CA1051389A

CA1051389A - Method and apparatus for refuse handling

Info

Publication number: CA1051389A
Application number: CA267,995A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Donald J. Hopkins; R. Houston Ratledge (Jr.); Paul L. Goranson; John C. Salyers; Harvey W. Liberman
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 1975-12-17
Filing date: 1976-12-16
Publication date: 1979-03-27
Also published as: BR7608512A; DE2656699A1; FR2351892A1; JPS5287872A; NZ182896A; GB1567194A; JPS5548523B2

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Methods and apparatus for transferring refuse involve a container having a closure and an ejector head.
A loading station includes a movable loading carriage, a packer assembly having a reciprocable packer head, and a plurality of power actuators. By positioning a container upon the loading carriage, the container becomes aligned with the packer assembly. The power actuators are actuated from a main control panel to move the loading carriage toward and away from the packer assembly, open the closure, and reciprocate the packer head for inserting refuse into the container. Subsequently, the closure is closed and the loading carriage is backed away form the packer assembly. The container is then transported to the unloading station. The unloading station includes a movable unloading carriage for receiving the refuse carrying container, and a plurality of power actuators. By positioning the container upon the unloading carriage the container becomes aligned with the discharge zone.
The power actuators are actuated from a main control panel to move the unloading carriage toward a refuse discharge zone, open the closure, and move an abutment member carried by the unloading carriage into pushing engagement with the ejector head to discharge from the container.
Subsequently, the closure is closed, the abutment member carried by the unloading carriage into pushing engagement with the ejector head to discharge from the container.
Subsequently, the closure is closed, the abutment member is shifted away from the ejector head and the unloading carriage is backed away from the receiving zone. Prior to being positioned on the unloading carriage, a filled container can be stored in the vicinity of the unloading station until needed.

Description

lOS13~9 l'his inl~ent.ion reiates to the handling and t,ransfer of refuse.
One aspect of c-nviron~ental consideration which has ~ecome o nlajo~: concern invol-~es the di.sposal of refuse. The need for pr~cticable techniques for disL~osin~
of the great amounts of rubbish being produced daily h2s given rise to a number of proposals in this area. One co~mon approach has been to dump re~use into sanitary land fill areas. A more recent, develop~.en. involves the lC transfer of refuse to a refuse-handlin~ faci'ity, s~ch as a power g~nerating plant wherein the refuse is consu~led as fue' in the production of eneryy. In oxder to assure the economic feasibi~ity o~ thece techniques, it is important that they be performed in as e~fi.cient and economicai a fzshion as possi~e. I;he present invention involves one stage of th,s te~hni~ue, namely the transfer of refuse fxom one or more remote stations to the disposal area.
Accordiny to con~erltional practice, refuse is collected by trucks ~hich travel ~rom one sourc2 of re~use to an~,her. ~en the truck is full, it i- driven to ~he dispo~al area and emptied, and .hen returned to pic~ up more refuse. Recently, tr~nsfer sta.ions have be~n introduced to the system to minimize travel of individual trucks from refuse pick-up points to t~le disposal area. These transfer stations include a compaction clevice ~ihich receives refuse from the collection trucks, and then con~pres~es the r~fvse, so that it will occupy a smaller volume. The xefuse is then transferred to another larger vehiclc by which it is transported to the dis~osal area. ~n example of one of these s~s~e~s is disclc~scd i~ U.S. Bowles ~atent No. 3,610,13~.

-1 ~
-~o5~3~39 lhese convent:ional transfer station.s rcquire personnel to operate the packer, as ~ell as atten~ants to supcrvise thc loading of refus~ from the packcr into trucks. Often, time is lost in attempting to align the truck body witn the packer, so that the refuse is transfe-red into the tru-k hody ~ithout spillage.
It would be desirable to perform such operatlons with a minimal number of one-hand personnel. Understandably, significant savings can be reali~ed from a system requiring little supervision and attention. Of course, this shculd be accomplished while avoidinq the use of unduly complicated and sophisticated equipment which typically involve high costs and frequent servicing.
It is, therefore, an object of the present inventio~
to provide improved rnethods and apparatus for transrerring refuse.
It is another object of the invention 'o provide meth~ds and apparatus for transferr rlg refuse which involve a minimal nuMber of on-hand personr.el.
It is a further object of the invention to provide improved methods and zpparatus for ~he conveyance of refuse to a refuse handling facility.
It is another obje-t of the inventjoll to provide refuse handling methods zn~ apparatus which efficien.ly load refuse from a packer into a container while requirin~ minimal supervision and attention.
These objects are achieved by the present i~vention which involves a refuse loadins station comprising a refuse pac~er assembly, a refuse container having a movable wall member, and a loading dock disposed in front of the packer assen~ly. Th~ loadir.~ dock includes a track arrangement

-2-lOS1389 on which is mounted a loadinc~ carriagc ~or lill~ited movem~llt toward and away frcm the pac~cr assem~ly. The carriag2 is structured for removably supporting the refuse cont~iner.
A refuse clcarirg member is provided for clearing refuse situated bet~een the pacl~er assernbly and the container subsequent to said container beins loaded. A po~Jer actuable mechanism is provided on the loading dock for re-ciprocatinq the carriage to shift the container to~lard the packer assembly to a refuse loading position, and to s~ift the container ,oward the pac~er assembly to a refuse loadillg position, and to shift the container away from .he packer assembly to a container removal position. The carriage is movably mounted on a weighing mechanism which provides an indication of the ~eight of the container when the container lS is in a refuse loading position. The ~eighing mechanism is operabl~ coupled to the packer asse~bl~y for controlling the loading of the container in accordance with 2 preselected - container weight.
The container is advanced to a refuse loading position allowing loc~.ing hoolcs to be moved to a loc];ins position. Then the conta~ner is backed-off to bring the container into firm engagen~ent with the locking hooks to minimize vibration during loading.
The cont2iner includes a vertically slidable closure. The clearing member includes a cutter edge for severing refuse, and an inclined refuse deflectir.g surface located under a bottom edge of the closure when the container is in a refuse loading position. The refuse clearing member includes a mechanism for partially raising the closure in response to movement of the container to a refuse 103ding position so as to locate the bottom edge of the closure

-3-~05i389 above thc defl~ctincJ surface. Power actuable mecll~r)ism is provided for raising and lowering the clearing member.
Whcn t~e clearing member is raised it contacts and raises the closure, and when the clearing member is lo-.Jered it contacts and lowers the closure. Loading OL the container is ac~.ieved by inserting -efuse intG
the conta ner by a reciprocable pac]cer head. P.S loading progresses, an ejector head of the container is urged rearwardly by the oncoming refuse. ~echanically induced friction forces are applied to the ejector head to resist such movement and thereby regulate the degree of compacticn of the refuse wh;ch ensue~.
An electric control circuit is operably connected to power actuable devices for reciprocating the carriage, the refuse clearing member, and the refuse pac~er head. An electric test circuit is also provided which enables these power actuable devices to be actuated independently of the control circuit for test purposes. The control circuit is arranged to automatically reciprocate the packer head during a first mode of operation wherein the packer head, during a forward stroke, is advanced beyond the path of travel of the clearing member. Subsequently, a power-assist mechanism is actuated to increase the magnitud of the forward packing forces of the packer head during a subsequent mode of operation. In the event that the packer head fails to reach a forward position ~ithin a pre-set time period during the first mode of operation, a signal is generated which activates the subsequent mode of operation.
An unloading station includes a movable un-loading carriage for receiving a refuse-carrying 105~389 container, a discharge zone, and a plurality of power actuators.
The power actuators are arranged for moving the unloading carrier toward and away from the receiving zone, opening and closing the closure, and moving an abutment member carried by the unloading carriage into and from engagement with the ejector head. the unloading station further includes a main control panel for actuating the power actuators to move the unloading carriage toward the discharge zone, open the closure for exposing the interior of the container, shift the abutment member into engagement with the ejector head for displacing the latter forwardly in a manner discharging refuse into the discharge zone, close the closure, shift the abutment member out of engagement with the ejector head and shift the unloading carriage away from the receiving zone, leaving the ejector head in a forwardly displaced position.
According to one broad aspect, the invention relates to a method of handling refuse comprising: depositing a container on a carriage; aligning the forward end of the container with the discharge opening of a packer assembly; displacing said carriage toward said packer assembly, said container having a movable wall situated near a forward end thereof, said wall being movable away from said forward end; packing refuse from said packer assembly through said forward end into said container while progressively displacing said movable wall rearwardly under the urgings of oncoming refuse; subsequently displacing said container from said packer sssembly, placing said container on a support at an unloading site, and aligning said movable wall with an extendable-retractable power ejector means mounted on said support; extending said ejector means toward said container wall so that said ejector contacts and pushes said movable wall forwardly toward said end, thereby 10513t39 discharging refuse from the container through said forward end; retracting said ejector, leaving said movable wall in a forward position; and transporting said container to a loading site.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a refuse loading station comprising: a refuse packer assembly; a refuse container having a movable bulkhead means and a vertically slidable closure; a loading dock disposed in front of said packer assembly, said loading dock including a loading carriage and track means for supporting said carriage for limited movement toward and away from said packer assembly;
said carriage including means for removably supporting said container; power actuable means on said loading dock for reciprocating said carriage to shift said container toward said packer assembly to a refuse loading position, and to shift said container away from said packer assembly to a container- .
removable position; and a refuse clearing member for clearing refuse situated between said packer assembly and said container :
subsequent to said container being loaded, said clearing .
member including: a cutter edge for severing refuse; and an inclined refuse deflecting surface located under a bottom edge .
of said closure when said container is in a refuse loading position to deflect into said container refuse which i8 :
situated under said closure when said closure is lowered.
The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like elements and in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a refuse transfer station embodying principle~ of the present invention;
-SA-~OS1389 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a refuse container being carried ~y a lift vehicle;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a container securing mechanism employed at a refuse unloading station;

