Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Il 10~19~4
DECOR~TIVE NECKB~ND LABEL
FOR A BOTTLE
This application is related to United States patent
3,951,292 is-~ued April 20, 1976, entitled "Pilfer-Proof
Neckband for a ~ottle".correspondina to Canadian apPlication
235,403.
The invention relates to a decorative neck label for
a glass container comprised of an element of heat shrunken
foamed plastic material and includes decorative raised,
embossed patterns on the outwardly facing surface thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVE~TION
In my~ rlier a~plication referred to ~x~e, the neck label was fon~ o~
prestretched and oriented cellular,organic thermoplastic in
which plural vertical pleats were provided in a sleeve label
that was highly oriented circumferentially. The vertical
pleats were disposed annularly in the label so as to absorb
wrinkles of the material as occurs otherwise upon shrinklng
the sleeve about the bottle.
It has now been discovered that a pattern of these
pleats may be made in the material running angularly with
respect to the direction of such orientation in the material
with the result that after shrinking an embossed pattern is
achieved appearing on the outer surface of the label as an
attractive embossed decoration. This may be combined with
decorati-~e color printing of the material while in flat or
sheet form, thereby accenting or enhancing a novel decorative
effect of the label on the bottle.
2- ,
109~19~4 ~-14()~1
In the invention, the neck label is formed from a
prestretched and oriented ribbon or web o~ the cellular,
organic thermoplastic. The orientation of the plastic is
a major amount along the longitudinal direction of the web.
The web or ribbon is formed from a larger web of the mater-
ial which may be, as desired, previously printed with a
decoration of color, lettering and the like, in flat form.
The printed stock is sized to a width that represents the
height of the label on the bottle.
As is preferred in the present invention, the oriented
ribbon of label stock is fed through a mechanism for repeat-
edly f~utirlg the sheet material by compressing it along a
line causing a flute or pleat to be formed (much like in a
pleated fabric). In heat shrinking the encircling label on
the bottle, the fluting of the label shrinks differently and
concentrates air underneath the pattern of the flutes during
shrinking. ~he result is an embossed or raised pattern on
the surface of the label.
As was disclosed in my earlier invention, the label
stock may also be scored in a line that will appear as an
annular score in the label for determination of pilfering of
the package. In this case, the label is shrunken over the
closure skirt and the bottle neck surface. The pilfer-
proofing or pilfer detecting feature is provided as follows.
The ribbon is partially slit lengthwise at the proper
transv se locati~n thereon By pa~tially slit i~ n~eant
1094984 A-14081
that a knife edge cuts into the plastic to weaken it at a
"score line" but without severing it. One example would
be to cut into the ribbon of, say 10 thousandths of an inch
thickness, to a depth of 5 thousandths of an inch. This
slit is made on the back side of the label stock, i.e. the
side opposite the decorated surface thereof. After the
label is applied and shrun~en over the nèck of the bottle
and skirt of an applled closure cap, the encircling slit in
the materlal will align approximately with the lower edge of
- 10 the cap skirt. In opening the bottle, unscrewing the cap
will annularly sever the label along the slit line into two
: parts, an upper part on the cap skirt and a lower part on
the neck of the bottle. This severing of the material in
the label provides an indication that the bottle cap has
been loosened or the bottie opened. The package is thereby
provided with a pilfer-proof feature; that 15, an indication
to the consumer or user of the bottled product when a pacX-
age has been pllfered or prematurely opened.
In the method of applying the labels of the present
invention, the ribbon or ~eb of the oriented, preprinted
stock having longitudinal continuous slit therein and the
embossing pattern of flutes formed therein is ~ed onto a
drum where the proper lengths of the material (blanks) are
cut in succession and placed onto mandrels. The blanks are
individually wound on the mandrels and seamed by over1apping
the trailing marginal end of the blank over its leading
marginal end and united in the overlap by fusion, adhesion
Il .
