IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0133124
(2005-05-19)
|
등록번호 |
US-7374528
(2008-05-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Yoder, IV,John Thomas
- Graham,Thomas D.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Smurfit Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
An air evacuation system is used for lining a container with a flexible liner. The container has a plurality of walls defining a cavity with an open top, and each wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The air evacuation system includes a platform for supporting the container in a for
An air evacuation system is used for lining a container with a flexible liner. The container has a plurality of walls defining a cavity with an open top, and each wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The air evacuation system includes a platform for supporting the container in a formed state, wherein the container has the liner in an unseated position within the cavity. A vacuum assembly is coupled to the platform. The vacuum assembly includes a pump in airflow communication with at least one inlet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of a first container wall. The vacuum assembly is configured to draw air using the at least one inlet from the cavity through the first container wall such that the liner is positioned substantially adjacent to the interior surface of the container in a seated position.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method of lining a container with a flexible liner using an air evacuation system, the container having a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall that define a cavity with an open top, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the air evacuation system
What is claimed is: 1. A method of lining a container with a flexible liner using an air evacuation system, the container having a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall that define a cavity with an open top, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the air evacuation system having a platform for supporting the container, wherein the platform includes a base having a plurality of ribs and at least one spacer tab protruding upwardly therefrom, the at least one spacer tab extending from the base a greater distance than the plurality of ribs, and a vacuum assembly coupled to the platform, said method comprising: forming the container such that the bottom wall is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of side walls, wherein the bottom wall includes a plurality of bottom flaps; positioning the container on the platform such that the bottom wall of the container is adjacent to the plurality of ribs and the at least one spacer tab protruding from the base, wherein the bottom wall of the container is elevated above the base by the plurality of ribs such that a gap is defined therebetween, and wherein the at least one spacer tab engages one of the plurality of bottom flaps and displaces at least a portion of the engaged bottom flap relative to at least one of the other bottom flaps creating an airflow channel between the cavity and the gap; positioning the liner at least partially within the container cavity, the liner being in an unseated position; and operating the vacuum assembly to create a vacuum around at least a portion of the container to draw air from the container cavity through at least one container side wall, and through the bottom wall and the gap such that the liner is positioned adjacent the interior surface of the container in a seated position while maintaining the gap between the bottom wall of the container and the base of the platform. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air evacuation system includes an inflatable bladder assembly, said method further comprises inflating the bladder assembly to form a seal around the container walls. 3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said operating the vacuum assembly comprises drawing air from the container cavity until the liner is seated against the interior surface of the container cavity. 4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said operating the vacuum assembly comprises drawing air from the container cavity until substantially all of the air is removed between the interior surface of the container and the liner. 5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said operating the vacuum assembly comprises apply a differential air pressure to said vacuum assembly to facilitate positioning the liner within the container. 6. An air evacuation system for lining a container with a flexible liner, the container having a plurality of side walls and a substantially perpendicular bottom wall that define a cavity with an open top when the container is in a formed state, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the bottom wall including a plurality of flaps, said air evacuation system comprising: a platform for supporting the container in the formed state, the container including the liner in an unseated position within the cavity, wherein said platform comprises a base comprising a plurality of ribs and at least one spacer tab extending upwardly therefrom, said at least one spacer tab extending upwardly from said platform base a greater distance than said plurality of ribs, said plurality of ribs elevating the bottom wall of the container from said platform base creating a gap between the bottom wall of the container and said platform base, said at least one spacer tab positioned to engage one of the plurality of bottom flaps and displace at least a portion of the engaged bottom flap relative to at least one of the other bottom flaps creating an airflow channel between the cavity and the gap; and a vacuum assembly coupled to said platform, said vacuum assembly comprising a pump in airflow communication with at least one inlet positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of a first container side wall, said vacuum assembly configured to draw air using the at least one inlet from the cavity through the first container side wall, and through the bottom wall and the gap, such that the liner is positioned substantially adjacent to the interior surface of the container in a seated position while the gap between the bottom wall of the container and said platform base is maintained. 7. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a seal member coupled to said platform, said seal member configured to form a seal around the container to facilitate drawing air from the cavity through the first container wall. 8. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising an inflatable bladder assembly coupled to said platform, said inflatable bladder assembly engaging the exterior surface of the container when inflated. 9. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a switch for activating at least one of said vacuum assembly and said inflatable bladder assembly. 10. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the plurality of walls of the container includes a plurality of side walls and a plurality of flaps connected to each of the side walls, wherein the plurality of flaps define the bottom wall of the container, said at least one spacer tab engaging at least one of the flaps of the container and elevating the respective flap such that a gap is formed between the respective flap and an adjacent flap to facilitate increasing an amount of air evacuated from the container cavity by said vacuum assembly. 11. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the unseated liner is secured to the open end of the container, and wherein said vacuum assembly draws air from between the unseated liner and the interior surface of the container cavity such that the liner is seated against the interior surface of the container cavity. 12. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said vacuum assembly further comprises a plurality of inlets positioned adjacent to and at various locations surrounding the exterior surface of the container, said vacuum assembly configured to apply a differential air pressure to each of the plurality of inlets to facilitate positioning the liner within the container. 13. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said platform comprises a base and a plurality of side walls, said platform side walls extending along at least a portion of the container walls, said at least one inlet coupled to at least one of said platform side walls. 14. An air evacuation apparatus for positioning a flexible liner within a container, the container having a plurality of side walls and a substantially perpendicular bottom wall that define a cavity when the container is in a formed state, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the bottom wall including a plurality of bottom flaps said air evacuation apparatus comprising: a platform comprising a base for supporting the container in the formed state and a plurality of side rails for aligning the container with respect to said platform, the container including the liner in an unseated position within the cavity, wherein said base comprises a plurality of ribs and at least one spacer tab extending upwardly therefrom, said at least one spacer tab extending upwardly from said base a greater distance than said plurality of ribs, said plurality of ribs elevating the bottom wall of the container from said platform base creating a gap between the bottom wall of the container and said platform base, said at least one spacer tab positioned to engage one of the plurality of bottom flaps and displace at least a portion of the engaged bottom flap relative to at least one of the other bottom flaps creating an airflow channel between the cavity and the gap; and a suction member coupled to said platform and configured to position the unseated liner in a seated position adjacent the interior surface of the container by drawing air from the container cavity through at least one container side wall, and through said bottom wall and said gap, such that substantially all of the air between the interior surface of the container and the unseated liner is removed while the gap between the bottom wall of the container and the platform base is maintained. 15. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 14, further comprising an inflatable member coupled to said platform, said inflatable member engaging the exterior surface of the container when inflated forming a seal around the container. 16. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said suction member draws air from the container cavity such that the unseated liner is seated against the interior surface of the container cavity. 17. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said air evacuation apparatus comprises a plurality of suction members arranged along at least one of said plurality of side rails and said platform base, said air evacuation apparatus configured to apply a differential air pressure to each of said suction members to facilitate positioning the liner within the container.
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