U.S. patent number RE34,560 [Application Number 07/927,064] was granted by the patent office on 1994-03-08 for semi-bulk with liner.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Flexcon & Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel R. Schnaars.
United States Patent |
RE34,560 |
Schnaars |
March 8, 1994 |
Semi-bulk with liner
Abstract
A plastic or like material liner inserted within a fabric type
bulk bag so that the liner is secured in position within the bag
with an adhering means along substantially the outer surface of the
liner for adhering to the inner most surface of the bulk bag at
strategic points, and a second adhering means for adhering the
lower portion of the bulk bag to the liner at substantially the
point of exit of bulk contained within the bag, so that release
bulk from a lower spout would not tend to dislodge the liner from
its lined position within the bag. The invention would also include
the process for inserting the liner within the bag which would
include inserting the liner to the body portion of the bag; closing
off the lower most exit chute of the liner; forcing a pressurized
air to the liner so that the liner is inflated within the bag;
maneuvering the liner within the bag while inflated to assure that
the liner is substantially free of creases or void space between
the liner and the bag; deflating the bag and liner while the liner
is in position within the exterior bag.
Inventors: |
Schnaars; Daniel R. (Lafayette,
LA) |
Assignee: |
Flexcon & Systems, Inc.
(Lafayette, LA)
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Family
ID: |
26667179 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/927,064 |
Filed: |
August 6, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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59 |
Jan 2, 1987 |
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Reissue of: |
251020 |
Sep 27, 1988 |
04946291 |
Aug 7, 1990 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/113; 383/109;
383/117; 383/41; 383/6; 383/67; 383/904; 383/906 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
88/1618 (20130101); B65D 88/1668 (20130101); Y10S
493/933 (20130101); Y10S 383/906 (20130101); Y10S
383/904 (20130101); B65D 2588/165 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
88/16 (20060101); B65D 88/00 (20060101); B65D
088/16 (); B65D 090/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;383/6,41,67,109,111,113,114,904,906 ;220/460,462 ;493/933 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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105238 |
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Apr 1984 |
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EP |
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158361 |
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Oct 1985 |
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EP |
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1505583 |
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Mar 1978 |
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GB |
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2160498 |
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Dec 1985 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Weaver; Sue A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pravell, Hewitt, Kimball &
Krieger
Parent Case Text
This is a .Iadd.reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,291 which is a
.Iaddend.continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 000,059
filed on Jan. 2, 1987 now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed as invention is:
1. A storage bag for transporting bulk material, the bag having an
upper inlet opening, the bag comprising:
(a) an exterior fabric bag portion comprising a plurality of wall
portions, a floor portion and a top portion, all defining a bulk
storage space therewithin;
(b) a collapsed interior plastic-like liner means contained within
the bag portion and at least comprising a continuous wall portion,
for storing bulk material therein;
(c) glue circumferentially placed on the wall portions of the
exterior bag portion along the bulk storage space in at least two
spaced apart positions, a first position being adjacent and
surrounding the upper inlet opening, serving as a permanent
adhesive contact between the wall portion of the interior liner
means and the wall portions of the exterior bag portion, so that
the collapsed interior liner means adheres to the wall portions of
the exterior bag portion when the collapsed interior liner means
expands and makes contact with the wall portions of the exterior
bag portion; and
(d) means associated with the collapsed interior liner means for
providing that the wall portion of the collapsed interior liner
means substantially conforms to and abuts against the wall portions
of the exterior bag portion when the interior liner means expands
and makes contact with the exterior bag portion.
2. The storage bag in claim 1, wherein the exterior bag portion
comprises a shoulder portion where the top portion meets the wall
portions, and the circumferentially placed glue at the first
position comprises a continuous layer of glue and the first
position is adjacent the shoulder portion.
3. The storage bag in claim 1, wherein the interior liner means
conforms to the shape of the exterior bag portion during transport
of bulk material therein.
4. A storage bag for transporting bulk material therein of the type
comprising an exterior fabric bag portion having a top portion, a
plurality of wall portions including an upper portion adjacent the
top portion, and a floor portion, all defining a storage space
therewithin, and including an inlet opening on the top portion and
an outlet opening on the floor portion, the storage bag
comprising:
(a) a free-form interior plastic liner positioned within the
exterior bag portion and including a continuous wall portion, for
housing bulk material stored therein, the free-form interior liner
conforming to the shape of the wall portions of the exterior bag
portion when bulk material is added to the storage space and
contained within the exterior bag portion; and
(b) a layer of glue circumferentially applied upon the wall
portions of the exterior bag portion along the storage space in two
spaced apart positions, at least one position being adjacent to the
inlet opening at the upper portion, so that when the free-form
interior .[.line.]. .Iadd.liner .Iaddend.is expanded to conform to
the shape of the exterior bag portion, the wall portion of the
free-form interior liner adheres to the wall portions of the
exterior bag portion where the glue has been applied to prevent the
free-form interior liner from moving out of the outlet opening on
the floor portion of the exterior bag portion as bulk material is
emptied therefrom, the glue serving as a permanent adhesive contact
between the wall portion of the interior liner and the wall
portions of the exterior bag portion.
5. A storage bag for transporting bulk material, the bag having an
upper inlet opening and a lower .[.outer.]. .Iadd.outlet
.Iaddend.opening, the bag comprising:
(a) an exterior fabric bag portion comprising a plurality of wall
portions, a floor portion, and a top portion all defining a bulk
storage space therewithin;
(b) an interior free-form plastic-like liner means insertable into
the exterior fabric bag portion in a collapsed configuration and
when expanded conformable to fit the configuration of the exterior
fabric bag portion, the interior plastic-like liner means at least
comprising a continuous wall portion, for storing bulk material
therein;
(c) glue circumferentially placed on the wall portions of the
exterior bag portion along the bulk storage space in at least two
spaced apart positions, at least one position being adjacent one of
the upper opening, serving as a permanent adhesive contact between
the wall portion of the interior liner means and the wall portions
of the exterior bag portion, so that the interior liner means
adheres to the wall portions of the exterior bag portion when the
interior liner means expands from the collapsed configuration and
makes contact with the wall portions of the exterior bag portion;
and
(d) means associated with the interior liner means for providing
that the wall portion of the interior liner means substantially
conforms to and abuts against the wall portions of the exterior bag
portion when the interior liner means makes contact with the
exterior bag portion. .Iadd.6. A storage bag for transporting bulk
material, the bag having an upper inlet opening, the bag
comprising:
(a) an exterior fabric bag portion comprising a plurality of wall
portions, a floor portion and a top portion, all defining a bulk
storage space therewithin;
(b) a collapsed interior plastic-liner means contained within the
bag portion and at least comprising a continuous wall portion, for
storing bulk material therein;
(c) glue circumferentially placed on the wall portions of the
exterior bag portion along the bulk storage space in at least a
first position adjacent and surrounding the upper inlet opening,
serving as a permanent adhesive contact between the wall portion of
the interior liner means and the wall portions of the exterior bag
portion, so that the collapsed interior liner means adheres to the
wall portions of the exterior bag portion when the collapsed
interior liner means expands and makes contact with the wall
portions of the exterior bag portion; and
(d) means associated with the collapsed interior liner means for
providing that the wall portion of the collapsed interior liner
means substantially conforms to and abuts against the wall portions
of the exterior bag portion when the interior liner means expands
and makes contact with the exterior bag portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7.
