Air evacuation systems and methods for lining a container

An air evacuation system for lining a container with a flexible liner, the container having a plurality of walls defining a cavity with an open top, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said air evacuation system comprising:

• a platform for supporting the container in a formed state, the container including the liner in an unseated position within the cavity wherein said platform comprises a base and a floor extending substantially parallel and spaced apart from said base such that a first air gap is formed between said base and said floor, said floor comprising at least one opening therethrough and at least one spacer tab extending therefrom for engaging a bottom wall of the container, said spacer tab elevating the bottom wall of the container from said floor creating a second air gap between the bottom wall of the container and said floor;
• and
• a vacuum assembly coupled to said platform, said vacuum assembly comprising a pump in airflow communication with at least one inlet positioned in said base, said vacuum assembly configured to draw air from the cavity through the bottom wall and the first and second air gaps and the at least one inlet such that the liner is positioned substantially adjacent to the interior surface of the container in a seated position.

An air evacuation apparatus for positioning a flexible liner within a container, the container having a plurality of walls defining a cavity, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said air evacuation apparatus comprising:

• a platform comprising a base and a floor for supporting the container in a formed state and a plurality of side rails for aligning the container with respect to said platform, the container including the liner in an unseated position within the cavity, wherein said floor extends substantially parallel and spaced apart from said base such that a first air gap is formed between said base and said floor, said floor comprises at least one opening therethrough and at least one spacer tab extending therefrom for engaging a bottom wall of the container, said spacer tab elevating the bottom wall of the container from said floor creating a second air gap between the bottom wall of the container and said floor;
• and
• a suction member coupled to at least one of said base and a side wall of said platform, said suction member configured to position the unseated liner in a seated position adjacent the interior surface of the container by drawing air from the container cavity through said bottom wall such that substantially all of the air between the interior surface of the container and the unseated liner is removed.