Packaged grain/silage bag

Abstract

Systems and methods relating to the packing and packaging of bulk material bags such as grain bags and silage bags. The left and right sides of the bag are continuously folded over itself without overlapping the center of the bag. The folded bag allows for the left and right side ends to sit atop the folded left and right sides. The box containing the packed grain bag may have an external indicator indicating the center of the bag. This configuration allows for users to pull/unravel the bag easily and the indicator allows for easy alignment of the bag with the grain bagger.

Claims

1. A packed bulk material bag package in a box, said package comprising: a bulk material bag in said box wherein said bag comprises: a center section having a center; a left side that is folded over itself in said box such that no part of a folded left side substantially overlaps said center; a right side that is folded over itself in said box such that no part of a folded right side substantially overlaps said center, the left side and the right side distinguishing a width there between; wherein an end of said left side is adjacent to and facing a left edge of said folded left side; an end of said right side is adjacent to and facing a right edge of said folded right side; and said bulk material bag is packed in said box with said end of said left side and said end of said right side being accessible to a user such that the user accesses said bag by way of pulling said end of said left side outwards and away from said center and pulling said end of said right side outwards and away from said center, to thereby stretch said bulk material bag in a width-wise manner.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein said bulk material bag is a grain bag.

3. The package according to claim 1, wherein said bulk material is a silage bag.

4. The package according to claim 1, wherein said center of said package coincides with a central longitudinal axis of a deployed bag.

5. The package according to claim 1, further comprising a divider between said folded left half and said folded right half.

6. The package according to claim 5, wherein said divider is placed substantially at said center of said center section.

7. The package according to claim 1, wherein said folded bag has a center indicator to indicate said center.

8. The package according to claim 7, wherein said center of said bag generally aligns with a central longitudinal axis of a deployed bag.

9. The package according to claim 8, wherein said bag has a stretch indicator that is visible to a user when said bag is deployed and is being filled.

10. The package according to claim 1, wherein said box has a center indicator to indicate said center.

11. The package according to claim 1, wherein said folded left side is not symmetrical to said folded right side.

12. The package according to claim 1, wherein, when unfolded and filled with bulk material, said bag is 8 to 14 feet in diameter and 150 to 500 feet in length.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the following figures, in which identical reference numerals in different figures indicate identical elements and in which:

(2) FIG. 1A is an illustration of multiple filled bulk material bags in a field after deployment;

(3) FIG. 1B is an illustration of a folded bulk material bag as folded and packed inside a box according to the prior art;

(4) FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a packed bulk material bag according to one aspect of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 3 illustrates one stage in the unpacking of the packed bag; and

(6) FIG. 4 illustrates a final stage in the unpacking of the packed bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) It should be clear that any reference to bags in this document should be read as a reference to both grain bags and silage bags and to any bags for use in storing bulk materials.

(8) Referring to FIG. 2, an isometric view of a packed bulk material bag is illustrated. As can be seen, the bag 10 has a center section 20A having a center 20, a left side 30, and a right side 40. On the left side 30 is a left end side 50 and on the right side 40 is a right end side 60. From the Figure, it can be seen that the left side is folded continuously over itself and that the right side is similarly continuously folder over itself as well. However, it should be clear that neither the folded left side nor the folded right side overlaps the center 20 of the center section 20A. The left and right sides are folded such that the left end side is atop the folded left side and the right end side is atop the folded right side.

(9) It should be noted that a divider 70 may be placed between the folded left side and the folded right side to separate these two. Preferably, the divider 70 is placed substantially adjacent to or in approximately the same position as the center 20. It should also be noted that the packed bag is packed such that the left end side and the right end side are both accessible to a user after the user has opened a box/container containing the packed bag. Also preferably, the box/container, when closed, has an indicator indicating the center 20 of the bag inside the container. This way, the sealed box/container can be aligned with the grain bag loader such that, when the box/container is opened, no further aligning is needed of the bag's center 20 with the grain loader. Of course, it is preferred that the box opens such that the left end side and the right end side are accessible to the user.

