WO2003033376A1

WO2003033376A1 - A transport container with a liner and a method for assembling such a container

Info

Publication number: WO2003033376A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001942
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Anthony Davidson
Original assignee: Bag In A Box Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-19
Filing date: 2002-04-30
Publication date: 2003-04-24
Also published as: GB0125131D0

Abstract

A method of assembling a container for the transport of material, the container comprising an outer container having first and second container openings and a container liner having first and second liner openings, said first liner opening being sufficiently small to be passed through said second container opening and being adapted for connection to said first container opening, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing the container liner in an elongate form, wherein the first liner opening is available in the elongate form for connection to the first container opening, and (ii) inserting the elongate form into the outer container through the second container opening and directing the first liner opening thereof towards the first container opening. The invention also provides a container for the transport of material and a container liner.

Description

A TRANSPORT CONTAINER WITH A LINER AND A METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING SUCH A CONTAINER

The invention relates to containers and in particular to containers for carrying fluids/pourable goods such as liquids and pourable powders, and also methods of 5 assembling such containers.

So called intermediate bulk containers may include a rigid outer box like structure made of, for example, plastics material. They are generally only suitable for carrying a single commodity due to the difficulty in cleaning their interiors so that a different material may 10 be transported. Accordingly, such containers typically are used to transport materials from one destination to another and then are returned empty.

The applicant has previously proposed an improved container described in WO 99/03752 which includes an outer container and a container liner therefor.

15

Where a container, such as described in WO 99/03752, has its upper liner opening attached to the upper container opening whilst the container is in transit, there may be a problem when the liner is full of material and the transport vehicle should need to brake sharply such that the material will move towards the forward direction of the vehicle and

20 thereby generate a stress around the upper liner opening which is attached to the container opening.

Furthermore, it would be desirable to improve the method of assembling a container having a container lining such that the time for the operation of inserting the liner into the 25 container is reduced and made simpler.

Furthermore, it would be desirable to arrange the liner, to efficiently fill the space inside the outer container. Still further, it would be desirable to prevent contamination of the liner, prior to filling the liner with the material for transport.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for the transport of material comprising an outer container having first and second container openings therein, and a container liner having first and second liner openings therein, said first liner opening being adapted for connection to the first container opening and wherein said second liner opening is adapted to be located, at least in transit, free from attachment to the second container opening.

The second liner opening may be provided, at least in transit, with a closing cap which fits through the second container opening.

Advantageously, since the second liner opening, at least in transit, is not attached to the second container opening, when the container undergoes a braking event, there is no stress generated around the second liner opening.

Preferably, the second liner opening is located near the second container opening i.e. in the vicinity thereof. Thereby, filling of the liner through the second container opening is facilitated, as well as removal of the liner through the second container opening after use.

The second liner opening may be adapted for attachment to the container opening when not in transit, e.g. for filling of the container or in preparation for removal of the liner. For instance, the second liner opening may be provided with a retaining means or clip to engage or attach to the container opening. When not in transit the second liner opening may be fitted with a closure, e.g. a cap, which locates or engages with the second container opening . Such a cap may have a flange portion which is adapted to locate on the top of the second container opening. Such a cap may have a channel through which the liner may be filled. The flange in such a case may provide a filling bridge. The channel may be sealed prior to use or filling with a breakable seal or membrane. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a container for the transport of material, the container comprising an outer container having first and second container openings and a container liner having first and second liner openings, said first liner opening being sufficiently small to be passed through said second container opening and being adapted for connection to said first container opening, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) providing the container liner in an elongate form, wherein the first liner opening is available in the elongate form for connection to the first container opening, and

(ii) inserting the elongate form into the outer container through the second container opening and directing the first liner opening thereof towards the first container opening.

The liner, being in its elongate form, is such as to be guidable. The form is preferably rigid or stiff enough to be directed or pointed generally in a desired direction, e.g. here to be directed through the second container opening and generally towards the first container opening, yet flexible enough for the first liner opening to be manoeuvered or deformed into engagement with the first container opening.

