MECHANICAL ARM
A mechanical arm designed to provide automated garbage collection with smooth, constant movement (i.e. movement that has minimal jerk/shock) thereby resulting in limited shock stress on the components and leading to high durability. The mechanical arm including a horizontal displacement system having a plurality of sections rollingly engaged to one another and a motor mounted to an immobile section for drivingly extending section in a generally horizontal orientation, a vertical displacement system having a plurality of masts rollingly engaged to one another and a motor mounted to a first mast for drivingly extending a second mast in a generally vertical orientation, and/or a grabber system having a plurality of fingers mounted to a frame and operated by a single motor.
1 .- 14 . (canceled)
15 . A grabber system for a mechanical arm of a refuse collection truck, the grabber system comprising:
a first mast;
a second mast engaged to the first mast and movable relative to the first mast in a direction being substantially perpendicular to a ground surface;
a frame;
a first finger and a second finger, the first and second fingers pivotally mounted on the frame and movable between an open position and a closed position to grab a bin;
a single motor drivingly engaged to the first finger and the second finger; and
a drive assembly drivingly engaged by the single motor and configured to drivingly engage the first and second fingers.
16 . The grabber system of claim 15 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:
a driving gear drivingly engaged by the single motor;
a driven gear drivingly engaged to the driving gear;
a driving sprocket drivingly engaged by the single motor; and
a driven sprocket drivingly engaged to the driving sprocket via a chain looped around the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket,
wherein the driven gear and the driven sprocket are configured to move the first and second fingers between the open and closed positions.
17 . The grabber system of claim 16 , wherein the driving gear and the driving sprocket are coaxially aligned.
18 . The grabber system of claim 16 , comprising a first shaft and a second shaft coupled with the frame, wherein:
the first finger is coupled to the first shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the first shaft; and
the second finger is coupled to the second shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the second shaft; and
each of the driven sprocket and the driven gear is engaged to a respective one of the first and second shafts.
19 . The grabber system of claim 15 , wherein the single motor is an electric motor, and wherein the drive assembly comprises a gearbox.
20 . The grabber system of claim 15 , comprising a first shaft and a second shaft coupled with the frame, wherein:
the first finger is coupled to the first shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the first shaft; and
the second finger is coupled to the second shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the second shaft.
21 . The grabber system of claim 20 , wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are parallel with each other and extend from the frame in the direction substantially perpendicular to the ground.
22 . The grabber system of claim 20 , wherein:
the first and second fingers are secured to the first and second shafts, respectively, by spline connections; and
the first and second fingers are rotatable with the first and second shafts, respectively, to grab and release the bin.
23 . The grabber system of claim 22 , comprising a third finger secured to, and rotatable with, the first shaft.
24 . The grabber system of claim 23 , wherein the second finger is positioned, in the direction substantially perpendicular to the ground, between the first finger and the second finger.
25 . A refuse collection vehicle comprising:
a vehicle chassis; and
a grabber system coupled with the vehicle chassis, the grabber system comprising:
a first mast;
a second mast engaged to the first mast and movable relative to the first mast in a direction being substantially perpendicular to a ground surface;
a frame;
a first finger and a second finger, the first and second fingers pivotally mounted on the frame and movable between an open position and a closed position to grab a bin;
a single motor drivingly engaged to the first and second fingers; and
a drive assembly engaged by the single motor and configured to drivingly engage the first and second fingers.
26 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 25 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:
a driving gear drivingly engaged by the single motor;
a driven gear drivingly engaged to the driving gear;
a driving sprocket drivingly engaged by the single motor; and
a driven sprocket drivingly engaged to the driving sprocket via a chain looped around the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket,
wherein the driven gear and the driven sprocket are configured to move the first and second fingers between the open and closed positions.
27 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the driving gear and the driving sprocket are coaxially aligned.
28 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 26 , comprising a first shaft and a second shaft coupled with the frame, wherein:
the first finger is coupled to the first shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the first shaft; and
the second finger is coupled to the second shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the second shaft; and
each of the driven sprocket and the driven gear is engaged to a respective one of the first and second shafts.
29 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 25 , wherein the single motor is an electric motor, and wherein the drive assembly comprises a gearbox.
30 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 25 , comprising a first shaft and a second shaft coupled with the frame, wherein:
the first finger is coupled to the first shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the first shaft; and
the second finger is coupled to the second shaft and is pivotally mounted to the frame by the second shaft.
31 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 30 , wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are parallel with each other and extend from the frame in the direction substantially perpendicular to the ground.
32 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 30 , wherein:
the first and second fingers are secured to the first and second shafts, respectively, by spline connections; and
the first and second fingers are rotatable with the first and second shafts, respectively, to grab and release the bin.
33 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 32 , comprising a third finger secured to, and rotatable with, the first shaft.
34 . The refuse collection vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the second finger is positioned, in the direction substantially perpendicular to the ground, between the first finger and the second finger.