WO1982000280A1

WO1982000280A1 - Discardable load pallet-based bulk container

Info

Publication number: WO1982000280A1
Application number: PCT/FI1981/000051
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oy Unipall; H Kekaelaeinen; T Rosenqvist
Original assignee: Oy Unipall
Priority date: 1980-07-11
Filing date: 1981-07-01
Publication date: 1982-02-04
Also published as: FI60844B; FI60844C; EP0056381A1

Abstract

Discardable bulk container of plastic or rubber, intended for liquids and loose goods. The bulk container has closable filling and bottom draining apertures. The bulk container is encircled by a supporting frame (6) in order to prevent bulging of the bulk container and to enable bulk containers to be stacked upon each other. Bulk containers of prior art are containers constructed of hard plastic, with metallic structure or enclosed in metal cladding, and which are rendered inapplicable in single-trip transports by their high price. With a view to eliminating this drawback, in the bulk container of the invention the supporting frame (6) consists of an inner collar (5) of corrugated cardboard, provided with wooden, polyurethane, or equivalent supports, in a corrugated cardboard box (1).

Description

Discardable load pallet-based bulk container

The present invention concerns a discardable load pallet- based container, made of corrugated cardboard, appropriate for transporting liquids and loose goods and by its special design enabling filled containers to be stacked upon each, other. The container comprises a separate inner container made of plastic or rubber and having a closable filling and bottom draining aperture.

In prior art, liquid containers of this type are contain ers constructed of hard plastic with metallic structures or enshrouded in a metallic cladding, their high price precluding their use as discardable containers for single transports.

The object of the invention is to provide an economical, discardable bulk container which is stackable in filled condition.

This is achieved, as taught by the invention, in that the supporting frame of the bulk container consists of a specially designed, foldable corrugated cardboard boy reinforced with a wood, polyurethane or equivalent filling and which is placed on a discardable load pallet for transporting. For liquids and loose goods, the bulk container is provided with a discardable, collapsible plastic container provided with a filling and emptying tube.

Since bulk containers may be manufactured in several sizes, e.g. with 500, 1000, 1500 litres capacity, the supporting frame of the container has to be strong enough to counteract its bulging tendency and to permit stacking. Unless the problem solution taught by the invention is applied, corrugated cardboard cannot be used to this purpose. The characteristic feature of the invention is an inner collar provided on the corrugated cardboard box and stayed on every side by a supporting structure made of wood or e.g. of hard polyurethane such as is shown in Fig. 2. The task of the supporting structure is to transmit the greater part of the effect of the liquid bag tending to push the sides of the package outward, over the collar to the corners of the container. As a result of this design, the sides of the container will not bulge and the container keeps its shape. Stackability of the filled containers is achieved, by the aid of the invention, by the same wooden, polyurethane, or equivalent supporting structure keeping the inner collar in shape.

It is a further characteristic feature of the invention that the draining tube of the liquid bag is for instance of polyethylene and affixed by heat seaming to the lower part of the liquid bag. During the filling operation and during transport, the draining tube is folded up as shown in Fig. 1. For emptying, the flap of the liquid container is opened and the folded up draining tube is pulled out. Draining is effected by cutting open the end of the tube. The draining operation may be suspended by lifting the tube end to a height above the liquid level in the container. A shut-off valve or hose connector may be attached to the draining tube if required. Then empty and during storage, the corrugated cardboard container with its supporting structure is kept folded as Fig, 2 shows.

The invention is described in the following with reference by way of an example to the attached drawings, wherein:-

Fig. 1 presents a bulk container according to the inven_¬ tion, in condition ready for transporting, and the bottom draining design applied iri the liquid-transporting version of the container,

Fig, 2 shows its supporting structures, and

Fig. 3 shows the inner container employed in the liquid- transporting version of the bulk container, empty and filled.

In Fig. 1 has been depicted a bulk container, in liquid- transporting version, lodged on a load pallet. Emptying of the container is effected by opening the flap 2 on the container 1 and pulling out the draining tube 3 lying folded up behind the flap. The tube is raised to be above the liquid level in the container, and the closed end 4 of the tube 3 in Fig. 3 is cut off.

Prevention of the bulk container's bulging, and stack ability of filled containers on each other is accomplished by the aid of the special design shown in Fig. 2. The inner collar 5, made of corrugated cardboard, on the corrugated cardboard box 1 has been braced to maintain its shape, by the supporting structure 6 shown in. Fig. 2. In the version depicted, the supporting structure is made of wood. Alternatively, the space defined between the corrugated cardboard box 1 and the inner collar 5 may be filled with hard polyurethane or equivalent. By using polyurethane, thermal lagging of the container is achieved in addition to the structural properties described.

In the liquid-transporting version is employed a collapsible container 7 made by heat seaming of polyethylene plastic, of the type shown in Fig. 3« The contain er is placed in the opened corrugated cardboard container. For bottom draining, the container has been provided with a draining tube 3 of polyethylene plastic, of which the end has been closed by heat seaming 4. For the duration of filling and transporting, the draining tube 3 is folded up as shown in Fig. 3 and affixed with tape 8.

For filling, the container has on top a filling aperture provided with a screw cap 9. The container may alternatively be provided with a filling tube made by heat seaming of polyethylene, which is closed by heat seaming or by clamping.

Thanks to the supporting structure of the corrugated cardboard container, the inner container which has to be made for bulk transports of liquids may be manufactured e.g. of thin LO-polyethylene by heat seaming. This results in considerable reduction of the material and manufacturing costs, whereby it becomes possibl e to use the bulk container as a discardable bulk packaging in export shipments. In domestic trasnports, the container stands even several shipments, thanks to its sturdy construction. As regards the material and manufacturing costs, a liquid container with 100 litres capacity according to the invention is well competitive with five 200-litre barrels.

Claims

1. Discardable bulk container of plastic or rubber for liquids and loose goods, with closable filling and bottom draining apertures and encircled by a supporting frame to the purpose of preventing bulging tendencies and enabling stacking one upon the other, characterized in that the supporting frame (6) consists of an inner collar (5) of corrugated cardboard, provided with wooden, polyurethane, or equivalent supports, in a corrugated cardboard box (1).

2. Bulk container according to claim 1 , characterized in that the draining tube (3) is for the duration of filling and transporting folded up and affixed with tape (8) and the end (4) of the tube (3) is closed by heat seaming.

3. Bulk ooirfcainer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the corrugated cardboard box (1) constituting the supporting frame has been provided with _a flap (2) openable for pulling out the draining tube (3).

4. Bulk container according to any one of claims 1 -3 , characterized in that the corrugated cardboard box (1) with its supporting structure (6) and inner collar (5) is collapsible by folding (10) for transporting in empty condition and for storage.