Pack through eject panel
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.
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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , wherein the opening in the ejector panel is at least partially obstructed during the unloading sequence.
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 . The waste collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising a motor in driving engagement with the compactor.
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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the opening in the ejector panel is at least partially obstructed during the unloading sequence.
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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the ejector panel comprises moving the ejector panel relative to rails secured to the container.