U.S. patent application number 10/149806 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-19 for bag assembly.
Invention is credited to Jasica, Kazmlez Stanislaw, Stewart, Gregory Roy, Wilson, Wayne Alexander.
Application Number | 20020191869 10/149806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19927700 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020191869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stewart, Gregory Roy ; et
al. |
December 19, 2002 |
Bag assembly
Abstract
A bag assembly (30) includes an inner bag (1) with an outer
cover (20). An open end (22) of the cover (20) is positioned around
a spout (6) providing an inlet/outlet for the bag (1). After the
bag (1) has been filled, and the spout (6) has been sealed, the bag
assembly (30) is itself sealed by the sealing of the upper end of
the cover (20). The bag assembly (30) can then be inverted and with
the cover (20) removed and the bag (1) lifted, the cutting open of
the spout (6) will enable the discharge of the material.
Inventors: |
Stewart, Gregory Roy;
(Auckland, NZ) ; Jasica, Kazmlez Stanislaw;
(Auckland, NZ) ; Wilson, Wayne Alexander;
(Auckland, NZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HENRICKS SLAVIN AND HOLMES LLP
SUITE 200
840 APOLLO STREET
EL SEGUNDO
CA
90245
|
Family ID: |
19927700 |
Appl. No.: |
10/149806 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
December 19, 2000 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NZ00/00254 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/24 ;
383/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 88/1668 20130101;
B65D 88/1618 20130101; B65D 31/04 20130101; B65D 75/5866
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/24 ;
383/111 |
International
Class: |
B65D 033/14; B65D
030/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 1999 |
NZ |
502099 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a bag assembly to avoid contamination of
the contents of a bag forming part of the assembly including: (iv)
providing an outer cover means for the bag so as to cover over a
sealable inlet/discharge means provided for one end of said bag
when the bag has been filled with the contents and the
inlet/discharge means sealed, said cover means adapted to cover
over said one end of said bag; (v) when discharge is required
providing for the positioning of the bag so that the
inlet/discharge means is at, or moving towards, a lower end of the
bag; (vi) prior to or following said positioning, exposing the
inlet/discharge means through the removal or opening of at least
part of the cover means to allow, with the opening of the
inlet/discharge means, material contained within the bag to be
discharged.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes the total removal
of the cover means after an inversion of the bag as part of said
positioning and further provides the provision of a sling to lift
the bag in its inverted position during discharge.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover means is
secured to the bag and is inverted with the bag as material is
discharged during or after inversion.
4. A method of operating a bag assembly substantially as herein
described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the
invention as shown in the accompanying drawings.
5. A bag assembly including a cover means adapted in use to be
positioned about a bag (as herein defined), the cover means being
adapted to cover over a sealable inlet/discharge means provided for
one end of the bag when the bag has been filled with its contents
and the inlet/discharge means sealed, and to cover at least said
one end of said bag, the cover means being adapted to be removable
or openable, wholly or in part to expose the inlet/discharge means
when discharge of the material is required.
6. A bag assembly as claimed in claim 5, which is adapted to be
inverted when discharge of material is required.
7. A bag assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cover means is
of a size substantially commensurate with the bag so as to be able
to substantially envelope it, the cover means having a closeable
bottom end and an open upper end, said open upper end being adapted
to fit about a spout provided for the said inlet/discharge
means.
8. A bag assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bottom end of
the cover means is secured or securable with a bottom end of said
bag.
9. A bag assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein a slip sheet is
provided for an outer surface of said bottom end of said cover
means.
10. A bag assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said slip sheet
includes channels adapted to accommodate the forks of a
forklift.
11. A bag assembly as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 in which
said bag includes at or adjacent its bottom end attachment means
which with said cover means removed, are exposed to enable
connection with a lifting means and whereby the bag assembly can be
lifted when in an inverted position.
12. A bag assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said attachment
means include a plurality of eyelets for attachment with a sling of
said lifting means.
13. A bag assembly substantially as herein described with reference
to any one of the embodiments of the invention as shown in the
accompanying drawings.
14. A cover for use in the bag assembly of any one of claims 7 to
13.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in and
relating to bag assemblies.
[0002] The term "bag" for the purposes of this specification is
intended to include any type of flexible or semi-flexible container
and is particularly, but not exclusively directed towards large
size or "bulk" plastic bags, which are becoming increasingly
popular for the transportation of bulk material, such as milk
powder.
[0003] Although such bulk bags in which bulk material can be
packed, transported and then delivered have proved very successful,
one problem is in the manner in which the bulk material is then
able to be discharged from the bag.
