Abstract:
A method for wringing fluids from a flexible container positioned within a rigid structure is based on the use of a wringing device. The wringing device includes a sup ort frame having a pair of spaced apart side supports, at least one rotatable take-up shaft extending between the pair of spaced apart side supports, and a carriage coupled to the support frame. The carriage includes a pair of spaced apart side members, a nip shaft extending between the pair of spaced apart side members, and a movable nip shaft adjacent the nip shaft and also extending between the air of spaced apart side members. The method includes passing the flexible container between the nip shaft and the movable nip shaft, and securing the flexible container to the at least one take-up shaft. The at least one take-up shaft is rotated for wrapping the flexible container therearound after having passed between the nip shaft and the moveable nip shaft so that the fluids are wringed out of the flexible container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/263,231 filed Oct. 31, 2005 U.S. Pat. No. 7,441,497 issued Oct. 28, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed generally to wringing devices, and more particularly to devices usable for wringing fluids from flexible containers. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Fluids and other viscous materials are typically shipped using a variety of shipping containers, such as, drums, tanks, intermediate bulk containers, and others. Intermediate bulk containers are often formed from an external frame configured to support an internal, flexible bladder. The intermediate bulk containers include an inlet fitment on an upper surface of the bladder to fill the bladder and include an exhaust fitment in a lower corner of the flexible bladder to drain the bladder. Intermediate bulk containers are typically drained via gravity or pumps and typically without other assistance. While low viscosity fluids may be easily drained from the bladder, high viscosity materials are difficult to drain from the bladders. Gravity is often not sufficient to drain high viscosity materials. Pumps have also been problematic. In particular, pumps often cavitate and lose prime when attempting to pump high viscosity materials. In addition, pumps often create voids in the bladder that hampers fluid flow within the bladder. Conventional systems are also typically fiscally inefficient because conventional systems often leave about two percent of the fluids in the bladder. Thus, a need exists for more economical and efficient device for removing materials from a flexible bladder. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a wringing device configured to expel materials from a flexible container. In particular, the wringing device may be configured to expel materials such as, but not limited to, fluids contained within flexible containers by applying forces to the flexible containers. The flexible containers may be contained within rigid support structures, such as, but not limited to, conventional intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and other appropriate devices. The wringing device may be formed from a support frame and a carriage movably coupled to the support frame for supporting components of the wringing device. The carriage may be formed from a first side support, a second side support positioned generally opposite from the first side support, and at least one cross member extending between the first side support and the second side support. The wringing device may include a nip shaft coupled to the carriage and a movable nip shaft movably coupled to the carriage proximate to the nip shaft. The movable nip shaft may be biased toward the nip shaft with a biasing device. The movable nip shaft may be movably attached to the carriage with a pair of pivot arms coupled to the first and second side supports. The movable nip shaft may be rotated away from the nip shaft to enable a flexible container to be passed between the movable nip shaft and the nip shaft. The wringing device may include a take-up shaft for collecting a flexible container. 
   The wringing device may include a wringing device transport system for moving the wringing device into position on an upper surface of a bulk container. The wringing device may include a support structure drive device for moving the wringing device into position. The support structure drive device may include one or more motors. The wringing device transport system may also be formed from a plurality of wheels configured and positioned to mate with upper surfaces of the bulk container. 
   The wringing device may include a carriage drive device configured to control movement of the carriage relative to the support frame. The wringing device may also include a take-up shaft drive device for controlling the take-up shaft. The take-up shaft drive device may be include a motor, such as, but not limited to, a compressed air motor configured to slip at a predetermined upper threshold torque to limit, if not eliminate, the risk of the flexible container ripping open. In at least one embodiment, the take-up shaft drive device, the carriage drive device, and the support structure drive device may be controlled with a drive motor controller. 
   The wringing device may also include a transport vehicle for transporting the wringing device. The transport vehicle may include a height that is sufficient to transfer the wringing device from the transport vehicle to an upper surface of a bulk container. 
   The wringing device may be used to facilitate delivery of materials from a flexible container. The wringing device may be moved into position using the transport vehicle. In particular, the wringing device transport system may be placed in alignment with an upper surface of the bulk container so that the support frame of the wringing device may be moved from the transport vehicle to the upper surface of the bulk container. The wringing device transport system may be actuated to move the support frame of the wringing device onto the bulk container. The biasing device may be moved with the lever to separate the movable nip shaft from the nip shaft. An upper portion of the flexible container may be feed between the movable nip shaft and the nip shaft and coupled to the tale-up shaft. The take-up shaft may be rotated with the take-up shaft drive device to wrap the flexible container around the take-up shaft, thereby causing the material contained within the flexible container to be expelled through one or more fitments. 
