US4025664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container coating method
Assignee: Eppco
•
Filing: 1974-11-25
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Granted: 1977-05-24
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Expires: 1994-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for coating a cylindrical container with a thin, resinous coating by spraying powdered resin is disclosed. The technique involves spraying of finely divided resin particles at a velocity of at least about 200 feet per minute from a spray nozzle external to the container into the interior of a rapidly revolving container, particularly slender, cylindrical containers. The container may be sprayed by directing a pulse of a predetermined quantum of resin into the container to deposit a substantially uniform coating. Alternatively, a continuous flow of resin at a predetermined rate may be sprayed into a container. The resin particles are caused to adhere to the container by preheating the container. The coating is rendered continuous by preheating the container to temperatures above the softening point of the resin. Postheating of the coated container at temperatures in excess of about 300 DEG F matures the coating.
Inventors
- 👤 Gene Gerek
- 👤 Robert G. Coucher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:44
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D3/00; B05D3/14; B05D3/141; B05D3/145; B05D3/147; B05B; B05B13/00; B05B13/06; B05B13/0609; B05D1/00; B05D1/002; B05D1/02; B05D1/08; B05D1/10; B05D1/12; B05D3/08; B05D3/142; B05D7/00; B05D7/22; B05D7/227; B05D2202/00; B05D2202/10; B05D2202/20; B05D2202/25; B05D2401/00; B05D2401/30; B05D2401/32; B05D2504/00; B05D3/02; B05D3/0218; B05D3/0254
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A process for coating the entire interior surface of a cylindrical type container having one open end and one closed end with an ultra-thin polymeric coating comprising: a. preheating said container to a temperature of at least about 150° F.; b. spraying into the interior of said container from a location outside of said container a quantum of finely divided resin particles having maximum individual particle diameters of less than about 20 microns and a softening point less than about 150° F. sufficient to coat the container interior with a continuous film, said resin entrained in a gas stream traveling at a velocity sufficient to create substantial turbulence in said container; and c. rotating said container rapidly to create a vortex therein and to cause said container to rotate at least two revolutions during spraying of the resin particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process for coating the entire interior surface of a cylindrical type container having one open end and one closed end with an ultra-thin polymeric coating comprising: a. preheating said container to a temperature of at least about 150° F.; b. spraying into the interior of said container from a location outside of said container a quantum of finely divided resin particles having maximum individual particle diameters of less than about 20 microns and a softening point less than about 150° F. sufficient to coat the container interior with a continuous film, said resin entrained in a gas stream traveling at a velocity sufficient to create substantial turbulence in said container; and c. rotating said container rapidly to create a vortex therein and to cause said container to rotate at least two revolutions during spraying of the resin particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said coated container is postheated at a temperature sufficiently above the melting temperature of said resin for a period sufficient to cause said resin to flow into a thin, continuous, substantially pore-free coating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said resin is a thermosetting resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said coated container is postheated at a temperature sufficiently above the curing temperature of said resin for a period sufficient to cause said resin to flow into a thin, continuous, substantially pore-free, cured coating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said container is preheated to a temperature of at least 225° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said resin is sprayed at a velocity of at least about 200 feet per minute.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gas to resin ratio is less than about two to one on a volume basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gas the resin ratio is less than about one to two on a volume basis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said resin quantity is sufficient to coat said container interior with a continuous film having a thickness of about 0.05 to about 0.5 mil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said container is rotated at a speed of about 500 to about 5000 revolutions per minute.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said resin is sprayed into said container for a minimum period of about 20 milliseconds at 5000 revolutions per minute to about 200 milliseconds at 500 revolutions per minute.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said container is rotated at a speed of about 1000 revolutions per minute to about 2500 revolutions per minute.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said resin is sprayed into said container for a minimum period of about 100 milliseconds at 1000 revolutions per minute to about 40 milliseconds at 2500 revolutions per minute.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
Method for spraying a slender container having one closed end and one open end with resinous solid particles comprising: (a) preheating said container to a substantially uniform temperature above the softening point of the resin, (b) introducing a mixture of carrier gas and very fine resin particles having maximum individual particle diameters of less than about 20 microns of a predetermined quantity over a predetermined period in excess of about 30 milliseconds wherein the rate of resin introduction is substantially uniform over the period during which said resin particles are being introduced, said resin particles adhering to said container interior as a continuous film, and (c) maturing said resinous coating to form an adherent, solvent-free, ultra thin coating having a substantially uniform film thickness over the whole container interior.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
