EP1598288A1

EP1598288A1 - Method of fitting liquid container bag body, and liquid container

Info

Publication number: EP1598288A1
Application number: EP03778929A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Seijiro c/o Kyoritsu Phys. D. Sys. Co. Ltd KANKI
Original assignee: Kyoritsu Physical Distribution System Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kyoritsu Physical Distribution System Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-19
Filing date: 2003-12-15
Publication date: 2005-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-15
Also published as: EP1598288A4; JP2004244104A; EP1598288B1; WO2004056676A1; ATE517048T1; JP3769653B2; AU2003289092B2; AU2003289092B8; HK1087079A1; AU2003289092A1; KR20040054496A; KR100604554B1

Abstract

As a liquid container including a container bag (1) having a bottom to which a mouth member (2) is attached, a discharge tube (3) connected to the mouth member and having a valve and a frame having a bottom supporting portion (50) for supporting the bottom of the bag (1), this invention facilitates the work of setting the bag, etc. in the frame and enables it to be performed easily as a tight sealed joint is formed between the mouth member at the bottom of the bag and the discharge tube, while there is no fear of any remaining liquid dripping down when the container is disassembled, and when the bag (1) is set in the frame, the discharge tube (3) is connected to the mouth member (2) at the bottom of the bag beforehand, is passed down from the inside of the frame to below its bottom supporting portion (50) through an opening (52) in its bottom supporting portion (50) and is so secured as to have the mouth member (2) supported on the peripheral portion (53) of its opening by supporting plates (55a) (55b).

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to a method of setting a bag, etc. in a liquid container used for transporting a liquid, such as various kinds of chemicals or liquid food, and to a liquid container.

Background Art

Metal or plastic tanks have usually been employed as containers for holding and transporting liquids, such as various kinds of chemicals, liquid food or beverages, or liquid paints, but these kinds of tanks have been considerably expensive, have been inefficient in transportation and storage when they are returned from the destination after having been emptied, and have been very inconvenient in their cleansing for repeated use, especially the cleansing of their discharge tubes having valves.
Therefore, there has recently been proposed a liquid container in which a bag formed from a synthetic resin film, etc. is used with a rigid frame and thrown away after a single time of use to simplify cleansing and allow all of its contents to be smoothly discharged (for example, Japanese Patent Office Official Gazette JP-A-8-337288).
The liquid container disclosed in the above literature has a bottom supporting body for supporting a container bag on a pallet body, the bottom supporting body has an opening in the center of its funnel-shaped bottom and its bottom has under the periphery of its opening an engaging portion into which a mounting flange formed at one end of a discharge tube having a valve is laterally engageable, so that the discharge tube having a valve may be detachably mounted by the engagement of the flange with the engaging portion. The bag can be connected with the discharge tube if the tubular portion of a mouth member attached for a liquid outlet at its bottom is fitted into the end of the discharge tube.
This liquid container allows the discharge tube having a valve to be set in position relatively easily even by a job done under its bottom supporting body, but as the connection between the discharge tube and the mouth member at the bottom of the bag is merely by axial fitting, the sliding contact surfaces formed therebetween are not sealed satisfactorily despite any O-ring or other packing disposed therebetween, so that it is likely that a leak may be caused by a liquid pressure and make the user feel uneasy especially in the event that the container holds a dangerous substance, such as a chemical.
When the bag is taken out from the frame after its one-way use or the discharge tube having a valve is detached, as when the container is returned from the destination, the mouth member at the bottom of the bag has to be removed from the discharge tube, and when it is removed, it is likely that the liquid remaining in the bag may drip down through the mouth member and soil the floor.
In view of the foregoing, this invention is aimed at providing a setting method which facilitates the work of setting a container bag, a discharge tube having a valve, etc. in position and enables it to be done easily and safely by sealing a joint between a mouth member at the bottom of the bag and the discharge tube so tightly that there may not be any fear of liquid leakage, or of any remaining liquid dripping down when the bag is taken out, and a liquid container.

