Agitating – Stirrer within stationary mixing chamber – Rectilinearly reciprocable stirrer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-11-06
Soohoo, Tony G. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Stirrer within stationary mixing chamber
Rectilinearly reciprocable stirrer
C366S335000, C141S075000, C141S077000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312151
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of handling and storage of materials in bulk bags. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for pre-conditioning the material held in a bulk bag, prior to discharge, so as to break up highly compacted material.
An increasingly common method of shipping, storage, and handling commodities is the bulk bag or “super sack”. The bags are sewn commonly of a synthetic fabric and generally hold up to approximately 2,000 to 2,200 pounds of product. Typically, they have four lifting loops, an inlet spout on the top which folds over after filling, and a discharge spout on the bottom which is generally folded over and tied, many times within yet another overwrap. An average super sack full of product would range from 36″ square to 48″ square and anywhere from 36″ in height to 72″ in height. The “square” is really a misnomer because although the bags are sewn square, the sides bulge significantly as product is filled into them. Many bulk bags also are fit with a liner, customarily a polyethylene tube and liners would frequently be used with products which might tend to be hydroscopic.
Bulk bags are frequently transported over long distances either by ship, truck or rail; and, they frequently stand in a warehouse for an extended period of time before the product is to be used. During transportation and storage, many products become compacted such that the material is a fairly compacted mass in the bag that will not flow from the open spout at the bottom, even after the bags have been dropped to the floor, swung against a pillar, or beat upon with baseball bats. All of these techniques have been tried at one time or another.
The bulk bag pre-conditioner of the invention is designed to replace the less sophisticated and less effective means of breaking up the material in a compacted bag so that it will flow when the bag is opened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus is provided for pre-conditioning the materials in a bulk bag to effect easier unloading of the materials. A frame is provided with an open space for receiving the bulk bag. A series of spaced-apart, opposing breaker bars is provided for automatic thrusting against the sides of the bags to break up compacted material. The bars preferably have an angled profile. Parallel pairs of opposing horizontal bars are provided, evenly spaced from the bottom; and preferably a single opposing vertical pair is provided on the opposite sides. The pairs of bars are operated, by thrusting into the sides of the bag, in a timed sequence, to effect break up of the material. Additionally, a series of bars may be provided on the bottom of the frame, such that a break up effect is achieved against the material residing in the bottom of the bag.
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Norris McLaughlin & Marcus P.A.
Soohoo Tony G.
Vac-U-Max
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