Abstract: A method of making flexible and collapsible bulk bags or liners for bulk bags or containers from individual flat panels of material, or tubes of material folded flat, is disclosed. The bags or liners have one or more sidewalls interconnected by at least a bottom wall and preferably also a top wall generally opposed to the bottom wall. The bags are preferably formed by disposing a pair of inner blanks of material with one on top of the other and then heat sealing along a straight line generally bisecting the blanks and thereafter severing the heat seal along its entire length. Next, a pair of outer blanks of material are disposed adjacent the inner blanks with the inner blanks received between the outer blanks. The outer blanks are each heat sealed about their side edges to an adjacent side edge of an inner blank. Once so formed, the inner blanks form a pair of gusseted panels received between the outer and overlying panels.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a liner into a container made of a flexible material has an elongate tube into which the liner is inserted with its free end extending slightly beyond the end of the tube and over and onto which the container is received whereby the free end of the liner is generally aligned with a corresponding end of the container such that an operator may grab the corresponding ends of the liner and container and generally simultaneously remove the container and liner from the tube so the liner is received interiorily and stretched out within the container. This process is relatively simple and can be accomplished by a single operator to reduce the cost and time needed to insert a liner into a container. The apparatus can be used with containers having a spout or access opening in one or both of a pair of opposed end walls.

Abstract: An improved bulk bag or bulk box liner and spout fitment construction for the liner discharge and/or fill openings. The liner is of liquid impervious thermoplastic multiple-ply sheet material, and the spout fitment is a rigid thermoplastic spout of either open or closed flange type. The spout tube extends through the liner fitment opening and has an external flange base adjacent the liner-interior tube end that is permanently affixed and heat sealed to the liner in a first annular heat weld zone formed between an outward facing surface of the flange base and the interior surface of the liner. A first backing piece of liquid impervious plastic sheet material overlies the inward-facing flange surface and has a marginal portion overlying the liner interior surface. A second annular heat seal is formed between this backing piece and flange base in a second annular weld zone spaced radially inwardly from the first heat weld seal zone.

Abstract: A form fit liner for a container has a bottom wall and at least one sidewall formed of at least one layer of a flexible material, at least one heat seal joining two adjacent portions of material of the sidewall and extending from the bottom wall towards the upper edge of the liner to define a reduced cross-sectional area lower portion of the liner constructed to be received within the container and an upper liner portion having a greater cross-sectional area than the lower portion constructed to extend out of the container to isolate the container from its contents as the liner is filled and emptied. The upper portion of the liner which extends above the container can surround a fill tube used to dispense a liquid product into the liner of the container to shield the container from the splashing or sloshing of the liquid product as the container is being filled.

Abstract: A plurality of collapsible bags are integrally formed in a tubular blank of a flexible material with a perforated portion disposed between adjacent bags to facilitate separating them. When formed, adjacent bags are connected in end-to-end relationship and lie generally flat such that the elongate blank may be wrapped around itself forming a roll of the bags or the bags may be pleated or accordion folded flat within a container whereby they may be individually removed from the container for use. Handles are preferably integrally formed with each bag extending from adjacent the top wall of the bag. A spout is preferably also integrally formed with the bag to facilitate filling and emptying of the bag. The bags are particularly suited to contain liquids or frozen liquids and are preferably made of a food-grade plastic film material suitable to contain various foods or beverage products. The bags may each be received in a separate container to support a filled bag.

Abstract: A collapsible liner for a bulk container made of a flexible material and having seamless top and bottom walls is provided. The liners are formed from a tubular blank folded to form two gusset panels received inwardly of two overlying flat panels. The blank is severed to form triangular portions adjacent opposed ends of the blank and adjacent sides of adjacent triangular portions are connected together to form a pair of generally opposed and generally rectilinear side walls of the liner. The seamless top and bottom walls are stronger than those portions of the liner with seams and are less likely to rupture or leak.