The storage bag in claim 6, wherein the exterior bag portion
comprises a shoulder portion where the top portion meets the wall
portions, and the circumferentially placed glue at the first
position comprises a continuous layer of glue and the first
position is adjacent the shoulder portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The
storage bag in claim 6, wherein the interior liner means conforms
to the shape of the exterior bag portion during transport of bulk
material therein.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A storage bag for transporting bulk material
therein of the type comprising an exterior fabric bag portion
having a top portion, a plurality of wall portions including an
upper portion adjacent the top portion, and a floor portion, all
defining a storage space therewithin, and including an inlet
opening on the top portion and an outlet opening on the floor
portion, the storage bag comprising:
(a) a free-form interior plastic liner positioned within the
exterior bag portion and including a continuous wall portion, for
housing bulk material stored therein, the free-form interior liner
conforming to the shape of the wall portions of the exterior bag
portion when bulk material is added to the storage space and
contained within the exterior bag portion; and
(b) a layer of glue circumferentially applied upon the wall
portions of the exterior bag portion along the storage space in at
least one position adjacent one of the openings, so that when the
free-form interior liner is expanded to conform to the shape of the
exterior bag portion, the wall portion of the free-form interior
liner adheres to the wall portions of the exterior bag portion
where the glue has been applied to prevent the free-form interior
liner from moving out of the outlet opening on the floor portion of
the exterior bag portion as bulk material is emptied therefrom, the
glue serving as a permanent adhesive contact between the wall
portion of the interior liner and the wall portions of the
exterior
bag portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A storage bag for transporting
bulk material, the bag having an upper inlet opening and a lower
outlet opening, the bag comprising:
(a) an exterior fabric bag portion comprising a plurality of wall
portions, a floor portion, and a top portion all defining a bulk
storage space therewithin;
(b) an interior free-form plastic-like liner means insertable into
the exterior fabric bag portion in a collapsed configuration and
when expanded conformable to fit the configuration of the exterior
fabric bag portion, the interior plastic-like liner means at least
comprising a continuous wall portion, for storing bulk material
therein;
(c) glue circumferentially placed on the wall portions of the
exterior bag portion along the bulk storage space in at least one
position adjacent one of the openings, serving as a permanent
adhesive contact between the wall portion of the interior liner
means and the wall portions of the exterior bag portion, so that
the interior liner means adheres to the wall portions of the
exterior bag portion when the interior liner means expands from the
collapsed configuration and makes contact with the wall portions of
the exterior bag portion; and
(d) means associated with the interior liner means for providing
that the wall portion of the interior liner means substantially
conforms to and abuts against the wall portions of the exterior bag
portion when the interior liner means makes contact with the
exterior bag portion. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
1. Field of the Invention;
The present invention relates to semi-bulk bags. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a semi-bulk bag having an exterior
fabric layer and an interior polyethlene liner glued therein for
assuring maintenance of the liner while the contents of the bag are
dumped, and also provides for a process to assure the liner in
proper position within the bag.
2. General Background:
In the art of transporting of dry, free-flowing bulk materials such
as sugar, flour, resins, etc., or even certain waste products, the
use of bulk bags are well known to the industry, the bags
consisting primarily of an upper receiving portion for receiving
contents within the bag. The bag is then transported and a lower
discharge outlet which would be sealed during transport is opened
into a receiving bin, and the contents would be poured therefrom
through the discharge outlet. In addition, material fabric bulk
bags may be required to have an inner polyethylene liner for
complete moisture, or contamination control, or federal
requirements are such that the contents such as food products must
be sealed within the polyethylene liner for purpose of purity as
opposed to a plain fabric bag.
Although this type of system is common in the industry, there are
several shortcomings in the present state of the art which need
addressing. In particular, in the system whereby the polyethylene
liner is insertable into the exterior fabric bag, the liner, of
course, often times is simply a cylindrical continuous wall liner,
which is inserted into the bag and tied off at the bottom end, with
the contents poured into the top neck of the liner. As the inner
liner fills out with contents, it theoretically fills out into the
exterior fabric bag for transport. However, what often occurs is
that as the liner is receiving the product, folds or creases in the
liner prevent it from conforming to the shape of the exterior bag,
and therefore the result is a void between the liner and the fabric
bag, which is not filled, and therefore less contents are carried
in the bag as would normally be available.