A-l~081
~0949t~4
or such known means as may be convenient to form a sleeve
of the material comprising the annular label. The preferred
seam is one formed by fusion or a so-called "heat seal" of
the two overlapping layers of plastic. The sleeve label is
then shifted from the mandrel over the cap and neck of the
bottle, and finally located at the proper elevation position
thereon. In this position the annular slit providing the
pilfer-proofing feature is placed adjacent the lower annular
edge of the cap skirt. Otherwise, the label is located at the
desired position on the bottle for next shrinking it in place.
For shrinXing the label, the bGttle, closure and label
sleeve are placed adjacent a heater device, such as infrared
heat source, supplying sufficient heat locally to shrink the
material of the sleeve into a snug f1t about the bottle and
- 15 cap skirt. Having formed the pleats or flutes in the plas-
- tic material, during the heat shrinkage operation these line
impressions (compressions of the cellular material) react
differently than the balance of the label material adjacent
thereto. The line impressions form indentations in the
material on the back face of the cellular plastic ribbon and
the indentations provide a small channelled air space next to
the bottle surface. As the main body of the label sleeve
material shrinks during heat, it engages tightly onto the
glass surface and seals off these embossed channel areas.
At about the sàme time, the heat increases the pressure o
the air entrapped in the little channels retaining or accentu-
atin the emboseed pattern provided by the line lrpressions
Il .
109~9~4 ~-140~1
made in the material while it was cold. The material of the
embossed pattern more or less takes a set, and the decora-
tive effect is achieved in the labelled container, which is
above and beyond the decoration, if any, printed onto the
sheet material before it was subjected to the pleating.
Skillful design may provide a combination of the embossing
of patterns in the surface of the label with pre-printing of
colors or images
It should be mentioned, that if the pilfer-proofing
feature is incorporated into the label, it may be preferred
to adhere the lower label section onto the neck of the bottle
so that as the cap skirt lS twisted to unscrew the cap, the
lower section of the label is held stationary and the sever-
ing of the label into lower and upper sections on the neck
and cap skirt, respectively, along the line of weakening is
readily assured. This is most conveniently accomplished by
pretreating the glass surface of the neck of the bottle with
adhesive prior to assembly of the sleeve label thereon.
After the label shrinks snugly on the neck, the adhesive
will bond the lower section of the label onto the glass for
the severance function to provide the package with the
pilfer-proofing feature.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a decorative shrink-type bottle label possessing an
embossing pattern that will, upon shrinking, enhance the
~ppea nce ~nd f~nction of the package.
-6-
lC)9~9f34
A further object of the invention is to provide such a
decorative label on the neck and cap skirt of the bottle so as
to include therein a pilfer-proof feature.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of
forming such an embossed and decorative label conveniently and
economically and applying it onto bottles.
Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, a label
device is provided for application to a bottle which comprises
an embossed plastic annular endless label for encircling a portion
of a bottle and is comprised of a heat shrinkable, cellular,
polymeric material that is highly oriented in the circumferential
dimension of the annular endless label with the material having a
bulk density in the range of 6 to 40 lbs. per cubic foot and a
thickness of at least 0.005 inches. The label has a decorative
pattern of embossed flutes therein, the pattern being comprised
of at least three of the flutes with the flutes being of sub-
stantially angular disposition in relation to the highly oriented
dimension of the label material and upon heat shrinking applica-
tion of the label on the neck of the bottle, the decorative
pattern of the flutes appear as an embossed decorative pattern
on the outer surface of the label on the bottle.
In accordance with a further embodiment, there is provided
a labelled container which comprises a bottle having a neck
por~tion and a mouth opening at the outer axial end of the neck,
a closure applied over the mouth opening for closing the container
with the closure having an annular skirt portion. A seamed
sleeve-type label is provided comprised of a sheet of heat shrink-
able, organic foamed thermoplastic material of at least 0.005
inch thickness that is highly oriented in its circumferential
dimension of the sleeve label, the latter encircling the neck
portion and the skirt of the closure. The foamed material has a
1094984
bulk density of from 6 to 40 lbs. per cubic foot and has a pattern
of embossed flutes therein comprising at least three flutes which
extend substantially at an angle with relation to the dimension
of the high orientation in the foamed material. The label has an
axially extending seam formed by the overlapping ends of the sheet
united together, the label being shrunken into snug fitting engage-
ment with the neck and skirt respectively. The flutes are disposed
as an embossed outstanding pattern of ridges on the labelled
bottle in annularly arranged array about the exterior surface of
the label.
