GB2475863A

GB2475863A - Recovering material from a collapsible container

Info

Publication number: GB2475863A
Application number: GB0921152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivor Malcolm George Andrews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-02
Filing date: 2009-12-02
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Also published as: GB0921152D0

Abstract

An apparatus for recovery of residual material contained within a collapsible container 30 has a means 60 for holding and lifting a first end of the container, a squeezing means 100, and a means for moving the squeezing means 100 relative to the collapsible container 30. The squeezing means may be rollers 140, and the holding means may be a clamp 50. Actuators 80, 90, 120, 130 may be employed to impart relative movement between the container 30 and the squeezing means 100. In a method of using the apparatus, residual material 20 held within the collapsible container 30 is forced out of the container 30 by movement of the squeezing means 100 and is recovered. The lift means 50 may be pivoted away from a substantially vertical position (figure 2) to facilitate the attachment of the container 30 prior to lifting.

Description

I

Apparatus and method for recovering material The invention provides an apparatus and method for recovery of material from a collapsible container. The invention may have particular application to the recovery of residual resin from spent containers of resin.

Background

Many materials or substances are transported in, and dispensed from, flexible or collapsible containers.

Such containers are typically formed from a polymeric material or from a metallic foil, and examples include plastic liners for food containers or liners for transport of pharmaceutical gels and pastes. Where the containers are of a large volume, and where the contained material has a relatively high viscosity, there may be a considerable volume of residual material left within the container after normal dispensing processes have been performed. One example is the use of polymer liners for the transport of epoxy resin materials, as described below.

Throughout the aeronautical, marine, automotive and wind energy industries, composite materials such as Glassfibre Re-Enforced Plastic (GRP), Carbon Fibre and Kevlar are used for the construction of structures. For example, in the marine pleasure-boat industry, craft may be constructed from predominately GRP. These boats are produced from moulds, which are a female impression taken from a full-sized prototype of the proposed craft, known as a plug.

Traditionally, a plug would be produced by hand, mostly using plywood sheet fastened to a timber framework. The timber plug then has to be finished to a glass-like surface through many hours of careful sanding, painting and polishing. Any imperfections on a plug are carried over to the mould and then duplicated on every craft produced from that mould. In addition to needing to be perfectly finished, the plug also has to be dimensionally accurate and extremely strong to remain dimensionally stable with the forces exerted on it during the curing and then de-moulding process.

Once a plug is finished and prepared with release wax to assist its removal, it is covered with several layers of GRP to form the mould. Beams and other structural members are encapsulated in the GRP laminate to provide rigidity, allowing the plug to eventually be pulled away from the mould. Following the successful production of the mould, the plug is usually destroyed mechanically and then disposed of.

Some modern businesses now use CNC machining technology to produce their plugs. CNC machining may utilise a milling head to rough-cut a plug shape from polyurethane and polystyrene foam blocks, after which an application head is used to apply an epoxy seamless modelling paste. Once the epoxy paste has cured, another milling head is fitted to the machine and the epoxy paste cut to accurate dimensions to produce the model. The cured paste is very hard and dimensionally stable although very easy to machine.

The epoxy paste and hardener used in this process is supplied separately in standard 200 litre steel drums or barrels. Within each drum is a polythene liner in which the resin or hardener is held, allowing the drums to be reused. These drums are loaded into a piston pump which drives a plate down into the liner, forcing the resin out through a braided hose along to a chopper gun unit which thoroughly mixes the resin and hardener before it is piped to the application head.

In many cases the pistons do not drive to the very bottom of the barrels and spent liners from this process may have a considerable amount of paste still deposited in them. Presently, each single barrel of resin or hardener costs in excess of £1000 and the remaining uncured epoxy resin is extremely hazardous to the environment and requires very careful and expensive disposal.

It is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for recovering unused material from a collapsible container, for example the liner of a resin barrel containing residual resin material.

Summary of Invention

The invention provides an apparatus and method for recovery of residual material from a collapsible container as defined in the appended independent claims, to which reference should now be made.

Preferred or advantageous features of the invention are defined in dependent sub-claims.

Thus, in a first aspect the invention may provide an apparatus for recovery of residual material from a collapsible container, comprising a means for holding and lifting a first end of the collapsible container, a squeezing means that can be actuated to sandwich the collapsible container between the first end and a second end of the collapsible container, and means for moving the actuated squeezing means relative to the collapsible container such that residual material within the collapsible container is forced toward the second end of the container.

