WO2015012777A1

WO2015012777A1 - Liner for a flexible big bag

Info

Publication number: WO2015012777A1
Application number: PCT/TR2014/000270
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yusuf Kohen
Original assignee: Yusuf Kohen
Priority date: 2013-07-26
Filing date: 2014-07-24
Publication date: 2015-01-29

Abstract

The present invention is a liner (20) placed to the inner section of a flexible big bag (10) and which changes in form together with the flexible big bag (10) when material fills therein so as to have at least one side wall (22) and a bottom section (27) connected to said side wall (22); said liner (20) further having a support element (23) extending between at least two adjacent side walls (22), characterized by comprising a support piece (221) connected to at least one side wall (22) of the liner (20) from the inner side such that the support element (23) is provided in between.

Description

LINER FOR A FLEXIBLE BIG BAG

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to big bags used in carrying granules, fluids or semi-fluid based materials. PRIOR ART

In order to carry and stack various cast, powder, liquid, fluid, semi-fluid and similar materials, flexible containers known as "Big Bag" and FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) are widely used in the commercial field. These flexible containers, which are in bag form, are flat when they are empty, and they substantially swell when material is put inside them.

Flexible containers are made of polymer-based woven fabric. Particularly for fine-grained products, the product put inside the container during usage exits the weaving pores. In cases where there is foodstuff, which shall be kept hygienic, inside the container, said pores lead to contamination of the product. Therefore, preferably liner made of polyethylene-based film is used in flexible containers.

Because of the flexible walls thereof, flexible big bags are inclined to take cylindrical forms after they are filled. Particularly in containers used for marine transportation, the cylindrical- shaped big bags placed side by side lead to approximately 33 % volume loss. In flexible containers where no liner is used, support elements are erected which are in strip-like form extending in the form of a brace towards the side walls from inside, and thus, the flexible container substantially takes square form when it is full.

Gambo-type flexible containers are generally in cube shape and they are made of polyethylene material. The cube shape of the flexible containers is provided by means of an inner panel whereon apertures are provided and which is connected in the form of a brace between two adjacent side walls and which is not visible from outside when the container is full. These inner panels are made of polymer based material. In another application, in the patent with publication number US2005105833, a big container embodiment is disclosed comprising support pieces positioned at the corners of the container and embodied in net form in order to prevent the swelling which will form on the side walls of a flexible container after filling. The support pieces are formed by weaving vertical and horizontal filaments together. Said support pieces are connected to the walls so as to extend between two walls making an angle with respect to each other. However, since said filaments do not wrap the whole container body, the load remains on the connection of the filaments to the side walls, and the increase in resistance of the flexible container remains relatively low.

In another application US2001041023, at the corners, there are support members in triangular form and in curved structure and made of rigid panels. Said support members are positioned at the corners of the flexible container and between the two layers of the side wall. Since said support members are made of a rigid material, they may lead to deformation on the surfaces of the flexible carrier in a shorter time. Besides, since the support members do not wrap the whole carrier, the increase in resistance is low.

In EP1300345, a big container is disclosed comprising baffles provided in a diagonal manner to the regions which are close to the joining edge of the side wall extending in the vertical direction. The baffles comprise pluralities of filaments connected horizontally between two strips extending in the vertical direction. The strips extending in the vertical direction are joined along a line in a region close to the joining edges of the side walls of the flexible container. However, the disclosed arrangement provides material spread from the central region of the loaded carrier to the joining edge regions of the side walls, and it prevents ridging of the side walls. Moreover, since the filaments of the baffles extending in the horizontal direction are selected to be thin, a solution is not provided which supports the structural resistance of the carrier. ln^~the^~patent-US5316387^~a-big-container-arrangemenHs-disclosed^~comprising- elements provided at the joining edge regions of the side walls. The shield elements described in US5316387 comprise connection pieces making recess preferably from the side walls towards the inner volume of the container, and the shield elements moreover comprise filaments realizing joining function between said connection pieces. The filaments are provided in a manner defining pluralities of separate planes extending in the vertical direction. Said invention provides material spread from the central region of the loaded carrier towards the joining edge regions of the side walls, and at the same time, it also supports container resistance thanks to the load provided inside the container. However, since the filaments, provided in the shield elements, are not positioned in a manner wrapping all of the carrier walls, the structural resistance increase in the container is relatively at lower levels. In the abovementioned applications and in the Gambo model containers, the load, which is formed as the flexible container is filled, is carried by the side walls through the region where the supports, connected in brace form, are connected to the side walls. Thanks to the supports used in the abovementioned inventions, the flexible container is guided to be shaped in cube form, however, the material, flowing to the side walls through the apertures provided on said supports, applies pressure on the side walls, and it leads to ridging on the side walls.

