A flexible bag for containing bulk material

Abstract

 A flexible bag (10) for containing bulk material including granulate material such as rice, pasta, vegetables or the like, ready for use comprises a bottom foil having the outer dimensions of a pallet or stillage and defining outer edges to be positioned extending substantially parallel with the edges of the pallet or stillage, and four side wall foils connected to the outer edges of the bottom foil and extending upwardly from the bottom foil for defining a box-shaped bag in which the vertical edges of each of the side wall foils are connected to the vertical edge of the adjacent side wall foil. An inner space is defined above the bottom foil and between the side wall foils within the box-shaped bag. The bag also comprises a top foil part having a sealable closure (22), the top foil part being connected to the upper edges of the four side wall foils for closing off the box-shaped bag, the sealable closure allowing the introduction of the granulate material into the inner space before sealing the closure. The bottom foil, the four side wall foils and the top foil part are made from thin plastics foil material and together constituting a self-shape maintaining or self-supporting bag structure when filled with the bulk material.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) or flexible bags, in particular FIBCs comprising an outer and an inner bag. FIBCs are widely used within food industries for transporting bulk material or particulate material.

[0002] Flexible intermediate bulk containers are also known as big bags and have been described in previous publications, such as US 2003/0099796 A1, US 2003/0068103 A1, US 2001/0027826 A1, US 4,944,604, US 5,564,833, US 6,564,534, US 6, 431,435, US 6, 062,732, US 5, 558,137, US 4,991,979, US 5, 192,133, US 6,540,085, US 6,048,296, EP 0 635 439, WO 94/13559, US 5, 934,807, US 5,092, 683, US 6,572,942, US 5,071,025, WO 98/01370, US 4,480,766 all of which are hereby incorporated in the present specification by reference.

[0003] Flexible intermediate bulk containers or simply flexible bags have been used for the delivery of foodstuff such as rice, vegetables, etc. which are to be processed by mechanical processing or boiling etc.

[0004] The prior art flexible bags or flexible intermediate bulk containers have been developed into refined or elaborated structures including inner reinforcing intermediate walls and outer coverings integrally connected to the inner bag which is conventionally made from PP or PE.

[0005] According to the conventional technique of handling flexible intermediate bulk containers, the material is introduced into the flexible intermediate bulk container through a top opening and the flexible intermediate bulk container is positioned on a pallet or stillage. Alternatively, the flexible intermediate bulk container is positioned on the pallet or stillage before filling or introducing the material such as the particulate material into the interior of the flexible intermediate bulk container. After transportation on the pallet or stillage, the flexible intermediate bulk container is emptied by lifting the flexible intermediate bulk container and positioning the bulk container including the material such as the granulate material on a hopper or on a conveyor belt and then, the flexible intermediate bulk container is cut open. As will be understood, the handling of the flexible intermediate bulk container by lifting the flexible intermediate bulk container including the granulate material requires that the flexible intermediate bulk container is of a tough and strong structure capable of carrying the load of the flexible intermediate bulk container including the granulate material without being ruptured due to the gravitational impact to the foil material of the flexible intermediate bulk container from the material contained within the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag.

[0006] As will be understood, the prior art handling of flexible intermediate bulk containers or flexible bags by lifting the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag for emptying the material from the container or bag inevitably causes the flexible intermediate bulk containers or flexible bags according to the prior art to be made from heavy and tough foil materials which increases the price of the container or bag and makes the prior art flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag less advantageous as a disposable article to be used only once.

[0007] Furthermore, when opening the flexible intermediate bulk container, e.g. by cutting open the container, the material contained in the container is unavoidably contacted with the outer surface of the bulk container and therefore carries along any dust or dirt present on the outer surface of the bulk container. As the bulk containers are used for transportation on a pallet or stillage, the outer surface or outer wall of the bulk container, in particular the woven outer reinforcing foil, is exposed to dust and dirt when transported on a lorry or on a ship.

