The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.

A refuse collection vehicle has a container collection arm with a telescoping boom coupled with a refuse stowage unit of the vehicle. A grasping mechanism is coupled with an end of the boom. A rotary actuator couples the grasping mechanism with the boom to enable a waste container to be moved between a pick up position and a dump position.

Operating a refuse collection vehicle to collect refuse from a refuse container includes positioning a refuse collection vehicle with respect to a refuse container to be emptied, and manually engaging a switch to initiate a dump cycle to be performed by the refuse collection vehicle on the refuse container. The dump cycle includes engaging the refuse container with a portion of the vehicle, lifting the engaged refuse container to a dump position, and moving the refuse container to release contents of the refuse container into a hopper of the refuse collection vehicle. The dump cycle continues to completion as long as the switch remains manually engaged.

Operating a refuse collection vehicle to collect refuse from a refuse container includes positioning a refuse collection vehicle with respect to a refuse container to be emptied, and manually engaging a switch to initiate a dump cycle to be performed by the refuse collection vehicle on the refuse container. The dump cycle includes engaging the refuse container with a portion of the vehicle, lifting the engaged refuse container to a dump position, and moving the refuse container to release contents of the refuse container into a hopper of the refuse collection vehicle. The dump cycle continues to completion as long as the switch remains manually engaged.

A refuse vehicle body includes a hopper configured to receive refuse and a storage container configured to store compacted refuse. A tailgate is coupled to a rearward facing side of the refuse vehicle body and is movable between closed and opened positions. The refuse vehicle body includes a rear loading assembly configured to (i) engage a refuse container at a rear side of the refuse vehicle body, (ii) lift the refuse container over a top end of the tailgate, and (iii) rotate the refuse container above the hopper such that the refuse container is unloaded into the hopper. The refuse vehicle body further includes a refuse packing assembly configured to transfer refuse from the hopper and compact said refuse in the storage container.

A refuse collection vehicle has a container collection arm with a telescoping boom coupled with a refuse stowage unit of the vehicle. A grasping mechanism is coupled with an end of the boom. A rotary actuator couples the grasping mechanism with the boom to enable a waste container to be moved between a pick up position and a dump position.

A telescopic side arm for a refuse vehicle has an inner and outer boom. A mounting assembly secures the outer boom with a refuse vehicle. A plurality of bearing pads is positioned between the inner and outer booms to provide smooth movement between the inner and outer booms. A plurality of shims is associated with the bearing pads to assure a tight fit between the inner and outer booms.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a body pivotally coupled to the chassis by a pivot assembly, and a lift actuator. The lift actuator includes a base portion positioned within the body and an actuator rod extending from the body and coupled to the chassis, such that the lift actuator is configured to lift and pivot the body relative to the chassis.

A refuse collection vehicle includes a refuse grabber assembly, a lift arm coupled to the refuse grabber assembly, and a hopper configured to receive refuse from the refuse container. The lift arm is operable to position the refuse grabber assembly. The refuse grabber assembly includes a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm that are configured to cooperate to engage the refuse container. The first grabber arm includes a first gripper and a first support arm coupled to the first gripper. The first gripper includes a first deformable structure configured to contact a first surface of a refuse container. The second grabber arm includes a second gripper and a second support arm coupled to the second gripper. The second gripper includes a second deformable structure configured to contact a second surface of the refuse container.

The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.