EP0911277A1 - Verbesserungen an flexiblen Behältern - Google Patents

Verbesserungen an flexiblen Behältern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0911277A1
EP0911277A1 EP98308644A EP98308644A EP0911277A1 EP 0911277 A1 EP0911277 A1 EP 0911277A1 EP 98308644 A EP98308644 A EP 98308644A EP 98308644 A EP98308644 A EP 98308644A EP 0911277 A1 EP0911277 A1 EP 0911277A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fibc
flexible intermediate
intermediate bulk
bulk container
lifting means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98308644A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
David Karl Dawber
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Structure Flex Ltd
Original Assignee
Structure Flex Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Structure Flex Ltd filed Critical Structure Flex Ltd
Publication of EP0911277A1 publication Critical patent/EP0911277A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/16—Large containers flexible
    • B65D88/1612—Flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC]
    • B65D88/1675—Lifting fittings
    • B65D88/1681—Flexible, e.g. loops, or reinforcements therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/16—Large containers flexible
    • B65D88/1612—Flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC]
    • B65D88/1668—Flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC] closures for top or bottom openings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in flexible intermediate bulk containers, in particular to improvements in polypropylene and/or polyethylene based FIBC's.
  • F.I.B.C. various types of F.I.B.C. exist and one of the first commercially successful F.I.B.C.'s was formed from woven and stitched polypropylene panels.
  • the woven nature of the polypropylene although expensive to produce in comparison to extruded polypropylene being primarily responsible for the overall structural integrity of the finished bag.
  • This type of F.I.B.C. is still used today for certain types of commodity, however, despite the generally high cost of woven polypropylene per se, these are low in comparison to the production costs associated with this type of F.I.B.C., as the woven panels of material are literally stitched together to form the "Big Bag" and this stitching process is extremely labour intensive.
  • Polypropylene as a material is also permeable to water and this problem is exacerbated to the extreme as a result of the puncture holes caused by the stitching process. Nevertheless, with bulk solid/powdered materials, this type of F.I.B.C. is still effective as solid powdered material is less likely to leak out from the bag especially if the edge seams of the sewn polypropylene panels are provided with sealing strips of the type discussed in either UK patent application number 2 301 087 A or French patent number FR-A-2 634 468.
  • PVC based F.I.B.C.
  • PVC is itself expensive and "Big Bags" manufactured employing this technology are themselves labour intensive to produce which adds greatly to their cost and as a result order quantities relatively speaking tend to be small. They are also non-recyclable and environmentally and therefore, politically, unfriendly.
  • a Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container comprising primarily one type of non-woven, unlined, plastics material wherein the lifting means comprising carrying straps of the said F.I.B.C. are welded or otherwise fitted to the F.I.B.C. and are so sized, shaped and located around the body of the F.I.B.C. as to provide the body of the F.I.B.C. with additional structural integrity.
  • each respective pair of lifting means wrap around the underside of the F.I.B.C. in use.
  • Such an arrangement will provide the requisite structural integrity of the F.I.B.C. that would otherwise be lacking in a non-woven F.I.B.C. formed from primarily polyethylene or polypropylene.
  • the F.I.B.C. is manufactured from extruded polyethylene. This is particularly advantageous, as extruded polyethylene is cheap to produce and methods of forming such an F.I.B.C. through conventional welding technology is particularly cost effective, as it is not labour intensive.
  • the F.I.B.C. is manufactured from extruded polypropylene.
  • This particular polymer complements the use of polyethylene as it is structurally stronger and could be used for, for example, a multi-trip F.I.B.C., whereas, polyethylene would probably be used as a single trip F.I.B.C.
  • each respective pair of carrying straps forms a carrying handle. This is particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the specific embodiments as such a carrying handle enables a far greater purchase to be exerted on to the F.I.B.C. than mere loose, strips of polymer.
  • the thickness of the F.I.B.C. is in the range of 1mm - 10mm as this provides the ordinarily weak polyethylene and polypropylene (in terms of structural integrity) with increased structural integrity as a result of the mere fact that the material is thicker than conventional polyethylene or polypropylene used in this field of activity.