~o5~389 Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view cf an alternate form of refusc transfer station cm~odying principles of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the transfer S station taken along line 6-6 of ~ig. 5 and depicting a refuse container mounted on the loading carriage;
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the transfer station taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 5;
Figs. 8a through 8g are schematic views correspoJId-ing to Fig. 6 and depicting the sequential refuse loadingopexation of the transfer station;
Fig. 9 is a schematic plan view depicting a plurality of refuse transfer stations and a power generatir,g plant, in accordance with the present invention;
Figs. lOa through lQd are schematic side eleva-tional views of a refuse unloading station depicting the equential unloading operation;
Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a loading station for loading refuse into a container, in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the loading station of Fig. ll with the refuse container being removed and with a portion of a packer assembly being broken away for clarity;
2S Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of the packer assembly taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 11, depicting a refuse clearing member in its downward position;
Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of a front portion of the packer assembly depicting the clearing member in its downward position;

~05138~
Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13 depictirlg the clearinc~ memker in an ~Ipward position;
Fig. 16 is a view similar to Pig. 14 depicting the clearin~ m~m~er in its upward posltion;
Fig. 16A is a schematic side elevational view of front portion of the packer assembly and a situation which might occur durins a loading operation;
Fig. 17 is a sectional vi~w taken along line 17-17 of Fig. 13 depicting the relationship between the front end of the packer assembly and the front end of the container as the container is shifted toward a refuse loading position;
Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along line -~ -18-1~ of Fig. 13 depicting the relationship between the lS front end of the packer assembly and the front end of the containe~ when the container i~ disposed in the refuse loading position;
Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of Fig. 13 depicting a loc~ing mechanism for securing 20 the container against movement relative to the packer ~ -assembly;
Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluid actuated unit for operating the locking ~.echanism taken along line 20-20 in Fig. 19;
Fig. 21 is a side elevational view, with palts broken away, depicting the relationship between the front end of the packer assernbly and the front end of the container as the latter approaches a refuse loading position;
Fig. 22 is a side elevational view, with parts broken awa~, depicting the relationship between the front ` lOSl;3~9 - end of the packer asscmhly and tlle front end of the container with thc cont2iner beinq disposed in the refuse loading position;
Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 22 depicting a closure member of the container being raised by the refuse clearin~ member;
Fig. 24 s a rear-end view of the container, with parts broken away, depictina a mechanism for ccntrolling the rate of rearward movement of an ejector head of the container;
Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken along line 25-2; of Fig. 24 with a portion of a guide channel borken away;
Fig. 26 is a schematic illustration of the con-tainer weighing circuitry for controlling operation of the packel assembly in accordance with container weight;
Fig. 27 is a schematic view o~ a hydraulic circuit for actuating hydxaulic cylinders at the lo~d~ng station; and Figs. 28A through 28D are schematic views of an electric circuit for actuating the hydraulic circuitry.
In Figs. 1 through 10 there is depicted a refuse transfer station or loading station 8 incorporating principles of the present invention. The transfer station includes a plurality of adjacently disposed dumping pits10 which service a series of refuse packer asser.~lies 12.
Each dumping pit is situated for receiving refuse dumped from collection trucks 14 of a conventional nature.
~n endless corveyor 16 is positioned at the bottcm of each pit, the conveyors keing arranged to transfer 10S13~9 refu~e from the dur.l~ing pi~s to the p~cker assemblies.
The packer ass~rnblies each inclllde a refuse hopper 1 whose refuse inlet o~cning 20 ~Fig. 2) is situated belo~
the discharge end of the associated transfer conveyor 16.
In this manner, refuse that is dumped into the pits from the trucks 14 is transferred to the interior of the hoppers 18.
Each hopper 18 includes a front dischaxge opening 21 situated ahead o-. the ref~lse ir.le' 20. The rear of the pac,~er is enclos~d by a movable packer head 22. A
suitable p~wer mechanism, such as a hydraulic cylinder 24, is connected to the packer head 22 to reciprocate the latter forwardly and rearwardly within the hopper 18 (Fig. 8).
During a for~ard stroke the pacXer head 22 is operable to discharge forwardly through the discharge opening 21 refuse which nas been deposited within the hopper 18.
Disposed in front of the packer assembly 12 is a container loading dock 26 ~Fig. ~). The loading dock 26'includes a plurality of tracks 28 which slidably support the wheels 30 of a reciprocable loading carriage 32.
A hydraulic cylinder 3~ (Fig. 8b) mounted on a fixed frame 36 on the loading dock is connected to the underside of the loading carriage 32 to reciprocate the latter toward and away from the discharge opening 21 of the packer assembly 12.
The carriage 32 is adapted to support a container ~0 in alignment with th~ discharse opening 21. The container 40 includes, top, bottom, and side walls, an~
a bulkh~ad, or ejector head 42 (Fig. lOa) that is re-cipro-able r~lative to such walls. ~he container further . ~

l()5l38g includcs a tailgatc 44 locat~ t a ~orward end ~hereof (Pig. 3). This tailgatc 44 is hingedly mounted to the upper portion of the container to permit upward swinying movement of the tailgate about a horizontal axis. The tailgate has an openlng in its upper portion which may be covered by a slidable door panel 46 (Figs. 3, 8c).
The tailgate 44 and the door panel 46 serve as closures for the front of the container 40. During a loading operation the tailgate 44 is maintained in a closed condi-tion by a latch located on the underside o_ the tailg~'e44 and the door panel 46 is held open as will be discussed subsequently.
The loading dock is sunken relaLive ~o the packer assembly co that the opening of the container 40 exposed by the sliding panel 46 i5 generally al.gned with the discharge opening 21 of the packer assembly during a ioading operation.
Disposed at the discharge opening 21 of the hopper 18 is.a horizontally oriented refuse cleariny member 48 which is vertically slidable across the discharge opening 21 in guillotine-like fashion.
During its downward descent, the refuse clearing me~er 48 sweeps across the front face of the packer head 22 and deflects refuse into the container 40. A 1uid actuated cylinder 50 is provided-on a fixed frame 52 for vertically reciprocating the clearing membeL^ 48. The clearins mem~er 48 includes a lifting arm 54 (Fig. 8a) which projects toward the cor.tainer 40. The sliding door panel 46 includes a projection 56 which is disposed above the liftin~ arm 54 and is positioned so as to overlie the - . .
. 105~389 lifting arm 54 when the contain~r is in a lo~dinq ~osition (Fig. 8b). ~s a result, raisin~ of the clearin~ member 48 brings the lifting arm 54 into con~act w~th the projection 56 and the door panel 46 is raised.
; S For reasons to be subsequently explained, the ejector head 42 is pref~rably locate~ in a forward position prior to initiation of a refuse-loading operation (Figs. 8a-8c). During loading of the container by tne packer head 22, the ejector head 42 is forced progressively rearwardly (Figs. 8d-8f).
It is preferable to provide a power actuable hook arrangement 55 (Fig. 6) at the front of the packer assembly for locking the container against movement relative to the packer assembly when the former is situated in a loading position.
The fluid cylinders 24, 34, and 50 for recipro-cating the pac~er head 22, the loading carriage 32, and the clearing member 48, are actuated from a central control panel at a main control station. These fluid cylinders are preferably solenoid actuated, with electrical signals to the solenoids being controlled by an operator at the central control panel. In this manner, a single operator is able to control all phases of the refuse loading operation.
Since these fluid cylinders are permanently located at the loading station, there is no need for special hook-ups to be made with the containers as would be required if any of such actuators were mounted on the containers.
The container 40 can be laid upon and removed from the carria~e 32 in any suitable fashion, such as by means of a specialized lift truck 60 (Fig. 3) capable .

