Abstract: A method and apparatus for labeling containers allows labeling of containers by wrap around labeling without applying an adhesive on the leading edge of the label. Labels are held on a label drum and moved into a label applying position while containers are fed into the label applying position. Air is blown from the label drum onto the leading edge of the label at an angle to the label drum surface and in a direction backward along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container. The leading edge is maintained on the container by wet adhesion or by air which is blown onto the label and container from the side opposite the label drum.

Abstract: A stretch label adapted to be fitted to a container is manufactured and includes a stretch film, having a self-shrinking property, and a printing layer. The stretch film, in turn, includes a substrate made from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or a mixture of a low density polyethylene and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a surface layer made of a polyolefin resin. The surface layer is harder than the substrate and is provided on at least one surface of the substrate. The surface layer is the outer surface layer of the stretch label when the stretch label is fitted to the container.

Abstract: A hot tap connection comprising: (i) a main supply pipe, (ii) a side branch pipe connected to the main supply pipe, (iii) a reinforcing saddle surrounding the main supply pipe and the side branch pipe, (iv) a first gap between the main supply pipe and the reinforcing saddle, (v) a second gap between the side branch pipe and the reinforcing saddle, and (vi) a solid material substantially filling the first gap and the second gap. The method for producing the hot tap connection is also described.

Abstract: A method of making an intravascular balloon catheter that has an elongated shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, as well as a balloon disposed near the distal end of the shaft. The method may include forming an inner shaft by coextruding a flexible plastic tube by bringing a molten outer plastic layer into contact with a molten inner plastic layer, thereby bonding the plastic layers together during the coextrusion process. The inner plastic layer may be more lubricious than the outer plastic layer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a catheter method of manufacture. The method includes the provision of a subassembly of a lubricious liner and reinforcement. Over the subassembly, a shaft tube, transition tube, and soft tip tube are placed in an abutting relationship to each other, forming an assembly. A first tube of heat shrink is advanced over the assembly, heat is applied to fuse the assembly, and the first heat shrink is removed. Subsequently, the soft tip of the catheter is shaped using a second tube of heat shrink, which is placed over the distal end of the assembly. Heat is applied to the second heat shrink to cause the tip material to flow and to draw the tip material over the distal end of the lubricious liner. The second heat shrink is removed, completing the catheter manufacture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for attaching wrap-around labels to cylindrical or prismatic containers starting with cutting of a section of a label from a suitable foil material. Then, the label section is shaped or deformed, maximally to the limit of what is reversible for the material being used, at a time immediately prior to the application of the label section onto the exterior of the container. The undulated label section is placed around the exterior of the container so that the edges of the label are overlapping and an adhesion or gluing process is initiated, for example, by reaction and/or heating. Reforming of the shaped or deformed label section is retarded until the label section rests against the exterior of the container along with the permitting the simultaneous progress of the adhesive process to be completed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sleeve of braided sheath having at least one expanded end whose diameter is greater than the nominal diameter of the sheath; the expanded end includes a certain quantity of adhesive between its component filaments and it is surrounded, at least up to its free edge, by a ring of heat-shrink plastics material. The ring is shrunk in part only so as to be capable of being heat shrunk again once the sleeve has been put into place, thereby clamping the expanded end and fixing the position of said sleeve.

Abstract: A piston rod-cylinder assembly, such as a gas spring, includes a cylinder in which a piston rod is axially movable and connecting members on the cylinder and the piston rod for attachment of the assembly in use. The cylinder and an axial portion of the piston rod are covered by a shrink-wrap sleeve for corrosion protection and/or coloration. A lubricant layer is provided between the cylinder and the shrink-wrap sleeve adjacent one or both ends of the cylinder.

Abstract: A device capable of co-operating with an outer pressure member to form a sealing block between two or more elongate substrates and a hollow housing within which the substrates extend, the device comprisingi) an elongate support member andii) two or more elongate flexible leaves each of which comprises a sealing material that (a) is not heat fusible, (b) is secured relative to the support member, and (c) extends laterally of the elongate support member,the device being positioned, in use, between the elongate substrates, so that a first of the flexible leaves extends at least part of the way around the periphery of a first of the elongate substrates, and a second of the flexible leaves extends at least part of the way around the periphery of a second of the elongate substrates, so that in co-operation with the action of the outer pressure member acting inwardly on the substrates and the device, and outwardly onto the housing, a sealing block is made between the elongate substrates and the housing.

