Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus is provided for installing sleeves onto elongated substrates such as electrical wiring or cable, where the sleeves are slideably arranged on fingers extending from a carrier belt. The apparatus includes a base having a belt path for receiving the carrier belt and a finger guideway for receiving a finger of the carrier belt. Stripping means are slideably mounted on the base for forcing a sleeve from a finger onto a substrate. An indexing element is provided for moving the carrier belt to a position so that a finger having a sleeve arranged thereon is in the finger guideway each time after a sleeve is stripped from a finger. In use of the device, the sleeve can be stripped from a finger into the die in two stages, where an elongate substrate is inserted into the removed portion of the sleeve between the two stages. For installing non-cylindrical sleeves on cylindrical substrates, a die is mounted to the base at a position to receive the sleeve as it is stripped from a finger. The die includes a narrow passageway for forming a sleeve into a substantially cylindrical configuration. Preferably, the die comprises at least two passageways for receiving the sleeve, the passageways being adapted for sleeves of different shape and/or material, where the die is rotatably mounted so that either of the passageways can be positioned to receive a sleeve. In use of the device, a sleeve can be stripped from a finger into the die in two stages, where an elongate substrate is inserted into the removed portion of the sleeve between the two stages.

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First Claim