Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of filling bulk material into a flexible container of the type having at least one upper lifting loop by which the container may be lifted, said method comprising: supporting said lifting loop by a load carrying double hook, while supporting the bottom of said container by a generally planar supporting member; introducing air into the interior of said container, thereby blowing up said container; filling bulk material into said interior of said container, while supporting a substantial portion of the weight thereof by said hook, thereby maintaining said lifting loop taunt during filling; upon completion of said filling, simultaneously lowering said hook and said supporting member, while moving said supporting member laterally; inserting an external lever through said lifting loop; and opening and removing said hook, whereby said lifting loop is supported by said external lever.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of filling bulk material into a flexible container of the type having at least one upper lifting loop by which the container may be lifted, said method comprising: supporting said lifting loop by a load carrying double hook, while supporting the bottom of said container by a generally planar supporting member; introducing air into the interior of said container, thereby blowing up said container; filling bulk material into said interior of said container, while supporting a substantial portion of the weight thereof by said hook, thereby maintaining said lifting loop taunt during filling; upon completion of said filling, simultaneously lowering said hook and said supporting member, while moving said supporting member laterally; inserting an external lever through said lifting loop; and opening and removing said hook, whereby said lifting loop is supported by said external lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising removing said filled container from said supporting member by means of said external lever, and thereby carrying said filled container to a storage location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said introducing and said filling result in said bulk material being fluidized in said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising introducing said air and filling said bulk material into said interior of said container by means of a filling pipe extending through a filling opening in the top of said flexible container, and said lowering and said moving laterally move said filled container away from said filling pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during said filling said lifting loop is tensioned tightly, thereby forming an opening therethrough for receipt of said external lever.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for filling bulk material into a flexible container of the type having at least one upper lifting loop by which the container may be lifted, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing air into the interior of the container, thereby blowing up the container, and for filling bulk material into the interior of the container; a generally planar supporting member for supporting the bottom of the container during filling; load carrying double hook means for engaging the lifting loop of the container and for supporting a substantial portion of the weight of the container during filling thereof, thereby maintaining the lifting loop taunt during filling; and means for, upon completion of filling of the container, simultaneously lowering said hook means and said supporting member while moving said supporting member laterally thereby moving the filled container away from said filling means, whereafter an external lever may be inserted through the lifting loop and said hook means may be released from engagement with the lifting loop and removed, such that the lifting loop then is supported by the external lever.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for filling bulk material into a flexible container of the type having at least one upper lifting loop by which the container may be lifted, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing air into the interior of the container, thereby blowing up the container, and for filling bulk material into the interior of the container; a generally planar supporting member for supporting the bottom of the container during filling; load carrying double hook means for engaging the lifting loop of the container and for supporting a substantial portion of the weight of the container during filling thereof, thereby maintaining the lifting loop taunt during filling; and means for, upon completion of filling of the container, simultaneously lowering said hook means and said supporting member while moving said supporting member laterally thereby moving the filled container away from said filling means, whereafter an external lever may be inserted through the lifting loop and said hook means may be released from engagement with the lifting loop and removed, such that the lifting loop then is supported by the external lever.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An appartus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lowering and moving means comprises a bar supporting said hook, means for moving said bar vertically and for connecting said bar to said supporting member, and means for moving said supporting member vertically and horizontally.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bar moving means comprises a first member connected to said bar and vertically telescopically movably mounted in a second member which is fastened to said supporting member, and a frame hinged to said supporting member in a manner such that vertical movement thereof will result in simultaneous horizontal movement thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly connected between said frame and said second member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a weighing cell between said assembly and said frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said hook means comprises a frame, a pair of first arms having upper ends pivotally connected to said frame by means of first pins and lower ends, a bracket pivotally mounted to said frame for movement between hook open and hook closed positions, a pair of second arms having upper ends revolvingly supported by said bracket when in said hook closed position thereof and lower ends extending toward said lower ends of said first arms, second pins pivotally connecting said lower ends of said first arms to lower ends of respective said second arms, and means for pivotting said first arms about said first pins to move said lower ends of said first arms away from respective lower ends of said second arms to a hook release position releasing said connection by said second pins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pivotting means comprises a pair of beams pivotally connected to respective said first arms, and a piston-cylinder assembly mounted on said frame and having a vertical piston rod pivotally connected to said pair of beams at a connecting joint, such that vertical movement of said joint by said piston rod results in pivotting of said first arms about said first pins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said introducing and filling means comprises a filling pipe adapted to extend through a filling opening in the top of the container, and an air supply pipe extending through said filling pipe.