CA1094984A

CA1094984A - Decorative neckband label for a bottle

Info

Publication number: CA1094984A
Application number: CA253,449A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stephen W. Amberg
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Inc
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1975-11-17
Filing date: 1976-05-27
Publication date: 1981-02-03
Also published as: GB1567458A; DE2660014C2; NL7608109A; ES224866Y; BR7605532A; DE2660014B1; IT1066321B; JPS5262000A; DE2632973C3; ES235781Y; ES224866U; JPS5944264B2; NL178959B; ES235781U; FR2331851A1; DE2632973B2; DE2632973A1; FR2331851B1; ES449964A1; NL178959C

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The disclosure relates to a decorative label on a closured bottle, including a pilfer-proof feature. The neck label comprises a sleeve of a shrinkable plastic material shrunken over the neck and closure skirt on a bottle. The label stock may be preprinted in a roll and is (1) scored a partial depth lengthwise along a line corresponding to a cap skirt edge position in the label, and (2) embossed by pleats angularly disposed to the direction of orientation.
The pleats provide an embossed decoration which appear in each label blank cut from the roll. Label blank are wound to a sleeve shape and the overlapped ends united at an axial seam. The sleeves with embossed decoration and pilfer-proof score therein are placed over the neck and closure skirt of a bottle such that the score line is in position adjacent the lower edge of the closure skirt.
Heat is applied to shrink the label into snug surface engage-ment with the underlying surfaces. The pleats form an embossed pattern in the label and the pleats also avoid wrinkles in the shrunken label. Five designs of pleating pattern in the label stock are disclosed, each having the pleats biased or angularly disposed with respect to the circumferential (orientation) dimension of the label.

Description

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 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.

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 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-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.

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 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-~-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 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.

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 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 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.

-~20-~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:

-2~-

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A label device for application to a bottle, comprising an embossed plastic annular endless label for encircling a portion of a bottle comprised of a heat shrink-able, cellular, polymeric material that is highly oriented in the circumferential dimension of said annular endless label, said material having a bulk density in the range of 6-40lb. per cu. ft. and a thickness of at least 0.005 inches, said label having a decorative pattern of embossed flutes therein, said pattern being comprised of at least three of said flutes said flutes being of substantially angular dis-position in relation to the highly oriented dimension of the label material, and upon heat shrinking application of the label on the neck of the bottle, the decorative pattern of said flutes appears as an embossed decorative pattern on the outer surface of the label on the bottle.

2. The label device of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the embossed decoration is a series of vertically disposed, annularly spaced flutes arranged annularly around the label.

3. The label device of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the embossed decoration is a series of spiral flutes spaced apart in the label and extending annularly of the label.

4. The label device of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the embossed decoration is a series of intersecting spiral flutes spaced apart in the label and extending annularly in opposite directions on the label to provide a crossed pattern of said embossed flutes.

5. The label device of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the embossed decoration comprises a circular flute in the label.

6. The label device of claim 5, wherein the pattern of the embossed decoration comprises a series of circular flutes dispersed annularly in the label.

7. The label device of claim 6, wherein the pattern of the embossed decoration comprises the circular flutes com-bined in a pattern with substantially straight line flutes disposed at an angle to the highly oriented dimension of the material in the label.

8. A labelled container comprising a bottle having a neck portion and a mouth opening at the outer axial end of the neck, a closure applied over the mouth opening for closing the container, said closure having an annular skirt portion, a seamed sleeve-type label comprised of a sheet of a heat shrinkable, organic foamed thermoplastic material of at least 0.005 inch thickness that is highly oriented in its circum-ferential dimension of the sleeve label, the latter encircling said neck portion and the skirt of said closure, said foamed material having a bulk density of from 6-40 lbs. per cubic foot, and having a pattern of embossed flutes therein comprising at least three flutes which extend substantially at an angle with relation to the dimension of said high orientation in the foamed material, the label having an axially extending seam formed by the overlapping ends of the sheet united together, said label being shrunken into snug fitting engagement with said neck and skirt, respectively, the flutes being disposed as an embossed outstanding pattern of ridges on the labelled bottle in annularly arranged array about the exterior surface of said label.

9. The method of decoratively labelling a bottle comprising making 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 said line and normal to the plane of the sheet, the line impres-sions providing embossed patterns in the sheet in which said line impressions extend angularly with respect to said highly oriented dimension, forming a sleeve from the sheet by overlapping the opposite ends thereof which are spaced apart in the direction of said highly oriented dimension, said dimension lying in the circumference of said sleeve, and the compressed line pattern therein being disposed in the interior surface of the sleeve, fastening said overlapped ends together to secure said sleeve, placing the sleeve over a bottle, and heating the sleeve on the bottle sufficient to shrink it into annular snug fitting and surface conforming relation-ship about the surface of the bottle, the embossed pattern portion of the said material upon shrinking said sleeve about the outer bottle surface providing a raised, embossed pattern in the sleeve label's exterior surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sleeve is telescopically placed over the neck and closure skirt of a capped bottle and shrunken into snug, conforming relation-ship overlying said neck and closure skirt.

11. The method of claim 10, including the step of cutting a partial depth score of weakening annularly along a line on one surface of the sleeve and prior to forming the sleeve from said sheet of oriented, cellular polymeric material, the sleeve being located over the bottle neck such that said partial depth score is adjacent the lower edge of the closure skirt.

12. The method of claim 11, including the step of adhesively securing the shrunken sleeve onto the surface of the bottle neck, thereby securing the lower portion of the shrunken sleeve against turning rotation with respect to the bottle neck.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the embossed pattern in the sheet comprises line impressions corresponding to vertical, spaced flutes on the label sleeve.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the embossed pattern in the sheet comprises line impressions corresponding to spaced spiral flutes extending axially on the label sleeve.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the embossed pattern in the sheet comprises line impressions corres-ponding to diagonally extending, criss-crossed flutes extending in the axial direction on the label sleeve.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the embossed pattern in the sheet comprises line impressions corres-ponding to one or more circular flutes on the label sleeve.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said embossed pattern comprises plural, spaced apart circular flutes and includes substantially straight line flutes extend-ing between the circles.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the sheet of cellular, organic polymeric material is opaque and printed in the sheet form with a decoration that will appear on the exterior surface of the sleeve, said printing being performed prior to the step of making said line impres-sions in the surface of said sheet, said impressions being made onto the surface of said sheet opposite the printed surface.