The apparatus may be advantageously applied to recovery of residual material from flexible liners for rigid containers. Barrels, drums, boxes or pallets are often lined with a collapsible or flexible container such as a polymeric liner, so that the rigid container does not come into contact with the material itself and can, therefore, be reused. The liner becomes contaminated with the material and can be disposed of.

It is typical that a collapsible container such as a liner is disposed of, along with any residual material that remains within the liner after the material has been dispensed. For example, in the background to the invention barrels of epoxy resin and hardener are described as being used for a particular application. After dispensing resin or hardener from the barrels, about 10% of the contents of those barrels remains within the liner. Liners containing this residual, now waste, material are removed from the barrels and deposited in a waste barrel. In this example about seven spent liners can be packaged within a single barrel, after which a lid is tightly clamped on, and the barrel is disposed of. Given a cost of a single barrel of resin of about £1,000, and given that about 10% of the spent barrel is wasted, this results in about £100 worth of material being disposed of per barrel. In addition to this cost, is the cost of disposing of the barrel containing the spent liners.

An apparatus according to the invention may be able to recover a considerable proportion of the waste resin from the liner with the advantage that this resin is no longer thrown away. Furthermore, the spent liners that have had residual material recovered from them are considerably lower in volume than spent liners with residual material still within them. Consequently, a far greater number of liners can be packed into a single barrel for disposal, and the cost of disposing of each liner is consequently much reduced.

The means for holding and lifting a first end of the collapsible container may be any suitable mechanism.

For example, a first end of the collapsible container may comprise integral lifting rings or lugs, and the means for holding may be any hook or grip suitable for engaging with the lugs. The collapsible container may also be wound around an element such as a roller to effect a hold on the container.

Preferably the means for holding the first end of the collapsible container is coupled to a means for lifting the first end of the collapsible container such that the container can be raised in its entirety. The scale of the means for holding and lifting will be determined by the size of the collapsible container. For example, liners for containing food in the food industry may typically be of 1,000 litre capacity, and even when such liners have lost a high proportion of their contents they may still have a considerable weight.

In a preferred example, the means for holding and lifting comprises a clamp for gripping the first end of the collapsible container. The use of a clamp means that no special features need to be incorporated in the first end of the collapsible container itself. Preferably the clamp is of sufficient length to span the entire width of the collapsible container, or the holding means comprises a plurality of clamps that extend across the entire width of the container. Thus, the clamp can grip the entire width of the first end of the collapsible container to distribute the weight of the container evenly. This may be particularly important where the collapsible container is formed from a relatively thin polymeric film that may begin to deform under low applied stresses.

Preferably, the clamp has jaws that are formed from, or coated with, a high friction material so as to securely grip the first end of the collapsible container.

The clamp may be manually actuated to grip and hold the first end of the collapsible container.

Alternatively, the jaws of the clamp may be closed by means of one or more actuators.

It may be advantageous to securely fasten the clamp in a closed position once it is engaged with the first end of the collapsible container. Thus, the clamp may have a fastening mechanism that prevents the clamp from opening until the fastening mechanism is released. Advantageously, a magnetic latching mechanism may be used to fasten the clamp in a closed position and/or provide a more secure grip on the collapsible container.

The means for holding the collapsible container is preferably coupled to a means for lifting the collapsible container. In a preferred arrangement, a clamp for holding the first end of the collapsible container is mounted to a cross-beam, which can be raised and lowered thereby raising and lowering the clamp.

Particularly preferably, the cross-beam is movable by means of one or more actuators for raising and lowering the cross-beam and thereby raising and lowering the clamp. It is preferable that the cross-beam is supported by a pair of linear actuators for raising and lowering the cross-beam.

It is preferred that a cross-beam is mounted on the apparatus, such that it is guided by a frame or supported by actuators that are themselves act as a supporting framework. In a preferred example, the apparatus has a means for holding and lifting comprising a cross-beam supported between actuators for raising and lowering the cross-beam, the actuators themselves effectively providing a framework for mounting the crossbeam to the apparatus.

In a particularly preferable example, the actuation means or framework for supporting and raising/lowering the clamp is coupled to the apparatus at a pivot. The pivot allows the framework to be tilted from a substantially vertical configuration towards the horizontal. It is advantageous that the framework may be automatically tilted by means of one or more actuators to control the angle of the framework.

