Patent Description:
Containers such as bottles can have shrink labels attached thereon in order to display product names or the like and achieve decorative effects. For instance, a typical bottle may have a body that is configured to hold a product, such as a liquid, within an interior space of the body. The bottle may then have an opening to dispense product through the opening and a cap threadably coupled with the body to selectively close the opening of the bottle. In some other versions, the cap comprises a trigger and a nozzle to allow a user to squeeze the trigger to dispense the product within the bottle through the nozzle of the cap. In yet other versions the cap may comprise a plunger-type pump dispenser having a nozzle. A shrink label is typically applied to the bottle such that a top end of the shrink label is positioned just below the bottom of the cap such that the cap of the bottle is exposed.

<CIT> discloses a device for arranging a sleeve-like foil envelope around an object. The foil material is made of a so-called shrink material which shrinks as a result of heat being applied and which forms with a close fit to the shape of the bottle or container around which the sleeve-like envelope has been arranged.

<CIT> discloses a method of making a sleeve for covering a receptacle in the form of a flower pot. Further, <CIT> discloses a sleeve having punctures being spaced apart from a first end and from a second end of the sleeve.

The inventors have found that during shipping of the bottle, the cap may become loose relative to the bottle causing the product from the bottle to leak through the opening. It may therefore be desirable to provide a shrink label that further secures a cap relative to a bottle to prevent the cap from becoming loose relative to the bottle. This may thereby prevent a product from leaking from the bottle during shipping.

In other words there is a desire for a shrink label that further secures a cap relative to a bottle to prevent the cap from becoming loose relative to the bottle. This may thereby hinder a product from leaking from the bottle during shipping. Such a shrink label could be provided that extends upward from the bottle and onto a portion of the cap. The shrink label can thereby be (e. heat) shrunk onto the bottle and the cap to further secure the cap relative to the bottle and prevent the cap from loosening relative to the bottle during shipping. But this arrangement still leaves room for improvement with regards to hindering leakage. Corresponding objects apply generally to sleeves for covering a receptacle, a shrink label being a type of sleeve.

Starting from <CIT>, it is an object of the invention to achieve a way to make a sleeve for covering a receptacle hinder leakage of receptacle contents particularly reliably, wherein the sleeve can be more easily and accurately punctured in a wall thickness direction. The object is achieved by the subject-matter of each independent claim. Advantageous further developments are laid out in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a method of making a sleeve for covering a receptacle, from a strip of flexible tubular material, wherein the sleeve has a given length measured from a first end to a second end, being measured in the longitudinal direction of the strip, comprises: puncturing the sleeve to form a puncture being spaced apart from the first end and from the second end, wherein said puncturing the sleeve is puncturing an open region of the sleeve.

So by making a puncture in the sleeve or the strip the protrusion of a receptacle can be inserted through the puncture. The puncture is made in the sleeve, which is tubular, i.e. after the material is formed as a tube. This allows higher production efficiency compared to, for example puncturing a non-tubular strip for each sleeve, the tube being subsequently bonded at its ends to form a tube. The sleeve is more robust. The shape of the puncture may be chosen to suit the shape of the protrusion. For example the puncture may have one or both of longitudinal and transverse extent. When the protrusion is a trigger, undesired actuation causing leakage can be reduced. When the protrusion is a handle, the sleeve can interfere less with the handle. By spacing the puncture from the sleeve ends, each sleeve end portion comprising a sleeve end is not punctured by making the puncture (there is a puncture-free region on either longitudinal end/ extent of the puncture); so the sleeve can better hinder loosening of any cap; when the receptacle has a nozzle, the sleeve can better hinder leakage from the nozzle. Even if the sleeve does not cover the nozzle, the nozzle as a protrusion can protrude through the slit so the sleeve is not excessively deformed or ruptured. The sleeve can hinder loosening (e.g. rotation and/or extension) of the cap and optionally any nozzle provided on it. So by puncturing an open region, the sleeve can be more easily and accurately punctured in the wall thickness direction.

The sleeve may be made by removing a length of tubular material from the strip. So the strip may have greater length than the given length of the sleeve, i.e. the strip of flexible tubular material may be long enough for several sleeves to be made (e.g. removed) from it. Puncturing the sleeve may therefore be understood to mean puncturing a length of tubular material separated from the strip; alternatively or in addition said length may be understood as an as-yet-unpunctured sleeve. Alternatively the strip may have the same length as the sleeve.

Said puncturing may be done at a first distance from the free end.

The sleeve may be cut from the (e.g. punctured) strip having greater length than the given length of the sleeve, such as a greater length before cutting the strip. So the production of multiple sleeves is facilitated.

According to the invention, an apparatus for making a sleeve for covering a receptacle, from a strip of flexible tubular material, in particular for making the sleeve according to a method according to the invention, wherein the sleeve has a given length measured from a first end to a second end, being measured in the longitudinal direction of the strip, comprises a puncturing means configured to puncture an open region of the sleeve to form a puncture being spaced apart from the ends of the sleeve.

The apparatus may comprise a cutting means configured to cut the sleeve from the strip, the strip having greater length that the given length of the sleeve.

The apparatus may be configured to perform the method.

A first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention are described in more detail in the following with the help of the appended figures, wherein:.

Similar or functionally equivalent features are provided in the figures with corresponding reference signs.

The following description of a first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention.

<FIG> and <FIG> show views of a receptacle assembly having a first shrink label made according to a first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a shrink label <NUM> is shown attached to a bottle <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, bottle <NUM> includes a body <NUM> defining an interior space for storing product. A top end portion of body <NUM> includes a neck <NUM> having an opening (not shown) to provide access to the product within body <NUM>. Neck <NUM> is threadably coupled with cap <NUM>. In some other versions, cap <NUM> may be coupled with bottle <NUM> using other suitable configurations, such as a snap fit, a friction fit, a living hinge, etc. Cap <NUM> includes a trigger <NUM> and a nozzle <NUM> such that a user may squeeze trigger <NUM> to pivot trigger <NUM> inwardly towards bottle <NUM> to thereby dispense the product within body <NUM> through nozzle <NUM>.

Shrink label <NUM> is shown positioned about bottle <NUM>. Shrink label <NUM> may comprise any suitable plastic material that is configured to shrink and thereby form to bottle <NUM> when heated. Shrink label <NUM> comprises a lower portion <NUM> and an upper portion <NUM> separated by a first perforation line <NUM>. Lower portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> thereby extends below first perforation line <NUM> to cover at least a portion of body <NUM> of bottle <NUM>. Lower portion <NUM> may have a length of about <NUM> and a width of about <NUM>, but any other suitable dimensions may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, lower portion <NUM> extends to a bottom end portion of bottle <NUM>. In some other versions, lower portion <NUM> only extends to cover a portion of body <NUM>. Upper portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> extends above first perforation line <NUM> to cover at least a portion of cap <NUM> of bottle <NUM>. Upper portion <NUM> may have a length of about <NUM> and a width of about <NUM>, but any other suitable dimensions may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, upper portion <NUM> extends to a top end portion of cap <NUM> such that upper portion <NUM> is configured to enclose nozzle <NUM>. In some other versions, upper portion <NUM> only extends to cover a portion of cap <NUM>.

