Container, such as a food or beverage container, lubrication method
AssigneeEcolab Inc.
InventorsMinyu Li, Keight Darrell Lokkesmoe, Guang-Jong Jason Wei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for lubricating a container, such as a beverage container, or a conveyor for containers, by applying to the container or conveyor, a thin continuous, substantially non-dripping layer of a liquid lubricant. The process provides many advantages compared to the use of a conventional dilute aqueous lubricant.
Claims70
A method of lubricating the interface between a container and a moving conveyor surface, the method comprising:
- (a) forming a continuous thin film of an aqueous liquid lubricant composition, the lubricant comprising about 5 to 50 wt % of an aqueous phase, on a container contact surface of a conveyor in an amount of about 2×10−4 to 0.05 grams of liquid lubricant per each square inch of surface, the thickness of the continuous thin film of lubricant comprising a minimum thickness of an amount sufficient to provide minimum lubricating properties up to about 5 millimeters;
- and
- (b) moving a container on the conveyor surface in order to transport the container from a first location to a second location in the substantial absence of foamed lubricant and lubricant runoff.
A method of lubricating the interface between a container and a moving conveyor surface, in the substantial absence of foamed lubricant and lubricant runoff, the method comprising:
- (a) forming a continuous thin film, having a thickness of about 0.0001 to 2 mm, of an emulsion lubricant composition comprising an oil phase and an aqueous phase, on a container contact surface of a conveyor;
- and
- (b) moving a container on the conveyor surface in order to transport the container from a first location to a second location.
A method of supplying a lubricant, for the method of lubricating the interface between a container and a moving conveyor surface, in the substantial absence of foamed lubricant and lubricant runoff, the method of lubricating comprising forming a continuous thin film of a liquid lubricant composition on a container contact surface of a conveyor;
- and moving a container on the conveyor surface in order to transport the container from a first location to a second location, said method of supplying comprising:
- (a) forming a lubricating emulsion of an oil and a aqueous phase, and
- (b) providing the lubricating emulsion to a bottling facility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.