Patent ID: 6223683
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: B29B,B29K,B29L,C23C,Y02W

Abstract:
A system for coating an external surface of a container wherein the container on pressurization possess a gas barrier at least 1.25.times.greater than a similar uncoated container, the system comprising:a vacuum cell, pressure within the vacuum cell being reduced as compared to ambient pressure;means for continuously supplying containers to and withdrawing containers from the vacuum cell while maintaining the pressure within the vacuum cell;at least one source disposed within the vacuum cell for supplying a coating vapor to the external surface of the containers in the vacuum cell, the at least one source of coating vapor including an evaporator for heating and evaporating an inorganic coating material to form the coating vapor; andmeans for supplying at least one reactive gas to an interior of the vacuum cell;the at least one source of coating vapor structured and arranged within the vacuum housing such that the coating vapor from the at least one source reacts with the reactive gas and deposits a relatively thin coating on the external surface of the containers, the thin coating comprises an inorganic compound, and bonding between at least a portion of the relatively thin coating deposited on the container and the external surface of the container occurs.