Liner With Lifting Cradle For Gravity-Assisted Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulk material liners face challenges in complete evacuation of low viscosity liquids and require significant manual manipulation during dispensing, leading to inefficiencies and ergonomic issues due to the weight of filled liners.
Innovation Solution
A liner with an integrated or separate cradle that allows for mechanical lifting and angling, utilizing a tensioning device to facilitate gravity-assisted flow of contents towards a discharge opening, reducing manual effort and ensuring complete evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liner is tilted or lifted manually to aid dispensing, then the contents can be evacuated more efficiently, but the operator experiences ergonomic issues and potential injury due to the massive weight of the filled liner
Solution Approach 1:
A cradle is introduced as an intermediary device between the liner and the lifting mechanism. The cradle supports the liner body and receives lifting forces, acting as a mediator that transfers the weight-bearing function from the operator's hands to a mechanical lifting system, thereby enabling efficient evacuation without direct manual handling of the heavy filled liner
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical lifting and tilting by the operator is replaced with a mechanical lifting system (such as a forklift or crane) that engages with the cradle. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to physically manipulate the heavy liner, resolving the contradiction between evacuation efficiency and operator safety
2Productivity
If devices are used to tilt the entire liner or liner floor to aid dispensing, then content evacuation is improved, but the device complexity increases and the devices become difficult to use due to the weight of the filled liner
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting function is segmented from the liner itself and placed in a separate cradle structure. This segmentation allows the cradle to be designed as a simple, standardized component that can be easily attached to various lifting devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective evacuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle is designed as a universal interface that can work with multiple types of lifting devices (forklifts, cranes, hoists). This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized complex devices, as the same cradle can accommodate different lifting mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall system
3Loss of substance
If the liner is completely evacuated of contents, then no product is wasted, but significant manual manipulation is required during the dispensing process
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting system attached to the cradle performs the dispensing function automatically by tilting and positioning the liner as needed. The system serves itself by using the liner's own weight and position, controlled mechanically, to achieve complete evacuation without requiring manual manipulation, thus eliminating product waste while maintaining ease of operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient evacuation of contents and minimizes manual manipulation, improving ergonomics by ensuring all liquids are channeled towards the discharge fitment for complete dispensing without manual lifting or tilting of the entire liner.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a tensioning device to facilitate gravity-assisted flow of contents towards a discharge opening
Data Source
AI summary
A liner (10) includes a liner base (11) and a cradle (12) which is used in conjunction with a conventional intermediate bulk container (13). The liner base has a bottom wall (15), a top wall (16) opposite the bottom wall, and four side walls (17) extending between the bottom wall and top wall. The four side walls include a front wall (18), a rear wall (19), and two oppositely disposed end walls (20). The top wall includes a top opening fitment (22). The front wall includes a dispensing opening fitment (23). The liner lifting cradle includes a bottom panel (26), two oppositely disposed end panels (27), and a rear panel (28). The end panels have an elongated terminal end (30) which includes a reinforced mounting hole (32). The rear panel has an elongated terminal end (34) which includes a grommet (35) defining a reinforced mounting hole (36).