AU2009101089A4 - Framework and a bag - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant: TEC Engineering de Mexico, S. de R.L. Invention Title: FRAMEWORK AND A BAG The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2 FRAMEWORK AND A BAG FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to framework for a bulk bin and a flexible bag suitable for use with the framework to form a bulk bin. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Bulk bins generally have a capacity on the range of 0.5 to 2 or more cubic metres and can be used for carrying a large range of different materials such as food and 15 beverage components, agricultural produce, industrial and mining materials and feedstock of manufacturing processes. There are at present a variety of different bulk bins on the market and one type of bulk bin that has gained wide acceptance in a number of different applications, 20 particularly in the food related processing industries, is a knock-down bulk bin. A feature of the knock-down bin is that while in an assembled orientation, the bin is used to transport material from a supplier to a consumer, and once the bin has been emptied by the consumer, the bin can be 25 collapsed and transported back to the supplier in a space saving manner for re-assembly and re-filling by the supplier. Knock-down bulk bins are generally of significant monetary value, and may or may not include a bag liner that is discarded after each use or on an as 30 needs basis. It is an object of the present invention to provide a framework for a bulk bin and a bag liner that when used in combination with the framework forms a bulk bin. 35 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 -3 SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a framework for a transportable bulk bin, the framework including: 5 a sub-structure for resting on a support surface; and a collapsible upper assembly that is attached to the sub-structure, the upper assembly having two pairs of corner posts for supporting a liner bag loaded with material attached thereto, the upper assembly can be moved 10 between, i) a collapsed orientation to facilitate stacking and transportation of the framework in a space saving manner, and ii) an erected orientation in which a bulk liner bag, when attached to the upper assembly, can hold an upper part of the bag substantially in a pre-formed is shape of the bag for loading material therein; wherein the sub-structure includes at least two support members that can support the framework in a stable condition and that each support member is offset inwardly of at least one of the pairs of the corner posts. 20 The framework of the present invention can be used in a range of different applications including applications in which the framework can be placed directly on factory floors, on the back of the trucks, or stacked one on top 25 of other when either in a collapsed orientation or erected orientation. However, the present invention is particularly suited to applications in which the framework is to be placed on conveyors, typically conveyors having a width in the range of 500 to 800mm, and the spacing 30 between the corner posts of the framework is wider than the width of the conveyor. The present invention is particularly suited to this application on account that the sub-frame includes two support members that are offset inwardly of at least one of the pairs of the corner posts 35 and, therefore form a better alignment with the width of the conveyor than prior art bins. 20982961 (GHMatters) 26110/09 -4 The support members may be in the form of rails that extend transversely to each pair of corner posts of the upper assembly. In addition to being offset inwardly from one or more of the pairs of corner posts, the support s members may also be offset inwardly from two opposite sides of the framework that are transverse to the pairs of corner posts. In an embodiment, the sub-structure includes two upper 10 frame members that extend transversely to the pairs of corner posts and provide support thereto, and each of the support members include at least two inner sub-posts that support the upper frame members and each of the sub-posts are disposed inwardly of the pairs of corner posts. 15 In an embodiment, the upper frame members of the sub structure form opposite outer edges that are transverse to the pairs of corner posts. 20 In an embodiment, the inner sub-posts are spaced apart in the range of 600 to 800mm. Suitably, the inner sub-posts are located in the range of 100 to 200mm inward of the pairs of corner posts of the upper assembly. 