Perhaps a more significant problem is the problem encountered upon
the bag releasing its contents through the lower discharge outlet
as was described earlier. As the contents pour from the fabric bag
and the liner, because the fact that the liner is not secured
within the bag, the result is often that the liner itself will be
pulled from the bag through the force of the pouring contents, and
as often occurs, the liner itself would drop into the container,
whether it be a bin or another type of receiving container. This,
of course, is particularly undesirable in view of the fact the
contents, which often times may be food substances, have in effect,
become contaminanted by the liner being allowed to reside in the
bin following pouring of the contents therefrom.
There are several patents which have been discovered as a result of
a search of the art on the subject of liners and method of securing
liners within an exterior of the frames, the most pertinent being
as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,694 issued to Okushita, entitled "Apparatus For
Fabricating A Bag And Box Package", relates to a bag made of
substantially rectangular superimposed layers of flexible material
hermetically sealed and upon inflation of the bag, the bag comes
into close contact with the box ready to receive the desired
product through a filament attached thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,906 issued to Krein, entitled "Free Standing
Waterproof Lining For Truck Industry", relates to a method of
installing a continuous moisture proof film liner within a
conventional cargo trailer by blowing a gentle stream of air into
the bag as sufficient tension is applied to the upper edge and
surface to direct the air into the rear of the trailer. It would
simply be adhered to place via contact with the sides and the top
of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,154 issued to Breckmuller, entitled "Process
And Apparatus For Manufacturing Bags Comprising a Liner Bag Which
Protrudes From The Opening", involves a process which is related to
the bag construction as to the inclusion of a liner bag within an
exterior bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,798 issued to Wicks, entitled "Method Of Making
Plastic-Lined Burlap Bag", teaches a method of forming a line bag
extruding a strip of thermal plastic adhesive along an edge of a
piece of bag allowing it to dry and forming a bag with the external
stitch side and bottom seams with the adhesive strips along the
outer edge of the open top.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,275 issued to Bolling, et al, entitled "Bags
With Film Liners And Method Of Making, relates to a method of
making a bag whereby flat non-gusseted plastic film tubing heat
sealed transversely the tube length and can be combined with the
Weber paper and a conventional bag machine to form a bag with a
film liner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,379 issued to Williamson, entitled "Reinforced
Container For Bulk Material", relates to a container in the
manufacture thereof for a reinforced receptacle for containing bulk
material having a coextruded plastic multiplied tube having at
least an inner and outer ply and having an upper and lower end with
the reinforced sheet wrapped around the multiplied tube and
encompassing the tube from the lower end to a hide-away so that the
receptacle is filled with the bulk material.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The apparatus and process of the present invention solves the
problems confronted in the present state of the art in a simple and
straightforward manner. What is provided is a plastic or like
material liner inserted within a fabric type bulk bag so that the
liner is secured in position within the bag with a first adhering
means at strategic points along the outer surface of the liner for
adhering to the inner most surface of the bulk bag, and a second
adhering means for adhering the lower portion of the bulk bag to
the liner at substantially the point of exit of bulk contained
within the bag, so that release of bulk from a lower discharge
spout would allow the liner to remain in position within the bag.
