BULK TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINER

摘要

A method for forming a flexible container (10a) containing a flowable material (12a) is provided, including the steps of suspending the flexible container (10a), transferring the weight of the flexible container (10a) from being suspended to being supported by a support surface (36), and applying a hoop force to the flexible container (10a) to substantially maintain a configuration of the flexible container (10a). The flexible container (10a) can be a bag-type container for containing flowable material (12a) such as chemicals, food products, agricultural products, and plastic pellets. As the container (10a) is lowered from the suspended position to a bottom-supported position, the hoop force is applied around the perimeter as the perimeter changes during transfer of the flexible container (10a) from being suspended to being bottom-supported. The hoop force can be applied by stretch wrap (46). Alternatively, the first flexible container can be lowered into a second flexible container (10b). The second flexible container (10b) can be formed from a heat shrinkable material and the second flexible container can be shrunk at the perimeter as the perimeter changes. Alternatively, the second flexible container can be a stretchable bag. A stretched portion of the stretchable bag can be released substantially at the perimeter to generate the hoop force.