An emptying station for a flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) is provided. The emptying station has a body having a front wall, a rear wall defining an aperture, and left and right side walls, the walls collectively defining a hopper for receiving particulate matter contained in the FIBC, at least one power source connected to the body, a lift assembly operatively connected to the at least one power source and to the body. The lift assembly moves the FIBC between lowered and raised positions. A cutter is connected to the body and is disposed in the hopper. The cutter is positioned for cutting a bottom of the FIBC when moved from the lowered position to the raised position. At least one mixer is connected to the body for mixing the particulate matter received in the hopper. The at least one mixer also conveys the particulate matter towards the rear wall.

A production device includes: at least one device for dissolving solid urea in demineralized water, including a tank for receiving the solid urea and the demineralized water and an outlet for recovering the aqueous solution of urea; a solid urea storage station; and a device for transporting the solid urea from the storage station to the dissolving device, the transporting device being arranged in order to pour solid urea into the tank of the dissolving device. The dissolving device includes at least one nozzle for injecting demineralized water into the solid urea, arranged in the vicinity of the bottom of the tank in order to create water turbulence below the surface of the solid urea and to dissolve the solid urea in the demineralized water.

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 converter converts an existing bulk bag unloader to a bulk cargo receiver that eliminates the use of bulk bags. The converter enables the unloader to receive a continuous feed of bulk cargo without any interruptions such as those needed to unload emptied bulk bags and reload the unloader with full bulk bags.

A discharge apparatus for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed. The apparatus has an inlet end, an outlet end and a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end. The apparatus is configured for directing a flow of product from an outlet of a bulk container, and is further configured to permit relative movement between said inlet end and said outlet end between a retracted position and an extended position. The outlet end may take the form of a plate for supporting the lower end of the bulk container. The plate may be vibrated for assisting discharge of product from the bulk container.

A method of bulk handling includes providing a sealed and partially full bulk container; suspending the bulk container within a frame; and rotating the frame about an axis in order to rotate the bulk container through multiple revolutions of 360 degrees. During rotation of the frame, an uppermost end of the frame or bulk container becomes lowermost after a first 180 degrees of rotation and is returned to an uppermost position after a further 180 degrees of rotation.

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.

A discharge apparatus for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed. The apparatus has an inlet end, an outlet end and a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end. The apparatus is configured for directing a flow of product from an outlet of a bulk container, and is further configured to permit relative movement between said inlet end and said outlet end between a retracted position and an extended position. The outlet end may take the form of a plate for supporting the lower end of the bulk container. The plate may be vibrated for assisting discharge of product from the bulk container.

A discharge device for use with a bulk container of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed. The device has an inlet end, an outlet end and a wall extending between said inlet end and said outlet end. The device is configured for directing a flow of product from an outlet of a bulk container, and is further configured to permit relative movement between said inlet end and said outlet end between a retracted position and an extended position. The outlet end may take the form of a plate for supporting the lower end of the bulk container. The plate may be vibrated for assisting discharge of product from the bulk container.

A converter converts an existing bulk bag unloader to a bulk cargo receiver that eliminates the use of bulk bags. The converter enables the unloader to receive a continuous feed of bulk cargo without any interruptions such as those needed to unload emptied bulk bags and reload the unloader with full bulk bags.