Inner Container Marking With UV-Reactive Sol-Gel Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking the inner surfaces of containers, such as bottles, face challenges including sensitivity to external damage, potential contamination of contents, and lack of precision, especially when using sol-gel coatings which can interact with products stored for long periods.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a sol-gel coating on the inner face of containers that reacts to UV laser radiation, allowing for precise and controlled marking with a long focal distance optic, enabling high-precision internal patterns without contaminating the contents, using a UV laser with wavelengths between 255 and 400 nm to break atomic bonds without heating, and a flat-field lens for depth control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a sol-gel coating is applied to the inner face of a container, then the marking precision and aesthetic quality are improved, but the risk of contamination of the contents increases
Solution Approach 1:
A barrier layer is introduced between the sol-gel coating and the container contents. This barrier layer prevents direct contact between the sol-gel materials and the stored products, eliminating contamination risk while preserving the aesthetic and marking benefits of the inner sol-gel coating
Solution Approach 2:
The sol-gel coating is formulated with inert or food-grade materials that do not interact with or contaminate the stored contents. The coating creates a stable, non-reactive environment that prevents extraction and release of components into the product
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional spraying or stamping methods are used to apply inner coating, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the marking precision and aesthetic quality deteriorate due to smudges and overthicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical spraying or stamping methods with a robotic application system that uses controlled deposition. This substitution eliminates the smudges and overthicknesses associated with manual or conventional spraying while maintaining ease of manufacture through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the deposition parameters of the coating application process, including spray rate, distance, and angle, to achieve uniform thickness without overthicknesses. These parameter changes enable precise coating application that maintains both ease of manufacture and high marking precision
3Ease of manufacture
If only a portion of the inner surface is coated, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to preferential detachment between covered and non-covered zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments or intermediate layers at the boundaries between coated and uncoated zones to ensure uniform adhesion. This local modification prevents preferential detachment while maintaining the benefits of partial coating for ease of manufacture
4Ease of manufacture
If external marking methods are used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to sensitivity to external bumps and scratches
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of marking the external surface of the container, the patent applies marking to the internal surface. This inversion protects the marking from external bumps and scratches while maintaining ease of manufacture through the same coating application process
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 method achieves precise internal marking with reduced risk of contamination and improved aesthetic quality, maintaining the inertness of the container environment for long-term storage, with enhanced precision and reduced waste, while allowing for multi-color and 3D patterns on multiple surfaces simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
the pattern is developed by interaction between the sol gel and UV laser radiation specifically programmed as a function of the pattern to be revealed
Implementation Method 2
UV laser radiation specifically programmed as a function of the pattern to be revealed... UV laser with wavelengths between 255 and 400 nm to break atomic bonds without heating
Data Source
AI summary
The present inventing relates to a method for marking at least one inner face of a container with at least one given pattern, in which method the inside of said inner face is at least partially coated with a pigmented sol-gel layer that reacts to laser radiation, by spraying or by means of a stamp applied to a precise zone of the layer provided for containing the pattern, and the pattern is developed by interaction between the sol-gel and UV laser radiation specifically programmed according to the pattern to be revealed, the UV laser radiation being emitted by a device comprising an optical system having a long optical length that allows a field depth of more than 1 mm to be obtained. The present invention also relates to a device suitable for implementing this method and to a container obtained by this method.