[0008] Provided the foodstuff such as the rice or vegetables contained within the intermediate bulk container is to be cooked or exposed to a mechanical separation process etc. the introduction of the dust or dirt into the flow of material from the intermediate bulk container causes no serious problems, however provided the foodstuff contained within the intermediate bulk container is a granulate product ready for use such as cooked rice or cooked pasta, cooked vegetables etc., the introduction of dirt into the flow of the granulate material causes a problem and makes the use of intermediate bulk containers highly disadvantageous.

[0009] According to the present invention, it has been realised that the prior art technique of filling materials such as granulate material, in particular foodstuff into a flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag, of transporting the material contained within the container or bag and in particular the technique of handling the container or bag including the material including the emptying of the material from the container or bag calls for refinement for allowing the use of lightweight and less costly flexible intermediate bulk containers or flexible bags as compared to the containers or bags used according to the prior technique, and according to the present invention it has been realised that more simple and lightweight and consequently cheaper flexible intermediate bulk containers or flexible bags may be provided, particularly produced from polyethylene foils which may be destroyed by simple combustion after use provided the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag is during its use permanently supported by the pallet or stillage and has the material contained within the container or bag in question removed or emptied from the container or bag as the container or bag is supported by the pallet or stillage or by a mechanical structure such as a supporting ramp or the like.

[0010] According to the basic teachings of the present invention, a lightweight and thin wall flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag may be used for handling even heavy loads of material provided the container or bag is prevented from being lifted after the material such as a particulate material has been introduced into the container or bag. It is, consequently, contemplated that the basic teachings of the present invention is in contradiction to the teachings of the prior art FIBSs which have been developed for allowing the FIBCs to stand the pressure of the load contained within the container in question as the container is lifted for handling or removal of the material contained within the container by cutting open the container in question.

[0011] According to the present invention, it has further been realised that a serious problem exists of preventing the bulk material such as the particulate or granulate foodstuff contained within a flexible bag or an intermediate bulk container from being contaminated by dirt or dust present on the outer surface of the bag or container, and according to the present invention it has further been realised that the solution to the problem of preventing dust or dirt present on the outer surface of the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag from contaminating the material contained with the container or bag as the material is allowed to flow out through a opening of a container or bag may be easily obtained by the simple addition of a further part or flap.

[0012] An advantage of the present invention relates to the fact that the structure of the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag solving the above problem may be constituted by a two part structure including an inner bag made from disposable material such as PE and an outer mechanically protective cover which may be a tough woven nylon cover which may be reused by the returning of the cover to the supplier of the material which is shipped within the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag.

[0013] A particular feature of the present invention relates to the fact that the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag according to the present invention may be made from two parts, the one part being a cleaned and uncontaminated bag preferably made from disposable material and an outer protective cover which may be exposed to dust or dirt without causing any problems as to contamination of the product contained within the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag as the product is allowed to flow out from the inner bag through an opening cut through the wall of the inner bag.

[0014] In this context, it is to be realised that flexible intermediate bulk containers are usually used for transportation of heavy loads such as e.g. 1 ton or more as the bag measures more than 1m³ such as 1-2m³.

[0015] It is also to be realised that the terms used in the present context such as the term flexible intermediate bulk containers or flexible bags are synonymous terms covering any bag or similar structure to be used on a supporting pallet or stillage and having flexible wall parts preferably made from polymer materials such as PE or combinations of polymer materials and foil materials e.g. cardboard paper or aluminium foil materials etc. The terms are by no means to be limited to specific technical terms or prior art standards as the terms flexible intermediate bulk container and flexible bag are to be construed covering any flexible container or flexible bag.

