Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
In a method for cleaning aluminum or aluminum alloy beverage containers comprising the use of an acid cleaning bath, the improvement comprising treating the containers subsequent to the acid cleaning bath with an alkaline cleaning solution for from about 5 seconds to about 1 minute at a temperature in the range of from about 90° F. to about 130° F. to remove trace impurities including C 7 -C 9 aldehydes that cause off-flavor in beverages, wherein said alkaline cleaning solution consists essentially of: (a) from about 0.2 to about 0.6 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium carbonate; (b) from about 2.0 to about 5.1 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tripolyphosphate; (c) from about 1.7 to about 4.2 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tetraborate pentahydrate; (d) from about 0.2 to about 0.5 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium metasilicate; (e) from about 1.4 to about 3.6 g/l of at least one tri(alkali metal or ammonium) phosphate; (f) from about 0.3 to about 0.9 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium gluconate or glucoheptonate; and (g) from about 0.02 to about 0.27 g/l of at least one surfactant which is stable in the aqueous alkaline solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a method for cleaning aluminum or aluminum alloy beverage containers comprising the use of an acid cleaning bath, the improvement comprising treating the containers subsequent to the acid cleaning bath with an alkaline cleaning solution for from about 5 seconds to about 1 minute at a temperature in the range of from about 90° F. to about 130° F. to remove trace impurities including C 7 -C 9 aldehydes that cause off-flavor in beverages, wherein said alkaline cleaning solution consists essentially of: (a) from about 0.2 to about 0.6 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium carbonate; (b) from about 2.0 to about 5.1 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tripolyphosphate; (c) from about 1.7 to about 4.2 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tetraborate pentahydrate; (d) from about 0.2 to about 0.5 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium metasilicate; (e) from about 1.4 to about 3.6 g/l of at least one tri(alkali metal or ammonium) phosphate; (f) from about 0.3 to about 0.9 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium gluconate or glucoheptonate; and (g) from about 0.02 to about 0.27 g/l of at least one surfactant which is stable in the aqueous alkaline solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature is in the range of from about 100° F. to about 115° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said time is from about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with any one of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the containers are treated by spraying the alkaline cleaning solution onto the surfaces thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the surfactant (g) is at least one low foaming surfactant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a method for cleaning aluminum or aluminum alloy beverage containers comprising the steps of prerinse; acid prewash; acid clean; rinse; and deionized water rinse, the improvement comprising adding the following steps between the rinse and deionized water rinse steps to remove trace impurities including C 7 -C 9 aldehydes that cause off-flavor in beverages: A. spraying said containers with an alkaline cleaning solution for from about 5 seconds to about 1 minute at a temperature in the range of from about 90° F. to about 130° F., wherein the alkaline solution consists essentially of (a) from about 0.2 to about 0.6 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium carbonate; (b) from about 2.0 to about 5.1 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tripolyphosphate; (c) from about 1.7 to about 4.2 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tetraborate pentahydrate; (d) from about 0.2 to about 0.5 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium metasilicate; (e) from about 1.4 to about 3.6 g/l of at least one tri(alkali metal or ammonium) phosphate; (f) from about 0.3 to about 0.9 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium gluconate or glucoheptonate; and (g) from about 0.02 to about 0.27 g/l of at least one surfactant which is stable in the aqueous alkaline solution; and B. rinsing the containers with water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a method for cleaning aluminum or aluminum alloy beverage containers comprising the steps of prerinse; acid prewash; acid clean; rinse; and deionized water rinse, the improvement comprising adding the following steps between the rinse and deionized water rinse steps to remove trace impurities including C 7 -C 9 aldehydes that cause off-flavor in beverages: A. spraying said containers with an alkaline cleaning solution for from about 5 seconds to about 1 minute at a temperature in the range of from about 90° F. to about 130° F., wherein the alkaline solution consists essentially of (a) from about 0.2 to about 0.6 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium carbonate; (b) from about 2.0 to about 5.1 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tripolyphosphate; (c) from about 1.7 to about 4.2 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium tetraborate pentahydrate; (d) from about 0.2 to about 0.5 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium metasilicate; (e) from about 1.4 to about 3.6 g/l of at least one tri(alkali metal or ammonium) phosphate; (f) from about 0.3 to about 0.9 g/l of at least one alkali metal or ammonium gluconate or glucoheptonate; and (g) from about 0.02 to about 0.27 g/l of at least one surfactant which is stable in the aqueous alkaline solution; and B. rinsing the containers with water.