Method of removing contents from container

Claim 1

A method of emptying the contents of a closed perforable, flexible container comprising a bottom at least partially in contact with a support, a plurality of sides each extending generally upwardly from said bottom and disposed generally parallel to the direction of travel of said container on said support, and a plurality of faces each extending generally upward from said bottom and disposed generally transverse to said direction of travel of said container on said support, which comprises: a. moving said container on a support toward a hopper; b. perforating said container along a plurality of generally parallel lines each substantially aligned with direction of travel of said container on said support, with at least one pair of said plurality of generally parallel lines being disposed with one line, respectively, proximate to each of the transverse extremity portions of said container, said transverse extremity portions being determined with reference to said direction of travel of said container on said support; c. perforating said container along at least one line extending transversely across said container from one of said pair of generally parallel lines proximate to one of said transverse extremity portions to the other of said pair of generally parallel lines proximate to the other of said transverse extremity portions of said container; d. maintaining the perforated container in a substantially closed configuration through all steps up to step (f) below; e. releasably gripping said perforated container at a location other than that portion of said container extending downwardly from the lines of perforation; f. moving the gripped container from said support to a position overlying said hopper, the motion to a depriving at least a portion of said container of support, whereby the weight of said contents causes said perforated container to open along said lInes of perforation, and thereupon said contents are released from said container and are deposited in said hopper; and g. moving the empty container away from said hopper and then releasing the grip of said container.

Claim 2

A method of emptying the contents of a closed perforable, flexible container comprising a bottom at least partially in contact with a support, a plurality of sides each extending generally upwardly from said bottom and disposed generally parallel to the direction of travel of said container on said support, and a plurality of faces each extending generally upward from said bottom and disposed generally transverse to said direction of travel of said container on said support, which comprises: a. moving said container on a support toward a hopper; b. perforating said container along a plurality of generally parallel lines each substantially aligned with direction of travel of said container on said support, with at least one pair of said plurality of generally parallel lines being disposed with one line, respectively, proximate to each of the transverse extremity portions of said container, said transverse extremity portions being determined with reference to said direction of travel of said container on said support; c. perforating said container along at least one line extending transversely across said container from one of said pair of generally parallel lines proximate to one of said transverse extremity portions to the other of said pair of generally parallel lines proximate to the other of said transverse extremity portions of said container; d. maintaining the perforated container in a substantially closed configuration through all steps up to step (f) below; e. releasably gripping said perforated container at a location other than that portion of said container extending downwardly from the lines of perforation; f. moving the gripped container from said support to a position overlying said hopper, the motion to a depriving at least a portion of said container of support, whereby the weight of said contents causes said perforated container to open along said lInes of perforation, and thereupon said contents are released from said container and are deposited in said hopper; and g. moving the empty container away from said hopper and then releasing the grip of said container.