First perforation line <NUM> is positioned to extend circumferentially about shrink label <NUM> near neck <NUM> of bottle <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, first perforation line <NUM> is positioned just below neck <NUM>, but in other versions first perforation line <NUM> may be positioned at or above neck <NUM>. First perforation line <NUM> also extends continuously about the entire circumference of shrink label <NUM>. In some other versions, first perforation line <NUM> extends about only a portion of shrink label <NUM>. Shrink label <NUM> further comprises one or more second perforation lines <NUM> extending transversely relative to first perforation line <NUM>, through upper portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM>, from first perforation line <NUM> to a top portion of bottle <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, second perforation line <NUM> may be oriented obliquely relative to first perforation line <NUM> in an open configuration such that second perforation line <NUM> is oriented substantially vertical after shrink label <NUM> has been applied to bottle <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. First and second perforation lines <NUM>, <NUM> thereby allow a user to remove upper portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> prior to use of bottle <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, shrink label <NUM> further comprises an opening <NUM> extending through upper portion <NUM> to allow trigger <NUM> of bottle <NUM> to be exposed through opening <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, shrink label <NUM> has a third perforation line <NUM> extending along upper portion <NUM> transverse to first perforation line <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, third perforation line <NUM> extends along only a portion of upper portion <NUM> such that third perforation line <NUM> is positioned above first perforation line <NUM> and below a top end surface of upper portion <NUM>. Third perforation line <NUM> may have a length of about <NUM>, and be positioned about <NUM> above first perforation line <NUM> and about <NUM> below the top end surface of shrink label <NUM>, but any other suitable dimensions can be used. The length of third perforation line <NUM> thereby generally corresponds to the length of trigger <NUM>, but any other suitable lengths can be used. Third perforation line <NUM> is formed such that third perforation line <NUM> is configured to rip more easily than First and second perforation lines <NUM>, <NUM>. Accordingly, when shrink label <NUM> is heated and shrunk about bottle <NUM> to form to bottle <NUM>, third perforation line <NUM> breaks along third perforation line <NUM> to form opening <NUM>. Trigger <NUM> of bottle <NUM> can thereby extend through opening <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, third perforation line <NUM> may be formed as a slit instead of perforations such that the slit is configured to expand as shrink label <NUM> is applied to bottle <NUM>. Still other suitable configurations for third perforation line <NUM> will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein.

<FIG> shows the shrink label <NUM> of the receptacle assembly described above in an expanded (i.e. not shrunk) configuration. A use of the shrink label <NUM> to cover a bottle, thus forming the receptacle assembly of <FIG>, is described in the following.

To apply shrink label <NUM> to bottle <NUM>, bottle <NUM> may be positioned within shrink label <NUM> in an open configuration, as shown in <FIG>. For instance, body <NUM> of bottle <NUM> may be aligned with lower portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM>, neck <NUM> of bottle <NUM> may be aligned near first perforation line <NUM> of shrink label <NUM>, and cap <NUM> of bottle may be aligned with upper portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> to position trigger <NUM> adjacent with third perforation line <NUM>. Energy such as heat may then be applied to shrink label <NUM> such that shrink label <NUM> shrinks to form to bottle <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. As shrink label <NUM> forms to bottle <NUM>, third perforation line <NUM> breaks apart to form opening <NUM> to allow trigger <NUM> to extend through opening <NUM> while enclosing nozzle <NUM>. Shrink label <NUM> thereby holds the position of the cap <NUM> relative to the bottle <NUM> to further secure the cap <NUM> with the bottle <NUM>. This prevents the cap <NUM> from rotating and/or loosening relative to the bottle <NUM> to prevent product from leaking from the bottle <NUM>. Opening <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> may also inhibit shrink label <NUM> from incidentally leaking product during the heat shrink process. For instance, as shrink label <NUM> is applied to bottle <NUM>, compressive forces from shrink label <NUM> may pivot trigger <NUM> to incidentally leak product from bottle <NUM>. Opening <NUM> thereby allows trigger <NUM> to extend through opening <NUM> to inhibit shrink label <NUM> from pivoting trigger <NUM> and incidentally leaking product.

A user may then pull downward on upper portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> to break upper portion <NUM> along second perforation line <NUM> down to first perforation line <NUM>. Upper portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> can then be ripped along first perforation line <NUM> to remove upper portion <NUM> of shrink label <NUM> from bottle <NUM>. Cap <NUM> may thereby be exposed to allow product to be dispensed from the bottle <NUM>. Still other suitable configurations for shrink label <NUM> will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. For instance, in some versions, shrink label <NUM> may comprise a pull-tab to aid in removing a portion of the shrink label <NUM>.

A second shrink label made according to a first example not being part of the invention is shown in <FIG> and differs from the first shrink label <NUM> in the following. The second shrink label 20A has a single slit 27A instead of the third perforation line <NUM>. In this case it is not necessary to break apart any perforation line to form the opening <NUM>. When the shrink label shrinks (e.g. upon applying energy such as heat) and /or when the trigger penetrates the slit, the slit widens to form the opening <NUM> having smooth sides.

The slit 27A and above-mentioned third perforation line <NUM> are each examples of a puncture. The puncture may extend along any or both of: at least parts of the upper portion <NUM>, and at least parts of the lower portion <NUM>. The puncture may extend at least partially longitudinally.

The first 26A and second 28A perforation lines correspond to the perforation lines <NUM> and <NUM> of the first shrink label <NUM>.

The shrink label 20A can be used in place of the shrink label <NUM> for covering the bottle <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a view of another receptacle assembly, which has a third shrink label made according to a first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention. <FIG> shows the shrink label 20B for the receptacle assembly of <FIG> in an expanded (i.e. not shrunk) configuration.

Referring to <FIG>, a shrink label 20B is shown attached to a bottle <NUM> including a body <NUM> defining an interior space for storing product. A cap <NUM> is fixed to an opening in a neck <NUM> of the bottle at the top of the bottle, such as by screwing, snap fit, a friction fit, a living hinge, etc. Cap <NUM> includes a pump mechanism which has a plunger <NUM> and a nozzle <NUM>. A user can push down on the plunger <NUM> to dispense product within body <NUM> through nozzle <NUM>.

