Marker sleeve processing machine

Apparatus for processing a marker sleeve from a series of open-ended marker sleeves fed along a feed path, the apparatus comprising:

• a printing station including print means adjacent the feed path for printing at least one character on a marker sleeve that is moved into a printing position adjacent the print means;
• a sleeve receiving station located downstream of the printing position to define a distance therebetween;
• sensor means located at the sleeve receiving station and responsive to detecting an endmost marker sleeve of the series of marker sleeves for generating a sleeve present signal;
• feed means for advancing the series of marker sleeves in a forward direction from the printing position to the sleeve receiving station and in a reverse direction from the sleeve receiving station to the printing position;
• and
• controlling means for directing the feed means, said controlling means initially directing the feed means to operate in the forward direction, and said controlling means being coupled for receiving the sleeve present signal from the sensor means and thereafter directing the feed means to operate in the reverse direction to retract the endmost marker sleeve over the distance between the sleeve receiving station and the printing position to position the endmost marker sleeve in the printing position.

Apparatus for processing a first marker sleeve before processing a second marker sleeve from a series of open-ended marker sleeves fed along a feed path, the apparatus comprising:

• a printing station including print means adjacent the feed path for printing at least one character on a first marker sleeve that is moved into a printing position adjacent the print means;
• a sleeve receiving station located downstream of the print means for receiving a printed marker sleeve;
• sensor means located at the sleeve receiving station and responsive to detection of the presence of the first marker sleeve for generating a sleeve present signal;
• feed means for advancing the marker sleeves in a forward direction from the print means to the sleeve receiving station and for retracting the web in a reverse direction from the sleeve receiving station to the print means;
• first controlling means coupled for directing the print means to print a legend of at least one character on the first marker sleeve;
• second controlling means coupled to the sensor means and to the feed means and responsive to the printing of the legend on the first marker sleeve for causing the feed means to advance the printed first marker sleeve in the forward direction until a sleeve present signal is received indicating presence of the printed first marker sleeve at the sleeve receiving station;
• third controlling means coupled to the sleeve receiving station and responsive to the advance of the printed first marker sleeve thereto for directing removal of the printed first marker sleeve from the apparatus;
• and
• fourth controlling means coupled to the feed means and responsive to removal of the printed first marker sleeve from the apparatus for causing the feed means to retract the second marker sleeve in the reverse direction to position it in the printing position.

Apparatus for processing a plurality of marker sleeves from a series of open-ended marker sleeves fed along a feed path before removing an endmost marker sleeve from the series, the apparatus comprising:

• a printing station including print means adjacent the feed path for printing a legend of at least one character on a marker sleeve that is moved into a printing position adjacent the print means;
• a sleeve receiving station for removing a printed marker sleeve from the series, the sleeve receiving station being located downstream of the printing position to define a distance therebetween;
• sensor means located at the sleeve receiving station and responsive to detection of the endmost marker sleeve of the series for generating a sleeve present signal;
• feed means for feeding the series of marker sleeves from the printing position to the sleeve receiving station;
• first controlling means coupled to the print means for causing the print means to print a legend of at least one character on the endmost marker sleeve;
• second controlling means responsive to the printing of the legend on the endmost marker sleeve for causing the feed means to advance a next sleeve into the printing position while advancing the printed endmost marker sleeve towards the sleeve receiving station;
• and
• third controlling means coupled to the feed means and to the print means for alternating the printing of legends on the next sleeve and following sleeves with the advancing of the series to move a plurality of printed marker sleeves into the distance between the printing position and the sleeve receiving station.

Apparatus for processing marker sleeves from a series of open-ended marker sleeves fed along a feed path, the apparatus comprising:

• a printing station including print means adjacent the feed path for printing at least one character on a marker sleeve that is moved into a printing position adjacent the print means;
• an applicator station where an article can be inserted into an open end of a printed marker sleeve;
• feed means for moving a marker sleeve into the printing position, and later, for moving a printed marker sleeve from the printing station to the applicator station;
• means for designating the character to be printed on a marker sleeve;
• means for reading the designated character;
• means for directing the print means to print the designated character on a marker sleeve;
• first feed controlling means for controlling the feed means to move a marker sleeve into the printing position;
• second feed controlling means responsive to the printing of the character on a marker sleeve for controlling the feed means to move the printed marker sleeve from the printing position to the applicator station;
• and
• means responsive to the movement of the printed marker sleeve to the applicator station for controlling the applicator station to enable insertion of the article into an open end of the printed marker sleeve.