-- 1o51389 of lifting and supportincJ the container betwecn the .carriage 32 ~nd a transport vehlcle. The trucl~ 6C
~ .
includes lift pla.e 62 which is movable horizontally upon a support 64, the latter being movable vertically upGn a frame 66. Sui.table connectors, such.as hooks, for example, can be provided to engage a container 40.
The truck 60 has the advantage that containers can be moved freely about a yaxd and stacked. The truck 60 picXs up a container from the carriage ~2 and carries it to a - 10 suitable transport vehicle, such as a railroad car, and vice versa.
Alternatively, an overhead crane system 70 is depicted in Figs. 5-7 for handling the containers 40 in lieu of a specialized truck. The crane system 70 includes a pair of rails 72 upon which are mounted two pairs of traveling s. dPs 74. Each pair of slides carries a hoisting plate 76 by means of winch-a-tuated cables 78. The plate 76 can thus be raised and lowered b~y the cables 78 and dis-placed transversely along the tracks 72 between the transfer station 8 and transport stations 80, 82. The transport stations S0, 82 can comprise rail mounted flat-cars 84 which are adapted to carry the containers 40.
Thus, filled containers 40 can be conveniently transferred to one transport station 82 for delivery to a power generating plant P(~ig. 9), and empty containers 40 can be transferred from the txansport station 84 to the transfer station 8.
Upon arrival of a filled container 40 at the power plant P it can be removed from the transport vehicle by a specialized truck 60 or other suitable container-handling system, such as an overhead crane systenl 70.

lU~ fd9 Th~ power plan~ r includes a refuse-hand~ q f~cilit~ to whic}l the refuse is initially delivered for subseque~t processin~. ~his facilit~ can include a conveyor 90 (E`ig. lOd) arranged at a refuse unloading station 91 to xcceive incoming refuse. The unloa~ing station ~1 includcs an unloading dock ~2 which carries a series of track segments 94 supporting the wheels 95 of an unloading carriage 98. These tracks 94 s~ppor-t the unloading carriage 9~ for limited rcciprocable movement to.;ard and away from a discharge zone 100 adjacent the conveyor 90. A hydraulic cylinder 102 is affixed to a framewor~ 104 on the unloading dock 91 and is operably conn~cted tc the unloading carriage 98 to reciprocate the latter.
The unloading carriage includes two iocking devi~es 106 (Fig. 4) arranged to receive two associated r~ar corners of a container 40. These locking deYices 106 include a swiveling loc~ bar 108 ~hich can be rotated by a fluid cylinder 110. The container 40 has an aperture At these two corners alisned with and receiving a bar 108 when the container is seated upon the unloading carriage 98. Subsequent rotation of the lock bars 108 within the recess, in the mannel- of a bayonet connection serves tv secure the container against movement relative tG the unloading carriage 98.
A gate opening mechanism 112 is mounted at the discharge zone and includes a fra~ewor~ 114 upon which is pivotably moun'ed an arm 116. The pivotal arm 116 carries a swingable latch 118. The latch 118 can be rotated about a horizontal axis by a hydraulic cylinder (not sho~n) 1~5~3t~9 ~ounted on the arm 116. me arm 116 is swingable by a hydraulic cylinder 120. The gate 44 of the container 40 carries an extension 122 which, when the container has been shifted forwardly to an unloading position by the hydraulic cylinder 102 (Fig. lOb), can be grabbed by the latch 118. When the container is in the unloading position, the latch which locks the tailgate 44 is released by suitable actuation of a power device mounted on the unloading carriage. Retraction of the hydraulic cylinder 104 serves to pivot the arm 116 and the gate 44 upwardly to fully - expose the front end of the container 40.
An ejector-displacing mechanism 124 is mounted at the rear-end of the unloading carriage 98. This e~ector-displacing mechanism preferably comprises a telescoping hydraulic cylinder assembly 126 which carries an abutment member 128. Extension of the cylinder 126 brings the abutment member 128 into engagement with the back side of the e~ector head 42 and shifts the latter forwardly to dispel the contents of the container (Fig. lOd). Subsequent retraction of the telescoping cylinder 126 shifts the abutment member 128 away from the e~ector head~ leaving the latter situatsd at the front of the container 54 in the manner depicted in Fi8. 8a.
The fluid cylinders 102, 120, and 126 for operating the unloading carrisge 98, the arm 116 and the e~ector head 42, and the cylinder or operating the latch 118, are preferably of the solenoid-actuated type and are acutated from a main control panel at the unloading station. Consequently~ unloading of the containers requires a minimal number of personnel.

-14_ 10513~9 Since the fluid cylinclers are permancntly r,lounted at the unloading s~ion, .ather than bcing carried by thc container, there is no need for special hook-ups once the co~tainer is positioned upon the unloading carriage 98.
~efuse is collected by collection vehicles 14 and is carricd to an associated transrer station 8, as is depicted diagramatically in Fig. 9. These vehicles dump their contents into one of the dump pits 10 at the transfer station. The dumped refuse is deposited through the refuse inlet 20 of the hopper 18 by the conveyor 16.
An empty container 40 is positioned upon the loading carriage 32 with the latter being located in a rearward, or container-receiving position (Fig. 8a). As a result, the container 40 becomes aligned with the discharge opening ` 21 of the hopper 18.
From the main control panel at the loadins statior.
the hydraulic cylinder 34 is actua*ed to advance the carriage 32, and thus the container 40, forwardly into a container loading position adjacent the packer assembly (Fig. 8b). In response to this movement the projection 56 of the container overlies the lifting arm 54. Subsequent actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 50 from the main control panel raises tpe clearing member 48 and the sliding door panel 46 (Fig. 8c). l'he packer head 22 is then advanced to discharge re.use into the container (Fig. 8d). In response to continued cycling of the packer head 22 and continued insertion of refuse into hopper 18 thc container 40 becomes qradually fillcd. During this procedure, the ejector head 42 is qradually shifted rearwardly undcr the action of the 1~)5131~9 incoming refuse. It may be desirable, particularly for packing in short containers to leave the ejector head in its rearward position (Fig. 8f) during the loading operation.
When the container has been suitably loaded, reciprocation of the packer head 22 is halted, and the hydraulic cylinder 50 is actuated from the main control panel to lower the clearing member 48. The door panel 46 also descends at this time. It may be desirable to provide a shoulder on the clearing member 48 disposed over the top of the sliding door panel 46 so as to force the door panel closed in the event that resistance to downward movement is encountered.
Subsequently, the loading carriage 32 is with-drawn for the packer assembly 12 by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 34. The container 40 is subseqently lifted from-the loading carriage by the vehicle 60 (Fig. 3) for example and transferred onto a transport vehicle, su~h as the railcars 84, and is shipped to the power plant P.
Until needed as fuel, refuse can be stored in the container 40 at the power plant since the containers themselves constitute convenient, economical storage units for the refuse.
When it is desired to empty the container, the container 40 is seated upon the unloading carriage 98 at the unloading dock 91 (Fig. lOa). Each lock bar 108 (Fig. 4) on the unloading carriage enters its associated aperture at the corners of the container 40. Rotation of these lockbars by the cylinder 110 llocks the container to the carriage 98.
The hydraulic cylinder 102 is acutated by the ~0513~9 main control operator at the main control panel to shift the unloading carriage 98 and the container 54 forwardly to the discharge zone (Fig. IOb). As previously mentioned, the latch which locks the tailgate 44 is unlocked through actuation of a power device mounted on the unloading carraige 98. The latch 118 is then rotated upwardly to capture the extension 122 of the tailgate 44. The hydraulic cylinder 120 is then actuated to swing the tail-gate 44 upwardly (Fig. lOc). Subsequent extension of the telescoping cylinder 126 brings the abutment member 128 into pushing engagement with the ejector head 42. The ejector head is thus displaced forwardly to expel refuse from the container onto the conveyor 90. When unloading of the container has been accomplished~ reverse actuation of the hydraulic cylinders is effected to close and lock the tailgate, retract the abutment member 128, and withdraw the container from the discharge zone. The container, with its ejector head 42 preferably being disposed in a for-ward position, can then be lifted from the unloading carriage 98 and deposited onto a suitable transporting vehicle for return shipment to the transfer station for refilling. Of course, a continuous flow of containers will be established in that the loading of containers occurs as other containers are beeing transported, stored, and/or unloaded.
It will be realized that the present invention provides a highly simplified and economical system for transporting refuse from one point to another. Importantly~
loading and unloading functions cna be performed at each point by an operator at a main control panel. That is, once a container is deposited onto the loading or unloading i(~Sl;~89 carriages, it beconles instantly aligned ~Jith the packer assembly and the discharge zone, respectively, and the loading and unloading functions can be accomplish~d by activation of hydraulic cylinders mounted at the loading S and unloading s~ations. Such actuatlon occurs indep-; dently of the container, i.e., there are no actuators mounted on the container that need to be coupled to a control system at the loading and unloading stations.
As a result, personnel requiremellts are minimized. ~.lso the cost of the containers is ~inimized. Since it is envisioned that many containers will be required, this advantage is substantial. Moreover, due to the relatively low cost of the containers, they can serve as economical storage units for storing refuse at the handling facility.
A preferred loading station 8 in accordance with the present invention is described in Figs. 11 through 28 and ificludes a packe_ assembly 12 and a loading dock 26 disposed thereahead. The packer assembly includes a ' refuse hopper or receptacle 18. The hopper 18 includes ,' side walls 218, a bottom wall 220, and a top wall 222 which define a forwardly open discharge opening or mouth 224. The top wall 222 provides an inlet 2~6 for r~ceiving refuse that is supplied to the receptacle in any convenient manner. A packer head 22 is mounted for reciprocation within the receptacle 18. The top of the packer head 22 is spaced from the top wall 222 of the hopper to define a gap 229 therebetween. A suitable power actuablc ~echanism, such as a hydraulic cylinder 24, is connected to the packer head to reciprocate the latter forwardly and rearwardly. During a forward stroke, the packer head 22 is opera~le to discharge refu,se from the _lB -~0513~9 open mouth 224 of the receptacle.
The loading dock 26 includes four sections 28 of track which slidably support the wheels 30 of a recipro-cable loading carriage 32. The carriage 32 includes side and end beams 238, 240 and a series of cross beams 242.
Flanges 244 connected between pairs of cross beams serve to rotatably mount the wheels 30. As will be discussed, the cross beams 242 are arranged to removably support a refuse container 40. The track sections 28 are mounted on a weigh bridge 252~ the latter being seated at its corners upon a plura]ity of load cells 254. As will be explained subsequently, the load cells 254 function to weigh the container during a loading operation.
- A power actuable mechanism 256 is mounted on the loading dock 26 to reciprocate the carriaoe 32 toward and away from the packer assembly 12. More particularly, a stationary support 258 situated beneath the carriage 32 carries a hydraulic cylinder 34 which is connected to a cross beam of the carriage. Front and rear bumper members 260~ 262 limit the fore and aft movement of the carriage.
The refuse container 40 includes top, bottom, and side walls 264, 266, 268 (see Figs. 24, 25), and a movable rear wall or ejector head ,42 slidably mounted in guide channels on the side walls, as will be discussed subsequently. In this manner, the ejector head 42 is capable of fore and aft movement within the container 40.
The container further includes a tailgate 44 located at one end thereof. This tailgate 44 is hingedly mounted to the upper portion of the container to permit upward swinging movement of the tailgate about a horizontal ~051389 axis. A bottom portion of the tailgate is closed by a plate 271. The tailgate has an opening 273 in its upper portion and a vertically slidable door panel 276 for covering this opening 273 (Fig. 21). That is, the door panel 276 includes vertical channel brackets 278 that are slidable along upright guide bars 280 carried by the tailgate (Fig. 17). The lower edge of the door panel normally rests atop a downwardly and inwardly inclined stop ledge 279 of a horizontal beam 281 which defines the lower edge of the opening 273. The tailgate 44 and the door panel 276 serve as closures for the front of the container. During a loading operation the tailgate 44 is maintained in a closed condition and the door panel 276 is opened by means to be discussed subsequently. During unloading of refuse the tailgate is opened.
The loading dock 26 is oriented relative to the ;-packer assembly so that the opening 273 of the container 40 exposed by the sliding panel 276 is generally aligned with the mouth 244 of the packer assembly during a loading operation.
The container 40 is dimensioned to fit upon the loading carriage 32. The container 40 is operable to be lifted from and lowered onto the loading carriage 32 by means of any suitable lifting apparatus, such as a suitable motorized lift truck (not shown).
The carriage 32 includes a series of corner flanges at the corners thereof within which the container 40 is nestingly received. This prevents displacement of the container during a loading operation.
Mounted at the front of the packer assembly 12 is a refuse clearing assemble 290 (Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 18, 21, 22, and 23). The refuse clearing assembly ` lOS138~

