US3327942A - Arrangement for counting pieces of cloth - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1967 w. E. BLUME ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTING PIECES OF CLOTH Filed oct. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1967 w. E. BLUME ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTING PIECES OF CLOTH Filed Oct. 2l 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TO WASHING MA CHINES NT mOvmM ETT j R S 4 J, H T l/ 5 c R w l/ Mmm/N .d z M H..H. e f www@ ml? WMF L g @jf A A. R l a i j M f g WL'I/am E. lume W. E. BLUME ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTING PIECES oF CLOTH Filed Oct. 2l 1965 June` 27, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Wil/am .lu/11e June 27, 1967 w. E. BLUME' ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTING PIECES OF CLOTH Filed oct. 21,

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 u Qu INVENTOR Wal/[am f. lu/77e United States Patent O 3,327,942 ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTING PIECES F CLOTH William E. Blume, 126-13 Mlist Ave., Richmond Hill, N.Y. 11419 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,695 3 Claims. (Cl. 23S-98) This invention relates to a new laundry counter, and in particular to the automatic counter arrangement for lightly s-oiled, medium soiled and for heavily soiled pieces of cloth adapted to count pieces of cloth of the above mentioned groups or providing total count for all or some of the above groups.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a counting device adapted to count pieces of cloth found i-n the lightly soiled, medium soiled and heavily soiled groups of laundry.

Another object of this invention is to provide a counting device adapted to combine the results of the lightly soiled, medium soiled `and heavily soiled groups of laundry and to obtain the net sum of laundry found of all abovementioned groups.

Another object of this invention is to count pieces of cloth by means of photoelectric light beams.

Another object of this invention is to provide separate endless belts for carrying separately the lightly soiled, medium soiled and heavily soiled Ipieces of cloth into their respective baskets.

Another objects of this invention `is to provide printed record for the accounted pieces of cloth in separate groups or for the tot-al amount if pieces of cloth found in all groups.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a machine which is suit-able for the indicated .use and which can be simply and economically constructed.

These and other yobjects of this invention will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE la is an elevated view of the laundry counter apparatus predominantly showing `conveyor belt and housing;

FIGURE lb is a continuation of the elevated view shown in FIG. la with parts of the structure broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of .the apparatus shown in FIGS. la, 1b with parts of the structure broken away;

FIGURE 3 shows a top view of the washing machines having the baskets positioned nearby;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the cabinet with parts of the structure broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a side view Iof the cabinet shown in FIG. 4 wherein the back door of the cabinet is shown in the open position;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of light source, photocell and counter arrangements and their connections to the main counter;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the main counter having a portion broken away; and

FIGURE 8 is a 4modified form of the invention, depicting automatically controlled removal of the full basket by releasing the cart brake.

Referring now to the drawings 1 to 7 by reference characters, there is shown a laundry counter generally indicated as 10'. A receptacle 12, having an opening 14 therein, for receiving pieces of cloth is shown. A ledge 16 fastened to the inside wall of the receptacle and adapted to support the upper edge of container or bucket 18 when pieces of cloth are disposed or dumped into the A receptacle. A platform 20 .capable of supporting a person for disposing the pieces of cloth from upturned buckets ice 18 is mounted close to the receptacle 12 opposite an opening 22 in the receptacle. A rotatable roller 24 mounted within the bottom portion ofthe receptacle 12 is connected by means of lan endless conveyor belt 28 to another roller 26 positioned on the same horizontal plane as the roller 24. A rotary pronged pickup device 12a is driven from roller 24 by pulley 24 to transfer clothes from opening 14 to opening 14 separated by Wall 12'. The other roller 26 is rotatably mounted on the rigid stand 30 which is positioned near the outgoing end of the housing 32. Within the receptacle 12 there is a shield 34 fixedly mounted to the inside wall of the receptacle and positioned above the upper stretch Iof the belt 28 at the roller 24. This shield is positioned in such 4a manner that it prevents the pieces of cloth from slipping under the roller 24. Legs 36 are provided for the receptacle 12 so that rollers 24 and 26 could be maintained on the same horizontal plane with each other.

