Air evacuation systems and methods for lining a container
View Patent ↗An air evacuation system is used for lining a container with a flexible liner. The air evacuation system includes a platform for supporting the container in a formed state, the container including the liner in an unseated position within the cavity. The platform includes a base and a floor extending substantially parallel and spaced apart from the base such that a first air gap is formed between said base and said floor. The floor includes at least one opening therethrough and at least one spacer tab extending therefrom. The vacuum assembly is coupled to the platform and includes a pump in airflow communication with at least one inlet positioned in said base, said vacuum assembly is configured to draw air from the cavity such that the liner is positioned substantially adjacent to the interior surface of the container in a seated position.
1. A method of lining a container with a flexible liner using an air evacuation system, the container having a plurality of walls defining a cavity with an open top, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the air evacuation system having a platform for supporting the container, wherein the platform includes a base and a floor having at least one opening and at least one spacer tab protruding therefrom, and a vacuum assembly coupled to an inlet in at least one of said base and a wall of the platform, said method comprising:
forming the container;
positioning the container on the platform such that a bottom wall of the container is adjacent to the at least one spacer tab protruding from the floor, wherein the bottom of the container is elevated above the floor such that a first gap is defined therebetween;
positioning the liner at least partially within the container cavity, the liner being in an unseated position; and
generating a vacuum around at least a portion of the container to draw air from the container cavity through the bottom wall, the first air gap, and the at least one opening such that the liner is positioned adjacent the interior surface of the container in a seated position.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein operating the vacuum assembly comprises drawing air from the container cavity through the at least one opening, a second air gap between the floor and the base, and the suction member such that the unseated liner is seated against the interior surface of the container cavity.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising separating the floor and the base using at least one stiffening rib extending in the second air gap such that the floor is at least partially supported by the base and the second air gap is facilitated being maintained.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening comprises at least one of an aperture through the floor, a slot through the floor, and a gap between the floor and the platform to facilitate drawing air from the cavity.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said generating a vacuum comprises drawing air from the container cavity until substantially all of the air is removed between the interior surface of the container and the liner.
6. An air evacuation system for lining a container with a flexible liner, the container having a plurality of walls defining a cavity with an open top, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said air evacuation system comprising:
a platform for supporting the container in a formed state, the container including the liner in an unseated position within the cavity wherein said platform comprises a base and a floor extending substantially parallel and spaced apart from said base such that a first air gap is formed between said base and said floor, said floor comprising at least one opening therethrough and at least one spacer tab extending therefrom for engaging a bottom wall of the container, said spacer tab elevating the bottom wall of the container from said floor creating a second air gap between the bottom wall of the container and said floor; and
a vacuum assembly coupled to said platform, said vacuum assembly comprising a pump in airflow communication with at least one inlet positioned in said base, said vacuum assembly configured to draw air from the cavity through the bottom wall and the first and second air gaps and the at least one inlet such that the liner is positioned substantially adjacent to the interior surface of the container in a seated position.
7. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said at least one opening comprises at least one of an aperture through the floor, a slot through the floor, and a gap between the floor and the platform to facilitate drawing air from the cavity.
8. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said at least one opening comprises an opening proximate a center of said floor.
9. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings through said floor.
10. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said at least one spacer tab comprises a plurality of spacer tabs circumscribing said opening.
11. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , further comprising a switch for activating said vacuum assembly.
12. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the plurality of walls of the container includes a plurality of side walls and a plurality of flaps connected to each of the side walls, wherein the plurality of flaps define a bottom wall of the container, said platform comprises a base and a floor extending substantially parallel and spaced apart from said base and at least one spacer tab extending from said floor for engaging at least one of the flaps of the container, said at least one spacer tab elevating the respective flap such that a gap is formed between the respective flap and an adjacent flap to facilitate increasing an amount of air evacuated from the container cavity by said vacuum assembly.
13. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the unseated liner is secured to the open end of the container, and wherein said vacuum assembly draws air from between the unseated liner and the interior surface of the container cavity such that the liner is seated against the interior surface of the container cavity.
14. An air evacuation system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said vacuum assembly further comprises at least one stiffening rib extending in the first air gap between said base and said floor such that said floor is at least partially supported by the base and the first air gap is facilitated being maintained.
15. An air evacuation apparatus for positioning a flexible liner within a container, the container having a plurality of walls defining a cavity, each wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said air evacuation apparatus comprising:
a platform comprising a base and a floor for supporting the container in a formed state and a plurality of side rails for aligning the container with respect to said platform, the container including the liner in an unseated position within the cavity, wherein said floor extends substantially parallel and spaced apart from said base such that a first air gap is formed between said base and said floor, said floor comprises at least one opening therethrough and at least one spacer tab extending therefrom for engaging a bottom wall of the container, said spacer tab elevating the bottom wall of the container from said floor creating a second air gap between the bottom wall of the container and said floor; and
a suction member coupled to at least one of said base and a side wall of said platform, said suction member configured to position the unseated liner in a seated position adjacent the interior surface of the container by drawing air from the container cavity through said bottom wall such that substantially all of the air between the interior surface of the container and the unseated liner is removed.
16. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said suction member draws air from the container cavity through the at least one opening, the first air gap, and the suction member such that the unseated liner is seated against the interior surface of the container cavity.
17. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising at least one stiffening rib extending in the first air gap such that said floor is at least partially supported by said base and the first air gap is facilitated being maintained.
18. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said at least one opening comprises at least one of an aperture through said floor, a slot through said floor, and a gap between the floor and said platform to facilitate drawing air from the cavity.
19. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said at least one opening comprises at least one opening proximate a center of said floor.
20. An air evacuation apparatus in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said at least one spacer tab comprises a plurality of spacer tabs circumscribing said opening.