By tilting the framework forwards, any holding means such as a clamp mounted on the frame, may be lowered to a position where an operator can easily attach the holding means to the first end of the collapsible container. The framework, and the attached collapsible container, may then be pivoted back towards the apparatus. This also has the advantage that collapsible containers may be replaced without needing to move a collection container located on the apparatus for collecting the residual material from a plurality of collapsible containers. Each new collapsible container can be swung into position by the tilting framework.

It is preferable that the squeezing means is supported by a frame and can be raised or lowered by one or more actuators. Preferably the squeezing means is supported by a pair of linear actuators for raising and lowering the squeezing means, the linear actuators being either located by a frame or in themselves forming a supporting framework for the squeezing means. Particularly preferably, the actuators are arranged to move the squeezing means vertically.

Advantageously, the squeezing means may comprise an assembly having first and second squeezing members that are actuatable relative to each other, such that in a first position the squeezing members are spaced apart, and in a second position the squeezing members are held against each other. It is particularly preferable that the movement of the first and second members between first and second positions is in a substantially horizontal plane. Thus, in a preferred example the squeezing members can move vertically up and down as part of the squeezing means assembly, can move horizontally together and apart within the squeezing means assembly.

The squeezing members may be low friction bars or rods (or bars and rod coated with low friction material) that can be brought together, one either side of the collapsible container, to exert a line of pressure across the width of the collapsible container. Such rods or bars should be of low friction so that the squeezing members can slide over the surface of the collapsible container when actuated to sandwich the collapsible container. By this means, any residual material within the collapsible container may be forced ahead of the line of contact formed by the squeezing members.

In a preferable example, the squeezing means comprises at least one roller. Such a roller may be a mechanically driven, but is preferably a freely rotating roller. Particularly preferably, the squeezing means comprises a pair of opposing rollers.

Where the squeezing means comprises a pair of opposing rollers, the rollers may be actuated to sandwich the collapsible container. This forms a line of pressure across the width of the collapsible container. Any relative movement between the actuated rollers and the collapsible container causes the rollers to roll, and may force any residual material within the collapsible container ahead of the nip of the rollers, or point of rolling contact.

The collapsible container may rupture at its second end as residual material within the container is forced against it. Such rupturing will allow the material to escape from the container where it can be collected, for example in a further container. It may be desirable to facilitate egress of residual material from the collapsible container by opening the container. This may be achieved manually, for example by an operator piercing the collapsible container with a blade. Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise means for piercing the collapsible container at its second end to allow egress of residual material. Such a means may be a blade or spike or other mechanism such as a heated wire that can be applied, automatically or manually, to the second end of the collapsible container to open the container.

It is preferable that the apparatus has a platform for receiving a collection container to collect residual material forced from the collapsible container. Ideally, such a collection container can be positioned directly beneath the lifted collapsible container. As the containers used to collect the residual material may be large (for example they may have a capacity of 100 litres or 200 litres or 1,000 litres or greater), it is advantageous if the apparatus comprises a low friction platform to enable a container to be moved in and out of position for collection. An advantageous apparatus may comprise a stipway to enable a container to be slided into position relatively easily.

It may be advantageous that the apparatus can be physically moved. For example, in a factory there may be considerable distance between workstations using material from collapsible containers. It may be advantageous that the apparatus can be moved swiftly between such stations in order to recover residual material. Thus, it may be advantageous that the entire apparatus is mounted on rollers, casters, or wheels to enable the apparatus to be moved to wherever it is needed.

In a second aspect, the invention may provide a method of recovering residual material from a collapsible container, comprising the steps of holding a first end of the collapsible container, lifting the collapsible container, actuating a squeezing means to sandwich the collapsible container between its first end and a second end, and moving the squeezing means relative to the collapsible container to force residual material within the collapsible container towards the second end of the collapsible container.

Such a method may be advantageously used to recover residual material from a liner for a rigid container such as barrel, drum, box, or pallet.

The method may comprise the step of placing the first end of the collapsible container in a holding means or a gripping means, such as a clamp or set of clamps, and closing the clamp or clamps such that it grips the first end of the collapsible container. Advantageously, the method may comprise the further step of fastening the clamp shut, for example by actuating a magnetic latch. This step may prevent the clamp from coming undone and losing its grip on the collapsible container.