Shrink label 20B is shown positioned about bottle <NUM>. The shrink label 20B may be made from the same materials as the first <NUM> and second 20A shrink labels. Shrink label <NUM> comprises a lower portion 22B and an upper portion 24B separated by a first perforation line 26B. Lower portion 22B of shrink label 20B thereby extends below first perforation line 26B to cover at least a portion of body <NUM> of bottle <NUM>. Lower portion 22B extends to a bottom end portion of bottle <NUM>. In some other versions, lower portion 22B only extends to cover a portion of body <NUM>. Upper portion 24B of shrink label <NUM> extends above first perforation line 26B to cover at least a portion of cap <NUM> of bottle <NUM>. Upper portion 24B extends to a top end portion of cap <NUM>.

First perforation line 26B is positioned to extend circumferentially about shrink label 20B near neck <NUM> of bottle <NUM>. First perforation line 26B is positioned just below neck <NUM>, but in other versions first perforation line 26B may be positioned at or above neck <NUM>. First perforation line 26B also extends continuously about the entire circumference of shrink label 20B. In some other versions, first perforation line 26B extends about only a portion of shrink label 20B. Shrink label <NUM> further comprises one or more second perforation lines 28B extending transversely relative to first perforation line 26B, through upper portion 24B of shrink label 20B, from first perforation line 26B to a top portion of bottle <NUM>. First and second perforation lines 26B, 28B correspond to the first <NUM>, 26A and second perforation lines <NUM>, 28A of the first <NUM> and second 20A shrink labels. They equally allow a user to remove upper portion 24B of shrink label 20B prior to use of bottle <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, shrink label 20B further comprises an opening 29B extending through upper portion 24B to allow nozzle <NUM> of bottle <NUM> to be exposed through opening 29B. Referring to <FIG>, shrink label 20B has a puncture 27B extending along upper portion 24B parallel to first perforation line 26B. The puncture comprises a central portion 271B formed as a (non-perforated) slit, and a respective perforated portion 272B, 273B on either side of the central portion 271B. The central portion 271B may directly join and/ or be aligned with the perforated portions 272B, 273B. Puncture 27B extends along only a portion of upper portion 24B and puncture 27B is positioned above first perforation line 26B and below a top end surface of upper portion 24B. The width of puncture 27B thereby generally corresponds to the width of the nozzle <NUM>, but any other suitable lengths can be used. Puncture 27B is configured to rip more easily than first and second perforation lines 26B, 28B. Accordingly, when shrink label 20B is heated and shrunk about bottle <NUM> to form to bottle <NUM>, puncture 27B breaks at its perforated portions 272B, 272C to form opening 29B. Nozzle <NUM> can thereby extend through opening 29B. Additionally or alternatively, puncture 27B may be formed entirely as a slit. Still other suitable configurations for puncture 27B will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. In typical examples the puncture 27B is positioned closer to one end of the shrink label than the punctures <NUM> and 27A are.

A use of the shrink label 20B to cover a bottle, thus forming the receptacle assembly of <FIG>, is described in the following.

To apply shrink label 20B to bottle <NUM>, bottle <NUM> may be positioned within shrink label 20B in an open configuration, as shown in <FIG>. For instance, body <NUM> of bottle <NUM> may be aligned with lower portion 22B of shrink label 20B, neck <NUM> of bottle <NUM> may be aligned near first perforation line 26B of shrink label 20B, and cap <NUM> of bottle may be aligned with upper portion 24B of shrink label 20B to position nozzle <NUM> adjacent with puncture 27B. Energy such as heat may then be applied to shrink label 20B such that shrink label 20B shrinks to form to bottle <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. As shrink label 20B forms to bottle <NUM>, the perforated end portions 272B, 273B of the puncture 27B break apart to form opening 29B wider than the central portion 271B, to allow nozzle <NUM> to extend through opening 29B. Shrink label 20B thereby holds the position of the cap <NUM> relative to the bottle <NUM> to further secure the cap <NUM> with the bottle <NUM>, especially because the shrink label 20B has unpunctured regions above and below the nozzle <NUM>. This more securely hinders the cap <NUM> from rotating and/or loosening relative to the bottle <NUM> to hinder product from leaking from the bottle <NUM>. The shrink label 20B may function also as a tamper-evident seal.

A user may then pull downward on upper portion 24B of shrink label 20B to break upper portion 24B along second perforation line 28B down to first perforation line 26B. Upper portion 24B of shrink label 20B can then be ripped along first perforation line 26B to remove upper portion 24B of shrink label 20B from bottle <NUM>. Cap <NUM> may thereby be exposed to allow the user to twist the cap <NUM>, thus activating the spring-loaded plunger by first extending it; by pushing on the extended plunger product can be dispensed from the bottle <NUM>. Still other suitable configurations for shrink label 20B will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. For instance, in some versions, shrink label 20B may comprise a pull-tab to aid in removing a portion of the shrink label 20B.

So a shrink label for application to a bottle, comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to be applied to at least a portion of a body of the bottle, wherein the upper portion is configured to be applied to at least a portion of a cap of the bottle, wherein the upper portion comprises a puncture such as a perforation line extending along a portion of the upper portion, wherein the puncture is configured to expand when the shrink label is applied to the bottle to form an opening, wherein a protrusion of the cap such as a trigger or a nozzle is positioned to extend through the opening.

So a method of applying a shrink label to a bottle, wherein the bottle comprises a body and a cap having a protrusion such as a trigger or a nozzle, comprises a lower portion and an upper portion having a puncture extending along a portion of the upper portion, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the shrink label about the body such that the lower portion of the shrink label is aligned with at least a portion of the body and the upper portion of the shrink label is aligned with at least a portion of the cap, wherein the puncture is positioned adjacent to the protrusion; applying heat to the shrink label to form the shrink label to the bottle; expanding the puncture to form an opening in the shrink label; and positioning the protrusion through the opening.

In the case that any or both of the first 26A and second 28A perforation lines may be omitted, even here the following advantages can still be achieved: the trigger is positioned through the opening, reducing leakage through an undesired trigger actuation; the nozzle is covered by the shrink label, further reducing leakage; the shrink label covers (is shrunk around) at least part of the cap and at least part of the body with a close fit, reducing undesired loosening of the cap; this hinders leakage; the shrink label has a larger surface area (advantageously a large design area can be implemented). The compound slit 27B may be replaced with a puncture comprising only a transverse slit or only a transverse perforation.

