Liner, composite packaging and transport container comprising a liner, and associated method

Abstract

The invention relates to a liner (10) which is designed to receive filling material (40) and to be inserted through an opening in a container wall of a transport container (12). The liner (10) is operatively connected to shaping rods (14) which are designed to open together with the liner (10) in the transport container (12) according to the umbrella principle when the liner is inserted into the transport container, in order to position the liner so that it rests form-fittingly and neatly in the interior of the liner. Subsequently, the shaping rods (14) close again when the liner (10) is discharged, in order to remove the emptied and now contaminated liner (10) together with a potential residual amount of liquid through the filling opening in the transport container.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an inliner having the features of the preamble of claim 1, a composite package having such an inliner having the features of claim 7, a transport container provided with such an inliner having the features of claim 9 and a method for introducing an inliner into a transport container having the features of claim 11

[0002] Transport containers for transporting liquid, pasty, or free-flowing goods are made of impermeable plastic bodies, which are usually blow-molded. For transport, such transport containers are held upright on a pallet within a grid or sheet metal casing. Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) are used in industry and trade as an extremely economical and cost-effective means of transporting liquids and, for example, pasty goods. They consist of a sturdy mesh box into which a blow-molded plastic tank container is inserted, equipped with at least one, usually several, filling and emptying fittings. These transport containers generally have volumes ranging from 500 or 1000 liters up to 1800 liters or even more. For the purposes of these documents, the term "transport container" also includes other transport containers, such as:Transport containers for use in other tank and transport applications, which can be made of stainless steel, for example. In principle, transport containers made of other materials, such as glass or cardboard, can also be used in accordance with the invention.

[0003] IBC transport containers are used, for example, to fill paints, pastes, acids, alkalis, oils, and other products from the chemical, food, medical, and pharmaceutical industries and transport them to users. They can also be used in many ways to provide drinking or cleaning water, for example, in crisis situations or disasters.

[0004] It is also known to provide a thin-walled, flexible, and, for example, essentially tubular and / or welded film adapted to the inner contour as an inner sleeve within such a transport container. Such inner sleeves are called inliners or film inliners; in this document, they are referred to as "inliners."

[0005] Since transport containers are typically reused and, depending on the application, are contaminated by the contents, it is usually necessary, without an liner, to thoroughly clean the transport container after emptying it before refilling it. This is done manually using pressure and steam jet cleaners or appropriate automatic cleaning systems. The cleaning process is usually very water-intensive and generates a large volume of wastewater, some of which must be treated and disposed of. This cleaning process and the disposal of the washing liquids are very complex and costly and are subject to strict regulations that are constantly being tightened. This cleaning is often carried out at specially equipped stations. This requires transport capacity for the delivery of the contaminated containers and their return transport to the filler.

[0006] Instead of cleaning the transport container, it can be fitted with inliners, which are flexible and conform to the shape of the container, forming a tight inner lining. This inner lining can be removed and recycled after use, or, if contaminated, thermally recycled. Due to the high energy content of the plastics, this thermal reuse is recommended.

[0007] DE 20 2014 105 594 U1 discloses an inner sleeve as an inliner for insertion through an opening in a transport container. The inliner comprises a connection adapter for filling and a connection adapter for emptying. These adapters can be attached in the area of ​​a filling opening and an outlet opening of the transport container. The adapter and inliner form a prefabricated assembly. The inliner is attached to the transport container using connection devices provided on the transport container, in which the adapters are folded over the corresponding threads and then clamped to the closure lids or the emptying fitting.The inner sleeve has a deployment aid which connects two distant sections of the inner sleeve before installation in the liquid container or keeps them at a defined distance from each other and which is designed to detach, open, tear or tear at least on one side when the deployment aid is unfolded within the liquid container. This makes it possible to specifically specify the order in which the inner sleeve is opened. This ensures that a bottom section of the inner sleeve used at the bottom fits against the container without any creases. Freedom from creases is particularly important on the bottom side, as creases there would disrupt the flow from the container. In addition, the inner sleeve is inserted into the container in a folded state. There is a high risk that the inner sleeve will fit against the liquid container in such a way that these original creases are retained.After generating a relative overpressure within the inner liner, it inflates, stretching and smoothing out existing wrinkles. This relative overpressure is created by the fact that sections of the inner liner that do not serve as the base are prevented from unfolding unless the deployment aid(s) are torn or opened. After opening the deployment aid(s), the inner liner can adhere to the inner wall of the container, reducing the number of wrinkles.

