Flexible container handling system

An apparatus usable to form substantially identical lower and upper parts of a container for a flexible bag of liquid, the apparatus comprising:

• an inner surface configured to support the flexible bag of liquid when the apparatus is used as a lower part, the inner surface including side walls extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and configured to support the flexible bag of liquid, and first and second contoured end projections extending directly upwardly from the inner surface and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface, the first and second contoured end projections confronting each other along the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and being configured to support opposite ends of the flexible bag with each of the first and second contoured end projections being spaced inwardly from the respective side walls;
• an outer surface;
• opposed first and second lateral edges;
• a first pair of spaced-apart legs adjacent the first lateral edge and a second pair of spaced-apart legs adjacent the second lateral edge, the legs having respective notches, the legs and respective notches extending outward from the outer surface and adapted to support the apparatus on a surface when the apparatus is used as a lower part of a container, and when the apparatus is used as an upper part of the container, the legs and notches face away from the surface and facilitate alignment with the container in a stacked formation, the legs and respective notches adapted to prevent the container from moving in a first direction with respect to the stacked formation;
• and
• four projections extending outward from the outer surface adjacent respective ones of the legs to further facilitate alignment of the container in the stacked formation and adapted to prevent the container from moving in a second direction with respect to the stacked formation.

A container for supporting a flexible bag of liquid comprising:

• a lower part comprising a lower outer surface and first projections extending downward from the lower outer surface and adapted to support the lower part on a surface, a lower inner surface including side walls extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and configured to support the flexible bag of liquid, and first and second contoured end projections extending directly upwardly from the inner surface and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface, the first and second contoured end projections confronting each other along the longitudinal centerline of the inner surface and being configured to support opposite ends of the flexible bag with each of the first and second contoured end projections being spaced inwardly from the respective side walls;
• and
• an upper part configured to be placed over the lower part to form an interior space adapted to contain the flexible bag of liquid, the upper part comprising an upper outer surface and second projections extending upward from the upper outer surface, the second projections being substantially the same size, shape and relative location as the first projections, and the second projections adapted to be located adjacent to, and facilitate alignment with, first projections of another container in a stacked formation.