Transportable Container For Bulk Goods
AssigneeKellogg Company
InventorsDave Ours, Sharon Juntunen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transportable container for flowable bulk goods includes a bottom support and a stretch wrap spirally wrapped around the bottom support and extending vertically in relationship to the bottom support. Bulk goods are disposed within the stretch wrap and at least of portion of the bulk goods are disposed in direct contact with the stretch wrap to squeeze the bulk goods together and generate hoop forces for stabilizing the bulk goods in the transportable container. The transportable container has a shape that varies radially in vertical relationship to the bottom support for adjusting the hoop forces vertically along the transportable container. The varied shape of the transportable container can be, for example, tapered, hour-glass shaped, or pumpkin shaped.
Claims16
1-13. (Canceled)
A system for producing a transportable container for flowable bulk goods, the system comprising:
- a slip frame former having at least one former wall defining a frame opening;
- a bottom support vertically spaced from the slip frame former;
- wherein the at least one former wall and the bottom support are configured to receive a first portion of outer wrap to form a portion of the transportable container;
- wherein at least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support is vertically moveable relative to the other of the slip frame former and the bottom support to maintain the position of the slip frame former relative to a fill level of bulk goods in the transportable container;
- wherein the slip frame former is configured to disengage previously received portions of outer wrap therefrom to squeeze filled portions of the transportable container and lock together the bulk goods disposed in the transportable container as the at least one of the slip frame former and the bottom support moves relative to the other of the slip frame former and the bottom support;
- and
- wherein a portion of the at least one former wall is configured to receive additional portions of outer wrap to maintain the transportable container and continue to form the transportable container as previously disposed portions of outer wrap disengage the at least one former wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.