The invention relates to a dispensing mandrel (1) for dispensing material from a flexible bulk goods container, the dispensing mandrel (1) comprising a hollow body (2) which has an upper and a lower opening surface. A tip adjoins the upper end of the hollow body (2), leaving the upper opening of the hollow body (2) at least partially free. The tip is formed by at least three struts (3) which are planar, radially oriented elements which each abut the inner face (16) of the hollow body (2) with the lower outer edge (15) thereof, and meet at the upper end of the dispensing mandrel (1), thereby forming a tip. At least one transverse strut (12), which abuts against the hollow body (2) with the lower edge (13) thereof, projects from each strut (3).

The invention relates to a suction device for emptying a container, in particular for emptying a container filled with granular material. The suction device has a plurality of intakes, at least one distributor, the at least one distributor being adapted to connect the plurality of intakes to a central suction line, and a means for holding, which holds at least one first intake of the plurality of intakes at a distance from at least one second intake of the plurality of intakes. The invention further relates to a method and to a system for emptying a container, in particular for emptying a container filled with granular material.

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for emptying a flexible container (30) of bag contents (31) therein. Such a flexible container includes a bottom opening (34) in its lower end and a top opening (37) in its upper end. When this container is to be emptied of its contents, it is placed in an emptying arrangement in such a way that the container's bottom opening lies below the top opening. The flexible container is then turned around an axis of rotation that unites said bottom opening and top opening. The turning motion produced is gradually propagated from the container's upper end towards its lower end whereby the container is twisted into a tight string (32). This twisting contributes to removing the bag contents (31) from the flexible container via the bottom opening (34) provided or made therein.

A method for transferring process material between a first container and a second container has, as its essential constituent parts, at least one first tensioning unit, which has a first tensioner and a second tensioner, which can be actuated independently of one another, and also a tubular liner piece, which extends indirectly between the containers in order to seal off the transition between the containers from the exterior. The tensioning unit has fixed in it, temporarily, the near end portion of the liner piece and the near end portion of a tubular liner remainder left over from a previous transfer operation. In specific applications, a transfer means is installed between the containers. The process material is usually of a sensitive naturee.g. a pharmaceutical componentand must be neither contaminated by the exterior surroundings nor pass into the surroundings. The containers are typically constituent parts of a production installation, such as big bags, steel containers or drums. The invention also relates to a method for using the apparatus.

This disclosure provides a discharge actuation apparatus that is configured to not only fully open and close a sliding gate of a bulk material container, but also move the gate pin to a neutral position with respect to a keeper slot of the bulk container and a receiver slot of the discharge actuation apparatus to ensure proper alignment of the receiver slot and the keeper slot with the gate pin of the bulk container to reduce the likelihood of damage to the receiver or the bulk container during the container's replacement on to the receiver.

A sealing system for connecting a bulk bag to a material handling and processing system. The sealing system comprises a main housing and a discharge tube housed within the main housing. The discharge tube is configured to fluidly connect the bulk bag with the material handling and processing system. The sealing system additionally comprises a first seal configured to selectively seal the bulk bag with respect to the discharge tube, and a second seal configured to selectively seal an interior space of the main housing from the material handling and processing system.

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for emptying a flexible container (30) of bag contents (31) therein. Such a flexible container includes a bottom opening (34) in its lower end and a top opening (37) in its upper end. When this container is to be emptied of its contents, it is placed in an emptying arrangement in such a way that the container's bottom opening lies below the top opening. The flexible container is then turned around an axis of rotation that unites said bottom opening and top opening. The turning motion produced is gradually propagated from the container's upper end towards its lower end whereby the container is twisted into a tight string (32). This twisting contributes to removing the bag contents (31) from the flexible container via the bottom opening (34) provided or made therein.

A filling device for decanting material from a flexible bulk material container is provided. The filling device has a hollow body that has an upper opening face and a lower opening face. The upper end of the hollow body projects into the interior of the flexible bulk material container so that material from the flexible bulk material container can enter the hollow body via the upper opening face. At the lower end of the hollow body there is a closure that has an upper plate and a lower plate. The lower plate can be pivoted about the axis of a bolt from a first position in which it completely closes the opening of the upper plate to a second position in which the opening of the upper plate is at least slightly open. The lower plate has a structure that forms at least part of the standing face.

A system for contained sterile/aseptic transfer of materials comprises a coupler assembly (6) including an active valve assembly (9) having an active valve and docking part and a passive valve assembly (7) which comprises a passive valve and a complimentary docking part, the two docking parts enabling the two valve assemblies to be secured together in a first position with a void formed between the two facing surfaces of the closed valves. A sterilisation device (20) including a UV emitter assembly is arranged to emit UV light into the void such that the exposed outer surfaces of at least the passive valve and active valve are exposed to UV light emitted by the emitter assembly after the two docking parts are secured together in the first position, and prior to moving of the passive/active valve to a second position where material may transfer through the opened valves.

A transfer device is designed for contamination-protected transfer of flowable process material between a first container and a second container. The transfer device includes a guide tube having an axial passage for the flow of the process material, which has a connection at one end and terminates with a tube edge at the other end. A transfer unit opens into the guide tube, which allows engagement with the guide tube. A tubular liner supply having a plurality of peelable useful sections, each provided with a first crimp, is stored on the transfer unit. The useful sections can be used to isolate liner remnants from previous transfer operations for disposal. A first tensioner and a second tensioner are arranged circularly on the guide tube and concentrically to each other, which serve for temporary sealed fixing of residual ends and open ends of new liner pieces originating from inner liners from the second containers.