VERBESSERUNGEN IN BEZUG AUF EIN VERFAHREN UND EINE VORRICHTUNG ZUR BESCHICHTUNG VON GEGENSTÄNDEN

摘要

A method and apparatus (1) for coating exterior surfaces of heated glass containers (B) exiting from a lehr at a controlled temperature. A coating chamber (5) is provided with a dipping zone (6), a thermal ageing zone (7) and a curing zone (8). Conveying means (9) defines a coating path (2) extending successively through the dipping, thermal ageing and curing zones (6, 7, 8) of the coating chamber (5), and is operable to convey the containers (B) along the coating path (2) so that the containers (B) are arranged in a non-contact relationship with one another. A coating vessel (18) is provided in the dipping zone (7) for containing a bath of ultraviolet light radiation curable liquid coating material (M), the conveying means (9) being arranged to dip containers (B) being conveyed thereby along the coating path (2) so as to apply a coating of the coating material (M) to exterior surfaces of the containers (B). Radiation means (23) is located within the curing zone (8) and operable to subject the coated containers (B) being conveyed along the coating path (2) to irradiation with ultraviolet light radiation for curing the coating. The atmosphere in the coating chamber (5) is controlled so that the atmosphere within at least the curing zone (8) is inert to the coating material (M).