Next to the receptacle 12 there is motor means 38 which is adapted to turn the driving rollers 40, 42 and 44. These rollers are vertically spaced from each other and are shielded from .the conveyor belt 28 by a metallic shield 46. Motor means is also connected to the belt tensioning rollers 48, 50, 52 which are vertically spaced from each other, and are adapted to provide tension to endless pick- up belts 54, 56, 58. These belts extend past housing 32 and 'are also engaged by rotatable rollers 66, 62, 64 which `are spaced from each other in an inclined manner. Furthermore, beneath the bottom portion Iof each belt there are tensioning rollers 66, 68, 78 which are also spa-ced from each other in an inclined manner. Thus, the endless belt S4 is adapted to be moved in a clockwise direction by the driving roller 40. This belt extends horizontally past housing 32 and winds around the outside portion of rotatable roller 60, which is connected to the ceiling 72 by means of a support frame 74. The bottom portion of the endless belt 54 is engaged by rotatable tension roller 66 which is mounted in any convenient fashion to the support frame 74 and then the bottom portion of belt 54 is engaged by another tensioning roller 48 rotatably mounted on the motor means 38. The endless belt 56 is adapted to be -moved in a clockwise direction by the driving roller 42, this belt extending horizontally past housing 32 and Winding around the outside portion of the rotatable roller 62, which is connected to the ceiling 72 by means of support frame 76. The bottom portion of the endless belt 56 is engaged by rotatable tension roller 68, which is mounted in any convenient fashion to the support frame 76, and then the bottom portion of belt 56 is engaged by ano-ther tensioning roller 50 rotatably mounted on motor means 38, The endless belt 58 is adapted to be moved in a clockwise direction by the driving roller 44, this belt extending horizontally past conveyor housing 32 but terminating before roller 62 and tensioning roller 68. Belt 58 winds around the outside portion of the rotatable roller 64, which is connected to the ceiling 72 by means of support frame 78. 'I'he bottom portion of the endless belt 58 is engaged by rotatable tension roller 70, which is mounted in any .convenient fashion to the support frame 78, and then the bottom portion of the belt 58 is engaged by another tensioning roller 52 rotatably mounted on motor means 38. It should be noted that endless bel- ts 54, 56, 58 are spaced from each other at equal distances land positioned one Iabove the other.

The conveyor housing 32 comprises cabinets 32a, 32h, 32e which are constructed out of sheet metal. Each of the cabinets have a front side a, 80b, 80e, a back side 82a, 8219, 82C and a top side 83a, 83b, 83e. Back and front sides are rigidly connected with each other by means of steel beams 84 in any desired fashion. The upper portion of the front side of cabinet 32a shows three openings 86a,

8811, 9011 which are of rectangular configuration and are positioned one above the other. The upper portions of the front side of cabinet 32b and 32C have identical openings 86b, 88b, 90b and 86C, 88C, 90C. Top side 8311 of cabinet 32a can be opened when stud 92 of the latch arrangement 94 is lifted thus releasing door 96 when it is necessary to perform maintenance duties or disengage conveyor housing 32 from the belts. Doors 96 are supported lon hinges 95 one end of which is connected to the back sides 82a, 82b, 82C, respectively. Top side 83b and top side 831' have identical arrangements for releasing their respective doors 96 at the top side 8311 of the cabinet 3211. It should be noted that the upper portions of the sides of the respective cabinets 3211, 32h, 32C are open to receive endless belts 54, 56, 58 in such a manner that the openings 86a, 86b, 86C are adapted to be used for disposal of pieces of laundry on endless pick-up belt 54. Openings 8811, 8811, 88C are adapted to be used for disposalv of laundry on endless pick-up belt 56 and openings 9011, 90b, 90C are adapted to be used with endless belt 58. In order to facilitate easier moving or positioning of the cabinets, underneath each cabinet 3211, 32b, 32e a caster wheel arrangement 98 is provided (see FIG. 5).