Disclosure of the Invention

A method of setting a bag, etc. in a liquid container according to this invention which solves the problems as stated above is characterized in that when a liquid container has a container bag having a bottom to which a mouth member for a liquid outlet is attached, a discharge tube connected to the mouth member and having a valve and a frame having a bottom supporting portion for supporting the bottom of the container bag, and when the container bag is set in the frame, the discharge tube having a valve is connected to the mouth member at the bottom of the bag and is drawn out from the inside of the frame to below its bottom supporting portion through an opening which the bottom supporting portion has, so that the mouth member may be supported thereon along the periphery of the opening.
As the discharge tube can be set in the frame by being passed through the opening in its bottom supporting portion with the discharge tube having a valve connected to the mouth member at the bottom of the container bag, the work of setting it in position can be performed easily and efficiently, while the joint between the mouth member and the discharge tube can be held in a tightly sealed state.
When the bag is taken out from the frame, the disconnecting work of taking it out can be performed easily, since the discharge tube can be drawn up through the opening in the way opposite to what has been stated above. The work of connecting the discharge tube to the mouth member and disconnecting it therefrom can be performed easily outside the frame. Moreover, especially when the discharge tube is disconnected from the mouth member, the work outside the frame is easy to perform, since it is easy to ensure, when disconnecting it, that no remaining liquid drips down through the mouth member, even if any liquid may remain in the bag.
A liquid container according to this invention is a liquid container which has a container bag having a bottom to which a mouth member for a liquid outlet is attached, a discharge tube connected to the mouth member and having a valve and a frame having a bottom supporting portion for supporting the bottom of the container bag, and is characterized in that the mouth member at the bottom of the container bag comprises a tubular portion for connection with the discharge tube having a valve and a flange extending from one end of the tubular portion, the flange being secured to the edge of an opening at the bottom of the bag, the bottom supporting portion of the frame having a funnel-shaped bottom plate inclined inwardly and downwardly from four sides thereof and having at its center an opening through which the discharge tube having a valve and connected with the tubular portion of the mouth member can be passed, so that the discharge tube may be passed through the opening of the bottom supporting portion to have the flange of the mouth member supported thereon along the periphery of the opening.
Thus, the work of setting the container bag and the discharge tube in position and the disconnecting work of taking them out can be performed easily.
It is preferable that a supporting plate be provided removably on the bottom supporting portion along the periphery of its opening so as to be loosely or tightly fitted about the tubular portion of the mouth member to support its flange. The supporting plate provides a rigid and reliable support for the mouth member on the bottom supporting portion along the periphery of its opening even if its opening may have a relatively large diameter to pass the discharge tube therethrough, and the supporting plate can be set in position easily when the discharge tube is set in position.
The supporting plate is preferably of the type split in two parts so as to be fitted about the tubular portion of the mouth member and set on the bottom supporting portion along the periphery of its opening when the discharge tube has been passed through its opening, whereby the work of setting it in position is further facilitated, as it is undoubtedly easy to have the supporting plate fitted about the tubular portion of the mouth member and set on the bottom supporting portion along the periphery of its opening when the discharge tube has been passed through its opening.
The liquid container preferably has a clamp type connecting structure by which the end of the tubular portion of the mouth member and the end of the discharge tube having a valve are connected to each other in a liquid-tight fashion.
The clamp type connecting structure is preferably of such construction that, while a protruding edge is formed about each of the ends of the tubular portion of the mouth member and of the discharge tube and has an inclined surface on its side opposite its side where those ends face each other, it includes a clamp member having along its inner periphery a tapered surface capable of being fitted about the protruding edges and tightening them into close contact with each other and a packing device disposed between the ends of the tubular portion and the discharge tube to connect them in a liquid-tight fashion upon tightening of the clamp member. It makes it possible to connect the ends of the mouth member and the discharge tube easily and reliably with a tight seal therebetween and provides a state of connection which is free from any fear of liquid leakage, etc.
The mouth member may be formed as a single body from a synthetic resin and its tubular portion may have a circumferential annular packing ridge formed on its end surface facing the discharge tube, while the end surface of the discharge tube facing it has a circumferential groove in which the ridge may be fitted at its top. This arrangement also makes it possible to connect the ends of the mouth member and the discharge tube easily and reliably and provides a state of connection which is free from any fear of liquid leakage, etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a sectional view outlining a liquid container according to this invention in its assembled state.
FIG. 2A is a schematic front elevational view outlining a container bag in its flattened state.
FIG. 2B is a schematic top plan view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing a discharge tube having a valve and yet to be connected with the liquid outlet of the container bag.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing the discharge tube having a valve and connected with a mouth member in the liquid outlet.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view thereof.
FIG. 6 is a schematic front elevational view of a clamp member therein.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing a modified form of mouth member.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of an opening in the center of the bottom supporting portion of a frame and a supporting plate.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the discharge tube being passed through the opening in the center of the bottom supporting portion of the frame.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the discharge tube as passed through the opening and set in position.
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing a modified form of supporting plate and a discharge tube having a valve and yet to be connected with a liquid outlet.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the discharge tube being passed through the opening in the center of the bottom supporting portion of the frame.
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the discharge tube as set in position.
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the discharge tube as set and secured in position.
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof.
FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view outlining the frame.
FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing the foldable side plates of the frame.

Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention

A mode of carrying out this invention will now be described based on its embodiments shown in the drawings, though this invention is not thereby limited.
In the drawings, 1 is a container bag having a bottom to which a mouth member 2 for a liquid outlet is attached, 3 is a discharge tube having a valve and connected to the mouth member 2 and 5 is a frame having a bottom supporting portion 50 for supporting the bottom of the container bag 1 . A pallet 6 is situated under the bottom supporting portion 50 as an integral part thereof.
The container bag 1 is, for example, a bag made of a sheet formed from one or more synthetic resin films, such as polyethylene films, a bag made of a combination thereof with a tarpaulin sheet, or a rubber bag, and has a liquid inlet 11 made substantially in the center of its top and having a cap, and a liquid outlet formed in the center of its bottom and having the mouth member 2 attached thereto as stated above. The bag 1 is made by, for example, welding two upper and lower synthetic resin films 1a and 1b to each other along their periphery 1c to form a flat and spread bag and forming the liquid inlet 11 and the liquid outlet for the mouth member 2 substantially in the centers of the upper and lower films 1a and 1b, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, so that it may expand as shown by chain lines in FIG. 2A when air or its contents are introduced thereinto. A bag formed in any other way will, of course, be useful, too.
The mouth member 2 for the liquid outlet is a molded product of a synthetic resin, such as a polyethylene resin and has a tubular portion 21 for connection with the discharge tube 3 having a valve and a flange 22 extending from one end of the tubular portion 21, as shown in an enlarged form in FIG. 3, etc. , and the bag 1 has its bottom welded under heat or otherwise secured along its liquid outlet to the flange 22 in a sealed way. The other end of the tubular portion 21 and one end of the discharge tube 3 having a valve are so formed as to be capable of being connected end to end liquid-tightly by, for example, a clamp type connecting structure as will be described later, with a packing device 4 held therebetween. The flange 22 usually has, for example, a substantially square shape with all the corners rounded or a circular shape, though it may alternatively have an oval or pentagonal shape or a polygonal shape with more angles.
The discharge tube 3 having a valve is of a metal, mainly stainless steel, and comprises a substantially L-shaped elbow 31 connected with the tubular portion 21 and a mouthpiece member 32 having a valve 34 and connected to the elbow 31 by an adequate connecting device.
Description will now be made of an example of clamp type connecting structure for connecting the mouth member 2 and the discharge tube 3.
A protruding edge 23 or 33 is formed about each of the ends of the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2 and of the discharge tube 3 and has an inclined surface 23a or 33a on its side opposite its side where those ends face each other and the protruding edges 23 and 33 can be tightened into close contact with each other by a clamp member 7 fitting their outer periphery, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. The clamp member 7 comprises two semi-annular portions 72 linked together by a link portion 73 of the hinge construction and each having along its inner periphery a tapered surface 71 fitting the inclined surface 23a or 33a, while the opposite ends of the semi-annular portions 72 from the link portion 73 can be united together by a screw member 74, so that the clamp member 7 may be able to connect the ends of the tubular portion 21 and the discharge tube 3 together rigidly if the screw member 74 is tightened when the semi-annular portions 72 are fitted about the protruding edges 23 and 33, as shown in FIG. 5.
The mutually facing surfaces of the ends of the tubular portion 21 and the discharge tube 3 have grooves 23b and 33b, respectively, in which a packing ring 4a like an O-ring as the packing device 4 can be fitted on its opposite sides so as to be held between the ends connected to each other and thereby form a liquid-tight joint which is free from any fear of liquid leakage, etc.
Instead of using as the packing device 4 the packing ring 4a formed from a rubber material, etc. separately from the mouth member 2 as stated, it is also possible to, for example, utilize the material of the mouth member 2 formed from a synthetic resin and form a circumferentially extending annular ridge 4b on the end surface of the tubular portion 21 as an integral part thereof so that the ridge 4b may be fitted in the groove 33b in the end surface of the discharge tube 3 to perform a packing function between the ends of the tubular portion 21 and the discharge tube 3 when they are tightened together into close contact by the clamp member 7 as described before, as shown in FIG. 7. This arrangement eliminates the necessity of using any separate packing ring, is economical owing to a corresponding reduction in the number of parts as required and also makes their connection easier.