Another solution for carrying fluid powder, granule, semi-fluid and similar materials is disclosed in the application GB2315731. In said invention, the flexible container is placed into an outer package made of metallic material and embodied in net form. In this method, space saving is described which does not result from preserving the form of the flexible container during transportation, however which results from transportation of the container after the container is placed into a vessel having certain dimensions. The outer package usage leads to cost increase due to additional material usage outside the container.

As a result, because of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible big bag, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

^{^}Th^m^"ain^~object^"ofthe^"present invention is to provide a flexible big bag-embodiment-whose - resistance is increased and which can preserve the form thereof after filling. Thus, the space loss occurring as the big bags are placed side by side and one above the other is minimized, and more material can be carried.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible big bag embodiment comprising support elements made of materials which are not appropriate for holding/fixing to the material of which the flexible big bag is made. Said support elements may be strip, band or filament, polymer material, metal wire, etc. embodied in net form. In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be obtained from the detailed description below, the present invention is a liner placed to the inner section of a flexible big bag and which changes in form together with the flexible big bag when material fills therein so as to have at least one side wall and a bottom section connected to said side wall; said liner further having a support element extending between at least two adjacent side walls. Accordingly, said liner is characterized by comprising a support piece connected to at least one side wall of the liner from the inner side such that the support element is provided in between. In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, the support element is restrained between the liner and the support piece so as to move independently from the liner and from the support piece. Thus, when loading into the liner is realized, the free support element is tensioned between the two hanger regions and it prevents swelling of the side wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, in order to define a hanger region where the support element is kept in a tightened but non-adhered manner, the liner and the support piece are made of a material fusing to each other by means of thermal process and the support element is made of a material which does not fuse. Thus, the resistance of the liner can be increased by using a material which is more resistant than the liner.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, the support element comprises pluralities of strips so as to define gaps such that material passes through and extending essentially in a parallel manner with respect to each other. Thus, thanks to the gaps provided between the strips, material flow to all regions of the liner can be provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, in order to provide h_Omogeneous-disthbution^~of-the-material-provided -in- the-liner— said-support-element -is embodied in a porous form. Thus, thanks to the gaps provided on the support element, material flow to all regions of the liner can be provided by means of an alternative way.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, the support element is a net comprising gaps such that material passes through said gaps.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, the support element extends in a direction which is essentially parallel with respect to the side walls along the hanger regions provided on the side walls and so as to form a brace between the hanger regions between two adjacent side walls.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, the support element extends in a direction so as to essentially define an octagon along the inner periphery of the liner. Thus, the support element encircles the body section of the liner completely, and the liner preserves the form thereof after filling.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, there is an unfused region provided between the two hanger regions and defined during fusing of the side wall and the support piece to each other and wherein the related section of said support element extends in a free manner.

In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, said support element is made of a material embodied in strip, filament, metal wire, band, fabric or porous form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a general representative view of the inner flexible big bag is given.

In Figure 2, an outer representative view of the liner and of the loading opening is given.

In Figure 3, an outer representative view of the liner and of the discharge opening is given. In Figure 4, the upper representative view of the liner is given.