In accordance with yet a further embodiment, a method of
decoratively labelling a bottle is provided which comprises mak- -
ing line impressions in the surface of a sheet of cellular,
organic polymeric material that is highly oriented along one
dimension by compressing the material along the line normal to
the plane of the sheet, the line impressions providing embossed
patterns in the sheet in which the line impressions extend
angularly with respect to the highly oriented dimension. A sleeve
is formed from the sheet by overlapping the opposite ends thereof
which are spaced apart in the direction of the highly oriented
dimension, the dimension lying in the circumference of the sleeve
and the compressed line pattern therein being disposed in the
interior surface of the sleeve. The overlapped ends are fastened
together to secure the sleeve and the sleeve placed over the bottle.
The sleeve is then heated on the bottle sufficient to shrink it
into annular snug fitting and surface conforming relationship
about the surface of the bottle with the embossed pattern portion
of the material upon shrinking of the sleeve about the outer
bottle surface providing a raised, embossed pattern in the sleeve
label's exterior surface.
-7a-
1~94984
Other significant features, objects and advantages of
the invention will occur to persons skilled in the art from
the description appearing hereinafter and the related drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
On the drawings appended hereto: -,
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle with a label
applied and shrunken snugly over the skirt of the closure
and the neck of the bottle.
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a label blank, before it is
wrapped and seamed to a sleeve, showing the pleats and slit
; line thereof.
FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 on
Fig. 2.
FIGURE 4 is a partial, sectional view of the pleated
stock formed by the device of Fig. 7, after the web is
severed by the device shown in Fig. 8.
FIGURE 5 is a sectional plan view of a device forming
a partial depth slit in the label stock material running
longitudinally of a web of the material.
-7b-
11 10'9~984
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along
line 6-6 on Fig. 5.
FIGURE 7 is a sectional plan view of a pleating device
forming.spaced apart transverse pleats, in pairs,in the
S label stock material in web form, which is illustrative o~
one of the embodiments of the invention.
FIGURE 8 is a sectional plan view of a device for cut-
ting a label blank from th~ web of label stock and ~eeding
t~e label blank to a mandrel.
FIGURE 9 is a schematic view illustrating the steps of
- forming the label sleeve from a label blank made from the web
of label stock, transfer of the label sleeve from the mandrel
telescopically locating it in place over the bottle nec~ and
closure, and shrinking it thereon.
15 - FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken along
line 10-10 on Fig. 9, on the label blank of one emhodiment of
the Lnvention illustratlng the pleat made in the predecorated
label stock from which the blank was made.
FIGURE 11, appearing on the page containing Fig. 8, is a
plan view, partly broken away, of the device for making a "heat
seal" seam on the overlapping ends of a label blank treated in
; Fig. 9 to form the label sleeve of ~he invention.
FIGURE 12, appearing on the page containing Fig. 8, is a
companion view to Fig. 11, schematically illustrating a means
for applying some pressure to the heated overlapped end portions
of the label sleeve treated in accordance with Fig. 11.
~ Il-
11 -8- 1
Il. 10~9~9~
FIGURE 13, ap~earing on the page containing Fig. 1, is a
partial top plan view of a bottle with a shrink-type label
applied prior to the present invention.
FIGURE 14, appearing on the page containing Fig. 1, is a
partial top plan view of a bottle and shrink-type label sleeve
thereon prior to shrinking, illustrating the pleats in the label
sleeve in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 15, appearing on the page containing Fig. l, is a
partial top plan view of the bottle and label of Fig. 14 after
shrinking the label onto the bottle and cap.