Although it may also be possible to use any other connecting device for connecting the mouth member 2 and the discharge tube 3, the clamp type connecting structure as described before is, among others, preferable from the standpoints of easy connection, joint sealing, etc.
The same clamp type connecting structure as described before can be used for connecting the elbow 31 and the mouthpiece member 32 for the discharge tube 3.
The bottom supporting portion 50 of the frame 5 has a funnel-shaped bottom plate 51 having four sides inclined inwardly and downwardly. The angle of inclination of the bottom plate 51 may be selected to suit the viscosity of the liquid to be transported, etc. The bottom plate 51 has in its center an opening 52 through which the discharge tube 3 having a valve and connected to the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2 can be passed, and a supporting plate 55, for example, a supporting plate 55 split in two parts as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, can be mounted removably on a peripheral portion 53 around the opening 52 for supporting the flange 22 of the mouth member 2 when it is loosely or tightly fitted about the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2.
In its form shown in the drawings, the bottom plate 51 has in its center a, for example, square area 51a formed slightly below its surroundings and defining a substantially horizontal surface, the opening 52 being formed in the center of the area 51a defining a horizontal surface, and the supporting plate 55 can be fitted and set in the area 51a. Although it may be possible to shift the opening 52, as well as the area 51a, forward or backward or to the right or left within the central area of the bottom portion, it is in practice preferable to situate them in their central position.
The supporting plate 55 is formed from a synthetic resin board, a particle board or a board of another rigid material, and is composed of two split halves 55a and 55b formed by splitting centrally in two parts a, for example, square board capable of being fitted in the area 51a, as shown in FIG. 8. Each of the split halves 55a and 55b has a recess 56a or 56b formed in the middle of its split edge and capable of being fitted about the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2. The split halves 55a and 55b can be inserted under the flange 22 of the mouth member 2, joined together by having its tubular portion 21 fitted loosely or tightly in their recesses 56a and 56b and set on the peripheral portion 53 in the area 51a to thereby support the flange 22 of the mouth member 2 after the discharge tube 3 connected to the mouth member 2 has been passed through the opening 52 as stated before. 54 is a heat-insulating, as well as protective, board attached to the inside of the bottom plate 51.
The supporting plate 55 for supporting the flange 22 of the mouth member 2 can alternatively be formed from a single board of the same material having an opening 56 with a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2 at its end, particularly the outside diameter of its protruding edge 23, so that it may be fitted loosely about the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2 and set on the peripheral portion of the opening 52, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13.
The supporting plate 55 according to this example may remain loosely fitted about the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2, as shown by chain lines in FIG. 11, until the discharge tube 3 having a valve is connected to the end of the tubular portion 21 by the clamp type connecting structure as described before, and after the discharge tube 3 having a valve has been connected to the end of the tubular portion 21 by the clamp member 7 , the discharge tube 3 may be passed through the opening 52 as shown in FIG. 12 to have the supporting plate 55 set on the peripheral portion of the opening 52, while the discharge tube 3 can be set in position as described before.
In either event, the opening 52 in the area 51a does not necessarily have to be circular as shown, but may also be of any other shape, such as oval or polygonal, if it allows the discharge tube 3 having a valve to pass therethrough. In any event, the peripheral portion of the opening has the supporting plate 55 support the flange 22 of the mouth member 2, as described before.
The supporting plate 55 does not have to be used if the flange 22 has a width or diameter which is larger than the diameter of the opening 52. The use of the supporting plate 55 as described is, however, preferred to provide a stable support for the mouth member 2.
The bottom supporting portion 50 includes side frame members 57 situated along the four sides of the bottom plate 51 and supported by supporting posts 61 erected at the four corners of the pallet 6 and has under the bottom plate 51 a space in which the discharge tube 3 can be set, while the area 51a in the center of the bottom plate 51 has its surroundings supported by supporting posts 62 erected in the interior of the pallet 6. The bottom supporting portion 50 and the pallet 6 are formed from a metal or other rigid material.
