Patent ID: 7179376

Claim:
A washcoat system for applying a washcoat to a metal food or beverage can having water from a water rinse in contact with an exterior surface of the can, the system comprising a curtain of washcoat in flow communication with: (a) a reservoir in which the washcoat is stored, (b) a prefilter, and (c) an ultrafilter, wherein: (i) the washcoat comprises at least one polymer and at least one water insoluble organic solvent; (ii) the curtain of washcoat removes residual water from the can, coats at least a portion of the can with the washcoat, and generates a mixture of washcoat and residual water; (iii) the mixture of washcoat and residual water is in flow communication with the reservoir; (iv) the reservoir is in flow communication with a prefilter through which the mixture passes prior to passing through the ultrafilter; and (v) the residual water is substantially separated from the mixture of washcoat and residual water by the ultrafilter, thereby forming a permeate and a washcoat component, wherein the washcoat component is in flow communication with the reservoir.