TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) utilized for
material transfer, particularly relates to net-based baffels for minimizing the space
occupied by the FIBCs in the container while transferring thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) are extensively used for various bulk
materials including industry-based granule ,powder materials, food grade materials
like sugar, flour, etc and even for quasi-fluid materials. Once the FIBCs are packed,
they are accommodated into containers, trucks etc. for transferring thereof to another
location.
[0003] Perhaps, one the most important aspects that is regarded as far as transferring the
FIBCs are concerned is to achieve maximum amount of material transfer while minimizing
the transfer sequence. This is the optimization problem leading the practitioners
to minimize the space or volume occupied by the FIBCs in the container.
[0004] As a part of underlying physical effects, when bulk material, most of the time fine
material, is introduced into a FIBC, it is tended (inclined) to move towards empty
space or volume. It is interesting to note that, since edges of the FIBC are not available
to promote such a tendency of bulk material movement, because of the physical restriction,
the bulk material moves towards the lateral sides of the FIBC leading lateral bulged
surfaces of the FIBC. Consequently, when the FIBCs are accommodated next to each other,
simply some idle spaces are originated in the region of top and bottom corners of
the FIBCs due to contact of the bulging surfaces of different FIBCs. However, these
idle spaces occupy some considerable amount of volume, which is not filled by the
material to be intended to transfer, in the container.
[0005] As a solution serving to overcome the above-mentioned problem in this technical field,
numerous proposals have been made. Probably the most efficient proposals are focusing
on sewing baffels to the edges of FIBCs diagonally. By doing so, movement tendency
of bulk material towards the lateral sides of the FIBCs is decreased and potential
bulging formation of the lateral sides is prevented.
[0006] The baffels accompanied with these solutions have hole-shaped formation and are sewed
from the top region to the bottom region of the four edges of the FIBCs diagonally.
The idea underlying the formation of these holes is to provide material penetration
between the baffels and the edges in addition to essential part of the FIBCs.
[0007] It is acknowledged that the above-referenced solution put forwards sound advantages
with respect to the deficiencies in the relevant technical field, however, another
problems arise due to the physical nature of this solution such as interference of
the baffle material to the bulk material carried due to spots of the holes. For instance,
since the baffle is not a continuous part i.e. comprising holes, spots of the holes
are likely to interfere with the bulk material. On the other hand, the present baffles
are not able to be sewed through the edges i.e. from top to bottom, because of the
idea that filling the space between the baffle and the edges of the FIBCs. In other
words, in order to utilize the space between the sewed baffle and the edge, so providing
bulk material transfer between the essential part and the space between the baffle
and the edge, the baffle cannot be sewed through the edges i.e. through the top and
bottom limits of the edges. As a consequence of this practice, the top and the bottom
regions of the FIBCs become bulging driving indirectly volume loss in the container.
[0008] Another disadvantage accompanied with the state of the art is referred to structural
deficiency in terms of functionality of the baffles. In fact for contributing the
bulk material penetration through the holes of the baffles to the space between the
baffle and the edge, a propeller is provided to promote uniform distribution of the
bulk material in the FIBC. However, utilization of such a propeller induces many resources
including labor, time.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide substantially rectangular prism
formation of the FIBCs so that the volume occupied thereof is minimized in the container.
[0010] The baffles in the scope of the present invention are sewed diagonally to the edges
of the FIBCs through the top and bottom limits of the edges. Once the baffles are
sewed to the edges, there become two volumetric regions in the FIBC; one of these
volumetric regions is referred to essential part in which most of the bulk material
is held and the other volumetric region is referred as subsidiary part formed between
the baffle and the edge of the FIBC.
[0011] The development introduced by the present invention is based upon net-based baffles
promoting bulk material transition between the essential and subsidiary volumetric
parts and simultaneously providing reducing movement tendency of bulk material towards
the lateral surfaces of the FIBCs.
[0012] The net-based baffle in the scope of the present invention may be in a conventional
fishing net or alternatively various net patterns. The most significant technical
feature proposed by this embodiment is that the plurality of passages and filaments
providing structural integrity of the net.
[0013] The requirement preventing a bulging formation of the FIBCs is that having a hexagon
or octagon geometrical formation when viewed the FIBC from the top rather than having
quadrangle once the baffles are sewed to the FIBCs, whereby bulk material movement
tendency towards the lateral surfaces is reduced. In addition to this effect, the
net-based baffles contribute to bulk material transition between the essential and
subsidiary volumetric parts by means of the net structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon
reading the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings
wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a FIBC with net-based baffles sewed to
the edges thereof.
Figure 2 illustrates a top view of a FIBC with net-based baffles.
Figure 3a illustrates two column net-based baffles.