Abstract: An improved bulk bag or bulk box liner and spout fitment construction for the liner discharge and/or fill openings. The liner is of liquid impervious thermoplastic multiple-ply sheet material, and the spout fitment is a rigid thermoplastic spout of either open or closed flange type. The spout tube extends through the liner fitment opening and has an external flange base adjacent the liner-interior tube end that is permanently affixed and heat sealed to the liner in a first annular heat weld zone formed between an outward facing surface of the flange base and the interior surface of the liner. A first backing piece of liquid impervious plastic sheet material overlies the inward-facing flange surface and has a marginal portion overlying the liner interior surface. A second annular heat seal is formed between this backing piece and flange base in a second annular weld zone spaced radially inwardly from the first heat weld seal zone.

Abstract: A collapsible container liner for use within a bulk container having a substantially rigid top, bottom and side walls and a filler opening in the top wall. The liner is a collapsible bag of a flexible material with top, bottom and sides which correspond to the container walls within the interior of the container. A first opening in the liner top corresponds to the filler opening in the container top wall. A seal is formed between the container top wall and the liner top around the periphery of the filler opening and the first opening. Optionally, the container bottom wall can be formed with a discharge outlet lined by a complementarily shaped liner discharge spout sealed adjacent thereto. A second opening in the liner top is spaced from the first opening and has an evacuation outlet attached to the liner top around the periphery of the second opening.

Abstract: For a bulk bag with lift straps, an exterior liner with an opening adjacent each lift strap constructed to receive the lift strap therethrough so that the bag can be lifted by its lift straps with the liner in place. To prevent leakage and to protect the contents of the bag from water or other contaminants, a closure member is provided for each opening to substantially seal the opening. Preferably, each closure member has two opposing surfaces with fingers extending therefrom and constructed to releasably interlock when the opposing surfaces are mated together to seal the opening.

Abstract: A collapsible container liner for use within a bulk container having a substantially rigid top, bottom and side walls and a filler opening in the top wall. The liner is a collapsible bag of a flexible material with top, bottom and sides which correspond to the container walls within the interior of the container. A first opening in the liner top corresponds to the filler opening in the container top wall. A seal is formed between the container top wall and the liner top around the periphery of the filler opening and the first opening. A second opening in the liner top is spaced from the first opening and has an evacuation outlet attached to the liner top around the periphery of the second opening. Air is evacuated through the outlet from the space between the liner and the interior of the container, a vacuum forms which collapses the liner against the container interior surfaces.

Abstract: A collapsible bulk bag with lift straps is formed from a tubular blank of material severed from an elongate web of material and is provided with reinforced upper corners integral with the blank. The blank is severed from the web to provide a central portion which forms four rectilinear side walls and triangular portions preferably adjacent each end of the central portion. The adjacent sides of adjacent triangular portions at the lower end of the central portion are connected together to form a bottom of the bag. Each triangular portion at the upper end of the central portion is folded over and disposed with its base along the upper edge of two adjacent side walls and its apex generally collinear with the juncture of the adjacent side walls.

Abstract: Tools for inserting a spout of a flexible bag liner into fluid-tight sealing and anchoring engagement with a discharge outlet of a container and for removing the spout from the outlet. The spout has at least two seal rings, preferably each having a pair of axially spaced and radially outwardly extending lobes, for firmly frictionally engaging the container discharge outlet to provide a fluid-tight seal between the spout and outlet and to anchor the liner within the container. The tools have a collet carried by a shaft for releasably engaging the spout to apply force to the spout during operation of the tools. In one form the tools are actuated by a hydraulic or pneumatic drive and in another form the tools are manually actuated by pivotally moving a lever arm.

Abstract: A flexible and collapsible bulk bag having an upright orientation in use with top and bottom end access openings to the exterior of the bag through which a flexible and collapsible liner is received in the bag, the liner also having top and bottom access openings through which the bulk contents are respectively entered and discharged. When the bag is expanded and filled it has a pair of spaced apart and generally conical ends formed by four triangular portions interconnected by four generally rectangular side walls, with the ends convergently tapering toward their associated access opening. The bag when empty can be collapsed into a compact, flat configuration having a pair of overlying front and rear panels with a pair of folded gusseted side panels received therebetween. Alternatively the liner has a rigid discharge outlet spout and a protective exterior flap spans beneath the spout outlet closure to serve as an openable, flexible protective barrier for the same.

