loading device 5 is started when the danger determination means 71 determines that no worker is in the danger area and the loading state determination means 72 determines that the loading amount has reached the loading reference value, so that the loading operation of the loading device 5 can be performed safely and efficiently.

[0052] The refuse collection vehicle of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the loading state determination means 72 was configured to perform loading determination after determining the number of pieces of trash thrown into the trash throw box 4 as the throw-in amount, but for example, it may be configured to perform loading determination after determining the ratio of the space in the trash throw box 4 that the trash occupies as the throw-in amount. At this time, as shown in Fig. 4, the area (e.g., the number of pixels) of the trash present on the throw-in area A3 surrounded by the periphery of the throw-in opening 41 (lower edge 41a, upper edge 41b, left and right side edges 41c) is calculated, and the throw-in amount can be grasped by calculating the ratio of the area of ​​the trash to the area of ​​the throw-in area A3.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the loading state determination means 72 is configured to perform loading determination after taking the number of pieces of trash thrown into the trash throw box 4 as the throw-in amount, but for example, it may be configured to perform loading determination after taking the weight of the trash in the trash throw box 4 as the throw-in amount. Note that when the weight of the trash in the trash throw box 4 is taken as the throw-in amount, for example, a load cell or the like may be used.

[0055] Whether the input amount is the proportion of the space in the garbage dump box 4 that the garbage occupies, or whether the input amount is the weight of the garbage in the garbage dump box 4, the drive control means 73 is configured to start the loading operation of the loading device 5 when the amount of garbage input into the garbage dump box 4 reaches a loading reference value, so it is possible to avoid the loading operation of the loading device 5 starting at a stage when only a small amount of garbage has been input into the garbage dump box 4, or the loading operation of the loading device 5 not being started and the garbage dump box 4 becoming filled with garbage, thereby enabling garbage to be loaded into the garbage dump box 4 efficiently.

[0056] The loading state determination means 72 may be configured to perform a loading determination after determining the loading amount based on a plurality of items among the number of pieces of trash thrown into the trash throw box 4, the ratio of the space occupied by the trash in the trash throw box 4, and the weight of the trash in the trash throw box 4. That is, the loading state determination means 72 may be configured to perform a loading determination after determining the loading amount based on at least one of the items among the number of pieces of trash thrown into the trash throw box 4, the ratio of the space occupied by the trash in the trash throw box 4, and the weight of the trash in the trash throw box 4, and may be configured to perform a loading determination so as to start a loading operation when both the number and weight of the trash are exceeded.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the operation of the loading device 5 is controlled by the control device 7, that is, the operation of the loading device 5 is automatically controlled, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the operation of the loading device 5 may be manually controlled.

[0058] More specifically, the loading device 5 may be configured to have an operation unit for an operator who throws garbage into the garbage dump box 4 from the throw-in opening 41 to operate the loading device 5. This operation unit is provided with an input unit for inputting various types of information, such as an ON / OFF button (operation input unit) and switches for the loading device 5, an emergency stop button for the loading device 5, a reset button, etc. This operation unit also has various input units, such as switches, buttons, dials, etc., for setting the control of the loading device 5 and changing the settings.

[0059] The loading device 5 of this embodiment operates in a momentary manner (automatic return type). For example, when the input unit is turned ON, this triggers a sequence operation of the loading device 5, which automatically stops when a series of sequence operations is completed. The loading device 5 may operate in an alternate manner (holding type) in which the operation continues after the input unit is turned ON until it is turned OFF.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the loading state determination means 72 is configured to detect trash put into the trash drop box 4 by the worker based on the image captured by the imaging device 6, and to increase the number of trash put in each time trash is detected, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the loading state determination means 72 may be configured to have a sensor that detects that trash has passed through the input opening 41 of the trash drop box 4, and to increase the number of trash put in each time the sensor detects the passage of trash.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the danger determination means 71 stores an area different from the input area A3 as the danger area A2 and uses it as a criterion for determination, but the danger area A2 may coincide with the input area A3.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the danger determination means 71 is configured to execute the process of setting a danger area A2 that is deemed dangerous if a worker enters the image capture area based on an image captured by the image capture device 6, the process of detecting a worker from the image captured by the image capture device 6, and the process of determining whether a person has entered the danger area A2, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, an electromagnetic wave (including infrared) or optical human presence sensor or a sensor that detects the approach of a detection object (such as a tag) carried by a worker may be installed at the rear of the garbage dump box 4, and the loading device 5 may be stopped when these sensors detect that a person has entered the danger area A2, and the loading operation of the loading device 4 may be started when the sensor determines that a person has not entered the danger area and the above-mentioned loading state determination means determines that the loading amount has reached the loading reference value. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] Reference Signs List 1: Refuse collection vehicle, 2: vehicle chassis, 3: refuse storage box, 4: refuse input box, 5: loading device, 6: imaging device, 7: control device, 21: driver's cab, 31: opening, 41: input opening, 51: push plate, 71: danger determination means, 72: loading state determination means, 73: drive control means, A1: imaging area A2: Danger area

Claims

1. A garbage collection box disposed at the rear of the vehicle body; A trash input box connected to the rear of the trash storage box; A loading device disposed in the trash bin, the loading device being configured to perform a loading operation to transfer trash in the trash bin to the trash storage box; A control device that controls the loading operation of the loading device, The control device includes a loading state determination means for determining whether or not the amount of garbage input into the garbage input box has reached a loading reference value that is a criterion for determining whether or not to cause the loading device to perform the loading operation; and a drive control means for starting the loading operation of the loading device when the loading state determination means determines that the input amount has reached the loading reference value. Refuse collection truck.

2. The loading state determination means performs the determination after determining the number of pieces of garbage thrown into the garbage throw-in box as the throw-in amount. Refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1.

3. The loading state determination means performs the determination by determining the amount of trash that is occupied by the trash in the trash bin. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The loading state determination means performs the determination using the weight of the garbage in the garbage dump box as the dump amount. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 2 or 3.

5. the loading state determination means is configured to initialize a result of the determination after the drive control means starts the loading operation of the loading device. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The control device has a danger determination means for determining whether or not a worker is present within a danger area set behind the waste bin, The drive control means The loading operation of the loading device is started in a state in which the danger determination means determines that an operator has not entered the danger area and the loading state determination means determines that the loading amount has reached the loading reference value. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images