Small piece stacker and counter

Claim 2

A small laundry piece stacker and counter for use in association with laundry ironing machines comprising: conveyor belt means having a space defined between an inner pair of said conveyor belts, said space being a distance less than the width of said piece; a stationary blow-down member including elongated first and second blow-down pipes arrayed parallel to one another in a plane above said area between said inner conveyor belts aligned with the movement of the pieces, said first and second blow-down pipes each having a plurality of apertures defined at the bottom thereof; air supply means adapted to blow air through said apertures in said blow-down pipes; air supply control means interposed between said air supply means and said blow-down pipes; detector means adapted to detect the positioning thereunder of a piece being moved along said conveyor belts, said detector adapted such that when it detects the presence of said piece, it activates said air supply control means thereby allowing air to pass from said air supply means through said apertures in said blow-down pipes whereby the pieces are blown down between the inner conveyor belts and catch means disposed below said blow-down pipes onto which said pieces are blown when air passes through said blown-down pipe aperatures, said first blow-down pipe being situated to one side of said catch means and said second blow-down pipe being situated to the other side of said catch means.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said catch means comprise a first rod member and at least a second rod member which are adapted to receive a pre-selected number of pieces blown down thereon so as to be folded in a central portion thereof over each of said rod members, said rod members being affixed to a movement means adapted to move each of said rod members alternately into a central position aligned with and positioned below said blow-down member.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 further including piece counter means adapted to control the alternation of said catch means.

Claim 5

A small piece stacker and counter comprising: a pair of rollers; a series of conveyor belts driven by said rollers; an inner pair of said conveyor belts spaced apart a distance less than the width of said piece; a blow-down member including first and second blow-down pipes arrayed in a plane above said area between said inner conveyor belts, said first and second blow-down pipes having a plurality of apertures defined at the bottom thereof; air supply means adapted to blow air through said apertures in said blow-down pipes; air supply control means interposed between said air supply means and said blow-down pipes; detector means adapted to detect the positioning thereunder of a piece being moved along said conveyor belts, said detector means adapted such that when it detects the presence of said piece, it activates said air supply control means thereby allowing air to pass from said air supply means through said apertures in said blow-down pipes; catch means disposed below said blow-down pipes onto which said pieces are blown when air passes through said blow-down pipe apertures wherein said catch means comprise a first catch member and a second catch member which are adapted to receive a pre-selected number of pieces thereon folded in a central portion thereof over each of said catch members, said catch members being affixed to a toggle plate adapted to rotate each of said catch members into a central position below said blow-down member; counter means adapted to control the rotation of said toggle plate wherein said toggle plate is adapted to be moved into said positions centering either said first or second catch member beneath said blow-down member by a second arm member having a first and second end, said first end being rotatably affixed to said toggle plate; a first arm member having a first and second end, said first end being rotatably connected to the second end of said second arm member; a one-way ratchet affixed to the second end of said first arm member; a sprocket member rotatably mounted, adapted to unidirectionally rotate said one-way ratchet; a chain member having a first and second end, the body of which passes around said sprocket member; an air cylinder and piston with rod, said rod connected to the first end of said chain member, said air cylinder's piston adapted to be operated by said air supply means; valve means interposed between said air cylinder and said air supply means, said valve means adapted to be controlled by said counter means; and a spring means having a first and second end, said first end interconnected with the second end of said chain member and the second end affixed to a stationary portion of the device of this invention.

Claim 6

A small piece stacker and counter comprising: a pair of rollers; a series of conveyor belts driven by said rollers; an inner pair of said conveyor belts spaced apart a distance less than the width of said piece; a blow-down member including first and second blow-down pipes arrayed in a plane above said area between said inner conveyor belts, said first and second blow-down pipes having a plurality of apertures defined at the bottom thereof; air supply means adapted to blow air through said apertures in said blow-down pipes; air supply control means interposed between said air supply means and said blow-down pipes; detector means adapted to detect the positioning thereunder of a piece being moved along said conveyor belts, said detector means adapted such that when it detects the presence of said piece, it activates said air supply control means thereby allowing air to pass from said air supply means through said apertures in said blow-down pipes; catch means disposed below said blow-down pipes onto which said pieces are blown when air passes through said blow-down pipe apertures wherein said catch means comprise a first catch member and a second catch member which are adapted to receive a pre-selected number of pieces thereon folded in a central portion thereof over each of said catch members, said catch members being affixed to a toggle plate adapted to rotate each of said catch members into a central position below said blow-down member; counter means adapted to control the rotation of said toggle plate wherein said toggle plate is adapted to be moved into said positions centering either said first or second catch member beneath said blow-down member by a second arm member having a first and second end, said first end being rotatably affixed to said toggle plate; a first arm member having a first and second end, said first end being rotatably connected to the second end of said second arm member; a one-way ratchet affixed to the second end of said first arm member; a sprocket member rotatably mounted, adapted to unidirectionally rotate said one-way ratchet; a chain member having a first and second end, the body of which passes around said sprocket member; an air cylinder and piston with rod, said rod connected to the first end of said chain member, said air cylinder's piston adapted to be operated by said air supply means; valve means interposed between said air cylinder and said air supply means, said valve means adapted to be controlled by said counter means; and a spring means having a first and second end, said first end interconnected with the second end of said chain member and the second end affixed to a stationary portion of the device of this invention.