Lubrication of transfer plate using an oil or oil in water emulsions

1. A method of lubricating a stationary transfer plate comprising: applying a lubricant composition to a stationary transfer plate, the lubricant composition comprising:

from about 0.0001 wt. % to about 0.05% of an oil;

an emulsifier; and

water.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied from at least one nozzle or bubbler under the transfer plate at a rate of about 2 to about 10 gallons of lubricant composition per hour per nozzle or bubbler.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oil comprises a silicone oil.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the silicone oil comprises polydimethylsiloxane.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a water insoluble organic compound including two or more ester linkages;

(b) a water insoluble organic compound including three or more oxygen atoms;

(c) a water insoluble organic compound including three or more oxygen atoms, one ester group, and one or more remaining or free hydroxyl groups;

(d) an ester of a long chain carboxylic acid with a short chain alcohol;

(e) an ester having an alcohol with 2 or more hydroxyl groups each being coupled to a carboxylic acid as an ester group;

(f) synthetic ester oil;

(g) free fatty acid;

(h) synthetic or natural hydrocarbon;

(i) an ester of a monocarboxylic fatty acid and a di- or poly-carboxylic acid;

(j) a natural oil; and

(k) mixtures thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier is a nonionic surfactant.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition comprises from about 0.0005 wt. % to about 0.001 wt. % oil.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied from up to 6 nozzles or bubblers.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied at a rate of about 6 to about 8 gallons per hour per nozzle or bubbler.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied continuously.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is applied discontinuously.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transporting containers over the stationary transfer plate in a single file at a rate of up of 2200 cans per minute.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transporting filled, unclosed containers across the stationary transfer plate with a forward translational velocity of greater than 40 feet per minute.

14. The method of claim 3 , wherein the silicone oil is applied to the transfer plate in an amount between about 1 and about 100 mg/hour.