Inner Container Marking With UV Laser Sol-Gel Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for marking the internal faces of containers, such as bottles, face challenges including sensitivity to external shocks, contamination risks, and lack of precision, especially when using sol-gel coatings which can interact with contents and lead to aesthetic and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pigmented sol-gel layer on the internal face of containers, treated with UV laser radiation using optics with a long focal distance for precise marking, allowing for high-precision internal marking with a depth of field greater than 1 mm, enabling the creation of patterns and designs without damaging the container material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sol-gel coating is applied to the inside of a bottle for marking, then the marking is protected from external impacts and scratches, but the contents come into direct contact with the internal coating which may extract or release components into the contents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary barrier layer between the sol-gel coating and the bottle contents. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between the contents and the sol-gel coating, eliminating the contamination risk while preserving the protective and marking functions of the sol-gel layer.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional spraying or swabbing methods are used to apply internal coating, then the application process is simple, but it leads to smears, excess thickness and lack of precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical application methods (spraying, swabbing) with a dip-coating process followed by controlled drying and firing. This substitution provides precise control over coating thickness and uniformity, eliminating smears and excess material while maintaining ease of manufacture through a streamlined process.
3Manufacturing precision
If only part of the surface is coated with sol-gel, then the marking area is defined, but a boundary or stop in the coating is introduced which promotes preferential detachment between coated and uncoated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies sol-gel coating selectively to specific areas of the bottle interior using a dip-coating process that controls the distribution of the coating material. By locally applying the coating only where marking is needed and using proper drying and firing techniques, the method defines precise marking areas without creating abrupt boundaries that would cause detachment.
4Manufacturing precision
If the internal face is marked with high precision, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the interaction between container and contents is minimized which may limit marking options
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the sol-gel coating and creates the marking pattern before the bottle is filled with contents. This preliminary action allows for high-precision marking with various designs and patterns while the protective coating is already in place, preventing any interaction between the marking process and the contents. The versatility is maintained through the ability to create different patterns before filling.
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 achieves high-precision internal marking with minimal interaction between the container and its contents, reducing the risk of contamination and improving aesthetic quality while maintaining the integrity of the container material, suitable for long-term storage of products.
Implementation Method 1
the pattern is revealed by interaction between the sol-gel and a UV laser radiation programmed specifically according to the pattern to be revealed
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~4A
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 developped 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.