A fixing mechanism is provided above the pallet 6 for fixing and supporting the discharge tube 3 passed down through the opening 52 of the bottom supporting portion 50, as will now be described.
Tube supporting members 64 facing each other and having therebetween a spacing allowing the passage of the discharge tube 3 are connected to and supported by transversely spaced apart reinforcing members 63 extending from front to back and each formed from an angle, etc. above the pallet 6, and a pair of mounting devices 65 are installed on the tube supporting members 64, respectively, having therebetween a spacing making room for the elbow 31 of the discharge tube 3. Each of the mounting devices 65 includes one of two substantially hook-shaped supporting members 66 protruding upwardly from the tube supporting member 64 and facing each other and one of two fixing bolts 67 supported by the supporting members 66 so as to be capable of being erected and protruding above the top plates of the supporting members 66 when erected, tightening screws 68 being threadedly engaged with the fixing bolts 67, respectively, as shown inm FIGS. 14 and 15. Mounting plates 36 are welded or otherwise attached to the elbow 31 of the discharge tube 3 so as to project from the opposite sides thereof and rest on the supporting members 66, respectively, and have each a recess 35 admitting one of the fixing bolts 67 when erected. The discharge tube 3 can be set firmly in position on the pallet 6 by placing the mounting plates 36 on the supporting members 66, erecting the fixing bolts 67 into the recesses 35 and turning the tightening screws 68 to tighten the bolts 67.
The fixing mechanism for the discharge tube 3 is, however, not limited to that including the mounting devices 65 as shown, but may be of any other construction, too, if it can firmly secure the discharge tube 3 passed down through the opening 52 of the bottom supporting portion 50. Any mechanism will be useful if it can hold the discharge tube against any displacement from up to down, from side to side or from front to back relative to the pallet, as, for example, by using other fasteners than bolts and nuts, such as pins or clip members, to connect the supporting members 66 and the mounting plates 36.
Side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d covering the front and back and right and left sides of the frame 5 are located above its bottom supporting portion 50. Each side plate 8a, 8b, 8c or 8d has a board 82, such as a heat-insulating board, held within a frame member 81. The side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d are connected to the side frame 57 of the bottom supporting portion 50 at different levels of height inwardly foldably one after another and are adapted to be inwardly folded one upon another as shown in FIG. 17. 85 denotes a hinge connection. Thus, the side plates of the frame 5 can be folded into a less bulky structure when the container is not in use. When they are erected, the adjoining side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d can be connected to one another by an adequate connecting device and thereby held in their upright position.
One of the four side plates, for example, the front side plate 8a is divided into an upper portion 83 and a lower portion 84 and the upper portion 83 is hinged to the lower portion 84 outwardly foldably so that the container bag 1 may be set in the frame 5 when the upper portion 83 is in its outwardly folded open position. 86 denotes the hinge connection. 87 is a window for checking e.g. the amount of the liquid in the container and according to what is shown, it is formed in the front side plate 8a. The outwardly foldable structure of the upper portion and the checking window are not limited to the front side, but may alternatively be provided by any other side plate, such as right, left or back.
88 is a top plate which can be placed over the frame 5 when the side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d are erected, and according to what is shown, it is divided in two portions, right and left, to enable a liquid pouring job, etc. to be carried out when the right and left portions are separated from each other.
The construction of the side plates of the frame 5, etc. is not limited to the example shown, but may alternatively be realized by any of different other forms of assembly, too.
Description will now be made of a method of setting the container bag 1 , the discharge tube 3 having a valve, etc. in the liquid container having the construction as described above.
In order that the container bag 1 may be set in the frame 5 to form an assembly ready for use, the discharge tube 3 having a valve is connected to the mouth member 2 for the liquid outlet at the bottom of the bag 1 outside the frame 5 beforehand or before the setting of the bag in the frame is started. This connecting job may be carried out by butting the end of the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2 and the end of the discharge tube 3 with the packing ring 4a, like an O-ring, fitted in the grooves 23b and 33b in the mutually facing end surfaces thereof, fitting the clamp member 7 on the annular protruding edges 23 and 33 extending about the ends thereof and tightening the clamp member 7 with the screw member 74 to rely upon the inclined surfaces 23a and 33a of the protruding edges 23 and 33 for bringing them into close contact, whereby the ends are connected to each other in a liquid-tight fashion with the packing 4a held therebetween, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. This connecting job can be fulfilled easily in a wide place outside the frame 5.
