GB2609988A - Liner for recycling of drums - Google Patents

Abstract

A container liner system particularly for drums or barrels comprising a tubular filling and dispensing neck fitment 10 searingly attached to a flexible liner bag 14 (figure 6B) and having a through bore 36, neck closure 34, container closure 30, and a radially outwardly projecting resilient support 22 which can lock the fitment in place on the container opening 24 and this support can yield when pushed through the opening when downward force is applied, allowing the fitment to be moved in and out of the container. The resilient support may be one or more flexible flanges 12 and may be further supported by fins or rills 26. The neck closure may be screwed on and may be attached to the container closure by a strap 46, which allows the fitment to be pulled up from the container. The strap may be attached to allow relative rotation on the neck and container closures and may have an additional strap 64 which may form an upwardly projecting loop. The fitment may also have a hermetic seal 52, indicium 56 (figure 5A), gripping features 60, and a rupturable label 44 (figure 5C).

Description

Liner for Recycling of Drums This invention relates to removable liners which are primarily used in industrial-sized drums and similar bulk containers for flowable materials, although the invention is of more general applicability. Such removable liners make the containers easier to recycle and/or re-use, particularly when the used container is contaminated with a hazardous material residue. They are also useful when very clean or aseptic conditions have to be maintained, e.g. for food or pharmaceutical products. Contaminated containers require special (and often costly) handling and/or disposal io to meet legal requirements and to avoid harm to the environment A removable liner minimises the amount of material for which the special handling is required and the associated costs, because only the liner needs to be treated in this way.

US3215307 and US3167210 disclose liners for closed head drums -i.e. for drums in which a top wall or headstock (usually containing bungholes for filling and venting purposes) is seamed or otherwise permanently secured onto the drum body. (This contrasts with open head drums, in which the top wall is formed by a separate lid removably secured to a reinforced rim or end chime at an open upper end of the drum body, typically using a clamp ring or the like). The disclosed liner has a filling and removal neck that protrudes through and is retained in an opening in the drum top wall. The liner is Now-moulded and inserted into the drum body before the drum top wall is secured. The blow-moulded liner is essentially resiliently rigid, rather than flexible, and so cannot be inserted and withdrawn through the much smaller opening in the drum top wall.

US3756494 concerns an open head fibre drum having conventional inner and outer side wall shell parts and a flexible liner bag "locked in to the drum structure by a bottom disc trapped beneath the inner side wall shell part. The bag has open top for filling, tied off to close the bag when full. Similar flexible liner bags are also known for use in open head steel drums, including arrangements in which the bag is provided with a more rigid filler neck fitted in a flexible top wall. The filler neck is closed by a screw cap which (like the tied-off bag) is then covered by the removable drum lid.

According to US5480056, a polyethylene fitting is used to secure the top of a flexible liner bag spaced from a closed drum head. The fitting is inserted through an offset bung hole in the drum head from the inside, prior to seaming the drum head onto the drum body. The fitting is secured by an exterior nut and receives a drum closure plug, e.g. a conventional Tr-Sure (ATM) closure plug. Tabs and slots are used to correctly orientate the fitting in the offset bung hole. The bag is inflated so as to rest against the drum interior surfaces prior to filling with the eventual container contents. To collapse the used empty bag residual gas etc. is first evacuated, then a closure plug is to screwed in the fitting, a plunger tool is engaged with the closure plug the nut is removed, and then the plunger tool is used to push the sealed fitting and bag to the bottom of the drum. The drum head may then be cut off to extract the bag The polyethylene fitting, and the corresponding bung hole and securing nut, must be of a non-standard larger size than the closure plug and are not homologated to meet the applicable standards and performance tests of the U.N. Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods ("UNRTDG").

US3918605, US5154307, US5169019, and US5217138 likewise disclose liner bags and fittings for securing them within a bung hole opening in a closed-head drum. These liner systems are similar to that of US5480056, except that the fittings and bags are inserted into the drum from the outside. This allows the empty bags to be collapsed and recovered from within the drum without cutting off the drum head. In other respects, these drum liner systems suffer from similar disadvantages to the liner system of US5480056.