290 includes a stationary framework 52 mounted betweenthe carriage 32 and the packer assembly 12. The frame-work 52 includes a pair of upstanding posts 294 which straddle the mouth 224 of the packer receptacle 18 and a cross bar 296 intersecting the tops of the posts 294 (Fig. 13). Along outer sides of the posts are provided vertical guide bars 298, 299 which define vertical guide channels 302. Slidably mounted in these channels is a reciprocable clearing body 304. The clearing body 304 includes a pair of upstanding side sections 306, a top section 308 interconnecting the top ends of the side sections 306 and a lower section 310 interconnecting the lower ends of the side sections 306, thereby leaving the central portion 312 of the clearing body open (Fig.
13). The lower section 310 includes a horizontal cutter edge 314 formed by a bevel face 315. As the clearing body travels downwardly, the cutter edge 314 sweeps across the mouth of the hopper in guillotine-like fashion so as to sever any refuse in its path. Project-ing from the side sections 306 are guide bars 316 which are slidably received within the vertical guide channels 302 of the framework 52 (Fig. 17). Suspended from the cross bar of the framework is a power actuable mechanism, preferably in the form of a pair of hydraulic lifting cylinders 50 which are connected to the top section 308 of the clearing body. Retraction of these hydraulic cylinders 50 raises the clearing body (Figs. 15, 16), and extension of the cylinders 50 lowers the clearing body so as to sweep the cutter edge 314 across the mouth 124 of the packer hopper 18.
A plurality of brackets 319 are employed to secure the guide bars 298, 299 to the upstanding posts 294.

iO51389 Also, a plurality of flanges 317 are mounted to upper portions of the guide bars 298, 299 to guide the door panel 276 in its upper stages of travel as will be discussed.
` Mounted on the top section 308 of the clearing body are a pair of lift arms 320 (Figs. 13, 21). The lift arms 320 project through openings 322 formed in the top section 308. Each lift arm includes an inner end whlch is pivotally mounted at 324 on the packer side of the -clearing body for verti~cal swinging movement~ and an outer end 326 facing the loading dock. Preferably, each lift arm 320 has a slight upward angular profile as depicted in Fig. 21. Downward swinging movement of the arms is limited by means of a stop shoulder defined by a wall 328 of the openings 322. The lift arms 320 cooperate with a lift plate 330 which pro~ects forwardly from an upper portion of the door panel 276. That ~9, the lift arms 320 are arranged to underly this lift plate 330 as the container is advanced toward the packer assembly 12. As depicted in Figs. 21 and 22, the lift fingers are engaged by a front surface 332 of the advancing door panel 276 and are thereb~ caused to swing upwardly in response to continued advancement of the container. Thereupon, the upwardly swinging arms 330 abut a raising surface on the underside of the lift plate 330, causing the entire door panel 276 to be partially lifted as the container advances. In this manner, the container is able to assume a position wherein the end of the opening 273 is essentially flush with the hopper mouth 224 to minimize spillage of refuse during actual loading of the refuse.
A pair of brackets 335 are secured to the top - 105~;~89 ,, , ~
section 308 o~ the clearing body 304. These hrackets 335 define shoulders which are disposed in ovcrlying relation to the door panel 276 when the door panel has been lifted by the arms 320. As a result, during do~nward S travel of the clearing body 304, closing of the door 276 will be power-assisted.
The clearing body has, along its bottom section 310 on the container-facing side, a plate 336. This plate includes a refuse deflection surface 338 which is inclined upwardly and outwardly from the cutter edge 314 in general alignment with the bevel face 315. As the clearing body 304 sweeps across the front face of the packer head 22 at the end of a container loading operation, refuse is deflected into the container opening 173 by the bevel face 315 and the deflecting surface 332. This action, in conjunction with the cutting performed by the cutter edge 314, serves to clear refuse from the end of the opening 273, allowing the door 276 to be closed.
As a container 40 is advanced toward the packer assembly and the lift arms 320 partially raise the door panel 276 as previously mentioned, the bottom edge of the door panel 276 is allowed to move into overlying relation-ship with the surface 33. During downward travel of th~
door panel, the deflecting surface 338 clears the ~-ay for the door panel by deflecting refuse located therebelow into the container. In this manner, closing of the door panel is facilitated.
When the container 40 has been advanced by the carriage 32 to a loading position preparatory to a loading operation, the container 40 is secured relative to the packer assembly 12 prior to operation of the packer.

~ .

This is achieved by mcans of a latching assembly 350 (Fig. 19). The latching assembly 3S0 includes a pair of lockin~ ~rms 352, 353, preferably hook-shaped, that are pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging movement on brackets 354 at the front of the hopper 18 below the hopper mouth 224. Connected to hoth of these hooks 352, 353 is a power actuable mechanism in the form of a hydraulic cylinder unit 356 (Fig. 20). The hydraulic cylinder unit 356 includes a sleeve 358 having slide bushings 360 mounted therein. Mounted for reciprocable movement within the sleeve is a floating hydraulic cylinder housing 362. The cylinder housing 362 is pivotably mounted to a connecting rod 364 that, in turn, is pivotably connected to one of the hooks 353. Reciprocably mounted within the cylinder housing 358 is a piston 366 carrying a piston rod 368. Pivotably connected to the piston rod 368 is another connecting rod 370 which is pivctably connected to the other hook 356. ~~ydraulic fittings 372, 374 are provided in the cylinder housing 362 for connection to conventional flexible fluid hoses 376 for admitting hydraulic fluid to opposite sides of the piston 366. The application of pressuri~ed fluid to one side of the piston via fitting 372 causes the piston 366 to be shifted in one direction (i.e., to the right in Fig. 20) and causes the cylinder housing to be shifted in the opposite direction (i.e., to the left in Fig. 20). As a result, the hooks 352, 353 are pivoted inwardly to ]ocking positions (Fig. 19). Application of hydraulic fluid to the opposite side of the piston 366 via fitting 374 reverses this move-ment of the piston and cylinder housing, causing the hooks to be swung outwardly to unlocking positions.

