GLOVE DONNING SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXPANDING A CUFF PORTION OF AN ELASTICALLY EXPANDABLE GLOVE

摘要

A glove donning system and method, the arrangement having typically a vacuum wand for grasping the outer skin of the cuff portion of a glove, after which the wand together with the glove is suitably transported to a vacuum chamber, where the cuff portion is aligned with the rim of the opening of the vacuum chamber. By grasping only the outer skin of the glove, the cuff portion is gently opened sufficiently to enable a deflated inflatable ring to be inserted into the cuff portion. The ring is then inflated while positioned inside the cuff portion, which is thereby expanded until it touches the rim of the vacuum chamber. The rim is provided with a suction ring capable of generating sufficient suction to keep the cuff of the glove pressed against the rim, at which point the inflatable ring may be deflated and removed. A vacuum may then be applied to the chamber, inflating the glove and thus enabling a hand to be inserted thereinto. A donning device may be fitted with a pair of such systems, one for each hand, and further provided with suitable means for stacking and delivering on demand one glove to each vacuum chamber.