[0008] US 4,996,760 A1 shows a transport container having a flexible liner with a bottom outlet port. The bottom outlet port of the liner is inserted into a bottom opening of the transport container using an installation tool. The bottom outlet port has a substantially square inner pocket shape designed to accommodate the fingers of the installation tool for installation into the shell. The liner is placed on the installation tool, and the installation tool, with the flexible liner placed thereon, is transferred into an outlet port at the bottom of the shell of the transport container. The bottom outlet port of the liner is attached to the outlet port at the bottom of the shell. The installation tool is then removed from the shell, while the flexible liner and the bottom outlet port remain in their installed positions.

[0009] EP 2 964 540 B1 discloses a pallet container and a method for folding an inliner into the pallet container. By folding the inliner appropriately, it can be easily inserted into the transport container. Excess gas escaping from the transported goods can be vented via a venting nozzle. A flexible corrugated pipe with numerous lateral holes is also provided in the area of ​​the bottom fitting to improve the residual emptying of the transported goods, allowing the transport container to be emptied almost completely. The pipe is screwed to the filling and discharging fitting on the bottom of the transport container, independent of the inliner.

[0010] A common feature of the current state of the art is that it has been very complex to equip the transport container with a liner that optimally fits the inner walls of the container, preventing severe wrinkling of the hollow liner. Severe wrinkling is detrimental during subsequent filling, as pockets form in the liner, which can place tension on the material and lead to damage to the liner and thus leakage of the transported goods.

[0011] A complete and clean unfolding of the inner lining and thus of the inliner in the transport container would therefore be advantageous.

[0012] There are already various solutions for cleaning, but these have always failed because Inserting the inliner into the IBC is very complex; the inliner cannot be positioned correctly in the IBC (the inliner must be inserted in a rectangular shape for filling with the inliner base exactly corresponding to the IBC inner base, as otherwise voids will form between the inliner and the inner wall of the outer container during filling, which in turn can encourage the inliner to burst or tear due to over-tensioning of the film); inflating an inserted inliner does not bring it into the correct shape because the inliner is not correctly positioned in the base area of ​​the IBC; air bubbles will form between the inliner film and the IBC inner wall, which, as previously mentioned, can lead to the inliner film breaking or tearing in the worst case; the inliner can burst during removal after emptying and residual amounts of filling material can contaminate the IBC

[0013] Based on this prior art, the present invention is based on the object of providing an inliner, a composite package, a transport container equipped with an inliner and a method in which an optimal fit of the inliner against the wall of the transport container is ensured, but at the same time an easy insertion for filling and removal after emptying of the inliner is possible.

[0014] This object is achieved by an inliner having the features of claim 1, a composite package having the features of claim 7, a transport container provided with such an inliner having the features of claim 9 and a method having the features of claim 11.

[0015] The aim is to design an inliner, preferably a film inliner, which is inserted into a transport container such as an IBC container before filling and can be clean and, if required, even aseptic or sterile. The inliner should be able to be inserted into the transport container without additional devices or mechanical aids in such a way that it is optimally positioned for filling in the container, namely aligned according to the shape of an inner surface, preferably the inner base, of the transport container. If this alignment is not achieved, significant wrinkles will occur in the wall of the inliner during filling, which can lead to bubbles forming between the inner wall of the IBC transport container and the inliner. As a result, the static weight of the contents is no longer fully absorbed by the transport container and, in the worst case, the inliner could tear.