[0004] In the case of food product particularly, such as milk
powder, it is essential that the product is not contaminated as it
is discharged, or during its storage and transport. The bag, if it
is exposed to the external environment, can, of course, become
contaminated with dirt and other foreign substances, which could
then come into contact with the material as it is discharged and
itself become contaminated.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to overcoming or at least
obviating or ameliorating the aforementioned problem.
[0006] Further objects of this invention will become apparent from
the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is a
method of operating a bag assembly to avoid contamination of the
contents of a bag forming part of the assembly including:
[0008] (i) providing an outer cover means for the bag so as to
cover over a sealable inlet/discharge means provided for one end of
said bag when the bag has been filled with the contents and the
inlet/discharge means sealed, said cover means adapted to cover
over said one end of said bag;
[0009] (ii) when discharge is required providing for the
positioning of the bag so that the inlet/discharge means is at, or
moving towards, a lower end of the bag;
[0010] (iii) prior to or following said positioning, exposing the
inlet/discharge means through the removal or opening of at least
part of the cover means to allow, with the opening of the
inlet/discharge means, material contained within the bag to be
discharged.
[0011] In one embodiment, the method as above defined includes the
removal of the cover means prior to an inversion of the bag and the
provision of a sling to lift the bag in its inverted position
during discharge.
[0012] In another embodiment, the method as defined in the second
paragraph immediately above includes the cover means being secured
to the bag and being inverted with the bag as material is
discharged during or after inversion.
[0013] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a
method of transporting material in, and discharging material from,
a bag (as herein defined) is substantially as herein described with
reference to any one of the embodiments of the accompanying
drawings.
[0014] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a
bag assembly includes a cover means adapted in use to be positioned
about a bag (as herein defined), the cover means being adapted to
cover over an inlet/discharge means provided for one end of the bag
and cover over at least said one end of the bag, the cover means
being adapted to be removable wholly or in part to expose the
inlet/discharge means when discharge of the material is
required.
[0015] Preferably, the bag assembly, as above defined is adapted to
be inverted when discharge of material is required.
[0016] According to a still further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a bag assembly substantially as herein
described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the
present invention as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0017] Further aspects of this invention which should be considered
in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following
description give by way of example of possible embodiments and in
which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1: shows very diagrammatically a bag which may be
utilised in one possible embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 2: shows a cover for a bag assembly according to one
possible embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 3: shows a bag assembly according to one possible
embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIGS. 4(a), (b): show very diagrammatically side and plan
views of the bag assembly of FIG. 3 being filled with product.
[0022] FIGS. 5(a), (b): show very diagrammatically side and plan
views of the assembly of FIG. 4 once filled and ready for
stacking.
[0023] FIGS. 6(a), (b): show optional slip sheets for use with
embodiments of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 7: shows one embodiment of the present invention with a
sling being positioned over the bag assembly.
[0025] FIG. 8: shows diagrammatically the inversion of the bag of
FIG. 7.
[0026] FIGS. 9(a), (b), (c): show a sequence of the discharge of
the bag of FIG. 8.
[0027] FIG. 10: shows an alternative embodiment of the invention as
the bag is inverted and discharged.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] As mentioned previously, the present invention relates to a
method of packaging, transportation and discharge relating to bag
of any suitable type but particularly bulk bags for powder and
granular material.
[0029] The present invention is directed toward overcoming or at
least obviating or ameliorating problems with such bulk bags to the
present time, in particular, in reducing the risk of contamination
of the powder or granular product. As will be described more
specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides an
outer cover which can be removed. This removal may be achieved by
merely cutting away the outer cover sufficiently to install a sling
over the feed spout of the bag, the bag then being inverted and the
cover fully removed. Suitably, the sling may be attached to eyelets
which could be provided for the bag to be lifted during the
discharge of the material.
[0030] Importantly, only one spout is provided for the bag acting
both as the inlet for the product and the subsequent discharge of
the product.
[0031] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cover and
the bag may be joined together, preferably by being made as
individual components and then attached together. The combined
package may then be inverted for the discharge of the material.
Preferably, in this embodiment the inversion will provide or
promote the discharging operation.
[0032] It is also envisaged, however, that vacuum may be applied to
the bag to suck the contents out in providing or at least promoting
the discharge of the contents.
[0033] The bag and the cover may be made from any suitable
materials and by any suitable techniques. The cover may suitably,
however, be of a plastics material such as polyethylene.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a bag of
any suitable type is illustrated diagrammatically and referenced by
arrow 1. In this example, the bag 1 may, for example, be of a size
to contain 750 kg of powder or granular material and may include an
inner reinforcing structure 2 to maintain the bag 1 in a
substantially square shape when filled. The bag 1 may also be
provided with eyelets 3 and a lower tail of material 4 for a
purpose which will become clearer later.