As clearly shown in FIG. 4, in cabinet 3211, light source units 10011, 10011 and 10011 are mounted on the inside of the frame 8011 at side 10411 thereof and one side of the openings 8611, 8811, 9011. On the opposite side of the openings and on the frame 8011, mirrors 100, 100 and 100 are mounted. On the one side of the frame 8011 is a photocell 10211 and a control unit 10811 for operating the counter 11011 which is mounted on the outside of frame 80a and on the opposite side of the light source unit 10011 which is adapted to transmit from mirror 100 a direct light beam to the photocell 10211. Control unit 10811 is directly connected with counter 11011 by means of wire 11211 and counter 11011 is connected with another horizontally disposed counter 11011 by means of wire 11411 and a connector unit 11611. The light source unit 10011 is mounted on the inside of frame 8011 and positioned near one side 10411 of the opening 8811. A photocell 10211 is mounted on the inside of the frame 80a near the opening 8811 to receive light from mirror 100. On the outside of frame 8011 and on the opposite side of photocell 10211 control unit 10811' is provided for operating the counter 11011 which ismounted on the outside of frame 8011 and on the opposite side of the light source unit 10011' which is adapted to direct the light beam to the photocell 10211.

Control unit 10811 is directly connected with counter 11011 by means of wire 11411 and a connector unit 11611. A light source unit 10011 is mounted on the inside frame 80a and positioned near one side 104a" of the opening 9011. A photocell 10211 is mounted on the inside of the frame 8011 of the opening 9011 to receive light from light source 10011 and mirror 100". A photocell 10261" and control unit 10811 is provided for operating the counter 11011'l which is mounted on the outside of frame 8011 and on the opposite side of the light source unit 10011 which is adapted to direct the light beam from mirror 100" to the photocell 10211. Control unit 10811" is directly connected with counter 11011 by means of wire 11211l and counter 11011 is also with another horizontally disposed t counter 110b".

It should be noted that in cabinets 3211 and 32C all the components are identical and correspond with the components found in cabinet 3211. Thus, in cabinet 3212 the photocells are designated as 102]), 102b, 102b"; the light source units are 100b, 102b, 102b; counters are 110b, 110b, 110b and the like. In cabinet 32C the photocells are 102e, 102e', 102c; the light source units are 100e, 100C', 100c; counters are 110C, 110e', 110CH and the like.

It can be seen from FIG. 6 that all counters yare connected to main counter 118. In the front portion 119 of the main counter is shown that the sum of numerical values found in counters 11011, b, '110e comprise row A. The corresponding subsequent rows of counters comprise row B and row C respectively. Total additions for each row are shown on indicators 12011, 12011, C located on front portion 119 of the main counter 120. Side portion 122 of the main counter 118 features an automatic reset key 124 which is adapted to eliminate all the numerical values appearing in the indicators `12011, 12011, 1201` and reset the main counter 120 for new operations. Each row is provided with a push button 12611, 126b, 126C and slots 128a, 12819, 128C. In addition to the abovementioned slots and buttons, a slot 130 and a button 132 are provided. On the top of slot 130 an inscription is made depicting the word TOTAL As can be seen from the cutout in the main counter 118 in the back of each slot provisions are made for rolls of tabulating paper 134. The main counter is also connected to a power source of 120e.

In operation when, for example, button 12611 is pushed a slip of tabulating paper 134 will slide out of slot 12811. On this slip of paper the total amount of laundry pieces of row A (i.e. counted by counters 11011, 110b, 110e) will be indicated. If lbutton 132 is pushed the slip of paper will depict the total amount -of laundry counted by all `counters in rows A, B and C. Main counter 118 is xedly mounted to the control panel 136 which, in turn, is mounted on a stand 138 in any acceptable manner.