   An advantage of this invention is that the wringing device enables materials, including high viscosity materials, to be removed from a flexible container while leaving only about 0.5 percent in the flexible container. Conventional systems typically leave about two percent of the material in the flexible container. 
   Another advantage of this invention is that wringing device provides a constant flow of materials from the flexible container, if desired. 
   These and other embodiments are described in more detail below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wringing device having aspects of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wringing device with the carriage in a lowered position. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the wringing device positioned on an intermediate bulk container. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the wringing device in use expelling fluids from the flexible bladder. 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the movable nip shaft as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the wringing device separate from the carriage. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the carriage. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , this invention is directed to a wringing device  10  configured to expel materials from a flexible container  14 . In particular, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the wringing device  10  may be configured to expel materials  12 , such as, but not limited to fluids, contained within flexible containers  14  by applying forces to the flexible containers  14 . The flexible containers  14  may be contained within rigid support structures  16 , such as but not limited to, conventional intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and other appropriate devices. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wringing device  10  may be formed from a support frame  18  figured to support components of the wringing device  10 . The support frame  18  may be configured to support the wringing device  10  while the wringing device  10  is positioned on top of a bulk container, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The support frame  18  may be formed from any appropriate materials having substantial rigidity to support components of the wringing device  10 . 
   The wringing device  10  may also include a carriage  20  coupled to the support frame  18 . The carriage  20  may be formed from a first side support  22 , a second side support  24  positioned generally opposite from the first side support  22 , and one or more cross members  26  extending between the first side support  22  and the second side support  24  for support. The carriage  20  may or may not be movable relative to the support frame  18 . A nip shaft  28  may be coupled to the carriage  20 . The nip shaft  28  may be configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the nip shaft  28 . A movable nip shaft  30  may be movably coupled to the carriage  20  proximate to the nip shaft  28 . The movable nip shaft  30  may extend generally parallel to the nip shaft  28 . A biasing device  32 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , may be coupled to the movable nip shaft  30  for biasing the movable nip shaft  30  toward the nip shaft  28 . The biasing device  32  may be usable to control the position of a flexible container  14  within the carriage  20 . The biasing device  32  may be, but is not limited to, a spring or other appropriate device. 
   The movable nip shaft  30  may be made movable with a pair of pivot arms  34  pivotably coupled to the first and second side supports  22 ,  24  of the carriage  20 . The movable nip shaft  30  may extend between the pair of pivot arms  34 . A lever may extend from either of the pivot arms, or both, to enable the movable nip shaft  30  to be manually moved out of contact with the nip shaft  28 . In at least one embodiment, the movable nip shaft  30  may be capable of being rotated from a position in contact with the nip shaft  28  such that an inlet fitment (not shown) in a flexible container  14  may be passed between the nip shaft  28  and the movable nip shaft  30 . A distance between the nip shaft  28  and the movable nip shaft  30  may be about four inches in one embodiment to permit passage of the inlet fitment between the shafts  28 ,  30 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the wringing device  10  may include a carriage drive device  40  adapted to move the carriage  20  relative to the support frame  18 . The carriage drive device  40  may include a drive shaft  49  extending generally from the first side support  22  to the second side support  24 . The drive shaft  49  may be in contact with the first side support  22  or the second side support  24 , or both. In at least one embodiment, the carriage drive device  40  enables the carriage  20  to be moved generally vertical relative to the support frame  18 . The movement of the carriage  20  enables the carriage  20  to be positioned in a lowered transport and operation position  42 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and positioned in a raised position  44 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The carriage  20  may be moved manually or mechanically. In at least one embodiment, the carriage drive device  40  may include a drive motor  46  configured to move the carriage  20 . The drive motor  46  may be, but is not limited to, a compressed air driven motor  46 . The drive motor  46  can drive a plurality of pinions  47  mounted on a drive shaft  49 , which drive a rack  51  formed as part of the carriage  20 . A sensor  37  may be used to stop the drive motor  46  once the carriage  20  has reached an uppermost or lowermost movement boundary. A stop may be used in embodiments in which the carriage  20  is moved manually. 
   The wringing device  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , may include one or more take-up shafts  48  coupled to the wringing device  10 . The take-up shaft  48  may be configured to be rotated around a longitudinal axis of the take-up shaft  48 . The take-up shaft  48  may be configured such that a flexible container  14  may be attached to the take-up shaft  48  so that the flexible container  14  may be collected on the take-up shaft  48  by rotating the take-up shaft  48 . The take-up shaft  48  may be generally parallel with the nip shaft  28  and the movable nip shaft  30 . 
