Patent ID: 7875143

Claim:
A method for labeling a container having a body portion comprising the steps of: (a) wrapping a length of label material around a cylindrical mandrel rotating about its own axis, said length of label material having a leading end portion which makes initial contact with said mandrel and a trailing end portion which overlaps said leading end portion upon completion of said wrapping, said trailing end portion defining a gap spaced from said leading end portion immediately prior to said completion; (b) causing said mandrel to be rotated about a second axis such that the outer periphery of said mandrel follows a path defining a circle; (c) causing a nozzle for dispensing a medium of heated gas or liquid to be rotated about a third axis spaced outwardly from said circle defining path of said mandrels, said nozzle following an outwardly convex path throughout a major portion of its rotation about said third axis; (d) dispensing said medium from said nozzle into said gap; (e) urging said trailing end portion into sealing engagement with said overlapped leading end portion to form a label blank; and (f) positioning said label blank around said body portion.