Lifting device and method for gloves stacking

A method of folding and stacking gloves using a glove stacking apparatus, said apparatus comprising a stacking station for forming a stack of folded gloves, at least one conveyor, and a sensing apparatus, the stacking station comprising a packing recess for receiving unfolded gloves to be folded and stacked, a glove manipulator, a movable floor within said recess, a pair of movable flaps adjacent a pair of opposite side edges of said recess, the method comprising the steps of:

• using said conveyor to transport said unfolded gloves to be stacked;
• using said sensing apparatus to sense the presence of said transported unfolded gloves on said conveyor;
• controlling the operation of said glove manipulator in accordance with said sensed presence of said gloves on said conveyor such that the glove manipulator moves said transported unfolded gloves from said glove conveyor and deposits said unfolded gloves at said recess for subsequent folding and stacking of said gloves, a portion of each of said deposited gloves initially overlapping alternately one or the other of said opposite side edges of said recess;
• alternately using one or the other of said movable flaps to fold towards said recess said overlapping portion of each of said deposited gloves to form said stack of folded gloves within said recess;
• and
• lowering said movable floor as required as the stack of folded gloves grows within said recess whereby said stack of folded gloves continues to be retained within said recess as unfolded gloves are added to the stack and folded.

A method of folding and packing a stack of folded gloves into a glove dispensing box using a glove stacking apparatus, said apparatus comprising a packing recess for receiving unfolded gloves to be folded and stacked, a glove manipulator, a movable floor within said recess and a pair of movable flaps adjacent a pair of opposite side edges of said recess, the method comprising the steps of:

• using the glove manipulator to deposit unfolded gloves at said recess for subsequent folding and stacking of said gloves, a portion of each of said deposited gloves initially overlapping alternately one or the other of said opposite side edges of said recess;
• alternately using one or the other of said movable flaps to fold towards said recess said overlapping portion of each of said unfolded gloves overlapping said edge to form a stack of folded gloves within said recess;
• lowering said movable floor as required as the stack of folded gloves grows within said recess whereby said stack of folded gloves continues to be retained within said recess as unfolded gloves are added to the stack and folded;
• repeating the preceding steps to form a stack of folded gloves within the bounds of said recess, and after said stack of folded gloves has been formed then packing said stack of folded gloves in said glove dispensing box by placing an open mouth of the box over said recess and then moving the floor to press the stacked and folded gloves out of said recess and into the open box;
• and closing and sealing the open mouth of the box.

A method of folding and stacking gloves using a glove stacking apparatus, said apparatus comprising a packing recess for receiving unfolded gloves to be folded and stacked, a glove manipulator, a movable floor within said recess, a first movable flap and a second movable flap, said recess having a first side edge and a second side edge, said edges being opposite side edges of said recess and the first movable flap being adjacent the first side edge and the second movable flap being adjacent the second side edge, the method comprising the steps of:

• i) using the glove manipulator to deposit a first unfolded glove proximate said recess, such that a first portion of said first unfolded glove is deposited to overlie said recess and a second portion of said first glove is deposited overlapping the first side edge of said recess;
• ii) subsequent to using the glove manipulator to deposit said first unfolded glove proximate said recess, using the glove manipulator to deposit a second unfolded glove proximate said recess, such that a first portion of said second unfolded glove is deposited on top of said first portion of said first glove overlying said recess, and such that a second portion of said second glove is deposited overlapping the second side edge of said recess opposite said first side edge of said recess;
• iii) subsequent to using the glove manipulator to deposit said second unfolded glove proximate said recess, using the first flap to fold said second portion of said first glove deposited overlapping the first side edge of said recess towards said recess so that said second portion of said first glove overlies said first portion of said second glove in said recess;
• iv) subsequent to using the first flap to fold said second portion of said first glove deposited overlapping the first side edge of said recess towards said recess, using the glove manipulator to deposit a third unfolded glove proximate said recess, such that a first portion of said third unfolded glove is deposited on top of said second portion of said first glove overlying said recess and such that a second portion of said third glove is deposited overlapping the first side edge of said recess opposite said second side edge of said recess;
• v) subsequent to using the glove manipulator to deposit said third unfolded glove proximate said recess, using the second flap to fold said second portion of said second glove deposited overlapping the second side edge of said recess towards said recess so that said second of portion of said second glove overlies said first portion of said third glove overlying said recess;
• and
• vi) repeating steps ii) to v) with subsequent gloves while lowering said movable floor to form a stack of interfolded gloves within said recess.