Abstract: A device for collecting particles, such as human cells, from a fluid sample, and for transferring the collected particles to a receiver, such as a glass microscope slide, provides substantially exact replication of the spatial distribution of the cells on the collection device. The device supports a surface-collecting filter on a tubular rim, with a precise degree of flatness, and fastens the filter in place at a mounting shoulder recessed below the rim. Distortions of the mounting shoulder or of the filter at the mounting shoulder, caused by securing the filter to the shoulder, are confined to the shoulder structure, and do not detract from the desired precision flatness of the filter and rim structure.

Abstract: A plastic covered article for a railing which includes an elongate core encased in a seamless, plastic casing. The casing is heat shrunk to conform with the exterior surface of the core. The core is thereby covered along its length with a weather-resistant casing which requires no periodic field maintenance.The railing articles of the present invention are fabricated by heating a tube of plastic material and causing the tube to expand. The elongate core is inserted into the expanded tube to encapsulate the core. The tube encapsulating the core is again heated to shrink the tube tightly against the core such that the tube conforms to the exterior surface of the core.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for implanting a radially expandable stent within a body vessel including a catheter comprising an inner lumen tube, an inflation lumen tube, an inflatable balloon and at least one free standing built-up layer affixed to the outer diameter of the inner lumen tube, the built-up layer being internal to the balloon. A stent is mounted coaxially upon the balloon, the built-up layer extends coaxially within the stent but does not extend beyond the proximal and distal ends of the stent. The built-up layer is sufficiently thick as to cause the balloon to expand evenly and the stent to deploy uniformly. The method of manufacturing the built-up layer includes forming the layer from shrink wrap tubing or alternatively forming the layer from molded ultraviolet light curing adhesive.

Abstract: A heat recoverable article for sealing splices having substrates of disparate size. The heat recoverable article includes a first heat shrinkable sleeve having an adhesive which extends over at least part of its interior surface and a second heat shrinkable sleeve which overlaps an end of the first sleeve. The second sleeve begins to recover before the first sleeve and holds the first sleeve in place as recovery continues, eliminating milk off.

Abstract: The invention relates to synthetic plastic sheeting which is in the form of a flexible synthetic plastic film of material which has a biocide incorporated therein. The biocide can serve to inhibit the growth of different microorganisms that cause bio-deterioration and, as such, the film can be used for packaging of or the covering, or protection of, products that are exposed to bio-deterioration. The sheeting can also be provided in sleeve form permitting fitting on timber poles, for covering regions of poles to be disposed underground, in use, thereby protecting these regions against bio-deterioration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sleeve provided for protecting a timber pole against sub-soil decay. The application of the sleeve on a pole forms part of a primary/preventative form of treatment, the sleeve comprising a composite structure including at least two layers of synthetic plastic material. At least one of the layers of the sleeve has heat shrink properties permitting the sleeve to be heat shrunk onto a pole, all the individual layers of the sleeve being of different materials having different properties that are selected in terms of the specific conditions of a pole to be protected and the sub-soil conditions to which the pole will be exposed, in use.

Abstract: A pipeline is covered with a continuous wrapping sheet having heat-activatable adhesive on its inner side. The wrapping may be helically applied or may be heat shrunk to impart a circumferential stress conforming the wrapping tightly to the surface of the pipe. High frequency induction heating is applied to cause the adhesive to wet and bond to the pipe surface. The wrapping can be applied progressively and continuously along a pipeline excavated from the ground while the pipeline is in service. The product conveyed within the pipe assists in rapidly cooling the adhesive and wrapping sheet so that the pipe can be promptly relaid in the ground.

Abstract: A shape memory alloy pipe coupling in the present invention for joining two pipes, the pipe coupling comprising a tube of a shape memory alloy, and a cover of stainless steel having a sufficient thickness and having high corrosion resistance for covering the tube. The shape memory alloy is enclosed by the cover of high corrosion-resistant stainless steel, by which high-temperature water can be prevented from making the shape memory alloy brittle and from corroding and damaging the shape memory alloy particularly through galvanic corrosion even in the case where such high-temperature water exists in the inside or outside of the pipes.

