GB2314555A

GB2314555A - Intermediate bulk container with detachable funnel

Info

Publication number: GB2314555A
Application number: GB9619865A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurice Frederick Goymer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-25
Filing date: 1996-09-24
Publication date: 1998-01-07
Also published as: GB9613307D0; GB9619865D0

Abstract

An intermediate bulk container 10 has a detachable funnel 46 for discharging the contents of the container after transportation. Preferably the funnel 46 is located at the top of said container, and replaces the lid 30 when said container is to be emptied. The container 10 is tilted to empty the contents through said funnel 46. Preferably the funnel comprises a valve 52 which is provided in the aperture 48 of said funnel. The funnel is preferably made of a flexible collapsible material, and has rigid attachment means (58, figure 4) for attachment to the intermediate bulk container. One funnel 46 can be used to empty a plurality of intermediate bulk containers 10.

Description

INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINER The invention relates to an intermediate bulk container.

A collapsible intermediate bulk container is known from GB 2245883. The container comprises a rectangular box having a pallet base and four upstanding walls which are connected by sliding head-and-neck connections. A lid is provided which is secured by sliding head-and-neck connections and clamps.

The container is emptied through an outlet port which extends through an upright or block of the pallet base. The bore of the outlet port is limited by the size of the upright or block and the bore size may restrict the rate of discharge. This problem may be accentuated for viscous materials and if large grained powders are being discharged, bridging may occur to halt discharge.

GB 1412720 discloses an intermediate bulk container having a pallet base and a rectangular tubular frame thereon. A funnel like outlet made of sheet metal is provided within the tubular frame and leading down to a central aperture in the pallet so that the contents of a foil liner within the container can be emptied centrally through a relatively large outlet aperture. However, there is wasted space within this container around the funnel outlet so that the container does not ship material as space efficiently as the container of GB 2245883, for example.

It is also known to transport material of this type in drums which can have wide screw caps on top through which they are filled and emptied. A drum is not as easily handled as an intermediate bulk container as it does not include a pallet base, and furthermore a drum is typically 20% to 30% less space efficient in transport of material than an intermediate bulk container.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an intermediate bulk container including a detachable funnel.

In this way, the intermediate bulk container can be transported in a space efficient manner without the funnel and the funnel can be attached at the discharge site simply for emptying. As the funnel is not transported with the intermediate bulk container, the space efficiency of the known intermediate bulk container is maintained while an ability to discharge rapidly and without danger of bridging is provided. The funnel is not limited in outlet size, unlike in the container of GB 1412720 where the rigidity of the pallet must not be compromised.

Preferably, the intermediate bulk container is collapsible.

The funnel may be provided with a valve to control outflow.

The funnel may be attachable to any suitable part of the intermediate bulk container and may be attachable to the top of the intermediate bulk container.

Preferably, the funnel replaces the lid of the intermediate bulk container.

Preferably further, the funnel attaches to the upper edges of the side walls of the intermediate bulk container. The funnel may be collapsible. This increases space efficiency where the funnel is transported or simply when stored. The funnel may be arranged to collapse in any suitable way and the funnel may be principally made of flexible material. Thus the funnel may comprise rigid attachment means for attachment to the intermediate bulk container. The funnel may also include a rigid outlet member, which may mount the outflow valve, where provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a set comprising a plurality of intermediate bulk containers, a funnel attachable to each of the containers and means for tilting a container to empty the contents thereof through the funnel.

Preferably the set includes means for inverting the container to empty the contents thereof through the funnel.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of emptying an intermediate bulk container comprising tilting the container to empty the contents through a funnel.

Where the container includes a lid the method may include removing the lid to empty the contents through the resulting opening. The funnel is preferably attached to the container.

Preferably the method comprises attaching a funnel to the top of the container and inverting the container. The method may further include controlling the outflow of contents from the container by using a valve in the funnel.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for carrying out a method according to the third aspect of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container of the invention with the liner lid and front wall removed; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 1 showing the lid separated from the container; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 1 with the lid removed and the funnel fitted; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the funnel of the second embodiment; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the container and funnel of the second embodiment inverted for emptying.