Furthermore, it should be noted that pieces of cloth leaving the endless belt 58 drop to the basket 140; pieces of cloth leaving the endless belt 56 drop to the basket 142; and pieces of cloth leaving the conveyor belt 54 drop to the basket 144. Each of the baskets is connected with the wheel means 146 which are adapted to travel on rails 148. In order to lmake it certain that none of the laundry pieces will not fall on the iioor 150, guide plate 152 is provided for the basket 144 and attached thereto in any acceptable manner. Similarly, a guide plate 154 is provided for the basket 142 and mounted thereto in any suitable manner.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 full baskets 140, 142, 144 are driven Ion rails 148 to their respective washing machines. There the baskets are unloaded into washing machine 156; baskets 142 are unloaded into washing machine 158; and the baskets 144 are unloaded into washing machine 160.

In operation, the laundry pieces reaching conveyor belt 28 are sorted out by operators, who throw or cast the heavily soiled pieces one after another through openings 86a, l86b, 86C. 'Ihese pieces before landing on endless pick-up belt 54 penetrate through the light beams positioned between photo cells 10211, I102b, 102e and light sources 10011, 100b, 1001-. The momentum of the passing laundry piece interrupts the light beams. The interruption of each of the light beams actuates photoelectric circuit, which in turn causes the electric counters 11011, 110b, 110C to operate and to indicate the true number of times the light beams have been interrupted and thereby perform a counting function. The medium soiled pieces 4are thrown one after another through the openings 10211', 102b, 102C and interrupt the corresponding light beams in a manner identical with the previously described procedure and registering corresponding numerical values on the electric counters. The lightly soiled pieces also pass through their respective light beams, are counted and land on the endless belt 5-8 ina manner which is identical with the .operation described in connection with the heavily and medium soiled laundry pieces. For example, due to the clockwise movement of the belt 58 the least soiled laundry pieces land in a basket A (140). When the basket is filled up, the basket A is dispatched to the washing machine 156. For sake of record keeping, the button 126e is pushed to receive Va paper slip 134 indicating the total number of laundry pieces in the basket A. It should be noted that previously described operations can be performed in connection with counting fof medium and heavily soiled pieces, i.e., rows B and A, respectively. 4If the operator desires to count all the laundry pieces found in baskets A, 'B and C and to have la record thereof the button 132 is pushed.

In the modied form of this invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the laundry pieces which land in the basket 210, from the moving endless belt 200 mounted on rollers 202 (one shown), are interrupting a light beam formed by a light source 204 mounted on the wall 218 and a photocell 206 mounted on the wall 220. A counter 208 connected to ythe photocell 206 is adapted to count interruptions of the light beam, i.e., pieces of laundry passing through the light beam and falling into the basket 210. When the basket is vfilled up with laundry pieces, i.e., when the predetermined number of laundry pieces is registered by counter 208, the cart brake 214 is released causing the wheel means 212, upon which the basket 210 is mounted, to drive the basket to its assigned was-hing machine (not shown). The rails 216 between the washing machine and the cart -brake 214 are slightly inclined thus providing suticient driving momentum for the wheels 212. It should be noted that this modified form of the invention eliminates the need to watch the main counter and then manually dispatch the basket to the washing machine. The electric .power for counter 208, light source 204, photocell 206 and cart brake is provided by the power source 220.

Materials of construction are those that are conventionally used of like parts in other machines. Thus endless belts may be of canvas. The light sources, photocells and canvas are simple and effective in operation and the count is not affected by crumpled laundry pieces.