[0016] The liner is designed to hold contents and insert them through an opening in the wall of a transport container. The liner is operatively connected to shaped rods that are designed to open with the liner in the transport container, similar to the umbrella principle, when the liner is inserted into the transport container and close when the liner is removed. This advantageously enables oriented placement of the liner in the transport container, preferably at its base, thus eliminating the problems associated with state-of-the-art solutions.

[0017] For this purpose, the mold rods are made of a flexible, resilient material and, due to their inherent tension, can be moved from a deformed position to a rest position, which corresponds to the open position of the liner. Advantageously, the liner and mold rods can be easily inserted and removed through the filling opening of the transport container. In the relaxed rest position, they then assume the desired position in the transport container.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the inliner features fixing elements to which the mold rods are attached. This advantageously creates the desired operative connection, allowing the mold rods to be positioned precisely in any position.

[0019] Preferably, the liner is provided with at least two shaped rods, which, in the rest position, overlap at least one point and span a surface, at the corners of which the fixing elements are provided. Advantageously, this allows a surface adapted to the respective transport container or at least one of its inner surfaces to be stretched and reliably covered.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the clamped surface covers an inner surface, preferably a bottom surface, of the transport container, thereby advantageously counteracting the formation of wrinkles and covering them completely. This advantageously counteracts potential damage to the liner when filling with contents.

[0021] The shaped rods are preferably fiberglass rods, which advantageously possess the desired properties and the residual stress required to assume a predetermined position in their initial state. However, other materials with corresponding properties can also be used. The shaped rods are preferably made of inexpensive and / or recyclable materials to keep the costs of the liner low.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the liner and mold rods can be accommodated in their deformed position in an application hose whose outer cross-sectional dimensions are smaller than the filling opening of the transport container. This advantageously allows the liner to be easily inserted manually into the transport container.

[0023] The object is also achieved by a composite package having the features of claim 7, designed for introducing an inliner through an opening in a container wall of a transport container, comprising an inliner equipped with shaped rods as already described, an application hose in which the inliner and the shaped rods can be accommodated in their deformed position and whose external dimensions in cross-section are smaller than a filling opening of the transport container,

[0024] Advantageously, this composite package enables a prefabricated solution that makes it easier for the user to place the liner in the transport container while ensuring that the transport container is not contaminated.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the composite package additionally comprises a molded part designed to secure the liner to the filling opening of the transport container after it has been inserted into the container. Preferably, the molded part has air holes. This advantageously ensures that the liner can be filled without problems, while at the same time allowing air displaced in the transport container to escape easily.

[0026] The above-mentioned task is also solved by a transport container equipped with an inliner as described above.

[0027] Preferably, the transport container is designed to have a filling opening and, if appropriate, an outlet opening, and to be provided with the inliner arranged in the transport container, wherein the inliner can be secured to the filling opening. This advantageously makes it possible to ensure filling or emptying without the inliner slipping and thus also without contamination of the transport container.

[0028] The stated object is also achieved by a method for introducing an inliner, as described above, into a transport container through an opening in a container wall of the transport container, which method comprises the steps: Creating an operative connection between the forming rods and the inliner, transferring the forming rods into a deformed, resilient position by inserting the forming rods and inliner into an application hose, introducing the application hose with the inliner and forming rods contained therein through a filling opening into the transport container, pulling off the application hose while releasing the forming rods, which thereby stretch the inliner and move into their rest position on a base surface of the transport container, optionally filling the inliner in the transport container with filling material.

[0029] Advantageously, the transport container can easily be provided with the inliner in such a way that contamination of the transport container is reliably avoided.

[0030] To empty the inliner in the transport container, the following steps are preferably carried out: Removing the filling material, preferably by pumping out, suctioning by means of a suction lance and suction pump through the filling opening or emptying through a valve, if necessary down to a residual amount of filling material, pulling the inliner upwards to form a sump preferably above the forming rods, removing, preferably by pumping out through a suction lance, filling material from the sump, removing the inliner from the transport container.