US5154308 discloses a detachable liner bag for a closed head drum which, for recycling purposes and similarly to the liner bag of US5480056, can be separated from the drum head by forces supplied from the exterior of the drum. The drum top wall has a plug fitting which has a downwardly extending tubular support unit A portion of a collar forming an access opening to the liner bag is removably received in a lower end of the tubular support unit In use, the collar is connected to the tubular support unit, the bag is placed in the drum, and the drum cover is then secured to the drum.

The bag is then inflated with low positive internal air pressure so as to adhere to the drum interior surfaces. The drum is then filled with its contents and a bag plug fitted in the collar. Finally, a conventional drum plug is inserted into the fitting. Although the conventional drum plug may be capable of retaining the drum contents in drop tests, the large drum head deformations occurring in such tests (or when the drum is accidentally dropped in use) can cause the bag to rupture, with or without causing the collar to separate from the tubular support unit. Or the collar and tubular support unit may separate but the bag plug may fail. This can all lead to leakage of the bag contents within the drum interior. The drum contents may then eventually corrode the to unprotected drum interior, and leak into the environment Contact with the unprotected drum interior is also liable to taint the drum contents, as this may be what the intact bag liner was intended to prevent Like with US5480056, the drum itself cannot be directly re-used even if uncontaminated, because it is necessary to cut off the drum head to extract the collapsed and detached liner bag.

In a crowded field, there thus still remains a need for further improvements in liner systems for industrial-sized drums or similar containers, which allow the containers to be easily re-used and recycled, and which are also more easily capable of meeting relevant integrity and safety standards, such as those specified by the UNRTDG.

The present invention provides a container liner system comprising: a tubular filling and dispensing neck sealingly attached to a flexible liner bag and having a through bore sealable by a neck closure; the tubular filling and dispensing neck further comprising a radially outwardly projecting support engageable in a container filling and dispensing opening of a predetermined size, whereby the tubular filling and dispensing neck is insertable into the container filling and dispensing opening so as to be supportingly held in the container filling and dispensing opening by the radially outwardly projecting support, for filling the liner bag with the container contents and for fitment of the neck closure to seal the through bore; wherein the radially outwardly projecting support is configured to yield under downward force applied to the tubular filling and dispensing neck, allowing the tubular filling and dispensing neck and neck closure to move downwardly; characterised in that the tubular filling and dispensing neck is insertable into the container filling and dispensing opening from the outside and the downward movement causes the tubular filling and dispensing neck to pass through and vacate the container filling and dispensing opening so as to allow fitment of a container closure thereto.

to As with US5154308, the container closure may be a standard screw plug homologated to relevant performance and safety standards, such as the UNRTDG. Because the tubular filling and dispensing neck passes through the container filling and dispensing opening after the bag has been filled and sealed by the neck closure, the tubular filling and dispensing neck supporting Function of the container Filling and dispensing opening is then reduced or even completely eliminated. The container filling and dispensing opening may thus also be formed as a standard plug flange set, or standard container neck, homologated to relevant standards, such as UNRTDG. Because the mechanical connection between the container filling and dispensing opening and the tubular filling and dispensing neck is reduced or absent after the tubular filling and dispensing neck has passed through the container filling and dispensing opening, large deformations of the container head e.g in drop tests or in accidents do not impose large strains on the liner bag. The tubular filling and dispensing neck and liner bag are more easily able to mechanically disconnect (or are already mechanically disconnected) from the container filling and dispensing opening and can therefore more easily move relative to the container filling and dispensing opening. The filled liner bag is therefore less vulnerable to rupturing during drop tests and accidents.

To access and dispense the container contents, the container closure is removed, the filling and dispensing neck is pulled back up through the container filling and dispensing opening so as to be supported therein, and the neck closure is then removed. If desired, the end user can leave the container in this state, replacing the neck closure to re-close the liner bag when necessary, but leaving the container closure removed and the filling and dispensing neck in the raised position. When emptied, the used liner bag is also retrievable back through the container filling and dispensing opening, together with the filling and dispensing neck, for safe disposal. The container is then immediately ready for re-use, for example by fitting a fresh liner bag and filling and dispensing neck where required.