Preferably, the collapsible container is lifted, such that it is suspended by its first end, and the squeezing means is then actuated to sandwich the collapsible container at a point below the first end. The squeezing means preferably forms a line of pressure across the entire width of the collapsible container.

The method may involve a static squeezing means that is held stationary, in which case the collapsible container is pulled through the squeezing means in order to force residual material towards the second end of the collapsible container. Preferably, however, the collapsible container is held in a stationary position and the squeezing means is moved towards the second end of the collapsible container to force residual material within the collapsible container towards the second end. Clearly, it may also be possible to move both container and squeezing means at the same time to achieve relative movement between them.

It may be advantageous that the means for holding the collapsible container is supported by actuators or by a lifting framework that incorporates actuators. In this example, it may be advantageous for the actuators/framework to pivot from a substantially vertical position towards a horizontal position to allow an operator to fasten the collapsible container to the holding means. The framework can then be pivoted back towards a substantially vertical position after the collapsible container has been fastened or he!d by the holding means.

Preferably, the means for holding the collapsible container is supported by linear actuators that either form a supporting framework or are located by a framework. The method may then comprise the step of actuating the linear actuators to lift the collapsible container.

The collapsible container may rupture due to pressure caused by residual material being force towards its second end. It may be advantageous, however, to include the step of piercing or rupturing the collapsible container at its second end to allow residual material to escape.

As different materials have different viscosities, it may be advantageous to vary parameters such as the pressures exerted by the squeezing means or the speed of travel of the squeezing means relative to the collapsible container depending on the material being recovered. Parameters may also be advantageously varied depending on ambient temperatures.

The method described herein may be particularly advantageous for recovering residual epoxy resins and hardeners from polymeric resin container liners. The method may also be of particular application for recovering residual food from a plastic food container liner. Furthermore, the method may be useful for recovering residual gels or pastes contained in collapsible liners within the pharmaceutical industry.

A specific example of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in operation recovering residual material, Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 illustrated when not in operation, Figure 3 illustrates the holding mechanism of the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a side view of the holding mechanism of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the holding mechanism in an open position, Figure 5 shows a side view of the holding mechanism of the apparatus of Figure 1 when fastened on a collapsible container.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus can be used to recover residual resins and pastes from polythene drum-liners. The liners have a capacity of about 200 litres.

An embodiment of such an apparatus is illustrated in Figure 1. The apparatus 10 allows the recovery of residual epoxy resin 20 from a collapsible polythene drum-liner 30. The residual resin 20 is forced from the polythene liner 30 into a collection drum 40. The collection drum 40 is preferably lined with its own polythene liner.

The apparatus comprises a gripping jaw or clamp 50 for gripping an upper edge of the liner 30. The jaw 50 is mounted to a cross beam 60, which is itself supported at either end by rising members 71, 81 of a first pair of linear actuators 70, 80. This pair of liner actuators 70,80 form a supporting frame for the cross beam 60 and jaw mechanism 50.

The apparatus further comprises a roller assembly 100. The roller assembly 100 comprises a substantially rectangular frame 110 supported by the rising members 121, 131 of a second pair of linear actuators 120,130. This second pair of linear actuators forms a supporting frame for the roller assembly.

The roller assembly frame 110 is held in a substantially horizontal plane, and first and second rollers 140, 150 are mounted adjacent to each other within the frame. The rollers 140, 150, are mounted within the frame 110 such that the space in-between the rollers may be varied. The spacing between the rollers 140, is varied by means of a third pair of linear actuators 160, 170.

The second pair of linear actuators 120, 130, that support the roller assembly 100 and the first pair of linear actuators 70, 80 that support the gripping jaw 50 are mounted to a base plate 200 and fixed structural framework 210 of the apparatus 10.

The second pair of linear actuators 120, 130 are fixed to the base plate 200 and supporting frame 220 such that the linear actuators are held in a substantially vertical orientation.

The first pair of linear actuators 70, 80, are coupled to the base plate 200 at pivots 75, 85 and coupled to the structural frame 210 by mean of a fourth pair of linear actuators 220, 230 that allow the first pair of linear actuators to tilt between a vertical orientation and a non-vertical orientation.

The base plate 200 of the apparatus 10 incorporators a roller slideway 250 to facilitate the loading and unloading of collection containers 40 from the apparatus.