Abstract: A resin transfer molding process for making composite pipe. The method includes disposing a preform on a mandrel and jacketing a heat-shrinkable sleeve over the preform such that an annular gap is maintained between the sleeve and the preform to form a buffer chamber in the annular gap. A thermosetting resin is then filled into the buffer chamber. The resin is then leveled and settled in the resin in the buffer chamber to form a resin pool. The heat-shrinkable sleeve is thermally shrunk by heating the sleeve. The heating occurs in a heating zone having an upper portion and a lower portion. A first fastening ring is fastened on the sleeve adjacent to the upper portion of the heating zone, and a second fastening ring is fastened on the sleeve adjacent to the lower portion of the heating zone. The heating zone moves upwardly along the sleeve to thermally shrink the sleeve. The resin is heated and cured and the sleeve is removed to form a composite pipe.

Abstract: An article (2) in which at least part of a surface (8) of a polymeric element has an embossed pattern (6). The article may be either heat-recoverable or non-heat-recoverable. If the article is heat-recoverable, when heated the article recovers and the embossed surface becomes substantially smooth. The change in surface texture can be used to indicate that sufficient heat has been applied to the article to achieve adequate recovery and/or to adequately melt an attached adhesive layer (10). In another embodiment, the article (2) is in the form of a patch (14) which can be used to secure the opposing longitudinal edges of heat-recoverable article which is in the form of a wraparound sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is a tamper evident container sealing system for sealing a cap to a container. The system includes a shrink band, shrinkable at a shrink temperature, positioned about the cap and container circumferentially, a colorant bonded to the shrink band and an adhesive bonded to the colorant. The adhesive is thermally activatable at the shrink temperature. The adhesive is in contact with the container.

Abstract: A method for improving the radial enlargeability and other properties of tape-reinforced tubular vascular graft formed of sintered fluoropolymer(s), such as expanded, sintered PTFE. Broadly, the method comprises the step of radially shrinking the reinforcement tape layer of the graft, or the entire tape-reinforced graft, after sintering thereof. Such radial shrinkage of the reinforcement tape layer, or of the entire graft, renders the graft subsequently radially enlargeable by more than 5%, without tearing or breaking of the reinforcement tape layer of the graft. Radially enlargeable grafts of the present invention may be combined with various types of stents or anchoring systems, to form endovascular graft devices which are transluminally insertable and implantable within the lumen of a host blood vessel.

Abstract: A method for making an electrical contact for a vitreous carbon electrodes includes the steps of making a bore in an electrode blank of a cross-linked artificial resin forming the electrode blank into an electrode body. A solid or hollow pin, or a sleeve, composed of a biocompatible, refractory metal is introduced into the bore. If a pin is to be used, the bore is made to extend only partially into the electrode body, if a sleeve is used the bore extends completely through the body. The pin or sleeve has smaller dimensions than the bore; if a pin is used it projects from one side of the electrode body and if a sleeve is used it projects from both sides of the electrode body. The electrode blank is subjected to a pyrolysis, whereby the cross-linked artificial resin is converted into vitreous carbon and the electrode body shrinks onto the pin or sleeve.

Abstract: An improved system for applying labels to pharmaceutical vials or the like includes a heating tunnel assembly having an insulated heating chamber defined by a first stationary portion and a second removable portion, with a heater positioned within the insulated heating chamber. The assembly includes movable mounting structure for mounting the second removable portion of the insulated heating chamber for movement between a first position engaged with the first stationary portion, and a second retracted position remote from said first portion. An actuator is provided for moving the second portion of the insulated heating chamber into its engaged position, while a biasing spring resiliently biases the second removable portion of the chamber toward the retracted position. As a result, the heating tunnel assembly will automatically be opened to prevent products from overheating or burning in the event of an emergency that disables the actuator.

Abstract: A cable re-entry assembly for feedthroughs and the like is provided. The preferred embodiment includes an expansion mandrel positionally secured on the conduit with a heat shrinkable locking ring, a transition boot with a heat shrinkable sleeve portion and a rigid body portion which couples to a feedthrough nut, and a sealant between the conduit and the sleeve. Upon re-entry and re-use of the assembly, the mandrel mechanically expands the sleeve, when the sleeve is re-heated above its crystalline transition temperature, the expansion mandrel is translated against the sleeve and both the conduit and expansion mandrel are withdrawn from the sleeve. Following repair, the conduit is reinserted into the dimensionally unstable sleeve which is then heated to shrink about and reseal the conduit.