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes :and modificati-ons of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for counting pieces of cloth cornJ prising a receptacle having an opening at the top thereof for admitting said pieces of cloth into said receptacle, said receptacle having la cutout at the lower portion thereof, horizontally disposed endless conveyor means adapted to transport said pieces of cloth, one end of said conveyor means extending through said cutout into said lower portion of said receptacle, a rotatable roller secured to said lower portion of said receptacle, a stand spaced from said receptacle, another roller rotatably mounted on said stand, said endless conveyor means operatively engaging both of said rollers, a housing including a plurality of cabinets, each of said cabinets having a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, said side portions and said bottom portion, said front portion of said cabinet having a number of vertically positioned rectangular openings, endless belt means including horizontally positioned pick- =up lbelts positioned one above the other within said housing, said pick-up belts positioned in such a manner that they are adapted to receive said pieces of cloth through said openings, each of said side portions of said Ihousing having openings therein, said pick-up belts adapted to extend outside of said housing through said openings in said end port-ions of said housing, said driving means adapted to drive said pick-up belts, counting means xedly mounted at each .of said openings of said housing and being adapted to count said pie-ces of cloth during their transfer from said conveyor means to said belt means, said counting means including a light source unit, a photocell horizontally spaced from said light source unit, both said light source unit and said photocell being xedly mounted on the inside of said front portion of each of said cabinets and near each end of one of said openings, said light source unit causing a horizontal light beam t0 be dispatched into said photocell, a control unit being positioned on the outside of said front portion and on the opposite side of said photocell, a counter attached on the outside of said front portion and on the opposite side of said light source unit, said control unit adapted to control the operation of said counter in accordance with the interruptions of said light beam in such a manner that each interruption of light beam causes a numerical addition within said counter, counter means positioned at each of said openings within each of said cabinets, said counters connected to each other in such a manner that they form horizontal rows of counters, main counting means connected to each of said horizontal Irows of counters, said counting means being adapted to add numerical values obtained from each counter thus obtaining numerical values for each of the horizontal rows and said main counting means capable of adding said numerical values obtained from each of said horizontal rows of coun-ters, said main counting means including an adding and recording apparatus having a front panel, side panels, a back panel, a top panel and a bottom panel, said front panel of said apparatus including a plurality of numerical indicators vertically spaced from each other, each of said indicators being adapted to show the total addition of the numerical values registered by all of said counters of each of said horizontal rows, la control panel to which said adding and recording apparatus is xedly attached, and power supply means for supporting electric power t0 said counting means and said counters.

2. An arrangement as in claim 1, wherein one of said side panels has a plurality of slots vertically spaced from each other, said side panels having a plurality of holes vertically spaced from each other and from said slots, each of said holes being in horizontal alignment with each of said slots and with one of said numerical indicators of said front panel, a plurality of rolls of strip paper positioned inside of said apparatus in such a manner that said strip of paper of each roll is arranged to be slid out from each of said slots, printing means within said apparatus adapted to print the infomation appearing in one of said numerical indicators, push buttons positioned with-in said holes, when one of said pushbuttons is depressed, said printing means adapted to print said numerical value appearing in corresponding numerical indicator on said front panel, said s-trip of paper with sa-id numerical value printed thereon and extending outside of said apparatus through one of said slots thus providing printed record of said total numerical value appearing in one of said horizontal rows of counters in accordance with -the visual indication of said corresponding numerical indicator of said front panel of said apparatus, the Ibottom pushbutton and the bottom slot of said side panel of said apparatus, addition means within said apparatus adapted to add the numerical values of each of said numerical indicators, upon depression of said last pushbutton, said strip of paper caused to slide out of said bottom slot and thus providing printed record of said total numerical value appearing in all numerical indicators at any given time, and automatic reset for eliminating said numerical values from said counters and said numerical indicators.

3. An arrangement for counting pieces of cloth cornprising, a receptacle having an opening at the top thereof for admitting said pieces of cloth into said receptacle, said receptacle having a cutout at the lower portion thereof, horizontally disposed endless conveyor means adapted to transport said pieces of cloth, one end of said conveyor lmeans extending through said cutout into said lower portion of said recept-acle, a rotatable roller secured to said lower portion of said receptacle, a stand spaced from said receptacle, lanother rolle-r rotatably mounted on said stand, said endless conveyor means operatively engaging both of said rollers, a housing including a plurality of cabinets, each of said cabinets having a .front portion, a back portion, a top portion, said side portions and said bottom portion, said front portion of said cabinet having -a number of vertically positioned rectangular openings, endless belt means including horizontally positioned pick-.up belts positioned :one labove the other within said housing, said pick-up belts positioned in such la manner that they are adapted to receive said pieces of cloth through said openings, each of said side portions of said housing having openings therein, said pick-up ybelts adapted to extend outside of said housing through said openings in said kend portions of said housing, said driving means including a rst group of rollers and tensioning rollers and a second group of rollers and tensioning rollers, both groups ybeing horizontally disposed from each other, endless pick-up 'belt adapted to yoperatively engage one roller from said second group, counting -rneans including a light source unit, a photocell and an electric counter, said light source unit adapted to project a light F'beam on said photocell, said counting means attached at vmeans depicting -interruptions of said ylight beam within each of said rows, and power supply means for providing electric power for said Ymain countingmea'ns and said counting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,104,993 7/1914 Kramer 209-125 1,431,667 10/1922 Johnson 209-123 1,557,505 10/ 1925 `Wadsworth 209-125 1,616,693 2/ 1927 Havighorst 209-123 1,693,763 12/1928 Mantin 23S- 98.5 2,047,665 7/1936 Beggs 23S-98.5 2,122,710 7/1938 Bidwell et al. 23S-#98.5 2,594,337 4/1952 Noe 23S-98.5 2,632,588 3/1953 Ho-ar 23S-98.5 3,121,531 -2/1964 Bumpus et al. 23S-58 3,161,004 12/1964 Muzinich 209-123 FOREIGN PATENTS 809,719 3/ 1959 Great Britain.

106,849 7/1927' Germany,

123,961 7/ 1931 Germany.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primm Examiner.

S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 3. AN ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTING PIECES OF CLOTH COMPRISING, A RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPENING AT THE TOP THEREOF FOR ADMITTING SAID PIECES OF CLOTH INTO SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING A CUTOUT AT THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ENDLESS CONVEYOR MEANS ADAPTED TO TRANSPORT SAID PIECES OF CLOTH, ONE END OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CUTOUT INTO SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID RECEPTACLE, A ROTATABLE ROLLER SECURED TO SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID RECEPTACLE, A STAND SPACED FROM SAID RECEPTACLE, ANOTHER ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID STAND, SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING BOTH OF SAID ROLLERS, A HOUSING INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CABINETS, EACH OF SAID CABINETS HAVING A FRONT PORTION, A BACK PORTION, A TOP PORTION, SAID SIDE PORTIONS AND SAID BOTTOM PORTION, SAID FRONT PORTION OF SAID CABINET HAVING A NUMBER OF VERTICALLY POSITIONED RECTANGULAR OPENINGS, ENDLESS BELT MEANS INLCUDING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED PICK-UP BELTS POSITIONED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID PICK-UP BELTS POSITIONED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THEY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID PIECES OF CLOTH THROUGH SAID OPENINGS, EACH OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID HOUSING HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN, SAID PICK-UP BELTS ADAPTED TO EXTEND OUTSIDE OF SAID HOUSING THROUGH SAID OPENINGS IN SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID HOUSING, SAID DRIVING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST GROUP OF ROLLERS AND TENSIONING ROLLERS AND A SECOND GROUP OF ROLLERS AND TENSIONING ROLLERS, BOTH GROUPS BEING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FROM EACH OTHER, ENDLESS PICK-UP BELT ADAPTED TO OPERATIVELY ENGAGE ONE ROLLER FROM SAID SECOND GROUP, COUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A LIGHT SOURCE UNIT, A PHOTOCELL AND AN ELECTRIC COUNTER, SAID LIGHT SOURCE UNIT ADAPTED TO PROJECT A LIGHT BEAM ON SAID PHOTOCELL, SAID COUNTING MEANS ATTACHED AT SAID OPENINGS OF SAID CABINETS WHEREBY NUMERICAL VALUES

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