25 In an embodiment, sub-structure further includes a barrier extending transversely of the pairs of corner posts to prevent forktines of a forklift truck from being received transversely of the upper frame members of the sub structure. Suitably, the barrier is disposed between the 30 inner sub-posts to prevent forktines being received therebetween. In an embodiment, the framework further includes a deck that is supported by the sub-structure. When the 35 framework supports a bag liner, a bottom wall of the bag liner may be supported, in part, by the deck. An underside of the deck may also contact the forktines when 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 -5 being move from location to location. In an embodiment, the sub-structure includes: a quadrangular base frame comprising base members for 5 sitting on the ground; four corner sub-posts that substantially align with the corner posts of the upper assembly; and four central sub-posts that are disposed substantially halfway along each base member. 10 The present invention also relates to a combination of the framework including any one or a combination of the features described above and a flexible bulk bag that can be supported by the framework to form a bulk bin, the bulk 15 bag including: a bottom wall; a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall including an openable panel for empting material from the bag; and 20 a top wall extending across the side walls, the top wall having an openable panel for loading material into the bag. The present invention also relates to a flexible bulk bag 25 having a pre-formed shape, which when being filled, is supported by the framework described above and can hold an upper part of the bulk in a pre-formed shape of the bulk bag for filling, the bulk bag including: a bottom wall; 30 a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall including an openable panel for empting material from the bag; and a top wall extending across the side walls, the top wall having an openable panel for loading material into 35 the bag. In an embodiment, the bulk bag is sized so that when 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 -6 loaded with material, the bag is confined within the corner post of the upper assembly of the framework. In an embodiment, the openable panel of the side wall is 5 located adjacent to the bottom wall. Suitably, the openable panel of the side wall is approximately is in the range of 0.02 to 0.5m 2 in area and even more suitably in the range of 0.1 to 0.3m 2 . 10 In an embodiment, the openable panel of the top wall essentially forms the entire top wall of the bag. In an embodiment, the bulk bag has a capacity in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 cubic metres and suitably approximately 1 15 cubic metre. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The present invention will now be described with reference 20 to the accompanying Figures, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of framework of a bulk bin in an erected position and without a bag liner; Figure 2 is a top view of the framework shown in 25 Figure 1; Figure 3 is a left side view of the framework shown in Figure 1 including additional reinforcement and barriers for preventing forktines of a forklift entering the left side of the bulk bin; 30 Figure 4 is a right side view of the framework shown in Figure 1 having openings in which forktines can enter for lifting the framework; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the framework shown in Figure 1 on a conveyor for moving about a factory 35 site; Figure 6 is a photograph of the framework shown in Figure 1 in a collapsed position, the photograph being 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10I09 -7 taken from the left hand side view shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a photograph of the framework shown in Figure 1 in an assembled orientation and fitted with a flexible bulk bag for forming a bulk bin; 5 Figure 8 is a perspective view of the top of the bulk bin shown in Figure 7, wherein the bin is being loaded with perform drink bottle blanks through an openable panel of the top wall of the bulk bin; and Figures 9 and 10 are detailed views of openable panel 10 in a lower portion of a side wall of the bulk bag in closed and opened positions respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 15 A preferred embodiment of a framework and a flexible bulk bag will now be described with reference to the Figures. The Figures contain reference numerals that identify particular features. However, in the interest of maintaining clarity of the Figures, not all of the 20 reference numerals have been included in each of the Figures. With reference to the Figures, the embodiment of the framework 20 of a bulk bin comprises a collapsible upper 25 assembly 21 to which a flexible bulk bag can be attached, a sub-structure 22 on which the upper assembly is mounted and provides a contact surface for the ground, and a deck 23 supported by the sub-structure 22. When in use, a bottom surface of the bulk bag may contact the upper face 30 of the deck 23 and when being moved, the underside of the deck 23 may be contacted by forktines 24 of a forklift truck. As will be explained in more detail below, the sub 35 structure 22 has been constructed to so that the framework 20 can be placed on footings narrower than the upper assembly 21, and in particular on conveyors typically 600 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 -8 to 700mm wide, whereas