  • the thickness of the F.I.B.C. could also be thinner than the range quoted above and could conceivably be as thin as 50 microns.
  • the F.I.B.C. is non-transparent. This has particular advantages in the transportation of goods that are either light sensitive or commercially sensitive.
  • the invention includes within its scope an F.I.B.C. substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 - 3 of the accompanying diagrams.
  • Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one of the commercially available F.I.B.C.'s sat on a pallet.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • integral is intended to cover not only something which is formed from the outset as one single-entity component, but also anything which, whilst being assembled from a plurality of initially disparately-produced integers, ends up as one overall and normally non-dismantleable structure.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates one of the preferred embodiments of an F.I.B.C. generally designated 1 made completely from extruded polyethylene of sufficient uniform thickness to withstand the rigours of day to day use.
  • the F.I.B.C. 1 comprises a body portion 9 that is generally circular about a radial cross-section of its longitudinal axis, the body 9 being formed from a single sheet of flexible extruded polyethylene fabric welded together along its length to form an integral tube.
  • the tube 9 then has a base portion 11 and top portion 10 welded to the lower and upper circumferential peripheral edges of the tube 9.
  • the top portion 10 and the base portion 11 respectively have an inlet spout 2 and an outlet spout 3 welded to them, the inlet spout 2 and outlet spout 3 being generally circular and concentric with the longitudinal axis of the tube 9.
  • a pair of "tie-off" cords 8 Fitted to the inlet spout 2 and outlet spout 3, are a pair of "tie-off" cords 8 that are integral with both the inlet spout 2 and outlet spout 3 respectively via a welded patch 7.
  • the function of the "tie-off' cords 8 being to seal both ends of the F.I.B.C. 1 during the transportation of a filled F.I.B.C. 1 and to provide a means of accessing the contents of the "Big Bag” when required once the tie-off cords 8 are untied.
  • the lifting means 4, 5 comprise a pair of loops 4, 5.
  • the first loop 4, 5 is welded to opposing side walls of the tube 9 and to the base portion 11, each respective strap 5 of the loop 4, 5 passing either side of the outlet spout 3.
  • the tube 9 is then rotated through 90° about its longitudinal axis and the second loop 4, 5 is then welded to the F.I.B.C. 1 in a similar manner as before, each respective strap 5 of the second loop 4, 5 crossing each respective strap 5 of the first loop 4, 5 at substantially right angles across the base portion 11 of the F.I.B.C. 1 thus forming the completed F.I.B.C. 1 that is shown in Figure 2.
  • the plurality of lifting means 4, 5 are symmetrically disposed around the periphery of the tubular body 9, the four handles 4 and their associated straps 5 in this particular embodiment, being located at consecutive 90° angles about the longitudinal axis of the F.I.B.C. 1.
  • All of the welds are plastics welds formed by a technique common in the trade known as "pulse welding” or "hot jaw".
  • the four handles 4 of the loops 4, 5 are the only portions of the lifting means 4, 5 that are not physically or chemically bonded (through welding) to the tube 9 enabling either individuals or cranes to grip the handles, 4 to lift and relocate the position of the F.I.B.C. 1.
  • a reinforcing piece of welded plastics material (not illustrated) is used to reinforce this "weak" area of the lifting means 4, 5.
  • This piece of welded plastics material is a so-called “anti-peel” device which reduces the risk of accidental or deliberate abuse of the F.I.B.C. 1 brought about by attempts to peel the welded handle 4 and straps 5 from the main tubular body 9 of the F.I.B.C. 1 during its manhandling.
  • Various types of so-called “anti-peel” device are known and the skilled reader is positively directed to European patent number 0 072 168 for more information in this regard.
  • the F.I.B.C. 1 comprises a tube 9 whose radial cross-section along its longitudinal axis is generally square and the tube 9 is formed from four sheets of flexible extruded polypropylene fabric welded together along the longitudinal edges 6 of each respective sheet to form the integral tubular body 9. A base portion and top portion is then welded to the tubular body 9, the base portion in this particular instance being devoid of an outlet spout 3.
  • the integral inlet spout 2 is shown "tied-off' and sealed via the tie cords 7. In this particular embodiment only one loop 4, 5 can be seen and it is welded to the tubular body 9 and base portion of the bag 1 in a similar fashion to that described for the previous embodiment.
  • the lifting means 4, 5 form an integral part of the F.I.B.C. 1 structure and provide the requisite structural integrity to the F.I.B.C. 1 that would otherwise be lacking in a non-woven or for example a plastics coated polyester F.I.B.C.
