GB2097755A

GB2097755A - Container bag

Info

Publication number: GB2097755A
Application number: GB8208515A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mulox IBC Ltd
Current assignee: Rexam DFR China Ltd
Priority date: 1981-05-01
Filing date: 1982-03-23
Publication date: 1982-11-10

Abstract

A container bag comprises side walls 22 and a base, at least two of the side walls 22 extending above the general level of the bag and being folded back upon themselves to produce hem portions 28 through which passes a single continuous loop 30 of webbing whereby to form lifting loops for the container bag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container bag This invention relates to container bags and in particular container bags for carrying loads in the range of from one half to two tons and known as intermediate bulk containers ("IBC").

For many purposes it is desirable for an IBC to be capable of being lifted from one single point, for example the hook of a crane without a great deal of manipulation being required on behalf of operatives. Also, it is desirable that the IBC at the same time be capable of being lifted on the tines of a fork-lift truck. The invention seeks to provide an IBC improved in these respects.

According to the present invention there is provided a container bag which comprises side walls and a base, at least two of the side walls extending above the general level of the bag and being folded back upon themselves to form hem portions through which passes a single continuous loop of webbing whereby to form the lifting loops of the BC.

Preferably at least the side walls having the hemmed portions are made from a fabric having reinforced zones or areas of interwoven reinforcing yarns, for example as disclosed in U.K. Patent No. 1,591,091. Advantageously all the side walls have such reinforcing areas.

The webbing which forms the lifting loop may be a woven webbing of synthetic yarns, for example of the type used for seat belts and IBC lifting loops, or maybe a rope or hawser of suitable strength.

The invention further provides a method of making an IBC according to the invention which comprises taking a strip of fabric, folding each end over and stitching to form hemmed portions, shaping the fabric into a "U" configuration taking a second length of fabric folded into an inverted "U" configuration and interlocking it with the first length of fabric in such a manner that the hemmed extremities of the first length of fabric stand proud from the combination, stitching the two lengths of fabric together to form a container bag, and passing a continuous length of webbing or rope through the two hemmed portions to form the lifting loops thereof.

The first length of fabric may have its ends folded back so that they meet, and the two ends stitched to one another where they meet, or each of the ends may be folded back a lesser distance and stitched to the folded fabric body. In either case, hemmed portions are produced, but in the former case the length of fabric is effectively doubled thereby increasing the strength of the container bag formed therefrom.

The fabric from which the IBC bags of the invention are formed are conventional fabrics for use in this type of container bag and may be woven from polyethylene or polypropylene tape yarns. Where reinforcement areas are provided, according to our U.K. Patent No.

1,591,091, these may be as described in that Patent and may be formed of interwoven threads of a higher tensile strength reinforcing yarn such as twisted or fibrillated polypropylene, polyamide or polyester.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a length of fabric folded in the first stage of forming an IBC according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views of subsequent stages in the production of the lBC; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the IBC after stitching but before insertion of the lifting loops; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a finished IBC; and Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the IBC being lifted from a single point.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that the IBC according to the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 may be formed by taking a length of material 10, which is a woven polypropylene fabric having reinforcing bands 1 2 of additional interwoven threads of a polyamide or polyester material extending the length thereof, and folding the fabric back on itself so that the ends meet at 14 where they are stitched together (Fig. 1). Fig. 2 illustrates the next stage in the production of the IBC in which the double length of fabric produced in Fig. 1 is folded into a "U" configuration. A single length of a similar fabric 1 6 also having reinforcing areas 12, is folded into an inverted "U" shape (Fig. 3).Fig. 4 illustrates the next stage in the production when the inverted "U" of Fig. 3 is interlocked with the "U" configuration of Fig. 2 and the respective edges stitched together where illustrated at 1 8 and 20. This produces a container bag having four sides 22, a base 24, a top 26 and two upstanding hemmed portions 28.

Fig. 5 illustrates the final stage in which a heavy woven webbing or rope 30 is passed through the two hemmed portions 28 and its free ends joined together to produce the finished IBC. As can be seen from Fig. 6 the two free portions of the webbing 30 provide lifting loops and can be gathered together for lifting from a single point, for example as illustrated, namely the hook 32 of a crane or the like.

The reinforced areas 1 2 ensure that the lifting load is distributed throughout the IBC giving excellent strength and a good margin of safety, in excess of the 5:1 accepted minimum standard in the IBC field. It will be appreciated that the webbing 30 may be passed through the hemmed portions 28 as a single length, and thereafter the ends of the length joined together, e.g. by stitching or adhering to form the continuous loop of webbing.

Instead of the hemmed portions 28 extending down the sides and across the base as illustrated, they may for example extend only down each side and not across the base; or they could extend only half way down each side.

The webbing 30 is illustrated as forming an '0' configuration around the top of the IBC, but it has been found that a figure '8' configuration of the webbing loop 30 is also useful.

Claims

1. A container bag which comprises side walls and a base, at least two of the side walls extending above the general level of the bag and being folded back upon themselves to form a hem portion through which passes a continuous loop of webbing whereby to form lifting loops for the container bag.

2. A bag as claimed in claim 1 in which at least the side walls having the hemmed portions are made from a fabric having reinforced zones or areas of interwoven reinforcing yarns.

3. A bag as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 in which all the side walls have reinforced zones or areas of interwoven reinforcing yarns.

4. A bag as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the lifting loop is formed from a woven webbing of synthetic yarns, a rope, or a hawser.

5. A container bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of making a container bag which comprises taking a strip of fabric, folding each end over and stitching to form end portions, shaping the fabric into a U configuration, taking a second length of fabric and folding it into an inverted U configuration and interlocking it with the first length of fabric in such a manner that the hemmed extremities of the first length of fabric stand proud from the combination, stitching the two lengths of fabric together to form a container bag, and passing a continuous length of webbing or rope through the two hemmed portions to form lifting loops thereof.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the first length of fabric has its ends folded back so that they meet and the two ends stitched to one another where they meet.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the first length of fabric has its ends folded back a distance less than half the total length of the fabric.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 in which the fabric employed is woven from polyethylene or polypropylene tape yarn and has reinforced zones or areas of interwoven reinforcing yarns.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the reinforcing yarns are of higher tensile strength and are comprised of twisted or fibrillated polypropylene, polyamide, or polyester.

11. A method of making a container bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompa nying drawings.