Process for applying exterior coatings to three dimensional containers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for applying a coating to an object such as a container or an injection blow molded bottle comprising initial staging of an object or container onto an application holding unit, which may employ a grounding pin or mechanism to allow for application of a solvent based coating by electrospray techniques, may further be capable of rotating the object or container during the spray application process and may further employ a positive registration means. The object may be spray coated while on the application holding unit. The object may be transferred to a secondary holding unit and subjecting the coated object to solvent evaporation. Initial curing of the coating by UV or infrared is performed while the object is on the secondary holding unit to the point where the object can rest on its base or a bearing surface without risking a loss of integrity of the coating. Finally, the object may be transferred to a final conveying unit, which may incorporate a positive registration means, for final mass curing by UV, infrared or convention heating.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.