Method and apparatus for coating containers

Abstract

Provided is a method for coating containers, and in particular beverage containers which are suitable and intended to receive a liquid, wherein the container to be coated has a main body, a shoulder region, a base region and a mouth region, wherein for coating of an inner wall and/or an outer wall of the container a silicon-containing coating material is produced from a flowable precursor, which is applied to the inner wall and/or the outer wall of the container. The container to be coated is a container made from a fiber-based material.

Claims

1. A method for coating a beverage container which is suitable and intended to receive a liquid, wherein the beverage container to be coated has a main body, a shoulder region, a base region, and a mouth region, wherein a coating material is applied to at least one of an inner wall and an outer wall of the beverage container, wherein at least the mouth region, the shoulder region, the main body, and the base region are produced from a fiber-based material, wherein the beverage container is transported by a transport device from an apparatus for producing the beverage container to an apparatus for coating the beverage container, wherein the apparatus for coating the beverage container has a plurality of coating stations, wherein the beverage container is coated inside a coating chamber during transport, and wherein each coating station is a closed space and the plurality of coating stations are arranged on a rotatable carrier, such that the coating stations move with the containers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coating material is a silicon-containing coating material.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein for coating of the inner wall of the beverage container the flowable precursor is vaporized and together with a gaseous medium having an oxygen-containing gas introduced into the interior of the beverage container.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flowable precursor is applied to the outer surface or outer wall of the beverage container for coating of the outer surface or outer wall of the beverage container, wherein the flowable precursor is converted to SiOx inside or outside a spray torch and is flung by means of a gas stream in the form of spray particles onto the outer surface or outer wall of the beverage container or the beverage container is heated and the flowable precursor is introduced into a coating chamber, wherein due to the heated beverage container a thermal activation of the flowable precursor takes place and leads to the formation of SiOx, which in turn is deposited on the outer surface or outer wall of the beverage container.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flowable precursor is selected from a group of precursors which includes HMDSO, HMDSN, TEOS or other Si-containing compounds.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coating of the inner wall and of the outer wall of the beverage container is carried out simultaneously at least at times.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beverage container has a closure, wherein the closure is produced from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of PET, PP, PS, and PE or a metal.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the beverage container has a closure, wherein the closure is produced from aluminium.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a first feed conduit configured for feeding a flowable medium to the inner walls of the container.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has second feed conduit configured for feeding a flowable medium to the outer walls of the container.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flowable medium comprises a precursor and a further gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following FIGURES, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a detail of an apparatus for coating containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) FIG. 1 shows a detail of an apparatus 1 according to embodiments of the invention for coating containers 10. In this case in this illustration the apparatus 1 has a first coating station 2 and a second coating station 4, wherein a plurality of such coating stations are provided.

(4) The coating stations 2, 4 shown in this embodiment each have a first electrode 22 or 24, which can be introduced into a container 10 to be coated. As already mentioned above, however, a coating method is also conceivable in which the energy is supplied by means of electromagnetic radiation, such as microwave radiation, high frequency or low frequency. Furthermore, a driving device (not shown) is also provided, which effects a movement of the first electrode 22 or 24 into the container and/or a movement of the container 10 to the electrode 22. In this case the electrode 22 or 24 is introduced into a mouth or a mouth region 10a of the container. The first electrode 22 or 24 is designed as a rod-like body and in particular as a body having a cross-section which is smaller than the mouth cross-section of the container 10. In this case the first electrode 22 of the first coating station 2 and the first electrode 24 of the second coating station 4 are operated independently of one another.

(5) In addition, the coating stations 2, 4 each have a second electrode 42, 44, which is arranged outside the container 10. This second electrode 42 or 44 is a counter electrode, which is earthed here. In this case the first electrodes 22 or 24 and the second electrodes 42 or 44 are part of a coating method for coating an inner wall 14 of the container.

(6) The reference 32 designates a media reservoir, for instance a reservoir for the flowable precursor or the silicon-containing gas. The reference 34 designates a feed conduit in order to feed the flowable medium from the media reservoir 32 to the containers 10, and the reference 36 designates a control device which controls the feeding of the medium into the containers 10. In particular in this case the time or the amount of the flowable medium is controlled.

(7) In this case as shown in FIG. 1 the container 10 has successively in the longitudinal direction L a mouth region 10, a shoulder region 10b, a base region 10c and a main body 10d. The reference 12 further designates the outer wall of the container.

(8) The reference 18 furthermore designates a sealing means. In this case the container 10 is pressed against this sealing means or seal or sealant 18, so that a vacuum can be generated inside the container 10.

(9) The applicant reserves the right to claim all the features disclosed in the application documents as essential to embodiments of the invention in so far as they are individually or in combination novel over the conventional art. Furthermore, it is pointed out that in the individual drawings features were also described which may be advantageous per se. The person skilled in the art recognises immediately that a specific feature described in a drawing may also be advantageous without the incorporation of further features from this drawing. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art recognises that advantages may also result from a combination of several features shown in individual drawings or in different drawings.

(10) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

(11) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a unit or a module does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(12) 1 apparatus 2 first coating station 4 second coating station 6 coating chamber 10 container 10a mouth region 10b shoulder region 10c base region 10d main body 12 outer wall of the container 10 14 inner wall of the container 10 18 sealing means or seal or sealant 22, 24 first electrode 32 media reservoir 34 feed conduit 36 control device 42, 44 second electrode