[0016] The above problems are according to the teachings of the present invention solved by a flexible bag according to the present invention and the above advantage and the above feature together with numerous other features and advantages which will be evident from the below detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the flexible bag according to the present invention are obtained by a flexible bag for containing bulk material including granulate material such as rice, pasta, vegetables or the like, preferably boiled rice, pasta, or vegetables ready for use, the flexible bag comprising:

a bottom foil having the outer dimensions of a pallet or stillage and defining outer edges to be positioned extending substantially parallel with the edges of the pallet or stillage,

four side wall foils connected to the outer edges of the bottom foil and extending upwardly from the bottom foil for defining a box-shaped bag in which the vertical edges of each of the side wall foils are connected to the vertical edge of the adjacent side wall foil, an inner space being defined above the bottom foil and between the side wall foils within the box-shaped bag,

a top foil part having a sealable closure, the top foil part being connected to the upper edges of the four side wall foils for closing off the box-shaped bag, the sealable closure allowing the introduction of the granulate material into the inner space before sealing the closure, and

the bottom foil, the four side wall foils and the top foil part being made from thin plastics foil material and together constituting a self-shape maintaining or self-supporting bag structure when filled with the bulk material.

[0017] According to the teachings of the present invention, a self-shape maintaining and self-supporting bag structure made from thin plastics foil material such as PP and PE foil of a thickness of 50-500µm or preferably 50-200 µm may be used for handling even a large amount of material constituting the bulk material contained within the flexible bag provided the flexible bag is permanently supported by e.g. the pallet or the stillage, in particular during the process of expelling or emptying the bulk material from within the flexible bag, i.e. from the inner space defined with the flexible bag.

[0018] According to the presently preferred embodiment of the bag according to the present invention, a closure flap is provided covering at least a part of one of the four side wall foils and being releasably fixated to the part for allowing the closure flap to be removed from the part for exposing the part so as to allow the exposed part to be cut through for providing an empty opening through which the granulate material is expelled from the inner space without being brought into contact with any outer surface parts of the bag except for the part originally covered by the closure flap.

[0019] According to the above described preferred embodiment, it has been realised that the problem of eliminating the contamination problem described above as the granulate material is allowed to pour out from the flexible bag is simply solved by providing a part of an outer wall of a bag or alternatively a part of the bottom foil or the top foil part which part is covered by means of a closure flap for providing a concealed area which is not exposed to dust or dirt and as the closure flap is removed. The uncontaminated part may be used as an area for providing the opening for expelling the material or the product such as the granulate material from the inner space with the flexible bag.

[0020] The provision of the closure flap also provides a significant advantage as compared to the prior art flexible intermediate bulk containers which have to be completely emptied as the bag is cut open, as the provision of the releasably fixated closure flap allows a partial emptying of the flexible intermediate bulk container or flexible bag and after the partial emptying allows a reclosing of the bag by refitting the closure flap into the releasably fixation thereby reclosing the flexible bag and allowing the flexible bag to be moved to another location or place for the emptying of the remaining part of the bulk material contained within the flexible bag.

[0021] The closure flap may have any relevant size and configurations such as the size of e.g. the bottom foil or one third or one quarter of one of the outer side wall foils and may preferably cover a lower part of the one side wall foil of the bag in order to guarantee that the material expelled from the inner space of the bag is only contacted with the uncontaminated part originally covered by the closure flap. The closure flap may according to one embodiment simply be adhered to the bag by means of an adhesive or by means of tape or alternatively be welded to the lower edge of the side wall foil in question in the junction between the side wall foil and the bottom foil thereby providing a flap which is simply turned down from its position in contact with the side wall foil covered by the closure flap.

[0022] In the presently preferred embodiment of the flexible bag according to the present invention, a separate closure flap is provided which closure flap is originally positioned on the top surface of the pallet or stillage and covering the top surface and also extending from the one edge of the pallet or stillage beyond the pallet or stillage and after the flexible bag is positioned on top of the closure flap, the closure flap is simply bent into contact with the outer surface of the one side wall foil and fixated to the side wall foil in question by means of tape. After the filling of the flexible bag by means of the granulate material such as the cooked rice or pasta, the flexible bag including the bottom closure flap is simply wrapped by means of a foil wrapper and thereupon, as will be discussed in greater details below, preferably covered by means of an outer protective cover such as a woven nylon cover.

