NZ221343A - Flexible bulk container with permanent lifting handle made from tubular material - Google Patents

Description

gOT.Vr! T/ 221343 Priori V3-83 I Jr'.c"'" t!*i pf ms Cc-r.f >c..> r : u«!: Cl:: .: .. .BfiSOeS.J 33-. 8^5050.110 o. -, 3.P.HWI988 P.O...'; : ...QQC? of RcguJ (j£Vv\ jo'tite SOl Patents Form No.5.

Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Flexible container to be filled with bulk material and method for its manufacture" WE, NORSK HYDRO a.s., a Norwegian Company, of Bygd^'y Alle 2, Oslo 2, NORWAY, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates lo a im-thi r 1 it n flexible containers to be filled witli bulk material, Lin-containers being of the type which provide integral lilting loops from round woven (i.e. tubular) base material. The invention also relates to containers made by this method.

Containers of the above-mentioned type have been used L'or some time and been found to be suitable for several purposes. Usually they comprise an inner bag or liner of impervious material. The container is usually first blown up by air before it is filled with free-flowing bulk material. Such a container is described in U.S. Patent No. 4.136.723. This container has a double bottom and is preferably equipped with two integral lifting loops having a total width substantially equal to half of the container's perimeter such that the lifting loops comprise all of the longitudinal fibres of the container. The container can be filled by using an apparatus described in GB-Patent No. 1.505.583, and it will then be standing on a floor or the like without any extra support. Its lifting handle can be placed on a hook or the like before the container is blown up and filled with bulk material. The container can then be made ready for further transport, and this process might comprise closing the inner bag and joining the lifting loops by pressing them together and secure them in this position such thac one obtains a suitable handle which easily can be placed on by a hook or some other lifting means. 2 221343 If a broad hook is applied to hang the lifting loops on during the filling operation, the wide loops will be pressed together to a few centimetres and can be kept in this position by means of a tape. One will then obtain a well-defined handle which makes the container well suited for further transport, and this is described in EP-application No. 81108748.5 (publication No. 54145).

O However, it has been found that the above-mentioned process for making the container ready beforehand has certain disadvantages, as does making the container's lifting loops ready after filling. The capacity of the filling apparatus is reduced because of the time it takes for the operator to place the lifting loops onto a hook which will press them together. If this operation is carried out after the container is filled in order to improve the capacity of the apparatus, then the total filling operation will be more labour-consuming because an extra operator is needed for making the container's loops ready. Further, the container's form itself means that it is necessary to use filling apparatus of a special type in order to obtain efficient filling and an effective process for making such containers ready. The fact that such special filling apparatus is not available everywhere where filling of such containers can take place, has acccordingly hindered the wide-read use of the container.

The lifting loops, which may have a total width corresponding \ ^ half the container's perimeter, means that the process of joining together the loops to form one lifting handle becomes somewhat labour-consuming. The wide loops also result in certain disadvantages when the container is placed on the filling ■mmmr n C apparatus or connected to it. Accordingly, there has been a need for making these operations easier and less labour-consuming.

It is desirable to continue to use some form of lifting loops because of the good experience with integral lifting loops which after filling of bulk material in the container are joined together by tape for making a lifting handle. During further transport of such containers such lifting handles are suitable for receiving lifting hooks, forks and other means for lifting and transporting the container.

When fork trucks are used, a lifting device is connected to the forks, for engaging the lifting handle. It has further been found that the tape applied in certain cases can be damaged during the further lifting and transport of the container, and if lifting forks having sharp edges are used the load-carrying fibres of the lifting'handle can be damaged.

In such cases there is therefore a need for a better protection of the fibres in the lifting loop and a way of joining which can endure the strain when lifting forks are applied.

An object of the present invention was to arrive at a rational way of making flexible containers with integral lifting loops equipped v/ith a permanent lifting handle. Another object (^*J of the present invention was to arrive at a container having a permanent lifting handle which could endure the strain it would be exposed to during the use of the Hexible container. . * " * . _ 4 _ - \ f -3AU6»»J 221343 A further object was to be able to use all Lypt.'S of tilling apparatus and lifting devices, without needing special equipment.

Manufacture of the lifting handle itself by joining the lifting loops at the filling station had been found to be rather labour-consuming and additionally it required special hooks on the filling apparatus. It therefore was considered desirable to make a lifting handle which did not require special lifting hooks, and the inventors soon found that it would be easiest to make the lifting handle at the same place as the container itself was made.

C~~ If the empty container is equipped with a permanent lifting handle, the transport of such empty containers is more expensive than for the ususal containers because of the larger volume to be transported. But it was found that the filling operation itself became so much easier when one used containers having permanent lifting handles that the advantages were far greater than the disadvantages of transporting empty containers. The a method of making present invention provides^a flexible container for filling with bulk material, said container comprising lifting loops formed integrally with the container, said lifting loops being permanently secured together along at least part of the lengths of said j loops, so as to form a permanent lifting handle. i The problem now was how the permanent lifting handle could be formed most appropriately. It was found that the method would vary somewhat according to what kind of base material the container was made from. For containers with integral lifting loops, in general there are two types of base material, C i \ -ZAVGim S" C r , <4% ""JS1343 i.e. flat-woven or round-woven textile. The present invention provides a method for making a flexible container for filling with bulk material, said container comprising at least two lifting loops formed entirely from the side walls of said container and formed integrally with said container, wherein the container is made of tubular material; said method comprising the following steps:- providing a strip of tubular material; securing together the sides of the material at one end thereof; forming openings adjacent said one end; so as to form lifting loops; folding toward each other said lifting loops and securing them together to form'a permanent lifting handle; and securing together the sides of the material at the other end thereof; to form the bottom of the container. It was further found that preferably the total width of the lifting handle should be not more than 1/6 of the container's base perimeter. This provides a lifting handle which was appropriate and advantageous for all operations:-filling, handling, lifting, transport and discharge of the container. In certain cases it is desirable to avoid wear on the load-carrying fibres of the lifting handle formed in this way. In that case the lifting handle itself is equipped with an extra piece of material. This piece of material should at least cover the lower part of the lifting handle, i.e. that part which will lie against the lifting device, for instance a lifting fork, a hook or the like, when the flexible container is lifted and/or transported. This extra piece of material can also be in the form of a sleeve such that it surrounds the lifting handle. Said piece of material must be made from a strong material which can endure the strains it is exposed to and wfrich^oatt.-.be joined to the 6 2213 A3 aU7ft.ia material of the lifting loops such that a permanent lifting point is obtained. This piece of material will preferably consist of woven material, for instance of the same type which is used in the container itself.

