Method for conveying flexible fabrics using dual side outlets

Abstract

A system for pneumatically conveying flexible fabric items such as uniforms and table linens has a pair of side outlets at each discharge location to enhance the discharge capacity. Each side outlet is provided with a gate to open and close the outlet. A hopper having a chute receives the items discharged through the corresponding outlet. A sling cart or other bin underlies each chute. When a cart is full, hopper doors can be closed to allow the hopper to serve as a temporary holding bin while the conveying system continues to operate without interruption as the full cart is moved and replaced by an empty cart.

1 . A method of sorting lightweight flexible items, comprising: 
 pneumatically conveying the items along an overhead conduit;    selectively discharging the items from the conduit through outlets spaced apart along opposite sides of the conduit;    directing the items discharged through said outlets into respective hoppers;    normally locating a bin beneath each hopper to receive the items therefrom;    intermittently moving said bin from beneath its hopper to remove items from the bin;    closing each hopper to prevent discharge of items therefrom when the bin is moved from beneath the hopper, thereby storing items in the hopper when there is no bin beneath it; and    opening each hopper when a bin has been restored to a position underlying it, thereby directing the items stored in the hopper into the underlying bin.