[0023] As is well known in the art per se, the side wall foils of the flexible bag may preferably be provided with intermediate reinforcing foil parts interconnecting the side walls diagonally within a space and diagonally or triangulally connecting each of the side wall foils to the adjacent side wall foils. The intermediate foil parts may advantageously be connected to the side wall foils at the centre of the respective side wall foil.

[0024] The flexible bag may for complying with specific requirements be composed of different materials such as an outer foil constituting the four side walls, a different top and bottom foil constituting the bottom foil and the top foil part respectively and a further different material constituting the intermediate foil part serving the purpose of reinforcing the flexible bag.

[0025] According to the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the four side wall foils, the top foil part and the bottom foil and possibly also the intermediate foil parts provided the intermediate foil parts be present, are made from polymer materials which may be welded or glued together from separate foil parts such as PVC, PP or preferably PE including HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, preferably HDPE of a thickness of 50µm - 500 µm such as 50µm - 300µm, preferably 100-200 µm or combinations thereof or polymer foils covered by an aluminium foil or a paper material.

[0026] The closure flap characteristic of the present invention may be made from the same material as the bottom foil, the side wall foils and the top foil such as a polymer material, e.g. PVC, PP or preferably PE such as HDPE, MDPE or LDPE of a thickness 50µm - 500µm or combinations thereof.

[0027] As already discussed above, the flexible bag according to the present invention is preferably constituted as a two part structure including an inner bag including the closure flap characteristic of the present invention and being made from a disposable material such as PE and an outer protective cover made from wear resistant continuous foil or preferably a woven foil material e.g. woven nylon and having a top cover substantially extending coextensive with the foil part of the flexible bag and side wall parts for covering the four side wall foils of the flexible bag and further having straps or belts for fixating the outer cover to the pallet or stillage.

[0028] The present invention also relates to a method of sealing, transporting and removing granulate material by using the flexible bag according to the present invention for solving the above described contamination problem when expelling the granulate material from the flexible bag. In particular, the present invention relates a further aspect to a method of sealing, transporting and removing granulate material such as rice, pasta, vegetables or the like, preferably boiled rice, pasta, or vegetables ready for use within a flexible bag, the flexible bag comprising:

a bottom foil having the outer dimensions of a pallet or stillage and defining outer edges to be positioned extending substantially parallel with the edges of the pallet or stillage,

four side wall foils connected to the outer edges of the bottom foil and extending upwardly from the bottom foil for defining a box-shaped bag in which the vertical edges of the side wall foils are connected to the vertical edge of the adjacent side wall foil, an inner space being defined above the bottom foil and between the side wall foil within the box-shaped bag,

a top foil part having a sealable closure, the top foil part being connected to the upper edges of the four side wall foils for closing off the box-shaped bag, the sealable closure allowing the introduction of the granulate material into the inner space before sealing the closure, and

the bottom foil, the four side wall foils and the top foil part being made from thin plastics foil material and together constituting a self-shape maintaining or self-supporting bag structure when filled with the bulk material, the method comprising:

the step of introducing the granulate material into the inner space of the flexible bag and sealing off the sealable closure while maintaining the flexible bag seated on the pallet or stillage,

the step of transporting the granulate material while sealed within the flexible bag while maintaining the flexible bag seated on the pallet or stillage, and

the step of removing the granulate material from the inner space of the flexible bag while maintaining the flexible bag seated on the pallet or stillage or while maintaining the flexible bag resting on a supporting surface by cutting through the foil material of one of the four side wall foils or the bottom foil for allowing the granulate material to be expelled from within the inner space.