The radially outwardly projecting support may simply be a friction fit in the container filling and dispensing opening for example an interference fit with the crests of a plug-receiving thread in the container filling and dispensing opening, and/or with a gasket to seat therein. However, to cater for possible variations in the predetermined size of the filling and dispensing opening and/or of the radially outwardly projecting support, e.g due to manufacturing tolerances, the radially outwardly projecting portion may be capable of substantial movement between an expanded condition for supportingly holding the filling and dispensing neck in the filling and dispensing opening, and a contracted condition which allows the filling and dispensing neck to pass through the filling and dispensing opening. In principle, any suitable expansion/contraction mechanism may be used -e.g. forming the radially outwardly projecting support: * from a suitable resiliently deformable material, such as an elastomeric foam material; or * to comprise obliquely extending resilient fingers or a similarly deformable annular flange comprising an obliquely extending cross section; or * as an annular brush-like structure comprising stiffly flexible generally radially projecting bristles; or * as a radially expandable/contractible resilient plug actuated by axial pressure according to Poisson's effect or * any other suitable form, structure, feature, or mechanism allowing the required radial deformation or movement as will readily be apparent to the skilled person; or any suitable combination of such forms, features, structures or mechanisms.

For example, the radially outwardly projecting support may simply comprise one or more radially outwardly projecting flexible flanges integrally moulded with the remainder of the filling and dispensing neck, e.g. injection moulded from a PCR or other suitable plastics material. The flange or flanges may comprise radially extending, axially oriented fins. However for ease of moulding, they may instead comprise one or more radially projecting, circumferentially extending, fins or rills. In either case, the tips of the fins may lie along a complementary profile which matches or is slightly larger than the nominal interior profile of the container filling and dispensing opening. The filling and dispensing neck is thereby stably and firmly supported in the container filling and dispensing opening when in the upper or raised position. The fin or fins also provide firm resistance to downward movement of the filling and dispensing neck to prevent its accidental dislodgement and loss within the to container during fitment and filling of the liner bag. However this resistance may also be designed or selected (e.g. by controlling the number, radial extent and transverse thickness of the fins according to the Young's modulus of the material of the filling and dispensing neck) whereby the force required to push the filling and dispensing neck into the container after filling the liner bag and fitment of the neck closure is not excessive; e.g. capable of being generated by firm downward hand pressure.

The neck closure may comprise any suitable removable sealing closure, for example a screw cap or screw plug. A screw plug may potentially allow the through bore in the filling and dispensing neck to have a larger diameter for a given predetermined size of the container filling and dispensing opening. However, a screw cap is better able to accommodate optional anti-tamper features, as well as providing more space for the radially outwardly projecting support on the filling and dispensing neck. Any anti-tamper features present are nevertheless preferably of low radial profile, so as not to unduly restrict the bore diameter of the filling and dispensing neck, as they must be capable of passing through the container filling and dispensing opening together with the rest of the neck closure. The filling and dispensing neck may thus be formed with the necessary profile at its upper end for accommodating a suitable standard screw cap or screw plug. The neck closure may thereby be readily homologated to relevant performance and safety standards, including anti-tamper security requirements.

The neck closure and/or the filling and dispensing neck may be provided with a strap or similar graspable handle means, by which the filling and dispensing neck may more easily be pulled back up through the container filling and dispensing opening by the end user, when required. The upper end of the strap or handle means may be attached to the bottom surface of the container closure by a connection allowing their relative rotation. The strap or handle means may therefore help to prevent loss of the container closure, and also help to prevent the filling and dispensing neck from being pushed down into and lost within the partially emptied container. The neck closure may similarly be provided with a further strap or similar graspable handle means rotatably connected to its upper surface, for securing it to the filling and dispensing neck. When the neck closure is in place on or in the upper end of the filling and to dispensing neck, the further strap or handle means may form an upwardly projecting loop which can be used to guide the neck closure and upper end of the filling and dispensing neck into the container filling and dispensing opening, e.g. into the inner mouth of a container closure flange.

