Three-Dimensional Printing on Glass Containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023174417-A1
Application number	US-202318102487-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 27, 2023
Priority date	Mar 6, 2019
Publication date	Jun 8, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure describes substrate(s) having a three-dimensional (3D) feature formed thereon and methods of forming the features. One method involves applying a first layer of UV-curable material on a surface of the glass container around a circumference of the container and curing the first layer of UV-curable material to produce a first cured material layer that forms at least a portion of a first 3D feature. The method further comprises applying a second layer of UV-curable material on the surface of the glass container, spaced apart from the first 3D feature, around the circumference of the container, and curing the second layer of UV-curable material to produce a second cured material layer that forms at least a portion of a second 3D feature. The portion of the glass container between the first and second 3D features has a circumference less than that of the first or second 3D features.

First claim

1 . A method of printing three-dimensional (3D) features on a glass container, the method comprising:
applying a first layer of UV-curable material on a surface of the glass container around a circumference of the container; curing the first layer of UV-curable material by directing UV light toward the applied first layer of UV-curable material to produce a first cured material layer that forms at least a portion of a first 3D feature on the glass container; applying a second layer of UV-curable material on the surface of the glass container, spaced apart from the first 3D feature, around the circumference of the container; and curing the second layer of UV-curable material by directing UV light toward the applied second layer of UV-curable material to produce a second cured material layer that forms at least a portion of a second 3D feature on the glass container, wherein a portion of the glass container between the first and second 3D features has a circumference less than that of the first or second 3D features.

2 . The method set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
applying one or more additional first layers of UV-curable material to the previously applied and cured first layer of UV-curable material; curing the one or more additional first layers of UV-curable material by directing UV light toward each additional first material layer after it is applied; applying one or more additional second layers of UV-curable material to the previously applied and cured second layer of UV-curable material; and curing the one or more additional second layers of UV-curable material by directing UV light toward each additional second material layer after it is applied.

3 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second 3D features are upper and lower 3D features and the portion of the glass container between the upper and lower 3D features is a container body radially recessed with respect to the upper and lower 3D features.

4 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the radially recessed container body is free of the UV-curable material.

5 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first 3D feature is circumferentially continuous around the circumference of the glass container.

6 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second 3D feature is circumferentially continuous around the circumference of the glass container.

7 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first 3D feature is circumferentially discontinuous around the circumference of the container.

8 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second 3D feature is circumferentially discontinuous around the circumference of the container.

9 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the UV-curable material layer is applied via a digital inkjet printer.

10 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the UV-curable material of each of the first layer(s) and the second layer(s) of UV-curable material includes a varnish.

11 . The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the applying of one or more first or second additional layers of UV-curable material is based on assigned grayscale values.

12 . The method set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
flame treating the surface of the glass container before applying the first layer(s) and the second layer(s) of UV-curable material.

13 . A glass container produced by the method of claim 1 .

14 . A glass container, comprising:
a glass substrate including
a bottom, and
a body extending away from the bottom; and
a first three-dimensional (3D) feature carried on the glass substrate and composed of a first digitally-printed UV-cured material layer on the glass substrate.

15 . The glass container set forth in claim 14 , further comprising:
a second three-dimensional (3D) feature carried on the glass substrate and composed of a digitally-printed UV-cured second material layer on the glass substrate.

16 . The glass container set forth in claim 15 , wherein the first and second 3D features are disposed circumferentially around a circumference of the glass substrate and are axially spaced apart.

17 . The glass container set forth in claim 16 , wherein a portion of the container body between the first and second 3D features is free of UV-curable material.

18 . The glass container set forth in claim 16 , wherein the first and second 3D features are upper and lower 3D features and a portion of the glass container between the upper and lower 3D features is a container body radially recessed with respect to the upper and lower 3D features.

19 . The glass container set forth in claim 16 , wherein the first 3D feature is circumferentially continuous around the circumference of the glass container.

20 . The glass container set forth in claim 16 , wherein the second 3D feature is circumferentially continuous around the circumference of the glass container.

21 . The glass container set forth in claim 16 , wherein the first 3D feature is circumferentially discontinuous.

22 . The glass container set forth in claim 16 , wherein the second 3D feature is circumferentially discontinuous.

Assignees

• Owens Brockway Glass Container

Inventors

• Chisholm Brian J
• Charretton Cedric
• Dangmann Olivier
• Mifsud Eva
• Smith Susan L
• Valette Ludovic

Classifications

• B41M5/0047

  by ink-jet printing · CPC title

• B41M5/0082

  Digital printing on bodies of particular shapes (sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design B41M5/035) · CPC title

• B33Y40/20

  Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing · CPC title

• B41M5/0041

  Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper (B41M5/0082 takes precedence; printing on textiles D06P5/00) · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title