O C By way of example only, the preferred embodiment of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a round-woven base material for a flexible container having lifting loops comprising a seam; Figure 2 shows a round-woven base material for a flexible container having lifting loops without seams; and Figure 3 shows a lifting loop with a lifting handle seen from above. 2213A3 j Figure 1 shows a round-woven (i.e. tubular) base material 1. This must first be joined in its upper part by seams 11 for forming lifting loops 6. Thereupon there is made a cut in the upper part of the piece of material for forming openings 7 in which lifting devices such as a hook or fork can be placed, and which also can be used as a filling opening for the bulk material which will be transported or stored in the container. A lifting area 4 is then formed by folding together the loops 6 | and joining by means of glue or at least one seam. A piece of material can then be fastened to the area 4 for instance by means of a seam, to form the permanent lifting handle 10. The container's bottom can be formed in known manner, and the container is then ready to be filled. An extra piece of material (not shown) may be formed into a sleeve fastened around the lifting handle 10.

The piece of material can be of woven material, for instance of the same type as that used in the container itself, or of some other suitable material which is strong enough to endure the strains it will be exposed to during further handling of the container. The piece of material may have a distinctive colour so that the lifting point is clearly marked out, and it can also be used as a colour code for the type of container used or the material which will be transported.

Figure 2 also shows a round-woven base material 1, but here the lifting loops 6 have already been formed, and the lifting area 4 can be formed by bending or folding together these as described above. The container's sid£.,_edge are then joined by seams 11 which terminate somewhat below th^-i-dbf^ing /< fc:' 8 | l6FEBl988 nj <«/ I' 221343 loops such that openings 7 are formed. Unless one desires to make the container with a special bottom, the container is now ready for filling.

"■S' Figure 3 shows in plan view lifting loops 6 with a lifting handle 10. The piece of material which here is only fastened at the lower part of the lifting handle, is not visible on the Figure, but the seams 9 for fastening the piece of material to the area 4 are shown. Each of the openings 7 are shown as equally large, but if so desired the opening which is to be used as filling openings can be made somewhat larger than the other one. t A container made according to the invention is ready to be connected directly to the filling apparatus. The filling pipe is put into one of the openings 7, and the container can be blovm up by air and thereupon filled with free-flowing material. During the filling operation the lifting handle.can be placed on a hook on the filling apparatus, but strictly speaking this is not necessary. It has in fact been found that the blown up container can stand freely and without substantial support sideways during the filling operation. As soon as the container is filled, it is necessary simply to close its inner bag, and then it is ready to be transported.

The present invention provides a rational manufacture of a container having a permanent lifting handle. The filling of such readymade containers can be carried out quickly and easily with fewer operators than usually is necessary when one has to form the lifting point at the filling station. The filling operation itself will accordingly be greatly simplified, as placement of the container on special lifting hooks or forming of lifting handles is not necessary. The container will thereby be ready for further transport as soon as it is filled and the inner bag is closed. The capacity of the filling apparatus can be uitilized maximally, and the total operation for filling and making the container ready for further transport will be less labour consuming. 221343 An essentitial advantage which is obtained by the present invention is that one is not dependent on complicated or special filling apparatus or lifting devices. Thus one can use lifting forks which easily can be put in under the well-defined lifting handle, which is so strongly made that it can endure several handling operations of the filled container without damage to the lifting handle or the lifting loops, by the handling devices. Even when especially rough lifting devices are used, the lifting handle according to the invention comprising the protecting piece of material will secure the fibres in the lifting loop against wear. 11

Claims (9)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: J 7 t I

1. A method for making a flexible container for filling with f j bulk material, said container comprising at least two lifting loops formed entirely from the side walls of said container and formed integrally with said container, wherein the said container is made of tubular material; said method comprising the following steps:- (a) providing a strip of tubular material; (b) securing together the sides of the material at one end thereof; (c) forming openings adjacent said one end; so as to form lifting loops; (d) folding toward each other said lifting loops and securing them together to form a permanent lifting handle; and (e) securing together the sides of the material at the other end thereof, to form the bottom of the container.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of securing an additional piece of a material over at least the underside of said lifting handle.

3. The method of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said lifting loops are secured together by glue.

4. The method of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said lifting loops are secured together by stitching.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising fastening a sleeve around the lifting handle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said sleeve is of woven material. O O - 12 - 221343

7. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the total width of the lifting handle is less than or equal to 1/6 of the container's base perimeter.

8. A flexible container for filling with bulk material wherein said container is made by the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-7.

9. A method for making a flexible container substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. NORSK HYDRO A.S by their authorized agents P.L. BERRY & ASSOCIATES O o 13