TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to an emptying arrangement for a container and to a method of emptying a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Plastic powders or granules are often packaged for delivery in thick-cardboard drums weighing some 1.100 kg. The plastic powder or granules are sealed in a plastic bag within the drum. To facilitate handling of the drum, it is normally placed on a load pallet. So that the contents of the drum can be emptied, up until now it has been usual to either open the plastic bag and insert a suction tube or to make a hole in the bottom of the drum and let the contents run out. In both cases, however, some of the contents, up to 60 kg, remain in the "corners" of the drum. Even if the drum were to be tipped, foreign material on the pallet could fall into the contents as they are poured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an emptying arrangement for a container and a method of emptying a container which overcome the above- mentioned disadvantages .

This object is achieved by an arrangement according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 7.

Preferred embodiments are detailed in the respective dependent claims.

CONFIRMATION COPY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The invention will be described in greater detail in the following with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a container to which a pouring funnel in accordance with the present invention has been attached;

Fig. 2 shows the same container and pouring arrangement, though in an inverted state, and

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a driving means for inverting the container in a further embodiment of the inventio .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a container, for example made from thick cardboard. The container is preferably lined with a sealable plastic bag 2. The plastic bag may be filled with a material such as plastic powder or granules .

In order to empty the container, in accordance with the present invention an emptying arrangement 3 is provided for attachment to the container 1. The arrangement comprises a pouring funnel 4 having a substantially cylindrical sleeve region 5 intended to be slipped over the open end of the container. Clamping means (not shown) are provided to securely attach the pouring funnel 4 to the container, whilst gripping means 6 associated with the funnel 4 allow the funnel to be acted upon to be inverted.

In Fig. 2, the container is shown in an inverted state. In order to regulate the outflow of the contents of the container, the pouring funnel 4 is provided with valve means 7.

Preferably, the gripping means 6 are in the form of a frame which is adapted to support the funnel and container when in an inverted state.

In one embodiment of the invention, the frame 6 is rigidly attached to the funnel 4 and presents receiving means 8 for cooperating with the forks of a fork-lift truck.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the frame 6 is pivotally attached to the funnel and the frame presents drive means 9 for displacing the container from an upright position to an inverted position.

Preferably, the angle of inclination of the funnel 4 is at least equal to the angle of repose of the material within the container.

The following method may be adopted for emptying the container: opening the container; clamping a pouring arrangement 4 to the side wall(s)of the container; inverting the container and pouring arrangement 4 so that the container is supported in the inverted state by a frame 6 associated with the pouring arrangement 4, and opening valve means 7 to allow the contents of the container to run out of the container.

A pipe may be connected to the pouring opening before the valve means is opened to thereby lead the contents of the container to a place of delivery.

As mentioned above, the container and pouring arrangement may be inverted by using a fork-lift truck or by incorporating drive means 9 on the frame 6.

To aid emptying, a suction tube may be applied to the pouring arrangement.

The invention is not restricted to that described above and shown in the drawings, but may instead be varied within the scope of the accompanying claims .