[0029] According to the presently preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the flexible bag is according to the above described presently preferred embodiment of the flexible according to the present invention provided with a closure flap covering at least part of one of the four side wall foils or alternatively a part of the bottom foil or the top foil part and being releasably fixated to the part for allowing the closure flap to be removed from the part for exposing the part, and the step of removing the granulate material from the inner space of the flexible bag further comprises the additional sub-step of partly removing the closure flap from the part and cutting through the foil material of the previously covered part for allowing the granulate material to be expelled from within the inner space without being brought into contact with any other outer surface part of the flexible bag except for the previously covered part and preferably guiding the granulate material while expelled from the inner space by means of the closure flap serving as a guide plate.

[0030] According to the above described presently preferred embodiment of the flexible bag according to the present invention, the method according to the present invention further comprises the introductory step of providing the closure flap by positioning a separate foil element on the top surface of the pallet or stillage, the foil element having an extension extending beyond the one edge of the pallet or stillage to the one side along a bottom part of the vertical edges thereof and along a transversal line above the bottom edge of the one side wall foil.

[0031] The flexible bag used in accordance with the method according to the present invention preferably includes any of the technical features described above and as defined in the appending claims.

[0032] The present invention is now to be further described with reference to the drawings in which

Fig. 1

is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bag,

Fig. 2

is a cross-sectional side view of the bag of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

is an elevated perspective view of an idealised bag, and

Fig. 4

is a schematic top view of an idealised bag.

[0033] Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bag designated the reference numeral 10. The bag 10 is placed on a pallet or stillage 12. In the industry the pallet 12 is commonly a wooden pallet. On the pallet 12 a protection layer 14 is mounted for the protection of the bottom of the bag. The protection layer 14 is preferably made from a plastic material such as a PE foil. The protection layer 14 may be fastened to the pallet by use of an adhesive, by stapling or by utilising any other method or device for fixating the protection layer 14 to the pallet 12.

[0034] The size of the protection layer 14 may extend beyond the dimensions of the pallet 12 as illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby defining a flap 16.

[0035] The preferred embodiment of the bag 10 has a width of approximately 105 cm and is substantially square. However a pallet or stillage 12 may have an overall geometry that is substantially rectangular, and bags having a corresponding horizontal cross-section may be envisioned.

[0036] The bag 10 is filled with the bulk material 18 through a funnel 20 from a filler station, not illustrated. While performing the filling operation the bag 10 is suspended by use of a number of holders or loops 24 for ensuring an even product distribution within the bag 10. The bag 10 may hang from these loops 24 during the entire filling operation or only in the beginning for maintaining the opening 22 in contact with the funnel 20 of the filler station. The loops or holders 24 may be formed as an integral part of the side walls of the bag 10. Alternatively the loops or holders 24 may be fastened to the side walls by welding or by use of an adhesive.

[0037] When the bag 10 has been filled with the desired amount of bulk material 18, the flap 16 is raised, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position bringing the flap 16 in contact with a side wall of the bag 10. The flap 16 is then fixated to the bag 10, e.g. by glue, an adhesive paste, adhesive tape, welding or any other method for fixating two pieces of plastic material. The protection layer is preferably made from a plastic material such as polyethylene (PE).

[0038] The protection layer 14 and the flap 16 are in a first and presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, formed by a single sheet of material, but may alternatively be formed by two separate pieces of plastic material. In the prototype version of the present invention the length of the flap is approximately 50 cm.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the entire bag 10 is made from a plastic material, preferably PE. The bag 10 is formed from at least one sheet of material with the sides welded together. The thickness of the sheet is at least 100 micrometer.

[0040] The pallet 12 is fitted with loops, straps or strings 26 for fixating an outer bag to the pallet 12. The loops or stings may be fastened to the pallet 12 by stapling, by use of an adhesive or by any other fixation method.

[0041] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the bag 10 where the flap 16 has been fixated to the bag 10 and the opening 22 of the bag has been closed, e.g. by binding a string around the opening. Alternatively the opening 22 is simply twisted and laid down.

