Direct Printing on Hot-End Coated Glass Bottles

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for printing on glass bottles are hindered by the degradation of adhesion caused by hot end and cold end coatings, requiring complex pretreatment processes to achieve sufficient adhesion and resilience of printed images.

Innovation Solution

A method involving direct printing on glass containers after hot end coating, where containers are cooled to a printing temperature of 10 to 50°C, allowing for the application of a primer layer and UV-curing inks, eliminating the need for cold end coating and optimizing print quality through controlled temperature and gentle transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If hot end coating and cold end coating are applied to glass bottles to improve mechanical protection and abrasion resistance, then the adhesion of printed images deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical protectionVSAvoidadhesion of printed image

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary flame treatment and plasma treatment to the glass bottle surface before printing to create a reactive surface that enhances ink adhesion. The flame treatment oxidizes the glass surface to form a SiOx layer, and plasma treatment further activates the surface with reactive groups, enabling direct printing with good adhesion without compromising the protective coating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate surface treatments (flame treatment creating SiOx layer, plasma treatment creating reactive groups) as mediators between the coated glass surface and the printed ink. These intermediate layers serve as bonding interfaces that maintain both the mechanical protection of the coating and the adhesion of the printed image

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex pretreatment processes are applied to improve adhesion of printed images on coated glass bottles, then device complexity and production time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion of printed imageVSAvoidcomplexity of pretreatment process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surface treatment steps (flame treatment, plasma treatment) into an integrated pretreatment system that can be applied in sequence or combination. The flame treatment unit and plasma treatment unit are integrated into the production line, allowing continuous processing without significant increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical pretreatment methods with thermal (flame treatment) and plasma-based treatments. These energy-based methods achieve surface activation more efficiently than mechanical methods, reducing the need for complex mechanical pretreatment equipment and simplifying the overall process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If cold end coating is removed to enable direct printing, then adhesion improves but mechanical protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion of printed imageVSAvoidscratch and abrasion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary flame treatment and plasma treatment to the glass bottle surface before printing to create a reactive surface that enhances ink adhesion. The flame treatment oxidizes the glass surface to form a SiOx layer, and plasma treatment further activates the surface with reactive groups, enabling direct printing with good adhesion without compromising the protective coating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate surface treatments (flame treatment creating SiOx layer, plasma treatment creating reactive groups) as mediators between the coated glass surface and the printed ink. These intermediate layers serve as bonding interfaces that maintain both the mechanical protection of the coating and the adhesion of the printed image

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures high-quality, adhesive, and resilient prints without the complexity of cold end coating, reducing production costs and time while maintaining mechanical protection and optical quality.

Implementation Method 1

the containers are cooled down to a printing temperature in the region of the transport section and/or of the printing machine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

application of a primer layer and UV-curing inks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS20240034085A1Method and device for printing onto containers made of glass

Publication Date: 2024.02.01 KRONES AG

AI summary

A method and a device for printing onto containers, in particular bottles, made of glass are described. Containers that have been heated and coated by hot end coating are received from a transport section and transferred to a printing machine. The containers are cooled to a printing temperature in the region of the transport section and/or of the printing machine are provided with a printed image in the printing maching by direct printing. This allows for high-quality direct printing with sufficient resistance to mechanical stresses without cold end coating of the containers prior to the direct printing and/or without the resulting effort of improving the adhesive action of the print or of removing the cold end coating in the print region at least in part.