Patent ID: 8365792

Claim:
A label conforming apparatus for conforming a detached edge portion of a heat shrink label to a contoured section of a container, the heat shrink label being pre-applied to the container by a labeling apparatus, the label conforming apparatus comprising: a conveyor configured to move the container along a travel path; a heat source positioned along the conveyor downstream from the labeling apparatus, the heat source configured to heat at least the detached edge portion of the pre-applied, heat shrink label to a temperature between 95° F. and 165° F. as the container moves along the travel path; a mechanical pressure applicator configured to apply pressure to at least the heated detached edge portion of the label to conform it to the contoured section of the container as the container moves along the travel path, the mechanical pressure applicator including: at least two rotatable drums, including at least a first rotatable drum and a second rotatable drum, each positioned along the conveyor downstream from the labeling apparatus, a vertically oriented belt disposed about the at least two rotatable drums and positioned along a first edge of the conveyor, a compression plate positioned along a second edge of the conveyor, opposite the vertically oriented belt, and at least two linear brushes, including a first linear brush and a second linear brush, held in a rigid supporting structure and positioned along the second edge of the conveyor, wherein the first linear brush is vertically spaced from the second linear brush, the compression plate being in between the first and second spaced linear brushes; wherein the heat source is positioned downstream of the first rotatable drum upstream of the second rotatable drum of the mechanical pressure applicator, such that the heat source applies heat to the heat shrink label concurrently with the compression plate applying pressure to the heat shrink label.