Apparatus for collating disclike objects

Claim 1

Apparatus for collating disclike objects comprising, in combination: multiple holding means for a stack of disclike objects mounted in a regular spaced circular configuration upon a first fixed plate having a series of apertures regularly spaced in a circular configuration shaped to receive said disclike objects in register beneath each said holding means; a second fixed plate having a series of apertures identical to the series of apertures in said first fixed plate and mounted directly beneath but offset from said series of apertures in first fixed plate, whereby said second fixed plate supports said stacks of disclike objects, said second fixed plate mounted spacedly downward only slightly farther than the thickness of one disclike object so that only one disclike object at a time occupies the space between said first and second fixed plates; a first rotatable means mounted for rotation between said first and second fixed plates, said first rotatable means being rotatable to consecutively remove one disclike object from the bottom of each stack of disclike objects and drop same in respective consecutive apertures of said series of apertures in said second fixed plate; a third fixed plate having a single aperture therein and spacedly mounted beneath said second fixed plate far enough therebelow so that said disclike objects can become stacked thereon as they are received and collected from said second fixed plate; a second rotatable means mounted for rotation above and closely adjacent to said third fixed plate, said second rotatable means being rotatable to collect in a stacked fashion said disclike objects as they are received on said third fixed plate from said second fixed plate, said second rotatable means coming into register with said single aperture in said third fixed plate once each revolution thereof to drop the stack of disclike objects therethrough; means for rotating said first and second rotatable means in registry with each other; and whereby one disclike object from the bottom of each stack is removed upon each rotation of said first rotatable means, thereafter each of these objects drops consecutively through said second fixed plate to be received and collected in a stacked fashion with just one of the objects from all the other stacks on said third fixed plate, thereafter the collected, stacked objects drop through the third fixed plate in the same collated order upon each rotation of said second rotatable means.