Patent Grant
11208260
This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2016 010 041.9 filed on Aug. 22, 2016 and now abandoned, German Patent Application No. 10 2017 000 108.1 filed on Jan. 10, 2017 and German Patent Utility Model Application No, 20 2017 002 448.9 filed on Apr. 27, 2017.
The invention is directed to a bag for transporting and handling powdery bulk materials, especially inorganic or organic pigments. Further, the present invention relates to a method for opening the tubular drain of such a bag, as well as to the use of the bag for transporting and handling powdery bulk materials.
In many fields of technology, powdery bulk materials are prepared and filled into bags for transport and handling. A safe transport without spilling, the quick discharging of the bulk material without spilling, and working safety are central aspects. Conventional bags for bulk materials have unsafe discharging mechanisms that open spontaneously and inadvertently during transport or the loading and unloading of vehicles. This may result in a loss of the bulk material and, depending on the kind of bulk material, in a hazard to the environment and humans. Such bags are usually lifted by means of a device or a vehicle, such as a forklift truck, above the vessel or device into which the bulk material is to be discharged. Usual discharging mechanisms of such bags require that the mechanisms be opened manually, while the opening person has to dwell below the bag. This may result in undesirable contact with the bulk material and a hazard to humans. Thus, there is a need for a discharging mechanism that ensures a quick, complete and safe discharging of the bulk material contained in the bag without the discharging mechanism being able to open spontaneously and inadvertently.
It is the technical object of the invention to provide a bag for transporting powdery bulk materials that can be discharged quickly, completely and safely and has a discharging mechanism that cannot open spontaneously and inadvertently.
This object is preferably achieved by a bag for transporting and handling powdery goods, including:
The bag according to the invention has a safe discharging mechanism that will not open spontaneously and inadvertently during transport and handling, or spill the bulk material contained therein. Further, the discharging mechanism of the bag according to the preferred embodiments of the invention has such a design that it can be opened without the opening person having to dwell below the bag, but can operate said mechanism while the opening person can dwell beside the bag, and thus will not inadvertently come into contact with the bulk material. Consequently, this prevents a risk of injury from contact with the bulk material.
Therefore, in a first aspect, the preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a bag for transporting and handling powdery goods, including:
In another aspect, the preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a method for opening a closed tubular drain (7) of a second opening (6) in the bottom section (3) of a bag claimed herein comprising the steps
Finally, in a further aspect, the preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to the use of a bag claimed herein for transporting and handling powdery goods, preferably inorganic or organic pigments, particularly preferably pigments comprising titanium dioxide.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are stated in the depending claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
These and further aspects, features and advantages of the invention are evident to the skilled person by perusing the following detailed description and claims. Each feature from one aspect or embodiment of the invention may be employed in each other aspect of the invention. Numerical ranges stated in the format “from x to y” include the mentioned values as well as the values within the range of the respective measuring error as known to the skilled person. If several preferred numerical ranges are stated in such format, then of course all ranges formed by combining the different end points are also included.
All statements disclosed in the following and relating to the size in m, μm etc. or % etc. are to be understood in such terms that all values within the range of the respective measuring error as known to the skilled person are also included. The use of the term “about” is intended to encompass all values that lie within the range of the respective measurement accuracy known to the skilled person.
“At least one” as used herein means 1 or more, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more.
In a preferred embodiment, the bag according to the invention includes a fabric bag having a top segment (1), several side segments (2), and a bottom segment (3), which together bound a storing space between them. The fabric bag may have any shape, for example, a sac or balloon shape, or an angular shape. Preferably, the fabric bag has an angular shape, more preferably an octagonal one. The bottom segment (3) is preferably quadrangular. The edges of the fabric bag may be reinforced by a reinforcing material and thus provide stiffness to the fabric bag.
The material of the fabric bag may be a textile material, plastic sheet, paper, or mixtures thereof, also in the form of laminates. “Textile material” as used herein relates to textile raw materials, such as natural fibers and chemical fibers, and non-textile raw materials that are processed into one-, two- and three-dimensional items by appropriate processes. These materials include without limitation polyester, polypropylene, and nylon. These materials may further be woven.
In addition, the material may be coated with another material, such as polyvinyl chloride or Teflon. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric bag has electrically conducting fabric threads. This is advantageous, in particular, if photocatalytically active or statically chargeable goods, such as titanium dioxide in anatase polymorph, are transported and handled. For this purpose, in general, all electrically conducting fabric threads known in the prior art and suitable for this purpose can be employed. Preferably, these fabric threads are incorporated in geometrical patterns in and/or on the fabric bag, such as checkered patterns.
The height, width and depth of the fabric bag can be selected arbitrarily and matched to the volume of the respective bulk material that is to be transported and handled by means of the bag. Preferably, the height, width and depth of the fabric bag are respectively a length of from 0.1 to 2 m, preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 m, and more preferably 1 m. In a preferred embodiment, the edge lengths of the fabric bag are 1.1 m high, 0.85 m wide, and 1.08 m deep. Preferably, the fabric bag is in addition octagonal, more preferably cuboid.
As can be seen in
The tubular filler (5) may have a cylindrical or conical shape, the diameter being the same as that of the first opening (4). The height is from 0.1 m to 1 m, preferably from 0.3 m to 0.6 m, more preferably 0.5 m. Preferably, the tubular filler (5) is mounted flush to the first opening (4). Preferably, said filler (5) has a conical shape at first, the tubular filler (5) becoming narrower, the closer it gets to the top segment (1). The diameter of the tubular filler (5) decreases from 80 to 50%, preferably 60%, of the diameter of the widest part of the filler that is furthest from the top segment (1). The tapering goes over 40 to 60%, preferably 50%, of the entire height of the filler (5). Over the remaining height, the filler (5) has a cylindrical shape with a constant diameter. Preferably, the filler (5) is mounted flush to the first opening (4). Further, the material of the filler (5) may be the same as or different from that of the fabric bag, preferably an identical material. In a preferred embodiment, the filler (5) has a diameter of 0.6 m that tapers down to 0.36 m.