When a tamper-evident closure cap or plug is used as the neck closure, it must necessarily be supplied to the customer (container filler) separated from the filling and dispensing neck and its attached liner bag To help to guarantee an aseptic or at least sufficiently clean seal of the liner bag prior to use, a peel off closure foil may be glued, ultrasonically or induction welded, or otherwise hermetically sealed across the mouth of the filling and dispensing neck, for removal by the container filler immediately prior to expansion of the liner bag within the container, ready for filling. The container filling and dispensing opening is typically positioned offset towards one side of the container top. The filling and dispensing neck must therefore be connected to the top of the liner bag at a matching offset position and the filling and dispensing neck inserted into the container filling and dispensing opening in the correct azimuthal orientation for the liner bag to expand concentrically within the container. So as to ensure that the liner bag is correctly oriented for the required concentric expansion, the closure foil may be provided with a suitable indicium (e.g. a line or arrow) which is aligned with a suitable reference point on the container, such as the centre or a diameter of the drum top. For example the indicium may be aligned with a vent plug which is typically provided in the container top at a diametrically opposite position to the container filling and dispensing opening. The filling and dispensing neck may similarly or alternatively be provided with an orientation indicium, e.g. a uniquely distinctive finger grip feature among a plurality of such features circumferentially distributed about the filling and dispensing neck in the area between the upper end and the radially outwardly projecting support.

The container closure may be provided with security features such as a metal or plastic tamper-evidencing overcap or capseal, to provide a further level of security against unauthorised access to the container contents. The overcap and/or neck closure may be provided with a rupturable label secured across a frangible portion of a to tamper evidencing band, to provide yet further levels of security and traceability.

The invention and some of its further optional features and advantages are described below by reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of a filling and dispensing neck and top portion of an attached liner bag, embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the filling and dispensing neck, taken on line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the filling and dispensing neck shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3, showing an alternative form of finger grip area; Figure 5A is a perspective view showing the filling and dispensing neck and attached closure foil inserted into a container filling and dispensing opening from above (the attached and folded liner bag depending inside the container and therefore not being visible); Figure 5B shows the folded bag being inserted through the container filling and dispensing opening (the filling and dispensing neck attached to the liner bag upper end not being visible); Figure 5C shows the filling and dispensing neck with the neck closure fitted, the neck closure having a rupturable label secured across a frangible tamper evidencing band (the liner bag being omitted for simplicity); Figure 6A is a partly cutaway perspective view showing the filling and dispensing neck inserted into the container filling and dispensing opening with the closure foil removed, ready for inflation of the liner bag and then filling of the bag with the container contents; Figure 6B corresponds to Figure 6A, but shows the neck closure being fitted to the upper end of the tubular filling and dispensing neck, as well as showing the strap (graspable handle means) connecting the neck closure to the container closure; Figure 6C is a schematic view corresponding to Figure 6B, but showing the filling and dispensing neck, liner bag, neck closure, strap, and container closure assembly outside the container for illustrative purposes; Figures 7A-7E are a sequence of views respectively showing further steps in use of the 10 assembly, to provide a fully closed container according to UNRTDG, also having multiple levels of security features, and Figures 8A and 8B show examples of alternative forms of strap or graspable handle means for securing both the neck closure and the container closure to the tubular filling and dispensing neck.

As shown in Figures 1 -3, the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 has an annular attachment flange 12 to which a top sheet of a flexible plastic liner bag 14 is attached, sealingly fastened around the complete flange circumference by any suitable means, such as by ultrasonic welding An axially projecting lower rim or rill 16 of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 may be passed through a correspondingly sized hole in the bag top sheet, to correctly position the liner bag 14 against the attachment flange 12. Alternatively the hole may be cut after the top sheet has been fastened to the attachment flange 12. The tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 is provided with a horn area 18 and an anvil area 20 respectively provided on opposite sides of the attachment flange 12, to accommodate the ultrasonic welding apparatus. The attachment position of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 in the liner bag top sheet is offset to match any offset in the container filling and dispensing opening in the head of the container, so that the bag 14 can be positioned to expand concentrically against the interior surfaces of the container, as explained above. To enable the user to readily achieve such concentric expansion and as further explained below, the bag top sheet and the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 should be secured together at a predetermined relative angular orientation about the longitudinal axis of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10. For this purpose, the attachment flange 12 may be provided with a small peripheral notch or similar reference mark or feature for alignment with a corresponding reference mark or feature in the liner bag 14 top sheet.

The tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 further comprises a radially outwardly projecting support 22 stably engageable in a container filling and dispensing opening 24 of a predetermined size, as shown for example in Figures SA, 6A, 6B and 7A; but which also allows the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 to be pushed downwardly through the container filling and dispensing opening 24, as shown in Figures 7B to 7E. The radially outwardly projecting support 22 may take any suitable form. In the example shown in the drawings it comprises a series of radially projecting generally planar, annular fins or rills 26. The tips (outer edges) of the fins 26 are a close or slight interference fit against the corresponding interior profile of the container filling and dispensing opening 24, to provide firm and stable support while the liner bag 14 is being expanded within the container and then filled with the material to be stored and transported in the container. In the particular arrangement shown, one of the uppermost fins 26a has a somewhat enlarged diameter, so as to rest in the recessed upper part 28 of the container filling and dispensing opening 24 which forms the gasket seat for a standard container closure plug 30. The tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 and attached liner bag 14 are thereby supported in the container filling and dispensing opening 24 with sufficient resistance to downward dislodgement to allow the necessary bag expansion, filling and sealing operations to be carried out safely and conveniently without loss of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 inside the container before the liner bag 14 has been properly installed, filled and sealed. The larger diameter fin 26a (and the others 26) is nevertheless sufficiently flexible to distort and reduce in diameter, allowing the radially outwardly projecting support 22 to yield and the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 to be pushed downwardly under firm hand pressure after fitment of the neck closure 34 to seal the through bore 36.

The sealed tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 can therefore be pushed through the narrowest parts of the container filling and dispensing opening 24, into the container interior. As illustrated in Figure 4, one or more of the lowermost fins 26b may have a larger diameter than the fins 26 comprising the mid portion of the radially outwardly projecting support 22. This allows the radially outwardly projecting support 22 to positively "click" into a flared portion of a standard closure flange 32 (see Figs. 6A and 68) or similar component or structure forming a lower part of the container filling and dispensing opening 24, so as to hold the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 firmly and securely in its raised position. Thus as shown, the radially outwardly projecting support 22 is adapted to generally conform to the interior shape of the container filling and dispensing opening 24, although this is not essential to the invention. The same concept of a subductible tubular filling and dispensing neck which is held in a raised to position for filling an attached liner bag deployed within the container and application of a neck closure, may be readily adapted to other styles of container and container filling and dispensing opening The radially outwardly projecting support 22 may be appropriately modified so that its outer profile complements and co-operates with the profile of the filling and dispensing opening as required, e.g. where the filling and dispensing opening 24 is an integrated neck-like opening moulded in a plastics drum.

The neck closure may be any suitable closure capable of sealing the through bore 36 in the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10. For convenience, it may be a per se standard closure cap or closure plug already tested to meet the appropriate standards such as the UNRTDG, and proven in service for its performance, integrity and/or security characteristics. The illustrated neck closure 34 for example is a Tr-Sure (RTM) Plasticap Agro (RTM) 50mm screw cap with a low profile slitted style of tamper evident ring 38. This screw cap fits through the illustrated G2 drum closure flange 32 with only a small clearance, and hence does not unduly restrict the diameter of the through bore 36 in the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10. Accordingly as shown, the upper end of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 is formed with an external thread 40 to accept the screw cap 34. A "one-way" anchor ring or rill 42 of complementary design to the TE ring 38 by having an upwardly facing lead-in chamfer and a downwardly facing retaining shoulder, is provided around the outside of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 below the thread 40. This ring 42 accepts and anchors the TE ring 38 in a known and predictable manner when the screw cap 34 is torqued fully closed for the first time. Similarly the rim profile at the upper end of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 is of standard design to complement the internal sealing features of the screw cap 34, so as to provide tried and tested reliable sealing performance. A rupturable security label 44 may be applied across the slit demarcating the TE ring from the remainder of the screw cap 34, to provide a further level of security and traceability for the container and its contents (Figure SC). Where other neck closures are used, these complementary features of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 may be readily adapted as appropriate.