[0042] For the protection of the bag 10 an outer bag 28 may be mounted on the bag 10 encapsulating the bag 10. The outer bag 28 is in a preferred embodiment of the present invention formed by a woven polypropylene capable of substantially withstanding impacts from fork lift trucks and other impacts that may occur during the transportation, but may be formed by other materials having substantially the same strength properties.

[0043] The outer bag 28 is fixated or fastened to the pallet 12 by binding the loops, straps or strings 26 to a corresponding loop, strap or string 30 on the outer bag 28.

[0044] Since the opening 22 is protected from dirt and contamination by the outer bag 28, considerations regarding closure of the opening 22 may be minimised.

[0045] Fig. 3 is an elevated perspective view of an idealised bag 10' illustrating the emptying of the bag 10' employing the flap 16 as a chute, ramp or skidway for emptying the bulk material 18 from the bag 10' without bringing the bulk material 18 in contact with dirt or any other pollution source.

[0046] After the bag 10' has been transported to its destination, the outer bag 28 is removed and packaged for return or other reviews. The flap 16 is loosened from the bag 10' either by cutting or ripping the tape, thereby enabling the flap 16 to function as a skidway. A cut 32 is made in the bag above the outstretched flap 16 enabling the product to flow from the bag 10' onto the flap 16 and into the underlying receiving station, illustrated by the funnel 34.

[0047] Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of an idealised bag 10" illustrating that the bag 10" may comprise a number of baffles 36 enabling the bag 10,10' and 10" to maintain a substantially square configuration after filling the bag 10 with the bulk material 18, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The baffles 36 may extend only partially in the vertical direction allowing the bulk material to enter the corners of the bag 10 during the filling operation. The baffles 36 may be formed by a whole sheet, such as a PE sheet. Alternatively, the baffles may be formed with apertures, openings or holes.

[0048] The width of the flap 16 is not required to be equal to or exceeding the width of the bag 10, 10', 10"', however, a width substantially corresponding to the width of the bag 10, 10', 10''' is preferred. Alternatively, the width of the flap 16 may correspond to the width or the length of the pallet 12.

Claims

1. A flexible bag for containing bulk material including granulate material such as rice, pasta, vegetables or the like, preferably boiled rice, pasta, or vegetables ready for use, said flexible bag comprising:

a bottom foil having the outer dimensions of a pallet or stillage and defining outer edges to be positioned extending substantially parallel with the edges of said pallet or stillage,

four side wall foils connected to said outer edges of said bottom foil and extending upwardly from said bottom foil for defining a box-shaped bag in which the vertical edges of each of the side wall foils are connected to the vertical edge of the adjacent side wall foil, an inner space being defined above said bottom foil and between said side wall foils within said box-shaped bag,

a top foil part having a sealable closure, said top foil part being connected to the upper edges of said four side wall foils for closing off said box-shaped bag, said sealable closure allowing the introduction of said granulate material into said inner space before sealing said closure, and

said bottom foil, said four side wall foils and said top foil part being made from thin plastics foil material and together constituting a self-shape maintaining or self-supporting bag structure when filled with said bulk material.

2. The flexible bag according to claim 1 further comprising a closure flap covering at least a part of one of said four side wall foils or alternatively a part of said bottom foil or said top foil part and being releasably fixated to said part for allowing said closure flap to be removed from said part for exposing said part so as to allow said exposed part to be cut through for providing an empty opening through which said granulate material is expelled from said inner space without being brought into contact with any outer surface parts of said bag except for said part originally covered by said closure flap.

3. The flexible bag according to any of the claims 1 or 2, said closure flap being constituted by a continuous foil originally positioned below said bottom foil on said pallet or stillage and being taped to said one side along a bottom part of said vertical edges thereof and along a transversal line above the bottom edge of said one side wall foil.

4. The flexible bag according to any of the claims 1-3, said four side walls further being interconnected by means of four intermediate foil parts extending diagonally within said inner space and connecting diagonally or triangularly each of said four side wall foils to the adjacent side wall foils.

