Steam shrink wrap sleeve with printed label for container and associated method

An apparatus for shrink wrapping associated sleeves on an associated container assembly that includes an associated cap and an associated container, the apparatus comprising:

• a stationary housing having a stationary wall forming a passage dimensioned to receive the associated container assembly and associated sleeve, the passage having an inlet that receives the associated container assembly and an outlet vertically spaced below the inlet that receives the associated container assembly via gravity from the passage inlet;
• a path that communicates with the passage to provide at least one of steam or hot air from at least one of an associated steam or hot air source to at least a portion of the passage in order to shrink wrap the associated sleeve on the associated container assembly;
• at least one helical protrusion extending into the passage from the housing wall, the helical protrusion having a pitch along an axial dimension of the passage and the helical protrusion is dimensioned to engage the associated container assembly as the associated container assembly passes via gravity from the inlet to the outlet of the passage and the helical protrusion rotates the associated container assembly relative to the housing wall;
• and
• a stop member movable relative to the housing passage that in a first state is positioned to selectively engage the associated container assembly and hold the associated container assembly in the passage for a predetermined amount of time and in a second state is positioned to allow the associated container assembly to proceed through the passage to the outlet.