iOSil 3~9 The container side walls 268 include a pair of upright beams 380, each beam including a steel rod 382 situated along a rear end thereof (Fig. 19). The rods 382 define abutment surfaces to be engaged by the hooks when the latter are in locking positions. During a locking procedure, the carriage actuating cylinder 34 advances the loading carriage 32 and the container 40 toward the packer assembly 12 such that the rods are advanced beyond a point necessary for engagement with the hooks 352, 353. The hydraulic cylinder unit 356 is then actuated to swing the hooks 352, 353 inwardly to locking positions. Thereafter, the carriage actuating cylinder 34 is retracted to back the rods 382 into firm engagement with the hooks as depicted in Fig. 19. In this manner, the container is firmly held against the locking hooks 352, 353. Also, a slight spacing is provided between the front of the container 40 and the clearing body 304 to allow the body to travel generally unimpededly. Even more importantly, as the container 40 is being loaded by the packer, the firm contact between the container and lock arms 352, 353 tends to minimize vibration.
During a loading operation, the packer head 22 rams refuse into the opening 273 of the container. As the refuse bears against the ejector head 42 of the container, it tends to displace the ejector head rear-wardly. In accordance with the present invention, mechanically-induced friction forces are imparted to the ejector head so as to resist such rearward displace-ment in a controlled manner. In so doing, the refuse being loaded is caused to be compacted, thereby maximizing the use of container space. A compaction control mech~nism for im~)~rting ~h~ m~hanic~lly induced friction forces is set forth in detail below.
The second end 401 of the container 40 is open. To provide an enclosed volume for receiving refuse material in the container, the container has a longitu-dinally slidable reruse restraining assembly that prevents discharge of refuse material from the open end 401. The refuse restraining assembly includes the transverse bulkhead assembly 42 that can slide between the ends of the container 40.
The container walls 268 (see Fig. 24) are each provided on their inner surface with a guide assembly 402. The guide assembly 402 may comprise, for example, a U-shaped channel member 403 which is mounted on the corresponding side wall 268 so that it extends longitudinally along the container cavity. Each channel member 403 is spaced above the horizontal floor 404 and may be provided with beveled support members 405,406. The beveled support members 405, 406, are connected to the wall 268 and engage the U-shaped channel 40~ adjacent the open end thereof such that a longitudinal slot is provided along the side wall 268 on the inside of the container 40. The beveled support members 405, 406 help to avoid unnecessary corners in which refuse material may become lodged. The two guide assemblies 402 are symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the container 40.
The bulkhead assembly 42 includes a frame assembly 407 (see Fig. 25) having a vertically extending portion 408 and a horizontally extending portion 409.
The horizontally extending portion 409 is provided with a lOS1389 pair of flal-~es 410. Each flange 410 extends toward a cGrrcspondi~g side wall 268 and has a pair of spaced apart shoes 411, 412 on the under side~ The shoes 411, 412 slide on a horizontal surface of a corresponding channel 403 and yuide the bulkhead assembly during longitudinal translation in the container.
Each flange 410 also has a second pair of shoes 413, 414 positioned on the upper side thereof in general vertical alignment with the lower shoes 413, 414. The upper shoes 413, 414 perferably have a small clearance with the upper horizontal surface of the guide member 403. The upper shoes 413, 414 provide stability from tipping of the frame assembly about a horizontal axis extending between the side walls 268.
The vertically upstanding frame portion 408 includes a generally vertical bulkhead portion 415 at the upper end thereof. Below the generally vertical bulk-head portion 415 is an inclined bulkhead portion 416 having its upper edge connected to the lower edge of the vertical bulkhead portion 415. The inclined bulkhead portion 416 is partially supported by the horizontal frame portion 409 and has a lower edge 417.
The bulkhead assembly also includes a transversely extending beam 418 (Fig. 24) which is part of a vertically displaceable frame assembly. Attached to each end of the beam 418 is an L-shaped angle section 419 which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the beam 418.
Each angle section 419 has a projecting finger-like flange 420 which is positioned to be received in the corresponding U-shaped channel 403. Each flange 420 has a pad 421 of ~051389 suitable friction material Oil the upper surface thereof.
Io prevent the beam 418 from moving laterally with respect to the bulkhead assembly, the horizontal frame portion 409 is provided, on each side, with a pair of short vertical guides 422,423 (Fig. 25). The vertical guides 422, 423 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction to accommodate the beam 418 and guide vertical movement thereof.
The friction pads 421 move along with the beam 418 and are positioned between the shoes 413, 414. When the beam 418 is raised, the friction pads 421 frictionally contact the upper internal surface of the U-shaped guides 403. At the same time, the lower pads 411, 412 frictior.ally contact the lower internal surface of the guides 403.
Accordingly, the pads 421, 411, 412 cooperate to resist -movement of the bulkhead assembly relative to the guides 403 and thus the container 40. With the beam 418 raised, the pads 411, 412, 421 inhibit movement of the bulkhead assembly in either longitudinal direction in the container.
On the other hand, if the friction pads 421 are not raised vertically into engagement with the correspond-ing guide channel surfaces, the friction pads 421 do not engage and do not cause the lower pads 411, 412 to frictionally inhibit movement of the bulkhead assembly.
- Spaced inwardly from each end and on the under~
side of the tranverse beam 418 is a bearing pad 424.
Each bearing pad 424 is engaged by a corresponding cam 425 on the end of a corresponding lever cam 426. Each -lever cam 426 is pivotally attached to the horizontal frame portion 409 and has a tie rod 427 pivotally connected -to its distal end. I.ach tie rod 427 is connectcd to an in ~eneral aliqnment with a spring actuated rod 428 that slidably extends from a corresponding end of a circularly clyindrical spring housing 429.
The spring housing 429 (Fig. 25) may be - suitably attached to the horizontal frame portion 409 such as by a bracket 430. The spring housing 429 contains a compression spring 431 (Fig. 24) that resiliently urges each actuated rod 428 outwardly from the spring housing 429.
Each end of the spring housing 429 may be provided with one or more suitable adjustment bolts 432 ; to control the resilient force exerted on the end of the actuator rods 428. It will be seen that the force exerted on the distal end of each lever cam 426 tends to rotate the lever cam 426 causing the cam end 425 to act on the corresponding bearing pad 424. The cam end 425 thus causes the transverse beam 418 to be raised and the friction pads 421 and the lower pads 411, 412 to engage the channels 403. In this manner the bulkhead assembly is frictionally restrained.
During advancement of the bulkhead assembly to discharge the container contents, it is desirable to release the friction pads 421 from engagemènt with the guides 403. Accordingly, the distal end of each lever cam 426 is connected to a second tie rod 433. Each tie rod 433 is pivotally connected to the lower end of an actuator rod 434.
The actuator rod 434 is positioned along a vertical plane of symmetry for the bulkhead assembly and is slidably mountcd in a guide block 435 (Fig. 9) positioned centrally on the beam 41~. The actuator rod 434 is pivotally connected at its upper end to one arm of a bell crank 436 (Fig. 25). A second arm of the bell crank 436 is proximally disposed to a transversely extending push bar 437 carried by the vertical frame portion 408. The bell crank 436 is pi~otally mounted to the vertical frame portion 408 with the second arm 438 in a generally vertical posture.
When the bulkhead ic to be.advanced, it must be pushed. Accordingly, a suitable push rod 128 (Fig. 25) is provided with a U-shaped recess 440 which conforms to the external contour of the transversely extending push bar 437. The end of the push rod 439 also engages --the second arm 438 of the bell crank 436 when it engages the push bar 437 to forcibly advance the bulkhead assemb]y.
Engagement of the bell crank 436 bv the push rod 439 rotates the bell crank 436 about its pivot and lifts the actuator rod 434. The actuator rod 434 acts through the tie rods 433 to pull the lever cams 426 inwardly toward the center line against the spring bias of the spring 431. Rotation of the lever cams 436 and the cams permits the transverse beam 418 to lower thereby releasing frictional engagement between the friction~pads 421 and the longitudinal guides 403.
When the bulkhead assembly has advanced to the end of the container 40 withdrawal of the push rod 128 releases pressure on the second arm 438 of the bell crank 436 thereby allowing the compression spring 431 to cause engagement of the friction pads 409 with the guides 403.

