Sleeve applicator system and method
AssigneeFuji Seal International, Inc.
InventorsJeroen Gerrit Anton Gebbink, Lucas Van Rijsewijk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is related to a sleeve applicator system for applying a heat-shrinkable sleeve to an object that moves in a first direction. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method. According to the invention, a second mandrel is mounted in a flexible manner to a first mandrel. A second drive system is used for moving the heat-shrinkable sleeve from the first mandrel over the second mandrel towards the object. The second drive system is further configured to push the second mandrel such that the second mandrel moves along with the moving object during the application of the sleeve.
Claims20
A sleeve applicator system for applying a heat-shrinkable sleeve to an object that moves in a first direction, comprising:
- a first mandrel system comprising:
- a first mandrel for receiving the heat-shrinkable sleeve;
- a first drive system comprising one or more rollers for moving the heat-shrinkable sleeve over the first mandrel to a downstream end of the first mandrel;
- a second mandrel system comprising:
- a second mandrel that is moveably connected to the first mandrel at the downstream end thereof, wherein the second mandrel is configured to move back and forth relative to the first mandrel in at least the first direction;
- and
- a second drive system comprising one or more rollers for receiving the heat-shrinkable sleeve from the first mandrel and for moving the heat-shrinkable sleeve over the second mandrel towards the object;
- wherein the second drive system is further configured to push the second mandrel such that the second mandrel moves along with the moving object during the application of the heat-shrinkable sleeve.
A method for applying a heat-shrinkable sleeve to an object that moves in a first direction, comprising:
- receiving the heat-shrinkable sleeve;
- moving the heat-shrinkable sleeve over a first mandrel to a downstream end of the first mandrel;
- receiving the heat-shrinkable sleeve from the first mandrel and moving the heat-shrinkable sleeve on a second mandrel towards the object, wherein the second mandrel is moveably connected to the first mandrel at the downstream end thereof, and wherein the second mandrel is able to move back and forth relative to the first mandrel in at least the first direction;
- and
- moving the heat-shrinkable sleeve on the second mandrel towards the object;
- and
- pushing the second mandrel such that the second mandrel moves along with the moving object during the application of the heat-shrinkable sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.