In the following an apparatus according to a first example not being part of the invention is described. The apparatus is for making the second shrink label 20A. As shown schematically in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> comprises a mandrel <NUM> configured to receive a continuous strip <NUM> of flexible tubular material. The mandrel <NUM> is essentially columnar and has a vertical and stationary longitudinal axis. A top portion (not shown) of the mandrel <NUM> has a spreading element known in the art which can convert a strip of flexible tubular material from a flat form to an open form. The lower portion of the mandrel is shown in <FIG> and has a circular section. In variants of the present example the mandrel may have any one or more of a circular, oval, polygonal and plate-like section. The strip <NUM> can be introduced to the mandrel <NUM> from a roll (not shown) which is prepared in advance. The lower portion of the mandrel may be formed from a sleeve shot part of the mandrel.

The apparatus <NUM> comprises advancing means which are known in the art and not shown, for feeding the strip <NUM>. The advancing means may comprise one or more first pairs of rollers which engage with the inner and outer faces of the wall of the strip <NUM>. In this way the strip <NUM> can be fed onto the mandrel <NUM> from the mandrel's upper end. The advancing means may comprise one or more second pairs of rollers which engage with the inner and outer faces of the wall of the strip <NUM> at a lower position on the mandrel <NUM> than the first pairs of rollers. In this way a sleeve cut from the strip <NUM> can be fed from the lower end of the mandrel to another production station. One or more of the rollers may be driven by an electric motor. One roller in each pair of rollers may be accommodated in recesses (not shown) provided in the mandrel <NUM>. The mandrel <NUM> may be supported by some of the rollers.

The apparatus <NUM> comprises a slitting blade <NUM>, as a puncturing means, driven by a puncturing mechanism (not shown). More specifically, the mechanism moves the blade <NUM> toward and away from the mandrel in the radial directions shown by the double-headed arrow <NUM>. In the present example the movement is linear but in other examples the movement may comprise any or more of a linear, circular, and elliptical motion. For example the blade <NUM> may rotate about an axis: specifically the blade <NUM> may be a rotating (spinning) blade whose cutting profile is eccentric to its axis of rotation. The movement allows the blade <NUM> to penetrate the strip <NUM> to make a slit in a region of the strip <NUM>. The motion of the blade <NUM> may be driven any one or more of: electrically, pneumatically, and hydraulically. For example the blade <NUM> may be driven by an electric motor such as a servomotor. In a preferable example the blade <NUM> is driven by a reciprocating pneumatic actuator. The blade <NUM> punctures the wall-thickness of the shrink label 20A from one (outer) side while the mandrel <NUM> (opening device) supports the strip <NUM> from the other (inner) side. The slit is preferably straight and/or longitudinal. The slit may have a length (longitudinal extent) greater than or equal to any of: <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The blade <NUM> in the present example has a triangular shaped profile. The blade profile may alternatively comprise a plurality of triangular shapes arranged in a vertical line. The leading vertex of the triangular shape may have an angle of <NUM> degrees. The blade <NUM> is configured to create a continuous slit of predetermined length in the strip <NUM>. By providing more than one triangular shape, such as a saw-tooth like profile, the required stroke of the blade <NUM> for a given slit length can be kept short.

The mandrel <NUM> comprises a recess <NUM> on its surface for receiving the blade <NUM>. The blade <NUM> can enter the recess <NUM> which is shaped in correspondence with the triangular profile of the blade <NUM>. The recess may have other shapes, such as a straight or circular shape, and may extend in a peripheral direction at least partly around the mandrel <NUM>. The recess <NUM> may be a through-hole. The recess may be configured so that the puncturing means <NUM> does not contact the mandrel <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> comprises a rotary cutter <NUM>, as a cutting means, comprising one or more blades that can move toward and away from the mandrel in the radial directions shown by the double-headed arrow <NUM> so as to cut the strip <NUM> peripherally, above the blade <NUM>. A rotary cutter known in the art can be used here. The rotary cutter <NUM> may be configured to make a peripheral cut at least partly during the puncturing of the strip <NUM>.

The assembly <NUM> has a perforation means <NUM>, comprising perforating blades, for making the first and second perforation lines. The perforation means <NUM> may comprise a respective perforating blade or blades for each perforation line and /or it may comprise a common perforating blade. The perforation means <NUM> is configured to reciprocatingly puncture a portion or portions of the strip <NUM> upstream of the mandrel <NUM>, the directions of reciprocation being shown by the double-headed arrow <NUM>. The perforation means <NUM> is thus configured to puncture a flattened portion of the strip <NUM>, for example by applying a perforation means commonly known in the art. The perforation means <NUM> may be provided downstream of the mandrel.

In the following a method according to the first example not being part of the invention is described. <FIG> represent procedures of the method which are performed using the apparatus <NUM> described above and shown in <FIG>.

Step A: As shown in <FIG> a strip <NUM> of tubular material is fed onto the mandrel <NUM> from the top portion of the mandrel <NUM>, for example by means of the first roller pairs of the advancing means (not shown). The position in <FIG> may be at least partially achieved by cutting and removing a previously made shrink label from the strip <NUM>.

Step B: The strip <NUM> is fed (such as by continuing the feeding in Step A) until the free end <NUM> of a free-end portion <NUM> of the strip <NUM> reaches a predetermined position along the mandrel <NUM>, such as the bottom end of the mandrel <NUM> (<FIG>). Thus a region of the strip becomes an open region held open and/or supported by the mandrel <NUM>. At this point the feeding is stopped.

Step C: Subsequently a puncturing step is performed (<FIG>), wherein the slitting blade <NUM> penetrates the strip <NUM> and enters the recess <NUM>. The extents of the puncture 27A may be formed in correspondence with the extents of the blade <NUM>. In other words a longitudinally upper extent of the puncture 27A may be formed by (or in correspondence with) the longitudinally upper extent of the blade <NUM>, and a longitudinally lower extent of the puncture may be formed by (or in correspondence with) the longitudinally lower extent of the blade <NUM>. So the strip <NUM> is punctured at a first distance from its free end <NUM>. Longitudinal end portions of the sleeve are not punctured in making the puncture. The first distance may be measured as the maximum longitudinal extent of the puncture from the free end.

The strip <NUM> is cut about its periphery, optionally during the puncturing (<FIG>). The rotary cutter <NUM> may be configured to start and optionally complete the cutting before the puncturing. In this case the blade <NUM> punctures a shrink label 20A that is already cut from the strip <NUM>. So the strip <NUM> is cut at a second distance from its free end <NUM>, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

Step D: After cutting, the rotary cutter <NUM> is retracted. After puncturing, the blade <NUM> is retracted (see <FIG>). The end portion of the strip <NUM> forms the end portion of the shrink label 20A. The free end <NUM> becomes an open end of the shrink label 20A.

