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US-12617608-B2 - Pack through eject panel

US12617608B2US 12617608 B2US12617608 B2US 12617608B2US-12617608-B2

Abstract

There is disclosed a waste collecting device having a container for receiving waste therein. The container has an end wall and an ejector panel. The container encloses a waste receiving volume. The ejector panel has an opening therethrough for allowing access to the waste receiving volume for receiving the waste. The waste collecting device further has a compactor outside the waste receiving volume being operable for pushing the waste in the container through the opening. The ejector panel is movable within the waste receiving volume and relative to a floor of the container for pushing the waste out of the waste receiving volume. A method of operating a waste collecting device is also disclosed.

Inventors

  • Claude Boivin
  • Eric Boivin
  • Hugo MARSAN

Assignees

  • THE HEIL CO.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20240430

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A waste collecting device configured for use mounted on a vehicle, the waste collecting device comprising: a container for receiving waste therein, the container having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end along a longitudinal axis, the container comprising: an end wall located at the first end; and an ejector panel, the container enclosing a waste receiving volume between the end wall and the ejector panel; a compactor located adjacent the second end of the container outside the waste receiving volume; and means for guiding waste towards the waste receiving volume while the waste is being compacted by the compactor, the means extending outward from a surface of the ejector panel, wherein, during a compaction operation, the compactor is configured to push waste through an opening in the ejector panel into the waste receiving volume, and wherein, during an unloading sequence, the ejector panel is configured to push waste through and out of the waste receiving volume by moving along the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends within the waste receiving volume and relative to both a floor of the container and the compactor.
  2. 2 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , wherein a footprint area of the ejector panel corresponds to an internal cross-sectional area of the container taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
  3. 3 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , wherein the end wall is a door pivotally mounted to a remainder of the container, the door being pivotable between a closed position and an opened position, the door allowing access to the waste receiving volume in the opened position for unloading the container.
  4. 4 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising a blocking device coupled to the ejector panel and configured to inhibit waste in the waste receiving volume from passing through the opening in the ejector panel, wherein the blocking device is configured to move between a first position in which the blocking device at least partially obstructs the opening and a second position in which the blocking device does not obstruct the opening.
  5. 5 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , wherein the compactor is a screw conveyor rotatable along a rotation axis, the screw conveyor comprising a screw in driving engagement with a motor.
  6. 6 . The waste collecting device of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the screw extends through at least a portion of the opening in the ejector panel during compaction of the waste by the compactor.
  7. 7 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , wherein the opening in the ejector panel is at least partially obstructed during the unloading sequence.
  8. 8 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , wherein: the container further comprises a second end wall located at the second end, the second end wall defining a waste opening therethrough.
  9. 9 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising a motor in driving engagement with the compactor.
  10. 10 . A vehicle for collecting waste, the vehicle comprising: a frame; and a waste collecting device secured to the frame, the waste collecting device comprising: a container for receiving waste therein, the container having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end along a longitudinal axis, the container comprising: an end wall located at the first end; and an ejector panel, the container enclosing a waste receiving volume between the end wall and the ejector panel; a compactor located adjacent the second end of the container outside the waste receiving volume; and means for guiding waste towards the waste receiving volume while the waste is being compacted by the compactor, the means extending outward from a surface of the ejector panel, wherein, during a compaction operation, the compactor is configured to push the waste through an opening in the ejector panel into the waste receiving volume, and wherein, during an unloading sequence, the ejector panel is configured to push waste through and out of the waste receiving volume by moving along the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends within the waste receiving volume and relative to both a floor of the container and the compactor.
  11. 11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a blocking device coupled to the ejector panel and configured to inhibit waste in the waste receiving volume from passing through the opening in the ejector panel.
  12. 12 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the compactor is a screw conveyor rotatable along a rotation axis, the screw conveyor comprising a screw in driving engagement with a motor.
  13. 13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the screw extends through at least a portion of the opening in the ejector panel during compaction of the waste by the compactor.
  14. 14 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the opening in the ejector panel is at least partially obstructed during the unloading sequence.
