Patent ID: 9714122
Date: 2017-07-25
CPC Classifications: B65B,B65D

Claim:
1. A discharge apparatus for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed, the discharge apparatus comprising: an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end, wherein said inlet end is configured for receiving the lower end of a bulk container, said outlet end is configured for directing a flow of product from the bulk container received in the inlet end, wherein the apparatus is configured to allow relative movement between said inlet end and said outlet end to alter the distance between said inlet end and said outlet end, wherein the wall between said inlet end and said outlet end is of flexible construction, to accommodate said relative movement, and wherein the apparatus is configured to be selectively positioned between a first state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a first spacing, and a second state in which the inlet and outlet ends are arranged at a second spacing, greater than said first spacing, and wherein the wall defines a cone in the second state.