Solid anti-friction devices – materials therefor – lubricant or se – Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and... – Organic compound containing silicon
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2001-03-27
McAvoy, Ellen M. (Department: 1764)
Solid anti-friction devices, materials therefor, lubricant or se
Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and...
Organic compound containing silicon
C508S485000, C508S579000, C508S583000, C508S590000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06207622
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to conveyor lubricants and to a method for conveying articles. The invention also relates to conveyor systems and containers wholly or partially coated with such lubricant compositions.
BACKGROUND ART
In commercial container filling or packaging operations, the containers typically are moved by a conveying system at very high rates of speed. Copious amounts of aqueous dilute lubricant solutions (usually based on fatty acid amines) are typically applied to the conveyor or containers using spray or pumping equipment. These lubricant solutions permit high-speed operation of the conveyor and limit marring of the containers or labels, but also have some disadvantages. For example, aqueous conveyor lubricants based on fatty amines typically contain ingredients that can react with spilled carbonated beverages or other food or liquid components to form solid deposits. Formation of such deposits on a conveyor can change the lubricity of the conveyor and require shutdown to permit cleanup. Some aqueous conveyor lubricants are incompatible with thermoplastic beverage containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and other plastics, and can cause environmental stress cracking (crazing and cracking that occurs when the plastic polymer is under tension) in plastic containers. Dilute aqueous lubricants typically require use of large amounts of water on the conveying line, which must then be disposed of or recycled, and which causes an unduly wet environment near the conveyor line. Moreover, some aqueous lubricants can promote the growth of microbes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
During some packaging operations such as beverage container filling, the containers are sprayed with warm water in order to warm the filled containers and discourage condensation on the containers downstream from the filling station. This warm water spray can dilute the conveyor lubricant and reduce its lubricity.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a method for lubricating the passage of a container along a conveyor comprising applying a phase-separating mixture of a hydrophilic lubricating material and an oleophilic lubricating material whose specific gravity is less than or equal to the specific gravity of the hydrophilic lubricating material, to at least a portion of the container-contacting surface of the conveyor or to at least a portion of the conveyor-contacting surface of the container. Prior to application to a conveyor or container, the mixture is agitated or otherwise maintained in a mixed but unstable state. Following application, the hydrophilic lubricating material and oleophilic lubricating material tend to undergo phase-separation, and we believe that the oleophilic lubricating material may tend to form a continuous or discontinuous film atop the hydrophilic lubricating material thereby providing a water-repelling lubricating layer having reduced water sensitivity.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a lubricated conveyor or container, having a lubricant coating on a container-contacting surface of the conveyor or on a conveyor-contacting surface of the container, wherein the coating comprises phase-separated layers of oleophilic lubricating material and a hydrophilic lubricating material.
The present invention also provides lubricating compositions for use on containers and conveyors, comprising an unstable mixture of an oleophilic lubricating material and a hydrophilic lubricating material.
The compositions used in the invention can be applied in relatively low amounts and do not require in-line dilution with significant amounts of water. The compositions of the invention provide thin, substantially non-dripping lubricating films. In contrast to dilute aqueous lubricants, the lubricants of the invention provide drier lubrication of the conveyors and containers, a cleaner and drier conveyor line and working area, and reduced lubricant usage, thereby reducing waste, cleanup and disposal problems.
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Besse Michael Edward
Li Minyu
Lokkesmoe Keith Darrell
Cleveland PA David R.
Ecolab
McAvoy Ellen M.
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