Figure 3b illustrates four column net-based baffles.
Figure 4a illustrates net-based baffle with triangle structure.
Figure 4b illustrates net-based baffle with diagonal structure.
Figure 4c illustrates net-based baffle with hexagonal structure.
Figure 5 illustrates net-based baffle with quadrangle structure.
REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE ELEMENTS
[0015]
1 Flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC)
2 Holders
3 Baffle
4 Net filaments
5 Top limit
6 Bottom limit
7 Lateral surface
8 Connection elements
9 Connection edges
10 Net passages
11 Essential volume
12 Subsidiary volume
13 Intermediate connection
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In Figure 1, net-based baffles and the location thereof in the FIBC are illustrated.
Conventionally, a FIBC, flexible intermediate bulk container, (1) is a means for transferring
materials and having a rectangular prism geometry carried by holders (2). The baffles
(3) are sewed to the connection edges (9) of the FIBC (1) diagonally so as to obtain
a relatively rounded geometry in the essential volume (11) of the FIBC, i.e. independent
of sharp geometry due to edges. The lateral surfaces (7) are attached to each other
by connection edges (9) so that the FIBC (1) is formed.
[0017] Net-based baffles (3) comprise preferably two connection elements (8) i.e. one connection
element is placed alongside the other, and net filaments (4). One of the connection
elements (8), the outer one, is sewed to the lateral surface (7) and the inner one
is embodied for connecting the net filaments (4) thereto. As an alternative structure,
the connection elements (8) of different baffles (3) may be sewed as one on the top
of the other to the lateral surfaces (7).
[0018] As it is proposed, the net-based baffles (3) comprise plurality of net passages (10)
providing bulk material transition between the essential volume (11) and the subsidiary
volume (12).
[0019] Furthermore, the net-based baffles (3) are sewed through the top limit (5) and bottom
limit (6) of the FIBC (1). Whereby, potential bulging formation in the top and bottom
regions is prevented.
[0020] In Figure 2, top view of a FIBC with sewed net-based baffles (3) is illustrated.
As seen in the figure, the essential volume (11) gains a rounded and compact geometry.
In other words, once the net-based baffle's (3) are sewed to the edges, the essential
volume (11) become more rounded shape by hexagon or octagon geometries with respect
to an essential part lacking baffle's.
[0021] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is based upon an octagonal geometry
when viewed from the top, however it may be possible to have a FIBC structure based
upon a hexagonal geometry when baffle's (3) are connected on a lateral surface (7).
[0022] In Figure 3a, an alternative baffle (3) with double column is illustrated. As seen
in the figure, there is an intermediate connection (13) between the columns. Similarly,
various embodiments can be derived as seen in Figure 3b showing an baffle (3) with
quartet columns. The number of columns and intermediate connections (13) can be enhanced
optionally. For baffle's (3) having plurality of columns, the net filaments (4) are
fixed from one end to the connection elements (8) and connected to intermediate connections
(13) from the other ends.
[0023] In Figure 4a, an alternative structure having triangle shaped net passages (10) is
illustrated. As mentioned above, similarly, the number of columns can be increased
optionally.
[0024] Similarly, in Figure 4b, an alternative structure having diagonal shaped net passages
(10) is illustrated.
[0025] Figure 4c illustrates net passages (10) having hexagonal shaped formation.
[0026] In Figure 5, quadrangle shaped net passages (10) are shown.
1. A flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) for transferring various type of materials,
including industry-based granule materials, fine materials like sugar, flour, comprising
baffle's sewed to edge region of the FIBCs for preventing bulging formation on lateral
surfaces thereof so defining an essential volume and subsidiary volume in the FIBC
and said baffle's having holes for promoting material transfer between the essential
volume and subsidiary volume characterized in that said baffle (3) is formed as a net structure having plurality of filaments (4), plurality
of net passages (10) between these filaments (4) and connection elements (8) the filaments
(4) are attached thereon.
2. A net-based baffle according to claim 1, wherein one or plurality of intermediate
connections (13) the filaments (4) are attached thereto are provided so forming columns.
3. A net-based baffle according to preceding claims, wherein said net passages (10) comprise
polygon formation preferably quadrangle, triangle, hexagon, diagonal shaped geometric
formations.
4. A net-based baffle according to preceding claims, wherein said baffle's (3) are sewed
from top limit (5) through bottom (6) limit of the FIBC (1) to connection edges (9)
thereof.
5. A net-based baffle according to preceding claims, wherein the connection elements
(8) comprise an outer element fixed to said lateral surfaces (7) and an inner element
attached to said filaments (4).
6. A net-based baffle according to preceding claims, wherein said connection elements
(8) of different baffle's (3) are sewed as one on the top of the other to said lateral
surfaces (7).