Separator and transfer device for paper napkins, towels and the like

Claim 1

Apparatus for separating and transferring a plurality of nonrigid articles along a generally horizontally disposed path from a source of articles, said apparatus comprising a frame located adjacent to said source, a tray mounted on said frame in a generally horizontal position, one end of said tray being located in a position to receive articles from said source, means for continuously moving articles from said source onto said one end of said tray, shaft means mounted on said frame, at least one separator finger fixed to said shaft, rotatable means fixed to said shaft for maintaining said separator finger in inoperative position until a predetermined quantity of articles have been placed on said tray, lever means swingably mounted on said frame and normally disposed in the path of rotation of said rotatable means, means for swinging said lever means out of the path of said rotatable means to permit rotation of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft so that said separator finger engages and moves the articles away from said one end, at least one transfer member movably mounted on said frame, means for moving said transfer member in a first direction to a position behind and in engagement with said articles on said tray and moving said transfer member in a second direction to move said articles to the opposite end of said tray.