Patent ID: 7229242

Claim:
A method to unload bulk powder from a large bulk container removably mounted on a platform, the container having surrounding walls and a floor mounted on a structural frame and two ends, a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end is closed and the rear end is at least partially open, the powder being stored in the container or in a removable, flexible liner within the container; the platform having a means of tilting the container at an angle from about 0 to at least 40 degrees; and optionally vibrators mounted on the container floor structural frame, the method comprising the steps of: (a) connecting to the rear end of the container a manifold having an inlet and discharge sections wherein at least a portion of the manifold is lined with a pneumatic conditioning membrane having a means of gas supply; (b) when the powder is stored within a liner, cutting the liner where the liner is exposed by the opening in the top plate of the manifold; (c) tilting the container to an angle between 0 and at least 40 degrees; and (d) activating the pneumatic conditioning membrane by supplying gas to the membrane, with the proviso that if the angle of tilt is fixed and is an angle less than the angle of repose of the bulk powder the vibrators are activated; and wherein said method is capable of unloading a bulk cohesive powder having Geldart classification type C behavior.