iO~1389 he compac~ion control mechanism described abovc enables compaction of the refuse to occur as the refuse is being inser~ed into t}le contailler. As a res~i'c, greater efficiency is exhibited over systems wherein refuse is compacted within the hopper prior to being inserted into the container.
The sequence of operations performed at the loading station can be summarized as follows. A container 40 is positioned on the carriage 32. Cylinder 34 advances the carriage 32 and thus the container toward the packer assemb]y. ~ear the end of this travel the automatic lift arms 320 are pivot'ed upwardly by the eontainer, thereby partially raising the door 276 (Figs. 21-22). The eylinder unit 356 eloses the lock arms 352, 353 (Fig. 19) and then the cylinder 34 retracts the carriage to firmly engage the lock arms with the abutment rods 382. The elearing member 304 is then raised by cylinders 50, thereby raising the door 276 through the lifting aetion of the arms 320 (Fig. 23). The packer head 22 is reeiproeated by the cylinder 24 so as to ram refuse into the eontainer 40. Compaction of the refuse is regulated by the forces being applied to the ejector head 42 by the eom~aetion eontrol meehanism shown in Fig. 24 and described above. Operation of the packer head can be terminatcd as the result of manual or automatic control, as will be diseussed subsequently.
As the container is being filled with refuse, it may oeeur that an elongate article, such as a tubular metal support C of a child's swing set, for example, may become lodged between the inlet 226 of the hopper and the container, 1~513~9 as depicted in Fig. 16A. Efforts to transfer this article C into the container may be hampered by 8 tendency for the article to occupy the gap 229 during advancement of the packer head 22. The present invention includes steps for transferring the article under such circumstances. More particularly, the packer head is retracted from the discharge opening 224 and the clearing member is lowered into contact with the article. In this fashion, a portion of the article becomes crimped downwardly away from the gap 229 and into the path of the packer head 22. When the clearing member has been subsequently raised, the packer head is advanced to shift the article toward the container.
These steps can be repeated at least until the article C
clears the inlet 226, relieving the tendency of;the article to occupy the gap 229.
When the container has been suitably filled, the cylinders 50 lower the clearing body 304 to sweep the cutter edge 314 across the front face of the packer head 22, the edge severing any refuse in its path. The deflecting surfaces 315, 336 displace refuse into the con-tainer, clearing the way for descent of the door panel 276 whose descent may be aided by the shoulders 335 on the clearing body. Subsequently, the carriage is advanced to relieve the pressure between the locking arms 352, 353 and the rods 382,and the locking arms are then opened. The carriage is then withdrawn form the packer assembly, whereupon the container can be removèd.
In achieving this operation attention is directed to a control circuitry depicted in Figs. 27, 28 which enable operations to be carried out from a control lOS1389 panel at a main control station. In Fig. 27 there is depi,cted a sch~m~tic ~iagram of a hydraulic system for powering the hydraulic cylinders situated at the loading station. In ~igs. 28A-28D there is depicted, in schematic form, electrical circuitry for activating the hydraulic system. As will become apparent, this circuitry enables an operator situated at a main control station to operate all functions at the loading station.
As shown in Fig. 27, a plurality of hydraulic pumps 450, 452, 454, 456, are connected to a pump-driving motor 458. The.pump 450 is connected via conduits ~60, 462 ~o operate the carriage positioning cylinder 34 and the cylinder unit 356 for actuating the locking arms 352, 353. A fluid relief system 464 is provided for minimizing impact of the carriage 32 against the forward bumper 262, as will be discussed.
Directing attention to Figs. 28A-28D, the electrical circuitry for actuating the hydraulic system will be discussed. Note that these figures contain numerical references 1-114 at the left of the figures to indicate various locations or lines of the circuit for simplified reference.
Connectors Ll, L2, L3 (lines 1, lA, 2) are connected to a source of power, such as a 480 volt three-phase branch circuit for example. Connectors Ll and L2 are connected to the cylinder actuating circuitry by a transformer TR (line 3). By closing switches SM (lines 1, lA, 2) and S2 (line 6) power is supplied to the circuitry. When the operator then activates a key-operated selector switch SSl (line 9), the master relay _~3_ 105138~coil K~ (~ine 9) is e~rc3ized, therehy closin~ the normally open relay contacts CRA in line 15. Attention is directed to the right-hand side of Figs. 28A-28C wherein there are identified the lines containing relay contacts that are controlled by the corresponding relay coils.
The symbol "K" designates the relay coil and the symbol "CR" designates the contacts controlled thereby. For example, coil K5 (line 28) operates the normally closed contacts CR 5 in line 20, the normally open contacts CR 5 in line 22, and other contacts CR 5 in lines 23, 25, 30, 38, and 45.
When the switch SSl (line 9) has been depressed, the indicator light LT-l (line 11) will be illuminated if a container 40 is in place on the carriage 32. To effect this, a plurality of normally open limit switches LSl and LSlA (line 10) are mounted on the carriage and are closed by the positioning of a container thereon.
By depressing the pump start button PB-2 (line 18), the relay KB is energized. Relay KB thereby closes all normally open relay contacts CRB, including those in lines 1, lA, and 2 to operate the hydraulic pump motor 458. At this ~methe pump running indicator light LT2 (line 18) becomes illuminated.

Upon activating the relay KA being energized, the rel~y K12 (line 42) is energized since the clearing body, or guillotine 304 is in a downward position holding the limit switch LS6 (line 42) closed. The limit switch LS6 can be mounted at a convenient location on the loading station so as to be activated by the clearing body 304 in its up and down positions (i.e., in an upward position the clearing body opens the switch LS6). The energized relay -' 10513~9 K12 closes the contacts CR 12 (line 20!, thereby illuminating the advance carriage button LPBl (lir.e 23).
Thereupon, the operator closes the i~minated advance carriage button LPBl (line 20) to energize the relay coil K2 (line 20) and thereby close contacts CR 2 (line 103) to activate solenoid 5 HSolA (line 103 and Fig. 17). The solenoid 5HSolA is shifted to the right to communicate the conduit 462 with the piston end of the hydraulic cylinder 34 (Fig. 17), and the carriage is advanced. As the carriage reaches the front bumper 262, the limit switch LS3 (line 28) is engaged by the container and is closed, thereby energizing the coil K5 and de-activating the solenoid 5HSolA via opening of the normally closed contacts CR 5 (line 20). The conduit 462 is thereby communicated with the hydraulic reservoir through the valve 5H. Continued advancement of the carriage under its own momentum causes a check valve 466A (Fig. 27) to be opened, allowing free flow from the reservoir to the piston end of the cylinder 34. The rod end of the cylinder 34 forces open a relief valve 468B, re-directing fluid from the cylinder 34 into the conduit 462 and through the valve 5H and thence into the reservoir to dissipate some of the momentum of the carriage. During retraction of the carriage, the same action occurs via check valve 466B
and relief valve 468A.
In response to closing of the switch LS3 and energization of the relay K5, the container-advanced light LT4 is illuminated (line 29), and the close locks button LPB3 (line 31) is illuminated. Thereupon, the operator depresses this button LPB3 (line 30) to energize coil K6 lOS~389 (line 30) and thereby actuate the solenoi~ 4IlSolB (line 102 and Fig. 17). This causes the cylinder unit 356 to be retracted to swing the locking arms 356 closed (Fig. 19). In response to this movement, the limit S switch LS5 (line 36) is engaged and closed, thereby closing the normally open contacts CR 9 (line 30) to deactivate the relay K6 and the solenoid 4HSolB. Also, the return carriage button LP~2 (line 25) is illuminated.
The return carriage pushbutton LPB2 (line 11) is then pushed by the operator to energize the relay K3 and thereby activate the solenoid 5HSolB (line 107).
Accordingly, the carriage is moved away from the packer assembly 12 until the rods 382 firmly engage the locking arms 352 (Fig. 19). At this point the limlt switch LS3 (line 28) opens, thereby deenergizing the relay K5 to open the contacts CR 5 in line 22 and thereby deactivate solenoid 5HSolB. Now, the pushbutton LPB5 (line 39) is illuminated indicating that the clearing body should be raised.
The operator depresses this button LPB5 and the relay K10 is energized, thereby activating solenoid 3HSolB
(line 97). Hydraulic fluid from the pump 252 is directed through the pilot conduit 270, through the valve 3H
and against the right-hand side of a valve 472. This shifts the valve 472 in a manner causing fluid from the conduit 474 to be directed to the rod side of the cylinders ; 50. Accordingly, the clearing body 304 is raised and eventually closes the limit switch LS7 (line 44). This illuminates the light LT8 (line 45) indicating that the clearing body has been raised, and energizes the relay K13 (line 44) to deactivate relay K10 (line 38) as by _J~;_ 105131~
closir.y ~lle co~ ac~s CR i8 (line 38). This dea~ivdt~
the valve 3H. ~lso, the contacts CR 13 (line 45) are closed to energize relay K14 (line 46) thereby closing contacts CR 14 (line Ll8) to supply power to an automatic refuse loading circuit. The automatic cycle button LPB7 (line 47) becomes illuminated as relay K14 is energized.
The operator then pushes the illuminated automatic cycle button LPB7 (line 48) to energize the relay K15 (line 49). This causes contacts CR 15 (lines 51, 76) to close, allowing power to be conducted to either of the relays K24 (line 78) or X25 (line 80), depending upon the condition of the contacts CR 17 in lines 77 and 79.
The condition of these contact CR17 is governed by relay K17 (line 52) which, in turn, is controlled by relay K16 (line 51) via contacts CR 16 (line 52) and by relay K18 (line 54). The relays K16 and K18 are controlled by limit switches LS8 (line 50) and LS9 (line 54) (Fig. 17).
Limit switch LS8 is open, and switch LS9 is closed, when the packer head 22 is in a rearward position (Fig. 1).
Conversely, when the packer head 22 is in a forward position (Fig. 6), the switch LS8 is closed and switch LS9 is open.
Thus, at the initiation of a loading cycle the packer head 22 is in a rearward position. The coils K16 and K17 are, therefoxe, deenergized and powèr is conducted through the contacts CR 17 (line 77) to energize the relay K24 (line 78). This relay, in turn, activates the valve lHSolA( line 85) to direct hydraulic fluid from pilot conduit 480 against the left side of valve 482.
Pressurized fluid from pumps 454, 456 is thereby directed to the piston side of the cylinder 24 to advance the packer head 22. At its forwardly advanced position during a loading mode of operation, the packer head is extended beyond the hopper mouth and into the container (Fig. 6) .
A relief valve 488 is provided to relieve excessive pressure in conduit 489, should such excessive pressure occur.
That is, pressure buildup in line 487 acts upon an un-loading valve 484 through a pilot conduit 487 from the pump 456. The valve 484 is shifted so as to communicate the pilot side of the relief valve 488 with the fluid reservoir. Consequently, the valve 488 is opened, allowing fluid from pump 456 to travel to the reservoir.
When the packer head has been advanced, it closes the forward packer limit switch LS8 (line 50) and opens the limit switch LS9 (line 54) Fig. 17. Therefore, the relay K 17 is energized the relay K18 is deenergized.
As a result, the contacts CR 17 (line 79) and CR 18 (line 80) are opened to energize the relay K25. This produces activation of the so~enoid lH SolB (line 89), causing the packer head to be retracted. A pilot actuated check valve 290 is provided to facilitate conveyance of fluid from the piston end of the cylinder to the reservoir.
A limit switch LS10 (line 83) is arranged to be engaged and closed by the packer head 2 2 within two or three inches of the end of the forward and return packer head stroke. That is, just as the packer head reaches the termination of its forward or rearward stroke, it closes the switch LS10 and energizes the relay K27. This, in turn activates the solenoid 7HSolA (line 111) to relieve the pressure at the pilot end of the relief valve 488 and ~05~389 communicate the pump 456 with the reservoir to reduce final impact of the packer head. The solenoid 7HSolA
is deactivated unless the limit switch LS10 is closed.
When the packer return limit switch LS9 (line 54) is closed in response to return of the packer head the relay coils K16 and K17 will be deenergized and the packer will again Be advanced. Such cycling of the packer head, in conjunction with the depositing of refuse into the hopper 1 serves to gradually fill the container with refuse.
Under the action of the oncoming refuse, the ejector head 70 is urged progressively rearwardly. This rearward travel is resisted in a controlled manner by the resisting forces being imposed by the compaction control mechanism.
As a result, a selected compaction of the refuse is obtained.
Cycling of the packer head during a refuse loading mode of operation will continue repeat~dly until terminated by one of a number of occurrences. Among such occurrences are:
(1) Attainment of predetermined container weight, with packer head 22 in rearward position (automatically determined), (2) attainment of sufficiently high resistance to packing (automatically determined), (3) manual activation of receptacle clearing button PB4 (line 57), and

