Stacking of folded gloves

Abstract

A glove stacking apparatus forming a stack folded gloves has a supporting surface for supporting the stack as folded gloves are added to the stack along a stacking axis. First and second flaps are pivotable about first and second pivot axes opposite first and second sides of a glove stacking area. The supporting surface is relatively movable as folded gloves are added to the stack. A cyclic flap actuation system is configured to drive a folding action of each flap in which the flaps alternately pivot about the corresponding pivot axis so that each flap folds a first portion of a deposited glove overlapping a flap towards a second portion of the glove at the glove stacking area; the folding action alternating as gloves are added to the stack. Each flap in addition to being pivotable is also laterally movable both towards and away from the stacking area.

Claims

1. A glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of folded gloves, comprising: a supporting surface for supporting said stack as folded gloves are added to the stack along a stacking axis; a first flap pivotable about a first pivot axis and a second flap pivotable about a second pivot axis, said first and second flaps pivotable about first and second pivot axes being disposed on corresponding opposite first and second sides of a glove stacking area within which gloves folded by said flaps are, in use, added to the stack, the supporting surface being relatively movable with respect to said glove stacking area along said stacking axis away from said glove stacking area as said folded gloves are added to the stack and wherein each flap, in addition to being pivotable about the corresponding axis, is also laterally movable both towards and away from the glove stacking area and comprises a plurality of fingers for folding a first portion of a deposited glove overlapping said flap, said fingers extending in a lengthwise direction and being separated by gaps; a cyclic flap actuator, configured for driving each flap through a plurality of cycles of movement of the flap comprising a folding cycle, a withdrawing cycle and a returning cycle, wherein during said folding cycle, said cyclic flap actuator is configured to drive a folding action of each flap in which said flaps alternately pivot about the corresponding pivot axis from a first orientation in which said flap is positioned on its corresponding side of the glove stacking area to a second orientation in which said flap extends over the glove stacking area, whereby each flap when in the first orientation is configured to fold said first portion of said deposited glove overlapping said flap towards a second portion of said glove deposited at the glove stacking area as said flap pivots to the second orientation, the folding action of said flaps alternating as gloves are added to the stack; wherein said cyclic flap actuator is configured for subsequent to driving said folding cycle of each flap, and during said withdrawing cycle, to drive a withdrawing action of each flap in which said flaps are alternately withdrawn from the glove stacking area, said flap to be withdrawn being maintained in the second orientation while being laterally moved away from the glove stacking area along said lengthwise direction until said fingers are withdrawn from the glove stacking area; and wherein said cyclic flap actuator is configured for subsequent to driving said withdrawing cycle of each flap, and during said returning cycle, to drive a returning action of each flap in which said previously withdrawn flap is pivoted about the pivot axis and laterally returned to the first orientation ready for the next folding action, whereby the flap actuator completes a cycle; and wherein said glove stacking apparatus further comprises a first supporting platform and a second supporting platform, said first and second supporting platforms being disposed, respectively on said opposite first and second sides of the glove stacking area for supporting said first portion of a deposited glove prior to folding of said first portion by the fingers of the corresponding flap, each supporting platform having a plurality of slots therein, the slots of each platform being aligned with the fingers of the corresponding flap to accommodate movement of said fingers during said cycle of the flap actuator.

2. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the fingers of said flap, when in its first orientation, extend away from the corresponding side of the glove stacking area.

3. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the fingers of said flap extend substantially perpendicular to the corresponding pivot axis.

4. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed claim 1, in which said fingers extend substantially perpendicularly away from a pivot shaft on which said fingers are mounted, said pivot shaft being rotatable about said pivot axis, and the flap in said returning action is laterally returned to the first orientation by moving the pivot shaft towards the corresponding side of the glove stacking area.

5. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which each pivot shaft moves laterally beneath the corresponding supporting platform as the flap actuator drives each flap throughout said cycle of movement of each flap.

6. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each platform has an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being configured to provide said support to said first portion of a deposited glove, said withdrawing cycle of each flap taking place beneath the lower surface.

7. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each flap, during the returning cycle simultaneously pivots about the corresponding pivot axis and moves laterally such that the pivot axis moves towards the glove stacking area.

8. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the fingers of said flap, when in its first orientation, extend substantially parallel with the corresponding side of the glove stacking area.

9. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the fingers of said flap extend substantially parallel to the corresponding pivot axis.

10. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said fingers extend in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to a pivot shaft on which said fingers are mounted, said pivot shaft being rotatable about said pivot axis, and the flap in said returning action is laterally returned to the first orientation by moving the pivot shaft towards the corresponding side of glove stacking area.

11. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said flap in said first orientation extends from the corresponding pivot axis in a direction away from the glove stacking axis to a second orientation in which said flap extends from the corresponding pivot axis in a direction towards the glove stacking area.

12. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said fingers of each flap pass through the slots of the corresponding platform during the folding action of said flap.

13. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the withdrawing cycle of each flap does not occur until after the folding cycle of the other flap, whereby the fingers of both flaps are in contact with the stack until said withdrawing cycle has occurred.

14. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which at least one finger of each flap is aligned with a corresponding gap of the other flap when both flaps are in contact with the stack.

15. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the width of each one of said gaps in each flap is greater than the width of the finger in the other flap with which said gap is aligned.

16. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the flap actuator is configured to maintain each flap in the second orientation after each folding cycle to apply a downward pressure to said stack until after the other flap has completed a subsequent folding cycle.

17. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one flap applies a compressive force to said stack at all times during the alternate folding of gloves as gloves are added to the stack.

18. The glove stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each flap comprises a base portion, the fingers extending away from the base portion of said flap.

19. A method of forming a stack of folded gloves using a glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of folded gloves, the glove stacking apparatus including a supporting surface for supporting said stack as folded gloves are added to the stack along a stacking axis; a first flap pivotable about a first pivot axis and a second flap pivotable about a second pivot axis, said axes also being laterally movable with respect to a glove stacking area within which gloves folded by said flaps are, in use, added to said stack, said first and second axes being disposed on corresponding opposite first and second sides of a glove stacking area and the flap comprising a plurality of fingers; a cyclic flap actuator, configured for driving each flap through a plurality of cycles of movement comprising a folding cycle, a withdrawing cycle and a returning cycle, wherein during said folding cycle, said cyclic flap actuator is configured to drive a folding action of each flap in which said flaps alternately pivot about the corresponding pivot axis; and a first supporting platform and a second supporting platform, said first and second platforms being disposed, respectively on said opposite first and second sides of the glove stacking area, the first supporting platform being configured to be used in conjunction with the first flap and the second supporting platform being configured to be used in conjunction with the second flap, each supporting platform having a plurality of slots therein, wherein the method comprises the acts of: depositing a sequence of gloves to be folded into a stack by said apparatus, each glove having a first portion and a second portion, one of said portions being a finger portion and the other of said portions being a cuff portion, the first portion of each glove being deposited, alternately, at one or the other of said platforms and the second portion of each glove being deposited at the glove stacking area; when a glove is deposited with the first portion at the first platform, using the first platform to support said glove and using the flap actuator to pivot the fingers of the first flap about the first pivot axis in said folding cycle of said flap to lift said first portion off the first platform and to fold said first portion towards the glove stacking area until the fingers of the first flap extend over the glove stacking area, said folded glove thereby being added at the top of the stack of folded gloves; when a glove is deposited with the first portion at the second platform, using the second platform to support said glove and using the flap actuator to pivot the fingers of the second flap about the second pivot axis in a folding action of said flap to lift said first portion off the second platform and fold said first portion towards the glove stacking area until the fingers of the second flap extend over the glove stacking area, said folded glove thereby being added at the top of the stack of folded gloves; as said alternately folded gloves are added to the stack of folded gloves, using the supporting surface to support said stack while relatively moving the supporting surface away from the glove stacking area so that the top of said stack remains substantially level with said pivot axes so that said flaps may continue to alternately fold and add to said stack subsequently deposited gloves; after each folding cycle, using the flap actuator to drive said withdrawing cycle of the corresponding flap in which said fingers are laterally withdrawn towards a side of the glove stacking area, said fingers thereby being withdrawn from said stack; after each withdrawing cycle, using said flap actuator to pivot and laterally move said flap in said returning cycle of the corresponding flap to return said flap to a position ready for a subsequent folding action; and either during the folding cycle or during the returning cycle of each flap, passing the fingers of said flap through the slots in the corresponding supporting platform.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which the method comprises, for each one of said flaps, after the folding cycle of said flap and prior to the subsequent to said withdrawing cycle of said flap, the step of depositing the subsequent glove with the second portion of said subsequently deposited glove overlying the fingers of said flap atop a previously folded glove at the glove stacking area and the first portion of said subsequently deposited glove being supported on the supporting platform used in conjunction with said flap until following said subsequent withdrawing cycle of said flap the first portion of said subsequently deposited glove is lifted from said platform in the subsequent folding cycle of said flap.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which the method comprises, for each one of said flaps, after said step of depositing said subsequent glove and prior to said subsequent withdrawing action and subsequent folding action of said flap, the step of using the flap actuator to pivot the fingers of the other one of said flaps in an interleaving folding action to fold the first portion of the previously deposited glove over the second portion of said subsequently deposited glove, whereby the first portion of each glove within the stack is sandwiched between adjacent second portions and the second portion of each glove within the stack is sandwiched between adjacent first portions of glove.

22. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which each pivot axis rotates and moves laterally beneath the level of the corresponding supporting platform.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, in which the fingers of each flap are initially pivoted upwardly through said slots during the folding action of each flap and then pivoted downwardly towards the glove stacking area.

24. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which following each folding cycle, each flap applies a downwards pressure to said stack through the fingers of said flap until said fingers are withdrawn from the stack during the withdrawing cycle.

25. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which following each folding cycle, the fingers of each one of said flaps are maintained in contact with said first portion folded by said flap until after the subsequent folding cycle of the other one of said flaps, whereby the fingers of both flaps are at times during the cycle of the flap actuator simultaneously in contact with the corresponding folded gloves of said stack.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, in which the fingers of each one of said flaps are interlaced with the fingers of the other one of said flaps, whereby the fingers of each of said flaps do not bear directly on the fingers of the other one of said flaps when both are in contact with the corresponding folded gloves of said stack.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of folded gloves in a first preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising a glove stacking station having a pair of flaps on opposite sides of an opening to a glove packing recess in which gloves are alternately folded inwards to form an interfolded stack of gloves;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view from above of the glove stacking station of FIG. 1, with no gloves held by the recess showing how the flaps each have a plurality of fingers that extend substantially perpendicularly from a pivot shaft, and which are interlaced when both are folded over the glove packing recess, and showing how an adjacent pair of supporting platforms each has a series of slots aligned and sized to allow passage of the fingers through the platforms;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the glove stacking apparatus of FIG. 1, showing how a controller controls the operation of a number of actuators including a rotational actuator and a linear actuator for each of the flaps and a linear actuator for moving a floor of the packing recess away from a glove stacking folding area proximate the top of the packing recess;

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective and front side views of the packing recess, supporting platforms and flaps in an initial orientation prior to folding and stacking of gloves;

(6) FIGS. 4C and 4D are schematic cross-section views of the apparatus of FIG. 4A, showing how a first glove is deposited partially over a first flap and the associated supporting platform and partially over the glove stacking area, followed by deposition of a second glove over a second flap and the associated supporting platform and partially over the first glove at the stacking area, the fingers of each flap being directed away from the glove stacking area;

(7) FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the apparatus of FIG. 4A, showing how the first flap fingers are pivoted through and upwardly away from the first supporting platform;

(8) FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are perspective, front side and lateral side views following from FIGS. 5A and 5B, showing further pivoting of the flap fingers towards vertical;

(9) FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective and front side views, following from FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing further pivoting of the flap fingers towards substantially horizontal over the glove stacking area, thereby completing a folding action of the first flap;

(10) FIG. 7C is a schematic cross-section view of the apparatus of FIG. 7A, showing how the folding action of the first flap folds a first portion of the first deposited glove overlapping the first supporting platform over a second portion of the second deposited glove overlying the glove stacking area;

(11) FIG. 7D is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 7C, showing how a third glove is deposited with a first portion of this glove overlapping the first supporting platform and a second portion of this glove lying above the first flap and over the first folded glove at the glove stacking area;

(12) FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective and front side views, following from FIGS. 7A and 7B, showing how the second flap is then pivoted upwards through the second platform slots and towards the glove stacking area;

(13) FIG. 9A is a perspective view following from FIG. 8A, showing how the fingers of the second flap are then pivoted to be substantially horizontal at the glove stacking area, thereby completing a folding action of the second flap;

(14) FIG. 9B is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 7D, showing how the second flap folds the first portion of the second deposited glove on top of the second portion of the third deposited glove, following which the fingers of both flaps press downwardly at the same time on the forming folded stack of gloves;

(15) FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective and front side views, following from FIG. 9A, showing how a pivot axis of the first flap is held in a fixed rotational orientation while the pivot shaft and flap fingers are moved laterally away from the stack of gloves so that the first flap fingers start to withdraw from between the adjacent folded glove portions;

(16) FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective and front side views, following from FIGS. 10A and 10B, showing how the first flap continues to be laterally moved until the flap fingers are fully clear of the glove stack, thereby completing a withdrawing action of the first flap;

(17) FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective and front side views, following from FIGS. 11A and 11B, showing how the fingers of the first flap are then pivoted downwardly about the pivot axis;

(18) FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective and front side views, following from FIGS. 12A and 12B, showing how the fingers of the first flap continue to pivot until the fingers extend vertically downwards;

(19) FIG. 13C is a is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 9B, showing how, after the withdrawing action of the first flap, a fourth glove is deposited with a first portion of this glove overlapping the second supporting platform and a second portion of this glove lying above the second flap and over the second folded glove at the glove stacking area;

(20) FIGS. 14 and 15 are front side views, following from FIG. 10B, showing how the first flap continues to pivot about the first pivot axis while the same time the first pivot axis is moved laterally back towards the glove stack;

(21) FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective and front side views, following from FIG. 15, showing how the first flap continues to pivot and move laterally until the first flap is positioned in the same initial position of FIG. 4A, thereby completing a returning action of the first flap and a first full cycle of movement for the first flap;

(22) FIG. 16C is a is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 13C, showing how the first flap, having completed the first full cycle, is oriented to fold the first portion of the third deposited glove in the next folding action;

(23) FIG. 17 is a front side view, following from FIG. 16B, showing how the first flap fingers then pass through the slots in the first supporting platform and pivot towards the glove stacking area, while the second flap fingers remain in a substantially horizontal orientation;

(24) FIGS. 18A and 18B are perspective and front side views, following from FIG. 17, showing further pivoting of the flap fingers towards substantially horizontal over the glove stacking area, thereby completing another folding action of the first flap;

(25) FIG. 18C is a is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 16C, showing how the first flap folds the first portion of the third deposited glove on top of the second portion of the fourth deposited glove, following which the fingers of both flaps press downwardly at the same time on the forming folded stack of gloves;

(26) FIG. 19 is a front side view, following from FIG. 18B, showing how a pivot axis of the second flap is then held in a fixed rotational orientation while being moved laterally away from the stack of gloves so that the second flap fingers start to withdraw from between the adjacent folded glove portions;