The container bag 1 is brought into the frame 5 having opened at least one of its four side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d, for example, its front side plate 8a, and the discharge tube 3 is passed down through the opening 52 in the center of its bottom supporting portion 50 and drawn from the inside of the bottom supporting portion 50 to below it, as shown in FIG. 9. At the same time, the split halves 55a and 55b of the split supporting plate 55 are placed within the bottom supporting portion 50 of the frame 5 and below the flange 22 of the mouth member 2 connected with the discharge tube 3, are butted to each other by being fitted about the tubular portion 21 in the recesses 56a and 56b at their split ends and are set on the peripheral portion 53 in the central area 51a of the bottom plate 51 to support the flange 22 of the mouth member 2.
When the supporting plate 55 is of a single board, it is fitted about the tubular portion 21 of the mouth member 2 before the discharge tube 3 having a valve is connected to it, and thereafter in the same way as described above, the discharge tube 3 is connected to the tubular portion 21 and passed down from inside as shown in FIG. 12 and the supporting plate 55 is set on the peripheral portion 53 of the opening to support the flange 22 of the mouth member 2, as shown in FIG. 13.
The discharge tube 3 passed down through the opening 52 in the bottom supporting portion 50 is fixed on the tube supporting members 64 on the pallet 6 by an adequate fixing mechanism, for example, a pair of mounting devices 65 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Then, the four side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d of the frame 5 are erected and connected to one another, whereby the container is assembled. The container bag 1 set in the frame 5 is expanded by e.g. air blown thereinto through the discharge tube 3 or the liquid inlet 11 so as to fit the inside contour of the frame 5, if required. It is, of course, possible to pour the liquid to be transported through the liquid inlet 11 to expand the bag. The expanded bag 1 extends along the inside of the side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d of the frame 5 and is thereby held in a specific shape. The top plate 88 may be placed on the container after the side plates 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d of the frame 5 have been erected, or after the bag 1 has been expanded, or after a liquid has been poured thereinto.
The liquid to be transported is poured into the container bag 1 and held therein for transportation after the bag 1 and the discharge tube 3 have been set in the frame 5, as described above.
After its liquid content is discharged at the destination, the container bag 1 for one-way use is taken out from the frame 5 and disassembled, so that the frame 5, discharge tube 3, etc. may be returned to the origin of transportation, and as regards the disassembling work, the discharge tube 3 is disengaged from the pallet 6 and when it still remains connected to the mouth member 2 of the bag 1 , the discharge tube 3 is pulled up through the opening 52 in the bottom supporting portion 50 in the opposite way to that when they are set in position as described before, and the bag 1 is taken out from the frame 5. Then, the clamp member 7 connecting the discharge tube 3 and the mouth member 2 is removed therefrom outside the frame 5 to disconnect the discharge tube 3 from the mouth member 2.
According to this invention, therefore, it is possible to perform the work of setting the container bag 1 and the discharge tube 3 having a valve in position and the work of taking them out and disassembling them easily and efficiently, since the discharge tube 3 can be set in the frame 5 or taken out from the frame 5 through the opening 52 in its bottom supporting portion 50 when the discharge tube 3 is already or still remains connected to the mouth member 2 for the liquid outlet at the bottom of the bag 1.
The work of connecting or disconnecting the discharge tube 3 to or from the mouth member 2 can be performed easily outside the frame 5 and moreover, when the discharge tube 3 is disconnected from the mouth member 2, it is easy to prevent any liquid from dripping down through the mouth member 2 and soiling the floor, even if any liquid may remain in the bag 1.
As stated above, this invention facilitates the work of setting a container bag, a discharge tube having a valve, etc. in position and enables it to be performed easily and safely by sealing a joint between a mouth member at the bottom of the bag and the discharge tube so tightly that there may not be any fear of liquid leakage, or of any remaining liquid dripping down when the bag is taken out.