Further, a top cord (16) surrounds the filler (5) in such a way that the filler (5) can be closed by means of this top cord (16). This is preferably effected by pressing this filler together and closing it. The closing can be effected by means of conventional techniques or devices, such as a usual cord lock, or by knotting the top cord (16). The closed form of the filler (5) is particularly suitable when the bag has been filled and is being transported or handled.
In another preferred embodiment, as depicted in
Further, the fabric bag has a bottom segment (3) having a second opening (6) with a tubular drain (7). This second opening (6) is used for discharging the bag according to the invention and can have any geometrical shape that is suitable for this, such as an angular or round shape. Preferably, the second opening (6) is round. Further, the second opening (6) is preferably positioned centrally in the bottom segment (3) and has a diameter of from 0.01 to 1 m, preferably from 0.25 to 0.75 m, more preferably 0.6 m. The tubular drain (7) is preferably mounted flush to the second opening (6). Further, the material of the tubular drain (7) may be the same as or different from that of the fabric bag, preferably an identical material. This drain has such a design that it supports the discharging of the bulk material, and may have a shape that it suitable for this, such as an angular or round shape. Thus, the tubular drain (7) may have a cylindrical shape, the diameter being the same as that of the second opening (6). The height of the tubular drain (7) is from 0.1 m to 1.5 m, preferably from 0.4 m to 1.1 m, more preferably 0.7 m. Preferably, the tubular drain (7) tapers down to 75% over the entire height, so that discharging without spilling is ensured.
The tubular drain (7) is further surrounded by a first cord (10), which is led through a cord lock (11). Further, one end of a first release cord (13) is connected to the first cord (10). A end of a second release cord (13) is connected to the cord lock (11) in such a way that said cord lock (11) can be unlocked by pulling said second release cord (13). Such cord locks are well established in the prior art. The opposite ends of the first release cord (12) and the second release cord (13), i.e. the ends not connected to the first cord (10) or the cord lock (11), are attached to the fabric bag at the same site. Preferably the opposite ends of the first release cord (12) and second release cord (13) are connected to the fabric bag in such a way that those who operate the release cords can operate them while they are positioned beside the bag according to the invention. More preferably, the release cords (12) and (13) are attached to the bag where one of said several side segments (2) is connected to said bottom segment (3). In order to improve the orientation for those who operate the release cords, one side segment (2) may be marked, for example, printed with a marking sign, so that the release cords (12) and (13) can be more easily located. Preferably, the release cords (12) and (13) are attached to the lower right corner of the marked side segment (2), as viewed from the bag.
As can be better seen in
Further, as can be seen in
In a preferred embodiment, the tubular drain (7) is narrowed by means of the first cord (10) and the cord lock (11), through which the first cord (10) is led, and the tubular drain (7) is folded towards the bottom segment (3) below the cord lock (11), and the first cord (10) surrounds both the tubular drain (7) and the part of the tubular drain (7) that is folded towards the bottom segment (3), and closes it with a knot (18) with an extractor loop (19) in such a way that said knot (18) with an extractor loop (19) can be undone by pulling the first release cord (12) as can been better seen in
As can be better seen in
As can be seen in
Preferably, the first release cord (12) and the second release cord (13) have different colors. More preferably, the first release cord (12) is black, and the second release cord (13) is red.
The first and second cords (10) and (16), said first and second release cords (12) and (13), the plurality of threads (15), the at least one loop (17) as well as the multiple loop (14) are made of a tear-resistant and flexible material that is known in the prior art and is usually used for this purpose. These include, without being limited thereto, polypropylene, polyester, and nylon, which may also be woven.
The present invention includes both the completely emptied bag and the at least partially filled bag. Further, the present invention includes each of the filler (5) and the tubular drain (7) in both the opened and closed states.
The bag is particularly suitable for several uses, preferably for 2 to 20, more preferably 4 to 10, even more preferably 6, uses, because of, among other things, the discharging mechanism comprising the tubular drain (7), the first cord (10) and the knot with an extractor loop formed by the first cord (10), the cord lock (11) of the first release cord (12) and the second release cord (13), and the fabric flap (8).
The bag according to the invention is suitable for transporting and handling powdery bulk materials, such as pigments, fillers, granules and pellets. These also include foods, such as rice, maize, cereals and sugar. Inorganic or organic pigments are particularly suitable for this, more preferably pigments comprising titanium dioxide. Further, the bag disclosed herein is more suitable for fine-grained bulk materials having a size of preferably less than 500 μm, more preferably less than 100 μm, even more preferably less than 1 μm, and most preferably less than 0.5 μm, because of its quality.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for opening a closed tubular drain (7) of a second opening (6) in the bottom section (3) of a bag claimed herein comprising the steps of:
Finally, in a further aspect, the invention is directed to a bag claimed herein for transporting and handling powdery goods, preferably inorganic or organic pigments, particularly preferably pigments comprising titanium dioxide.
The above descriptions of certain embodiments are made for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting in any manner. Other alterations and modifications of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventors are legally entitled.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102016010041.9 | Aug 2016 | DE | national |
| 102017000108.1 | Jan 2017 | DE | national |
| 202017002448.9 | Apr 2017 | DE | national |
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