(27) FIGS. 20A and 20B are perspective and front side views, following from FIG. 19, showing how the second flap continues to be laterally moved until the flap fingers are fully clear of the glove stack, thereby completing a withdrawing action of the second flap;

(28) FIG. 20C is a is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 18C showing how, after the withdrawing action of the second flap, a fifth glove is deposited with a first portion of this glove overlapping the first supporting platform and a second portion of this glove lying above the first flap and over the third folded glove at the glove stacking area, during which time the second flap pivots and laterally moves in a subsequent returning action;

(29) FIGS. 21 to 23 are front side views, following from FIG. 20B, showing how the fingers of the second flap are then pivoted downwardly about the pivot axis until past vertical when the pivot axis starts to move laterally back towards the stack until the pivot axis has returned to its initial position with the flap fingers substantially horizontal, thereby completing the returning action of the second flap and a first full cycle of movement for the second flap;

(30) FIG. 24 is a front side view and 25 is a is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 23 showing how, after the returning action of the second flap, the fingers of the second flap start to fold the fourth glove in the next folding action;

(31) FIGS. 26A and 26B are perspective and front side views, following from FIG. 24, showing how the second flap pivots fully until the flap fingers are substantially horizontal over the glove stacking area, thereby completing another folding action of the second flap;

(32) FIG. 27 shows in plan view a glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of folded gloves in a second preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising a glove stacking station having a pair of flaps on opposite sides of the opening to the glove packing recess for containing alternately folded gloves, the flaps having fingers that extend substantially parallel rather than perpendicular to the pivot axis;

(33) FIGS. 28 and 29 show how, in the second embodiment, a first glove is deposited partially over the first flap and the associated supporting platform and partially over the glove stacking area, followed by deposition of a second glove over the second flap and the associated supporting platform and partially over the first glove at the glove stacking area, the fingers of each flap being directed away from the glove stacking area;

(34) FIG. 30 shows how the first flap fingers are pivoted through and upwardly away from the first supporting platform to fold a second, cuff portion of the first glove over a first, finger portion of the second glove;

(35) FIG. 31 shows how a third glove is deposited with a first, cuff portion of this glove overlapping the first supporting platform and a second, finger portion of this glove lying above the first flap and over the first folded glove at the glove stacking area;

(36) FIG. 32 shows how the second flap is then pivoted to fold the first, cuff portion of the second deposited glove over the second, finger portion of the third deposited glove;

(37) FIG. 33 shows how a pivot axis of the first flap is held in a fixed rotational orientation while the pivot shaft and flap fingers are moved laterally away froth the stack of gloves so that the first flap fingers start to withdraw from between the adjacent folded glove portions; and

(38) FIG. 34 shows how the first flap is returned to the initial position, by first rotating and then by moving laterally back towards the initial orientation ready for the next folding action, during which action a fourth glove is deposited over the second flap and the associated supporting platform and partially over the cuff portion of second deposited glove at the glove stacking area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(39) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a glove stacking apparatus 1 in the process of forming a stack 2 of ambidextrous folded gloves 10. A central portion of the apparatus in which the gloves are folded and stacked is referred to herein as a glove stacking and folding station 4. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the station 4 prior to any gloves being provided to the station, and FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the apparatus 1.

(40) The apparatus 1 comprises a supporting base or surface 6 for supporting the stack 2 as folded gloves 10 are added to the stack along a stacking axis 8, which in this example is a vertically orientated axis. As shown in the schematic cross-sections starting with FIG. 4C, in this example the supporting surface is supported ultimately by a movable floor 12. The supporting surface 6 as illustrated is provided by a packing plate 14 which rests on the movable floor. Optionally, there may also be a thin paper or plastic packing sleeve 15 atop the packing plate, as shown in dashed outline in FIG. 4C, to prevent folded gloves from becoming trapped between the packing plate or floor and adjacent side wall surfaces 16 of a packing recess 17. In this case, an upper surface 6 of the packing sleeve would provide the supporting surface. The operation and form of such a packing recess, packing sleeve, packing plate and movable floor, together with a rigid packing box into which the completed stack is ejected and compressed, is described more fully in patent documents WO 2010/020782 A2, WO 2011/048414 A1 and WO 2014/037701 A1, the contents of which in this regard are therefore incorporated in this specification by reference. From these documents, the skilled person will appreciate that the recess may take other forms than that illustrated.

(41) The apparatus 1 comprises a first flap 18 pivotable about a first pivot axis 19 and a second flap 18 pivotable about a second pivot axis 19, these axes being parallel with each other and perpendicular with and laterally offset from the stacking axis 8. The first and second axes 19, 19 are disposed on corresponding opposite first and second sides 21, 21 of a glove stacking area 20 within which gloves 10 folded by the flaps are, in use, added to the stack 2. The glove stacking area is shown schematically with cross-hatching in FIG. 3, and has a shape defined by the opening to the packing recess 17. The supporting surface 6 is relatively movable along the stacking axis 8. In this example, this is done by moving the floor 12 away from the glove stacking area 20 as folded gloves 10 are added to the stack 2.

