Bulk container filler station and related methods
AssigneeHaF Equipment LLC
InventorsPeter Hoefler, Erik Johnson, Casey Hoefler, Samuel Lucas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed herein for filling and transporting a bulk container. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a bulk container handling assembly for filing a bulk container in a clean room at a first location, transporting the bulk container outside of the clean room, and disposing of the bulk container at a second location. During transportation, the bulk container handling assembly can move a bulk container through an environmental barrier. The bulk container handling assembly is stationary and configured with a low pivot point such that the base of the bulk container handling assembly remains in the clean room.
Claims20
A method for filling bulk containers, comprising:
- coupling a bulk container to a pivoting frame, the pivoting frame being configured to articulate about a first pivot;
- filling the bulk container in a clean room environment at a first location on a first surface located at a first height above the first pivot;
- transporting the bulk container out of the clean room environment into a non-clean room environment by articulating the pivoting frame about the first pivot;
- and
- disposing the bulk container in a second location within the non-clean room environment onto a second surface at a second height less than the first height, wherein an upper surface of the container is located at a height above the first pivot when the bulk container is disposed in the second location.
A bulk container handling system comprising:
- a base portion located in in a clean room environment;
- a platform disposed on the base portion, the platform being configured to support a bulk container;
- an articulating arm pivotally coupled to the base portion at a first pivot, wherein the articulating arm is configured to lift a bulk container from the platform;
- a carriage coupled to a distal end of the articulating arm, wherein the carriage includes at least one hook configured to selectively secure a loop of a bulk container;
- an actuator coupled to the base portion;
- a linkage separately and pivotally coupled to the base portion, the articulating arm, and the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the at least one articulating arm about the first pivot via the linkage to move the bulk container from a first position above the platform to a second position below and adjacent the platform, wherein the carriage is disposed above the first pivot when the bulk container is in the first position and in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.