In Figure 5, the representative cross sectional view of the side wall of the liner is given. In Figure 6,-the representative-view-of-another-applieation-of-the-support-elements -is-given.

In Figure 7, a representative view of the flexible big bag is given.

In Figure 8, the representative view of the support element used in an alternative application is given. REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Flexible big bag

11 Side wall

12 Bottom section

3 Top section

14 Support strip

15 Carrying hanger 20 Liner

22 Side wall

221 Support piece

222 Hanger region

223 Unfused region

23 Support element

24 Loading opening

25 Discharge opening

26 Bottom section

27 Top section

28 Funnel

THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter liner (20) is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect in order to make the subject more understandable.

In general, the present invention is a liner (20) embodiment preferably made of polymeric material placed into an outer big bag (10). The outer big bag (10) is obtained by weaving from polymer based materials. The liner (20) is produced from integrated, non-porous, leak-proof polymer based material. In the preferred application, the liner (20) is produced from polyethylene and/or poly-propene material.

The flexible big bag (10) comprises a bottom section (12); at least one side wall (11) extending upwardly from the floor from the edge of the bottom section (12); a top section (13) connected to the side walls (11) on said side walls (11) and positioned parallel with respect to the bottom section (12); and a support strip (14) provided for supporting resistance and preserving the form of the flexible big bag (10) on the flexible big bag (10) in regions where the bottom section (12), the side walls (11) and the top section (13) are connected to each other. The bottom section (12) and the top section (13) are preferably embodied in rectangular form. The side walls (11) are positioned so as to extend from each edge of the bottom section (12) towards the top section (13), and there are totally four side walls (11) such that there is one each side wall (11) on each edge of the bottom section (12). In the preferred application, the flexible big bag (10) is essentially in rectangular prism form. There is a carrying hanger (15) extending outwardly from the joining regions of the side walls (11). Said carrying hanger (15) is preferably embodied in ring form.

The liner (20) comprises a bottom section (26), at least one side wall (22) extending from the edge of said bottom section (26) upwardly from the floor, and a top section (27) connected to said side walls (22) from the upper edges. The side walls (22) are positioned in a manner extending from each edge of the bottom section (26) towards the top section (27), and there are totally four side walls (22) such that there is one each side wall (22) on each edge of the bottom section (26). In the preferred application, the liner (20) is essentially in rectangular prism form.

A discharge opening (25), embodied for providing material discharge from the liner (20), is provided on the bottom section (26). In a similar manner, a loading opening (24), providing material input from the outer environment into the liner (20), is embodied on the top section (27). There is one each funnel (28) embodied in a manner extending outwards the liner (20) from said loading opening (24) and said discharge opening (25). There is at least one support piece (221) positioned on at least one side of the side wall (22), and preferably on both sides of the side wall (22). A support element (23) is placed between the support piece (221) and the side walls (22). As the support element (23), perforated film, filament, band, fabric, etc., are used which are in net form and which do not give-damage-to-the-liner-(2Q)— ^As-the-support-piece-(221-),- preferably-polymer-material- (preferably polyethylene and/or poly-propene) is used of which the liner (20) is made. Said support piece (221) and the liner (20) are fused by means of heating through at least two hanger regions (222) so as to define an unfused region (223) between the support piece (221) and the liner (20). Support elements (23) pass through said unfused region (223). The support elements (23) are pressed between the liner (20) and the support piece (221) in the hanger regions (222), and they are restrained between the two hanger regions (222) so as to move independently from the liner (20) and from the support piece (221). During a liner (20) production comprising support element (23) in a manner encircling the side walls (22) from the inner section thereof, the support element (23) is placed on the support piece (221 ), and the liner (20) is placed thereon such that the side wall (13) section corresponds thereto. In the preferred application, a support piece (221 ) is placed onto the outer surface of the side wall (13). Afterwards, thermal process is applied, and the polymer-based support pieces (221 ) and the liner (20) are fused to each other, and the support element (23) is pressed in between. By means of applying the same process to all side walls (22), whole of the inner section of the liner (20) is encircled by the support elements (23). In this application, the thermal process is applied to a certain section of the side walls (22). Thus, along the regions where thermal process is applied, the support elements (23) are restrained between the side walls (22) and the support pieces (221 ) essentially in a fixed and pressed manner, and the support elements (23) are restrained in a free manner inside the unfused region (223); they extend in the form of a brace from the place, where the hanger region (222) ends on a side wall (22), towards the place where the hanger region (222) begins provided on the adjacent side wall (22). Thus, the support elements (23) take octagon form on the liner (20).