(4) manual activation of stop cycle button PB3 (line 48).
Regarding the first of these occurrences it will be recalled that the container is weighed by load cells 254 which can be of a conventional nature. These load iOS13~39 cells 254 supply electrical si~nals oi a ma~nitude th~t is proportionate to the weic~ht being sensed. When the to~al weigl,t sensed by these load cells 254 rea~hes a prede-termined magnitude, the relay contacts CR~' (line 58) will be ~l~sed. If the packer returns to a rearward posi.ion concu_rently ~;ith the cor.tacts CRW bcing closed, then the hopper clearing cycle will be automaticlally initiated, and will function in a manner to b~ later described.
Actuation of the contacts C~W (line 58) can be accomplished in numerous ways, one such way being shown in Fig. 26.
The load cells whic~ define the weigh.ng scale are electrically coupled to a conver.tional su~ ing amplifier SA which comDines the signals from the load cells 254 and directs the resultar.t sigr.al to a conventional sisnal comparator C. The comparator compares this resultant signal with a reference signal from an adjustabl~
potentiometer P~. When the su~mation si~nal equals and/or exceeds the reference signal, the relay coil KW
is energi2ed to close the normally open contacts CRW
(line 58). Closing of the contacts CR~I will not initiate a hopper clearing mode unless the packer head 42 is in 2 rearward position to energize the relay Kl~. In this fashion, a true wei~ht reading can be obtaired which will not be influenced by forces being imposed by the packer head.
In the event that refuse being loaded is of relatively lishtweight, the container may be filled before reaching the preselected weigh~ for activation of the contacts C~W. In such an event a pressure switch SPSl (line 55) and a timer Tl(line 55) lOS1389 are employed to initiate a hopper clearing mode of operation. Ihe switch S~Sl is connected in any suitable - manner so as to bc closed in respGnse to pressuri~ation of the pac~;er cylinder 24 durin~ a packer operatio~ For example, the switch SPSl can be connected to the fluid conduit which conducts fluid to the piston side of the cylinder 34. In so doing, the timer Tl is energized, Under normal conditions, i.e., wherein the packer head 22 does not encounter excessive resistance, the packer head will complete its advancing stroke within the preset timing period. Thus, when the packer head is returned, pressure on the switch SPSl is relieved, causing this switch to open and thereby deactivate the time Tl. In the event that the packer head encounters significant re-~istance, as when the container nears a fully packed condition, the high pressure pump 454 may be vented to the ~-reservoir by forcing open a relief valve 491 (Fig. 27).
If progress of the packer head is-so slow that .he packer head is unable to complete its advancing stroke within the timed period, the timer Tl "times-out" and closes the switch STl (line 56). This energizes the relay ~19 (line 59) and the hopper clear:inq mode is initiated.
. In the hcpper clearing mode the relay Rl9 activate the solenoid 6EISol~ (line 108). As a result, pilot pressure acting on the valve 491 is increased to close the valve 491 and direct the full fluid force of the high pressure pump 454 to the cylinder 24 to advance the packer head 22 throu~h the remainder of its advancing stro~.e.
h'hen the packer head has been fully advanced, ~0~13~39 , . .
the limit swi~ch I~ (line 50) closes and the rclay K17 is energized and the relay K18 is decnergized. Con-sequently, tne relay K25 is energized to return the packer head. Also, the counter Cl (line 61) will pulse one count

5 in response to activation of the relay XlG when the pac};er head has reached its forward position.
The packer head will then be cycled forwardly and rearwardly by the previously discusscd operations, with the counter Cl pulsing one count each time the packer head reaches its advanced position. During this period ; refuse within the hopper will be collected ar.d advanced forwardly. ~hen a preselected number of pulses for which the counter Cl has been set have been reached, the counter Cl "counts out" and clo~es switch SCl (line 64) to initiate a container closure mode of operation.
~uring the container closure mode the packer head continues to cycle, but dces not r~ach the fully retracted position. Therefore, no additional refuse is received within the hopper 16 and the packer head functions to tamp the refuse with short, high-powered strokes. In this connection, where the counter Cl "counts out", a counter C2 ~line 65) is energized. Since the packer head is at the forward end of its stro~e, the coil X17 is eneryized and thus energizes a closure mode timer T3 (line 67).
The packer head will begin to retract, but timer T3 will 8time-out" before the packer head is fully retracted.
Timer T3 will thus activate a switch ST3 (line 53) to deactivate the relay K17. Since the switch LS8 had opened wl-en the packer head began to retract, the relays K16 and X17 have been deenergized and the packer head ; ' .

1051;~9 is agaill adv2nced. This abbreviated cycling conti~ues, with the countcr C2 pulsiny once each time that the packer head energizes relay K16 upon reaching a fo~ard position. During this closure mode the packer head is advanced its full advance stro~e at high pressure to clear the forward end of the container of refuse. ~hen thc counter C2 counts out, it activates switch SC2 (lin~ 67).
Subsequent timing-out of the timer T3 activates switch CT3 in line 67 to energize the relay K20 (line 68). As a result, the normally open rèlay contacts CR 20 (line 76) are closed to ener~ize the relay K23 (line 75). The relay K23 closes the nor~,ally open contacts CR 23 (line 48) to deenergize the automatic packer circuitry. ~lean-while, the packer head 22 is being advanced in response to timing out of the timer T~. This advancement continues until a switch MSl (line 72) is activated to prGduce slOr;
advancement of the pacXer head. This maqnetic switch energizes a relay K22 (line 72) when the pac};er head nears the mouth of the hopper. Energizing of the relay K22 during previous modes of operation had no effect in the absence of concurrent clcsing of the contacts CR 20. In ar.y event, the relay K22 opens conJcact CR 22 (line 77) 'o deactivate solenoid lHSolA and thereby block the high pressure pumps 454, 456 from the packer bylinder 24.
Relay K22 also closes contacts CR 22 ~line 84) to energize the relay K28. This relay K28 closes contacts CR 28 (line 90) to activate solenoid 2HSolA and ther2by direct fluid of lower volume from pump l~52 to the piston end of the cylinder 30 to advance the pacXer head at a slow rate.

Such slow advancement continues ~ntil a switch ~Rl ~lines 69-70) is activated to encrgize the ~43~