5. The flexible bag according to claim 4, said intermediate foil parts being connected to positions at the centre of a respective side wall foil.

6. The flexible bag according to any of the claims 1-5, said bottom foil, said four side wall foils and said top foil part being constituted by an integral bag structure or being welded or glued together from separate foil parts.

7. The flexible bag according to any of the claims 1-6, said bottom foil, said side wall foils and said top foil part being made from a polymer material such as PVC, PP or preferably PE, including HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, preferably HDPE of a thickness of 50µm - 500 µm such as 50µm - 300µm, preferably 100-200 µm or combinations thereof or polymer foils covered by an aluminium foil or a paper material.

8. The flexible bag according to any of the claims 1-7, said closure flap being made from the same material as the bottom foil, the side wall foils and the top foil, such as a polymer material such as PVC, PP or preferably PE such as HDPE, MOPE or LOPE of a thickness 50µm - 500µm or combinations thereof.

9. The flexible bag according to any of the claims 1-8, further comprising an outer protective covering made from wear resistant continuous foil or preferably a woven foil material and having a top cover substantially extending coextensive with said foil part of said flexible bag and side wall parts for covering said four side wall foils of said flexible bag and further having straps or belts for fixating said outer cover to said pallet or stillage.

10. A method of sealing, transporting and removing granulate material such as rice, pasta, vegetables or the like, preferably boiled rice, pasta, or vegetables ready for use within a flexible bag, said flexible bag comprising:

a bottom foil having the outer dimensions of a pallet or stillage and defining outer edges to be positioned extending substantially parallel with the edges of said pallet or stillage,

four side wall foils connected to said outer edges of said bottom foil and extending upwardly from said bottom foil for defining a box-shaped bag in which the vertical edges of the side wall foils are connected to the vertical edge of the adjacent side wall foil, an inner space being defined above said bottom foil and between said side wall foil within said box-shaped bag,

a top foil part having a sealable closure, said top foil part being connected to the upper edges of said four side wall foils for closing off said box-shaped bag, said sealable closure allowing the introduction of said granulate material into said inner space before sealing said closure, and

said bottom foil, said four side wall foils and said top foil part being made from thin plastics foil material and together constituting a self-shape maintaining or self-supporting bag structure when filled with said bulk material, the method comprising:

the step of introducing said granulate material into said inner space of said flexible bag and sealing off said sealable closure while maintaining said flexible bag seated on said pallet or stillage,

the step of transporting said granulate material while sealed within said flexible bag while maintaining said flexible bag seated on said pallet or stillage, and

the step of removing said granulate material from said inner space of said flexible bag while maintaining said flexible bag seated on said pallet or stillage or while maintaining said flexible bag resting on a supporting surface by cutting through said foil material of one of said four side wall foils or said bottom foil for allowing said granulate material to be expelled from within said inner space.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of providing a closure flap covering at least part of said four side wall foils or alternatively a part of said bottom foil or said top foil part and being releasably fixated to said part for allowing said closure flap to be removed from said part for exposing said part, and the step of removing said granulate material from said inner space of said flexible bag comprising the additional sub-step of partly removing said closure flap from said part and cutting through said foil material of said previously covered part for allowing said granulate material to be expelled from within said inner space without being brought into contact with any other outer surface part of said flexible bag except for said previously covered part and preferably guiding said granulate material while expelled from said inner space by means of said closure flap serving as a guide plate.

12. The method according to any of the claims 10 or 11 further comprising the introductory step of providing said closure flap by positioning a separate foil element on the top surface of said pallet or stillage, said foil element having an extension extending beyond the one edge of said pallet or stillage to said one side along a bottom part of said vertical edges thereof and along a transversal line above the bottom edge of said one side wall foil.

13. The method according to any of the claims 10-12, said flexible bag further having any of the features of the flexible bag according to any of the claim 3-8.

Drawing