Preferably, the liner is folded into the elongate form but the invention may include rolling or otherwise forming the liner into an elongate form for insertion into the outer container.

Preferably, the elongate liner form is held by a breakable retaining means. The breakable retaining means hold the liner in its elongate, e.g. folded, form until opening or unfolding of the liner is required or actuated. When the liner is opened -from its elongate shape, the breakable retaining means breaks by the force of the expanding liner to release the liner. Advantageously, since the retaining means retains the liner in its folded or elongate state, it keeps the liner in its directionable condition. Preferably, the breakable retaining means is made of plastics material. The retaining means may comprise, for example a breakable outer sleeve or one or more breakable bands. Preferably the retaining means comprises a breakable sleeve. Preferably, the outer sleeve may be in the form of a bag or of tubular form. Preferably, the breakable retaining means is breakable by having a perforated join. In this way, the elongate form may be inserted into the outer container as aforesaid and the first liner opening directed to the container opening, after which the breakable retaining means may be broken away from the, e.g., folded liner, thereby to allow the liner to be unfolded or expanded within the internal space of the outer container.

Preferably, the liner may be made to expand within the outer container by inflating the liner, e.g. with air. Preferably, the liner is inflated via the second liner opening e.g. connecting an air supply thereto. The e.g. air supply is preferably connected to the second liner opening prior to insertion of the e.g. folded liner into the outer container. When inflating the liner, the second liner opening is preferably positioned at or near the second container opening.

Where the elongate liner is retained in an breakable retaining means as described above, the breakable retaining means may have an opening therein to allow the, e.g., air supply to be connected to the second liner opening which is located inside the retaining means. Upon inflation of the liner, the breakable retaining means is broken away, e.g. along its line of perforation, thereby allowing the liner to be inflated fully within the outer container. After inflation, the, e.g., air supply is removed from the second liner opening and the liner may be filled with material for transport. The liner is preferably filled with material in such case also via the second liner opening. Alternatively, after inflating the liner, the liner second opening may be fitted with the cap which locates with the second container opening for transit of the empty liner before filling at a remote location.

Alternatively, the liner may be expanded within the outer container by filling the liner with material. In this case, preferably the liner is filled with material, e.g. the material for transport, from the bottom up, i.e. the liner is filled via the lowermost container and liner openings.

Preferably, the first liner opening is present at or near an end of the elongate form. Preferably, once the elongate form is inserted into the outer container and the first liner opening is located in the vicinity of the first container opening, the first liner opening is connected thereto.

As part of the connection operation the first liner opening may be guided through the first container opening. The guiding of the first liner opening through the first container opening may be assisted by hand via the first contamer opening. Once the first liner opening has been guided through the first container opening, a retaining ring is preferably attached around the first liner opening, e.g. by location in a groove of the first liner opening. The retaining ring prevents subsequent withdrawal of the first liner opening back into the container. The retaining ring may be a split ring. Preferably, a collar is placed around the first liner opening to be located between the retaining ring and the container opening. A discharge valve may be attached onto the container opening.

Advantageously, the method according to the second aspect provides a faster method of assembling the container. Moreover, the assembling operation is made much simpler, in that it is easier to direct the elongate liner through the second container opening and towards the first container opening. Thereafter, connection of the first liner opening to the first container opening is easily carried out as described. Moreover, inflation or expansion of the liner is achieved easily such that the liner efficiently fills the container space. It should be appreciated that the liner can be supplied already folded up, preferably retained in the breakable retaining means, ready for insertion in the outer container.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a liner opening for a container liner as described above wherein the liner opening is provided with a seal. Preferably, the seal is breakable. Th seal may be in the form of a membrane.

Preferably the seal includes a grip, e.g. a loop. The grip may be gripable by the operator's fingers, thereby to assist guiding of the liner opening through a container opening, as well as facilitate breaking of the seal as required.