As shown in Figures SC, 6B, 6C and 7A-C, the neck closure (screw cap 34) is provided to with graspable handle means in the form of a strong, flexible plastic strap 46. This is attached to the top outer face of the screw cap 34 by a rotatable connection 48, which allows the screw cap 34 to be screwed on and off the filling and dispensing neck 10 without causing the strap 46 to twist or rotate. The other end of the strap 46 is attached to the container closure plug 30 by a similar rotatable connection 50 so as not to impede screwing of the container closure into the container filling and dispensing opening 24. When the screw cap 34 has been applied to the tubular filling and dispensing neck and the sealed tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 pushed down into the container so as to vacate the container filling and dispensing opening 24, the attached container closure cap 30 will prevent the strap 46 from disappearing and being lost completely inside an empty or part-emptied container. The strap 46 can therefore be used (if necessary) to manoeuvre the cap 34 into the inner mouth of the container filling and dispensing opening 24. Then the strap 46 can be used to pull the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 back into a raised position, in which the radially outwardly projecting support 22 firmly engages the interior profile of the container filling and dispensing opening 24 to stably support the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 and attached liner bag 14, e.g. for removal of the neck closure 34 and dispensing of the container contents.

Referring to Figure 5A, a peel off closure foil 52 is glued (e.g. by an induction heat activated adhesive layer or any other suitable means) across the mouth of the filling and dispensing neck 10, to seal and preserve the cleanliness of the unused neck and liner bag assembly 10, 14 until used by the customer (container filler). The container filling and dispensing opening 24 is typically positioned offset towards one side of the container top 54. The filling and dispensing neck 10 is therefore connected to the top sheet of the liner bag 14 at a matching offset position. To ensure that the filling and dispensing neck 10 is inserted into the container filling and dispensing opening in the correct azimuthal orientation for the liner bag to expand concentrically within the container, the closure foil is provided with a suitable indicium (e.g. a line or arrow 56) which is aligned with a suitable reference point on the container, such as a vent plug (not shown) provided in the container top 54 at a diametrically opposite position to the container filling and dispensing opening 24. The foil 52 itself may also or alternatively have a direction indicating point or similar feature 58. The filling and dispensing neck 10 may similarly or alternatively be provided with an orientation indicium, e.g. a uniquely distinctive finger grip feature 60a among a plurality of such features 60 circumferentially distributed about the filling and dispensing neck 10 in the area between its upper end and the radially outwardly projecting support 22. In Figure 3 the orientation finger grip 60a has a knurled surface schematically indicated by cross-hatching. In Figure 4, the orientation finger grip 60a has a straight shape; whereas the remainder of the finger grips 60 are chevron-shaped and "point" towards the orientation finger grip 60a. Thus the markings on the liner bag top and the axially projecting lower rim or rill 16 ensure that the liner bag 14 and the filling and dispensing neck 10 are welded together in the correct relative angular orientation, whereby the orientation features 56, 58, 60a can be used reliably to ensure the correct orientation of the liner bag 14 within the container. The finger grips 60, 60a are used to grasp the filling and dispensing neck 10 to prevent it from turning in the container filling and dispensing opening 24 as the screw cap or other neck closure 34 is screwed on/in or unscrewed.

Usage by the customer (container filler) proceeds as follows. The liner bag 14 with the closure foil 52 still in place on the filling and dispensing neck 10 is inserted through the container filling and dispensing opening 24 (Figure 58) and brought into the correct orientation by aligning the orientation features 56, 58, 60a with the corresponding reference feature(s) on the container. The closure foil 52 (Figure 5A) is then peeled off The container vent plug is removed and a low power vacuum pump (e.g. a vacuum cleaner) is applied to the container vent opening to unfold and expand the liner bag 14 against the interior surfaces of the container; the bag 14 being inflated by atmospheric pressure acting through the bore 36 of the filling and dispensing neck 10. The close fit of the radially outwardly projecting support 22 in the container filling and dispensing opening 24 allows sufficient pressure difference to be generated for this to occur. The liner bag can then be filled with the desired contents, the vacuum source removed and the vent plug reinstalled. Next, as shown in Figure 7A, the neck closure 34 is fitted to the filling and dispensing neck 10; sealing the filled liner bag 14 and activating the TE ring 38. The filling and dispensing neck 10 can be grasped by the finger grip features 60 to prevent it from rotating as the screw cap 34 or other screw closure is screwed on/into the filling and dispensing neck 10. The joint 48 allows the screw cap 34 to be screwed on without rotating or twisting the strap 46. (For illustrative purposes Figure 68 also shows the neck closure 34 in place to seal the filling and dispensing neck 10, but with the liner bag 14 not inflated. Ordinarily, before the neck closure 34 is applied for the first time, the liner bag 14 will have been inflated so as lie closely against the inner surfaces of the drum and then filled with the container contents, as explained above). Figure 78 shows subduction of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 part-way into the container so that the radially outwardly projecting support 22 has moved downwardly to clear the container filling and dispensing opening 24, but the neck closure 34 is still protruding above the container filling and dispensing opening 24. Figure 7C shows the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 and the neck closure 34 subducted fully into the container, so as to vacate the container filling and dispensing opening 24. Figure 713 shows the container closure plug 30 fitted to (screwed into) the container filling and dispensing opening 24, to provide a closed container according to UNRTDG. The connection 50 allows the plug 30 to be screwed in (or unscrewed) without twisting the strap 46. A further layer of security may be added by applying a suitable metal or plastics overcap or cap seal (Figure 7E illustrates by way of non-limiting example a crimp-on metal cap seal) to the plug 30 and container filling and dispensing opening 24. The sealed container is then ready for delivery to the end user. Removal of the closure plug 30 by the end user pulls out the strap 46, which can then be used to pull out the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 for re-engagement of the radially outwardly projecting support 22 in the container filling and dispensing opening 24. The neck closure cap 34 can then be unscrewed to access the container contents.