[0031] By pulling on the inliner and suctioning / pumping it out, e.g. using a special suction lance, it can be ensured that even residual quantities can be removed as far as possible before the inliner is taken out of the transport container, so that the emptied inliner can be easily removed by hand or with a pull-out device through the filling opening.

[0032] For the emptying process, the liner should be able to be emptied almost completely, down to minimal residue, either by suction or by emptying, for example, through a valve on the transport container. Afterward, the liner contaminated by the contents should be easily removed by the user for disposal. The liner should not be damaged during removal, as damage could cause any remaining residue to flow out of the liner, thereby contaminating the transport container.

[0033] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the attached figures. Fig. 1a view of a laid out inliner, Fig. 2a representation according to Fig. 1 with attached forming rods, Fig. 3 a representation of the inliner with deformed forming rods, Fig. 4, 5 views of the inliner with attached application hose, Fig. 6, 7 three-dimensional views of a transport container into which the inliner with application hose is inserted and during removal of the application hose; Fig. 6a an insertion funnel for inserting the inliner protected by the application hose into the transport container, Fig. 8 a representation of the transport container according to Fig. 6 with inliner inserted therein, Fig. 9, 10Representations of the transport container according to Fig. 8 when fastening or securing the filling area of ​​the inliner, Fig. 11 a representation of the transport container according to Fig. 10 when filling the inliner, Fig. 12, 13Representations of the transport container according to Fig. 11 with closed inliner or closed filling area, Fig. 14 a representation of the transport container during emptying, Fig. 15 a representation of the transport container according to Fig. 14 with partially pulled out inliner, Fig. 16 a representation of the transport container according to Fig. 15 with vacuumed inliner, Fig. 17 a representation of the transport container according to Fig. 16 when pulling out the inliner, Fig. 18 shows a representation of the draining of any remaining quantity from the inliner into a tray. Description of preferred embodiments

[0034] Before describing the invention in detail, it should be noted that it is not limited to the specific components of the device and the specific method steps, as these components and methods may vary. The terms used herein are intended solely to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, when the singular or indefinite articles are used in the description or claims, this also refers to the plural of these elements, unless the overall context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0035] Whenever "filling goods" 40 are mentioned in these documents, this refers in particular to liquid, pasty or free-flowing transport goods with which transport containers such as IBC containers are filled for the transport of these goods.

[0036] Such a transport container 12 is in Fig. 6 shown. The exemplary embodiment is an IBC container, which, as explained above, comprises a blow-molded transport container 12 housed in a wire mesh. In principle, such a transport container can be made of plastic or metal, such as stainless steel. Other materials can also be used according to the invention, such as glass or cardboard, such as cardboard made of heavy-duty corrugated cardboard.

[0037] To protect the transport container from contamination, an inliner 10 is incorporated in this transport container 12 in the exemplary embodiments.

[0038] According to Fig. 1 The inliner 10, which is preferably made of a film but can also be made of other suitable materials, is preformed by welds and folding so that the shape of the inliner 10, when opened, can adapt as closely as possible to the interior shape of an IBC container or other possible transport container. The filling area 10a of the inliner 10 at the top is welded into a funnel shape to facilitate filling.

[0039] This inliner, which can be equipped with single or multi-layered components, is manufactured according to Fig. 2 Forming rods 14 are attached. In the foreground, the base 10b of the inliner 10 is visible with flexible forming rods 14 attached to fixing elements 10c. These are preferably made of fiberglass or a flexible plastic or metal or another flexible material. The fixing elements 10c firmly connect the forming rods 14 to the base 10b of the inliner 10. In principle, any other form of connection of the forming rods 14 to the base 10b is possible, e.g., gluing or welding into the film. In expanded form, the forming rods 14 stretch the base 10b of the inliner 10 into a preferably rectangular shape, e.g., which corresponds to an inner surface, preferably the inner base, of the transport container 12. The forming rods are preferably fixed in the base area, but can also be fixed at any other suitable location on the inliner that serves the intended purpose.

