An improved dry mix dispensing apparatus and method for controllably dispensing materials from bulk storage bags are disclosed. A support structure is provided for elevating loaded bulk bags over a collector and discharge means that controllably empties the contents of the bag, one batch at a time, as needed, into an underlying batch mixer. The collector only processes that material currently being dispensed, and the bag continues to store the bulk material until actually dispensed through the collector. The dispensing apparatus is rapidly collapsible in the vertical and lateral directions for ease of transport and movement about the construction site.

A collapsible and reusable container for liquid and granular materials which has a cage and a generally cubical bag of a flexible material which collapses when empty. The cage has a bottom which supports the filled bag and upstanding side walls surrounding the bag which can be collapsed when the bag is empty to overlie the bottom of the cage to provide a compact package for storage and shipment prior to refilling and reuse of the container.

A flexible and collapsible bulk bag having an upright orientation in use with top and bottom end access openings to the exterior of the bag through which a flexible and collapsible liner is received in the bag, the liner also having top and bottom access openings through which the bulk contents are respectively entered and discharged. When the bag is expanded and filled it has a pair of spaced apart and generally conical ends formed by four triangular portions interconnected by four generally rectangular side walls, with the ends convergently tapering toward their associated access opening. The bag when empty can be collapsed into a compact, flat configuration having a pair of overlying front and rear panels with a pair of folded gusseted side panels received therebetween. Alternatively the liner has a rigid discharge outlet spout and a protective exterior flap spans beneath the spout outlet closure to serve as an openable, flexible protective barrier for the same. When the bag is full and ready to be discharged, the bag and liner are suspended vertically by hoisting from the bag hanger straps. A pair of squeeze nip rollers may then be applied across the front and rear panels and then pulled downwardly therealong to thereby squeeze any remaining contents out the liner discharge opening. When the discharge outlets of the liner and bag are made of flexible and compressible material, the nip roller squeegee stroke continues therealong the material of these outlets to also empty any contents remaining therein.

A bulk bag discharge unit having a discharge hopper with an inner liner support. The inner liner support is used to retain, in the hopper, the inner liner discharge spout and a portion of the bulk bag inner liner as the bulk bag is emptied. A plurality of splitter fingers hold the inner support in the inside of the hopper and form openings which allow bulk product to pass out of the hopper but also prevent the liner spout and a portion of the liner from passing out of the hopper. A method of preventing the dropping out of the liner during discharge using the liner support is also disclosed.

Apparatus and method of emptying a material-filled bulk bag of the type having a bottom discharge spout which is releasably closed above a bottom end of the spout being released and opened after the bottom end of the spout is releasably and sealably attached to a material receiving conduit so as to provide a substantially dustless emptying procedure.