Figure 8A shows an alternative strap or handle means configuration. The strap or handle means 46a is cut or stamped out from a sheet of tough, flexible plastics material such as PET. It comprises a central ring part 62 with a central aperture sized to snap over the anchor ring or rill 42 of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10, so as to be held captive between this ring 42 and the finger grips 60, 60a. The strap or handle means 46a further comprises a short arm 64 extending from the ring part 62 and provided at its distal end with an apertured tab 66. A headed pin formed on the top face of the neck closure cap 34 is snapped through the central aperture in the tab 66 to form the rotatable connection 48. The strap or handle means 46a further comprises an opposed pair of long arms 68 each provided at their distal end with an apertured tab 70. In use, the arms 68 are bent so that the apertured tabs 70 are superposed. A headed pin formed on the bottom face of the container closure plug 30 is then snapped through the apertures in both of the tabs 70 to form the rotatable connection 50. Thus the closure plug 30 is permanently attached to the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10, even when the neck closure 34 is not screwed onto the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10, and is therefore available to stop the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 from falling deeply into the container where it cannot be retrieved using the strap or handle means 46a. The long arms 68 may contain crease lines 72 to assist in folding the closure plug 30 to one side, so as to expose the upper end of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 for fitment of the neck closure 34. Screwing the neck closure 34 onto the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 bends the short arm 64 into an upstanding loop shape, which can be used together with the long arms 68 where necessary, to manoeuvre the neck closure cap 34 into the lower mouth of the container filling and dispensing opening 24 from below, when pulling the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 back into the raised position. The unscrewed container closure plug 30 can then be grasped to pull the ring part 62 upwardly with equal force on either side, via the long arms 68, to draw the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 cleanly upwards through the container filling and dispensing opening 24 without jamming. When pushing the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 into the subducted position, the long arms 68 fold upwardly and can then be further folded to bring the container closure plug 30 into position above the container filling and dispensing opening 24, for screwing in. As the container closure plug 30 is screwed into the container filling and dispensing opening 24, the looped short arm 64 attached to the top of the neck closure 34 is also folded and is pushed further down inside the container together with the folded long arms 68.

In a variant of the strap or handle means 46b shown in Figure 8B, a single long arm 68 may be used to connect the apertured tab 70 (or other container closure rotary joint 50) to the apertured tab 66 (or other neck closure rotary joint 48), in place of the pair of long arms 68 connected to the ring part 62. In this variant, the apertured tab 66 (or neck closure rotary joint 48) is still connected to the ring part 62 by the short arm 64.

