Method and machine for fitting a sleeve seal of a collapsed form over a container

A machine for fitting a sleeve seal over a container comprising:

• (a) means for supplying a sleeve seal in a flattened form;
• (b) opposing suction holding cups selectively actuatable and cooperating with the supply means, adapted to hold a sleeve seal supplied in flattened form by the supply means, and means to selectively move the suction cups apart for opening the sleeve seal to a certain degree;
• (c) opening members adapted to be inserted into the sleeve seal partly opened by the suction holding means, and engage with portions of the sleeve seal intermediate between those portions which in the flattened form formed the edges, means for inserting said members into the sleeve, means for selectively moving said members apart to a separation substantially wider than the dimension, in the direction of movement of the opening members, of the sleeve seal when finally fitted on the container, and the opening members having a dimension in the direction orthogonal both to the direction of movement of the opening members and to the axis of the sleeve seal substantially less than the dimension in that direction of the sleeve seal in its form when finally fitted over the container, said members moving means including means to move the members toward each other so that the sleeve seal is relaxed and adopts a shape substantially similar to its required final shape when fitted over the container;
• (d) means for inserting a container into a sleeve seal held by said opening members;
• and
• (e) control means sequencing the operation of the supply means, suction holding means, opening members and inserting means, said control means deactivating said means to move the suction cups apart so that substantially throughout the stretching stop when said opening members move apart the suction cups are disengaged from the sleeve and reactivating said means to move the suction cups apart so that said suction cups are reengaged with the sleeve while the opening members are move toward each other so as to retain the sleeve seal in position as the container is inserted.