Repair of refillable or reusable polymer-based packaging
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorsRonald D. Moffitt, Yu Shi, Xiaoyan Huang
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Abstract
This disclosure provides economical and effective methods and apparatus for repairing scratches and scuffs on refillable bottle surfaces that minimally contaminates the bottle during the refurbishing process. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: a) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric packaging material such as a bottle to form at least a partially filled packaging material; and b) applying at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the at least partially filled packaging material to form a repaired polymeric packaging material. Apparatus and recycling systems that incorporate this method are also disclosed.
Claims17
A method for repairing a polymeric container, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a polymeric container comprising a polymeric packaging material, an exterior surface of which is scratched or scuffed;
- b) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric container to form a filled container, wherein the filled container is at least partially filled with the fluid;
- and
- c) applying heat from at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the filled container to form a repaired polymeric container,
- wherein the at least one heat source comprises a flame, a flame torch, convected hot air, a plasma arc, electromagnetic induction, infrared radiation, a laser, a maser, a short-pulse high intensity UV flash lamp, a hot tool, or combinations thereof, wherein the heat source is applied continuously or pulsed,
- wherein the exterior surface of the filled container reaches a temperature T, wherein Tm<T<Tm+100° C., where Tm is a peak melt temperature of the polymeric packaging material;
- and
- wherein the polymeric container comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(ethylene-co-furandicarboxylic acid) (PEF), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), or any combination thereof.
A method for repairing a polymeric container, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a polymeric container comprising a polymeric packaging material, an exterior surface of which is scratched or scuffed;
- b) abrading the exterior surface of the polymeric container;
- c) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric container to form a filled container, wherein the filled container is at least partially filled with the fluid, or applying at least one fluid onto the exterior surface of the polymeric container;
- and
- d) applying heat from at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the filled container to form a repaired polymeric container,
- wherein the at least one heat source comprises a flame, a flame torch, convected hot air, a plasma arc, electromagnetic induction, infrared radiation, a laser, a maser, a short-pulse high intensity UV flash lamp, a hot tool, or combinations thereof, wherein the heat source is applied continuously or pulsed,
- wherein the exterior surface of the filled container reaches a temperature T, wherein Tm<T<Tm+100° C., where Tm is a peak melt temperature of the polymeric packaging material;
- and
- wherein the polymeric container comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(ethylene-co-furandicarboxylic acid) (PEF), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), or any combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.