Abstract: Sleeve intended to be placed around a container, such as a can or the like, in order to constitute an information medium and formed by a body made of a plastic sheet which is shaped in order to fit on the perimeter of the container and capable of taking printing, wherein at least two flap-forming parts (7, 8) are fixed to the sleeve body (6) by a fixing mechanism (5), each by a first edge parallel to the generatrix of the body (6), and extending so as to be able to end up covering all or part of the sleeve body (6), and wherein at least one of the faces of the flap-forming parts is also capable of taking or displaying printing.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprises a recoverable fabric, means for rendering the fabric impervious, and a shaped liner. The assembly can be used to form a pressure resistant splice case for telecommunications cables.

Abstract: A decorative three-dimensional figure or other shaped object clad in a transparent, synthetic plastic film conforming to the contours of the object and exuding a fragrance whose scent is appropriate to the nature of the object. Thus when the object is a Christmas tree ornament, the fragrance may then simulate the aroma of pine needles. To clad the object it is first enveloped in a foraminated sheet of shrink wrap film that is impregnated with a volatile liquid fragrance, the sheet then being heated to cause it to shrink and conform to the contours of the object whereby the clad object then proceeds to emit the fragrance for a prolonged period.

Abstract: A shrinkable label inserting machine with a modified central holder, a driving system, a cutting system, and a loading system is provided. The machine features a central holder having an upper post and a lower post bolted together with a screw and having an annular groove formed where the posts are bolted together. A passage is provided at the base of the lower post through which the top of a bottle is detected by an electric eye. Each of the driving and loading systems include two rollers between which the spacing is adjustable. A cutting system has a circumferential arrangement of a plurality of pulleys, each having a blade affixed thereto, and each pulley is coupled for synchronous movement with a timing belt. The arcs of the blades overlap to ensure a complete ring is cut around the circumference of the shrinkable label.

Abstract: The invention is an improved hose clamp of the type formed of a band of heat shrinkable polymer having a diameter reducing released temperature, an inside band surface and an outside band surface. It is improved by the inclusion of a heating indicator.

Abstract: A process for producing a joined ceramic component having a plurality of parallel ceramic tubes and two perforated ceramic plates joined to the both ends of said ceramic tubes, which process comprises: arranging two unsintered ceramic plates each having a plurality of holes, in parallel to each other and also to the floor surface with a given distance provided between the upper plate and the lower plate; inserting a plurality of sintered ceramic tubes into the holes of the upper and lower plates so that the tubes are arranged vertically to the floor surface and in parallel to each other; and sintering the resulting material to join the tubes and the plates into one piece by utilizing the difference in sintering shrinkage factor between them, in which process the sintering is conducted in a state that each tube is hanged from the upper plate and that the lower end of each tube is in one hole of the lower plate placed on or above a setter, with a certain distance provided between the lower end of each tube and

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated polymeric body with hollow encircling ring electrodes thereon and a method of forming the same are provided by the invention. Ring electrodes are each connected to an external electrical circuit by wires extending through the lumen, the wires each passing through an aperture through a wall of the body and being connected to an interior surface of the ring electrode. The tubular body of the catheter is expanded into a tight interference fit with the interior surfaces of the ring electrodes by heating the body to a temperature approaching its glass transition temperature to permit relief of internal stresses.

Abstract: A method and assembly resulting in improved cover to housing retention in occupant restraint assemblies is disclosed. The improved retention is realized via the appropriate application and use of a band of heat shrinkable material about the assembly.

Abstract: A printing sleeve including a nickel sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface and opposite end portions and opposite ends, and hard rubber rims bonded to the outer surface at the end portions and having rim portions extending beyond the opposite ends of the nickel sleeve and bonded thereto, and inner surfaces on the rim portions which are substantially in line with the inner surface of the nickel sleeve. A method of bonding a hard rubber rim onto each end of a nickel printing sleeve comprising the steps of applying an adhesive to each end and end portion of the sleeve, inserting a plug into each end of the sleeve, winding an unvulcanized rubber strip around each end portion of the sleeve and onto the play, and heating each rubber strip to cause it to cure and bond to the end portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a heat shrinkable film to a container having a right-circular, cylindrical sidewall section and at least one inwardly directed end section. A film segment is transported by a rotary vacuum drum past an adhesive station, where adhesive is applied to leading and trailing ends of the film. Then, the film is wrapped completely around the container by the co-operative action of a vacuum drum and an arcuate roll-on pad, leaving a free-standing portion of the label extending past the sidewall section. In the overlapping ends of the film, a first seam is formed by compressive forces between the vacuum drum and the container sidewall. A second seam is simultaneously formed by the compressive force of an active label deflector on the vacuum drum, adapted to press the free-standing portion of the label ends against the end section of the container. Heat is then applied to the label, shrinking the free-standing portion upon the container's end section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying labels onto small cylindrical articles such as dry cell batteries is disclosed. A label transport drum has a substantially smooth surface. Cut labels are applied to the surface and an adhesive applicator applies a preferred cold adhesive onto an area adjacent the leading edge of the label. A solvent applicator applies a predetermined amount of solvent on the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. The solvent applicator includes a solvent transfer roll and a rotatably support rotary pad print head. The rotary pad print head includes at least one narrowly tapering, flexible wiper tip. In one embodiment the wiper tip has a V-notch on its end. The flexible tip engages the solvent transfer roll, transferring solvent from the solvent transfer roll into the V-notch. The rotary pad print head is timed to rotate so that the flexible tip is deflected against the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label.

