US3880118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for removably marking a food or beverage container
Assignee: SPX Flow Technology Systems Inc
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Filing: 1973-02-20
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed for applying a readily removable marking to a food or beverage container located with a humid environment with a plurality of reflective glass beads. A liquid such as alcohol is used to prepare the moist surface for attraction with the glass beads which produce a reliable reflection even when located on a glaring surface. The marking can be removed by a stream of water and is suitable for automatic container distribution in diary, beverage or food process plant. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, and is not complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P Milleson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/26; B05; B05C; B05C9/00; B05C9/02; B05C9/022; B41; B41F; B41F17/00; B41F17/24; G; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for applying a readily removable marking to a food or beverage container surface with a plurality of dielectric reflecting particles and using a volatile liquid to prepare the surface, comprising in combination: means for directing the volatile liquid to the surface to prepare the surface for attraction with the reflecting particles; means for establishing an attractive force between the reflecting particles and the prepared surface; means for directing the reflecting particles to the prepared surface to be held thereat by the attractive force, said means for directing the liquid to the surface forming a liquid layer on the surface to decelerate the impact of the dielectric reflecting particles on the surface to prevent the dielectric reflecting particles from bouncing off the surface, and said means for establishing an attractive force between the reflecting particles and the prepared surface establishing the attractive force prior to contact between the reflecting particles and the prepared surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for applying a readily removable marking to a food or beverage container surface with a plurality of dielectric reflecting particles and using a volatile liquid to prepare the surface, comprising in combination: means for directing the volatile liquid to the surface to prepare the surface for attraction with the reflecting particles; means for establishing an attractive force between the reflecting particles and the prepared surface; means for directing the reflecting particles to the prepared surface to be held thereat by the attractive force, said means for directing the liquid to the surface forming a liquid layer on the surface to decelerate the impact of the dielectric reflecting particles on the surface to prevent the dielectric reflecting particles from bouncing off the surface, and said means for establishing an attractive force between the reflecting particles and the prepared surface establishing the attractive force prior to contact between the reflecting particles and the prepared surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said liquid is water miscible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface to be prepared is a moist surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for applying a readily removable marking to a moist surface with a plurality of dielectric particles wherein each of the dielectric particles has a substantial portion thereof covered with a reflective coating and using a volatile liquid to prepare the moist surface, comprising in combination: first and second director means; first and second motive means; means for interconnecting said first director means and said first motive means to a source of the volatile liquid; means for interconnecting said second director means and said second motive means to a source of the dielectric particles; control means for activating said first motive means to direct the volatile liquid to the moist surface to cover the surface with a layer of the volatile liquid to prepare the surface for an attractive force; and said control means activating said second motive means to direct the dielectric particles with an established attractive force thereon to the covered surface to be held thereat only by the attractive force after evaporation of the volatile liquid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for applying a readily removable marking to a moist surface with a plurality of dielectric particles wherein each of the dielectric particles has a substantial portion thereof covered with a reflective coating and using a volatile liquid to prepare the moist surface, comprising in combination: first and second director means; first and second motive means; means for interconnecting said first director means and said first motive means to a source of the volatile liquid; means for interconnecting said second director means and said second motive means to a source of the dielectric particles; control means for activating said first motive means to direct the volatile liquid to the moist surface to cover the surface with a layer of the volatile liquid to prepare the surface for an attractive force; and said control means activating said second motive means to direct the dielectric particles with an established attractive force thereon to the covered surface to be held thereat only by the attractive force after evaporation of the volatile liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the attractive force is an electrostatic force.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for applying a readily removable marking to a moist surface located within a humid environment with a plurality of glass beads wherein each of the beads has substantially Half of the surface thereof covered with a reflecting coating and using a liquid having the properties of an alcohol to prepare the moist surface, comprising in combination: a first and a second reservoir for the liquid and the glass beads, respectively; a first and a second nozzle; first and second motive means; a first and a second valve; means for interconnecting said first reservoir and said first motive means with said first valve and said first nozzle; means for interconnecting said second reservoir and said second motive means with said second valve and said second nozzle; control means for activating said first valve for a first period to spray the liquid in an air stream from said first nozzle to the moist surface to combine with the moisture and prepare the surface for electrostatic attraction, and said control means subsequently activating said second valve for a second period to spray the glass beads in an air stream from said second nozzle with an electrostatic charge thereon to the prepared surface to be held thereat by electrostatic force.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for applying a readily removable marking to a moist surface located within a humid environment with a plurality of glass beads wherein each of the beads has substantially Half of the surface thereof covered with a reflecting coating and using a liquid having the properties of an alcohol to prepare the moist surface, comprising in combination: a first and a second reservoir for the liquid and the glass beads, respectively; a first and a second nozzle; first and second motive means; a first and a second valve; means for interconnecting said first reservoir and said first motive means with said first valve and said first nozzle; means for interconnecting said second reservoir and said second motive means with said second valve and said second nozzle; control means for activating said first valve for a first period to spray the liquid in an air stream from said first nozzle to the moist surface to combine with the moisture and prepare the surface for electrostatic attraction, and said control means subsequently activating said second valve for a second period to spray the glass beads in an air stream from said second nozzle with an electrostatic charge thereon to the prepared surface to be held thereat by electrostatic force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said interconnecting means includes a venturi.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first and second motive means includes a pressurized air source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |