Collapsible Container With Rigid Panels And Inverted Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collapsible containers are unsafe, inefficient, and costly for transporting and discharging products due to instability, weight, and difficulty in complete emptying, leading to increased time and risk during handling and shipping.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible container design featuring a sleeve with a liner and apex for automatic discharge, reinforced with rigid panels and a sealing mechanism, allowing for safe and complete emptying and re-use, with lift loops for secure handling and stacking capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) or bulk bags are used, then the container is lightweight and flexible, but the container is unstable and can only stack two high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) made of woven polypropylene or similar fabric, which provides lightweight and flexible properties while maintaining structural integrity through the fabric construction and corner loop reinforcement
Solution Approach 2:
The container is divided into distinct functional elements: the FIBC body, corner loops, and separate lifting mechanism. This segmentation allows the container to be lifted by multiple independent points, improving stability during lifting operations while maintaining the lightweight flexible nature of the bulk bag
2Strength
If standard boxes, bulk bags, or re-usable plastic containers are used, then the container provides structural support, but the container is difficult to completely empty
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to scrape or dislodge material from corners, the patent inverts the container by turning it upside down and using the corner loops as discharge points. Material flows out through the corner loops under gravity, achieving complete emptying while maintaining structural support during the inverted discharge process
3Strength
If re-usable plastic containers are used, then the container is strong and durable, but the container is heavy and costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the FIBC fabric body with rigid corner loops made of reinforced material. This composite construction provides the strength and durability of rigid containers while maintaining the lightweight and flexible properties of the fabric body, reducing overall weight compared to fully rigid plastic containers
4Ease of operation
If bulk bags are lifted using fork lift tines through four fabric loops, then the container can be lifted, but the process is unsafe and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate lifting mechanism with lifting eyes attached to the corner loops, which acts as an intermediary between the fork lift and the bulk bag. This allows the container to be lifted securely by multiple points simultaneously, improving safety and reducing the time required for lifting operations compared to maneuvering tines through individual loops
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible container, a method of manufacturing, and a method of using the same is provided herein. In some embodiments, the collapsible container is octagonal, generally square, or generally rectangular while comprising eight side panels have receiving pockets for receiving stiffening panels. The collapsible container may include a third layer sewn to the inside of the walls such that content loaded into the third layer is directed to a spout at the bottom of the third layer for convenient discharge of contents. The eight side panels are designed such that the container can be collapsed for easy transport but also stably supports and facilitates discharge of contents from the third layer when the container is set up.