Packaging sleeve feeding device

Abstract

A sleeve feeding device includes a core extending along a feed axis and having a hollow interior. One or more slots are in the outer surface of the core extending in first and second directions. A sleeve pusher assembly is located within the hollow interior and has retractable fingers that protrude from the slots in the core, allowing the sleeve pusher assembly to engage a sleeve on the outer surface of the core and feed it along the feed axis in the first direction. When withdrawn in the second direction, the fingers of the sleeve pusher assembly retract within the slots upon encountering the next sleeve. Once clear, the fingers again protrude and the next sleeve is fed along the outer surface of the core.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleeve feeding device comprising:
 a core extending along a feed axis in opposite first and second directions between first and second core ends, the core having an outer surface extending around the feed axis and a hollow interior between the first and second core ends, a first slot being defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior;   a sleeve pusher assembly arranged in the hollow interior and movable therein along the feed axis in the first and second directions, the sleeve pusher assembly including a first arm with a first finger retractably mounted at a distal end thereof, the first finger being biased relative to the first arm so as to protrude through the first slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the first finger from the outer surface in the first direction;   a sleeve driver arranged adjacent to the core and operable to urge a sleeve along the outer surface of the core in the first direction; and   an actuator connected to the sleeve pusher assembly and operable to move the sleeve pusher assembly in the first and second directions;   wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the first finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the first slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the first finger again protrudes through the first slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the first finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the core includes a plurality of sides separated by a respective plurality of corners extending between the first and second core ends. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 2 , wherein the first slot is defined in one of the respective plurality of corners. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of sides of the outer surface increases in concavity between adjacent ones of the respective plurality of corners toward the second core end. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 4 , wherein the core further includes a plurality of sleeve guides respectively positioned outwardly of the plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sleeve guides increasing in convexity toward the second core end to complement the plurality of sides and urge the sleeve into conformity with the concavity of the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 3 , wherein a second slot is defined in another of the respective plurality of corners extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior;
 wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a second arm commonly mounted with the first arm and a second finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the second arm, the second finger being biased relative to the second arm so as to protrude through the second slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the second finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and   wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the second finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the second slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the second finger again protrudes through the second slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the second finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.   
     
     
         7 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of sides is a separate wall member commonly connected at the first core end, the first slot being formed by a gap between adjacent ones of the separate wall members at the one of the respective plurality of corners. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 1 , wherein the first finger is pivotably connected to the distal end of the first arm, the first finger being pivotable between protruding and retracted positions. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 8 , wherein the first finger includes a radiused sleeve engagement surface oriented toward the first direction with the first finger in the protruding position. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 8 , wherein the first finger is spring biased into the protruding position. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 1 , wherein a second slot is defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior;
 wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a second arm commonly mounted with the first arm and a second finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the second arm, the second finger being biased relative to the second arm so as to protrude through the second slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the second finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and   wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the second finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the second slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the second finger again protrudes through the second slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the second finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 11 , wherein a third slot is defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior;
 wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a third arm commonly mounted with the first and second arms and a third finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the third arm, the third finger being biased relative to the third arm so as to protrude through the third slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the third finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and   wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the third finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the third slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the third finger again protrudes through the third slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the third finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.   
     
     
         13 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 12 , wherein a fourth slot is defined in the outer surface extending in the first and second directions and communicating with the hollow interior;
 wherein the sleeve pusher assembly further includes a fourth arm commonly mounted with the first, second and third arms and a fourth finger retractably mounted at a distal end of the fourth arm, the fourth finger being biased relative to the fourth arm so as to protrude through the fourth slot beyond the outer surface absent an external force engaging the fourth finger from the outer surface in the first direction; and   wherein, with the actuator moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the second direction, the fourth finger of the sleeve pusher assembly retracts into the fourth slot upon contact with a sleeve driven in the first direction, once clear of the sleeve in the second direction the fourth finger again protrudes through the fourth slot, and with the actuator subsequently moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction, the fourth finger engages the sleeve and pushes it in the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 13 , wherein the outer surface of the core includes four sides separated by a respective four corners extending between the first and second core ends, the first, second, third and fourth slots each being located in one of the respective four corners. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve driver includes a first roller arranged adjacent to the outer surface of the core and operable to engage a sleeve passing thereover. 
     
     
         16 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve driver further includes a second roller adjacent to an opposite side of the outer surface of the core from the first roller and operable to engage a sleeve passing thereover. 
     
     
         17 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is connected to the sleeve pusher assembly by a drive shaft extending into the hollow interior along the feed axis. 
     
     
         18 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve pusher assembly is connected to the drive shaft by a self-centering bearing allowing movement of the sleeve pusher assembly relative to the drive shaft in the first and second directions. 
     
     
         19 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 18 , wherein the self-centering bearing is magnetic. 
     
     
         20 . The sleeve feeding device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in signal communication with the actuator and the sleeve driver and configured with program instructions to control operation thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A sleeve forming machine comprising:
 the sleeve feeding device of  claim 1 ;   a forming column extending along the feed axis between first and second column ends, the forming column configured to form a continuous sleeve proceeding therealong toward first core end of the sleeve feeding device in the first direction; and   a sleeve cutting assembly positioned around the forming column proximate the second column end and cutting individual sleeves from the continuous sleeves;   wherein the sleeve driver engages the individual sleeves after cutting and urges the individual sleeves in the first direction along the outer surface of the core.   
     
     
         22 . A method of feeding a sleeve from a forming column, the method comprising:
 feeding a sleeve in a first direction along an outer surface of a core extending along a feed axis;   moving a sleeve pusher assembly past the sleeve in a second direction opposite the first direction within a hollow interior of the core, a finger on the distal end of an arm of the sleeve pusher assembly retracting within a slot in the outer surface upon engagement with the sleeve;   once the finger is clear of the sleeve in the second direction and protrudes from the slot, moving the sleeve pusher assembly in the first direction to engage the sleeve with the finger and feed the sleeve further in the first direction.