Apparatus for fitting a protective boot particularly for articulated joint assemblies

A device for fitting a protective boot to a shaft or joint member, and particularly for fitting a second collar of said boot to said joint member, with a first collar of said boot being firmly clamped in place, said device being arranged for handling said shaft or joint member and said boot in an essentially coaxial arrangement and comprising in combination:

• a gripping device having gripping levers engaging especially in pairs an inner fold of said boot;
• an expanding device for a collar of said boot having a receiving region with a circular cross section which, in a first position, has a diameter which is smaller than an inner diameter of said boot collar and which, in a second position, has a diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of said shaft or joint member;
• a stripping device having an inner diameter which corresponds approximately to an outer diameter of said expanding device in a tensioned position and which is axially movable relative to the expanding device so that, in a first position, the receiving region of said expanding device and the stripping device are at an axial distance from one another and, in a second position, the receiving region of said expanding device and said stripping device engage each other axially in a circumferentially offset way;
• a holding device for said shaft or joint member;
• and
• a feeding device which effects axial relative movement between said holding device on the one hand and said gripping, expanding and stripping devices on the other hand and which, in a first position, causes said gripping levers to correspond axially to the inner fold of said boot at said second collar to be fitted and, in a second position, moves said gripping levers in a direction of said first boot collar positioned opposite thereto.