The first pair of linear actuators 70, 80 and the second pair of linear actuators 120, 130 are mounted to the apparatus 10 such that, when the first pair of linear actuators 70, 80 are vertically orientated, both pairs of actuators are in the same vertical plane. The first pair of linear actuators are disposed inside the second pair of linear actuators.

When both first and second pairs of linear actuators are vertically oriented, the frame 110 of the roller assembly 100 is able to pass over the cross beam 60 and the jaw mechanism 50.

Figure 2 illustrates a side projection of the apparatus 10. In Figure 2 the second pair of linear actuators 120 are shown in an extended configuration such that their rising members 121 are fully raised (as the figure is a side projection, only one of each pair of components can be seen.)The roller assembly mounted at the top of the extending member is illustrated with the first and second roller 140, 150 spaced from each other. The first pair of linear actuators 70 are shown with their rising members 71 fully retracted. The gripping jaw assembly 50 is illustrated in an open configuration. Furthermore, the first pair of linear actuators are illustrated as tilted from the vertical about a pivot 75. The angle of tilt is controlled by the fourth pair of linear actuators 230 which are connected by pivoting joints 231, 232 to the supporting frame 210 at one end and the linear actuator 70 at the other end.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the structure and operation of the gripper jaw 50 in more detail. The gripper jaw assembly 50 has a fixed jaw element 51 and a movable jaw element 52. These jaw elements are metallic and supported in a pivoting relationship to each other by off-set hinges 53 and 54. The inner surfaces of each jaw 55 and 56 are faced with a high friction material to prevent slippage of the collapsible liner 30.

The gripper jaw extends almost the full width of the cross beam 60, which is itself mounted to the first pair of linear actuators 70, 80 by mechanical fastenings 77 and 78.

The movable jaw element 52 of the gripper jaw 50 is automated through the use of a fifth pair linear actuators 310, 320. The fifth pair of linear actuators allow the jaw 50 to be opened and closed. When the jaw is in a closed position, a pair of magnetic actuators (only one shown) 330 can be operated to increase the pressure exerted by the jaw and fasten the jaw closed.

In operation, the apparatus 10 as described above is moved by means of casters 15 to a location close to a spent resin liner 30. The roller assembly 100 is elevated by means of the second pair linear actuators 120, and the gripping jaws 50 are lowered by means of the first pair of linear actuators 70, 80. The gripping jaw assembly 50 is held open by the fifth pair linear actuators 310, 320. The first pair of linear actuators are then tilted forward from the apparatus by actuation of a fourth pair of linear actuators 230, 220 such that the first pair of linear actuators 70, 80 pivot about pivot points 75, 85 in the base-plate 200 of the apparatus.

An operator lifts the upper-most portion of a resin liner 30 and places this within the jaws 50. The fifth pair of linear actuators then operate to close the jaws on the upper portion of the liner. If the operator is satisfied that the liner has been correctly placed within the jaws he actuates the pair of magnetic latches 330 to fasten the gripping jaws tightly on the liner so that it can not be pulled out of the jaw. Linear actuators 70, 80 can now be operated to extend rising members 71, 81 and lift the resin liner 30 from its barrel or drum.

Once the liner has been lifted clear of the drum the fourth pair of linear actuators 230, 220 are operated to pivot the first pair of linear actuators to a substantially vertical condition. A collection drum 40 is then placed beneath the resin liner 30 hanging between first and second linear actuators from the gripping jaw assembly 50.

The first and second rollers 140, 150 are spaced apart from each other and the second pair of linear actuators 120, 130 are operated to lower the roller assembly 100 over the crossbeam 60 and gripping jaws 50. The roller assembly is lowered to just below the point where the gripping jaws hold the liner.

The third pair of linear actuators are operated to close the rollers 140, 150 towards each other, thereby sandwiching the liner 30. The rollers are closed to tightly engage with the liner. The rollers are free rolling, and as the second pair of linear actuators are actuated to further lower the roller assembly, the contact point between the pair of rollers and the liner moves vertically downwards towards the bottom of the liner.

The rollers 140, 150 grip the liner 30 sufficiently tightly to force resin material held within the liner ahead of the nip between the rollers as the rollers descend. The pace at which the rollers are passed over the liner can be varied depending on the viscosity of the material within the liner.