129 words
Method for spraying a slender container having one closed end and one open end with resinous solid particles comprising: (a) preheating said container to a substantially uniform temperature above the softening point of the resin, (b) introducing a mixture of carrier gas and very fine resin particles having maximum individual particle diameters of less than about 20 microns of a predetermined quantity over a predetermined period in excess of about 30 milliseconds wherein the rate of resin introduction is substantially uniform over the period during which said resin particles are being introduced, said resin particles adhering to said container interior as a continuous film, and (c) maturing said resinous coating to form an adherent, solvent-free, ultra thin coating having a substantially uniform film thickness over the whole container interior.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for coating the interior of a cylindrical metal container with a resin during a predetermined short spray interval comprising: (a) providing a closure for one end of said container so that it has a single open end; (b) heating the interior surface of the container to a temperature above the softening point of the resin; (c) rotating said container around its longitudinal axis at least two revolutions during said spray interval; and (d) pneumatically conveying a predetermined quantity of the resin into the interior of said container through its open end during said spray interval under conditions wherein: (1) the resin is in powder form and has a maximum particle diameter of less than about 20 microns; (2) the particle velocity of the resin is sufficient to penetrate through the static air barrier adjacent the interior surface of the container; and (3) the resin is conveyed at an approximately uniform rate throughout this spray interval, and thereafter (e) heating the thus-applied resin to cure it into a solvent free, ultra-thin coating over substantially the entire interior surface of the container.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for coating the interior of a cylindrical metal container with a resin during a predetermined short spray interval comprising: (a) providing a closure for one end of said container so that it has a single open end; (b) heating the interior surface of the container to a temperature above the softening point of the resin; (c) rotating said container around its longitudinal axis at least two revolutions during said spray interval; and (d) pneumatically conveying a predetermined quantity of the resin into the interior of said container through its open end during said spray interval under conditions wherein: (1) the resin is in powder form and has a maximum particle diameter of less than about 20 microns; (2) the particle velocity of the resin is sufficient to penetrate through the static air barrier adjacent the interior surface of the container; and (3) the resin is conveyed at an approximately uniform rate throughout this spray interval, and thereafter (e) heating the thus-applied resin to cure it into a solvent free, ultra-thin coating over substantially the entire interior surface of the container.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said container is a two-piece container and said closure is the integral closed end of said container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said container is a three-piece container, and said closure comprises baffle means position to seal one end of the conainer during the spray interval.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said resin is sprayed into said container through a nozzle located outside said container.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the spray interval is less than about 150 milliseconds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the resin composition is correlated to the temperature to which the interior surface is heated prior to the spray interval so that the individual particles adhere to said surface, melt, flow, gel and partially cure within a period of less than about 150 milliseconds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the individual resin particles are approximately round.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the average diameter of the resin particles is less than about 8 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein: (a) the interior surface of said containers is heated to at least 150° F prior to the spray interval; (b) the thus-applied resin is heated to at least about 350° F following the spray interval; and (c) the resin is a thermo-set epoxy resin evidencing a softening point of between about 120° and about 150° F.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein the interior surface of the container is heated to at least about 300° F. prior to the spray interval and the resin is raised to its curing temperature within about 3 seconds following the spray interval.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the resin is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the resin is introduced during said spray period through a plurality of pulsed quanta.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 15 adapted for sequentially coating a series of containers, whereby each said container is in turn mounted in a mechanism for rotating it and a series of spray intervals is synchromized to begin when each thus-mounted container has completed about one-half revolution, said intervals being spaced to permit the ejection of a coated container and the delivery of the next container of the series to said mechanism.
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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) | 1980-05-23 | 1980-11-22 | 1981-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-23 | 1984-11-22 | 1985-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-23 | 1988-11-22 | 1989-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |