Method and apparatus for electrolytic treatment of containers

Apparatus for electrolytically treating containers comprising a cell assembly having a cell wall surrounding a mandrel and a lid cooperating with the mandrel and cell wall to form a cavity for the reception of a container, the lid being movable into an open position to permit the introduction of a container into and the removal of a container from the cavity, the cavity being a size such that the cell wall cooperates with the outside surfaces of a container in the cavity to form one chamber and the mandrel cooperates with the inside surfaces of the container to form a second chamber, conduit means for introducing an electrolyte into said cavity, the cell wall and the mandrel being spaced so close to the outside and inside surfaces respectively of a container within the cavity that the electrolyte passing through the chambers flows along the surfaces of the container to fill the cavity, electrode means for imposing an electrical potential difference between the cell assembly and the container, and means for supplying air through said conduit means for expelling the container from said cavity upon completion of an electrolytic treatment, said conduit means including selectively operable port means for

• (a) conducting electrolyte through said cavity such that only the outside surface of the container can be electrolytically treated and
• (b) for conducting electrolyte through said cavity such that only the inside surface of the container can be electrolytically treated and
• (c) for conducting electrolyte through said cavity such that both the inside and outside surfaces of the container can be simultaneously electrolytically treated.

Apparatus for electrolytically treating containers comprising a cell assembly having a cell wall surrounding a mandrel and a lid cooperating with the mandrel and cell wall to form a cavity for the reception of a container, the lid being movable into an open position to permit the introduction of a container into and the removal of a container from the cavity, the cavity being a size such that the cell wall cooperates with the outside surfaces of a container in the cavity to form one chamber and the mandrel cooperates with the inside surfaces of the container to form a second chamber, conduit means for introducing an electrolyte into said cavity, the cell wall and the mandrel being spaced so close to the outside and inside surfaces respectively of a container within the cavity that the electrolyte passing through the chambers flows along the surfaces of the container to fill the cavity, electrode means for imposing an electrical potential difference between the cell assembly and the container, and means for supplying air through said conduit means for expelling the container from said cavity upon completion of an electrolytic treatment, said conduit means including a pair of ports in said mandrel opening into said cavity through both of which electrolyte flows and through at least one of which air passes to effect the expulsion of a container from said cavity, and said at least one port being an axial port opening into said cavity through a terminal end portion of said mandrel.

Apparatus for electrolytically treating containers comprising a cell assembly having a cell wall surrounding a mandrel and a lid cooperating with the mandrel and cell wall to form a cavity for the reception of a container, the lid being movable into an open position to permit the introduction of a container into and the removal of a container from the cavity, the cavity being a size such that the cell wall cooperates with the outside surfaces of a container in the cavity to form one chamber and the mandrel cooperates with the inside surfaces of the container to form a second chamber, conduit means for introducing an electrolyte into said cavity, the cell wall and mandrel being spaced so close to the outside and inside surfaces respectively of a container within the cavity that the electrolyte passing through the chambers flows along the surfaces of the container to fill the cavity, electrode means for imposing an electrical potential difference between the cell assembly and the container, and said conduit means includes selectively operable port means for

• (a) conducting electrolyte through said cavity such that only the outside surface of the container can be electrolytically treated and
• (b) for conducting electrolyte through said cavity such that only the inside surface of the container can be electrolytically treated and
• (c) for conducting electrolyte through said cavity such that both the inside and outside surfaces of the container can be simultaneously electrolytically treated.