Gas venting versions of both the G2 container closure plug and of the Plasticap Agro (RTM) 50mm screw cap are available as standard, and can be used where the container contents dictate. The G2 plug is also available as standard in plastic or steel, with various sealing gasket options to suit the container contents as required. Other variations and modifications are readily possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example some of the security features may be omitted where unnecessary; or further or alternative security or hygiene features may be provided, e.g. leaving the portion of the liner bag sealed across the lower end of the tubular filling and dispensing neck 10 intact, so that it acts as a secondary hygiene membrane which has to be cut after removal of the closure foil 52, to inflate and then fill the liner bag 14. The neck closure cap may be a snap-on or crimp-on or other style of cap rather than a screw cap, or may be an internal plug (snap-in/out or threaded) rather than an external cap. Similarly, the container closure 30 may be secured by means other than a threaded connection, and/or may be an external cap which connects to an upstanding boss or neck on the container, rather than connecting with a container filling and dispensing opening 24 as shown in the drawings.

The present invention is thus able to provide an ultra clean tamper evident bag in drum development having food and pharma applications as well as reducing contaminated waste materials requiring special handling and treatment to avoid environmental harm. UN Group I homologation is possible. Three or more TE barriers may be provided, with optional traceability. The drum or other container shell is 100% reusable after removal of the used liner bag assembly.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS1. A container liner system comprising: a tubular filling and dispensing neck sealingly attached to a flexible liner bag and having a through bore sealable by a neck closure; the tubular filling and dispensing neck further comprising a radially outwardly projecting support engageable in a container filling and dispensing opening of a predetermined size, whereby the tubular filling and dispensing neck is insertable into the container filling and dispensing opening so as to be supportingly held in the to container filling and dispensing opening by the radially outwardly projecting support for filling the liner bag with the container contents and for fitment of the neck closure to seal the through bore; wherein the radially outwardly projecting support is configured to yield under downward force applied to the tubular filling and dispensing neck, allowing the 15 tubular filling and dispensing neck and neck closure to move downwardly; characterised in that the tubular filling and dispensing neck is insertable into the container filling and dispensing opening from the outside and the downward movement causes the tubular filling and dispensing neck to pass through and vacate the container filling and dispensing opening so as to allow fitment of a container closure thereto.
2. 2. The container liner system of claim 1, wherein the radially outwardly projecting portion is capable of substantial movement between an expanded condition for supportingly holding the filling and dispensing neck in the filling and dispensing opening, and a contracted condition which allows the filling and dispensing neck to pass through the filling and dispensing opening.
3. 3. The container liner system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the radially outwardly projecting support comprises one or more radially outwardly projecting flexible flanges.
4. 4. The container liner system of claim 3, wherein the flange or flanges comprise one or more radially projecting, circumferentially extending, fins or rills.
5. 5. The container liner system of claim 4, wherein tips of the fins lie along a complementary profile which matches or is slightly larger than the nominal interior profile of the container filling and dispensing opening
6. 6. The container liner system of any preceding claim, wherein the neck closure comprises a screw cap or screw plug.
7. 7. The container liner system of any preceding claim, wherein the neck closure and/or the filling and dispensing neck is provided with a strap or similar graspable handle means, by which the filling and dispensing neck may be pulled back up through the container filling and dispensing opening
8. 8. The container liner system of claim 7, wherein an upper end of the strap or handle means is attached to a bottom surface of the container closure by a connection allowing relative rotation of the strap and container closure.
9. 9. The container liner system of claim 7 or 8, wherein the neck closure is provided with a further strap or similar graspable handle means rotatably connected to its upper surface, for securing it to the filling and dispensing neck.
10. 10. The container liner system of claim 9, wherein, when the neck closure is in place on or in the upper end of the filling and dispensing neck, the further strap or handle means forms an upwardly projecting loop.
11. 11. The container liner system of any preceding claim, further comprising a peel off closure foil hermetically sealed across the mouth of the filling and dispensing neck.
12. 12. The container liner system of claim 11, wherein the closure foil is provided with an indicium which is alignable with a reference point on the container.
13. 13. The container liner system of any preceding claim, wherein the filling and dispensing neck is provided with an indicium which is alignable with a reference point on the container.
14. 14. The container liner system of claim 13, wherein the filling and dispensing neck indicium comprises a uniquely distinctive finger grip feature among a plurality of such features circumferentially distributed about the filling and dispensing neck.
15. 15. The container liner system of any preceding claim, wherein the neck closure is provided with a rupturable label secured across a frangible portion of a tamper evidencing band.