The seal may be made of the same material as the remainder of the liner opening. Preferably, the seal comprises plastics, more preferably rigid plastics.

Advantageously, the liner opening according to the third aspect, in having the seal, provides that the inside of the liner is not contaminated until assembly and/or use of the container, i.e. it provides clean conditions for the liner. This is important because the liner may otherwise receive contamination within its interior during handling and/or use prior to filling with the material for transport thereby causing contamination of the material.

Preferably, the invention provides a tamper proof seal, wherein the seal cannot be resealed once broken, thereby providing a means by which it can be seen if the inside of the liner has been tampered with or whether the liner has been used.

Other features of the container used with the first, second and third aspects of the invention may be similar or the same as described in WO 99/03752.

For instance, preferably, the outer container is rigid and ideally is constructed of plastics, even more ideally the container has a volumetric capacity in the region of 1 cubic meter. Further support may optionally be provided by means of an external metal cage.

Preferably, the outer container second opening is located at an upper region of the container, ideally in a top surface thereof and ideally is associated with a cap member. More preferably the first opening is located in a side-wall, and ideally is located adjacent the base of the container.

Preferably, the liner is constructed of flexible materials such as plastics sheeting and forms a bag. Ideally, each of the first and the second liner openings are associated with rigid port members, the dimensions of the port members being such that they may be passed through the openings of the outer container.

Preferably, each port member comprises a relatively short tube which is welded at one end to an integral flange of a main body of the liner. The port member may be provided with a groove at an opposite end. At least one of the said port member may be provided with a hygienic seal in the form of a thin membrane.

Ideally the container and/or liner is/are reusable.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows the insertion of a liner into a container;

Figure 2 shows the container after insertion of the liner, Figure 3 shows in more detail a folded liner for insertion into the container.

Figures 4 to 8 show aspects of the connection of one of the container openings to one of the liner openings;

Figure 9 shows aspects of the connection of the other of the container openings to the other of the liner openings; and Figure 10 shows aspects of a further embodiment of connection of the other of the container openings to the other of the liner openings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a container for the transport of material in accordance with the present invention comprises a rigid outer container 1 which is made of plastics material and has a volume of one cubic metre. It may further be provided with an external metal cage structure (not shown) to give support to the container. Container 1 is provided with two openings or ports, upper port 3 located in the top of the container and lower port 5 located in a side wall adjacent the base of the container.

Container 1 is provided with a liner 7 which may be made of flexible plastics sheet material. Liner 7 comprises a bag having two openings or ports 9, 11 therein. Each opening 9, 11 is defined by a rigid port member in the form of a tube as will be described in greater detail below. The port members defining openings 9 and 11 are of dimensions such that they may be passed through the opening 3 of the outer container 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, there is shown liner 7 which has been folded to provide an elongate, guidable form, i.e. rigid enough to be directed yet flexible enough to yield so as to be connected at its ends to the outer container. The liner 7 is retained folded by an enclosing an outer sleeve 8 of plastics material. The sleeve 8 has a perforated join 12 running longitudinally along its length. The sleeve 8 has an opening in the dotted region 10 to allow access to the liner opening 11 located therebeneath. The liner is folded such that the liner opening 9 protrudes from one end thereof as shown. The opening 11 is located approximately midway between the ends of the folded form. The opening 11 is adapted to be screwed to a cap 14 connected to an air supply line 16 for inflation of the liner 7.

As shown generally in Figure 1 , the liner 7, in the folded elongate form is inserted into the container 1 by directing the end of the liner 7 with opening 9 first through upper port 3 in the container and then directing the elongate form so that the end with opening 9 resides in the vicinity of lower port 5 of container 1. The opening 11 of the liner 7 and the other end of the elongate form remote from the end with opening 9 also follow through the upper port 3 of container 1. The air supply cap 14 and attached air line 16 are already connected to opening 11 prior to insertion of the liner into the container. Referring to Figure 4, there is illustrated port member 13 which defines opening 9 of liner 7. Port member 13 is in the form of a short tube which is welded to the body 15 of the liner 7 at integral flange 17 located at one end of tube 13. Close to the other end of the tube 13 is an outer peripheral groove 19. The end of tube 13 is closed by a breakable seal 20 having a loop 18 thereon.