FIGURE 16, appearing on the page containing Fig. 1, is a
partial top plan view of another embodiment of a label shrunken
onto the bottle neck and cap in accordance with the present
invention.
FI~ T appeari~g on the page conta~q Fig. R, is a~ elevatipnal
view of the lakeled kottle of
the invention as it is opened by unscrewing and removing t~e
cap, the label being severed into upper and lower portlons.
FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of an embossing roll used
in forming the labels of the invention.
FIGURE 19 is a sectional elevational view or the embossing
roll of Fig. 18 and a back up roll in an operating position
for embossing the web of oriented cellular thermoplastic.
FIGURE l9A is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of
the thermoplastic web showing the crushed, embossed line pat-
tern in section that is impressed by the apparatus of Fig. l9.
FIGURE 20 is a plan view of a rectangular blanX of the
oriented, cellular thermoplastic processed through the
apparatus of Fig.l9.
`-~11 9
A 140~1
1.09 ~984
FIGUI~E 21 is a perspective view of a glass bottle hav-
ing a sleeve form of embossed label made from the blank of
Fig. 20 shrunken onto the neck and closure of the bottle.
FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of a dlfferent form of
S the embossing roll as shown on Fig. 18.
FIGURE 23 is a top plan view of the rectangular blank
of oriented, cellular thermoplastic af~er being processed
through the embossing roll of Fig. 22.
FIGURE 24 is a perspective view of a glass bottle
having the sleeve form of embossed label made from the
blank of Fig. 23 shrunken onto the neck and closure of the
bottle.
FIGURE 25 is a perspective view of a still different
for~ of the embossing roll.
FIGURE 26 is a top plan view of the rectangular blank
of oriented, cellular thermoplastic after being processed
through the embossing roll of Fig. 25.
FIGURE 27 is a perspective view of a glass bottle hav-
ing the sleeve form of embossed label made from the blank
of ~ig. 26 shrunken onto the neck and closure of the bottle.
FIGURE 28 is a perspective view of still another form
of embossing roll.
FIGURE 29 is a top plan view of the rectangular blank
of oriented, cellular thermoplastic after being processed
through t}le roil of Fig. 28.
FIGURE 30 is a perspective view of a glass bottle having
the sleeve form o embossed label made from the blank of
Fig. 29 shrunken onto the neck and closure of the bottle.
A-14081
1094984
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shown a glass
bottle 10 including a neck 11 closed by a primary closure,
such as a screw cap 12, Cap 12 (Figure 9) incIudes a top 13
and an integral skirt portion 14 that terminates in a lower
annular edge 15 along the neck 11.
A shrunken secondary closure 16, in the form of a
pilfer-proof neck and closure label, made of a shrinkable,
cellular polymeric material encirc~es bottle neck 11 and
skirt 14 of cap 12, bridglng the juncture between the neck
of the bottle and the skirt edge of the cap. The shrink-
- able polymeric material may be any of the forms of shrink-
able organic foamed thermoplastics which may be highly
~: oriented-in a dimension that extends circumferentially on
the bottle o~ Fig~ 1. An example of such material is a
cellular polymer material that is highly oriented in a
web or sheet form and as may be preprinted in flat form
- with a label decoration or image illustrated at 17.
Preferably, the polymer material, such as foamed sheet of
~ polystyrene, polyethylene or polypropylene, should be on
the order of 0.005 to 0.020 inches in thickness and of a
bulk density of about 6-40 lb. per cubic foot.
The label 16 is formed from a rectangular blank 16a
~ of the material illustrated on Fig. 2. The inside surface
-of the label is shown on Fig. 2, i.e. the surfacc that will
be next to the neck surface of bo1-tle 10. Label blank 16a
¦ is for~n rom a parent web 16p of th2 material that is
A-14081
10949~34
sized in width to correspond with the desired height dimen-
sion of the label, this dimension being along the side 16c
of the blank. Label blank 16a is sized in a length dimen-
sion along the longitudinal dlrection of the web 16p that is
in excess of the circumference of the bottle neck or closure,
whichever is larger, of the bottl~ 10, closure 12 combination.