As the rollers descend relative to the liner, residual material within the liner is forced to the bottom of the liner. The liner can then be pierced at its lowest point to allow the residual resin material 20 to pass out of the liner and into the collection container 40.

The rollers pass all the way to the bottom of the liner to force all of the residual material from the liner. At this point the rollers can be separated and the roller assembly 100 raised to its upper-most position above the jaw assembly 50. The jaw assembly 50 can be pivoted outwards of the machine (i.e. the first pair of actuators are caused to pivot from the vertical) and the empty liner is removed and disposed of.

This process may be repeated until the collection chamber 40 is full. At this point the collection container can be removed and the material therein can be used.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for recovery of residual material from a collapsible container comprising, means for holding and lifting a first end of the collapsible container, a squeezing means that can be actuated to sandwich the collapsible container between its first end andasecondend,and means for moving the actuated squeezing means relative to the collapsible container such that residual material within the collapsible container is forced towards the second end of the container.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the collapsible container is a liner for a rigid container such as a barrel, drum, box or pallet.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the means for holding and lifting comprises a clamp for gripping the first end of the collapsible container.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which the clamp has gripping jaws that span the width of the first end of the collapsible container.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 in which the clamp includes a magnetic latch actuatable to hold the clamp closed over the first end of the collapsible container.
6. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5 in which the clamp is mounted on a cross-beam supported between two actuators for raising and lowering the cross-beam.
7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the means for holding and lifting comprises a cross-beam supported between actuators for raising and lowering the cross-beam.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 in which the actuators for raising and lowering the cross-beam are coupled to the apparatus at a pivot and can be tilted about the pivot.
9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the squeezing means is supported between actuators for raising and lowering the squeezing means.
10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the squeezing means comprises an assembly having first and second squeezing members that are actuatable relative to each other such that in a first position the squeezing members are spaced apart and in a second position the squeezing members are held against each other, preferably in which movement of the first and second members is in a substantially horizontal plane.
11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the squeezing means comprises at least one roller, preferably a pair of opposing rollers.
12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a means for piercing the collapsible container at its second end to allow egress of residual material.
13. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a platform for locating a collection container to receive residual material forced from the collapsible container, preferably in which the platform comprises rollers to facilitate replacement of the collection container.
14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further characterised in that the entire apparatus is mounted on rollers, casters or wheels so as to be mobile.
15. A method of recovering residual material from a collapsible container comprises the steps of, holding a first end of the collapsible container, lifting the collapsible container, actuating a squeezing means to sandwich the collapsible container between its first end and a second end, and moving the squeezing means relative to the collapsible container to force residual material within the collapsible container towards the second end of the collapsible container.
16. A method according to claim in which the collapsible container is a liner for a rigid container such as a barrel, drum, box or pallet.
17. A method according to claim 15 or 16 comprising the step of placing the first end of the collapsible container in a clamp and closing the clamp such that it grips the first end of the collapsible container.
18. A method according to claim 17 comprising the step of fastening the clamp shut, for example by actuating a magnetic latch.
19. A method according to any preceding claim in which the collapsible container is lifted such that it is suspended by its first end and the squeezing means is actuated to sandwich the collapsible container at a point below the first end.
20. A method according to any preceding method claim in which the collapsible container is held in a stationary position and the actuated squeezing means is moved towards the second end of the collapsible container.
21. A method according to any of claims 15 to 19 in which the actuated squeezing means is held stationary and the collapsible container is pulled through the squeezing means.
22. A method according to any preceding method claim in which a means for holding the collapsible container, for example a clamp, is supported by a framework, comprising the steps of pivoting the framework forwards from a substantially vertical position to allow the clamp to be attached to the first end of the collapsible container and then pivoting the lifting frame back into a substantially vertical position after the collapsible container has been attached.
23. A method according to any preceding method claim in which a means for holding the collapsible container, for example a clamp, is supported by linear actuators, comprising the steps of actuating the linear actuators to lift the collapsible container.
24. A method according to any preceding method claim further comprising the steps of piercing or rupturing the collapsible container at its second end and forcing the residual material out of the collapsible container.
25. A method according to any preceding method claim for recovering residual resin from a plastic resin container liner, or for recovering residual food from a plastic food container liner.
26. An apparatus for recovering residual material substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.
27. A method for recovering residual material substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.