Bulk bin with auto-closing bottom

A blank for making a collapsible paperboard bin that may be changed from a flattened condition for shipment and storage to an expanded open position at the point of use, wherein the container has an auto-closing bottom, said blank comprising:

• an elongate, rectangularly shaped piece of paperboard having a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, transverse fold scores defining a plurality of adjacent, foldably interconnected wall panels having top and bottom edges, and including sidewall panels and end wall panels interposed between the sidewall panels;
• a major bottom flap foldably connected to a bottom edge of each sidewall panel;
• a minor bottom flap foldably connected to a bottom edge of each end wall panel;
• and
• a connecting web foldably connected between adjacent side edges of each major bottom flap and an adjacent minor bottom flap.

A process for setting up a bin from a flattened configuration to an erected configuration, comprising the steps of:

• providing a bin in a flattened configuration lying on a surface, wherein said bin, when erected, has opposed sidewalls and opposed end walls, a top end, and a bottom end with major and minor bottom flaps connected to the sidewalls and end walls, respectively, along a crease forming a fold line;
• elevating the top end of the flattened bin, with the flaps resting on the surface;
• causing the flaps to bend about said crease;
• moving the sidewalls and end walls to open up the bin to an expanded tubular configuration;
• rocking the bin back and forth on the major flaps to cause the major flaps to begin folding inwardly;
• pressing the minor flaps inwardly;
• and
• pushing down on the bin to cause the major and minor bottom flaps to fold to their fully closed positions.