  • the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 is opaque to prevent any contents of the F.I.B.C. from being viewed by the public, although light sensitive materials could also be safely carried in this type of F.I.B.C.
  • the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 however is not opaque.
  • the lifting means 4, 5 need not necessarily solely comprise a number of straps 5 and handles 4 that run substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the F.I.B.C. 1.
  • a number of equally (or non equally) spaced apart concentric straps (or rings) 5 could run around and be welded wholly or impart to the outer circumferential peripheral edge of the tubular body 9 and the existing vertical lifting means 4, 5.
  • the thickness of the tubular body 9 of the F.I.B.C. 1 need not necessarily be uniform throughout its length. It is well known, for example, that such an F.I.B.C. 1 in its normal attitude of operation will experience greater pressure and stress from its contents towards the lower 1/3 of the F.I.B.C. 1 in its normal attitude of operation than in any other part. Therefore, to again, increase the structural integrity of such an F.I.B.C. 1, the entire lower 1/3 of the F.I.B.C. 1 could be formed from thicker polyethylene or polypropylene than the other 2/3 of the F.I.B.C. Alternatively, the thickness could be tapered throughout the length of the tubular body 9, the thicker portion tending towards the lower end of the F.I.B.C. in its normal attitude of operation.
  • the lifting means 4, 5 need not necessarily be loops of uniform cross-section and could be tapered in the longitudinal and/or the transverse (the thickness of the strap) lateral direction.
  • the pre-determined shape of the inlet spout 2 and outlet spout 3 may be circular (as illustrated in Figure 2) or indeed it could be polygonal or square, for example, but in all cases, all the welds of the inlet spout 2 and outlet spout 3 (and all other associated welds 6 involved in the fabrication of the F.I.B.C. 1) ensure that the FIBC 1 remains impervious to liquid.
  • outlet spout 3 (as shown in Figure 3) will normally be omitted or permanently sealed and a plug or spigot (not illustrated) sealed in position, either in the bottom portion of the F.I.B.C. 1 or at the bottom of the tubular wall 9 thereof, to enable liquid to be poured off.
  • the handle 4 instead of the handle 4 forming a loop between two respective welded straps 5, one could imagine the handle 4 simply being a non-welded continuation of each respective strap 5 providing, if we take Figure 2 as an illustrative example, an F.I.B.C. 1 with 8 handles 4.
  • the handles 4 in this alternative embodiment would be similar to those illustrated in Figure 2 if each respective handle 4 in Figure 2 was cut in two at its mid-point transverse to the length of the handle 4.
  • hot arc welding, hot air welding, ultrasonic welding as well as the specified pulse welding may be employed instead of the conventional high frequency welding techniques which are usually preferred and the choice of welding technique or a combination of those mentioned above could be selected without further inventive thought by the intended skilled addressee of this specification.
  • the means of fitting the straps 5 to the tubular body 9 of the F.I.B.C. 1 need not be through the use of welds.
  • a strap 5 comprising an adhesive layer on one face, that face being fitted with a removable face-to-face mating strip of material can be envisaged.
  • the removable strip would first be peeled off the strap 5 to reveal the adhesive layer and the adhesive layer would then be placed onto the tubular body 9 effectively "gluing" the strap 5 into place.
  • a peelable or otherwise removable strip may not be necessary as surfaces that become “adhesive-like" in nature through the application of, for example, pressure or heat are well known and such technology would be available to the skilled addressee of this specification.
  • the only problem that would need to be overcome is that of ensuring which face of the strap 5 was placed onto the tubular body 9 of the F.I.B.C. 1. This could simply be through the use of either a matt finish on one face of the strap 5 and a gloss finish on the other face of the strap 5 or alternatively, one face could be colour-coded.
  • An alternative method of forming the tubular body 9 other than that described herein above could be through the direct extrusion of an open ended tube which after extrusion, is cut at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tube to form the tubular body 9.
  • the base portion 11 and top portion 10 then being welded to the tubular body 9 before the lifting means 4, 5 are fitted to the tubular body 9.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
EP98308644A 1997-10-24 1998-10-22 Verbesserungen an flexiblen Behältern Withdrawn EP0911277A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9722407.5A GB9722407D0 (en) 1997-10-24 1997-10-24 Improvements in flexible intermediate bulk containers
GB9722407 1997-10-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0911277A1 true EP0911277A1 (de) 1999-04-28

