Method for making containers, and corresponding container

Abstract

A container comprises a containment body having a main axis and a mouth or neck part, the opening of which defines a mouth plane of the container oriented in a direction transverse with respect to the main axis, where applied on at least part of the container is a tubular sleeve of film material shrunk on the container itself. The tubular sleeve has at least one end edge having, in different points of its angular development, different distances from the mouth plane. Preferentially, the container is likewise provided with at least one sculptured annular edge having a profile homologous to the profile of the aforesaid end edge of the tubular sleeve, and the sleeve is applied on the container with said end edge coinciding with the aforesaid sculptured annular edge having the homologous profile.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of producing containers including a containment body with a main axis and a mouth or neck portion defining a mouth plane of the container extending crosswise said main axis, with a tubular sleeve of a film material applied on at least part of the container and shrunk on the container, the method including:
 applying said sleeves onto said containers by controlling the orientation of the sleeves with respect to the main axis of the containers, and   forming said tubular sleeves with at least one end edge which, with the sleeve applied and shrunk on the container has, at different points of its angular development around said main axis, different distances with respect to said mouth plane.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , including:
 providing in said containers at least an annular sculptured edge having, at different points of its angular development around said main axis, different distances with respect to said mouth plane with a trajectory homologous to the trajectory of said at least one end edge of said tubular sleeves, and   applying said sleeves onto said containers by bringing said at least one end edge to coincide with said at least one sculptured edge of the container having a homologous trajectory.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , including:
 forming a tubular blank of a shrinkable film material, and   forming said tubular sleeves by segmenting said tubular blank by providing, in each sleeve thus formed, said at least one end edge.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , including:
 forming said tubular blank in the form of a web,   forming said tubular sleeves by segmenting said web-like tubular blank, and   opening out said tubular sleeves to apply them onto said containers preferably by means of a relative movement of the sleeves with respect to an opener member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , including:
 forming said tubular sleeves by segmenting said tubular blank by leaving connecting formations between adjacent sleeves, whereby the sleeves thus formed constitute a chain of sleeves connected to each other,   feeding said chain of sleeves towards the containers onto which the sleeves are applied.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , including separating said tubular sleeves by rupturing said connection formations before the sleeves are applied onto the containers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , including coupling templates to said containers, said templates forming a support surface for the sleeves applied onto said containers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein applying said sleeves onto said containers by controlling the orientation of the sleeves with respect to the main axis of the containers includes advancing said sleeves and said containers towards a zone where the sleeves are applied onto the containers by maintaining a pre-determined relative orientation of said sleeves and said containers. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , including:
 retaining by retaining means the sleeves applied onto respective containers while subjecting them to a first shrinking step to couple the sleeves onto respective containers, and   completing shrinking of the sleeves coupled to the respective containers as a result of said first shrinking step after releasing the sleeves from said retaining means.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said film material is a heat-shrinkable material. 
     
     
         24 . A container including a containment body with a main axis and a mouth or neck portion defining a mouth plane of the container extending crosswise said main axis, with a tubular sleeve of a film material applied on at least part of the container and shrunk on the container, wherein said tubular sleeve has at least one end edge having, at different points of its angular development around said main axis, different distances with respect to said mouth plane. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , having at least one annular sculptured edge having a trajectory homologous to the trajectory of said at least one end edge of said tubular sleeve, said sleeve being applied on the container with said at least one edge coincident with said at least one sculptured edge having a homologous trajectory. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein said tubular sleeve is of a heat-shrinkable material heat-shrunk on the container.