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.

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.

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.