In summary of the above the sleeve is made from the strip of tubular material by: feeding a free-end portion of a given length of the strip onto a columnar mandrel; puncturing the free-end portion at a first distance from its free end, transversely to the feeding direction, to form a puncture; and cutting the free-end portion from the strip at a second distance from its free end, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

Step E: Subsequently the shrink label 20A is advanced (<FIG>) in the direction of the solid arrow of <FIG> by means of the second pairs of rollers so that it leaves the mandrel <NUM> from the mandrel's bottom end. The not-shown advancing means may transfer the newly-made free-end portion <NUM> of the strip <NUM> to the predetermined position at the same time that, or shortly after, the shrink label 20A is transferred from the mandrel <NUM>. Preferably the shrink label 20A is transferred from the mandrel <NUM> to a receptacle (not shown in <FIG>), which is further preferably positioned under the mandrel <NUM>.

The method comprises a step (not shown in <FIG>) of perforating a flattened portion of the strip <NUM>, upstream to the mandrel, to form the first <NUM> and the second <NUM> perforation lines, by means of the perforation means <NUM>. The first <NUM> and the second <NUM> perforation lines are provided on each shrink label 20A.

Because the puncturing is performed on a portion of the strip <NUM>, and the portion is provided on the mandrel <NUM>, accuracy and repeatability are improved. Also the blade <NUM> is prevented from puncturing the wall of the strip <NUM> twice, as would be the case if the strip <NUM> were punctured in a flattened state. Puncturing is performed by moving the blade <NUM> in a plane parallel to the mandrel axis. So accuracy and repeatability of the puncturing can be further improved. Further preferably the slit (substantially) coincides in the peripheral direction with a longitudinal crease in the tubular material. The crease may be formed when the tubular material is flat. So insertion of a protrusion on a receptacle is facilitated.

By forming the first and second perforation lines on a flattened part of the strip <NUM> it becomes easy to form pairs of parallel perforations, or to form a peripheral perforation.

Advantageously, by puncturing at the same time as cutting, the processing time can be short. The not-shown advancing means, the blade <NUM>, and the rotary cutter <NUM> may be configured to cooperate with timed fashion by means of a not-shown control unit.

When the mandrel <NUM> is arranged with its axis vertical, then the free end <NUM>; longitudinally lower extent of the puncture 27A; longitudinally upper extent of the puncture 27A; and location of cutting are longitudinally spaced from each other in that order. Thus the puncture 27A is surrounded on all its sides by unpunctured material.

The mandrel <NUM> may be stationary (e.g. rotationally stationary) during the puncturing and /or cutting. The strip <NUM> may be stationary relative to the mandrel <NUM> during the puncturing such as at least rotationally stationary. Alternatively or in addition at least parts of the puncturing and the feeding may coincide.

The method may be adapted to make a shrink label made according to the first example not being part of the invention by replacing the slitting blade <NUM> described above with a perforating blade. The sleeve may be punctured more than once and/or have more than one puncture.

The method may be adapted to make a shrink label of any of the modified first example described above by omitting perforating the strip <NUM> with the first <NUM> and/or the second <NUM> perforation lines.

In the following an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention is described, with the help of <FIG> and by comparison with the apparatus of the first example not being part of the invention. As shown schematically in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> differs from the apparatus <NUM> of the first example not being part of the invention in that the blade <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> is replaced with a blade <NUM> shown in greater detail in <FIG>. The apparatus <NUM> is for making the third shrink label 20B.

The cutting edges of the blade <NUM> extend transversally to the longitudinal direction. <FIG> shows a detail of the blade <NUM> when the configuration of <FIG> is viewed from above. The blade comprises a central portion 240a as a slitting portion, and a respective perforation portion on each side of the central portion. Each perforating portion 240b, 240c comprises a perforating blade adjoining the central portion 240a. So the blade <NUM> may be described as a compound blade.

The apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment differs from the apparatus <NUM> of the first example not being part of the invention also in that its mandrel <NUM> is longer than the mandrel <NUM> of the first example not being part of the invention by a length shown as "L" in <FIG>, and in that it is configured to perform the method of the first embodiment which is described in the following.

In the following a method according to the first embodiment is described. The method is for making the third shrink label 20B using the apparatus <NUM> of the first embodiment. <FIG> represent stages of the method which is performed using the apparatus <NUM>.

Step A: As shown in <FIG> a strip <NUM> of tubular material is fed onto the mandrel <NUM> from the top portion of the mandrel <NUM>, for example by means of the (not shown) first roller pairs of the advancing means. The strip may be provided from a roll of tubular material. The strip opens as it passes over the mandrel <NUM>. The position in <FIG> may be at least partially achieved by cutting and removing a previously made shrink label from the strip <NUM>.

Step B: The strip <NUM> is fed (such as by continuing the feeding in Step A) until a free end <NUM> of a free-end portion <NUM> of the strip <NUM> reaches a predetermined position along the mandrel <NUM>, such as a position above the bottom end of the mandrel <NUM> (<FIG>). Thus a region of the strip becomes an open region held open and/or supported by the mandrel <NUM>.

Step C: Subsequently a cutting step is performed (<FIG>), wherein the strip <NUM> is cut about its periphery, in particular without simultaneously performing a puncturing step. So the strip <NUM> is cut at a second distance from its free end <NUM> by the rotary cutter (cutting means) <NUM> which can reciprocate in the direction of the arrows <NUM>.

Step D: After cutting, the rotary cutter <NUM> is retracted (<FIG>). The free-end portion <NUM> forms an end portion of the shrink label 20B, and. The free end <NUM> becomes an open end of the shrink label 20B.

Step E: Subsequently, as shown in <FIG>, the length of cut strip is advanced (fed) in the direction of the arrow of <FIG> by means of further pairs of rollers (not shown) so that it arrives at a puncturing position shown in <FIG>. So a length of cut strip (unpunctured shrink label 20B) is fed until the free end <NUM> of a lower free-end portion <NUM> of the cut strip reaches a predetermined position along the mandrel <NUM>, such as the bottom end of the mandrel <NUM>. Thus the length of cut strip is held open and/or supported by the mandrel <NUM>. Then the feeding is stopped.

Step F: Subsequently a puncturing step is performed (<FIG>), wherein the blade <NUM>, by moving in the direction of the arrow <NUM>, penetrates the cut strip and enters the recess <NUM>. The extents of the puncture 27B may be formed in correspondence with the extents of the blade <NUM>. In other words a first transverse extent of the puncture 27B may be formed by (or in correspondence with) a first transverse extent of the blade <NUM>, and a second transverse extent of the puncture may be formed by (or in correspondence with) the second transverse extent the blade <NUM>. So the length of cut strip <NUM> is punctured at a first distance from its free end <NUM>, being less than the second distance. Thus a shrink label 20B is formed. Longitudinal end portions of the shrink label 20B are not punctured in making the puncture. The puncture 27B extends through only a part of the circumference of the shrink label 20B.