The figures show the intermediate bulk container 10 of the embodiment which comprises a plastics moulded pallet base 12 and four upstanding walls 14,16,18,20.

The pallet base 12 includes an outlet port 22 which extends downwardly through the floor of the container and through an upright or block 24 centrally of one side of the pallet base 12. The majority of the connections of the walls 14,16,18,20 are by head-and-neck connections 26. Head-and-neck connections (not shown) are provided along the lower edges of two opposite walls 14,18 to connect the walls 14,18 to the pallet base 12 being received in troughs (not shown) in the upper surface of the pallet base 12. The troughs are initially straight sided and sufficiently wide to receive the head-and-neck connections 26 and the walls 14,18. Once the connections 26 are received in the straight sided troughs they are then slid sideways to slide the head-and-neck connections 26 into undercut parts of the troughs to retain the walls 14,18.

The walls 16,20 include parallel sided connectors (not shown) which drop into parallel sided grooves 28 in the upper surface of the pallet base 12. In dropping the side walls 16,20 into place, grooves (not shown) on the inner faces of the side walls 16,20 receive the head-and-neck connections 26 on the outer edges of the side walls 14,18 to connect the walls together.

Each of the walls 14,16,18,20 includes a regular array of nine square rebates 29 forming a three by three array. This saves in material while the lattice in relief around the rebates 29 provides sufficient strength.

Each two opposite walls 14,18; 16,20 are of the same shape. Each wall 14,18 of one opposite pair has an inner surface which curves smoothly inwardly towards its side edge. The walls 16,20 of the other opposite pair have flat inner surfaces. When the walls 14,16,18,20 are assembled onto the pallet base 12 this results in the inner walls of the container 10 having smoothly curved upright side edges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This reduces the likelihood of damage to a liner.

As shown in Fig. 2 the container 10 includes a lid 30. The lid 30 includes grooves (not shown) on its underside to receive head-and-neck connectors 32 upstanding on the upper edges of the opposite walls 14,18. A slot 34 is provided at each of two opposite edges of the lid 30 and receives a strap 36 which also passes through a slot 38 in the upper edge of two opposed side walls 16,20. The lid 30 includes a raised protrusion 40 on its upper surface near each corner and corresponding recesses (not shown) are provided on the lower surface of the pallet 12 to assist in location when stacking. A liner 42 is provided within the container to receive a flowable substance such as powder or paste. The liner 42 is filled through and closed by a cap 44.

With the liner 42 filled and the lid 30 attached to the body of the container 10 and secured by the straps 36, the container 10 is ready for transportation.

Once at the unloading site, the lid 30 is removed from the body of the container 10, the liner 42 is opened by removal of the cap 44 or by cutting it open and a funnel 46 is fitted. The funnel 46 is rectangular at its base being of the same dimensions as the top of the container body 10. The funnel 46 tapers upwardly and changes in cross-section to a circular shape terminating in a circular aperture 48. The base of the funnel 46 includes the same fixings as the lid 30 to enable it to be connected to the side walls 14,16, 18,20 of the container in place of the lid 30. Thus, the base of the funnel 46 includes slots 50 on opposite sides to receive the straps 36 and includes grooves (not shown) on alternate opposite sides to receive the head-and-neck connectors 32. A butterfly valve 52 is provided in the aperture 48 and a handle 54 is provided to alter the angle of the butterfly valve 52 to control the rate of outflow.

Once the funnel 46 has been fitted to the container body, the container 10 is inverted by known apparatus and the butterfly valve 52 is opened to discharge the container contents.

The diameter of the aperture 48 might typically be between 150mm and 350mm for an intermediate bulk container 10 of say 1000 litres capacity.

As can be seen, a single funnel can be used in the emptying of a number of containers.

In an alternative embodiment the butterfly valve 52 is not provided in the funnel 46 and its outlet aperture 48 is permanently open.

Funnels 46 can be nested and shipped with the containers 10 if desired.

The container 10 can be collapsed for compact return transport after emptying if desired.