(42) The apparatus comprises a cyclic flap actuation system 25, shown schematically in dashed outline in FIG. 3, that is configured to automatically drive a folding action of each flap 18, 18 in which the flaps alternately pivot 27, 27 about the corresponding pivot axis 19, 19 between a first orientation in which each flap extends from the corresponding pivot axis 19, 19 in a direction away from the glove stacking axis 8 to a second orientation in which each flap extends from the corresponding pivot axis 19, 19 in a direction towards the glove stacking axis 8. The flaps are preferably long enough such that the flaps in the second Orientation extend beyond the glove stacking axis.

(43) In this example, each flap 18, 18 always pivots in the same direction, the handedness of the pivoting movement always being opposite for the two flaps.

(44) Each flap 18, 18, when in the first orientation, is configured to fold a first portion 3 of a deposited glove 10 overlapping the flap towards a second portion 5 of the glove that has been deposited at the glove stacking area 20 as the flap pivots to the second orientation. This automatic folding action of the flaps alternates as gloves are added to the stack, such that glove folds are formed alternately, at the first and second sides 21, 21 of the glove stacking area 20.

(45) In this example, the glove first and second portions 3, 5 are, respectively, cuff and finger portions of each glove 10, and will therefore for the sake of clarity only be referred to as such in the following description. The stacking process described below forms an interfolded stack of gloves which, when packed into a box dispensing container or bag-like dispensing container having a dispensing aperture, will dispense gloves cuff-first from a dispensing end of the stack, which would, in this example, be the top end of the stack as oriented in FIG. 1. Usually, the glove stack is oriented during dispensing such that glove cuffs hang downwards from a downwardly facing dispensing aperture. The folding arrangement can, however, be reversed during manufacture, with the first portion being the finger portion and the second portion being the cuff portion, in which case the dispensing end of the stack 2 as being formed in FIG. 1 would be at the bottom of the stack, up against the supporting surface 6. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is equally applicable to both of these cases, however it is normally more convenient to form the stack as illustrated, as then the completed stack can be transferred by pressing the stack upwards into a dispensing container having a pre-formed dispensing aperture, this dispensing container lining five sides of an open, rigid packing box. Prior to this, the last folded glove at the top of the stack can be manually adjusted by a worker to fold the cuff-end on to the stacking axis so that this is conveniently presented at the dispensing aperture when this is first opened. The finger portion of each glove, when dispensed by the cuff, then pulls the cuff portion of the next glove partially out of the dispensing aperture to facilitate dispensing of the next glove, thereby minimising the possibility of finger born contamination on finger portions of each dispensed glove.

(46) Each flap 18, 18, in addition to being pivotable about the corresponding pivot axis 19, 19, is also laterally movable by the flap actuation system 25 both towards 28, 28 and away 29, 29 from the stacking axis 8. The first and second flaps each also comprise a plurality of fingers 30, 30 that extend away from corresponding first and second pivot shafts 31, 31 that define the first and second pivot axes 19, 19 of the flaps. The flap fingers are configured to lift and then fold over the glove cuff portions during each folding action.

(47) The flap fingers preferably have a rounded cross-section. In this example the flap fingers have a circular cross-section which helps to minimise frictional drag between the flap fingers and adjacent glove layers during a withdrawing action, described below.

(48) The apparatus further comprises first and second supporting platforms 24, 24 that are disposed, respectively, on the opposite first and second sides 21, 21 of the glove stacking area 20. These platforms provide support to the cuff portion 3 of a deposited glove 10 prior to folding of the cuff portion 3 towards and onto the growing stack 2 at the stacking area by the fingers 30, 30 of the corresponding flap 18, 18. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, each supporting platform 24, 24 has a plurality of slots 26, 26 that are aligned with the fingers 30, 30 of the corresponding flap. In this example, each slot is an aperture through the corresponding platform. Between the slots 26, 26 each platform has slats or projections 42, 42. The flap fingers 30, 30 are separated by gaps 44, 44. The platform slats are aligned with corresponding finger gaps. As explained in more detail below, sufficient clearance, in practice about 1 mm on each side, is provided so that the slots in each platform allow passage of the fingers through the corresponding platform as the flap cyclically automatically moves through a repeating series of actions under the overall control of a control system 40, which may be a microprocessor-based system.

(49) Part of the cyclic flap actuation system 25 may be combined within the overall control system 40. The flap actuation system 25 also comprises first and second hydraulically power rotation actuators 32, 32 for pivoting 27, 27 each of the flaps about the corresponding pivot axis 19, 19, and first and second hydraulically powered linear actuators 34, 34 for laterally moving 29, 29 the corresponding pivot axes. Each rotation actuator comprises a hydraulic motor 33, 33 and each linear actuator has a hydraulic motor 35, 35. The rotation motors drive the pivot axes directly. Each rotation motor is mounted on a laterally movable carriage 36, 36 that is laterally driven from a belt-driven drive chain 37, 37 powered by the corresponding linear motor 35, 35.

(50) The control system 40 also controls the operation of another linear actuator 38 that controls the elevation of the recess floor 12. This vertical linear actuator 38 comprises a hydraulic motor 39 connected via a belt drive chain 41 to a vertical shaft worm gear 43 (see also FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C). The worm gear when turned one way or the other drives the floor 12 up or down. The worm gear 43 is connected to the floor via a pair of side brackets 45, 45 through a pair of opposite side slots 47, 47 in opposite recess walls 46, 46. Vertical movement of the bracket and worm gear is guided by a pair of vertically extending rails 49, 49 on either side of the worm gear 43.

