GB2281059A

GB2281059A - Filling a bag while in a container and removing the bag

Info

Publication number: GB2281059A
Application number: GB9413428A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Freeman
Original assignee: EURO Q PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: EURO Q PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1993-08-16
Filing date: 1994-07-04
Publication date: 1995-02-22
Also published as: GB9317028D0; GB9413428D0

Abstract

A re-usable, bottomless liner (2) is placed inside a bag (3) removably located in a container (1), material such as refuse is placed inside the liner (2), the liner (2) and bag (3) containing the material are together removed from the container (1) and the liner (2) is removed from the bag (3). The liner (2) has handholds (5) and its presence allows compaction of material therein by a ram (4) without causing jamming of the bag (3) in the container (1). <IMAGE>

Description

MEANS OF FILLING AND EMPTYING A CONTAINER This invention relates to the removal of a bag that has been filled with material, e.g.

rubbish, from the container in which the bag is suspended while being filled.

Bags, e.g. flexible plastics bags, are used to line containers, e.g. open-topped metal drums, and the lined container is then filled with material which may be compacted to increase the volume of material that can be contained. Such compaction results in internal pressure between the bag and the container and this can result in difficulty in extracting the filled bag from the container.

It is an object of the invention to provide a means whereby a filled bag can be readily removed from its container.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides a method of filling and emptying a container lined with a removable bag in which a re-usable, bottomless liner is placed inside the lined container, material to fill the lined container is placed inside the liner, the liner and bag are together removed from the container and the liner is removed from the bag.

In another aspect the invention provides a means to fill and them empty a container, comprising the container, a removable bag to line the container and a bottomless, re-usable liner to be placed inside the lined container whereby material may be placed inside the liner.

The bin may be tilted from the vertical before the liner and bag are pulled out and where the liner has hand-holds, an upper portion of the flexible bag can be grasped in the hand-holds to draw both out of the container. The upper rim of the liner may be specially shaped to cater for its use beneath a compacting ram whereby the ram can enter and leave the liner without risk of interference with the liner. For example, the upper rim of the liner may be flared outwardly for this purpose.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side part-sectional view of one means of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the means of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front part-sectional view of the means of Figure 1.

Figures 4 to 10 are diagrammatic representations of a sequence of filling, compacting and emptying nebbish according to the invention.

The apparatus of Figures 1 to 3 comprises an open topped bin 1, which can be of any shape but which is tapered inwards uniformly towards its base. A bag 3 is inserted into the bin 1 and pulled over the top rim of the bin 1 all around the perimeter. A protective liner 2 is placed inside the bag 3. Liner 2 has handholds 5 at the top, which project above bin 1 as in Figure 1. Rubbish or other material is then forced down into the liner 2 by a ram 4 and thereby pressurised or compacted.

The resulting pressure thus forces outwards onto the inside of the liner 2, and urges it outwards against the bag.

In use, when the liner 2 is full of compacted material, the bin 1 is tilted by approximately 30 degrees from the vertical at which time the handholds 5 are gripped and the liner 2 and bag 3 are then pulled together free of the surface of the bin and thereby the pressure between the bag 3 and bin 1 is released.

The bin 1 is then further tilted towards the horizontal and the bag 3 and the liner 2 can then be slid out from the bin 1. The liner 2, which has a vertical split (not shown), can be lifted out from the bag 3 and can be re-used again later in another bag. The bag is then sealed at its neck by a suitable tie.

In Figures 4 to 10, a bin 10 has wheels 11 (one only shown) and a handle 12. A flexible plastics sack 13 is positioned in bin 10 to line it and the upper part of the sack 13a is pulled down outside the upper rim of the bin (Figure 4). A bottomless liner 14 is placed inside the lined bin (Figure 5) with its hand-holds 14a thus protruding. Rubbish or other material is placed inside the liner 14 in the bin and from time to time the bin is wheeled beneath a compactor 15 (Figure 6). The compaction ram 16 is actuated to compact the rubbish (Figure 7). The bin is then removed from the compactor (Figure 8) and returned to its normal location until further compaction is required. This may occur, say, five times before the bin is completely full. The full bin 10 is then wheeled to a rubbish disposal area and tilted over (Figure 9). Portions of upper parts 1 3a of sack 13 are pushed into hand-holds 14a of the liner 14 and liner and sack are pulled together out of the bin. The liner 14 and sack 13 are then easily separated. The liner can be re-used and the sack is tied and disposed of (Figure 10).

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

The means of withdrawing the liner from the bin will normally be manual, although they could, if desired, be automated. The hand grips could, for example, be replaced or supplemented by a rim that could be gripped. The compaction step may be carried out manually or by other, e.g. automatic hydraulic, means.

Claims

1. A method of filling and emptying a container lined with a removable bag in which a re-usable, bottomless liner is placed inside the lined container, material to fill the lined container is placed inside the liner, the liner and bag containing the material are together removed from the container and the liner is removed from the bag.

2. A method according to Claim 1, in which the container is an open-topped metal bin.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the liner is shaped to fit snugly inside the lined container but extending above the upper rim of the container.

4. A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which material placed within the liner in the lined container is compacted a plurality of times before the container is full.

5. A method according to Claim 4, in which the material is compacted by positioning the container beneath a compaction ram and actuating the ram to compact the material.

6. A means to fill and then empty a container, comprising the container, a removable bag to line the container and a bottomless, re-usable liner to be placed inside the lined container whereby material may be placed inside the liner.

7. A means according to Claim 6, in which the container is an open-topped metal bin.

8. A means according to Claim 6 or 7, in which the container tapers uniformly towards its base.

9. A means according to Claim 6,7 or 8, in which the liner is of shape and size to fit snugly within the lined container but is of greater height than the container so that it will extend above the upper rim of the container.

10. A means according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, in which the liner is provided with hand grips to enable it to be removed from the container.

11. A means according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, in which the liner is of a unitary construction.

12. A means according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, in which the liner is of a two-piece construction, split vertically.

13. A means according to any one of Claims 6 to 12, in which the container is for rubbish and means are additionally provided to compact the rubbish inside the liner in the container.

14. A means according to Claim 13, in which the upper rim of the liner is flared outwardly to enable a compacting ram to enter and leave the liner freely.

15. A means according to Claim 13 or 14, in which the container is provided with wheels to be movable to the compaction means.

16. A means according to any one of Claims 6 to 15, in which the container is additionally provided with tilting means, to aid removal of the liner and bag.

17. A means according to any one of Claims 6 to 17, additionally comprising means to withdraw the liner and bag together from the container.

18. A method of filling and emptying a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. A means to fill and empty a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

20. A re-usable bottomless liner for use in the method of any one of Claims 1 to 5 or for use with the means of any one of Claims 6 to 19.