(10) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the stages of the unpacking of the bag is illustrated. As can be seen from FIG. 3, after the box is opened such that the left end side and the right end side are both accessible to the user, the left end side and the right end side are pulled or extended to unravel the folded left side and the folded right side. This step stretches the bag in a width-wise manner. The unfolded sides are shown in FIG. 4. This easy unfolding process no longer requires a tedious and physically demanding step of unrolling of the bag and, with the use of the indicator on the outside of the container and the divider, the bag is easily aligned with the loader.

(11) It should be clear that the packed bag in FIG. 2 can be placed in a preferably rigid container (e.g., a cardboard box). Or, depending on the implementation, the bag may be folded inside such a container which is then, in turn, suitably sealed. While the rigidity of the container is not necessary, a rigid container would ensure ease of transportation for the sealed container.

(12) To pack the bag into the above noted box, the process shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are performed in reverse, starting with FIG. 4. From FIG. 4, the center section 20A of the bag is placed inside a box. From FIG. 3, the left side and the right side of the bag are each then folded over itself without any part of either side overlapping the center 20 of the center section 20A. Once the left side and the right side have been folded, one can then ensure that both the left end side and the right end side are accessible to a user. After this, the box can then be closed to result in a package that includes the folded bulk material bag. The packing of the bag may use one or two cranes to lift the center section into the box and then the left and right sides are folded in its respective side of the box. As noted above, the left side is folded over itself in its side of the box and the right side is folded over itself in its side of the box. This folding of the two sides can be done simultaneously (with the assistance of two cranes) or it can be done in turn (with the assistance of a single crane).

(13) It should be clear that, while the center of the center section of a packed bag is, preferably, coincident with the centerline of a deployed bag (or in-line with or be on the same plane as a longitudinal axis of a deployed bag), this is not necessary. For most grain and silage bags, this center of the center section is clearly marked out on a folded/packed bag. This is so that a user can line up the center with the grain bagger tunnel. Properly aligning with the grain bagger tunnel allows for a stretch mark indicator printed on the bag to be visible to a user as the bag fills up with bulk material. If the center of the center section is not properly aligned with the grain bagger tunnel, there is a risk that the stretch mark indicator may end up at the bottom of the bulk material bag as it fills up with bulk material. Not having a stretch mark indicator that is visible to a user as the bag is filled increases the risk of overfilling the bag and, concomitantly, increases the risk of a burst bag due to overfilling.

(14) It should also be clear that, while FIG. 2 shows that the left side is symmetrical with the right side in terms of size and configuration, this is not a strict requirement. One side can be larger than the other, i.e., the left side can be larger/deeper than the right side or the right side can be larger/deeper than the left side. As well, it should be clear that the left end side and the right end side are accessible to a user who is unpacking the folded bag. The left end side and the right end side can both be accessible to a user as the box is opened or both the left end side and the right end side can be accessible to a user after the box is cut away from the folded bag. Either the left end side or the right end side can, if necessary, be placed to overlap the center of the center section as long as the folded left side and the folded right side are, preferably, not overlapping the center of the center section. The various folds and sections and sides of the folded bag may, of course, be held in place by tape, twine, rope, plastic ties, or any suitable way to ensure that the package inside the box is held together for transport of the box and the folded bag inside.

(15) For greater clarity, the divider is optional but is preferred. The divider ensures that there is division between the folded left side and the folded right side and ensures that that folds of the folded left side does not interfere with the folds of the folded right side and vice versa.

(16) To assist the user who is mounting the bag on to a grain bagger, the box may have an indicator as to the location of the center on the outside of the box. The outside indicator of the center on the box allows the user to place the box such that the center indicator on the box already aligns with the grain bagger. This can be done without even opening the box and, by aligning the center indicator on the outside of the box (with the folded bag inside) with the grain bagger, removes the necessity to move and align the bag with the grain bagger. A box whose external center indicator aligned with the grain bagger ensures that the unpacked/unfolded bag does not need to be aligned to the grain bagger. The aligned box can be opened, the bag unfolded/stretched out widthwise (or diameter-wise), and the mounting of the stretched out bag on the bagger can proceed quickly. As noted above, aligning the center of the center section of the folded bag (by aligning the external center indicator on the box with the grain bagger) ensures that the printed stretch markers on the bag are visible to an operator/user that is filling the bag as the bag deploys.

(17) A person understanding this invention may now conceive of alternative structures and embodiments or variations of the above all of which are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow.