Apparatus and method for treating interior surfaces of glass containers

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF TREATING THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF HOLLOW GLASS CONTAINERS OPEN ENDS THEREIN DURING CONTINUOUS TRAVEL OF THE CONTAINERS TO AND THROUGH AN ANNEALING LEHR TO REDUCE THE ALKALINITY ON SAID INTERIOR SURFACES, THE STEPS OF CONVEYING THE CONTIANERS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY LINER PATH,DURING SAID CONVEYING AND AT SPACED POINTS ALONG SAID PATH, SEPARATELY INJECTING SEVERAL CUBIC CENTIMETERS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE GAS AND A LESSER AMOUNT OF A GASEOUS DISPERSION OF MOISTURE INTO THE OPEN ENDS OF SAID CONTAINERS, INTRODUCING SAID CONTAINERS INTO THE LEHR WITH THE INJECTED REAGENTS IN SITU, HEATING THE CONTAINERS IN THE LEHR TO APPROXIMATELY 750*F. TO SIMULTANEOUSLY ANNEAL THE CONTAINERS AND CAUSE REACTION OF THE SULFUR DIOXIDE GAS MOISTURE INTERIORLY OF THE CONTAINER WITH THE ALKALIS ON THE INTERIOR SURFACES THEREOF TO FORM WATERSOLUBLE ALKALI-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS, REMOVING THE CONTAINERS FROM THE LEHR, COOLING THE CONTAINERS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WASHING SAID INTERIOR SURFACES WITH WATER TO REMOVE SAID COMPOUNDS.