GB2299573A

GB2299573A - Liner Bag Disposal

Info

Publication number: GB2299573A
Application number: GB9507056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Dearing
Original assignee: Spiroflow Ltd
Current assignee: Spiroflow Ltd
Priority date: 1995-04-05
Filing date: 1995-04-05
Publication date: 1996-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-05
Also published as: GB2299573B; GB9507056D0

Abstract

When an empty bag is to be removed from the apparatus the top of the bag is released. The lower end of the bag then falls downwardly until it is at the same elevation as a pusher rod. The rod 18 is used to push the bag sideways towards an extraction mechanism 20 comprising two spaced pairs of cooperating rollers (21 and 23, Fig 1). These rollers are driven and they cause the bag to be driven out of the discharge area, down a chute 27 and into a disposable, lay flat container 28 such as a plastic bag. This invention is used with FIBC's and avoid handling the liner.

Description

LINER BAG DISPOSAL This invention relates to a bag discharge apparatus including a bag removal means and a method of removing a bag from bag discharge apparatus.

A previous bag disposal apparatus has wound an empty liner onto a spool at the top of the apparatus and has then required the liner to be removed from the spool manually, resulting in dust or hazardous powder being released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the spool is difficult to operate due to its location above the normal height of an operator.

It is an aim of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least some of the above-described disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bag discharge apparatus includes bag removal means including a drive mechanism arranged to engage a bag and drive the bag into a container.

The drive mechanisms may comprise at least one pair of rotatable members between which a part of a bag is arranged to pass during driving of the bag. At least one of the rotatable members may be powered, for instance, by being electrically powered. The members may be movable relative to each other in a direction away from each other and biasing means may be provided to resist such relative movement. The members may be arranged to cooperate with each other such that rotation of one of the members is arranged to cause rotation of the other member such as by the members meshing with each other with such meshing being indirect when a bag is between the members.

These may be two pairs of rotatable members and the upper one of each member in each pair may be rotatably mounted on a common member. Alternatively or additionally the lower rotatable member of each pair may be mounted on a common member.

The container and/or the drive mechanism may be located to the side of the discharge region of the apparatus. The container may be disposable. The container may be detachably connected to the apparatus.

The container may comprise a collapsible bag.

The apparatus may include a pusher arranged to urge a bag towards the drive mechanism. The pusher may be arranged to extend across a discharge passage when urging a bag towards the drive mechanism and to be retractable to a position clear of the discharge passage. The drive mechanism may be enclosed from the surroundings of the apparatus as may a discharge region of the apparatus.

The present invention also includes a method of removing a bag from bag discharge apparatus comprising driving the bag from the apparatus into a container.

The method may comprise driving a bag from an apparatus as herein referred to.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional side view a discharge arrangement with a liner removal facility, and Figure 2 is a further schematic sectional front view of the liner removal means.

A flexible intermediate bulk container 1 is supported at its upper end by a movable frame 2 via loops 3. A liner bag 4 located within the container 1 is supported at its upper end by ties 5 that are attached to a release mechanism 6 mounted on the frame 2.

The lower ends of the container 1 and the bag 4 are supported on a support plate 7 having an opening 8 at the centre. The container and the bag each have necks 9 and 10 that extend through the opening into a discharge area 11 with the neck of the liner bag extending slightly further downwards than the neck of the container.

When product is to be discharged, the container and bag are located and supported as described above. A tie on the container is then released to allow access to a tie on the bag to be gained. The tie on the container is then released.

During discharge material within the bag flows down through a chute 12 into a further container (not shown).

Reciprocating pistons or vibrators 13 act on the container and bag to break up the material and ensure that it flows evenly out of the chute. As the material flows out of the bag the weight of the container decreases. Springs 14 act on telescopic struts 15 that extend down from the frame 2 to urge the frame upwardly and to ensure that material is not able to be retained in the bag particularly in the region of the support plate 7.

When the bag is empty a handle 16 is pulled downwardly to cause a wire 17 to pull on and release the mechanism to free the top of the bag. The lower end of the bag then falls or is pulled downwardly until it is at the same elevation as a pusher rod 18. Access to the lower end of the bag may be via flexible gloves that seal the discharge area but allow an operatives hands to be manipulated in the discharge area.

The rod 18 is then slid inwardly such that its end 19 engages the bag and pushes it sideways towards an extraction mechanism 20. The mechanism 20 comprises two spaced pairs of cooperating rollers. The upper rollers 21 from each pair are mounted on a shaft 22 and the lower rollers 23 are mounted on a shaft 24. Either or both of the shafts 22 and 24 are rotated by an hydraulic motor 25.

The shafts are biased towards each other by springs 26 at either end in order to urge the cooperating gears towards each other but to permit the gears to move away from each other to a limited extent as a bag is being drawn between the gears.

The gears engage the bag and drive it out of the discharge area, down a chute 27 and into a disposable lay flat container 28 such as a plastic bag. When all of the liner bag 4 has been pushed into the container a rubber retaining ring 29.is slid off the chute 27 to allow the container to be detached and disposed of safely.

Alternatively, the container could be arranged to receive a plurality of bags before being removed from the apparatus.

It can be seen that during loading of the liner bag, during its discharge and whilst the liner bag is being located in the disposable container dust or hazardous powder from the liner bag is contained in a secure environment and is not able to escape into the atmosphere.

The pusher can be retracted and a new liner attached in order that a new FIBC can be used with the apparatus.

Claims

1. A bag discharge apparatus including bag removal means including a drive mechanism arranged, in use, to engage a bag and drive the bag into a container.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the drive mechanism comprises at least one pair of rotatable members between which, in use, a part of a bag is arranged to pass during driving of the bag.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which at least one of the rotatable members is powered.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which at least one of the rotatable members is electrically powered.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 in which the members are movable relative to each other in a direction away from each other.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 including biasing means arranged to resist movement of the members away from each other.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 6 in which the members are arranged to cooperate with each other such that rotation of one of the members is arranged to cause rotation of the other member.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 in which the members are arranged to mesh with each other.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 in which the meshing of the members with each other is indirect when a bag is located between the members.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 9 including two pairs of rotatable members.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 in which one of each member in each pair is rotatably mounted on a common member.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 or 11 in which the lower rotatable member of each pair is mounted on a common member.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the container and/or the drive mechanism is located to the side of a discharge region of the apparatus.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the container is disposable.

15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 in which the container is detachably connected to the apparatus.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the container comprises a collapsible bag.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a pusher arranged to urge a bag towards the drive mechanism.

18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 in which the pusher is arranged to extend across a discharge passage when urging a bag towards the drive mechanism and to be retractable to a position clear of the discharge passage.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 17 and 18 in which the drive mechanism is enclosed from the surroundings of the apparatus.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which a discharge region of the bag discharge apparatus is enclosed from the surroundings of the apparatus.

21. Bag discharge apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of removing a bag from bag discharge apparatus comprising driving the bag from the apparatus into a container.

23. A method of removing a bag from a bag discharge apparatus when the discharge apparatus is as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 21.

24. A method of removing a bag from a bag discharge apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.