Abstract: A collapsible bulk bag which when filled with material has a generally cubical configuration with a pair of end walls and rectangular sidewalls extending between them with all of the walls being of a flexible material. Bowing and bulging of the sidewalls from a planar configuration is retarded and restrained by loops of cord operably connected with the sidewalls. Preferably the loops of cord having portions inside the bag extending obliquely between adjacent sidewalls when the bag is filled. Method and apparatus for making the bag with the double knotted loops of cord are also disclosed.

Abstract: A generally cubical collapsible bag with six generally rectangular walls of a flexible woven fabric material. Lift straps attached adjacent two opposed top edges of the bag, are connected by a pair of substantially inextensible linking members. Preferably, each linking member connects two corner lift straps and an intermediate lift strap between them.

Abstract: A collapsible bulk bag which when filled with material has a generally cubical configuration with a pair of end walls and rectangular sidewalls extending between them with all of the walls being of a flexible material. Bowing and bulging of the sidewalls from a planar configuration is retarded and restrained by loops of cord operably connected with the sidewalls. Preferably the loops of cord having portions inside the bag extending obliquely between adjacent sidewalls when the bag is filled. Method and apparatus for making the bag with the double knotted loops of cord are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealing spout and tools for inserting a spout of a flexible bag liner into fluid-tight sealing and anchoring engagement with a discharge outlet of a container and for removing the spout from the outlet. The spout has at least two seal rings, each having a pair of axially spaced and radially outwardly extending lobes for firmly frictionally engaging the container discharge outlet to provide a fluid-tight seal between the spout and outlet and to anchor the liner within the container. The tool has a shaft with a handle at one end for manual engagement to manipulate the tool within the container. A hydraulic or pneumatic drive is attached to the other end of the shaft for supplying force to insert or remove the spout. Carried by the drive is a collet for releasably engaging the spout to apply force to the spout during operation.

Abstract: A reinforced collapsible bag and method of making it from a tubular blank of a flexible material which when filled has two pair of opposed sidewall panels and an inturned shoulder bordering the top of the sidewalls for supporting another bag stacked vertically thereon in a stable manner. The blank is constructed by collapsing it into a generally flat unit having a pair of overlying panels with a pair of folded gusset panels received therebetween, overlapping and securing together adjacent upper corners of adjacent panels, and inverting and expanding the blank to form a blank having two pairs of opposed sidewalls and an inturned shoulder bordering the top of the sidewalls. When expanded, the bag has a bottom wall which extends inwardly from the bottom edge of the sidewalls. A top wall having an inlet opening is attached to the upper shoulder and is of a generally frustoconical shape to ensure more even and complete filling of the bag.

Abstract: A collapsible bulk bag which when filled with material has a generally cubical configuration with a pair of end walls and rectangular sidewalls extending between them with all of the walls being of a flexible material. Bowing and bulging of the sidewalls from a planar configuration is retarded and restrained by loops of cord operably connected with the sidewalls. Preferably the loops of cord having portions inside the bag extending obliquely between adjacent sidewalls when the bag is filled. Methods of making the bag with the loops of cord are also disclosed.

Abstract: A reinforced collapsible bag and method of making it from blanks of a flexible woven material which are cut from an elongate web substantially without wasting any material between adjacent blanks with pairs of reinforced strips extending along the side edges and through the central portion of the sides and top and bottom of the bag, thereby reinforcing the bottom, top, sides and corners of the bag. Each blank has a circumferentially continuous central portion and four isosceles triangular portions at each end of the blank. Adjacent sides of adjacent triangular portions are connected together to provide, when the bag is expanded or filled, generally square ends which are interconnected by generally rectangular side walls. Lifting straps can be attached to the reinforced strips along the side edges of the bag. An access opening is provided in an end of the bag by terminating the connections of its triangular portions short of their apexes.