Patents by Inventor Gene Gerek

Gene Gerek has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4183974
    Abstract: A method for coating a cylindrical container with a thin, resinous coating by spraying powdered resin is disclosed. The technique involves spraying of finely divided resin particles into a beverage container from spray nozzles external to the container. The container may be sprayed by directing a pulse of a predetermined quantum of resin into the container to deposit a substantially uniform coating. Alternatively, a continuous flow of resin at a predetermined rate may be sprayed into a container. The resin particles are caused to adhere to the container by preheating the container. The coating is rendered continuous by preheating the container to temperatures above the softening point of the resin. Postheating of the coated container at temperatures in excess of about 300.degree. F. matures the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.
    Inventors: Robert G. Coucher, Gene Gerek
  • Patent number: 4150164
    Abstract: The interior of cylindrical metal containers are coated with a thin, substantially uniform comestible coating by spraying finely divided resinous particles into the container after it has been preheated by a plasma arc-generated flame to a temperature above the softening point of the resin. The process is capable of coating containers at rates up to about 600 containers per minute with a substantially pore-free film having a thickness less than about one mil to as low as 0.1 mil and lower. Typical of containers coated by the process are conventional two-piece aluminum containers. Typical preheat temperatures are from about 150.degree. F. to about 525.degree. F. for aluminum containers and from about 150.degree. F. to about 1000.degree. F. for steel containers. A typical preheat time is from about 30 to about 300 milliseconds. Typical resins are finely divided thermosetting epoxy powders. The plasma arc device may also be used to post-heat coated containers to mature the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.
    Inventors: Gene Gerek, Robert G. Coucher
  • Patent number: 4070497
    Abstract: A topcoat is applied over a coating which has been gelled by actinic light and which is curable by ionizing irradiation. The gelled coating and the topcoat are exposed to ionizing irradiation to cure the gelled coating. It is preferred that the topcoat as applied be curable by ionizing irradiation so that it will also be cured during exposure to ionizing irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Wismer, Gene Gerek
  • Patent number: 4049842
    Abstract: A small-mouthed container having a continuous resinous coating covering the interior of said container and end, said interior coating having a thickness less than about one mil and being free of low molecular weight organic matter, is disclosed herein. Typical containers are food and beverage containers having cylindrical metal walls and circular disc-shaped ends. The coating is typically a comestible coating having a thickness of less than one mil and having no occluded solvent therein. Thermoset resinous coatings are particularly useful.A coating is applied by flowing a mixture of gas and fine resin particles through a nozzle into the vicinity of a plasma arc flame which at least partially melts the surface of said particles and propels said particles into a rapidly spinning container having one closed end. A predetermined quantity of resin is pulsed through the nozzle to deposit on the interior of the container a uniform coating of resin particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignee: EPPCO
    Inventors: Gene Gerek, Robert G. Coucher
  • Patent number: 4025664
    Abstract: A method for coating a cylindrical container with a thin, resinous coating by spraying powdered resin is disclosed. The technique involves spraying of finely divided resin particles at a velocity of at least about 200 feet per minute from a spray nozzle external to the container into the interior of a rapidly revolving container, particularly slender, cylindrical containers. The container may be sprayed by directing a pulse of a predetermined quantum of resin into the container to deposit a substantially uniform coating. Alternatively, a continuous flow of resin at a predetermined rate may be sprayed into a container. The resin particles are caused to adhere to the container by preheating the container. The coating is rendered continuous by preheating the container to temperatures above the softening point of the resin. Postheating of the coated container at temperatures in excess of about 300.degree. F matures the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: EPPCO
    Inventors: Gene Gerek, Robert G. Coucher
  • Patent number: 3962486
    Abstract: A novel process for applying cured thermoset resinous coatings to various kinds of substrates and in particular, to thin metal substrates, is disclosed. Finely divided thermosettable resinous particles containing a solid catalyst are introduced into a region of a plasma arc generated flame having a temperature greater than the melting point of said resin. The residence time of said resinous particles in the vicinity of said flame is maintained for a period sufficient to liquify substantially said particles and to initiate polymerization of the thermosettable resin particles. The liquified resin particles are propelled towards a substrate with sufficient velocity to cause said liquified resinous particles to impact with sufficient force to cause said particles to flow upon said substrate to coat same with a continuous, thin coating. The coated substrate is then cooled at a rate sufficiently slow to permit said coating to cure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1976
    Assignee: EPPCO
    Inventors: Gene Gerek, Robert G. Coucher
  • Patent number: 3947617
    Abstract: A small-mouthed container having a continuous resinous coating covering the interior of said container and end, said interior coating having a thickness less than about 1 mil and being free of low molecular weight organic matter, is disclosed herein. Typical containers are food and beverage containers having cylindrical metal walls and circular disc-shaped ends. The coating is typically a comestible coating having a thickness of less than 1 mil and having no occluded solvent therein. Thermoset resinous coatings are particularly useful.A coating is applied by flowing a mixture of gas and fine resin particles through a nozzle into the vicinity of a plasma arc flame which at least partially melts the surface of said particles and propels said particles into a rapidly spinning container having one closed end. A predetermined quantity of resin is pulsed through the nozzle to deposit on the interior of the container a uniform coating of resin particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: EPPCO
    Inventors: Gene Gerek, Robert G. Coucher