Transportable package and system and method to form the same

Abstract

A system and method to form a transportable package is disclosed. The method includes placing a frame on a suitable base and placing a collapsible bag inside the frame, wherein an open top portion of the collapsible bag is draped over an open top of the frame to support the collapsible bag in an open position. The collapsible bag is then filled with flowable particulate matter and a vacuum is drawn in the interior of the collapsible bag. While the vacuum is being applied, the frame is removed and the collapsible bag is spirally wrapped with a reinforcing material. The open top portion of the collapsible bag is then preferably sealed to form the transportable package.

1 . An apparatus to form a transportable package, the transportable package comprising a collapsible bag filled with flowable particulate matter and a reinforcing material wrapped around the collapsible bag, the apparatus comprising:
 a removable tubular frame to support the collapsible bag in an open position, the tubular frame supporting a closed base portion of the collapsible bag inside the frame and a sealable open top portion of the collapsible bag in an open top of the frame;   a filler to fill the collapsible bag supported in an open position by the frame with flowable particulate matter; and   a vacuum source to draw a vacuum in the interior of the collapsible bag,   wherein the tubular frame is removed from the collapsible bag and the reinforcing material is wrapped around the collapsible bag after the collapsible bag is filled while the collapsible bag is subject to the vacuum.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the removable tubular frame comprises two complementary frame parts that are removably coupled together to form the tubular frame and that are uncoupled from each other to remove the frame from the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the removable tubular frame further comprises a plurality of fastening devices attached to the complementary frame parts to couple the complementary frame parts together. 
     
     
         4 . A method of forming a transportable package, comprising:
 placing a frame on a suitable base;   placing a collapsible bag in the frame, the frame supporting an open top portion of the collapsible bag in an open position;   filling an interior of the collapsible bag with flowable particulate matter;   drawing a vacuum in the interior of the collapsible bag;   removing the frame from the collapsible bag; and   wrapping a reinforcing material around the collapsible bag while the collapsible bag is under vacuum.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the drawing of the vacuum comprises gathering the open top portion of the collapsible bag around a nozzle from a vacuum source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the placing of the collapsible bag in the frame comprises placing a closed bottom portion of the collapsible bag inside the frame and adjacent to the suitable base and draping the open top portion of the collapsible bag over a top portion of the frame to support the collapsible bag in the open position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the placing of the frame comprises placing two complementary frame parts together on the suitable base. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the removing of the frame comprises uncoupling and moving the complementary frame parts away from the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the wrapping of the reinforcing material comprises spirally wrapping the reinforcing material around the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 sealing the open top portion of collapsible bag.   
     
     
         11 . A method to form a transportable package, comprising:
 positioning a separable frame on a suitable base;   placing a closed bottom portion of a collapsible bag within the separable frame and draping an open top portion of the collapsible bag over an open top portion of the separable frame to support the collapsible bag in an open position;   filling the collapsible bag with flowable particulate matter while the collapsible bag is supported by the separable frame;   drawing a vacuum in an interior of the collapsible bag;   separating the separable frame from the collapsible bag while the collapsible bag is under vacuum; and   wrapping a reinforcing material around the collapsible bag to reinforce a dimensional stability of the filled collapsible bag, the wrapping of the reinforcing material performed while the filled collapsible bag is under vacuum.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the drawing of the vacuum comprises gathering the open top portion together around a vacuum source after the collapsible bag is filled. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the separable frame comprises at least two complementary frame parts coupled together to form the frame, and wherein the separating of the frame comprises uncoupling the complementary frame parts and removing the frame parts from the suitable base; 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the drawing of the vacuum comprises gathering the open top portion of the collapsible bag around a nozzle from a vacuum source prior to drawing a vacuum in the interior of the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sealing the gathered top portion of the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing of the collapsible bag is performed after the vacuum source is removed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing of the collapsible bag is performed while the collapsible bag is under vacuum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the separable frame has a tubular shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the collapsible bag comprises a flexible air-tight material and the reinforcing material comprises a stretch wrap plastic film. 
     
     
         20 . A transportable package, comprising:
 a collapsible bag comprising a flexible air-tight material;   flowable particulate matter contained within the collapsible bag; and   a reinforcing material comprising a stretch wrap plastic film wrapped around the collapsible bag to reinforce a dimensional stability of the collapsible bag,   wherein the reinforcing material is wrapped around the collapsible bag after the collapsible bag is filled with the flowable particulate matter and while the collapsible bag is subject to a vacuum.   
     
     
         21 . The transportable package of  claim 20 , wherein the flexible air-tight material is one of a low density polyethylene, a high density polyethylene, a food grade polymer, and a nylon, and wherein the stretch wrap film has a cling factor and the reinforcing material is spirally wrapped around the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         22 . A transportable package, consisting essentially of:
 an air-tight collapsible bag;   flowable particulate matter contained within the collapsible bag; and   a stretch wrap plastic film wrapped around the collapsible bag to reinforce a dimensional stability of the collapsible bag,   wherein the stretch wrap plastic film is wrapped around the collapsible bag after the collapsible bag is filled with the flowable particulate matter and while the collapsible bag is subject to a vacuum.