SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR APPLYING SHRINK LABELS

A DEFORMABLE LABEL PROCESSOR AND RELATED METHODS ARE DESCRIBED. THE PROCESSOR IS HEATED AND URGED AGAINST A LABEL (20,120), SUCH AS A PRESSURE SENSITIVE HEAT SHRINK LABEL (20,120), TO APPLY THE LABEL (20,120) ONTO A CONTAINER (10,310) OR OTHER SURFACE. THE PROCESSOR AND METHODS ARE WELL SUITED FOR APPLICATION OF LABELS (20,120) ONTO COMPOUND CURVED SURFACES. ALSO DESCRIBED ARE HIGH VOLUME LABEL APPLICATION PROCESSES USING ASSEMBLIES OF MULTIPLE LABEL PROCESSORS. ADDITIONAL ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS ARE DESCRIBED FOR SELECTIVELY CONTACTING AND ADHERING REGIONS OF A LABEL (20,120) ONTO A MOVING CONTAINER (10,310) DURING LABELING OPERATIONS. SELECT REGIONS OF A LABEL (20,120) CAN BE WIPED TO MODIFY OR ALTER LABEL PORTIONS THAT ARE IN CONTACT AND NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTAINER (10,310). A LABEL TREATMENT PROCESS PERFORMED AFTER LABEL APPLICATION IS ALSO DISCLOSED. THE TREATMENT PROCESS REDUCES THE OCCURRENCE OF LABEL DEFECTS AND IMPROVES LABEL RETENTION, ADHERENCE AND AESTHETICS. THE TREATMENT PROCESS INCLUDES HEATING AN APPLIED LABEL (20,120) AND ADHESIVE TO A PARTICULAR TEMPERATURE. IN PARTICULAR, THE HEATING IS PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY AFTER LABEL APPLICATION.