Marker sleeve installation

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for the facile installation of non-cylindrical marker sleeves on wire-like members such as electrical wiring or cable. The apparatus is particularly directed to the handling of non-cylindrical marker sleeves which are tightly and slidably arranged on fingers of a carrier belt. A stripper mechanism employing a series of split tines is slidably positioned on a base capable of fixedly holding the carrier belt and fingers. The split tines are directed along either side of each finger to engage a first end of each non-cylindrical sleeve and to force the sleeve from its supporting finger. A die is fixed to the base to receive the sleeves as they are stripped from the carrier fingers. The die includes a plurality of formed channels which receive the non-cylindrical sleeves and force them into a substantially cylindrical configuration as they are stripped into respective channels. If the stripper mechanism does not force the sleeves entirely off the carrier fingers, a knife may be passed between the ends of the fingers and the die to sever the unstripped portions of the sleeves. The die holds the stripped portions of the sleeves in place and in a substantially cylindrical configuration in order that wire-like members may be passed through the sleeves unresisted. The wire-like member and sleeve assemblies may then be lifted from the channels and the sleeve easily positioned where desired. Subsequent portions of the severed sleeves or a new set of sleeves may then be stripped into the again vacant die.

Inventors

• 👤 William Dominac Carlomagno
• 👤 Stephen Hunter Diaz

Bibliographic Details