[0040] These shaped rods 14 are preferably fixed crosswise inside or outside to the base 10b, e.g., using plastic pads that can be glued, welded, or clipped to the inliner's film. The fixing elements 10c, in turn, fix the shaped rods 14 so that they rest spread apart on the base 10b. The spread shaped rods 14 are grasped by the fixing elements 10c and brought toward each other so that they are bent and meet at the ends. Since the inliner film is fixed to the fixing elements 10c, it is automatically moved along and pre-folded. This gives the inliner 10 a centered shape.

[0041] The shaped bars 14 can, as in Fig. 3 As shown, due to their flexible properties, they can be bent under internal stress in such a way that they allow the entire inliner 10 to be folded into a very slim shape. By connecting the forming rods 14 to the bottom film of the inliner at the fixing elements 10c, as soon as they move into their resting or starting position, they expand the bottom into a flat shape that follows the shape of the inner bottom.

[0042] Basically, the inliner 10 is operatively connected to the molding rods 14 in such a way that the inliner 10 opens in the transport container 12 with the molding rods 14, similar to an umbrella principle, when the inliner is inserted into the transport container and closes when the inliner is removed. The molding rods return to their rest position upon opening and to a deformed position upon closing by pulling out the emptied inliner.

[0043] The shaped rods 14 also assume this "deformed" position when inserted into the inliner 10, as they are held in a deformed state in an application hose 16. "Deformed" means that the shaped rods 14 are made of a resilient material—for example, they are fiberglass rods that are highly elastically deformable. The shaped rods 14 are inserted into the inliner in a pre-tensioned state and released there to relax their tension. For example, the shaped rods can be bent into a semicircle, thereby becoming tensioned. The application hose 16 then holds the rods in this pre-tensioned position until it is removed.

[0044] The filling opening 12a of the transport container 12 is generally dimensionally limited, so that the inliner 10 must be folded to the diameter of the filling opening 12a in order to be able to insert it through the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12. To prevent the inliner 10 from expanding after production and before insertion into the transport container 12, the folded inliner 10 together with the forming rods 14 is Fig. 4, 5 held in the folded form by a pulled-over application hose 16. The inliner and the forming rods 14 are designed in their deformed position to be received in the application hose 16. The outer dimensions of the application hose 16 are smaller than the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12. Specifically, for this purpose, the application hose 16 is smaller than the cross-section or diameter of the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12, so that the inliner 10 can be inserted through the filling opening 12a in a folded form. As a transport lock and simultaneous insertion aid, the application hose 16 completely encloses the folded inliner 10 and also holds the folded, tensioned forming rods 14 in a deformed position drawn into the application hose, so that the inliner 10 can be inserted through the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12.

[0045] Preferably, an insertion funnel 42 according to Fig. 6a This advantageously simplifies the insertion of the folded inliner with application hose 16, and at the same time, the application hose can be secured to stud bolts 44 attached to the insertion funnel 42, so that the application hose 16 can be removed simply by pushing in the entire inliner package. At the same time, the insertion funnel 42 serves as protection against sharp edges in the filling opening 12a of the transport container. However, insertion is also possible without such an insertion funnel.

[0046] The inliner 10, which is fixed in this position by the application hose 16 in its folded form, is Fig. 6 First, the application hose 16 is inserted through the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12 and then further inserted into the transport container. The application hose 16 is inserted according to Fig. 7 outside the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12, preferably upwards and out of the transport container 12. As a result, the flexible shaped rods 14 detach from their shape defined by the application hose and expand outward into their originally unbent shape. Due to their fixation, for example, at the bottom 10b of the inliner 10, they pull the inliner outward due to their inherent tension. This results in a flat basic shape for the inliner—in the illustrated embodiment, a flat bottom shape—that follows the shape of the transport container 12.

[0047] Since the forming rods 14 do not always fully open on their own, especially after extended storage in the application hose 16, it is advisable to pull the stretched inliner upwards several times at the filling area through the filling opening 12a and then allow it to sink back down towards the bottom of the transport container 12. This up-and-down movement creates an air cushion beneath the inliner base stretched by the forming rods 14, which escapes upwards laterally around the base, thereby spreading the inliner base even better within the transport container 12.