the framework 20 suitably has a total width of at least 1000mm and even more suitably approximately 1165mm by 1165mm. Other features such as the openable lower panel of the bulk bag and issues 5 concerning contamination minimisation have also been addressed. The sub-structure 21 comprises: a square base frame 34 for sitting on the ground; an corresponding upper square frame 10 25 which includes two members 25a extending between opposite sides of the framework 20; four corner sub-posts 26 extending upwardly from the base frame 34 at corners of the framework 20; four further centralised sub-posts 27 located halfway between each corner sub-posts 26; inner 15 support sub-posts 28 extending from two opposite sides of the base frame 24 that are located approximately 300mm to 400mm either side of the centralised sub-posts 27; and barrier plates 29 between the centralised sub-posts 27 and the inner support sub-posts 28. The barrier plates 29 are 20 intended to prevent the forktines from being received from the two opposite sides of the sub-structure having the reinforcement plates 29. However, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3, rather than barrier plates, openings 30 for receiving forktines are provided on the other opposite 25 sides of the sub-structure 22 which allows the forktines 24 of forklift truck to be readily inserted beneath the deck 23. A forklift truck can lift the framework 20 by locating 30 forktines 24 through the openings in either the right hand end of the framework, see Figure 4, or the opposite side of the framework and loaded onto a conveyor as shown in Figure 5. In other words, the framework allows two-way access for forktines 24 which can be received below the 35 deck 23 and substantially parallel to the members 25a. More particularly, the inner support sub-posts 28 have been located inwardly of the corner posts 31 of the upper 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 -9 assembly 21, and suitably at the spacing of 600 to 700mm apart and approximately 100 to 300mm inwardly from the corner posts 31 at either end of the framework. As can best be seen in Figure 5, the inner sub-posts 28 are 5 spaced at approximately the same width as the conveyer belt 32 which enables the inner sub-posts 28 to support the weight of the framework 20 and a loaded bulk bag fitted to the framework 20 in a stable condition on a narrow footing than the corner posts 31 of the upper 10 assembly 21. In the absence of appropriate reinforcement of the sub-structure 22 over a region in which the sub structure 22 overlays the conveyer belt 32, the sub structure 22 would be incapable of supporting a bulk bin in a stable condition. 15 The deck 23 comprises a plate 33 that is reinforced by a series of horizontal bars 34 that run transversely to the direction in which forktines 24 are received by the sub structure 22. The plate 33 and horizontal bars 34 are 20 located within the upper square frame 25. In the situation in which the framework 20 supports a loaded bag, a bottom wall of the bag may also rest directly onto the deck 23 which in turn transfers part of the load of the bag directly to the forktines 24 while being moved. 25 The upper assembly 21 includes a square super frame 40 at the top and four corner posts 31 that interconnect the super frame 40 to the sub-structure 22. The four posts 31 constitute two pairs of corner posts, each pair 31f and 30 31b are spaced apart and disposed at opposite sides of the framework 20 that receive the forktines 24 as shown in Figure 5. Each pair of corner posts 31f and 31b are interconnected by members 25a of the upper square frame 25 of the sub-structure 22. As can best be seen in Figure 35 6, the four corner posts 31 each comprise the following components: four lower corner posts 41 extending upwardly from the sub-structure 22; four upper corner posts 42 that 20982961 (GH Matters) 26110109 - 10 extend downwardly from the super frame 40 and two linkage members 43 and 44, the linkage members 43 and 44 are pivotally connected to each other and to the upper and lower corner posts 42 and 41 respectively. The linkage 5 members 43 and 44 fold inwardly to lower the super frame 40 toward the sub-structure 22, as shown in Figure 6. The linkage members 43 and 44 may be locked in an upright position using any suitable means including pins, bolts and rigid slidable sleeves that slide over the pivot 10 connections when in an erected orientation. The super frame 40 also includes cleats 43 projecting upwardly therefrom that are received by co-operation openings (not show in the figures) in a bottom face of the 15 base frame 34 when stacked one or top of the other. Extending around the perimeter of the super frame 40 are lengths of right angle bar 44. Sections of the right angled bar 44 can best be seen in Figure 8. Tabs 20 extending from an upper perimeter of the bulk bag are sandwiched between flanges of the right angle bar 44 and the upper and/or outer faces of the super frame 40. The right angle bar 44 is held in the position using bolts, screws or any other suitable fastener. 