In another embodiment of the present invention, said support elements (23) do not encircle the inner section of the liner (20), and they only extend between two side walls (22). In this embodiment model, the support elements (23) are pressed on the joining regions (222) in the sections of contact with the side walls (22) so as to be provided between the support piece (221 ) and the \iner (20).

The support elements (23) can be a polymer based material, and they can be produced from materials like metal wire, band, filament, etc. In said invention, the liner, which is made of polymer based material, is used together with materials which cannot be fused to each other by means of thermal processes. By means of this, the resistance of said liner is increased, and the liner preserves the shape thereof. The liner (10), whose production is completed during usage, is placed into the flexible big bag (10). The liner (20) preserves the form thereof since the liner (20) fills the inner section of the flexible big bag (10) completely, and since the load is carried by the support elements (23) after the liner (20) is filled with fluid material. Thus, space loss is minimized while stacking is realized during transportation.

At the same time, since the material, used as the support element (23), does not give damage to the liner (20), the liner (20) can be easily folded after usage. Thus, the hollow liner (20) can be easily stored when it is not in use. The liner (20) and the flexible big bag (10) used in the present invention are made of non-rigid materials like nylon, polyethylene, etc. which are in flat form when they are empty and which substantially swell when material is put therein.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed Claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

Claims

A liner (20) placed to the inner section of a flexible big bag (10) and which changes in form together with the flexible big bag (10) when material fills therein so as to have at least one side wall (22) and a bottom section (27) connected to said side wall (22), said liner (20) further having a support element (23) extending between at least two adjacent side walls (22), characterized by comprising a support piece (221) connected to at least one side wall (22) of the liner (20) from the inner side such that the support element (23) is provided in between.

A liner (20) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support element (23) is restrained between the liner (20) and the support piece (21) so as to move independently from the liner (20) and from the support piece (221).

A liner (20) according to Claim 2, characterized in that in order to define a hanger region (222) where the support element (23) is kept in a tightened but non-adhered manner, the liner (20) and the support piece (221) are made of a material fusing to each other by means of thermal process and the support element (23) is made of a material which does not fuse.

A liner (20) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support element (23) comprises pluralities of strips so as to define gaps such that material passes through and extending essentially in a parallel manner with respect to each other.

A liner (20) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that in order to provide homogeneous distribution of the material provided in the liner (20), said support element (23) is embodied in a porous form.

A-|iner(20)-according tO'eiaim-5-characterized-in-thaMhe-support-element-(2-3)-is-a net comprising gaps such that material passes through said gaps.

A liner (20) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support element (23) extends in a direction which is essentially parallel with respect to the side walls (22) along the hanger regions (222) provided on the side walls (22) and so as to form a brace between the hanger regions (222) between two adjacent side walls (22).

8. A liner (20) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the support element (23) extends in a direction so as to essentially define an octagon along the inner periphery of the liner (20).

9. A liner (20) according to Claim 1 , characterized by comprising an unfused region (223) provided between the two hanger regions (222) and defined during fusing of the side wall (22) and the support piece (221) to each other and wherein the related section of said support element (23) extends in a free manner.

10. A liner (20) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said support element (23) is made of a material embodied in strip, filament, metal wire, band, fabric or porous form.