[0048] According to Fig. 8 The bottom 10b of the inliner 10 is drawn into a flat shape by the thus expanded mold rods 14, which corresponds, for example, to the shape of the inner bottom of the transport container 12. As a result, it lies flat on the inner bottom of the transport container 12 or against another surface of the transport container.

[0049] The funnel-shaped filling area 10a of the inliner 10 protrudes upwards through the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12. Over this area, according to Fig. 9 A molded part 18 is drawn, which allows the funnel-shaped filling area 10a of the inliner 10 to be secured against possible slipping into the transport container 12 during the filling process by means of a clamp 20. At the same time, the molded part 18 allows the air displaced from the transport container 12 during filling of the inliner 10 to escape safely to the outside through air holes 18a.

[0050] The filling area 10a of the inliner 10 is in the molded part 18 according to Fig. 10 secured by clamp 20 against slipping into the transport container 12.

[0051] The inliner can now be Fig. 11 It is filled with filling material and opens upwards into the transport container 12, starting from the bottom area and lining it, as the filling material 40 rises. It fits tightly and precisely against the inner walls of the transport container 12.

[0052] After filling, the filling area 10a of the inliner 10 is closed, e.g. with a cable tie or a corresponding material for tying, and folded inwards into the transport container 12. The transport container 12 can be closed for safe transport by the original lid 22 at the top of the filling opening 12a and at the bottom of the valve 24 according to Fig. 13 be closed.

[0053] To empty, Fig. 14 The liquid contained in the inliner 10 is sucked from above through the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12 and the filling area 10a of the inliner 10. As much liquid as possible is sucked out of the inliner 10, leaving only a residual amount in the bottom area. In order to concentrate this liquid in the center, like in a sump 38, the inliner 10 is pulled upwards at the filling area 10a, so that a sump-like trough is formed ( Fig. 15 ). The remaining amount can now be suctioned off. A rigid suction lance with a small filter basket is ideal for this purpose. This allows almost all of the liquid to be removed without the liner becoming stuck to the suction lance. Once all but a small amount of liquid has been suctioned off, the suction lance or suction hose is removed.

[0054] Now, according to Fig. 17 the inliner 10 is pulled upwards in the direction of the arrow, whereby the flexible shaped rods 14 bend into a U-shape due to the contact with the filling opening 12a of the transport container and the pull, so that they can be pulled upwards and outwards together with the inliner 10, e.g. by pulling with a loop belt 26 wound around the upper area of ​​the inliner 10, which is pulled upwards by the fork of a forklift truck or by another lifting device.

[0055] When removed manually, the inliner 10 is pulled upwards on any side until one of the molding rods 14 with fixing elements 10c is visible in the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12. This first molding rod is pulled out first with one of its fixing elements 10c, followed by the film of the inliner 10, and then, piece by piece, the other ends of the two molding rods 14 with fixing elements 10c, which were previously located inside the transport container 12, are pulled out.

[0056] If there is still a small amount of residue in the inliner 10, it can be removed according to Fig. 18 For example, it can be swung over a tray 28 and cut open there, e.g., with a utility knife, so that the remaining amount can flow out and the liner can then be sent for thermal recycling. A new liner is then inserted into the now empty transport container 12.

[0057] The transport container can now be re-equipped with an inliner for the next filling.

[0058] The inliner 10 equipped with the shaped rods 14, together with the application hose 16, in which the inliner 10 and the shaped rods 14 can be accommodated in their deformed position and whose external dimensions are smaller than a filling opening 12a of the transport container 12, forms a composite package designed for inserting an inliner 10 through an opening in a container wall of a transport container 12. It can be made available in this form to users of such transport containers and is readily and easily deployed.

[0059] Likewise, the composite package can additionally comprise the molded part 18 in order to fix the inliner 10 to the filling opening 12a of the transport container 12 after it has been introduced into the transport container 12, wherein the molded part 18 preferably has air holes 18a.