25 Figure 7 is a photograph of the framework assembled and with the flexible bulk bag 50 fitted to the framework 20. The upper tabs of the bag 50 are held in position and low tabs extending from the lower corners of the bulk bag 50 30 are attached to the corner posts 31 so that the bag is held in essentially the pre-formed shape of the bag ready for filling. The bag comprises a square bottom wall 52 that can rest on 35 the deck 23 of the framework 20 when loaded, a side wall 56 having four panels that extend upwardly from the side edges of the bottom wall 52 and a top wall 53 that is 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 - 11 joined to an upper edged of the side wall 52 by a zipper 55. Figure 8 shows the situation in which the zipper 55 has been fully opened and the top wall 53 opened to allow material, which in Figure 8 is in the form of preform s blanks for drinking bottles to be loaded. The bulk bag 50 can be emptied by tipping the framework 20, so that material exits via the upper opening. However, it is preferred that the side wall 52 of the 10 flexible bag 50 has at least one openable panel, suitably located adjacent to the bottom wall 52 of the flexible bag 50 through which material can be discharged from the bulk bag 50. Suitably, the openable panel which is in the form of a tongue 54 cut into the side wall 52 of the bag 50 and is includes a zipper 53 which is operable to close and open the tongue 54 as shown in Figures 9 and 10 respectively. The flexible bag 50 may be made of any suitable material including polymeric materials, and in particular 20 polypropylene. The inside of the bag may be coating with softer layer for product protection. The bulk bag may also be liquid impermeable to prevent leakage and have a UV resistance that enables the bag to maintain structural integrity even after prolonged exposure to sunlight, such 25 as periods of exposure of at least 1000 hours or more. The framework 20 may be made of any suitable materials including plastics and composite materials. However, preferably, the framework is made from metallic materials 30 such as aluminium or aluminium alloys and steel including food grade stainless steel. Each of the components of the framework 20 may be made of the flat, tubular or even solid steel components and may be constructed using welding or suitable fasteners as desired. Although not 35 shown in detail in the Figures, suitably all welds are finished smooth and where possible, any gaps or holes in which material can be trapped are filled to reduce 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 - 12 possible contamination risks. It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without s departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 20982961 (GHMatters) 26110/09

Claims (5)

1. A framework for a transportable bulk bin the framework including: 5 a sub-structure that rests on a support surface; and a collapsible upper assembly that is attached to the sub-structure, the upper assembly having two pairs of corner posts for supporting a liner bag loaded with material attached thereto, the upper assembly can be moved 10 between, i) a collapsed orientation to facilitate stacking and transportation of the framework in a space saving manner, and ii) an erected orientation in which a bulk liner bag, when attached to the upper assembly, can be held by the upper assembly such that an upper part of the is bag is substantially in a pre-formed shape for loading material therein; wherein the sub-structure includes at least two support members that can support the framework in a stable condition and that each support member is offset inwardly 20 of at least one of the pairs of the corner posts.

2. The framework according to claim 1, wherein the sub structure includes two upper frame members that extend transversely to the pairs of corner posts and provide 25 support thereto, and each of the support members include at least two inner sub-posts that support the upper frame members and each of the sub-posts are disposed inwardly of the pairs of corner posts. 30

3. The framework according to claim 2, wherein the inner sub-posts are spaced apart over a range from 600 to 800mm.

4. The framework according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sub-structure further includes a barrier extending 35 transversely of the pairs of corner posts to prevent forktines of a forklift truck from being received transversely of the upper frame members of the sub 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09 - 14 structure.

5. In combination the framework according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a flexible bulk bag that can be 5 supported by the framework to form a bulk bin, wherein the bulk bag includes: a bottom wall; a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall including an openable panel for empting 10 material from the bag; and a top wall extending across the side walls, the top wall having an openable panel for loading material into the bag. 20982961 (GHMatters) 26/10/09