Method and apparatus for densifying flexible bulk containers

In densifying apparatus for use during filling of a flexible container with flowable bulk material, the improvement comprising:

• a support disposed to underlie the bottom of the container as it is being filled with material;
• a power device operably coupled with the support for intermittently raising the support through a short, vertical lift stroke and then suddenly dropping the support through a short, vertical drop stroke;
• means for limiting the support to a rectilinear path of travel as it moves through its lift strokes and drop strokes whereby to avoid shaking the container and its contents from side-to-side;
• and
• a stop disposed within the path of travel of said support during its drop stroke for causing the support to abruptly impact the stop at the end of the drop stroke and thereby jar the material within the flexible container into a more densified condition,
• said apparatus further including an overhead backstop above the container and in vertically spaced opposition to the support,
• said support including an actuatable lift portion for periodically pressing the container upwardly against the backstop to further densify the contents.

In densifying apparatus for use during filling of a flexible container with flowable bulk material, the improvement comprising:

• a support disposed to underlie the bottom of the container as it is being filled with material;
• a power device operably coupled with the support for intermittently raising the support through a short, vertical lift stroke and then suddenly dropping the support through a short, vertical drop stroke;
• means for limiting the support to a rectilinear path of travel as it moves through its lift strokes and drop strokes whereby to avoid shaking the container and its contents from side-to-side;
• and
• a stop disposed within the path of travel of said support during its drop stroke for causing the support to abruptly impact the stop at the end of the drop stroke and thereby jar the material within the flexible container into a more densified condition,
• said power device including an inflatable bellows.

In densifying apparatus for use during filling of a flexible container with flowable bulk material, the improvement comprising:

• a main frame;
• a support movably mounted on the frame for supporting the load of the container as it is being filled;
• a power device between the frame and the support for intermittently raising the support through a short lift stroke and then suddenly dropping the support through a short drop stroke;
• a stop disposed within the path of travel of the support during its drop stroke but located out of load-bearing relationship with the frame for causing the support to abruptly impact the stop at the end of the drop stroke and thereby jar the material within the container into a more densified condition;
• and
• weighing means coupled in load-bearing relationship with said frame but out of load-transferring relationship with the stop for determining the weight of the container and its contents during the lift stroke of the support when the support is raised off the stop.

A method for use in densifying the material contents of a flexible bulk container including the steps of:

• lifting the container from the bottom thereof into a raised position;
• suddenly removing the lifting force from the bottom of the container and allowing the container to drop a short distance onto a solid stop, whereby to abruptly impact the container and densify the contents;
• confining the container to a vertical path of travel during lifting, dropping and impacting thereof whereby to prevent side-to-side agitation and shaking of the contents of the container;
• and
• weighing the container as it is being lifted but not while it is resting on the stop,
• said lifting step being carried out by resting the container on a vertically reciprocable support which is carried during the lifting movement by a stationary frame,
• said weighing step being carried out by determining the loading on the frame during the lifting movement of the support.

A method for use in determining the weight of the contents of a flexible container during non-stop filling of the container and densification of the contents by periodically raising the container through a short lift stroke and then suddenly dropping of the container through a short drop stroke onto a fixed stop, said method including the steps of:

• moving the container through its lift strokes and its drop strokes while the container is resting upon a support that is carried by a stationary frame;
• positioning the stop so that it is impacted by the support without transferring the impact load to the frame;
• and
• determining the loading on the frame during the lift stroke of the support by using weighing means coupled with the frame and isolated from the stop.