Abstract: A process for assembling a balloon catheter involves selectively concentrating laser energy along an annular fusion bond site at contiguous surface portions of a length of catheter tubing and a shaft or neck portion of a dilatation balloon. The laser energy wavelength, and the polymeric materials of the balloon and catheter, are matched for high absorption of the laser energy to minimize conductive heat transfer in axial directions away from the bond site. This minimizes crystallization and stiffening in regions near the bond site, permitting fusion bonds to be located close to the proximal and distal cones of the dilatation balloon while preserving the soft, pliant quality of the cones. The disclosure further is directed to an embodiment of a balloon catheter assembled according to the process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a label onto a substantially cylindrical article is disclosed. A thin layer, heat activated adhesive backed label is fed onto the surface of a rotating label transport drum so that the adhesive back faces outward from the drum. The adhesive is heated as the drum rotates so that the adhesive obtains a sufficient temperature to melt. Articles are conveyed into tangential spinning engagement with the drum and into rotate engagement with the leading edge of the label as the label moves into the article wrapping position so that the label wraps about the article and adheres thereto. The articles can include crayons which are somewhat tapered along their length. The articles are conveyed at a skewed angle so that the label wraps about the tapered crayon with end-to-end label alignment thereof. The crayon is conveyed onto the drum surface so that the wider "butt" end of the crayon engages the leading edge of the label before the more narrow and of the crayon engages the label.

Abstract: The invention proposes a process for manufacturing a transmission shaft made of a composite material comprising at least one step for producing an external layer comprising reinforcing fibers impregnated with a heat-curable resin, characterized in that a peripheral sheath made of a knitted article is installed over the external layer prior to the curing of the resin during the polymerization cycle.

Abstract: A substrate (12,14) is enclosed with a heat recoverable backing with a layer of a thermosetting adhesive composition (20) comprising an amorphous thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin positioned between the heat recoverable article (10, 26) and the substrate (12,14). The adhesive composition can be in the form of a self supporting sheet or tape or it can be on a surface of the heat recoverable article (10). In some embodiments, a polymeric insert (32) is also used to ensure adequate sealing between the substrate and the thermosetting adhesive.

Abstract: A method of protecting a substrate, which comprises:(a) providing an article having a first portion that has means allowing that portion to be deformed from a larger cross-sectional size to a smaller cross-sectional size and maintained at that smaller size, and that comprises a heat-shrinkable material,(b) positioning the article such that a first portion encloses at least a part of the substrate,(c) deforming the first portion to the smaller cross-sectional size at which it corresponds closely to the part of the substrate, and(d) heat-shrinking the material to cause the first portion of the article to engage the substrate.

Abstract: A decorative jacket for a battery cell and the jacket applied to the cell, are disclosed. The jacket is a flat-wrap label, preferably formed of a single heat-shrinkable polymeric film and non-metallic ink design imprinted on the inside surface of the film. The film and ink design resist corrosion when exposed to corrosive atmospheres. The ink design is not electrically conductive. The label is applied by wrapping it around the cell outer surface with the ink design and inside surface of the film facing the cell. Preferably the entire label is subjected to a quick dose of heat to snap extended portions of the label over the top and bottom edges (shoulders) of the cell.

Abstract: A method for producing a tight termination at an introduction region of a shrinkable cable sleeve characterized by positioning the seal element between the cables, said seal element having a material deformable by the application of heat so that upon heating of the cable sleeve, the sleeve shrinks onto the cables to extend tangentially therebetween and the seal element fills the spaces between the cables and the walls of the cable sleeve. The seal element may be secured either to the cable sleeve or to one of the cables or to both. The seal element preferably has a fixed part of metal and a sealable part which will deform with the application of heat.

