US 12,466,642 B2
Robust grabber arm for refuse collection vehicle
Grant McNeilus, Dodge Center, MN (US); Garwin McNeilus, Dodge Center, MN (US); and Brian Meldahl, Dodge Center, MN (US)
Assigned to Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc., Dodge Center, MN (US)
Filed by Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc., Dodge Center, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/069,048.
Application 18/069,048 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/656,725, filed on Mar. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,884,486.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/261,367, filed on Sep. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0129820 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B65F 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65F 3/041 (2013.01) 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A grabber mechanism attachable to a grabber arm which is carried by a refuse collection vehicle and configured to grab a refuse collection container, the grabber mechanism comprising:
a grabber bracket configured to be coupled to the grabber arm;
a pair of mismatched grabber fingers comprising:
a first grabber finger rotatably coupled to the grabber bracket in a manner to allow rotation about a first axis, the first grabber finger being continuous and having an arcuate portion and having a first length;
a second grabber finger rotatably coupled to the grabber bracket in a manner to allow rotation about a second axis, the second grabber finger being continuous and having an arcuate portion and having a second length which is not equal to the first length of the first grabber finger;
wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel to one another, and wherein an inner surface of the first grabber finger is arranged to face an inner surface of the second grabber finger;
a first resilient member coupled to the inner surface of the first grabber finger; and
a second resilient member coupled to the inner surface of the second grabber finger, with the first resilient member and the second resilient member configured to contact the refuse collection container when grabbed; and
a drive mechanism coupled to one of the first grabber finger or the second grabber finger, and coupled to the grabber bracket in a manner to cause controlled movement of the first grabber finger and the second grabber finger.