[0060] On a transport container 12, which has a filling opening 12a and optionally an outlet opening 36 and is provided with the inliner 10 arranged in the transport container 12, the inliner 10 can preferably be fixed to the filling opening 12a. Bezugszeichenliste

[0061] 10Inliner 10aFilling area 10bFloor 10cFixing element 10dOutlet hose 12Transport container 12aFilling opening 12bFloor surface 14Forming rod 16Application hose 18Forming part 18aAir holes 20Clamp 22Original lid 24Valve 24aDisc flap 26Loop belt 28Trough 34Additional forming part 36Outlet opening 38Sump 40Filling material 42Introduction funnel

Claims

1. Inliner (10), configured for receiving filling material (40) and for introduction through an opening into a container wall of a transport container (12), characterised in that the inliner (10) is operatively connected to shaping rods (14) which are configured to open with the inliner (10) in the transport container (12) in the manner of an umbrella principle when the inliner is introduced into the transport container and to close when the inliner is extracted, wherein the shaping rods (14) comprise a flexible, resilient material and, as a result of their internal stress, are transferable from a deformed position into a rest position, which corresponds to an open position of the inliner (10).

2. Inliner in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that on the inliner (10) there are provided fixing elements (10c), at which the shaping rods (14) are secured.

3. Inliner in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is provided with at least two shaping rods (14) which, in the rest position, lie one above the other at at least one point and stretch an area at the corners of which the fixing elements (10c) are provided.

4. Inliner in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that the stretched area is configured to cover an inner surface, preferably a base surface (12b), of the transport container (12).

5. Inliner in accordance with anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shaping rods (14) are glass fibre rods.

6. Inliner in accordance with anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inliner (10) and the shaping rods (14) in their deformed position are configured to be receivable in an application tube (16), the outer dimensions of which are smaller in cross-section than the filling opening (12a) of the transport container (12).

7. Composite package configured for introducing an inliner (10) through an opening into a container wall of a transport container (12), said composite package comprising - an inliner (10), equipped with shaping rods (14), in accordance with anyone of the claim 1 to 6, - an application tube (16), in which there are receivable the inliner (10) and the shaping rods (14) in their deformed position and the outer dimensions of which are smaller than a filling opening (12a) of the transport container (12).

8. Composite package in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that it additionally comprises a moulded part (18) which is configured to fix the inliner (10) after introduction into the transport container (12) at the filling opening (12a) thereof, the moulded part (18) preferably having air holes (18a).

9. Transport container (12) with an inliner (10) in accordance with anyone of claims 1 to 6.

10. Transport container (12) in accordance with claim 9, characterised in that it has a filling opening (12a) and optionally an outlet opening (36), and is provided with the inliner (10) arranged in the transport container (12), the inliner (10) being securable at the filling opening (12a).

11. Method for introducing an inliner in accordance with anyone of claims 1 to 6 into a transport container (12) through an opening in a container wall of the transport container (12), said method comprising the steps of: - establishing an operative connection between shaping rods (14) and inliner (10), - transferring the shaping rods (14) into a deformed position by inserting shaping rods (14) and inliner (10) into an application tube (16), - introducing the application tube (16) with the inliner (10) and the shaping rods (14) received therein through a filling opening (12a) into the transport container (12), - pulling off the application tube (16) while releasing the shaping rods (14), which thereby stretch the inliner (10) and move to their rest position on an inner surface, preferably a base surface (12b), of the transport container (12), - optionally filling the inliner (10) in the transport container (12) with filling material (40).

12. Method in accordance with claim 11, characterised in that the following steps are carried out to empty the inliner (10) located in the transport container (12), - removing the filling material (40), preferably by pumping, suctioning or emptying, optionally down to a residual quantity of filling material (40), - pulling the inliner (10) upwards to form a sump (38), preferably above the shaping rods (14), - removing filling material (40) from the sump (38), - removing the inliner from the transport container.

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