Bag assembly

Abstract

A bag assembly ( 30 ) includes an inner bag ( 1 ) with an outer cover ( 20 ). An open end ( 22 ) of the cover ( 20 ) is positioned around a spout ( 6 ) providing an inlet/outlet for the bag ( 1 ). After the bag ( 1 ) has been filled, and the spout ( 6 ) has been sealed, the bag assembly ( 30 ) is itself sealed by the sealing of the upper end of the cover ( 20 ). The bag assembly ( 30 ) can then be inverted and with the cover ( 20 ) removed and the bag ( 1 ) lifted, the cutting open of the spout ( 6 ) will enable the discharge of the material.

1 . A method of operating a bag assembly to avoid contamination of the contents of a bag forming part of the assembly including: 
 (iv) providing an outer cover means for the bag so as to cover over a sealable inlet/discharge means provided for one end of said bag when the bag has been filled with the contents and the inlet/discharge means sealed, said cover means adapted to cover over said one end of said bag;    (v) when discharge is required providing for the positioning of the bag so that the inlet/discharge means is at, or moving towards, a lower end of the bag;    (vi) prior to or following said positioning, exposing the inlet/discharge means through the removal or opening of at least part of the cover means to allow, with the opening of the inlet/discharge means, material contained within the bag to be discharged.    
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  which includes the total removal of the cover means after an inversion of the bag as part of said positioning and further provides the provision of a sling to lift the bag in its inverted position during discharge.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cover means is secured to the bag and is inverted with the bag as material is discharged during or after inversion.  
     
     
         4 . A method of operating a bag assembly substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         5 . A bag assembly including a cover means adapted in use to be positioned about a bag (as herein defined), the cover means being adapted to cover over a sealable inlet/discharge means provided for one end of the bag when the bag has been filled with its contents and the inlet/discharge means sealed, and to cover at least said one end of said bag, the cover means being adapted to be removable or openable, wholly or in part to expose the inlet/discharge means when discharge of the material is required.  
     
     
         6 . A bag assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , which is adapted to be inverted when discharge of material is required.  
     
     
         7 . A bag assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the cover means is of a size substantially commensurate with the bag so as to be able to substantially envelope it, the cover means having a closeable bottom end and an open upper end, said open upper end being adapted to fit about a spout provided for the said inlet/discharge means.  
     
     
         8 . A bag assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said bottom end of the cover means is secured or securable with a bottom end of said bag.  
     
     
         9 . A bag assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a slip sheet is provided for an outer surface of said bottom end of said cover means.  
     
     
         10 . A bag assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said slip sheet includes channels adapted to accommodate the forks of a forklift.  
     
     
         11 . A bag assembly as claimed in any one of  claims 8  to  10  in which said bag includes at or adjacent its bottom end attachment means which with said cover means removed, are exposed to enable connection with a lifting means and whereby the bag assembly can be lifted when in an inverted position.  
     
     
         12 . A bag assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said attachment means include a plurality of eyelets for attachment with a sling of said lifting means.  
     
     
         13 . A bag assembly substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         14 . A cover for use in the bag assembly of any one of  claims 7  to  13 .