Preparing Glass Containers for Electrostatic Coating

Abstract

A glass container and related methods of manufacturing and coating glass containers. The container includes a hot end coating that is deposited on an exterior surface and that includes a metal oxide, and a dopant to reduce electrical resistivity of the exterior surface of the container. The container also includes an organic coating electrostatically applied to the exterior surface of the container. Preferably, the organic coating is applied at an ambient temperature and without having to use grounding pins, without having to heat the container, and without having to apply an additional conductive coating layer.

1 . A glass container made by the following method steps:
 (a) contacting an exterior surface of the container with a mixed gas including a metal compound and a dopant compound including at least one dopant selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, B, P, and Sb, to form a doped metal oxide coating on said exterior surface of the container to reduce electrical resistivity of said exterior surface of the container; and   (b) electrostatically applying an organic coating to said exterior surface of the container after step (a) and being carried out at less than 150 degrees Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         2 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step (a) is carried out by chemical vapor deposition. 
     
     
         3 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said doped metal oxide coating of said step (a) includes SnO2 and at least one of F or Sb. 
     
     
         4 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is carried out such that the container is suspended from a conveyor and a neck finish of the container is held with a chuck in contact with the doped hot end coating. 
     
     
         5 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , and further made by (c) curing said organic coating. 
     
     
         6 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , and further made by applying a cold end coating to the container by prior to said step (b). 
     
     
         7 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , and further made by applying a cold end coating to the container, and inspecting the container prior to said step (b). 
     
     
         8 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is carried out without having to use grounding pins, without having to heat the container, and without having to apply an additional conductive coating layer after step (a). 
     
     
         9 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is carried out at an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The glass container set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said cold end coating is at least partially removed before step (b). 
     
     
         11 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coating is ten to forty nm in thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said exterior surface has electrical resistivity of less than or equal to 1010 Ohm-cm after step (a). 
     
     
         13 . The glass container set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said exterior surface has electrical resistivity of less than or equal to 106 Ohm-cm after step (a). 
     
     
         14 . A glass container that includes:
 an axially closed base at an axial end of the container;   a body extending axially from said closed base and being circumferentially closed; and   an axially open mouth at another end of the container opposite of said base;   wherein an exterior surface of the container includes an organic coating electrostatically applied thereto over an electrically conductive hot end coating that includes a metal oxide and a dopant, wherein said dopant is selected from the group consisting of: F, Cl, B, P, and Sb.   
     
     
         15 . The glass container set forth in  claim 14  wherein said metal oxide is SnO 2  and said dopant is at least one of F or Sb. 
     
     
         16 . The glass container set forth in  claim 14  wherein the container does not include a conductive coating layer separate from and in addition to said hot end coating. 
     
     
         17 . A glass container made by the following method steps:
 (a) forming the container,   (b) applying a hot end coating to an exterior surface of the container, wherein said hot end coating includes a metal oxide, and a dopant to reduce electrical resistivity of said exterior surface of the container,   (c) annealing the container coated in step (b),   (d) applying a cold end coating to said exterior surface of the container,   (e) inspecting the container, and   (f) electrostatically depositing an organic coating on the container at less than 150 degrees Fahrenheit and without having to use grounding pins, without having to heat the container, and without having to apply an additional conductive coating layer after step (b).   
     
     
         18 . The glass container set forth in  claim 17 , wherein step (f) is carried out at an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The glass container set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said cold end coating is at least partially removed before step (f). 
     
     
         20 . The glass container set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the coating is ten to forty nm in thickness. 
     
     
         21 . The glass container set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said exterior surface has a electrical resistivity of less than or equal to 1010 Ohm-cm. 
     
     
         22 . The glass container set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said exterior surface has a electrical resistivity of less than or equal to 106 Ohm-cm.