10513~9 rclay ~1 (lirl~ 70). lhe switc~les MS-l and ~R-l are of a conventional nature. The relay K21 opens contacts CR 21 to deenergiz~ relay X14 ~nd th^rcby deenergize relay K15 to shut off all power to the packer head ~Ihen : 5 immediately stops. Switch PRl (line 69) is positioned in the hopper so as to be activated in response to arri~-al of the packer head at the mouth of the hopper 18. Also in response to energization of the relay X21, the pushbutton LPB6 (line 40) is illuminated, indicating that the clearins member 304 should be lowered.
It is noted that anytime after initiation of the hopper clearing or container clcsure modes of operation, should the packer head fail to reach the for~7ardly advanced po-ition before the timer T2 (line 56) times-out, the switch ST2 (line 73) closes, thereby energizing ~ -the relay K23. Relay K23 opens contacts CR 23 (line 48) to deene~gi~ the relay K15 and thereby deenergi2e tne autoTnatic cycle circuitry to halt_all movement of the packer head. Also, the closure mode alarm flasher LT12 (line 74) will begin flashing, indicating that manual operation is required.
Manual operation can be effected ~henever the clearing bodv 3n4 is up, the automatic cycle circuit is deenergized, and the pumps 454, 456 are running. In operation, the pushbutton PB5 (line 78) is depressed.
As a result, the relay K24 is energized to activate the solenoid lHSolA and advance the packer head. Also, the relay K26 is enerqized to activate solenoid 6~iSolA a~d made full system power available. When the packer head activates the ~or~ard limit s~ tch LS8 (line 50), the relay X24 is deenergized and the packer head stops. The operator can lOS1389 thcn ~eprcss the r~turn buttoll }~6 (line 80) to eri~ryize 1-he relay K25 (line 80) and return the packer head. Once the packer head activ.~tes the rearward limit switch LS9 (line $4), the relay K25 will be deenerqJzed and the packer head will stop. ~he packer head will stop upon release o~
either the pack or return buttons PB5, P~6.
When the container closure mode of the packer head is ~inished, the button LPB6 (line 41) becomes illuminated and is depressed. Solenoid 3~SolA is thus activated to lower the clearing body 304. During its descent, the cutting edge 314 sweeps across the front ~ace of the packer head to sever refuse bridging the yap between the hopper and the container. Also, the deflecting surface 336 deflects into the container xefuse located beneath the door panel 276.
As the clearing body is lowered, the door panel 276 will tend to descend therewith, aided if necessa~
~y the shoulders 335 at the top of the guill~Jtine. When it closes, tho clearing member 304 activates limit switch LS6 (line 42) to de~ctivate the solenoid 3HSoL~. Next, the illur.linat~d carriage ad~ance pushbutton LP~l (line 23) ~s ~ushed to activate solenoid 5~SolA and thereby ad~ance the carriage to relieve pressure between the container bars 380 ar.d the lockin~ arms 352, 353 (Fig. 19). The limit switch LS3 is closed by the carriage to deactivate the solenoid 5~;SolA and halt the carriage. This ill~ inates the open-locks pushbutton LPB4 lline 33) which is then depressed to activate solenoid 4~SolA to s~ing the locking ~-arms 352,353 to their unlocking positions. Switch LS4 (line 34) is closed when the locXing arms have been swung open and further movement thereof ceases. The carriage return button L~B2 (line 25) becomes illuminated and 10513~9 ; .
is pressed to activatc thc solenc~id 511SolB. Tllis callses iile cylindcr 34 to return thc carriage until the limit switch LS2 (line 27) is closed. At this point the container return light LT3 (line 26) is illuminated indicating that the securing bars can be rotated to unlock the container from tlle carxiage to permit removal of the container.
The control circuitr~ alsc includes an arrangemen wherein the various cylinder actuating solencids can be energized to test the ope7-ahility thereof independently o~ the normal operating sequence and absent the presenee of a eontainer on the earriage. In Fig. 28D test eonduetors 500, 502 are depicted in phantom. A test eontroi switcn TTGl (line 14) is operable to energize a test eontrol relay KT (line 13) and thereby elose the lS normally open oontacts CRT in line 9 to prevent energization o~ the mast~l- cGntrol re ay Y~ in line 9. ~ test s~art swi';eh TTG2 (lir.e 17) is closed to energize the pur.~
motor rel~y KB to aetivate the pumps 450, 452, 454, 456.
Attention is direeted to Figs. 28C, 28D wherein test eireuits 504 through 516 are depieted. These circuits incl~lde manual eontrol switehes 304S-316S whieh are operable from the main eon~rol panel. The switeh 30llS
can be operated to aetivate either of the solenoids lB~olA or lHSolB to advanee or retraet tpe pac~er head.
The switeh 306S ean be operated to activate the solenoid ~HSolA to test the slow advanee speed of the paeker head.
The switeh 308S ean be operated to aetivate the solenoids 3HSolA or 3E{SolB to test operation of the-clearing membe~
304. The switeh 310S can be operated to activate the solenoids 4E~Sol~ or 4HSolB to te3t opPration of the 10513~9 locking arms 352~ 353. The switch 312S can be operated ! to activate the solenoids 5HSolA or 5HSolB to test operation of the carriage 32. The switch 341s can be operated to activate solenoid 6HSolA in conjunction with testing of packer head advancement to test power boosting of the power head cylinder 24.
Finally, the switch 316S can be operated to activate the solenoid 7H SolA in conjunction with packer head advancement and retraction to test operability of the packer head cushioning system. The limit switch LS7 is connected within the test circuitry (line 114) to illuminate a lamp 5~0 (line 114) when the clearing member has been raised during testing.
Among the major advantages provided by the present invention is the fact that minimal personnel are required in the loading of a refuse container. All of the power actuable motors are permanently secured at the loading station, and thus now power hook-ups to the containers are required.
2~ Handling of the containers is facilitated by the use of a movable carriage which is permanently deployed at the loading station. Thus, upon being positioned on the carriage~ the container is appropriately deployed to be acted upon by the various power actuators for effecting a refuse loading operation.
Opening and closing of the door panel is facilitated by a clearing member which is able to propel the door panel upwardly and downwardly, while clearing the way for the-d~or panel during closing thereof. The pre-lifting of the door panel by the lift arms 320 enables the container to be advanced to close proximity with the mouth of the packer~ thereby minimizing spillage. Such pre-lifting _47-::

iOSi3~9 also assures that the deflecting surface 33~ wil1 be suitably positionecl in underlying relation to the bottom edge of the door panel.
By backing the container into firm engagement with the locking arms, vibration effects are minimized during loading.
System efficiency is magnified by the packer control mechanism 188 which enables refuse loading and cmpacting to be accomplished simultaneously.
Control over the loading operation is enhanced by monitoring refuse wieght and pressure during loading, and terminating the container loading cycle of the packer head in response to the attainment of a preselected weight or pressure.
Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions and deletions not specifically described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Refuse handling apparatus comprising: a refuse container including a vertically slidable closure;
a carriage for removably supporting the container; a refuse packer assembly for loading refuse into the refuse container; a loading dock including track means for supporting the carriage for limited movement toward and away from the packer assembly; power means positioned on the loading dock for moving the carriage toward the packer assembly to a refuse loading position and away from the packer assembly to a container removal position and a refuse clearing member for clearing refuse situated between the packer assembly and the container subsequent to the container being loaded with refuse, the refuse clearing member including a cutter edge for severing refuse, and an inclined refuse deflecting surface located under a bottom edge of the closure when the container is in the refuse loading position for deflect-ing into the container refuse which is situated under the closure when the closure is lowered.

2. Refuse handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the power means includes a fluid cylinder mounted beneath and operatively connected to the carriage.

3. Refuse handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the loading dock further includes weighing means for supporting the track means and for providing an indication of the weight of the container when the container is in the refuse loading position; and further comprising means connected to the weighing means for producing an electrical signal in response to the container reaching a preselected weight.

4. A refuse handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the clearing member includes means for partial-ly raising the vertically slidable closure of the container in response to movement of the container to the refuse loading position to locate the bottom edge of the closure above the refuse deflecting surface.

5. Refuse handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the refuse container further comprises: walls defining the tubular body having a pair of ends; a moveable bulkhead means slidable within the body and displacable between the pair of ends; end closure means hingedly connected to one end of the body, openable for container unloading, and having an opening for filling the container; the other end of the body having an opening operable to receive means to operate the bulkhead means; and frictional resistance means carried by the bulkhead means, operable to resist movement the bulkhead means relative to the container, and releasable during movement of the bulkhead means toward the end closure means so that the force necessary to advance the bulkhead means is minimized.

6. Refuse handling apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the frictional force exerted by the frictional resistance means is adjustable so that the force acting on the bulkhead means must exceed a predetermined value to move the bulkhead means.

7. Refuse handling apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the frictional resistance means includes friction pads that frictionally engage surfaces of the walls.

8. Refuse handling apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: the bulkhead means includes a frame means for mounting the frictional resistance means; and the walls include guide means extending between the ends thereof, the guide means having surfaces engaged by the frictional resistance means and being operable to guide the frame means during movement longitudinally between the ends of the body.

9. Refuse handling apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the guide means includes a pair of U-shaped channels, each channel attached to a corresponding wall, having a longitudinal opening facing the container cavity and a pair of vertically spaced apart surfaces;
the frame means includes spaced apart shoes on each side that are slidably supported on the lower surfaces of the channels, and a vertically displacable transverse frame having laterally extending fingers projecting through the longitudinal openings of the channels; and the friction pads are carried on corresponding fingers of the frame means.

10. A method of handling refuse comprising:
removably supporting a refuse container on a carriage, the container including a vertically slidable closure;
movably supporting the carriage for limited movement along track means toward and away from a refuse packer assembly; moving the carriage toward the packer assembly to a refuse loading position; loading refuse into the refuse container; clearing refuse situated between the packer assembly and the container subsequent to the container being loaded with refuse, the clearing step including the steps of locating a cutter edge and a refuse deflecting surface beneath a bottom edge of the closure, severing refuse with the cutter edge, and deflecting severed refuse into the container when the closure is lowered; and moving the carriage away from the packer assembly to a container removal position.

11. A method of handling refuse according to claim 10 wherein: the step of loading refuse into the refuse container includes the step of displacing a movable wall situated inside the container near a forward end thereof toward the rear of the container as refuse is loaded into the container; and further compris-ing the steps of: subsequently displacing the container from the packer assembly; placing the container on a support at an unloading site; aligning the movable wall with an extendable - retractable power ejector means mounted on the support; extending the ejector means toward the container wall so that the ejector contacts and pushes the movable wall forwardly toward the forward end of the container, thereby discharging refuse from the container through the forward end; retracting said ejector, leaving the movable wall in a forward position;
and transporting the container to a loading site.

12. A refuse handling method according to claim 11 wherein the step of placing the container on a support includes the steps of placing the container on an unloading carriage carrying the ejector means, and displacing the carriage toward a discharge position where the ejector means is operated to discharge the contents of the container.

13. A refuse handling method according to claim 11 wherein the transporting step includes the step of picking up the container and moving the container while suspended.

14. A refuse handling method according to claim 10 further comprising the steps of: weighing the container as refuse is loaded into the container;
sensing the pressure of refuse in the container as refuse is loaded into the container; and discontinuing the loading step when the container has reached either a predetermined weight or a predetermined pressure.