The invention would also include the process for inserting the
liner within the bag which would include inserting the liner
through the body portion of the bag; closing off the lower most
discharge spout of the liner; forcing pressurized air into the
liner so that the liner is inflated within the bag; maneuvering the
liner within the bag while inflated to assure that the liner is
substantially free of creases or void space between the liner and
the bag; deflating the bag and liner while the liner is in position
within the exterior bag.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention is to
provide a bulk bag having a plastic liner therein, with the liner
having a bottom discharge outlet so that when removal of bulk is
achieved the liner is maintained within the exterior bag;
It is still a principal object of the present invention to provide
a process for installing a liner within an outer fabric bulk bag in
such a manner so that there are no void spaces between the liner
and the bag when the bulk is received into the bag;
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an
adhering means between the exterior fabric bulk bag and an interior
plastic liner so that upon the liner making substantial contact
with the inner surface of the bag the liner is adhered to the inner
surface at strategic points so as to avoid any movement or flow of
the liner out of the bag as contents within the bulk bag are
removed;
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a
process for enabling a liner within a bulk bag to be positioned
within the bulk bag prior to utilization of the bulk bag in such a
manner that the liner conforms substantially to the shape of the
bulk bag when the bulk bag is filled with bulk product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an overall side view of the bulk bag containing a liner
in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a bulk bag containing a liner in the
preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side partial cut-away view of the bulk bag wherein a
liner is being inserted therein;
FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view along lines 4--4 in FIG. 1
illustrating the adhering contact between the bulk bag and the
liner;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a bulk bag while bulk is being
dumped therefrom; and
FIG. 6 is a view of the present state of the art indicating the
movement of the liner out of a bulk bag during dumping of the bulk
therefrom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the apparatus and the process of the present
invention with the bulk bag being illustrated by the numeral 10. As
seen in FIG. 1, bulk bag 10 would comprise an outer fabric bag 12
when filled with bulk substantially comprising an upright bag
having four sides 14, 16, 18 and 20 and a substantially flat bottom
portion 22 and an upper portion 24, which can be in several forms
such as, cone-shaped, with full spout, flat-shaped with full spout,
or full-open duffle style, having an upper open end 26 therein, the
wall portions, floor portions and cone portion of the bag defining
an interior storage space 27 therein for storage of the bulk. For
purposes of description the bulk bag is a typical type of bag
utilized in the transport of bulk through the open end 26 allowing
the flow of contents from a chute 28, with the contents flowing
into the bag as indicated by arrows 30. Bulk bag 10 would normally
be comprised of a plain or coated fabric which could be sewn or
adhered to form the bag itself having a sleeve lift 32 at each of
its upper corners for lifting and placing in position during
transport.
As seen in FIG. 1, also bulk bag 10 after being filled with bulk
has been rested upon a pallet 34 which is quite standard in the
art, but not necessary to the art, so that it may be lifted and
moved elsewhere in a warehouse or the like.
As was discussed earlier, bulk bag 10 would serve as an outer
fabric container for the bulk contained within bulk space 27. For
use with the present invention would be of the type of a storage
bulk bag which would further comprise an interior heavy plastic or
polyethlene liner 50, the liner 50 as seen for example in FIG. 1
having an upper neck portion 52 which would extrude out of the
opening 26 in bulk bag 10 and surround the pour spout 28 so that
any contents poured within the bulk bag of course would pour within
liner 50. Liner 50 of course will be utilized in most instances
where sensitive bulk such as food or the like must not make contact
with the exterior bag 10. As seen in the FIGURES, since in fact the
bulk bag 10 would be the type of bulk bag that would release its
contents from a discharge outlet 29 as seen in FIG. 2, again liner
50 would have a lower neck portion 54 which would extrude out from
the bottom spout 29 of bulk bag 10 so that as the contents pour
from the bulk bag 10 they would pour from spout 54 into a receiving
bin for storage after transport.
There is nothing unconventional in regard to an exterior bulk bag
such as bulk bag 10 having an interior lining such as lining 50
therewithin; that structure being known in the art. The combination
which is concerned in the present invention is the method of
making, and the method of inserting the liner within bulk bag 10 to
assure that the liner is conformed to the shape of bulk bag 10 and
is not released as the contents of the bulk bag are released
through spout 54.
