EP2409935A1 - Flexible container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has gripping units (4) i.e. handles, and additional flexible gripping units (5) integrated with a bottom (2) or a container portion near the bottom. The additional gripping units are projected towards an exterior of the container to constitute traction units for the container. The additional gripping units are formed of multiple transversal bands that extend transversally to an edge of a peripheral flank (3) or the bottom, and a sheet (54) connected to and integrated with the bands by being extended transversally to the bands.

Description

The invention relates to a flexible container for receiving products in bulk for transporting and / or storing them.

The invention relates more particularly to containers or bags of large capacity, commonly known in English as "big bag" or FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container).

In known manner, these bags made from woven fabrics or plastic films such as polypropylene, comprise a bottom and peripheral flanks and gripping means of the type handles arranged at the upper edges of the flanks, at the level of the opening of the bag. The suspension loops allow once the bag filled to lift for handling with lifting gear.

To perform the filling of these bags, ensure their storage and transport, they are open empty, for example arranged inside metal crates or metal supports of dimensions corresponding substantially to those outside the bags, and then filled and closed in the upper part. The transport and the delivery of the bags are then carried out by the transport of crates, supports or pallets.

After delivery, the handling of the bags for the use of the products contained therein, is made by lifting the bags of the boxes to unload them on pallets, themselves easily handled by trolleys usually dedicated.

However, since pallets are usually made of wood, some factories prohibit their use for reasons of safety or incompatibility. with the materials made in these factories. For example, rubber or tire manufacturing plants have very strict restrictions on the control of dust in the ambient atmosphere. However, wooden pallets are considered to generate too much dust. It is therefore required inside these factories, other handling solutions for these bags containing the raw material useful for the manufacture of manufactured products.

A known solution consists in particular in replacing the pallets by rigid sheets of plastic or paperboard which constitute support plates for the bags. These sheets are called "slip sheets". Each sheet has dimensions greater than the bottom surface of a bag. For handling, is used a conveyor carriage equipped with a so-called "push-pull" system. This carriage is provided with a clamping jaw which grips one of the edges of the sheet, and pulls on it to bring the sheet by sliding on its transport sole. To deposit the set - sheet and bag -, the transport base of the carriage is brought to the level of the dispensing surface, the "push-pull" system pushes the rigid sheet sliding on the sole, disposes it out of the carriage and loosens his jaw.

However, this solution requires having rigid sheets of slip in the factories.

It is known in other embodiments that the flexible containers comprise protruding from their bottom gripping means which serve as traction means during the handling of the container. Such means are for example described in the patent applications DE19955086 , DE19949432 , US5503517 , US2005 / 100248 .

However, it is necessary that these means are sufficiently strong in view of the many handling operations that the container will undergo during its lifetime.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a simple implementation solution for the handling of flexible containers, which is an alternative to the rigid transport interfaces of the prior art, without the need for suspension lifting of the bags and for having specific means of transport. interface or handling that are solid and durable.

According to the invention, the flexible container comprises a bottom, peripheral flanks, gripping means of the suspension means type, additional gripping means secured to the bottom or a part of the container near the bottom, these additional means s' extending outwardly of the container so as to constitute traction means for the container, and extending in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom or on the sides and arranged at at least one of the peripheral flanks, preferably on at least two opposite flanks, is characterized in that said additional gripping means are formed of at least a plurality of strips extending transversely to one of the edges of the flank or bottom from which they protrude, and a web reported and secured to said strips (53) extending transversely thereto (parallel to the length of an edge of the container).

Said additional gripping means are arranged on the sides of the container.

The protruding gripping means thus form an integral part of the lower part of the container, without having to report or to associate independent means, such as the rigid plastic interface of the prior art. Bags with these protruding gripping means can be handled easily, regardless of their storage location, without using additional means.

Solid and protruding outwardly of the container, beyond a peripheral flank, the traction means are used to grip the bag and ensure its traction by a conventional carriage equipped with a "push-pull" system. No specific handling device is required.

In addition, the realization of these additional means in the form of a plurality of strips connected to each other by another longitudinal and transverse strip ensures the strength and durability of said means.

In the remainder of the description, the terms "horizontal", "vertical" "lower", "higher" qualify elements of the bag considered when the latter sits on its bottom and filled.

The additional gripping means extend continuously or not on all or part of at least one peripheral edge of the bottom.

