Bag Lifting and Emptying System

Abstract

A bag lifting and emptying system may include a rupture mechanism for the bag, an attachment mechanism for the bag, and a hoist connectable to the attachment mechanism. The rupture mechanism may be configured to rupture a bottom portion of the bag, when the bag is lowered onto the rupture mechanism, so as to cause the contents of the bag to be transferred from the bag into a receptacle. The attachment mechanism may be configured to releasably attach to the bag. The hoist may be configured to lift the bag and subsequently lower the bag onto the rupture mechanism.

1 . A bag lifting and emptying system, comprising: 
 a rupture mechanism configured to rupture a bottom portion of a bag when the bag is lowered onto the rupture mechanism, so as to cause the bag's contents to be transferred from the bag;    an attachment mechanism configured to releasably attach to the bag; and    a hoist connectable to the attachment mechanism, the hoist configured to lift the bag and subsequently lower the bag onto the rupture mechanism.    
   
   
       2 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 1 , wherein the rupture mechanism comprises one or more blades, each blade terminating in a pointed vertex; and 
 wherein the blades are positioned substantially vertically, so that the pointed vertices of the blades are directed substantially upward so as to rupture the bag when the bag is lowered onto them.    
   
   
       3 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 2 , further comprising a lateral actuator attached to the blades, the lateral actuator configured to move the blades laterally after the blades have pierced the bag so as to increase tear made by the blades in the bag.  
   
   
       4 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the attachment mechanism includes a spear configured to pierce through a top portion of the bag and be inserted therethrough, so as to cause the bag to be lifted when an upward force is applied to the spear and lowered when the upward force is removed; and    wherein the hoist includes a cable connectable to the spear and configured to transmit to the bag the upward force.    
   
   
       5 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment mechanism further includes: 
 a horizontal rod attachable to the cable of the hoist;    at least one tension spring extending vertically between the spear and the rod, a first end of the spring attachable to the spear and a second end of the spring attachable to the rod; and    wherein the spring is configured to absorb at least some of the upward force so as to substantially prevent tearing of the bag by a sudden lift action of the hoist.    
   
   
       6 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 4 , 
 wherein the cable comprises an electric cable; and    wherein the hoist comprises at least one of: a manually operated hoist; and an electrically controlled hoist.    
   
   
       7 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pendent operable to implement a lifting and a lowering operation of the hoist; and 
 wherein the pendent includes at least one of:    an up-down control knob operable to control the lifting and lowering operation of the hoist; and    a speed control know operable to control a speed of the lifting and lowering operation of the hoist.    
   
   
       8 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dust enclosure configured to seal an area onto which the bag's contents are transferred, thereby substantially preventing dust from escaping while the contents of the bag are being transferred from the bag.  
   
   
       9 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 8 , wherein the dust enclosure includes a sealable opening through which the bag can be inserted into the dust enclosure.  
   
   
       10 . The bag lifting and emptying system of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the blades are substantially triangular in shape.  
   
   
       11 . A bag lifting and lowering system, comprising: 
 an attachment mechanism for a bag, the attachment mechanism including a spear configured to pierce through a top portion of the bag and be inserted therethrough, so as to cause the bag to be lifted when an upward force is applied to the spear and lowered when the upward force is removed; and    a hoist connectable to the spear, the hoist configured to lift and lower the bag as a result of lifting and lowering the spear.    
   
   
       12 . The bag lifting and lowering system of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the hoist includes a cable connectable to the attachment mechanism and configured to transmit to the bag the upward force.    
   
   
       13 . The bag lifting and lowering system of  claim 11 , wherein the hoist comprises a manually operated hoist; and 
 wherein the manually operated hoist includes at least one of:    a rope and pulley combination;    a rope, wheel, and drum combination; and    a ratchet mechanism.    
   
   
       14 . The bag lifting and lowering system of  claim 11 , wherein the hoist comprises an electrically controlled hoist; and 
 wherein the cable comprises an electric cable.    
   
   
       15 . The bag lifting and lowering system of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment mechanism further includes: 
 a horizontal rod attachable to the cable of the hoist;    at least one spring extending between the spear and the rod, a first end of the spring attachable to the spear and a second end of the spring attachable to the rod; and    wherein the spring is configured to absorb at least some of the upward force so as to substantially prevent tearing of the bag by a sudden lift action of the hoist.    
   
   
       16 . The bag lifting and lowering system of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the spear has a first end and a second end, each end having a pointed conical tip that facilitates piercing of the spear through the top portion of the bag; and    wherein the at least one spring comprises a first spring and a second spring, the first spring connected to the spear near the first end of the spear and a second spring connected near the second end of the spear.    
   
   
       17 . A bag emptying system, comprising: 
 a bag rupturing mechanism for rupturing a bag so as to cause its contents to spill out of the bag; and    a dust enclosure configured to substantially prevent dust from escaping while the bag's contents are spilling out of the bag, the dust enclosure including a sealable opening through which the bag can be inserted into the dust enclosure.    
   
   
       18 . The bag emptying system of  claim 17 , wherein the sealable opening of the dust enclosure comprises at least one of: 
 a closable shoot; and    one or more collapsible flaps.    
   
   
       19 . A method of lifting and emptying a bag containing a material, the method comprising: 
 piercing a portion of the bag with a spear so as to attach the bag to a hoist;    operating the hoist so as to lift the bag, then to lower the bag onto a rupture mechanism within a container; and    rupturing the bag so as to allow its contents to be transferred into the container.