In summary of the above the shrink label <NUM> is made from the strip <NUM> of tubular material by: feeding a free-end portion <NUM> of a given length of the strip <NUM> onto a columnar mandrel <NUM>; cutting the free-end portion <NUM> from the strip <NUM> at a second distance from its free end <NUM>; advancing the cut length of strip <NUM> along the mandrel; and puncturing the cut length of strip at a first distance from its free end <NUM>, to form a puncture 27B, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

Step G: Subsequently the slitting blade <NUM> is retracted (<FIG>).

Step H: Subsequently the shrink label 20B is advanced (<FIG>) in the direction of the arrow of <FIG> using the advancing means (not shown) so that it leaves the mandrel <NUM> from the mandrel's bottom end, such as by means of the second roller pairs (not shown). The advancing means may transfer the newly-made free-end portion <NUM> of the strip <NUM> to the predetermined position at the same time that, or shortly after, the shrink label 20B is transferred from the mandrel <NUM>. Preferably the shrink label 20B is transferred from the mandrel <NUM> to a receptacle (not shown in <FIG>), which is further preferably positioned under the mandrel <NUM>.

The method comprises a step (not shown in <FIG>) of perforating a flattened portion of the strip <NUM>, upstream from the mandrel <NUM>, to form the first 26B and the second 28B perforation lines on the shrink label 20B, by means of the perforation means <NUM> reciprocating in the direction of the arrow <NUM> (shown in <FIG>).

The method of the first embodiment differs from the method of the first example not being part of the invention, for example, in its step (<FIG>) of advancing the cut strip along the mandrel <NUM> between the cutting step and the puncturing step. The length 'L' in <FIG> may correspond to the distance of said advancing. By doing so it is possible to puncture the shrink label 20B close to its upper end without having to place the mechanism for the blade <NUM> so high up on the mandrel <NUM> that it risks interfering with the rotary cutter <NUM>.

In the case that the cutting step is performed for each shrink label 20B before the puncturing step, this reduces the chance of the presence of the puncture 27B causing tension irregularities, which might lead to problems, in particular at the cutting step. Irregularities in the tension of the strip or shrink label can occur in particular in the case of a transverse puncture, even when a puncturing step does not coincide with a cutting step, and even when the rotary cutter and blade are far away from each other.

In the following an apparatus according to a second example not being part of the invention is described by comparison with the apparatus of the first example not being part of the invention. As shown schematically in <FIG> the apparatus <NUM> differs from the apparatus <NUM> of the first example not being part of the invention mainly in the following: The apparatus <NUM> is for making the third shrink label 20B; instead of the longitudinally aligned blade <NUM> of the first example not being part of the invention, a blade <NUM> having a shape and orientation corresponding to the compound blade <NUM> of <FIG> is provided. So the cutting edge of the blade <NUM> extends transversally to the longitudinal direction. The blade <NUM> is provided above the rotary cutter <NUM>, rather than below the rotary cutter as is the case in the first and first embodiments.

In the following a method according to the second example not being part of the invention is described. The method is for making the third shrink label 20B. <FIG> represent stages of the method which are performed using the apparatus <NUM>. The method performs the following steps in a repeated cycle.

Step A: As shown in <FIG> a strip <NUM> of tubular material is fed onto the mandrel <NUM> from the top portion of the mandrel <NUM>, for example by means of first roller pairs of the advancing means (not shown). The strip <NUM> may be provided from a roll of tubular material. Optionally the position in <FIG> can be at least partially achieved by cutting and removing a previously made shrink label from the strip.

Step B: The strip <NUM> is fed (such as by continuing the feeding in Step A) until the free end <NUM> of a free-end portion <NUM> of the strip <NUM> reaches a predetermined position along the mandrel <NUM>, such as the bottom end of the mandrel <NUM> (<FIG>). Thus a region of the strip <NUM> becomes an open region held open and/or supported by the mandrel <NUM>. The strip <NUM> has a puncture 27B created in a puncturing step of a previous operation cycle.

Step C: Subsequently a puncturing step is performed (<FIG>), wherein the compound blade <NUM>, by reciprocating in the direction of the arrow <NUM> (<FIG>), penetrates the strip <NUM> and enters the recess <NUM>, producing a puncture 27B. The extents of the puncture 27Ba may be formed in correspondence with the extents of the blade <NUM>. In other words one transverse extent of the puncture 27Ba may be formed by (or in correspondence with) the transverse extent of the blade <NUM>, and the other transverse extent of the puncture 27Ba may be formed by (or in correspondence with) the other transverse extent of the blade <NUM>. Unpunctured portions of the strip <NUM> extend from the extents of the puncture 27Ba in the circumferential direction.

The strip <NUM> is cut about its periphery, optionally during the puncturing (<FIG>). The rotary cutter <NUM> may be configured to start and optionally complete the cutting before the puncturing of the same step. For example the blade <NUM> punctures the length cut from the strip <NUM>. So the strip <NUM> is cut at a second distance from its free end <NUM> by the rotary cutter <NUM> which can reciprocate in the direction of the arrows <NUM> (<FIG>). The strip <NUM> is punctured above the cut, to form the puncture 27Ba in the following shrink label.

Step D: The rotary cutter <NUM> is retracted. The blade <NUM> is retracted (see <FIG>). The free-end portion <NUM> of the strip <NUM> forms an end portion of the shrink label 20B. The free end <NUM> becomes an open end of the shrink label 20B.

Step E: Subsequently the shrink label 20B is advanced (<FIG>) in the direction of the arrow of <FIG> so that it leaves the mandrel <NUM> from the mandrel's bottom end, such as by means of the second roller pairs of the advancing means (not shown). The advancing means may transfer the newly-made free-end portion <NUM> of the strip <NUM> to the predetermined position at the same time that, or shortly after, the shrink label 20B is transferred from the mandrel <NUM>. Preferably the shrink label 20B is transferred from the mandrel <NUM> to a receptacle (not shown in <FIG>), which is further preferably positioned under the mandrel <NUM>.

A subsequent shrink label 20B can be made from the remaining strip of tubular material <NUM>. In this case its puncture 27Ba has already been made in the puncturing step (<FIG>) described above.

Since the method comprises performing the above steps in a repeated cycle, the shrink label 20B is cut to length by the cutting of one cycle, and punctured by the puncturing of a previous cycle.