[0035] The bag 1 may also include a post evacuation device 5 and is
shown with a spout 6 at its upper end. The device 5 is suitably a
valve system which may be utilised to remove gas entrapped in the
bag 1 after sealing. The flexible or semi-flexible bag 1 may be of
any suitable material, preferably plastics.
[0036] In FIG. 2, a cover referenced generally by arrow 20,
suitably has an open end 21 and an open upper end 22 which can fit
about the spout 6 of the bag 1. The cover 20 is shown of a size
substantially commensurate with that of the bag 1 so as to
substantially envelope it. It is seen that there is only one spout
6 provided for the bag 1 which acts both as the inlet for the
product as the bag 1 is filled and the discharge outlet when the
bag 1 is emptied. In this way, avoiding the use of separate inlet
and outlet spouts the risk of contamination of the bag contents is
further reduced. In FIG. 3, the assembled bag assembly 30 is shown
with the cover 20 in position about the bag 1. In one option, the
bag 1 and the cover 20 are welded together about their respective
bottom ends 21, 4. Alternatively, the bottom ends 21, 4 may be left
separate.
[0037] In FIG. 4, the assembly 30 is shown in position having the
granular or powder material filling the bag 1 through the spout 6
seen particularly in FIG. 4(b), in a direction indicated by arrow
A. In this particular embodiment, the reinforcing structure (2),
(see FIG. 1) is maintaining the bag assembly 30 in a substantially
square shape.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 5, after filling and after the spout 6
itself has been sealed excess air may be removed by device 5 if
required. The bag assembly 30 is sealed by the upper end of the
cover 20. The upper end 20 of the cover may be closed by folding
and taping closed or by any other suitable means. At that time, a
suitable base slip sheet may be attached to the base of the bag
assembly 30. FIG. 6 shows possible slip sheets. FIG. 6(a) shows a
slip sheet 10 which may be of a recycled plastics which is secured
to the base of the assembly 30 such as by adhesive. The exposed
bottom face 11 of the slip sheet 10 may suitably be relatively
rough so as to provide appropriate frictional characteristics.
[0039] The sheet 10 is shown with upturned edges 10a to extend
upwardly of the base of the assembly 30, to provide a suitable
means for a push/pull unit to attach.
[0040] With the alternative slip sheet 12 of FIG. 6(b) this may
include channels 13 which will facilitate the handling of the
assembly 30 with a standard forklift or a push/pull forklift. The
slip sheet 12 may have an end downwardly depending flap 12a again
for a push/pull unit to attach. Both the slip sheets 10 and 12 may
be manufactured from a plastics material such as a suitable
recycled plastics.
[0041] The slip sheets 10,12 may be attached during bag assembly or
at the time of filling.
[0042] Turning now to FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings, in this
first option, a portion 14 of the cover 20 has been cut away to
expose the clean inner bag 1 and allowing the installation of a
sling 15 over the bag assembly 30. As then seen in FIG. 8, the bag
can be inverted as indicated by arrow B. As then shown in FIG.
9(a), the outer cover 20 can be fully removed exposing the eyelets
3 and enabling the sling 15 to be attached to the eyelets. As shown
in FIG. 9(b), the bag 2 may then be lifted using the sling 15 and
the spout 6 can be cut open in FIG. 9(c) to allow the material to
discharge as indicated by arrow C.
[0043] In the alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 10, the
bottom 21 of the cover 20 has been secured with the bottom 4 of the
bag 1. With the slip sheet 10/11 in place, and the previously
closed other end of the cover 20 reopened to expose the spout 6,
the assembly 30 is installed on a suitable inversion means for it
to be inverted as indicated by arrow D and the material emptied
through the spout 6 as indicated by arrow E. It will be appreciated
that the act of inversion of the assembly 30 in this embodiment
will provide the discharging operation, although it is envisaged
that in an alternative embodiment, the discharge could be commenced
once the assembly 30 is at or substantially at its fully inverted
position. Depending on when discharge is to take place, the opening
of the spout 6 will be appropriately attended to.
[0044] It will be seen that in providing an outer cover for a bulk
bag, which is removed from potential contact with the material
being discharged, contamination of the material is avoided.
[0045] Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made
to specific components or integers of the invention having known
equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if
individually set forth.
[0046] Although this invention has been described by way of example
and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *