Article handling and advancing

A system for receiving articles fed thereto sequentially at random rates, temporarily storing the articles, and advancing the articles therefrom sequentially at a constant rate of feed to an article processing machine, includes a rotatable magazine having a plurality of storage cylinders rotatable about a common axis, an escapement mechanism for directing an article to an empty cylinder and capable of displacement relative to the magazine, and means for sequentially ejecting the articles from the cylinders in timed relation with the operation of a further article processing machine.

BACKGROUND, BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to a system for receiving, at random, 
discrete articles from a source, while simultaneously discharging 
therefrom, sequentially, the discrete articles at a constant rate of feed. 
More particularly, the invention includes a system having a rotary 
magazine or turret assembly for receiving discrete articles advanced 
thereto at random by a operator, temporarily storing the articles within 
the rotary magazine and subsequently feeding sequentially the articles 
therefrom at a constant rate and/or in timed relation with other 
processing or packaging equipment. 
The system is of particular importance where articles are to be directed to 
a loading station of an article packaging machine operating at a constant 
rate of feed, as disclosed, for example, in copending U.S. Pat. 
Application Ser. No. 908,231 filed May 22, 1978 of J. Frank King, and 
assigned to the assignee of the present invention. 
Although the invention will be described in conjunction with a constant 
supply or advancement of articles, particularly hosiery articles such as 
pantyhose garments, to a packaging machine, the invention may have general 
application in the handling and/or packaging of various other articles, 
particularly where it is desirable to direct randomly fed articles to a 
machine at a constant rate of feed. 
Briefly, an operator randomly positions, sequentially, pantyhose garments 
adjacent the opening of a fluid conveyor. Air currents convey each garment 
through a loading conduit which is displaceable to present each garment to 
an empty receiver or cylinder of a plurality of storage cylinders defining 
a storage magazine. 
The storage cylinders defining the magazine are arranged in generally 
parallel, side-by-side relation for rotation about a common axis. The exit 
end of the loading conduit is capable of displacement within an arc of 
approximately 300 degrees relative to the magazine to present a garment to 
an empty storage cylinder. The magazine preferably is driven at a constant 
rate of speed in timed relation with an associated packaging or other 
selected machine, and when an operator feeds the garments to the end of 
the loading tube and subsequently to the storage cylinders of the magazine 
at a rate faster than the garments are fed from the storage cylinders to a 
packaging machine, the displaceable loading tube swings through an arc in 
a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the magazine. The 
constantly rotating magazine sequentially presents each individual storage 
cylinder in alignment with a discharge tube where an air pressure 
differential directs the garment from the storage cylinder, through the 
discharge tube. 
The constant rate of feed of the garments of the magazine through the 
discharge tube into a packaging machine must correspond to the rate of 
garment packaging by the packaging machine in order to prevent the 
possibility of the packaging machine forming a container package without a 
garment therein. For example, if the packaging machine is capable of 
packaging sixty garments per minute, a corresponding number of garments 
must be removed from the magazine and directed through the discharge tube 
to a loading station where the garments are sequentially directed to 
article receiving members on the packaging machine. Consequently, an 
operator must feed an average of sixty garments per minute to the fluid 
conveyor opening, although the operator may feed the garments at widely 
vary rates. 
One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a system 
for receiving sequentially randomly fed articles, temporarily storing the 
articles, and discharging the articles sequentially at a constant rate of 
feed to a processing apparatus. 
Another object of the invention is a provision of a system for insuring the 
desired feeding of articles to a packaging apparatus while eliminating 
significant control by an operator. 
A further object of the invention is the provision of the reliable, durable 
and economical system for advancing articles in a controlled manner to a 
processing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, reference numeral 
10 designates a packaging machine preferably of the type described in 
copending patent application Ser. No. 908,231, filed May 22, 1978. The 
apparatus for loading or directing articles to the machine 10 includes an 
article support and guide assembly 12, a loading tube assembly 14, a 
magazine assembly 16, an escapement assembly 18 and an ejector assembly 
20. The various assemblies are mounted upon a support frame 22. 
The article support and guide assembly 12 is designed to include a table 
top 24 for supporting a plurality of pantyhose garments and an inclined, 
V-shaped guide surface 26 for facilitating directing a garment to the 
fixed suction tube 28 of the loading tube assembly 14. An operator stands 
adjacent the surface 24 for picking up individual garments and feeding 
them, at random, sequentially, to the open end of suction tube 28. 
Preferably, the garments are aligned in a generally parallel fashion upon 
the surface 24 such that an operator can pick up a garment adjacent the 
waist band and the suction in the tube 28 draws the garment into the tube 
28 preferably with the toe portion being drawn in first. 
The garments are directed individually to the magazine assembly 16 by the 
loading tube assembly 14 which includes the fixed tube 28, an air ejector 
30 and the loading tube 32. The ejector 30, which is of any suitable 
conventional construction and may be of the type as illustrated by FIG. 4, 
is fixedly mounted above the table top 24 by a bracket 34 secured to the 
frame 22. While one end portion of the ejector 30 has the tube 28 secured 
thereto, the opposite end of the ejector supports, for rotation relative 
thereto, the loading tube 32. As best shown by FIG. 2, the loading tube 32 
includes one end portion 36 which is axially aligned with and supported 
for rotation, in a conventional manner, relative to the ejector 30, a 
second end portion 38 which is parallel to and radially offset relative to 
the axis of rotation of end portion 36, and an elongated intermediate 
portion 41. Thus the outer end portion 38 of the loading tube 32 is 
capable of swinging within an arc of approximately 300 degrees, as will be 
later described. Also, it is to be noted that in the feeding of hosiery 
garments, for example, the loading tube 32 preferably should be at least 
as long as the length of the garments being directed therethrough. 
The magazine assembly 16 includes a plurality of storage cylinders 40 
arranged parallel to each other in a generally circular arrangement, see 
FIG. 3. Eight storage cylinders have been illustrated. However, the number 
of cylinders may vary depending upon the type and size of articles and the 
speed and proficiency of an operator. The apparatus will be described with 
the number of storage cylinders 40 being equal to the number of article 
receiving stations provided on the packaging machine. 
The cylinders 40 are supported by spaced, parallel disks 42, 44 and each 
cylinder is biased into abutment with a fixed plate 47. 
Each of the cylinders 40 is slidably supported within aligned openings 
provided in spaced disks 42 and 44. The disks 42, 44, in turn, are fixed 
for rotation with and driven upon rotation of shaft 46 which passes 
axially through the disks. The shaft 46 is driven through conventional 
drive belt and chain assemblies 49 from the shaft 48, FIG. 1. In turn, the 
shaft 48 is directly driven from, or in timed relation with, a drive motor 
51 which may be the drive motor of a processing machine such as, for 
example, the packaging machine 10. 
The end portion of each cylinder 40 intermediate the fixed, plate 47 and 
the disk 42 is provided with a plurality of apertures 50. The apertures 50 
in each storage cylinder 40 are large enough to permit the escape of air 
therethrough as a garment or other article is forced along the cylinder by 
air pressure, and small enough to retain the garment or article within the 
storage cylinder. 
A tension spring 52 is provided for each storage cylinder 40 for urging the 
cylinders 40 to the left, FIGS. 1 and 2. One end of each spring is 
attached to the disk 42 while the other end is attached to a collar 54 
encircling and fixed to an associated cylinder 40. Upon rotation of the 
disks 42, 44 and the cylinders 40 about shaft 46, ends of the cylinders 
slidably engaged the fixed plate 47. The plate 47 is provided with opening 
53 in the lower portion thereof for permitting a garment or other article 
to pass therethrough upon being discharged from the cylinders 40 as the 
cylinders rotate about shaft 46 to a position in alignment with the plate 
opening. 
The discharge tube assembly 20 includes a first conduit 56 fixed relative 
to the rotary magazine assembly and having a flared end portion 58 and an 
end portion connected to a fluid ejector 60. The flared end portion 58 
encompasses the opening 53 in stationary plate 47 for receiving and 
guiding garments or other articles forced from temporary storage cylinders 
40 and through the opening in plate 47. A discharge tube 62 has one end 
attached to the ejector 60 while the opposite end 64 directs the garment 
or article to a desired location, which, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, is 
positioned to sequentially discharge articles into the open upper ends of 
loading tubes 66 displacable along a path below the tube end 64. 
The ejector 60 which may be of the type illustrated schematically by FIG. 
4, serves to create air currents within a particular storage cylinder 40 
having a garment or other article therein and aligned with a conduit 56 
and the opening 53 through plate 47 for removing the article from the 
cylinder 40 and directing it from the end 64 of conduit 62. An air nozzle 
68, FIG. 3, operates in timed relation with the ejector 60 and serves to 
assist the ejector in removing an article from the lowermost cylinder 40, 
FIGS. 1 and 2, by directing an air blast into the open end of the 
cylinder. The nozzle 68 is fixedly mounted upon the bracket 70 which 
supports one end of shaft 46. 
The escapement assembly 18 includes a plurality of teeth or stop shoulders 
72 equally spaced around the outer periphery of the rotatable disk 44, as 
best illustrated by FIG. 3, and a cylinder operated latch assembly 74. The 
number of shoulders 72 corresponds to the cylinders 40 in the magazine. 
Each shoulder is provided with a stop or bumper 75 which preferably is of 
rubber or other suitable construction. The latch assembly 74 includes a 
support consisting of arm sections 76, 78 and a drum 80 secured together 
and fixed upon shaft 46 for rotation therewith. The arm section 78 is 
provided with an opening, having a diameter substantially corresponding to 
the outer diameter of the tube end portion 38, for receiving and 
supporting the outer end of loading tube 32. A latch roller 84, FIG. 3, is 
mounted upon linkage 86, which, in turn, is pivotably mounted upon a pin 
88 passing through arm section 78. The latch roller 84 is actuated by a 
fluid cylinder 90, rigidly secured to the arm section 78 by fastener 92, 
and coupled to the linkage 86. A counterbalance weight 94 is secured to 
the outermost end of arm section 76. The escapement assembly 18 including 
arm sections 76, 78 and latch assembly 74 are urged in a counterclockwise 
direction, FIG. 3, by means of a flexible member 82 wound around drum 80 
and having a weight 96 attached to the opposite end portion. This urges 
the latch roller 84 into engagement with an abutment 75 at all times 
except during brief actuation of fluid cylinder 90 whereby the roller 84 
moves outwardly over the engaged abutment 75. Fluid pressure in the 
cylinder 90 operates to lift roller 84 over a shoulder 75, and since the 
fluid cylinder is of the type provided with a return spring 91 for 
pivoting the linkage 86 and urging the roller 84 radially inwardly into 
engagement with an adjacent stop member 75. The fluid cylinder 90 is 
actuated by solenoid controlled valve 110, FIG. 7, which is controlled by 
a photoelectric sensor 112, FIGS. 3 and 5, in response to the displacement 
of an article or garment through the loading tube 32. 
The arm 96, having a roller 98 mounted on the outer end, is fastened to 
bracket 70 and serves as a safety device to engage linkage 86 and raise 
latch roller 84 out of engagement with the abutments 75 when the 
escapement assembly rotates clockwise, FIG. 3, and rotation is not 
arrested by the control system to be subsequently described. 
Supported from the frame assembly 22 is a pair of spaced, upstanding 
supports 100, 102, each having a sensor mounted adjacent the upper end. 
The support 100 houses the sensor 103 of a photocell 104, which is adapted 
to be actuated by the positioning of arm 78 and the support 102 houses the 
sensor 105 of photocell 106 which is actuated upon rotation of assembly 74 
to a prescribed location. 
While the revolutions per minute of the magazine and the turntable 
supporting loading tube 66 may vary, depending upon the desired results 
and the limitations of the various components, a garment must be 
discharged from a cylinder 40 by air currents and directed into a loading 
tube 66 of machine 10 as each tube 66 passes beneath the open end of 
discharge tube 62. If a garment is not discharged into a loading tube 66 
as it is positioned beneath the discharge tube 62, the drive for the 
machine 10 must stop to prevent processing of unfilled containers. 
Termination of the drive motor 51 of machine 10 also stops rotation of the 
magazine assembly 16 due to the connections 48, 49 which drive the 
rotation of the tubes 66 and the cylinders 40 in timed relation. 
The number of cylinders 40 supported by the magazine disks 42, 44 may vary 
depending upon the efficiency and/or average loading pace of an operator. 
Since an operator feeds the garments to the suction tube 28 at varying 
rates, the magazine must be capable of temporarily storing garments within 
the cylinders in order to insure that garments are discharged sequentially 
from the magazine at a constant rate. 
The operation of the system will be described with respect to a specific 
example. Assuming that the loading tubes 66 pass beneath discharge tube 62 
at the rate of 60 per minute, an operator must be capable of feeding an 
average of 60 garments per minute to a suction tube 28. However, the 
operator feeds garments at widely varying rates, possibly a maximum rate 
of 70 garments per minute for a short period of time and at a slower rate 
of from 0 to 60 garments per minute. Considering that the magazine has 
eight cylinders and the machine 10 has eight loading tubes, the loading 
tube turntable and the magazine 16 must rotate at 7.5 revolutions per 
minute in order to package 60 garments per minute. 
As an operator feeds a garment to the entrance of loading tube 26, air 
currents generated by the air amplifier 30 forces the garment through tube 
32 and into an empty cylinder 40 which is aligned with the end 38 of 
loading tube 32. Air pressure escapes from the cylinder through openings 
50. Normally, the escapement assembly 18 is being driven clockwise, FIG. 
3, with the driven disk 44 of the magazine since a shoulder or stop abuts 
the latch roller 84. As the garment passes the sensor of photocell 112 
mounted adjacent the end of loading tube 32, the solenoid valve 110 is 
activated which controls the fluid cylinder 90 thus instantaneously and 
temporarily displacing latch roller 84 outwardly of the adjacent stop 
member 75 permitting the arms 76, 78 and latch assembly 74 to rotate 
counterclockwise, due to the weight 96 which acts upon drum 80, until the 
latch roller abuts the next adjacent stop member 75. If the operator feeds 
garments at a constant rate of 60 per minute, the escapement mechanism 
would oscillate within an angle of approximately 40.degree.-45.degree. 
degrees generally in the same area. Assuming that the operator feeds 
garments at a greater rate, for example 70 garments per minute, the 
escapement assembly must rotate counterclockwise at a rate of 1.25 
revolutions per minute relative to the clockwise rotation of the magazine 
assembly 16 to present 70 loading cylinders per minute to the operator for 
loading. The escapement assembly 18 of the present invention cannot rotate 
continuously and must rotate or oscillate within an arc of approximately 
300.degree.. In the event the escapement assembly rotates 
counterclockwise, a direction counter to the rotation of cylinder 40 until 
all available cylinders 40 are filled, the photocell sensor 103 detects 
the presence of arm 78 and the air source directed to amplifier 30 is 
deactivated. If the operator does not feed garments, the escapement 
remains at a generally fixed position relative to the rotating magazine 
assembly. When the last garment in the cylinder 40 immediately preceding 
the arm 78 is ejected from the cylinder 40, the sensor 105 will detect the 
presence of arm 78 and through photocell 106 stop the drive motor 51. The 
drive motor 51 remains deactivated while the sensor 112 is awaiting 
another garment to be fed into the loading tube. As soon as a garment is 
advanced through the loading tube and detected by sensor 112, the loading 
tube 32 immediately steps backward (counterclockwise, FIG. 3) to present 
the loading tube to a new and open magazine tube 40. This continues for 
all eight magazine tubes or until the loading tube has been rotated 
counterclockwise approximately 300 degrees. When the photocell 104 is 
actuated due to the presence of arm 76 adjacent sensor 103, the motor 51 
and machine starts and it continues to run until the loading tube moves 
approximately 300 degrees in the other direction until arm 78 is detected 
by sensor 105 of photocell 106. 
The solenoid operated valve 114 and the solenoid operated valves 116, 118 
are operated in timed relation with the rotation of the magazine 16 and/or 
the machine 10 in a conventional manner to provide an air blast at 68 and 
air currents through amplifier 60, respectively. Solenoid operated valves 
120 and 122 control the air applied to amplifier 30. 
It is to be noted that the escapement assembly may be urged in a 
counterclockwise direction by a spring or other suitable means, rather 
than a weight, and the passage of a garment through loading tube 32 may be 
detected by a switch arm rather than a photocell.