FR2643887A1 - Storage and handling device for pulverulent or liquid bulk-type materials - Google Patents

Abstract

The device consists in using a staged storage frame, usually made from metal, and in incorporating therein at each stage a framework from which a bag whose base may be opened is suspended. In this way, types of vertical silos or columns are formed which may be filled from the top downwards. Each bag at each level is closed when it is full. Each bag may be emptied into the bag underneath and the entire column may be emptied downwards into a loading apparatus or another reservoir.

Description

 The present invention relates to a storage and handling device for materials of the bulk, powder or liquid type. Different systems are known for carrying out superimposed storage, consisting of frames comprising rods, profiles and / or spacers making it possible to place pallets which can be loaded with all kinds of materials and products on several superposed levels.

In particular, it is possible to place bags containing pulverulent materials, such as grains (cereals), sand, rubble, materials liable to flow by gravity, on the pallets, to be sucked up by suitable devices. The bags, subject to good sealing, may even contain liquids. Bags are known in particular whose edges of the opening are provided with straps which can be taken either directly in a lifting device, or in a chassis which can be treated like a pallet, the load being below the chassis instead of 'be above the palette. Some of these bags have a bottom which can be opened to empty the bag without having to overturn it.

 The invention aims to facilitate the storage and handling of products that can flow.

 According to the invention, a storage and handling device for materials of the bulk type, pulverulent or treatable as fluids, comprising a frame comprising horizontal frames I and vertical rods 2, each nestable at its two ends in cavities provided on both sides of the horizontal chassis, so as to form several stages of chassis separated between each stage by a series of rods, is remarkable in particular in that, on each stage, preferably below the horizontal chassis 1, is arranged a frame 3 can be grasped by forklift, interposed between the ends of the rods and the horizontal frame, a bag 4 preferably having an opening bottom being hooked by straps to said frame 3.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the description below, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached drawings and which will make it clear how the invention can be implemented.

In the drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevational view of a floor of a frame assembly of a device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of an element of the device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of another element of the device of Figure
I, with partial views of the other elements, to explain their overlaps; and
Figure 4 is an elevational view of a device of the invention incorporating a three-story frame.

 An example of a stepped frame device according to the invention is shown in elevation in Figure 4 while Figure 1 shows one of the floors in larger and in more detail. There is known a storage frame constituted by frames 1 comprising four sockets 11a, 1b, llc, I Id connected together by spacers 12 and possibly reinforcing bars 13 to form a rigid assembly. The sockets 11 comprise an upper cavity 14 upwards to receive the bottom of the rods 2, while downwards, they comprise another lower cavity IS to come over the upper end of the rods 2. The flared shape of the lower cavity allows to make a support on the ground, and to facilitate the construction of the frame. We can thus have several superimposed frames, separated by series of four rods 2. Provided that in a series the four rods have the same length, one series to another, the rods can be of different lengths, depending on the products to be stored. On the frames, pallets can be placed, and thus carry out storage and handling of the objects placed on the pallets. In accordance with the present invention, frames 3, each consisting of four sleeves 31, connected by four bars 32, are inserted on each stage, preferably under the chassis, between the chassis and the lower rods.

The sleeves have downwardly a cavity 35 intended to be fitted on the upper end of a rod, and the sleeve extends upwards, so as to be able to receive the lower cavity of a chassis 1. These frames 3 serve to suspend and handle bags 4, which can contain all kinds of powdery or grannulous bodies, or even liquids. The bags 4 are provided with straps 41 engaged on the corners of the frame and kept in good position thanks to pins 34 advantageously provided on the bars 32, as shown and particularly clearly visible in Figure 3. It is thus possible to lift a bag by a forklift, engaging the forks of the carriage under the frame, between the frame and the bag.

Advantageously, the bags 4 have a lower opening which can be closed by any means 42. There are such bags on the market.

In FIG. 4, the device comprises a lower chassis 1A, a first series of short bars 2A, a first stage chassis IB, a series of longer bars 2B, a second stage chassis 1C, a series of bars 2C, a ID third stage chassis, and a series of 2D bars. The 2D upper bars are held in place by a 3C frame. Between the bars 2B and the frame 1C is arranged a frame 3A, and between the bars 2C and the frame 1D is arranged a frame 3B. Each of the frames 3A, 3B, 3C hangs a bag, 4A, 4B, 4C respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. The bags 4B and 4C are open, while the bag 4A is closed. On the chassis
1A is arranged a transfer handling device 5 for powdery product.
that 3 stages have been represented, it is possible to foresee more, according to the dimensions and the resistance of the frames and bars, and of the precision of their
connections. The bottoms of the open bags are hanging and can engage inside the openings of the underlying bags.

 The assembly as described with reference to FIG. 4 constitutes a sort of column or silo. It can be loaded from above. The bags are closed from the bottom as they are filled. Then, after storage, the products contained in the bags can be redirected from the bottom. The bags are then opened from the bottom. Alternatively, the bags can be handled with devices such as forklift, overhead crane, etc.

We understand that this is a system whose purpose is:
- filling
- storage
- emptying one into the other
- emptying into another container of "bulk" type products
(powders, seeds, etc ...) and which offers the possibilities of:
- vertical storage 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
- quick disassembly
- quick assembly
- installation and removal of an empty or full bag with mechanized machine, or
detach the support from the container, for example with a
forklift or overhead crane or crane.

 The device of the invention has many originalities and advantages.

To name only the main ones:
The originality 1 of the device is that it allows one to be positioned above
the other, as a column and without particular limitation of loads or
height of bag type containers.

 Filling is carried out from the top, emptying from the bottom of the column.

The originality 2 is in the fact that the bag can be emptied into the lower bag without
that overflow occurs.

The original 3 is that the bottom of the column can be
consisting of a drain accessory S serving as a relay for evacuation
simple or the recovery of the product by a handling system with the possibility
to control the weight of the product discharged.

The originality 4 is in the fact that the evacuation can be done by bag module or
part of bag module with possibility of weight or volume control.

LSorinnalite 5 is that the storage meets the first in - first out rule, which is
a very important advantage.

The originality 6 is in the fact that it allows the storage of reputable products
fragile, not allowing stacking of bags,
The originality 7 is that it allows to separate in a manual or mechanized way
the bag 4 and the frame 3 of the empty or loaded support.

Conversely, product assembly can be done mechanically by placing the
bag and its frame on the support (the rods, which receive the frame).

 The system can be adapted to a liquid product subject to checking the tightness of the bags.

Claims (3)

Claims:  1.- Storage and handling device for bulk materials, pulverulent or treatable as fluids, comprising a frame comprising horizontal frames 1 and vertical rods 2, each nestable at its two ends in cavities provided on both sides horizontal frames, so as to form several stages of chassis separated between each stage by a series of rods, characterized in that, on each stage, preferably below the horizontal chassis I, is arranged a frame 3 graspable by trolley forks, interposed between the ends of the rods and the horizontal frame, a bag 4 preferably having a working bottom being hooked by straps to said frame 3.  2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame 3 is constituted by four parallel sleeves 31 connected by four rods 32 located in a plane perpendicular to the sleeves, each sleeve 31 having a blind opening 35 at one end.  3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rods 32 have pins 34 on the face of the frame opposite to said blind openings 35, to keep apart the straps of the bags 4.