Industrial Applicability

This invention is suitable for application to a liquid container used in the transportation of any of various kinds of chemicals, liquid food or other liquids.

Claims

A method of setting a bag, etc. in a liquid container, characterized in that when a liquid container has a container bag having a bottom to which a mouth member for a liquid outlet is attached, a discharge tube connected to the mouth member and having a valve and a frame having a bottom supporting portion for supporting the bottom of the container bag, and when the container bag is set in the frame, the discharge tube having a valve is connected to the mouth member at the bottom of the bag beforehand, is drawn out from the inside of the frame to below its bottom supporting portion through an opening in the bottom supporting portion and is so secured as to have the mouth member supported thereon along the periphery of the opening.
A liquid container including a container bag having a bottom to which a mouth member for a liquid outlet is attached, a discharge tube connected to the mouth member and having a valve and a frame having a bottom supporting portion for supporting the bottom of the container bag, characterized in that the mouth member at the bottom of the container bag comprises a tubular portion for connection with the discharge tube having a valve and a flange extending from one end of the tubular portion, the flange being secured to the edge of an opening at the bottom of the bag, the bottom supporting portion of the frame having a funnel-shaped bottom plate inclined inwardly and downwardly from four sides thereof and having at its center an opening through which the discharge tube having a valve and connected with the tubular portion of the mouth member can be passed, so that the discharge tube may be passed through the opening of the bottom supporting portion to have the flange of the mouth member supported thereon along the periphery of the opening.
A liquid container as set forth in claim 2, wherein a supporting plate is provided removably on the bottom supporting portion along the periphery of its opening so as to be loosely or tightly fitted about the tubular portion of the mouth member to support its flange.
A liquid container as set forth in claim 3, wherein the supporting plate is of the type split in two parts so as to be fitted about the tubular portion of the mouth member and set on the bottom supporting portion along the periphery of its opening when the discharge tube has been passed through its opening.
A liquid container as set forth in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the end of the tubular portion of the mouth member and the end of the discharge tube having a valve are connected to each other in a liquid-tight fashion by a clamp type connecting structure.
A liquid container as set forth in claim 5, wherein the clamp type connecting structure is of such construction that, while a protruding edge is formed about each of the ends of the tubular portion of the mouth member and of the discharge tube and has an inclined surface on its side opposite to its side where those ends face each other, it includes a clamp member having along its inner periphery a tapered surface capable of being fitted about the protruding edges and tightening them into close contact with each other and a packing device disposed between the ends of the tubular portion and the discharge tube to connect them in a liquid-tight fashion upon tightening of the clamp member.
A liquid container as set forth in claim 6, wherein the mouth member is formed as a single body from a synthetic resin and its tubular portion has a circumferential annular ridge formed as the packing device on its end surface facing the discharge tube, while the end surface of the discharge tube facing it has a circumferential groove in which the ridge can be fitted at its top.