Photograph slide sleeving system

Abstract

A self-aligning sleever for inserting photograph slides into pockets of an elongated web of sleeving material 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 is supported for movement in a direction perpendicular to the rows of pockets by a chassis base. A slide shuttle removes photograph slides from a hopper and moves the slides to a first position on a slide support. Photograph slides 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. A slide counting mechanism mechanically counts the photograph slides moved to the positions on the slide support. Pocket opening means such as coil springs arc the slide sleeving material to open the pockets of the row into which the photograph slides are to be inserted. A slide pusher is actuated when the predetermined number of slides have been positioned on the support means, and push the slides into the corresponding pockets of the row of sleeving material during a first stroke portion. During a second stroke portion the sleeved row of photograph slides and sleeving material by the row spacing distance so as to align a next-adjacent row of pockets with the pocket opening means and slide support. A sleeve clamp clamps the sleeving material with respect to the chassis base during the first stroke portion, and releases the sleeving material during the second stroke portion.