One or more overcentre clamps or other additional fastening means may be used to attach the funnel 46 to the body of the container 10 in addition to the elements 32,36 described for additional strength as the load to be borne by the funnel 46 will be greater than any normal load on the lid 30.

The pallet base 12, walls 14,16,18,20, lid 30 and funnel 46 may be moulded from suitable plastic in any desired way and may, for example, be made by rotational moulding or injection moulding.

In a further embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the body 56 of the funnel 46 may be made of flexible canvas or woven plastics material instead of being rigid. The funnel 46 of the embodiment includes a rigid attachment frame 58 at its base for attachment to the container 10, the attachment frame 58 including the same slots 50 and grooves for attachment as the funnel 46 of the first embodiment. The body 56 of the funnel 46 is attached to the attachment frame 58 by rivets 60. A rigid outlet frame 62 is also provided around the outlet aperture 48 and mounts the butterfly valve 52. A short flexible cylindrical section 64 is provided before the outlet frame 62.

The container 10 may be used for transporting liquids, powders, granular substances or larger items such as fruit and vegetables. Where large vegetables are to be transported, such as potatoes, no liner is used and the walls 14,16,18,20 of the container may include apertures to allow circulation of air.

These may be sealed by bungs when not required. The bungs may be arranged such that the inner surface of the bung when inserted in an aperture is flush with the inner surface of the side wall 14,16,18,20 to avoid damage to the contents or any liner being used. Similarly a cover may be provided for the outlet port 22 which may lie substantially flush with the upper surface of the pallet base 12 when in place.

Where the container 10 is used for expensive items, such as computer components, for example, the lid 30 will generally be desirable for security reasons. In other circumstances, where the container is used for transporting potatoes, for example, the container may be provided without the lid 30 to cut cost as security is not so important and also to increase air circulation. In that case the pallet base 12 may be provided with slots (not shown) in its lower surface to receive the head-and-neck connections 32 on opposite walls 14,18.

In this way, the containers 10 can be stacked and will be prevented from sliding relative to one another by the engagement between the connectors 32 and the pallet base 12. the slots preferably extend through to intersect the apertures 56 in the a pallet base 12 which are arranged to receive the tines of a fork lift truck. This makes the slots easier to clean than blind apertures. The pallet base 12 is sufficiently thick at this point that the connections 32 will not protrude into the pallet base apertures 56 where they would be damaged.

Claims

,CLgfS

1. An intermediate bulk container including a detachable funnel.

2. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claim I, wherein the intermediate bulk container is collapsible.

3. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the funnel is provided with a valve to control outflow.

4. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the funnel is attachable to the top of the intermediate bulk container.

5. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the funnel replaces the lid of the intermediate bulk container.

6. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the funnel attaches to the upper edges of the side walls of the intermediate bulk container.

7. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the funnel is collapsible.

8. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the funnel is principally made of flexible material.

9. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the funnel comprises rigid attachment means for attachment to the intermediate bulk container.

10. An intermediate bulk container as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the funnel includes a rigid outlet member.

11. An intermcdiate bulk container as claimed in claim 10, wherein, where a valve is provided to control outflow, the rigid outlet member mounts the said outflow valve.

12. An intermediate bulk container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A set comprising a funnel, and a plurality of intermediate bulk containers, the funnel being attachable to each of tile containers, and means for tilting a said container to empty the contents thereof through the attached funnel.

14. A set as claimed in claim 13, wherein the set includes means for inverting the container to empty the contents thereof through the funnel.

15. A set as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the funnel and a said intermediate bulk container are as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12.

16. A method of emptying an intermediate bulk container comprising tilting the container to empty the contents through a funnel.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein, where the container includes a lid, the method includes removing the lid to empty the contents through the resulting opening.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the method includes attaching the funnel to the container.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the method comprises attaching the funnel to the top of the container and inverting the container.

20. A method as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19 wherein the method further includes controlling the outflow of contents from the container by using a valve in the funnel.

21. A method of emptying an intemcdiate bulk container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. Apparatus for carrying out a method as claimed in any of claims 16 to 21.