Label blank 16a is wrapped into a sleeve form by over-
lapping the marginal leading and trailing ends 16c and 16d
thereof, and the overlapped ends are connected together
along an axially extending seam 18. The label formed in
accordance with the invention may possess the decorative
embossed feature of the invention either alone or in com-
blnation with the pilfer-proof feature. If the~pilfer-
proof feature is to be utillzed, the label 16 is provlded
with the lengthwise partial depth slit 19 in the web l6p
w~Jich appears in the label blank on Fig. 2. This slit is
in the direction of the major orientation ln the plastic
web and should be of sufficient depth to provide a line of
weakening in the material extending around the circumfer-
ence of label 16 and be located adjacent the lower edge 15
of the cap skirt. Slit 19 is shown on Flg. 3 in cross-section
and is in depth approximately one-half of the web 16p thick-
ness, e.g. one-half the thickness of the label blank 16a.
Label blank 16a also contains a series of the spaced
apart pleats, such as 16f and 16g,shown on Fig. 4. Pleats 16f
and 16g are placed in spaced apart relationship around the
~12-
11 I
~-14031
109~984
circumference of the bottle neck and closure. The pleats,
such as 16f and 16g, provide a vertical embossed pattern
in the label and also absorb wrinkles in the label that
tend to form in the shrinking of the label onto the bottle
neck and closure. By localizing the wrinkles in the pleats,
a better appearance is obtained in the label along with the
overall decorative appearance of the package provided by
the selected embossed pattern, several examples of which
are given hereinafter~
io One such simplified example of the invention ls illus-
trated in Figs. 14 and 15. The label has pleats 16f and
16g distributed in the label blank 16a so that they will be
approximately diametrically opposite each other in ihe sleeve
form of the label 16 (Fig. 14~. After shrinking, the pleats
remain on opposite sides of the bottle and cap (Fig. 15).
THE SLIT PRODUCING APPARATUS
Referring now to Figs. 5-7, the web of the foamed
thermoplastic material 16p is fed from a supply (not shown~
of the predecorated label stock moving over a roll 20
which is supported on a vertical shaft 21. The partial
depth slit 19 (described earlier herein) is made in the
label stock on the back side surface thereof by a blade 22
carried in the stationary holder assembly 23. Blade 22 is
fastenec~ in a longirudinal groove of a guide member 24 that
is retained between the sides 25 and 26 of holder 23 and
normally urged outwardly by springs 27 and 28 in the back
plate 29 Blade 22 is adjusted longitudinally on the guide
A-1~0~1
1094984
member 24 by the opposed adjusting screws 30 and 31, respec-
tively, threaded in the sides 25 and 26 and each held in
place by a lock nut 32. This adjustment compensates for
wear in blade 22.
Blade 22 is supported opposite an annular recess 33 in
roll 20 (Fig.6), and as the web 16p is driven over roll 20,
the slit 19 is made continuously lengthwise of the label
stock web at the proper height thereof so as to correspond
to the elevation in the label, as applied, opposite or adja-
cent the lower edge 15 of the primary closure skirt.
THE WEB EMBOSSING APPARATUS
After processing over roll 20, the label stock web 16p
- passes between the rollers 34 and 35 aiso rotatable on verti-
cal shafts. The embo~sin~ roller 34 is provided with the
- -15 embosslng tool 36 which extends axially of the roll over the
- width of the web. Embossing tool 36 related to the embodiment
; of Figs. 2, 4 and 16 is provided with a pair of relatively
closely spaced pleat forming tips 37 and 38 extending parallel
to the axis of roll 34; and the tool 36 is held in roller 34's
recess by screws 39. The surface portion 40 of roll 35 is of
a relatively yieldable material, such as rubber or the like,
preventing fracture of the more or less crushed web along the
apex lines of tips 37 and 38. There is a slight deflection of
the plastic along the plane of the material at the opposite
surface from the contact by the tips 37, 38 when the rubber
aced back up roll 35 is used. This ;s illustrated by Fig. 4.
There is nevertheless some crushing and compressing of the
cellu a aterial.
A-14081
10~49#4
q~hc ^~bo~sir.g rol~ 34 ma~ take several forms, such as
illustrated by Figs. 18, 22, 25, and 28 and, as will be appar-
ent to those skilled in the art, different combinations of
embossing rolls, such as 34, 35, or 34a, 35a, etc. may be run
in tandem and synchronized to form the pleats in the web 16p
in succession as desired to achieve a more complex embos~ing
effect of the decoration.
Referring to Fig. 18, embossing roll 34a represents th~
tool for forming a spaced apart series of pleats in the web 16p
for making the sleeve blank 160 tFig.20). The roll 34a, as is
the case with all of the forms of the embosslng roll shown on
Figs. 18, 22, 25 and 28, is run in combination with a roll 35a,
which is constructed of relatively hard material, such as steel
or aluminum. In this form of the apparatus (cf. apparatus of
Fig. 7), there is no de~lection of the material at the surface
of the plastic on roll 35a. The line pattern is impressed by
crushing the material in the configuration provided by the
roll 34a. The two rolls 34a and 35a are rotated about their
shafts in the direction of movement of the web 16p. The pleat
forming tips 37a, which extend along roll 34a parallel to the
axis, emboss in the web 16p a spaced apart series of flutes
or pleats 160a 1~ig.20), which are normal to the running mach-
ine direction of web 16p, the highly oriented dimension of the
cellular, polymeric, thermoplastic sheet material.
From the web of this form of the invention, the blanks 16C
are cut in a manner hereinafter described and the blanks are
wound on a cylindrical mandrel and the ends of blank 160 over-
lapped an~ seamed. The sleeve made from blank 160, when
ll -15- l
1094984 A-14081
shrun~.en onto a bottle neck and closure, provides a neck label
shown on Fig. 21, having annularly spaced apart, vertical
flutes or pleats 160a in the embossed decorative pattern.
Similar embossing tools are shown on Fiy. 22 wherein the
tool 34b is provided with a series of spaced apart helical or
spiral pleat forming tips 37b. This embossing tool combined
with a roll 35 or 35a, similar to the illustration on Fig. 19,
will provide a pattern of pleats 161a as shown on the sleeve
blank 161 made from the web stock processed through roll 34b
(Fig. 23). The sleeve made from blanX 161, when shrunken ooto
the neck and closure of a container 10, provides an embossed
pattern of spiral pleats 161a thereon.
Referring to Fig. 25, yet another form of embossing tool
is shown by the roll 34c having a series of spaced apart heli-
cal or spiral pleat formlng tips 37c lr a right hand pattern
and a second series of spaced apart similar helical or spiral
pleat forming tips 37d running in a left hand pattern crossing
the tips 37c. This embossing roll combined with a back up roll
35 or 35a, as before, will provide a criss-cross pattern of
pleats 162a in the formed plastlc material, as shown on the
sleeve blank 162 made therefrom (Fig.26). The sleeve made
from blank 162 is shrunken onto the neck and closure of a
bottle, as shown on Fig. 27, in which the label provides an
embossed decoration or design of the criss-crossed spiral-like
pleats 162a raised on the label surface.
Yet anothe~ form of embossing roll 34d is shown on Fig.28.
Roll 3Ad includes a pattern of embossing tips comprised of an
arrangement of spaced apar~ circle tips 37e interconnected b~
-~6-
A-1~081
~09 ~9#4
Stralght llne tlpS 37~ radiating from the centers of tile
circles. This embossing roll 34d, whcn operated with a rubber
back up roll 35 or steel roll 35a, as earlier described, w111
impress the material of the sleeve blank 163 (Flg. 29) with
the circular pleats 163a joined at their perimeters by the
line pleats 163b which are angled with respect to the machine
longitudinal dimension of the blank 163. The sleeve made from
blank 163 lS shrunken onto the neck and closure of a bottle,
as shown on Fig. 30, in which the label provides an attractive
embossed decoration of the circles 163a and lines 163b in a
raised pattern of the pleats on the label surface.
- Numerous other designs may be devised in accordance with
the invention, whereln the pattern of the pleat~ in ~he em-
bossed design run at an angle with respect to the dimensi.on of
lS the material corresponding to the circumference of the sleeve,
i.e. the dimenslon of the high degree of orientation in the
. material, i.e. the machine direction of the web of foamed
thermoplastlc. The more pronounced embossing effect is at-
tained by placing the surface at which the crushed line impres-
sions are made next to the container's exterior surface, i.e.
-on the inside surface of the sleeve.
THE SLEEVE MAKING APPARATUS
After embossing the label stock web 16p with a design,
the web l~p next is brought over feed drum 41 and picked up
by a forward vacuum port 42 that is connected to station-
ar acuum manifold 143, supp~rted o.er the top side oF
.'
~17-
P.-l~O~l
~09 ~9~3~
the drum. Drum 41 is rotated on a vertical shaft 44 at a
speed in excess of the moving speed of the web 16p up to
this point. This creates a taut condition in web 16p on
drum 41 and causes some slippage between the two. A
rotary knife 45 timed to the linear speed of web 16p
carries a vertical blade 46 which severs the web trans-
versely on drum 41 and cuts from the web a label blanX 16a
of proper length, such as shown on Fig. 2. The web stock
is fed over the feed drum 41 such that the emb~ssed and
decorated surface thereof is next to the drum peripheral
surface. In other words, the cut is made from the back
side of web 16p in relation to the front or decorated
-- side. Just ahead of knlfe 46, a second vacuum port 47 is
holding the web in place by vacuum connected through its
passage 48 just about to breaX its connectlon with vacuum
manifold 43.
The label blank 16a that is cut and on feed drum 41
beyond knife 46 has its leading edge 16c being wrapped on -
mandrel 49 on a rotary turret, which is simultaneously
wrapping and pulling the label blank from the feed drum
after the mandrel picks it up from the drum's surface.
The several mandrels 49 are part of a machine assembly
shown schematically on Figs. 11 and 12. Label blank 16a is
held on the mandrel 49 near leading edge 16c by vacuum, and
` mandrel 49 is rotated clocXwise (Fig. 11~ while moving in
an arcuate path along a guide rail 50 which controls the
A-14081
10949~4
unwound trailin~ pc~rt of label 16a. The mandrel device
includes an air nozzle 51 which passes over a manifold
connection at 52 on the machine and receives hot air
therefrom. Manifold 52 is stationary on the machine and
nozzle 51 moves in an arc path past it to make this con-
nection for supplying the hot air to the nozzle tip at
the time the label is nearly wrapped on the mandrel and
is in an end-overlapping fashion shown on Fig. 11. The
hot air is applied by the tip of nozzle 51 into the space
between the overlapping ends 16c and 16d of the label
blank. Thereafter, as sufficient heat is applied by the
noæzle, the mandrel continues to rotate and completely
overlap and join the ends of the label into a sleeve.
The ends are finally joined at a subsequent movement of
the mandrel in its path whereat the overlapped ends of
the label are compressed by engagement with the wheel 53
(Fig. 12). The wheel 53 is mounted on a vertical pivot 54
and bracket 55 which is a part of a spring mounting 56
(shown schematically). As the mandrel and label sleeve
move past wheel 53, the interference of the wheel surface
on the overlapped vertical seam of the label sleeve com-
presses the heated portions of the plastic into a firmly
bonded joint or seam.
~.SSEMBLY AND SHRINKING THE SLEEVE ON THE BOTTLE
Referring to Fig. 9, the assemkly functions of the
label on the container are illustrated schematically. As
~ show ear the top of the Figure, a cut label blank 16a is
iO9491~4 ~-l40al
wrapped on a mandrel ~9 and seamed, as previously des-
cribed, and thereafter stripped frvln the mandrel in a
vertically, downwardly direction. The bottle 10 having
a primary closure 12 thereon is first transported past
a glue applicator nozzle 57. A spot 58 of hot melt ad-
hesive is sputtered or sprayed from nozzle 57 onto the
surface of neck 11 of the bottle in a region over which
the label (1~, 160, 161, 162 or 163~ will be applied.
Next, the ~ottle neck 11 and closure 12 receive the
decorative sleeve label of the cellular, shrinkable thermo-
plastic material, which is lowered to a position whereat
the annular slit line 19 on the inside surface of sleeve 16
is disposed at or just below the lower edge 15 of cap
skirt 14. While the label is in this position on bottle
neck and cap, the bottle is carried past a heating dev-
ice 60, illustrated schemati~ally, preferably in the form
of an infrared electric heater. During movement past
heater 60, bottles 10 may be revolved by sidewall engage-
ment with a moving belt 61, trave]ing counter to the
direction of travel of bottles 10. Another form of
heater is the usual tunnel structure through which the
bottles and sleeves are conveyed and heated by circulated
hot air or ~he like. Regardless o the form of heater,
the sleeve material is heated externally sufficiently to
shrin~ it onto the necX and cap in a snug conforming rela-
tionship, as illustrated at the right-hand side of Fig. 9.
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~094984 A-l~()81
It is during this shrinking phase of the process that
the present invention of the pre-pleated material in the
label sleeve affords the means for providing a satisfac-
tory neck and closure label on the bottle, The heat being
applied externally onto the shrinkable material, i.e. ~.eat
from one side only of the material, results in a differ-
ential in the shrinking rate of the material across its
thickness. Since the material is cellular, it also serves
- as a heat insulator and retards transmission of heat to-
ward the inner surface. In any event, undér these condi-
tions, wrinkles tend invariably to appear in the shrunXen
label. The present invention provides not only a novel
embossed decorative label, but also provides an economical
and practical way to apply heat shxunken labels of the
cellular plastic material onto a cold bottle free of
wrinkles and unwanted surface deformations of this kind.
DECORATIVE PILFER-PROOF LABEL -
The decorative aspects of the label may be combined
with the pilfer-proof or piLfer detection feature of the
invention. Referring to Fig. 17, the pilfer-proof feature
of the label is illustrated. Upon turning the closure 12,
label 16 will sever annularly along slit line 19 and sep-
arate the label into two parts, i.e. an upper part on the
skirt of closure 12 and a lower part adhesively secured
to the bottle neck region. The closure may be reapplied
and the overall label decoration, etc. is maintained;
however, the line of severance will indicate premature
.~ 081 ,
10~-~9~4
opening or pilfering. If the product is free of pilferir,g
at the retailer's shelf, the label 16 will be continuous and
unbroken (not severed).
In connection with the present invention, the terms
"pleats".or "flutes" are intended to encompass tool impressed
lines in the material wherein the back up surface of the sheet
may or may not be deflected from the plane of that surface in
the sheet. In either case, however, the embossing tool will
crush the cells of the cellular material changing its thick-
ness and density in this region.
The weakest structure in the cellular material is along
the crushed regions where embossed. Accordingly, when the
sheet material lS confined at its ends, such -as in an endless
band, sleeve or cylinder herein illustrated, the weak lines
are accented during the heat shrinking treatment of the mater-
ial, and the crush lines raise outwardly on the surface as
the embossed pattern. The unequal cell size and density of
the material along the crushed pleat or flute pattern pro-
duces the ernbossing effect in the shrunken label.
Having shown and descriked preferred ernbodiments of the
invention, further changes, modifications and substitutions
may be made by those ordinarily skilled in the art without
departing frorn the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims, wherein I claim:
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