Glass Container Having an Inkjet Printed Image and a Method for the Manufacturing Thereof

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a glass container having an outer glass surface with an inkjet printed image provided on said surface, characterized in that an at least partially water soluble CEC with a thickness from 0.002 to 10 micrometer is present between the outer glass surface and the inkjet printed image.Such glass container is preferably a one-way beverage bottle.In addition, the present invention is directed to a method of inkjet printing an image on a glass container comprising the steps of:a) manufacturing a glass container having an at least partially water soluble CEC layer with a thickness from 0.002 to 10 micrometer,b) inkjet printing an image on the glass container.

1 . A glass container having an outer glass surface with an inkjet printed image provided on said surface, wherein an at least partially water soluble cold-end coating, CEC, with a thickness from 0.002 to 10 micrometers is present between the outer glass surface and the inkjet printed image. 
     
     
         2 . The glass container according to  claim 1 , wherein a hot-end coating, HEC, is present between the outer glass surface and the CEC or between the outer glass surface and the inkjet printed image. 
     
     
         3 . The glass container according to  claim 2 , wherein said HEC layer is a metal oxide layer. 
     
     
         4 . The glass container according to  claim 3 , wherein said metal oxide in the metal oxide layer is chosen from the group comprising: tin oxide, tin oxide obtained from monobutyltinchloride as a precursor, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The glass container according to  claim 1 , wherein said CEC is at least partially water soluble at 50° C. 
     
     
         7 . The glass container according to  claim 1 , wherein said CEC is fatty acid based or polyethylene glycol based. 
     
     
         8 . The glass container according to  claim 6 , wherein said CEC is at least partially oxidized by flame or plasma treatment. 
     
     
         9 . The glass container according to  claim 6 , comprising a silica containing layer between the CEC and the inkjet printed image. 
     
     
         10 . The glass container according to  claim 1 , comprising a primer layer present between the outer glass surface and the inkjet printed image. 
     
     
         11 . The glass container according to  claim 10 , wherein said primer is white or transparent and comprises an adhesion promotor. 
     
     
         12 . The glass container according to  claim 11 , wherein said inkjet printed image comprises one or more layers of energy-cured ink. 
     
     
         13 . The glass container according to  claim 1 , comprising a protective layer and/or a clear coating applied on top of the inkjet printed image. 
     
     
         14 . The glass container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inkjet printed image has having a printing resolution of at least 300 dpi. 
     
     
         15 . The glass container according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass container is a glass bottle, preferably a beverage bottle and most preferably a one-way beverage bottle. 
     
     
         16 . A method of inkjet printing an image on a glass container comprising the steps of:
 (a) manufacturing a glass container having an at least partially water soluble cold-end coating, CEC, layer with a thickness from 0.002 to 10 micrometers, and   (b) inkjet printing an image on the glass container.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , comprising the step of applying a primer layer on the glass container prior to inkjet printing an image on the glass container. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of a flame or plasma treatment of the CEC or the primer layer prior to inkjet printing an image on the glass container. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of applying a silica layer on the glass container after the flame or plasma treatment. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , comprising the step of applying a protective layer and/or clear coating on top of the inkjet printed image. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , comprising the steps of filling the container with a liquid, preferably a beverage after inkjet printing the image thereon.