SLEEVE APPLICATOR MACHINE AND RELATED METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

A sleeve applicator machine (100) is used to remove and open a sleeve (102) from a carrier (104) for application of the sleeve around an elongated object such as a wire. A mandrel (132) is inserted into an opening of an unopened sleeve while the sleeve is still supported by the carrier (104). Once the mandrel (132) is inserted into the sleeve (102), the mandrel is lifted to separate the unopened sleeve from the carrier (104). While still on the mandrel (132), the sleeve (which is now in a semi-opened state) is positioned between a separable pair of sleeve-opening dies (11&9 in which the dies are in an opened position. The dies (116) are closed or brought together around the sleeve (102) and mandrel (132) to compress the sleeve to a fully open state. At this point and with the dies holding the sleeve open, the mandrel may be withdrawn from the sleeve and a wire or other elongated object inserted into the opening of the sleeve.