Machine and method for unloading a bulk-material bag

A method for unloading a bag containing bulk material and having a spout, a bottom portion, a side portion and a transition portion between the bottom and side portions, the bag bottom portion extending along a generally horizontal plane when the bag is full, or nearly full, of bulk-material, the method including:

• providing a machine having at least one movable tri-section panel with at least first, second and third segments and an inward edge;
• suspending the bag so that its bottom, transition and side portions are proximate the first, second and third segments, respectively and so that the inward edge is proximate the bag bottom portion and the spout;
• opening the spout;
• and
• after the step of suspending the bag, moving each panel back and forth between a first position in which the panel inward edge projects upwardly beyond the generally horizontal plane and into contact with the bag bottom surface proximate the spout and a second position in which the panel inward edge is positioned below the generally horizontal plane.

A method for unloading a bag containing bulk material, the bag having a spout, a bottom portion, a side portion and a transition portion between the bottom and side portions, the method including:

• providing a machine having a pair of movable panels, each panel having at least first, second and third segments, each segment for contacting the bag;
• suspending the bag so that its bottom, transition and side portions are proximate the at least first, second and third segments, respectively;
• determining the compressibility of the bulk material in the bag;
• agitating at least the bag bottom portion when compressibility of the bulk material is below a predetermined value;
• agitating at least the bag side portion when compressibility of the bulk material is above a predetermined value;
• and
• at any point after the suspending step, opening the spout to dispense bulk material from the bag.

In a machine for unloading a bulk-material bag having a bottom portion, a side portion and a transition portion between the bottom and side portions, the machine including at least one apparatus aiding discharge of the material from the bag, the improvement wherein;

• the apparatus includes:
• a tri-section panel mounted for movement on the machine at a pivot mount, the tri-section panel having:
• at least first, second and third segments, each segment having a surface portion for contacting the bag;
• an inward edge;
• and
• the pivot mount is coupled to the panel at a location laterally spaced from the inward edge;
• an actuator coupled to the panel at an actuator joint at a location laterally spaced from the pivot mount;
• a controller coupled to the actuator for regulating actuator movement as a function of the compressibility of the material contained in the bag, the compressibility being determined by panel movement;
• a sensor operatively connected to the controller positioned to detect movement of the tri-section panel toward the bag, the sensor providing the controller with at least one predetermined position of the panel;
• and
• the controller regulates actuator movement in response to movement of the tri-section panel to the at least one predetermined position.

A method for unloading a bag containing bulk material, the bag having a spout, a bottom portion, a side portion and a transition portion between the bottom and side portions, the method including;

• providing a machine having a movable tri-section panel with at least first, second and third segments;
• suspending the bag so that its bottom, transition and side portions are proximate the first, second and third segments, respectively;
• opening the spout;
• and
• urging, sequentially, the first and second segments against the bag bottom portion and the transition portion, respectively;
• monitoring tri-section panel movement as a process parameter relating to bag compressibility, the parameter being movement of the tri-section panel;
• sensing that the tri-section panel has moved to at least one predetermined position;
• and
• pushing against the transition portion and the side portion using the second and third segments sequentially once the tri-section panel has moved to the at least one predetermined position.

In a machine for unloading a bulk-material bag, the bag having at least bottom and side portions and a spout, the machine including at least one apparatus aiding discharge of the material from the bag through the spout, the improvement wherein:

• the apparatus includes:
• at least a pair of bag-agitating panels mounted for movement at a pivot mount on the machine, each panel having:
• a plurality of segments formed in each panel, the segments configured and arranged so that each panel may be moved to contact the bag bottom, and at least one bag side portion;
• and
• an inward edge along each panel positioned to push up against the bag bottom portion;
• and
• the pivot mount is coupled to each panel at a location laterally spaced from the inward edge;
• at least one actuator coupled to each panel at an actuator joint laterally spaced from the pivot mount for moving the panel;
• a controller coupled to at least one actuator for regulating the actuator movement as a function of the compressibility of the material contained in the bag, the compressibility being determined by panel movement;
• a sensor operatively connected to the controller and positioned to detect movement of at least one panel toward the bag, the sensor providing the controller with at least one predetermined position of at least one panel;
• and
• the controller regulates actuator movement in response to movement of at least one panel to the at least one predetermined position.

In a machine for unloading a bulk-material bag, the bag having at least bottom and side portions and a spout, the bag bottom portion extending along a generally horizontal plane when the bag is full, or nearly full, of bulk-material, the machine including at least one apparatus aiding discharge of the material from the bag through the spout, the improvement wherein:

• the apparatus includes:
• at least a pair of bag-agitating implements, each implement having at least inward and outer spaced apart bag-contact portions and an inward edge along the inward bag-contact portion, each bag-agitating implement being mounted for reciprocating movement on the machine back and forth between a first position in which the inward edge is urged upwardly beyond the generally horizontal plane and into the bag bottom surface proximate the spout and a second position in which the inward edge is positioned below the generally horizontal plane,
• an actuator coupled to each implement and to the machine;
• a controller coupled to at least one actuator for regulating actuator movement;
• a sensor operatively connected to the controller positioned to detect movement of at least one implement as the inward portion is moved into back and forth contact with the bag, the sensor providing the controller with at least one predetermined position of the implement;
• and
• the controller regulates actuator movement in response to movement of the tri-section panel to the at least one predetermined position changing implement movement so that each implement outer portion is moved back and forth between a third position in which the outer portion is urged into contact with at least a bag side portion and a fourth position in which the outer portion is positioned away from the side surface.