  15. 15 . A method of operating a waste collecting device, the method comprising: receiving waste in a compactor located outside a waste receiving volume of a container; compacting the waste using the compactor, wherein, during a compaction operation, the compactor is configured to push waste through an opening defined in an ejector panel; pushing the waste into the waste receiving volume through the opening defined in the ejector panel, the waste being guided towards the waste receiving volume, while the waste is being compacted by the compactor, by means for guiding waste, the means extending outward from a surface of the ejector panel; and moving, during an unloading sequence, the ejector panel relative to a floor of the container and relative to the compactor along a longitudinal axis of the waste receiving volume to push waste through and out of the waste receiving volume of the container.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: while moving the ejector panel, causing a blocking device to at least partially obstruct the opening in the ejector panel.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein pushing the waste in the waste receiving volume through the opening defined in the ejector panel comprises positioning a blocking device in a position in which waste is uninhibited from entering the waste receiving volume through the opening.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein: the compactor is a screw conveyor rotatable along a rotation axis; and compacting the waste comprises rotating a screw of the screw conveyor along the rotation axis.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the screw extends through at least a portion of the opening in the ejector panel during compaction of the waste by the compactor.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the ejector panel comprises moving the ejector panel relative to rails secured to the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/816,597, filed on Aug. 1, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/966,484, filed on Jul. 31, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,407,586, which is a National Stage Application under 35 USC § 371 and claims the benefit of International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2018/050149, filed on Feb. 9, 2018, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. FIELD The improvements generally relate to the field of waste collecting devices and more specifically to systems and methods used to compact waste and to unload waste containers. BACKGROUND Existing waste collecting devices typically have a container and a hydraulic piston that is used to lift the container at an angle relative to the ground. In such devices, the wastes flow out of the container with gravity. These devices may be unsuitable in waste facilities having a low-height ceiling. Moreover, lifting the container might be dangerous because the center of gravity of the container is raised at a high level above ground. This impairs the stability of a vehicle carrying the container. Moreover, hydraulic systems are very expensive, energy consuming, and might be prone to failure in low temperature operating conditions. Hence, improvements are possible. SUMMARY In accordance with a first embodiment, there is provided a waste collecting device configured for use mounted on a vehicle, the waste collecting device comprising a container for receiving waste therein, the container having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end along a longitudinal axis, the container further having an end wall located at the first end and an ejector panel located at the second end, the container enclosing a waste receiving volume between the end wall and the ejector panel, the ejector panel having an opening therethrough for allowing access to the waste receiving volume for receiving the waste, the waste collecting device further having a compactor located adjacent the second end and being outside the waste receiving volume, the compactor operable for pushing the waste in the container through the opening, the ejector panel movable along the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends within the waste receiving volume and relative to a floor of the container for pushing the waste out of the waste receiving volume when unloading the container. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, a footprint area of the ejector panel corresponds to an internal cross-sectional area of the container taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the end wall is a door pivotally mounted to a remainder of the container, the door being pivotable between a closed position and an opened position, the door allowing access to the waste receiving volume in the opened position for emptying the container. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the waste collecting device further comprises a blocking device operable for closing the opening when the ejector panel moves between the first and second ends for pushing the waste out of the container. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the blocking device is secured to the ejector panel, the blocking device including two stems movable along a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the opening between a first position in which the two stems extend through the opening and a second position in which the two stems are offset from the opening. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the compactor is a screw conveyor rotatable along a rotation axis, the screw conveyor including a screw in driving engagement with a motor. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the waste collecting device further comprises a motor secured to the ejector panel, the motor being in driving engagement with rails secured to lateral walls of the container, the rails and the lateral walls extending between the first end and the second end, the motor operable to move the ejector panel relative to the rails. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the container includes an upper half and a lower half, the upper half defining the end wall and the ejector panel, the lower half defining the floor of the container, the upper half being slidably movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the lower half. Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the waste collecting device further comprises rails secured to lateral walls of the container and a motor, the motor being selectively drivingly engageable in a compacting configuration and a discharging configuration, the motor being in driving engagement with the compactor in the compacting configuration, the motor being in driving engagement with the rails in the discharging configuration for moving the ejector panel.