Once the position shown in Figure 1 is reached, the port 13 can be gripped by means of loop 18 on seal 20 by reaching through lower port 5 of the container 1. Opening 9 is then pulled through port 5 as shown in Figure 2.

The next stage is the connection together of opening 9 of liner 7 and opening 5 of container 1. The sequence of operations to achieve this is shown in Figures 4 to 8. The first step is to locate an annular collar 81 around the port member 13 at a location between the groove 19 and the flange 17. The collar 81 comprises a ring portion 83 and an outwardly directed flange portion 85. The second step is to locate a split ring 31 in groove 19 of port member 13 (see Figures 4 and 5). Figure 5 illustrates the shape of opening 5 of contamer 1. This opening includes an outwardly extending tube portion 33 provided with an external screw thread 39. With collar 81 located and split ring 31 in position in groove 19, port member 13 of liner 7 may be pushed back into container 1 until collar 81 engages with the tube portion 33 (see Figure 5).

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 7, port member 13 of liner 7 is closed at its free end by hard plastics seal 20 having integral loop 18, ensuring that the inside of the liner is kept hygienically clean. Seal 20 is broken by pulling loop 18 prior to attaching valve member 41 to place the interior of the liner in fluid communication with the valve. Referring to Figure 6, the next step is to attach valve member 41 to opening 5 of container 1. As best illustrated in Figure 8, valve member 41 includes a housing 43 having a broadly tubular shape. At the end of valve member 41 which engages tube portion 33, the housing 43 has an enlarged diameter mouth position 46. Mouth portion 46 is provided with a threaded portion 45 on its inner surface for engagement with the corresponding threaded portion 39 of tube portion 33. Housing 43 is also provided with a sealing ring 47 located at the end of the housing adjacent mouth portion 46, sealing ring 47 being for sealing engagement against the outer edge of port member 13. Naive 41 carries an external handle 49 for operating the opening and closing of the valve.

Next, the folded liner 7 is inflated with air via air supply line 16. Valve 41 at the other container opening is closed for this step. As the liner 7 begins to fill with air, the outer perforated sleeve 8 is broken away along perforated join 12 and the liner 7 is reed and continues to inflate until it is fully inflated form as shown in Figure 2. Whilst the liner 7 is inflating the opening 11 of liner 7 is manoeuvered into the vicinity of the upper port 3 of container 1 for ease of removal of air filling cap 14 and subsequent closing to opening 11 or engagement of opening 11 with a filling nozzle and then securing opening 11 with a closing cap (see below).

