Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container – With casing or support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-09-25
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
With casing or support
C222S093000, C222S183000, C222S481000, C222S556000, C222S564000, C141S010000, C141S313000, C141S327000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293432
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a bag shaped inner layer in the form of a so-called liner intended for use together with a carrying outer structure when transporting and storing fluid and particulate bulk goods.
Handling of bulk goods is separated from case goods by the fact that it can be poured, pumped or ladled while case goods most often is picked. Mineral water can serve as an example of the differences between the two types of goods. The mineral water could either be supplied in tanks for pumping and pouring which would be regarded as bulk handling, or in bottles or cans, which would be regarded as case handling. As examples of substances that can be bulk handled can be mentioned, fluid substances with various viscosity, particles, powders, grain, granulate or paste-like substances. Such substances can be further exemplified as chemicals for industrial use, semi-finished and finished products within the food industry, petro-chemical products such as oil, fuels and coal as well as plastic granulate.
A liner is used for separating the contained goods from the carrying outer casing. Such an outer casing might for example be constituted by a pallet container. Such pallet containers might for example include a pallet-shaped lower part made of wood and a upper part made of multi-layer cardboard. Among other known embodiments of such containers can be mentioned, box-shaped containers with a attached pallet bases made completely of metal or polymeric material. Such containers can also be made collapsible if the intended use is not too heavy. The reason for using a liner is, for instance, the hygienic aspects in the food industry. Other reason could be that the outer carrying structure i.e. the container itself, might be damaged by the contained substance, that the contained substance might be moist- or air-sensitive or due to migration problems.
A liner is advantageously given the shape of a completely closed bag, shaped as the inside of the carrying structure. It can also be provided with a filling- and an emptying-socket. The carrying structure might here be provided with a hole that matches the emptying socket.
One problem with the liners most common today is that they are rather difficult to use since they will have to be unfolded manually before they can be filled. All possible sockets will furthermore have to be oriented and attached at the proper place of the container. This is a most time consuming work and might even cause ruptures in the liner, leading to leaks, when the filling starts due to unintentional creases on the liner. The emptying might also be heavily obstructed if the emptying socket, of different reasons is slightly out of its proper position. This might cause that the couplings, used for emptying, do not to connect properly with the socket, which might cause a sudden, uncontrolled and unstoppable emptying of the liner. This will of course be inconvenient but could also be hazardous when the liner is used for transporting hazardous goods. Such goods could for example be flammable or oxidising substances, toxical substances, corrosive substances, carcinogenic and mutagenic substances.
It has, through the present invention, been made possible to solve the above mentioned problems whereby a less time consuming and more secure handling of the liner is achieved. The invention relates to a bag shaped inner layer in the form of a so-called liner, intended for use together with a carrying outer structure when transporting and storing bulk goods. The invention is characterised in that the liner is provided with a supporting member towards which a liner bag is folded and/or rolled. A self supporting package is hereby formed. The liner is further provided with a socket for filling and a socket for emptying. The supporting member is preferable provided with protective flaps which flaps are attached to the supporting member via folding lines so that they can be turned from an inner position where they protect the liner from being damaged during handling before the filling, to an outer, use-mode position.
The supporting structure is preferably adapted for being attached towards at least one of the side walls of the carrying outer structure by being provided with hooks, girders, flanges or the like which are designed to interact with corresponding attachment means on at least one of the side walls or on the lid of the carrying outer structure.
Such a carrying outer structure is suitably constituted by a so-called pallet container. Such a pallet container is suitably manufactured of a polymeric material, but might also be manufactured of metal.
The filling socket is preferably arranged at the upper part of the liner when attached in the carrying outer structure. The socket for emptying is preferably arranged at a position corresponding to an emptying recess at the bottom of the carrying outer structure. The supporting member is preferably provided with a guiding filling socket holder for the filling socket and a guiding emptying socket holder for the emptying socket.
The guiding filling socket holder is preferably arranged at the main part of the supporting member via a hinge. The self-supporting liner package can hereby be handled with at least the filling socket in a retracted, and thereby protected, position before the actual use as a container. The guiding emptying socket holder may also be arranged at the main part of the supporting member via such a hinge. This is especially suitable in cases where the emptying point is in the middle of the container bottom since this part of a pallet container is normally difficult to reach.
The filling socket is suitably provided with a tube shaped extension which runs vertically from the filling socket, along the side wall of carrying outer structure, on the inside of the liner bag, towards the bottom of the carrying outer structure. The filling and the inflating of the liner is thereby facilitated whereby build-up of unintended creases and pockets may be avoided.
The emptying socket suitably included a closing device in the form of a butterfly valve. The closing device includes a hoop-shaped valve seat and a valve which opens inwards by being movably attached to the valve seat via a hinge. The hinge is arrange at the inner edge of valve seat. The valve is opened by being forced inwards, into the liner bag so that the valve in the open position does not restrict the flow when emptying the liner.
The bag-shaped inner layer is folded in a special pattern before filling, which pattern allows it to unfold automatically to the desired shape when filled.
The collapsible container can also be provided with a device for heating. Such a device can for example be constituted by plates arranged on the base and/or sides of the container. The heating device is suitable supplied with electrical energy but can also be constituted by tubes with a heated circulating fluid or gas. Such a heating device is used when the content of the container is solid or highly viscous in normal room temperature. As an example of such possible contents can be mentioned chocolate, certain vegetable oils, certain waxes and resins.
A liner according the invention is delivered to the user in a folded state. The liner is protected by the flaps and the supporting member during the transport and handling before the actual use. The liner is easily arranged in the carrying outer structure by being placed standing with the supporting member towards one of the side walls of the carrying outer structure. The emptying socket is easily brought into position without any necessity for the fitter to climb, or reach down into the carrying outer structure since the supporting member can be used when guiding the emptying socket into position. The flaps and the guiding filling socket holder are then turned from the storing position to the use-mode position so that the liner bag itself is released and ready to use. Since the supporting member is standing, leaning against one of the side walls, it has to be attached in some way for not to turning over before the pressure of the conte
Jacyna J. Casimer
Perstorp AB
Stevens Davis Miller & Mosher L.L.P.
LandOfFree
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