Easy-open container having directionally-oriented label tear

A method of manufacturing an easy-open container having directionally-orienting tear comprising the steps of:

• applying a flexible barrier liner layer in strip form, feeding the liner layer to a mandrel, and spirally-winding the liner layer on the mandrel to form overlapping liner layer edge portions;
• applying a paperboard bodywall layer in strip form, feeding the bodywall layer to the mandrel, and spirally-winding the bodywall layer onto the spirally-wound liner layer on the mandrel while positioning the longitudinal edges of the bodywall layer in butt joint edge relationship to form a tube having a spiral seam extending the length thereof;
• applying a flexible label layer in strip form and a reinforcing and tear strip of narrower width than the label layer strip and having a directionally-oriented tear incorporated therein in the transverse direction thereof, feeding such label layer and reinforcing and tear strip to the mandrel while applying a high strength bonding means to an upper surface of said reinforcing and tear strip and positioning the reinforcing and tear strip in superimposed position under one outer longitudinal edge portion of the label layer strip with the high strength bonding means therebetween and applying a low strength bonding means to a lower surface of said reinforcing and tear strip, and spirally-winding the superimposed label layer strip and reinforcing and tear strip onto the continuous tube on the mandrel with the longitudinal edges of the label layer strip in overlapped relation and positioning the reinforcing and tear strip and low strength bonding means in bridging relationship to the spiral seam in the spirally-wound bodywall layer;
• and
• cutting the thus wound tubes into container lengths.