Apparatus for dispensing material from a bag

Claim 1

Apparatus for dispensing material from a bulk bag having an inner liner and having open upper and lower ends which may be held closed by drawstrings, the apparatus comprising: a cradle assembly for supporting the bag, the cradle assembly including a cradle having a bottom portion defining an opening through which material from the bag may be passed, a pair of generally horizontal frame members of generally rectangular cross-section disposed on opposite sides of the cradle assembly for accommodating fork lift tines, and an overhead support assembly for upholding the upper end of the bag as the bag empties; a discharge assembly including a discharge tube positioned beneath the opening in the cradle for receiving material from the bag and having a sharpened upper end for piercing the liner of the bag, valve means for regulating the flow of material through the discharge tube, a collar affixed to the exterior of the tube near its upper end to restrict communication between the exterior and the interior of the bag liner adjacent the exterior of the tube, and drive means for raising and lowering the discharge tube; and a frame for supporting the cradle assembly and discharge assembly in predetermined relation to one another.

Claim 7

A method for dispensing material from a bulk bag having an inner liner and having openings at its upper and lower ends which are closable by closure means and which bag has support straps affixed to its upper end, the method comprising the steps of: placing the bag on a cradle assembly which includes a cradle having a bottom portion defining an opening through which material from the bag may pass, and which further includes an overhead support; securing the straps to said overhead support; raising said overhead support to apply tension to the straps and to the bag to prevent the bag from collapsing downwardly as material is dispensed therefrom; lifting the cradle assembly and bag and placing them on a support frame, opening the bag at its lower end, forming an opening in the bottom of the inner liner of the bag by driving a discharge assembly upward into the bottom of the bag, the discharge assembly including a discharge tube for receiving material from the bag through the opening in the liner and directing the material to a predetermined location; and regulating the flow of material through the discharge tube by manipulating valve means.

Claim 8

A method for dispensing material from a bulk bag having an inner liner and having openings at its upper and lower ends which are closable by closure means and which bag has support straps affixed to its upper end, the method comprising the steps of: placing the bag on a cradle assembly which includes a cradle having a bottom portion defining an opening through which material from the bag may pass, and which further includes an overhead support; securing the straps to said overhead support; raising said overhead support to apply tension to the straps and to the bag to prevent the bag from collapsing downwardly as material is dispensed therefrom; lifting the cradle assembly and bag and placing them on a support frame, opening the bag at its lower end, forming an opening in the bottom of the inner liner of the bag by driving a discharge assembly upward into the bottom of the bag, the discharge assembly including a discharge tube for receiving material from the bag through the opening in the liner and directing the material to a predetermined location; and regulating the flow of material through the discharge tube by manipulating valve means.