Composite Containers For Bulk Solids, Related Systems And Methods

Abstract

A container for holding bulk solids includes a tubular body extending at least partially around an interior of the container to form a tubular body having a top end and a bottom end, at least one sealing member positioned in the interior of the container, the at least one sealing member sealably engaging at least a portion of the tubular body, a reclosable lid attached to a top portion of the tubular body with an adhesive strip to form a closed top end of the container, and a bottom plate attached to the bottom end of the tubular body to form a closed bottom end of the container.

1 . A container for holding bulk solids, the container comprising:
 a tubular body extending at least partially around an interior of the container to form a tubular body having a top end and a bottom end;   at least one sealing member positioned in the interior of the container, the at least one sealing member sealably engaging at least a portion of the tubular body;   a reclosable lid attached to a top portion of the tubular body with an adhesive strip to form a closed top end of the container; and   a bottom plate attached to the bottom end of the tubular body to form a closed bottom end of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive strip is arranged to form a hinge between the reclosable lid and the tubular body. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive strip is comprised of a flexible material configured to deform when the reclosable lid is moved between a closed position, in which the reclosable lid is overlying the interior of the container, and an open position, in which the reclosable lid is raised away from the interior of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the adhesive strip is positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with a respective portion of each of the tubular body and the reclosable lid. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive strip is comprised of a composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the reclosable lid comprises pulp fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the bottom plate comprises pulp fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sealing member is positioned in the interior of the container spaced away from each of the top end and the bottom end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , further comprising a rim attached to the top end of the tubular body above the sealing member such that the reclosable lid contacts the rim. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the rim comprises pulp fibers. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a container for holding bulk solids, the method comprising:
 obtaining a body blank;   positioning the body blank extending at least partially around an interior of the container to form a tubular body having a top end and a bottom end;   positioning at least one sealing member in the interior of the container, the at least one sealing member sealably engaging at least a portion of the tubular body;   attaching a reclosable lid to a top portion of the tubular body with an adhesive strip to form a closed top end of the container; and   attaching a bottom plate to the bottom end of the tubular body to form a closed bottom end of the container.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein attaching the reclosable comprises arranging the adhesive strip to form a hinge between the reclosable lid and the tubular body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive strip is comprised of a flexible material configured to deform when the reclosable lid is moved between a closed position, in which the reclosable lid is overlying the interior of the container, and an open position, in which the reclosable lid is raised away from the interior of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein attaching the reclosable lid comprises positioning the adhesive strip in at least partial face-to-face contact with a respective portion of each of the tubular body and the reclosable lid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive strip is comprised of a composite material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reclosable lid comprises pulp fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the bottom plate comprises pulp fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein positioning the at least one sealing member comprises positioning the at least one sealing member in the interior of the container spaced away from each of the top end and the bottom end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising attaching a rim to the top end of the tubular body above the sealing member such that the reclosable lid contacts the rim. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the rim comprises pulp fibers. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly line for forming a container for holding bulk solids, the assembly line comprising:
 a supply of body blanks, sealing members, reclosable lids, bottom plates, and adhesive strips;   a body forming station for bending a body blank from the supply of body blanks at least partially around an interior of the container;   a sealing station for attaching a sealing member from the supply of sealing members to the tubular body in the interior of the container;   a filling station for filing the interior of the container with bulk solids through a bottom end of the tubular body;   a bottom plate application station for attaching a bottom plate from the supply of bottom plates to the bottom end of the tubular body to form a closed bottom end of the container;   a lid attachment station for attaching a reclosable lid from the supply of reclosable lids to a top portion of the tubular body with an adhesive strip from the supply of adhesive strips to form a closed top end of the container; and   a body plate application station for attaching a bottom plate from the supply of bottom plates to the bottom end of the tubular body to form a closed bottom end of the container.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly line of  claim 21 , wherein the adhesive strips of the supply of adhesive strips are comprised of a composite material. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly line of  claim 22 , wherein the reclosable lids of the supply of reclosable lids are comprised of pulp fibers. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly line of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom plates of the plurality of bottom plates are comprised of pulp fibers. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly line of  claim 24 , further comprising a supply of rims and a rim attachment station configured to apply a rim from the supply of rims to the top end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly line of  claim 25 , wherein the rims of the supply of rims comprise pulp fibers and are free from plastic material.