(51) The operation of the apparatus 1 will now be more fully described, starting with FIGS. 4A and 4B. Initially, before deposition of any gloves, the supporting surface 6 is proximate, and ideally just below, the level of a horizontal plane extending between the pivot axes 19, 19. The flap fingers 30, 30 all extend horizontally away from the pivot axes which are initially in line above corresponding opposite side walls 46, 46 of the recess 17, adjacent opposite sides 21, 21 of the glove stacking area 20.

(52) Gloves are transported to the glove stacking station 4 by a conveyor belt 50. The speed of the belt is set by a conveyor belt drive motor 51, which is controlled by the control system 40. A machine vision system 60 provides to the control system 40 an indication of the position and orientation of each glove 10. A robotic arm actuator 70, has a glove lifting and depositing head 71 with a vacuum lifting plate 72, which is controlled by the control system 40 to lift passing gloves 10 off the belt 50 and to deposit these, one at the time, at the glove stacking and folding station 4 with cuff portions 3 overlapping, alternately the first and second support platforms 24, 24, as described above.

(53) Initially, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, first and second gloves 10A and 10B, are deposited at the glove stacking station. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first flap fingers 30 are pivoted through and upwardly away from the first supporting platform 24. The fingers pivot upwards towards vertical, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, and back down towards the glove stacking area 20, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

(54) This folding action on the first deposited glove 10A is illustrated in FIG. 7C, from which it can be seen that the first flap 18 folds the cuff portion 3 of the first deposited glove over the second portion 5 of the second deposited glove 10B overlying the glove stacking area.

(55) Then, as shown in FIG. 7D, a third glove 10C is deposited with the cuff portion 3 of this glove overlapping the first supporting platform 24 and the finger portion 5 of this glove lying above the first flap fingers 30 and over the first folded glove 10A at the glove stacking area.

(56) From this it can be seen that the apparatus is configured to deposit gloves with the finger portion of each deposited glove being disposed over the fingers of the same flap that will fold the cuff portion of the same glove in the subsequent folding action.

(57) It should be noted that the pressure on the fingers of the flap about to be withdrawn, applied by the fingers of the other flap, is not such as to inhibit withdrawal of the flap, or cause the flap to pull folded or unfolded glove portions in contact with the fingers out of or away from the glove stacking area.

(58) FIGS. 8A and 8B show how the second flap fingers 30 are then pivoted upwards through the second platform slots 26 and towards the glove stacking area 20, until the fingers of the second flap are substantially horizontal at the glove stacking area, thereby completing a folding action of the second flap.

(59) FIG. 9B shows the effect of this on the second deposited glove 10A. The second flap fingers fold the cuff portion 3 of the second deposited glove on top of the finger portion 5 of the third deposited glove 10C, following which the fingers of both flaps press downwardly at the same time on the forming folded stack of gloves 2.

(60) This downward pressure from the fingers 30, 30 is a reaction force against an upwardly applied force from the recess floor 12. The rotation motors 32, 32 do not actively control this force, but do include torque sensors 48, 48 connected to the control system 40. The control system uses the vertical linear drive actuator 38 to adjust the elevation of the floor 12 up and down in order to maintain the pressure applied between the flap fingers and floor to within set limits. This also automatically results in the floor being lowered as gloves are added to the stack. The desired pressure will be different according to glove type, but is typically set to be between 1 and 5 Newtons, when the lateral folded dimensions of the stack of gloves is 118 mm by 125 mm.

(61) After the folding of the second glove, FIGS. 10A and 10B show how the pivot axis of the first flap is held in a fixed rotational orientation while being automatically moved laterally away from the recess in which the growing stack of gloves is held and supported so that the first flap fingers 30 start to withdraw from between the adjacent folded glove portions. FIGS. 11A and 11B show how the first flap continues to be laterally moved until the flap fingers 30 are fully clear of the recess and glove stack, thereby completing a withdrawing action of the first flap. During this process, the continuing pressure from the second flap maintains the lateral position of the glove portions so that these are not laterally dragged by the withdrawing of the first fingers.

(62) Once fully withdrawn, FIGS. 12A and 12B, show how the fingers 30 of the first flap are then pivoted downwardly about the pivot axis, until vertical, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B.

(63) As can be seen from FIG. 12B, the middle-most finger of each flap is relatively shorter than the rest to enable this finger to clear components that extend through the recess side slots 47, 47 when the floor is 12 relatively near the level of the flap pivot axes 19, 19. These components include a portion of the brackets 45, 45 connected to the floor, as well as a pair of magnetic material tabs 13, 13 that extend laterally outwards from the packing plate 14 through the recess side slots 47, 47. In use, during final packing of gloves into a dispenser, these tabs engage with magnets on the outside of a rigid material packing box and facilitate removal of the compressed stack from the packing recess, as described in the prior art mentioned above. It will therefore be appreciated that the exact lengths of the fingers are not important as long as the fingers are long enough to impart sufficient angular momentum to the glove portion being folded that the cuff portion falls substantially flat and stretched away from the glove fold.

(64) FIG. 13C is a is a schematic cross-section view following from FIG. 9B, showing how, after the withdrawing action of the first flap, a fourth glove 10D is deposited with the cuff portion 3 of this glove overlapping the second supporting platform 24 and the finger portion 5 of this glove lying above the second flap fingers 30 and over the second folded glove 10B at the glove stacking area 20.

(65) Meanwhile, as this is happening, FIGS. 14 and 15 show how the first flap 18 continues to pivot about the first pivot axis while the same time the first pivot axis is moved laterally back towards the packing recess and the glove stack until, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B the first flap is positioned in the same initial orientation or position of FIG. 4A, thereby completing a returning action of the first flap and a first full cycle of movement for the first flap.

(66) Then as shown in FIG. 16C, the first flap, having completed the first full cycle, is oriented to fold the cuff portion 3 of the third deposited glove 10C, in the next folding action. During this process, as shown in FIGS. 17, 18A and 18B the first flap fingers 30 pass through the slots in the first supporting platform 24 and pivot towards the glove stacking area 20, while the second flap fingers 30 remain in a substantially horizontal orientation. The effect of this is shown in FIG. 18C, in which it can be seen that the cuff portion 3 of the third deposited glove 10C is folded over on top of the finger portion 5 of the second deposited glove 10B, thereby completing another folding action of the first flap.

(67) Following this, pressure continues to be exerted on the stack between the fingers 30, 30 of both flaps and the recess base surface 6.

(68) FIG. 19 shows how the pivot axis of the second flap is then held in a fixed rotational orientation while being moved laterally away from the recess and the stack of gloves so that the second flap fingers 30 start to withdraw from between the adjacent folded glove portions. Once the fingers 30 are fully clear of the recess, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, a withdrawing action of the second flap is completed.

(69) At about the same time as this, FIG. 20C shows how a fifth glove 10E is deposited with the cuff portion 3 of this glove overlapping the first supporting platform 24 and the finger portion 5 of this glove lying above the first flap and over the third folded glove 10C at the glove stacking area 20. During this glove deposition, the second flap 18 pivots and laterally moves in a subsequent returning action.

(70) FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 show how the fingers 30 of the second flap are then pivoted downwardly about the pivot axis until past vertical when the pivot axis starts to move laterally back towards the recess and the stack until the pivot axis has returned to its initial position with the flap fingers being substantially horizontal, thereby completing the returning action of the second flap and a first full cycle of movement for the second flap.

(71) FIGS. 24 and 25 show how, after the returning action of the second flap, the fingers 30 of the second flap start to fold the cuff portion 3 of the fourth glove 10D in the next folding action until this lies on top of the finger portion 5 of the fifth glove 10E.

(72) FIGS. 26A and 26B show the final orientation of the second flap after this has fully pivoted in the folding action, thereby completing a cycle of operation of the glove folding system.

(73) FIGS. 27 to 34 show in plan view a second embodiment of a glove stacking and folding station 104 which may be used in place of the glove stacking and folding station 4 described above. Features which correspond with those in the feature embodiment are references using numerals incremented by 100. The principles of for folding operation and stacking of gloves are the same as that described above, except in this instance, the first and second flaps 118, 118 are oriented substantially parallel with the first and second pivot axes 119, 119, instead of being substantially perpendicular. To achieve this, the flap fingers 130, 130 are connected to the pivot axes by via an intermediate member 90, 90, that extends perpendicularly away from an end portion of the pivot shaft 131, 131. The finger may, however, be joined to the pivot shaft in any other way.

(74) This embodiment also has first and second supporting platforms 124, 124 that are disposed, respectively, on the opposite first and second sides 21, 21 of the glove stacking area 20. These platforms may have the same thickness in the vertical direction of the platforms 24, 24 These platforms provide support to the cuff portion 3 of a deposited glove 10 prior to folding of the cuff portion 3 towards and onto the growing stack 2 at the stacking area by the fingers 130, 130 of the corresponding flap 118, 118. Each supporting platform 124, 124 has a plurality of slots 126, 126 that are aligned with the fingers 130, 130 of the corresponding flap when the flap is in the first orientation.

(75) Between the slots 126, 126 each platform has slats or projections 142, 142. The flap fingers 130, 130 are separated by gaps 144, 144. The platform slats are aligned with corresponding finger gaps. As in the first embodiment, sufficient clearance, in practice about 1 mm on each side, is provided so that the slots in each platform allow passage of the fingers through the corresponding platform as the flap cyclically automatically moves through a repeating series of actions under the overall control of the control system 40.

(76) As in the first embodiment the first flap 118 is pivotable 127 about the first pivot axis 119 and the second flap 118 is pivotable 127 about a second pivot axis 119, these axes being parallel with each other and perpendicular with and laterally offset from the stacking axis 8. The first and second axes 119, 119 are disposed on corresponding opposite first and second sides 21, 21 of the glove stacking area 20 within which gloves 10 folded by the flaps are, in use, added to the stack 2.

