Conveyor lubricants including emulsion of a lipophilic compound and an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant and methods employing them

{
  "publication_number": "US9783760B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Conveyor lubricants including emulsion of a lipophilic compound and an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant and methods employing them",
  "abstract": "The present invention relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion of a lipophilic compound and also including an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the method includes applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for lubricating the passage of a container along a conveyor, comprising applying a lubricant composition comprising: about 0.1 to about 30 wt-% of a lipophilic compound selected from the group consisting of a monoglyceride, diglyceride, or triglyceride; about 0.05 to about 15 wt-% emulsifier, anionic surfactant, or mixture thereof; and about 55 to about 97 wt-% water, wherein the applying comprises applying the lubricant composition for a first length of time and not applying it for a second length of time, and wherein the ratio of the first length to the second length is about 1 to greater than or equal to about 10, and wherein the method is capable of maintaining a coefficient of friction of 0.4 or less over the entire period of use when measured between a glass container and a metal conveyor and when water is applied to the lubricated conveyor, and wherein the method does not include applying a silicone component.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lipophilic compound is a triglyceride selected from the group consisting of tri(caprate/caprylate) ester of glycerine; caprylate, caprate, cocoate triglyceride; a triglyceride with linear or saturated alkylene residues with a chain length of 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lipophilic compound is selected from the group consisting of esters of caproic acid, caprylic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselinic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid, erucic acid, and mixtures thereof.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lipophilic compound is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid glycerides, palmitic acid glycerides, stearic acid glycerides, isostearic acid glycerides, oleic acid glycerides, behenic acid glycerides, erucic acid glycerides, and mixtures thereof.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein the emulsifier comprises ethoxysorbitan monostearate, glycerol monooleate, 20 mole ethoxylated castor oil, or mixture thereof.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises lecithin, oleyl-5EO-phosphate ester, short chain homopolymer of ricinoleic, glycerol monostearate monocitrate, or oleic acid.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying comprises spraying the composition through a non-energized nozzle.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an additional functional ingredient.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, wherein the additional functional ingredient comprises antimicrobial agent, stress cracking inhibitor, antioxidant, or mixture thereof.",
    "10. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, glass, or metal.",
    "11. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a co-emulsifier selected from the group consisting of polyol, polyalkylene glycol, linear copolymer of ethylene and propylene oxides, sorbitan ester, fatty acid and their derivatives, and mixtures thereof.",
    "12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises washing or rinsing the conveyor and continuing to convey containers after washing.",
    "13. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition comprises an emulsion, and wherein the emulsion does not phase separate in one month at 4 to 50° C.",
    "14. A method for lubricating the passage of a container along a conveyor, comprising: spraying an undiluted lubricant composition through a non-energized nozzle, the lubricant composition comprising: about 0.1 to about 30 wt-% lipophilic compound selected from the group consisting of a monoglyceride, diglyceride, triglyceride, and mixtures thereof; about 0.05 to about 15 wt-% emulsifier, anionic surfactant, or mixture thereof; and about 55 to about 97 wt-% water, wherein the lubricant composition is free of silicone.",
    "15. A method for lubricating the passage of a container along a conveyor, comprising: applying an undiluted lubricant composition; conveying containers on the conveyor; washing or rinsing the conveyor and removing soil; continuing to convey containers after washing, conveying being conducted with a coefficient of friction of less than or equal to about 0.4; the lubricant composition comprising: about 0.1 to about 30 wt-% lipophilic compound selected from the group consisting of monoglyceride, diglyceride, triglyceride, and mixtures thereof; about 0.05 to about 15 wt-% emulsifier, anionic surfactant, or mixture thereof; and about 55 to about 97 wt-% water, wherein the method does not include applying a silicone material."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion of a lipophilic compound and also including an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the method includes applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle.\n\nIn commercial container filling or packaging operations, the containers typically are moved by a conveying system at very high rates of speed. Typically, a concentrated lubricant is diluted with water to form an aqueous dilute lubricant solution (i.e., dilution ratios of 100:1 to 500:1), and copious amounts of aqueous dilute lubricant solutions are typically applied to the conveyor or containers using spray or pumping equipment. These lubricant solutions permit high-speed operation of the conveyor and limit marring of the containers or labels, but also have some disadvantages. First, dilute aqueous lubricants typically require use of large amounts of water on the conveying line, which must then be disposed of or recycled, and which causes an unduly wet environment near the conveyor line. Second, some aqueous lubricants can promote the growth of microbes. Third, by requiring dilution of the concentrated lubricant dilution errors can occur, leading to variations and errors in concentration of the aqueous dilute lubricant solution. Finally, by requiring water from the plant, variations in the water can have negative side effects on the dilute lubricant solution.",
  "cpc": [
    "C10M 169/04",
    "B65G 45/02",
    "B65G 45/10",
    "C10M 105/38",
    "C10M 129/40",
    "C10M 129/44",
    "C10M 129/68",
    "C10M 133/06",
    "C10M 137/04",
    "C10M 173/025",
    "C10M 2201/02",
    "C10M 2203/1006",
    "C10M 2207/022",
    "C10M 2207/024",
    "C10M 2207/125",
    "C10M 2207/126",
    "C10M 2207/128",
    "C10M 2207/283",
    "C10M 2207/2835",
    "C10M 2207/289",
    "C10M 2207/402",
    "C10M 2209/103",
    "C10M 2209/104",
    "C10M 2209/105",
    "C10M 2209/109",
    "C10M 2215/04",
    "C10M 2223/04",
    "C10N 2030/06",
    "C10N 2030/10",
    "C10N 2030/62",
    "C10N 2040/38",
    "C10N 2230/06",
    "C10N 2230/62"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B05D 1/02",
    "B65G 45/22",
    "C10M 105/38",
    "C10M 129/44",
    "C10M 169/04",
    "C10M 173/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ecolab USA Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Stefan Seemeyer",
    "Eric D. Morrison",
    "Stephan Scharrenbach",
    "Claudia Caussin de Schneck",
    "Stefan Kupper",
    "Peter Rich",
    "Colin Court"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-03-17",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-10",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-10",
  "priority_date": "2006-09-13",
  "application_number": "US-201414216418-A",
  "family_id": "39184194",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}