Dry lubricant for conveying containers

• US 8,455,409 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Valencia Sil, Arturo S., Grab, Lawrence A., Schmidt, Bruce E., Halsrud, David A., Wei, Guang-Jong Jason, Morrison, Eric D., Dibenedetto, Hector R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oladapo, Taiwo
• Application Number:
  US13/489,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20120245064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 508/215, 508/421, 508/202
• US Class Current: 508/202
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 107/50 containing silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 137/04 Phosphate esters
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 155/02 Monomer containing silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/04 Mixtures of base-materials and additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/044 the additives being a mixture of non-macromolecular and macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 173/00 Lubricating compositions containing more than 10% water
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 173/025 for lubricating conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/122 monocarboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/126 monocarboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/289 containing free hydroxy groups
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/104 of alkylene oxides containing two carbon atoms only
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/105 of alkylene oxides containing three carbon atoms only
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/02 Amines, e.g. polyalkylene polyamines; Quaternary amines polyalkylene polyamines with eleven or more monomer units C10M2217/046
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/04 having amino groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/042 containing hydroxy groups; Alkoxylated derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2219/044 Sulfonic acids, Derivatives thereof, e.g. neutral salts
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/04 Phosphate esters
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2229/00 Organic macromolecular compounds containing atoms of elements not provided for in groups C10M2205/00, C10M2209/00, C10M2213/00, C10M2217/00, C10M2221/00 or C10M2225/00 as ingredients in lubricant compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2229/02 Unspecified siloxanes; Silicones
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2229/025 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2229/0465 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2229/047 : containing alkylene oxide groups
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/00 : Specified physical or chemical properties which is improved by the additive characterising the lubricating composition, e.g. multifunctional additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 : Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/40 : Low content or no content compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/38 : Conveyors or chain belts
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/02 : dissolved or suspended in a carrier which subsequently evaporates to leave a lubricant coating
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/04 : Aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2070/02 : Concentrating of additives

Abstract

The passage of a container along a conveyor is lubricated by applying to the container or conveyor a mixture of a water-miscible silicone material and a water-miscible lubricant. The mixture can be applied in relatively low amounts, to provide thin, substantially non-dripping lubricating films. In contrast to dilute aqueous lubricants, the lubricants of the invention provide drier lubrication of the conveyors and containers, a cleaner conveyor line and reduced lubricant usage, thereby reducing waste, cleanup and disposal problems.

Claims

1. A method for lubricating the passage of a container or package along a conveyor comprising:

applying a water-containing lubricant composition comprising from about 0.2 to about 8 wt. % of a water-miscible silicone material and water through a non-energized nozzle,

wherein the lubricant composition is applied for a period of time and not applied for a period of time, and the ratio of not applied;

applied time is at least 10;

1.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicone material comprises a silicone emulsion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicone material comprises a finely divided silicone powder or a silicone surfactant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition comprises at least 50% by weight water.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition maintains a coefficient of friction of less than about 0.2 on a container-contacting or package-contacting surface of the conveyor between lubricant applications.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the lubricant composition maintains a coefficient of friction of less than about 0.15.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the container or package comprises polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, glass or metal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition is applied for less than one conveyor revolution.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition is applied for greater than one conveyor revolution.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of not applied:

applied time is at least 30;

1.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of not applied:

applied time is at least 180;

1.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of not applied:

applied time is at least 500;

1.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the coefficient of friction has reached an unacceptably high level and turning on application of the lubricant composition for a period of time.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising turning off application of the lubricant composition when the coefficient of friction returns to an acceptable level.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the lubricant composition upstream of a flow of containers or packages.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the lubricant composition on an inverted conveyor surface moving underneath and upstream of a flow of containers or packages.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition is sufficiently soluble or dispersible in water so that a coating of the lubricant composition on a container or conveyor can be removed from the container or conveyor using conventional aqueous cleaners, without the need for high pressure, mechanical abrasion or the use of aggressive cleaning chemicals.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition does not contain emulsifiers or other surfactants that promote environmental stress cracking in plastic containers.