Container, dispensing device, and method of dispensing goods

Abstract

A container having openings on an inside surface, in which the openings are for use with a vacuum pump for retaining a liner within the container while the contents of the container are being dispensed.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A container comprising a base having an openable closure for directing contents being dispensed from said container when said openable closure is open. 
     
     
         36 . The container according to  claim 35 , further comprising a vacuum for retaining a liner with said container while contents of said liner are being dispensed with an inner surface of said container having openings for use with said vacuum. 
     
     
         37 . The container according to  claim 35 , further comprising a trapdoor and flaps forming a spout for directing the contents when said openable closure is open. 
     
     
         38 . The container according to  claim 37 , wherein said trapdoor is openable with an edge of said trapdoor being positioned proximate to, or beyond an edge of a footprint of said container for directing the contents outside of the footprint of said container. 
     
     
         39 . The container according to  claim 35 , further comprising a liner and a lid with said lid having an additional openable closure and means for sealing said liner. 
     
     
         40 . The container according to  claim 39 , wherein said means for sealing said liner comprises a cylinder having a groove or through-hole for receiving open ends of said liner. 
     
     
         41 . The container according to  claim 40 , wherein said cylinder is rotatable and said means for sealing said liner comprises locking means for locking of said cylinder. 
     
     
         42 . The container according to  claim 35 , wherein said container includes a first pivotable wall and a second pivotable wall pivotable for lying flat against said base, and a third foldable wall and a fourth foldable wall foldable for lying flat against said base, for allowing said container to be reduced in size to a collapsible state and able to be returned to an upright state. 
     
     
         43 . A method for dispensing goods, comprising the steps of:
 applying a vacuum to a container for retaining a liner inside the container; and,   dispensing contents from the liner.   
     
     
         44 . The method for dispensing goods according to  claim 43 , wherein said step of dispensing contents from the liner further comprises the step of opening a closure in a base of the container so that an edge of the closure is proximate to, or beyond an edge of, a footprint area of the container so that the contents are dispensed outside the footprint area of the container. 
     
     
         45 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing goods from a container, comprising:
 means for rotating a container for dispensing goods from an opening in a lid of the container;   a liner positioned within the container; and,   a vacuum for retaining said liner within the container via openings in an inner surface of said container.   
     
     
         46 . The dispensing apparatus for dispensing goods from a container according to  claim 45 , further comprising a dispensing chute for directing goods being dispensed from the container. 
     
     
         47 . The dispensing apparatus for dispensing goods from a container according to  claim 45 , further comprising:
 a level detector for detecting whether the contents being dispensed into a hopper have reached a predetermined level in the hopper; and,   means for stopping or reversing rotation of the container when the contents have reached the predetermined level in the hopper.   
     
     
         48 . A container apparatus for transporting and dispensing of flowable bottom articles, comprising:
 a container having a top wall, a bottom wall defining a footprint area of the container when on a ground surface, and side walls; and,   a bottom dispensing frame for receiving the container in a position off of the ground surface,   wherein the container has an operable bottom closure and said bottom dispensing frame has a closure member for cooperating with the container when disposed in said bottom dispensing frame for opening said closure member and wherein bottom articles in the container flowing through an opening under gravity are directed by said closure member to fall outside of the footprint area of the container.   
     
     
         49 . The container apparatus for transporting and dispensing of flowable bottom articles according to  claim 48 , wherein said closure member includes a trapdoor closing a bottom opening of said bottom wall and hinged at an end of said opening to said bottom wall, and side chute elements connected inside the container to said bottom wall along sides of said bottom opening extending from said end and contacting, and supported by, said trapdoor, and wherein said closure member of bottom dispensing frame supports said trapdoor and permits restricted pivoting thereof to an open position and wherein said side chute elements define, in combination with said trapdoor, a chute from which bottom articles in the container flow, an edge of said trapdoor remote from said end being proximate to, or beyond an edge of, said footprint area so that said bottom articles fall outside of said footprint area. 
     
     
         50 . The container apparatus for transporting and dispensing of flowable bottom articles according to  claim 49 , wherein said side chute elements are triangular flaps hinged to said bottom wall. 
     
     
         51 . A container apparatus for transporting and dispensing of flowable top articles, comprising:
 a container having a top wall, a bottom wall defining a footprint area of said container when on a ground surface, and side walls; and,   a top dispensing frame for receiving said container in a position off of the ground surface,   wherein, said container has an openable top closure in a top opening of said container and a liner for said container having an opening extending through said top opening, said container having holes formed therein and said top dispensing frame comprising means for tipping said container when supported in said top dispensing frame and a vacuum source for being applied against the holes for retaining said liner in said container as top articles in said liner pour through said opening of said liner and said top opening of said container upon tipping of said container.   
     
     
         52 . The container apparatus for transporting and dispensing of flowable top articles according to  claim 51 , wherein said top dispensing frame comprises a pivot system wherein, in an open position pivots a vacuum device away from said bottom wall of said container when disposed in said top dispensing frame and a top chute member away from said top opening, and, in a closed position, clamps said vacuum source against the holes and said top chute member against said top opening, so that, when said container is tilted in said top dispensing frame, top articles flowing out of said top opening are directed by said top chute member. 
     
     
         53 . The container apparatus for transporting and dispensing of flowable top articles according to  claim 51 , wherein said holes are in said bottom wall and include a plurality of holes on an inside surface of said bottom wall communicating with a vacuum port on an outside surface of said bottom wall.