Bottom Discharge Container

Abstract

Disclosed is a bottom discharge container suitable for being handled by a container handling arrangement. The bottom discharge container includes a pair of opposed end walls, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the end walls and forming an enclosure, and an at least partially displaceable floor which is displaceable between a raised, closed position in which it extends across a bottom of the enclosure to form a base of the container, and a lower, open position in which at least part of the floor is displaced away from the bottom of the enclosure to define a discharge opening in the bottom of the container for discharging a load from the container. The container also includes a floor displacement arrangement adapted to be automatically engageable by the door actuating mechanism of the container handling arrangement in order to open and/or close the displaceable floor.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A bottom discharge container, suitable for being engaged by a container handling arrangement having a door actuating mechanism, the bottom discharge container comprising:
 a pair of opposed end walls;   a pair of opposed side walls connected to the end walls so as to form an enclosure; and   an at least partially displaceable floor which is displaceable between a raised, closed position in which it extends across a bottom of the enclosure so as to form a base of the container, and a lower, open position in which at least part of the floor is displaced away from the bottom of the enclosure so as to define a discharge opening in the bottom of the container for discharging a load from the container;   with the container including a floor displacement arrangement for displacing the floor of the container when actuated;   wherein the floor displacement arrangement includes an engagement means that is adapted to be automatically engageable by the door actuating mechanism of the container handling arrangement in order to open and/or close the displaceable floor when the actuation mechanism is actuated.   
     
     
         13 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 12 , wherein the floor displacement arrangement is in the form of a flange formation extending substantially upwardly from an edge of the floor, the flange terminating in an engagement means adapted to receive a part of the actuating mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement means is in the form of an elongate channel for receiving a disc-like follower that forms part of the actuating mechanism of the container handling arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 14 , wherein the elongate channel is of an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 12 , wherein the floor displacement arrangement includes at least one cable, a first end of the cable is secured to the displaceable floor, and a second end zone of the cable is located towards an upper part of the container in order to be displaceable by the actuating mechanism of the container handling arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 16 , wherein a second end of the cable is secured to the container, and the floor displacement arrangement includes a moveable carriage having a pulley for engaging the second end zone of the cable, in order for displacement of the carriage to result in displacement of the cable, the carriage including engagement means for receiving a part of the actuating mechanism of the container handling arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement means is in the form of an aperture provided in the carriage. 
     
     
         19 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 16 , wherein a second end of the cable is secured to a piston which is slideably secured to the container, with an upper end of the piston defining the engagement means that is displaceable by the actuating mechanism of the container handling arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 16 , wherein the cable is located inside a sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 17 , wherein the cable is located inside a sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         22 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 18 , wherein the cable is located inside a sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         23 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 19 , wherein the cable is located inside a sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         24 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 12 , wherein the displaceable floor comprises two opposing floor panels which extend from the side walls to a central region of the container in the closed position, and which are arranged to be pivotable away from one another so that each floor panel depends from one of the container walls in the open position. 
     
     
         25 . The bottom discharge container of  claim 12 , wherein the displaceable floor comprises two opposing floor panels which extend from the side walls to a central region of the container in the closed position, and which are arranged to be pivotable away from one another so that each floor panel depends from one of the container walls in the open position, and in which the cable is located inside a sidewall of the container.