(77) In this embodiment, the pivot shafts 131, 131 when retracted in the withdrawing action laterally move axially, along the pivot axes in a direction away 129 from the glove stacking area 20. As shown in FIG. 34, the retracted fingers may then, in the subsequent returning action, be rotated by 180 and moved laterally back towards 128 the corresponding side of the glove stacking area, ready in the first orientation for the next folding action.

(78) As in the first embodiment, each slot 126, 126 extends through the corresponding platform 124, 124, which optionally may have the same thickness in the vertical direction as in the first embodiment. The advantage of this is that during the returning action, the fingers may enter the slots, or be moved into position just below the level of the slots, and the glove supported on the platform, in different ways. For example, following completion of the rotation, by movement in the axial, horizontal direction; or, as in the first embodiment, by rotating into the slots from below. As shown schematically in. FIG. 34, the rotation may therefore be either above (dotted curved arrow) or below (solid curved arrow) the plane of the glove stacking area.

(79) Alternatively, the slots may be grooves in the top surface of the platform, which may therefore be thicker than that illustrated, the grooves being open at one end to receive the fingers in the axial, horizontal direction. The grooves would, however, have to be deep enough so that the fingers did not brush against or disturb the underside of the previously deposited glove. In this case, the slats or projections 142, 142 would be lands between the grooves.

(80) Whether the slots are apertures or grooves, the slots of each platform are aligned with the fingers of the corresponding flap when the flap is in the first orientation to accommodate movement of the fingers during the cycle of the flap actuation system.

(81) Not shown in FIGS. 27 to 34, for the sake of conciseness, are modifications needed to the mechanical actuators and sensors. Suitable modifications will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.

(82) FIGS. 27 to 34 show process steps that are analogous to those shown and described above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 16C. Not shown, again for the sake of conciseness, are the process steps following from FIG. 34, analogous to those shown and described above in relation to FIGS. 17 to 26B in which:

(83) the first portion of the third glove resting on the first platform is folded over the second portion of the fourth glove;

(84) the fingers of the second flap are laterally withdrawn, and then rotated and moved back into alignment with the slots of the second supporting platform, thus completing full cycles of both flaps.

(85) It will be appreciated that in the method described above, the control system 40 synchronises the deposition of gloves by the rest of the glove depositing apparatus and the folding of gloves by the flap actuation system, in such a way as to minimise the cycle time.

(86) The recess 17 is about 600 mm deep when the floor is fully lowered. When stacking and folding nitrile medical inspection gloves of 3 g weight using prior art folding machinery as disclosed in WO 2010/020782 A2, WO 2011/048414 A1 and WO 2014/037701 A1 it has been possible to stack and fold about 180 gloves in this depth. Using the apparatus and method according to the invention described above, the number is increased to about 250 gloves. Because the glove layers are continuously compressed, it is easier and quicker to compress air out the completed stack when the floor is used to ram the stack up against the inside of a rigid packing box positioned above the top of the recess. The result is that 250 gloves can readily be packed in a standard size glove dispensing box, as opposed to between 125 and 180, as has possible in the prior art. As glove weight is expected to be reduced towards 2.5 g, it is expected that up to 500 gloves can be packed in a recess 600 mm long.

(87) The increased packing density is achieved not just by helping to keep air from being drawn into the stack owing to the elastic rebound of the material in the folded gloves, but also by better control of the location of the fold line. Apart from the fold imparted to the first glove 10A, it can be seen from the above description that in each subsequent fold, the glove about to be folded is held down proximate the forthcoming fold line by at least some of the fingers of the other flap not doing the folding. The fold lines are therefore reliably and repeatedly positioned near the two opposite sides of the stack adjacent the first and second sides 21, 21 of the glove stacking area 20. This helps to minimise wasted space within the glove stack as well as helping to keep the glove layers relatively flat between these sides.

(88) It will also be appreciated that the invention completely avoids any pneumatic effects that could cause a lifting Or a shifting of the top folded layer, which can happen in the prior art when a glove folding flap simply retraces its path after the folding of a glove.

(89) The production line will normally have two stacking stations 4 per robot 70, one recess being filled with folded gloves while the other is emptied of a completed stack. One control system 40 can also be used to control two stacking stations. When one recess is full, a worker will activate the control system 40 to compress the glove stack upwards out of the recess into a packing rigid packing box, as known in the prior art. While this is taking place, the robot starts to fill a previously emptied packing recess at the other stacking station. Gloves are placed and folded at a rate of about one per second and so it will take about 250 seconds to fill up the packing recess. Prior art glove folding apparatus would take about 180 seconds to place and fold 180 gloves in the same size packing recess. The increased time is an advantage on the production line because this gives enough time, nearly 4 minutes, for one worker to remove and pack the gloves before the packing station has to be ready to start receiving gloves. It is harder to achieve this within 3 minutes without using two workers or without periodically shutting down the belt conveyor.

(90) The invention therefore affords greater convenience to the end user, and greater economy on the production line. The end user can store more gloves or store the same number of gloves in less space, and a glove dispenser will need refilling less often. In production, the labour requirement is reduced owing to the cycle time between changing over completed packing recesses being increased. During transportation, more gloves can be packed inside a standard 40 foot shipping container.

(91) The invention therefore provides a convenient apparatus and method for stacking gloves prior to packing in a dispensing box.

(92) It is to be recognized that various alterations, modifications, and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.