Turning now to FIG. 3, one of the means for achieving this end
would include a air blower 60 having an extendible air conveying
portion 62 with the air blower 60 operated by a motor the like 64
for conveying air down portion 62 as indicated by the direction of
arrows 66. Bulk bag 10 as seen in the FIGURE would be inserted onto
the end portion 69 of air conveying section 62, after liner 50 has
been inserted into the bulk bag, with the liner 50 tied off via a
tie string or the like 73 at point 69. The lower most bottom spout
54 of liner 50 has been tied off so that any air received within
liner 50 is therefore unable to flow through the bag in the
process. After the bulk bag and liner which would normally be in
the collapsed position are placed on lower extension 62, air is
then forced into the bulk bag and liner and the liner within the
bulk bag begins to expand with the bulk bag and to conform to the
shape and size of the bulk bag as indicated by arrows 72 in FIG. 3.
During the process while the liner is being blown to conform to the
bag, it may be necessary that the liner in the bag being adjusted
by pounding or shifting so that one is assured that the exterior
wall 51 of liner 50 conforms to the inner wall 11 of bulk bag 10.
Therefore, once the liner is in place one is assured that when
contents are poured into the bag the liner will conform to the
shape of the bulk bag.
Following the inflation of the liner within bulk bag 10 and the
conforming of the shapes, blower 60 is then turned to the off
position, the bag and liner are removed from the extension 62, and
the bulk bag with liner contained therein are folded and may be
stacked for further use in the future.
Prior to the inflation of the liner within the bulk bag, as seen in
FIG. 3, it is necessary that there be achieved a means for
maintaining the liner within the bulk bag after it has achieved its
inflation against the wall of the bulk bag so that when the
contents are removed from the bulk bag to the lower spout 54, the
liner is maintained in place. The means for achieving this is
illustrated in particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, which illustrates
that a continuous layer of glue 68, (which may be of the type which
is quick drying upon contact) is placed along the interior wall
portion 11 of he bulk bag 10 at approximately the point adjacent
the upper shoulders 13 where the top portion 24 is joined to the
wall portion of the bag, so that preferably continuous adhesion
means 70 is defined at that point, although the adhesion means must
be sufficient to maintain the liner in place. Further, a second
layer of glue to define a second adhesion means is placed on the
interior 11 of bulk bag 10 as indicated in FIG. 2 forming
preferably a continuous circle of glue 71 around the pour spout 29
of bulk bag 10. Although preferably the portion of the adhesion
layers are along the top and exit point of the bag, it is
understood that the glue could be applied in other strategic areas,
the result intended to maintain the liner in place.
Therefore, after the glue has been applied as a continuous adhesion
means 70 of the upper portion of the bag and means 71 on the lower
most portion of the bag, upon inflation of the liner within the
bulk bag, the liner 50 is forced to make contact with the inner
surface 11 of bulk bag 10 and therefore an adhesion occurs and
those two strategic points as seen in FIG. 4. It should be noted
that the adhesion between the inner liners and the bag is
accomplished by the glue, and there is no need for stitching,
taping or other contact means between the liner and the bag.
Therefore, upon contents being poured into the bag and out of the
bag as seen in FIG. 5, the removal of the contents will not allow
folding and slippage of the interior liner 50 but it will be
retained in place during the removal process.
FIG. 6 has been included in the FIGURES to illustrate the results
which often occur to liner 50 prior to the present invention, when
liner 50 simply was placed within bag 10. Upon removal of the
contents, liner 50 tends to follow the movement of the contents 80
out of bulk bag 10 and often times extruded into the materials
contained in the receiving bin or worse yet, was pulled completed
from the bulk bag and resided in the contents thus causing perhaps
possible contamination of the contents.
As was stated earlier, the critical steps of the placement of an
adhesion means within the interior of the outer bulk bag 10 to
adhere to the inner liner upon inflation and to remain adhered
during the shipment and pouring of the bulk out of the bag solves
one problem confronted, and the fact that the liner is inflated
within the bulk bag so that it would conform to the shape of the
bulk bag and avoid any possibility of void spaces between the liner
and the bulk bag solves the second problem, which the overall
apparatus and process for achieving these ends have been discussed
herein.
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within
the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many
modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in
accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be
understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *