A sleeve labeling machine has a work platform, a feeding unit, a conveying unit, a sleeve labeling device and a hot drying device. The feeding unit holds objects to be sleeved with labels. The conveying unit conveys the objects provided by feeding unit. The sleeve labeling device has a first guiding wheel assembly, a second guiding wheel assembly and a rotary cutter assembly. The first guiding wheel assembly and the second guiding wheel assembly guide the label to a predetermined position, the rotary cutter assembly cuts the label at the predetermined position into a first segment label and a second segment label, and before the second segment label is sleeved to the objects, the second guiding wheel assembly guides the second segment label to move, so that the first and second segment labels have a segment gap therebetween. The hot drying device performs a hot drying shrinkage operation.

A sleeve labeling machine includes a center column, a transmission device, and a cutter device. The center column can unfold the shrink film, and a transmission device will carry the shrink film and let the shrink film sleeve on the center column. Then, the cutter device will cut the shrink film, and the transmission device will keep pulling each cut shrink film to cover the surface of a bottle or a can. Finally, the transmission device will convoy bottles or cans to the next device, and let the shrink film combine with the bottle or the can to complete the bottle or can sleeve labeling process.

A system for labeling a container includes a label forming section, a buffer section, and a bonding section. The label forming section includes a first rotatable turret having a plurality of forming mandrels. The buffer section includes a second rotatable turret having a plurality of buffer receptacles. The bonding section includes a third rotatable turret having a plurality of bonding stations. The label forming section forms a label in a frustoconical shape using one of the forming mandrels and transfers the label to one of the buffer receptacles of the buffer section. The buffer section receives, in a buffer receptacle, the label followed by a container blank, and transfers the label and the container blank together to one of the bonding stations of the bonding section. The bonding section bonds the label to the container blank in the bonding station.

Methods for forming high shrink wrap label sleeves directly from a roll are disclosed herein. A seaming agent is applied to the label, where the trailing edge will overlap the leading edge to form a seam. The seaming agent is then exposed to radiation to cure the seaming agent and form a sleeve. The label comprises a film with at least one external layer that has a Hildebrand solubility parameter, and the seaming agent includes a component having a Hildebrand solubility parameter that is within 2.2 MPa.sup.1/2 or within 4.4 calories.sup.1/2.Math.cm.sup.3/2 of the Hildebrand solubility parameter of the external layer of the film. The seaming agent also has a viscosity of at least 1 centipoise and less than 1000 centipoise when measured at any temperature between ambient temperature and 60 C.

Broadly described herein are methods for using the same pumping and metering system to apply two different seaming agents consecutively without cleaning the system between the two seaming agents. This is useful when it is desired to produce high shrink wrap labels and low-shrink labels on the same production line. The two seaming agents are soluble in each other at loadings (w/w) of 1:10 to 10:1. Two sets of seaming agents are also disclosed, (a) a polar low-shrink seaming agent and a polar high-shrink seaming agent; and (b) a non-polar low-shrink seaming agent and a non-polar high-shrink seaming agent.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

Disclosed herein is a film fitting head which holds a tubular film fitted on a mandrel in a stable position and can prevent the film from rotating and being displaced in a peripheral direction. The film fitting head (40) includes a mandrel (M) for receiving a tubular film (L) in a fitted state in a film supply position, feeding the tubular film in a film fitting position, and fitting the tubular film onto a body portion of a container. The mandrel (M) includes a film holding portion (85) provided above a lifting member (88) located in a standby position. An outer peripheral surface of the film holding portion (85) has a tapered surface that is tapered down toward a top, and an outer peripheral length of a lower end (85a) of the film holding portion (85) is set to be approximately equal to a peripheral length of the tubular film (L) in an open state.

A machine for applying tubular film to products includes a film feed path along which a supply of continuous tubular film is fed, and a sleeve eject station at which the film tubing is cut into sleeves that are ejected onto products passing the sleeve eject station. At least one sensor is positioned along the film feed path upstream of the sleeve eject station for detecting a splice in tubular film traveling along the film feed path. A controller is configured for controlling the machine such that, upon detection of a splice in the tubular film, a defective sleeve that includes the splice thereon is ejected into a gap between successive products so as to prevent application of the defective sleeve to any product.

A process for producing a tube, comprising forming a blow-molded article and removing a bottom portion of said blow-molded article. The blow-molded article includes (i) a head portion, and (ii) a tube portion integral with said head portion. The tube may be decorated, such as with a label.

Embodiments of a griddle of the type for an outdoor cooking station is provided herein. The griddle includes a flat cooking surface with a splash guard extending along a periphery of the flat cooking surface. The flat cooking surface defines a trough positioned adjacent a rear end of the cooking surface such that the trough includes a sloping surface extending downward toward a rear opening defined in the splash guard along and adjacent the rear end of the flat cooking surface. With this arrangement, as a user cooks food on the griddle, unwanted grease may be pushed to the rear of the griddle and into the trough so that the grease funnels down the sloped surface and through the rear opening and into a grease container centered below the rear opening.