Preferably, the container, including the additional gripping means are based on polypropylene.

The additional gripping means are secured to the container body by being sewn and / or heat welded.

Preferably, the additional means comprise at least three transverse bands, or even at least four bands, distributed homogeneously along an edge of the container, and the longitudinal sheet being associated with the strips from the first end strip to the opposite end strip, possibly protruding from said end strips.

Advantageously, the bottom comprises longitudinal strips that extend beyond at least one edge of the container to form the transverse strips. These longitudinal strips make it possible to reinforce the solidity of the bottom of the bag and also additional gripping means, each band being unitary and extending over a large dimension corresponding to that of the bottom and beyond.

These containers are preferably filled by being previously placed in boxes or rigid containers which have a shape and a volume corresponding to the dimensions of the bag after filling. The additional gripping means are advantageously flexible to be folded under the bottom or against a side of the container, and in particular against the inside of the box when the container is in the box.

Once filled, the container can be taken out of the box for transport. Indeed, the box no longer needs to be used for transport since the container is easily movable by usual handling carts. This allows in particular to save weight and volume of transport, and especially not to have to repatriate these boxes at the starting point of the filling plant.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'un conteneur souple selon l'invention et rempli;
• La figure 2 est une vue de dessous du conteneur de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 3 illustre un conteneur souple installé dans une caisse pour son remplissage.

The present invention is now described with the aid of examples which are only illustrative and in no way limit the scope of the invention, and from the attached illustrations, in which:

• The figure 1 represents a perspective view of a flexible container according to the invention and filled;
• The figure 2 is a bottom view of the container from the figure 1 ;
• The figure 3 illustrates a flexible container installed in a box for its filling.

The flexible container or bag 1 of the invention schematically illustrated on the figure 1 comprises a bottom 2 on which is intended to rest the container once filled, peripheral flanks 3 and gripping means 4 and 5 for handling the bag. The bag may further comprise, in the upper part, opposite the bottom, closure flaps 6.

The bag has here as an example a substantially parallelepiped shape when filled. Thus, the bottom 2 has a square or rectangular shape and the flanks are four in number. The flanks rise substantially perpendicular to the bottom when the bag is suspended for filling or when filled.

• des premiers moyens de préhension 4 constituant des moyens de suspension du sac, du type connus en soi ; et
• selon l'invention, des seconds moyens de préhension 5 constituant des moyens de traction du sac.

In order to ensure the handling of the bag, the gripping means are decomposed into:

• first gripping means 4 constituting suspension means of the bag, of the type known per se; and
• according to the invention, second gripping means 5 constituting traction means of the bag.

The bag 1, or its bottom, its flanks and its flaps, are preferably made of a woven fabric or an assembly of films, made of plastic such as than in polypropylene. Vertical sewing strips also made of polypropylene are stitched at the corners of the bag to connect the flanks 3 to each other.

To stiffen the assembly, horizontal reinforcing strips 31, for example two in number, are sewn on each of the flanks 3.

The suspension means 4 are formed of loops, for example four in number, arranged near the opening opposite the bottom 2, and the four corners of said bag. Each handle has two ends sewn respectively on two adjacent flanks 3.

According to the invention, the bag further comprises the additional gripping means 5 constituting traction means which make it possible to pull the bag in a horizontal plane parallel to the bottom.

These traction means 5 protrude beyond the bottom 2 and are arranged, in the seated position of the bag, in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom 2, and therefore substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls 3, as visible on the figure 1 .

The figure 2 illustrates a bottom view of the bottom 2.

With regard to Figures 1 and 2 , the traction means 5 are integral with at least one of the edges 50 of the bottom, preferably at least two opposite edges 50 and 51. Alternatively, these traction means could be arranged on the entire bottom periphery 2.

The traction means 5 are flexible to be as will be seen later folded against the sidewalls 3 when the bag is housed in a box metal for its filling. They are nevertheless rigid enough to be gripped and handled by a traction system. In addition, their attachment to the bottom 5 is designed, as for the gripping means and suspension 4, to be sufficiently resistant to traction.

With regard to the figure 2 , the bottom 5 has on its outer face 5A, opposite to the internal volume of the bag, and in known manner, reinforcement strips 52 equivalent in nature to the bands 31. They extend here in the longitudinal direction when the bottom presents an oblong geometry.