   The wringing device  10  may include a take-up shaft drive device  54  for driving the take-up shaft  48 . The take-up shaft drive device  54  may include a drive motor  56  configured to move the take-up shaft  48 . The drive motor  56  may be, but is not limited to, a compressed air driven drive motor  56 . The compressed air driven drive motor  56  may be configured such that the motor  56  slips at a predetermined torque to limit or eliminate the risk of ripping open the flexible container  14 . 
   The wringing device  10  may include idler shafts  60  coupled to the motors  46 ,  56 . The idler shafts may be connected to a plurality of wheels  62 . The wheels  62  may be formed from materials, such as, but not limited to, DELRIN and other appropriate materials. The wheels  62  may be supported on idler shaft supports  64  provided on a transport vehicle  72 . 
   In at least one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the wringing device  10  may include a drive motor controller  68  adapted to control operation of the carriage drive device  40 , the take-up shaft drive device  54 , other type drive device that may be associated with the wringing device, or any combination thereof. The drive motor controller  68  may be adapted to receive input and to control operation of the drive devices  40  and  54 . In at least one embodiment, the drive motor controller  68  may be a compressed air regulator for controlling operation of the drive devices  40  and  54 . In operation, the drive motor controller  68  may individually control the flow air to the carriage drive device  40 , the take-up shaft drive device  54 , and other type drive device associated with the wringing device. The drive devices  40  and  54  may also be controlled with switches  70 . The switches may be, but are not limited to being, momentary on/off switches, or other appropriate switches. A housing  82  may be attached to the support frame  18  to cover the drive motor controller  68  and other related components. 
   The wringing device  10  may include a transport vehicle  72  usable to transport the support frame  18  and components attached thereto. In at least one embodiment, the transport vehicle  72  may be formed from a frame  74  supported by a plurality of wheels  76  or other devices usable to move the transport vehicle  72  along a ground surface. The frame  74  may be configured such that the support frame  18  and wringing device transport system  58  are positioned at a height enabling the support frame  18  to be moved from the transport vehicle  72  to the upper surface  66  of the bulk container  16 , using the wheels  62  on the idler shafts  60 , and the supports  64 . In at least one embodiment, the frame  74  may be adjustable such that the height at which the support frame  18  is positioned may be adjusted to compensate for bulk containers  16  that have different heights. The transport vehicle  72  enables a support frame  18  to be moved around a warehouse floor between different bulk containers  16  to facilitate unloading of the flexible containers  14 . 
   The wringing device  10  may be used to facilitate delivery of materials from a flexible container  14 . The wringing device  10  may be moved into position using the transport vehicle  72 . In particular, the wringing device transport system  58  may be placed in alignment with an upper surface  66  of the bulk container  16  so that the support frame  18  of the wringing device  10  may be moved from the transport vehicle  72  to the upper surface  66  of the bulk container  16 . The wringing device transport system  58  may be actuated to move the support frame  18  of the wringing device  10  onto the bulk container  16 . The motor  46  may be actuated to raise the carriage  20  to a raised position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The biasing device  32  may be moved with the lever to separate the movable nip shaft  30  from the nip shaft  28 . An upper portion of the flexible container  14  may be fed between the movable nip shaft  30  and the nip shaft  28  and coupled to the take-up shaft  48 . The movable nip shaft  30  may then be moved back into position, and in a typical arrangement, the gap between the movable nip shaft  30  and the nip shaft  28  may be about 4″, which allows the material of the bag to pass between the nip shafts  28 ,  30 , while preventing a large amount of fluid contained within the flexible container  14  from also passing between the nip shafts  28 ,  30 . The take-up shaft  48  may be activated with the switches  70 . A switch  70  may be activate to rotate the take-up shaft  48 . The take-up shaft  48  may be rotated with the take-up shaft drive device  54  to wrap the flexible container  14  around the take-up shaft  48 . At the same time, or as the operator decides, the motor  46  may be actuated to move the carriage  20  downwardly to the lowered position. As the flexible container  14  is wrapped around the take up shaft  48 , and as the carriage  20  is lowered (thus moving the nip shafts  28 ,  30  downwardly over the flexible container  14 ), the flexible container  14  passing between the nip shaft  28  and the movable nip shaft  30  undergoes a squeegee action caused by the relatively small gap between the nip shafts  28 ,  30 , thereby causing the material  12  contained within the flexible container  14  to be expelled through one or more fitments. 
   The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.