In summary the shrink label 20B is made from the strip of tubular material <NUM> by: feeding a free-end portion <NUM> of a given length of the strip onto a columnar mandrel <NUM>; puncturing the free-end portion <NUM> at a first distance from the strip's free end <NUM>, feeding the strip <NUM> further along the mandrel <NUM>, and cutting the free-end portion <NUM> at a second distance from the strip's free end <NUM>, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The blade <NUM> may be provided upstream of the rotary cutter <NUM>, with respect to the feeding direction.

The method comprises a step (not shown in <FIG>) of perforating a flattened portion of the strip <NUM>, upstream from the mandrel <NUM>, to form the first 26B and the second 28B perforation lines on the shrink label 20B, by means of the perforation means <NUM> reciprocating in the direction of the arrow <NUM>.

When the blade <NUM> is provided above (upstream of) the rotary cutter <NUM>, this can be advantageous when the space below (downstream of) the rotary cutter <NUM> is limited. It is easier to make a puncture 27B closer to one end (e.g. the top end) of the shrink label 20B compared to an arrangement wherein the blade <NUM> is placed downstream from, and in particular close to, the rotary cutter <NUM>.

In <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the parts of the mandrel that are surrounded by the strip are shown with broken lines.

In the following an apparatus according to a third example not being part of the invention is described. The apparatus <NUM> is for making the third shrink label 20B. As shown schematically in <FIG>, a flat portion of a strip <NUM> of tubular material provided from a roll <NUM> of tubular material is fed to a blade <NUM>, a free end portion <NUM> of the strip being fed first. The apparatus <NUM> is configured to control the feeding of the flattened strip <NUM> to the blade <NUM> (the feeding direction being downward in <FIG>). A view taken along the feeding direction of the apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> is shown in <FIG>. The transversely extending blade <NUM> has a slitting portion 440a and a perforating portion 440b. The blade <NUM> is provided on a reciprocating mechanism configured to move the blade in the directions of the arrow <NUM>, so that the blade can pierce and retract from the strip <NUM>. A support member <NUM> on the opposite side of the strip <NUM> to the blade <NUM> is provided to support the strip at least while it is being pierced. The support member may comprise a recess (not shown) for receiving the blade <NUM>.

In the following a method according to the third example not being part of the invention is described with reference to <FIG>. The method is for making the third shrink label 20B using the apparatus <NUM> of the third example not being part of the invention.

A straight strip <NUM> of flattened tubular material is provided, preferably by being extended from a roll <NUM> of the tubular material, and fed (downwards in <FIG>) past the blade <NUM> which pierces both walls of the strip <NUM> in a single movement. The blade <NUM> pierces one (in particular only one) folded edge of the strip <NUM>. In this way one (in particular only one) puncture 27B is created. So the other folded edge of the strip <NUM> in a width direction can be left unpunctured. It may be provided that the folded edges of the strip <NUM> are not punctured during said puncturing, thus creating two separate slits being spaced apart from the first end and from the second end. This can be advantageous when a bottle has two protrusions, with one protrusion to be inserted in each slit, such as in the case of a pump dispenser comprising a T-shaped plunger handle.

The feeding of the strip <NUM> is preferably stopped when the puncturing is being performed. By alternating the puncturing steps with feeding steps, several evenly spaced punctures 20B can be formed in the strip <NUM>.

In a subsequent and not-shown step the strip <NUM> is cut to form a shrink label 20B. Preferably said cutting is performed by feeding the strip <NUM> to an opening means, such as a mandrel known in the art, to cut the strip into several lengths, each length comprising one puncture 27B, thus creating several opened shrink labels 20B. A rotary cutter such as the rotary cutter <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of one of the preceding embodiments may be used here; a cutter other than a rotary cutter may be used.

The method comprises a step (not shown in <FIG>) of perforating a flattened portion of the strip <NUM>, upstream or downstream from the puncturing, to form the first 26B and the second 28B perforation lines, by means of a perforation means corresponding to the perforation means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the previously described embodiments. The first 26B and the second 28B perforation lines are provided on each shrink label 20B. The perforation means and the blade <NUM> may be driven by a common mechanism.

Instead of a linearly reciprocating blade <NUM>, the blade <NUM> may be provided on the periphery of a rotating wheel, the apparatus being configured to control the speed of rotation. A plurality of blades <NUM> may be arranged on the periphery of the wheel.

The shrink label may be placed over the receptacle in accordance with the use described above. Shrink labels may be formed by sequentially cutting the strip at predetermined intervals. Furthermore a linear series of receptacles can be arranged, each receptacle being sequentially conveyed to a common position for receiving a shrink label. Each receptacle with a shrink label may be conveyed to a processing station (not shown) for shrinking, such as a heater for heat-shrinking. In this way a receptacle assembly is made by performing the method to make a shrink label followed by using the shrink label to cover a receptacle.

The invention is not limited to puncturing at the mandrel and the puncturing means may be provided at any place where the flexible tubular material is open (e.g. unflattenned). Any opening may be performed by an opening device executed as a mandrel or in addition to a mandrel. The opening device may comprise a guide such as a plate-like guide, a guide of varying cross-section, or any a structural member that supports the inside of the strip. Alternatively or in addition the opening device may comprise a tunnel or passageway aligned in a feeding direction and having one or more porous inner surfaces connected to a vacuum; the wall of the strip is thus pulled apart by low air pressure as the strip is received by the opening device; the porous surfaces may be stationary or conveyable; even here the opening portion is formed by moving apart inner peripheral portions of the strip. At least part of the open portion of the strip may be spaced from the opening device. Alternatively or in addition the strip may be inflated with internal pressure.

The puncturing means may comprise a punch having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal (e.g. square or rectangular) section. The puncturing may create a cutout as a puncture, such as by removing a portion of the tubular material, or by partially removing the portion so as to leave a flap of material. The puncture may have a predefined (e.g. non-zero) width. Puncturing may be understood to mean making a puncture. It may be provided that a single slit is formed, or multiple slits are formed, by making the puncture.

The method and/or apparatus of the first example not being part of the invention may be modified by being provided with a transversely extending blade instead of the longitudinally extending blade <NUM>.

The method and/or apparatus of the first example not being part of the invention may be modified by being provided with a compound blade corresponding to the arrangement in <FIG>, instead of the slitting blade <NUM>.

The method and/or apparatus of the first embodiment and the second and third example not being part of the invention may be modified by being provided with a longitudinally extending blade instead of the transversely extending blade <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The method and/or apparatus of the first embodiment and the second and third example not being part of the invention may be modified by being provided with a slitting blade, being an exclusively slitting blade, or a perforating blade being an exclusively perforating blade.

The method and/or apparatus of any of the first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention described above may be modified by being provided a perforating blade, being an exclusively perforating blade, as the puncturing means.

