APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNLOADING PARTICULATE MATERIAL FROMCONTAINERS

摘要

Container (10) has a plastic bag (26) filled with a particulate material and sealed within the plastic bag (26). A rear bulkhead (42) at the rear end of the container is positioned adjacent the plastic bag (26) and a tubular discharge fitting (50 ) is mounted on bulkhead (42). A vacuum unloading device (58) has a pair of rigid conduits (60), (62) secured to each other in a perpendicular relationship. Unloading device (58) is arranged for connection to discharge fitting (50) by coupling (66) and adaptor (72). Upon slitting or puncturing of the plastic bag (26) and tilting of the front end of container (10) about the rear end thereof above the angle of repose of the particulate material being unloaded, the particulate material is discharged by gravity into the vacuum unloading devi ce (58). The particulate material is drawn by a vacuum through conduit (60) into pneumati c conduit (62) for transport to a suitable storage facility.