Family

ID=10820984

Family Applications (1)

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EP98308644A Withdrawn EP0911277A1 (de) 1997-10-24 1998-10-22 Verbesserungen an flexiblen Behältern

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0911277A1 (de)
GB (1) GB9722407D0 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130075298A1 (en) * 2011-09-26 2013-03-28 Crafco, Incorporated Durable, consumable packaging system for hot melt materials and methods of making and using same

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1816627A1 (de) * 1968-12-23 1970-06-25 Span Set Ges Fuer Transportsys Grossraum-Transportbehaelter fuer fluessiges oder fliessfaehiges Gut
FR2327937A2 (fr) * 1975-10-16 1977-05-13 Boracier Sa Dispositif de levage pour une poche en matiere plastique de grandes dimensions
DE3106404A1 (de) * 1980-02-21 1981-12-17 Superflexit S.A., 92405 Corbevoie Unstarrer transportabler behaelter
EP0072168A1 (de) 1981-08-03 1983-02-16 Ibc Transport Containers Limited Transportbeutel für Schüttgut
EP0107942A2 (de) * 1982-10-28 1984-05-09 Imperial Chemical Industries Plc Sackartiger Grossbehälter
EP0302191A1 (de) * 1987-06-05 1989-02-08 Custom Packaging Systems, Inc. Flexibler Grosssack und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
FR2634468A1 (fr) 1988-07-20 1990-01-26 Fabrication Materiel Emballage Sac pour produits divises ou pulverulents
GB2301087A (en) 1995-05-24 1996-11-27 Storsack Austria Gmbh Transport sack

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1816627A1 (de) * 1968-12-23 1970-06-25 Span Set Ges Fuer Transportsys Grossraum-Transportbehaelter fuer fluessiges oder fliessfaehiges Gut
FR2327937A2 (fr) * 1975-10-16 1977-05-13 Boracier Sa Dispositif de levage pour une poche en matiere plastique de grandes dimensions
DE3106404A1 (de) * 1980-02-21 1981-12-17 Superflexit S.A., 92405 Corbevoie Unstarrer transportabler behaelter
EP0072168A1 (de) 1981-08-03 1983-02-16 Ibc Transport Containers Limited Transportbeutel für Schüttgut
EP0107942A2 (de) * 1982-10-28 1984-05-09 Imperial Chemical Industries Plc Sackartiger Grossbehälter
EP0302191A1 (de) * 1987-06-05 1989-02-08 Custom Packaging Systems, Inc. Flexibler Grosssack und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
FR2634468A1 (fr) 1988-07-20 1990-01-26 Fabrication Materiel Emballage Sac pour produits divises ou pulverulents
GB2301087A (en) 1995-05-24 1996-11-27 Storsack Austria Gmbh Transport sack

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130075298A1 (en) * 2011-09-26 2013-03-28 Crafco, Incorporated Durable, consumable packaging system for hot melt materials and methods of making and using same
US9919854B2 (en) * 2011-09-26 2018-03-20 Crafco, Incorporated Durable, consumable packaging system for hot melt materials and methods of making and using same
US10220993B2 (en) 2011-09-26 2019-03-05 Crafco, Incorporated Durable, consumable packaging system for hot melt materials and methods of making and using same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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