Abstract: A polymeric tube is extruded; one or more strands are wrapped around the tube, the strands having a polymeric core and a high strength helical fiber cover; a second tube extruded thereon; at least one of the tubes is cross linked; subsequently the composite tube wall is heated, expanded and cooled in the expanded state; the tube may be cut longitudinally before or after the heating/cooling.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously disposing tubular labels on a plurality of bottles or other containers includes an assembly for advancing the bottles or other containers along an endless travel path. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tubular label applying stations each operable to individually apply a tubular label onto a bottle or other container as the bottle or other container is advanced along the travel path. The advancing assembly is preferably in the form of a rotating plate supporting the bottles or other containers thereon at uniform angular spacings from one another and the tubular label applying stations are preferably also supported on the rotating plate. A cam and cam follower arrangement is utilized for controlling each tubular label applying station to perform its label applying operation in coordination with the advancing movement of its associate bottle or other container.

Abstract: A method of sealing a connector (2) in an electrical cable (1) for example a submarine cable comprises:(i) applying a quantity of gel (6) onto the connector and encapsulate at least part of it;(ii) positioning an inner hollow dimensionally recoverable article (9), for example in the form of a cap, about the connector and gel and recovering it thereon to enclose the gel and at least part of the connector, the recovery causing part (12) of the gel to exude out of the open end of the article; and(iii) positioning an outer hollow open-ended dimensionally recoverable article (13) over the connector (2) and recovering it so that it encloses at least the end of the inner article (9) and the part (12) of the gel (6) that has exuded therefrom.This method can enable an effective seal against moisture ingress to be made while at the same time being relatively easy to remove for re-entry without damaging the connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a heat recoverable plastic article such as a tube by deforming the article from a heat-stable configuration to a heat-unstable configuration. The heat-unstable configuration will return to the heat-stable configuration when the article is heated to above the heat recovery temperature. The article is heated such that the article is at a temperature no lower than the heat recovery temperature during the deforming step by lossy particles dispersed in the article or in a tool used in the deforming step. The lossy particles allow auto-regulated heating of the article since the particles cannot be heated beyond their Curie transition temperature when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. These particles are preferably ferrites. Alternatively, the tool can include a braided mesh tubing of a ferromagnetic alloy wire.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying heat shrinkable segments of sheet material to articles having a convex sector, e.g., for applying labels to containers. Each segment is attached at its leading end to the area of maximum diameter of the convex sector, preferably flattening such area and adhesively attaching the leading end of the segment to the flattened area, then spinning the article and wrapping the segment about it and attaching the trailing end to the container or to the leading end, then causing the so wrapped article to pass through a heating and shrinking station, spinning it while so doing and applying jets of hot air to the segment above and below the area of maximum diameter to shrink the segment onto the convex sector. Apparatus suitable for carrying out this procedure is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying thin film polymer labels to small cylindrical articles such as dry cell batteries without label mismatching is disclosed. A label transport drum is rotatably mounted on a frame. Cut labels are supplied to the surface of the label transport drum as the drum is rotated. An adhesive is applied onto the area adjacent the leading edge of the label while the label is moving with the drum, and a solvent is applied onto an area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. Cylindrical articles are conveyed in tangential spinning engagement with the label transport drum and into rotative engagement with the adhesive on the leading edge of the label so as to transfer the label onto the article as the label is moved into engagement with the rotating article. A pressure plate imparts pressure against selected sides and ends of the article during wrapping to prevent mismatching of the label as the label wraps around the article.

Abstract: A shirred fibrous casing article containing about 20% to about 30% moisture by total casing weight and composed of shirred portions spliced together and retained in an overwrap wherein a flag which identifies the splice location between the shirred portions is extended radially through the overwrap.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a sleeve of heat-shrink material (a "band") to a container comprises a rotary drum having a plurality of upstanding heads. A web of banding material is intermittently advanced and lengths cut off, each cut length being held by fingers in the path of a gripper head mounted on the rotary drum. Each head has forward-facing vacuum port through which air is drawn on a timed basis, so that a band 30 will be picked-up and held by one side face as the gripper head passes the fingers. The resilience of the banding material allows the band partially to open out as it is transferred by the gripper head. The rotation of the drum is synchronized to advancement of the containers, so that a held band is rolled on to the top of a container, the container serving to assist in the opening-out of the band, whereat the band is released by the gripper head.