The method and/or apparatus of any of the first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention described above may be modified to make the above-described modified shrink label by omitting perforating the strip to make the first <NUM>, 26A, 26B and/or the second <NUM>, 28A, 28B perforation lines.

The method and/or apparatus of any of the first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention described above may be modified by being providing the perforation means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> at an open portion of the strip <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The method and/or apparatus of any of the first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention described above, the shrink label <NUM>, 20A, 20B may be punctured more than once and/or have more than one puncture <NUM>, 27A, 27B.

In the first embodiment the cutter is provided as a rotary cutter. The invention is not limited to this and the cutter may be provided as a different type of cutter such as a flat cutter. It may be provided that the cutter peripherally cuts a part of the tubular material that is not on the mandrel. For example the part may be upstream or downstream of the mandrel. The cutting means may be configured to cut the strip by peripherally perforating the strip and then tearing the perforation.

In the first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention the protrusion is formed as a trigger or nozzle. The protrusion may alternatively or in addition comprise a handle. For example a handle can be grabbed by the user more easily when the handle is not covered or not completely covered by a shrink label. An exposed protrusion may be advantageous for other functional reasons, e.g. to expose a visual mark.

So the sleeve for covering a receptacle is made of flexible tubular material and is in particular made by a method described above, wherein the sleeve has a given length measured from a first end to a second end in a longitudinal direction and may comprise a longitudinally extending puncture; the puncture is spaced apart from the first end and from the second end. The punctured region may be formed by a slit-like opening. The sleeve may comprise least one perforation line in addition to the puncture.

So the use of the sleeve to cover a receptacle, wherein the receptacle comprises a longitudinally extending body and a protrusion extending at least partially transversally to the longitudinal direction, comprises: positioning the sleeve around the receptacle so that the puncture is aligned in the peripheral direction with the protrusion, and shrinking the sleeve around at least a portion of the receptacle to insert the protrusion through an opening formed by the puncture. So because the puncture is aligned with the protrusion, the protrusion extends from the body through the opening formed from the puncture during shrinking. Making a sleeve according to the method followed by the use of the sleeve may be understood to be a method of making and using a sleeve. The opening device, sleeve, and receptacle may be coaxial during at least some steps, such as when positioning the sleeve about the receptacle. Thus the sleeve can be easily positioned about the receptacle at (essentially) the same time that it is transferred from the opening device.

So the receptacle assembly comprises a receptacle and the sleeve, wherein the receptacle has a longitudinally extending body and a protrusion extending at least partially transversally to the longitudinal direction, the sleeve is in a shrunk state and covers at least a portion of the receptacle, and the protrusion extends through an opening formed by the puncture. The receptacle may comprise a body and a cap attached to the body, and further preferably the sleeve in the shrunk state covers at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the cap. So it is less likely for the cap to unintentionally separate (e.g. unscrew) from the body. The receptacle may have a nozzle, optionally as part of the cap. After shrinking, the perforation line may extend over at least a portion of the cap. Removal of the sleeve near the cap is facilitated. The sleeve in the shrunk state may cover the nozzle. The receptacle assembly may be formed by the aforementioned use.

The shrink label as a sleeve may comprise pages for displaying e.g. a user manual, such as for medicines etc. The sleeve may show a decoration, such as text or a design. The sleeve may have a packaging function. The sleeve may be only locally shrunk, such as for tamper evidence applications. The sleeve may have a single layer or multilayer (e.g. coextruded) composition. The sleeve may be provided as a full label or as a partial label, i.e. that covers only a portion of the receptacle, such as a portion of an upper and/or a portion of a lower part of the receptacle. The tubular material may comprise metal, such as a metal foil. The sleeve may have uniform thickness in a peripheral and/or a longitudinal direction. The tubular material may have, but is not limited to having, a circular or oval section; the tubular material may have a sectional shape conformable to the shape of any opening device or receptacle, with some oversize. The term "tubular" is understood to mean at least having an inner and an outer periphery. The tubular material may be foil-like and/or film-like.

When a first perforation line is provided, it may extend around at least part of the periphery of the shrink label.

The perforation lines and puncture may be sized to be adjacent to the corresponding features on the bottle taking into account a shrinkage of the shrink label. For example the trigger may be arranged to be adjacent to the third perforation line when the shrink label is in the shrunk state.

A portion of the sleeve comprising the puncture and any first and second perforation line may be understood to be a leak protection portion of the sleeve.

The first and second perforation lines are examples of a perforation line that is in addition to the puncture. In particular the first perforation line is an example of a peripheral perforation line; the second perforation line is an example of a longitudinal perforation line. A peripheral perforation line is understood to be a perforation line extending in an at least partially peripheral direction. A longitudinal perforation line is understood to be a perforation line extending in an at least partially longitudinal direction. The third perforation line is an example of a puncture being spaced from the sleeve ends, and may preferably extend at least partially longitudinally along at least parts of the upper portion. It may be understood that, for the case that the sleeve has a perforation line, the perforation line comprising or joining with a puncture spaced from the sleeve ends, the entire perforation line may be spaced from the sleeve ends and/or may extend over only a portion of the sleeve periphery. Such a perforation line may extend longitudinally.

In the first embodiment and first to third examples not being part of the invention the sleeve is formed as a shrink label. The sleeve may be changeable from an expanded state towards a shrunk state by applying energy, such as by any one or more of: UV-light, infra-red radiation, hot air, and steam. Alternatively or in addition to shrinking the sleeve may be contracted by mechanical fastening (e.g. ties or bands). Alternatively or in addition the sleeve may shrink by means of humidity change or by releasing elastic energy; for example the sleeve as a stretch sleeve may be elastically expanded (expanded state) while being placed over a receptacle, after which the elastic tension is released (shrunk state). This can be done using techniques known in the art, such as by an expandable and hollow transporting mandrel or by radially separable finger members. So the sleeve may be a label such as any or more of: a stretch label, a shrink label, and a shrink sticker.

A bottle is an example of a receptacle which includes a body and may include a cap. Other examples of a receptacle include container, cup, bowl, and pot. The body may have an interior space and may have an opening. A receptacle having a sleeve applied to it may be called a receptacle assembly. The receptacle and receptacle assembly may be empty or may hold a product such as a liquid or a powder.

Claim 1:
Method of making a sleeve (20A) for covering a receptacle (<NUM>), from a strip (<NUM>) of flexible tubular material, wherein the sleeve (20A) has a given length measured from a first end to a second end, being measured in the longitudinal direction of the strip, the method comprising:
puncturing the sleeve to form a puncture (27A) being spaced apart from the first end and from the second end,
characterised in that
said puncturing the sleeve is puncturing an open region of the sleeve.