METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LABELING AN ARTICLE HAVING A CONVEX SURFACE AND PRODUCED THEREBY

摘要

A method and apparatus of labeling an article (10) with a convex surface (14) is disclosed. The article has top and bottom body (16, 18) portions and a convex surface located between the top and bottom body portions. The convex surface presents a sector (22) of maximum diameter. The leading edge (38) of a heat shrinkable film is attached onto the sector of maximum diameter of the convex surface. The film material has leading, trailing (40) and side (42) edges. The film is wrapped about the article and the trailing edge secured onto the sector of maximum diameter or the leading edge such that the film material is retained only on the sector of maximum diameter. The film is heat shrunk onto the convex surface by moving the article without spinning motion while blowing hot air from opposing sides generally onto the convex surface.