GB2327079A

GB2327079A - Apparatus to aid material discharge from big- or bulk-bags

Info

Publication number: GB2327079A
Application number: GB9807719A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Ellis
Original assignee: Flomat Ltd
Current assignee: Flomat Ltd
Priority date: 1997-07-08
Filing date: 1998-04-09
Publication date: 1999-01-13
Also published as: GB9807719D0

Abstract

Apparatus for aiding the discharge of material comprises a frame 13 from which a "big bag" or "bulk bag" 11 is suspended by loops 12 over a hopper 10 beneath which is a duct 16 and discharge spout 17. The frame 13 is supported by support posts 14 extending from frame members 15. Bars 20 are provided on opposite sides of the bag 11 and are suspended from the lower ends of arms 21 which are pivotally mounted to posts 14. The bars 20 are pneumatically operated to lift from a vertical position to a generally horizontal position. As the emptying of the bag 11 progresses the bars 20 are lifted to a horizontal position at the top of the bag. At this time the outside of the bag 11 follows path ADC which prevents excess bag from occluding the outlet.

Description

Materials Handling Apparatus This invention concerns materials handling apparatus and, more particularly, apparatus for discharging materials of powdered, granulated or other particulate form from intermediate bulk carriers of the kind popularly known as "big bags".

Such a carrier is in the form of a large bag of flexible material having a discharge spout on its underside which may be untied and secured to a duct to receive material discharged from the bag.

Generally, the bags are positioned over the discharge duct by a rigging frame which is located on support means above the duct with the base of the bag seated on a discharge mechanism.

As the bag empties there is a tendency for its walls to collapse and occlude the opening through the discharge spout.

It is an object of the present invention to provide discharge apparatus which overcomes, at least to some extent, the problem aforesaid.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for discharging the contents of a big bag which is positioned over a duct to receive material discharged from the bag, including means on opposite sides of the bag to bring the opposed sides of the bag towards one another at the top ofthe bag as it empties to prevent collapse of the sides of the bag to interfere with free flow of material from the bag into the discharge duct.

The means may comprise horizontal bars on the lower ends of arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to frame members and adapted to be swung upwardly to bring the bars towards one another adjacent the top ofthe bag as it empties.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, one form of apparatus embodying same.

Of the drawing Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus; and Figure 2 shows a view on the line II - II ofFigure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the apparatus comprises a shallow hopper 10 adapted to receive and locate the lower end of a bag 11 held by loops 12 on a rigging frame 13 which has been lowered onto support posts 14 extending upwardly from frame members 15 surrounding the hopper 10.

Beneath the hopper 10 is a duct 16 to which a discharge spout 17 extending from the underside of the bag 11 may be clamped by any suitable mechanism of known kind.

A vibrator 18 is secured to the hopper 10 and may be operated to initiate and maintain discharge of material from the bag into the duct 16.

Initially, the side walls of the bag generally follow the path A-B-C and, if unconstrained, would tend to follow the shorter path A-C as the bag empties with the result that the excess length of the material of the bag would convolute and tend to occlude the outlet from the discharge spout 17 into the duct 16.

In accordance with the invention horizontally extending bars 20 are provided on opposite sides of the bag 11.

The bars 20 are secured to the lower ends of arms 21 pivotally mounted at their upper ends to posts 14 on opposite sides ofthe hopper 10.

Pneumatic cylinders 22 are connected with the arms 21 to swing them from a depending position (shown on the right-hand side of Figure 1) at the commencement of discharge to generally horizontal positions (shown on the left-hand side of Figure 1) as emptying ofthe bag 11 progresses bringing the bars 20 towards one another adjacent the top of the bag 11. In this latter position, the bars 20 cause the side walls of the bag generally to follow the path A-D-C preventing any excess length of the material of the bag from dropping to occlude the outlet to the duct 16.

The action of the bars 20 also tends to assist discharge and prevent so-called "ratholing".

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for discharging the contents of a big bag which is positioned over a duct to receive material discharged from the bag, including means on opposite sides of the bag to bring the opposed sides of the bag towards one another at the top of the bag as it empties to prevent collapse of the sides of the bag to interfere with free flow of material from the bag into the discharge duct.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means comprises horizontal bars on the lower ends of arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to frame members and adapted to be swung upwardly to bring the bars towards one another adjacent the top of the bag as it empties.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the arms are operated by pneumatic cylinders.