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(11) | EP 0 350 912 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Photograph slide sleeving system |
| (57) A self-aligning sleever (10) for inserting photograph slides (22) into pockets (24)
of an elongated web of sleeving material (26) having a plurality of rows with a predetermined
number of pockets per row and spaced from one another by a predetermined row spacing
distance. The web of sleeving material (26) is supported for movement in a direction
perpendicular to the rows of pockets (24) by a chassis base (32). A slide shuttle
(12) removes photograph slides (22) from a hopper (28) and moves the slides to a first
position on a slide support. Photograph slides (22) at the first position are moved
to second and subsequent positions in a row corresponding to positions of the pockets
in the row of slide sleeving material (26). A slide counting mechanism mechanically
counts the photograph slides (22) moved to the positions on the slide support. Pocket
opening means such as coil springs arc the slide sleeving material (26) to open the
pockets (24) of the row into which the photograph slides (22) are to be inserted.
A slide pusher (14) is actuated when the predetermined number of slides (22) have
been positioned on the support means, and push the slides (22) into the corresponding
pockets (24) of the row of sleeving material (26) during a first stroke portion. During
a second stroke portion the sleeved row of photograph slides (22) and sleeving material
(26) are pushed beyond the pocket opening means by the row spacing distance so as
to align a next-adjacent row of pockets (24) with the pocket opening means and slide
support. A sleeve clamp (20) clamps the sleeving material (26) with respect to the
chassis base (32) during the first stroke portion, and releases the sleeving material
(26) during the second stroke portion. |