If the container is to be transported empty before filling at a remote station, the opening 11 may simply be sealed. Referring to Figure 9, there is illustrated the operations at the opening 11 of the liner 7. Opening 11 of liner 7 includes a rigid port member 61 in the form of a short tube which is welded to liner 7 at its flanged inner end 63. As illustrated in Figure 9, opening 3 of container 1 is in the form of an outwardly extending tube portion 67 having an external threaded portion 69. Port member 61 is such that, when the liner 7 is expanded as in Figure 2, port member 61 may sit in the vicinity of the neck of tube portion portion 67 of container 1. When the position illustrated in Figures 2 and 9 has been achieved the air line 16 and associated cap 14 are removed and the liner opening 11 is closed by screwing a cap 76 onto port member 61 and container opening 3 is closed by a cap 77, having an internal screw thread 79, corresponding to external thread 69 of container opening 3, which is located in position to close the container. By use of cap 76, the opening 11 is not connected to the container opening 3 and it is free to move relative thereto. Alternatively, referring to Figure 10, there is shown a cap 86 which will fit in place instead of cap 76 described above. Cap 86 has an externally threaded neck portion 88 which engages with the threaded internal surface of port member 61. The cap 86, in contrast to cap 76, has a radially extending flange portion 84 which extends for resting in contact with the top of tube portion 67 of the outer container opening. The cap 86 further has a downwardly directed location portion 82 depending from flange 84 for locating the cap 86. The location portion 82 locates between the tube portion 67 and the port member 61 to prevent significant movement of port member 61 within the tube portion 67. The cap 86 has a central aperture 90 through which can be passed a filling nozzle for filling of the liner. The aperture 90 may be sealed with a brealcable seal or membrane (not shown), which may be similar in construction to that of the seal 20 at the end of liner opening 9 described above. In addition, or alternatively, the aperture 90 and neck 88 of cap 86 may be internally threaded to received a threaded plug (not shown) to close aperture 90 when needed. It can be seen that the cap 86 will locate the liner opening within the neck of container opening 3. Therefore, if transporting the liner empty for filling elsewhere, the liner opening will already be in place for filling when needed. In addition, advantageously, the cap 86 with its flange 84 will act as a filling bridge to prevent spillage leaking into the container. After filling, the cap 86 may be removed and replaced with cap 76 for further transit of the container now filled.

If filling immediately, i.e. before transit, the liner 7 may be filled directly with material through port 3 of container 1 and opening 11 of liner 7 after removal of air filling cap 14, or alternatively, cap 86 may be fitted for filling and then replaced by cap 76 for transit.

After transit of the filled container, the container is emptied of the material through valve 41. Once the container has been emptied of the material, the liner may be removed and a new liner inserted. The operation of inserting the liner into the container, and securing the liner to the container at the two openings, using the invention may be achieved more quickly, simply and effectively.

The liner opening 11 is not attached to the container opening 3 so that, during transit with a filled container, there is reduced stress around the liner opening 11 in the event of the transport vehicle braking hard.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a container for the transport of material, the container comprising an outer container having first and second container openings and a container liner having first and second liner openings, said first liner opening being sufficiently small to be passed through said second container opening and being adapted for connection to said first container opening, the method comprising the steps of:

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the liner is folded into the elongate form.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising the step of expanding the liner after insertion.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the step of expanding the liner after insertion comprises inflating the liner.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the liner is inflated via the second liner opening.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein an inflation supply is connected to the second liner opening prior to insertion of the liner into the outer container.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the elongate liner form is held by a breakable retaining means.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein, when the liner is expanded from its elongate form, the breakable retaining means breaks by the force of the expanding liner to release the liner.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the brealcable retaining means is made of plastics material.

10. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the brealcable retaining means comprises a brealcable outer sleeve or one or more brealcable bands.

11. A method according to any one of claim 10 wherein the outer sleeve is in the form of a bag or of tubular form.

12. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the brealcable retaining means has a perforated join.

13. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the first liner opening is present at or near an end of the elongate form.

14. A container for the transport of material comprising an outer container having first and second container openings therein, and a container liner having first and second liner openings therein, said first liner opening being adapted for connection to the first container opening and wherein said second liner opening is adapted to be located free from attachment to the second container opening.

15. A container according to claim 14 wherein there is provided a closing cap for the second liner opening which fits through the second container opening.

16. A container according to claim 14 or 15 wherein the second liner opening is adapted for attachment to the second container opening when not in transit.

17. A container according to claim 16 wherein there is provided a retaining means or clip for the second liner opening to engage or attach to the container opening.

18. A container according to claim 16 or 17 wherein there is provided for the second liner opening a cap having a flange portion which is adapted to locate on the top of the second container opening.

19. A container according to claim 18 wherein the cap has a channel through which the liner may be filled.

20. A container liner as in any one preceding claim wherein at least one liner opening thereof is provided with a seal.

21. A container liner according to claim 20 wherein the seal is breakable.

22. A container liner according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the seal is in the form of a membrane.

23. A container liner according to any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein the seal includes a grip.