According to one embodiment of the traction means 5 of the invention projecting beyond the edges 50 and 51 of the bottom 2, these comprise strips 53 which correspond to the respective extensions of the longitudinal strips 52. In addition, a sheet 54 transverse to the strips 53 covers them being arranged on the opposite side to the face 5A of the bottom.

The sheet 54 extends from one end to the other of each of the edges 50 and 51. It is preferably integral with the edge. As visible on the figure 1 it forms a continuous surface that can be gripped in any area.

The web 54 is attached to the strips 53 and preferably against an edge of the bottom of the bag, for example by being sewn. Alternatively, it could be welded by hot gluing.

In another embodiment, the traction means 5 constitute an extension surface of the bottom 2 or flanks 3. During the manufacture of the bag, the flanks 3 are secured to the bottom 2 at a distance from the periphery of said bottom. to leave an area in appendix thus establishing the pulling means 5. Reinforcing strips such as the strips 53 can be sewn from one end to the other of the appendages reinforcing the strength of these surfaces.

The traction means 5 are made of the same material as the rest of the bag.

In another embodiment of these traction means, it is envisaged to form an attached flexible envelope attached to the edge of the bottom, this housing housing a rigid sheet whose rigidity is similar to the sliding sheets of the prior art. However, this embodiment will not be preferred because, while providing adequate rigidity for traction, the gripping means 5 are then no longer flexible enough to bend easily when introducing the bag into a template box for filling.

With regard to the figure 3 , despite the presence of the projecting parts forming the traction means 5, the bag of the invention is able to be accommodated in a suitable volume of a box 7.

This box has dimensions such that its base corresponds to those of the bottom 2 so that the sides 3 of the bag are pressed against the inside of the side walls 70 of the body. The closure flaps 6 are unfolded on the outside of the side walls 70. The bag thus arranged is intended to be filled.

Because of the flexibility of the traction means 5, they fold naturally substantially perpendicularly to the sidewalls 3 when the bag is introduced into the body 7.

It is preferable that a slight concavity be provided at the strip 54 and directed towards the ground in the seated position of the bag. This facilitates the folding of the band during the introduction of the bag into the body 7. It is possible to provide a concavity in the other direction with a slight rectification for easy gripping with the carriage.

Once the bag is filled, the flaps 6 are folded and the bag can be lifted out of the box. Being in elevation, the traction means 5 are pendent to the ground without being oriented vertically but inclined in a direction opposite to the sidewalls; they can properly flatten against the ground when removing the bag protruding from the sides, and not be folded under the bottom of the bag.

Positioned on the ground, the bag can be handled with a trolley equipped with a "push-pull" system which just grip the gripping means 5, pulls them by sliding the bottom of the bag on the carriage of the carriage.

When it comes to unloading the bag of the carriage, the gripping means 5 being held by the clamping jaw of the "push-pull" system, said system pushes the bag by the flank located vertically gripping means. Once the bag pushed out of the sole of the carriage, the "push-pull" system is deactivated by loosening the jaw, leaving free the gripping means 5.

Consequently, the container of the invention by its protruding gripping means makes it easy to grasp it and to ensure its handling by simple pulling and pushing operations.

Claims (7)

Flexible container comprising a bottom (2), peripheral flanks (3), gripping means (4) of the suspension means type, additional gripping means (5) secured to the bottom (2) or part of the container close to the bottom (2), these additional means extending outwardly of the container so as to constitute traction means for the container, and extending in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom (2) or on the sides and arranged at at least one of the peripheral flanks (3), preferably on at least two opposite flanks, characterized in that the additional gripping means (5) are formed of at least a plurality of strips (53) extending transversely to one of the edges (50, 51) of the sidewall or bottom from which they protrude, and a web (54) attached to and integral with said strips (53) extending transversely thereto . Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container, including the additional gripping means (5) are based on polypropylene. Container according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional gripping means (5) are secured to the container body by being sewn and / or welded hot. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional means (5) comprise at least three transverse bands (53), or even at least four bands, distributed homogeneously along one edge of the container, and the longitudinal web (54) being associated with the webs from the first end web to the opposite end web, possibly protruding from said end webs. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom comprises longitudinal strips (52) which extend beyond at least one edge of the container to form the transverse strips (53). Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional gripping means (5) are flexible to be folded under the bottom or against a side of the container. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that its filling is performed while it is arranged in a box (7), its additional gripping means (5) being against the inside of the box.

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