Conveyor catcher bin advice&tips please

[Fleetee]

What is going on my folks! Long story short: Me & just 1 employee screen print t-shirts together. The system we've been using to print t-shirts is that I load, unload, & place the t-shirt on the conveyor dryer [13' belt], while my employee catches the t-shirts after final cure & folds the t-shirt. Volume has been rising as of late and I feel the need to optimize/adjust the system. I am going to JUST be loading the t-shirt while my employee unloads the t-shirt & places it on the conveyor dryer. I am aware the other screen printers use a "bin" to catch the t-shirts when there is a lack of workers. So I decided to try that system out. Now the question is; what kind of bin? Is there a specific bin thats optimal for catching t-shirts from your guys' experience? Does it really matter as long as the shirts fall into the bin?
I tried youtubing and googling "conveyor dryer bin" but nothing that comes up really gives me an example. I feel like I'm probably over thinking. Is it literally just a large bin? If so, thats quite embarrassing... But I figured; hey, this is what forums are for right? Sorry if this was a dumb question.
I would appreciate it if those who already do use bins to catch t-shirts, if they can post a picture of their bin catcher. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my first post!

[Sbrem]

It's time for another employee. Catch bins are like squeegees, you gotta have them, but that will only let you print a few dozen before one of you has to go down there and catch up, and you're back to where you started. Your production is going up, so get another body in there, even if part time.

Steve

[3Deep]

Big ole plastic tote, and Sbrem is right your only right back where you started, plus some shirts might stick and cause you a problem, we have a two man team I load and unload and they pull off the belt and fold/stack, just pace yourself, trying to do more than you can do will cause problems as well.

[blue moon]

a large cardboard box can work in a pinch, too. 'give you a chance to test and see if you like the catch bin setup without spending money (not that it's much, but hey!)

'hopefully you just get enough work to hire another body. There's never really an end to hiring. As you get bigger the work gets more specific and you eventually have a need for a full time floodbar cleaner! But the goal is to have others do what you don't want to do.

pierre

[screenxpress]

Big ole plastic tote

I agree.

Lot of "Totes" out there, and this is just one relatively inexpensive option -

https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-55-Gal-Tough-Storage-Tote-in-Black-HDX55GONLINE-4/205597365

Here's one with rollers at Target -

https://www.target.com/p/sterilite-174-45-gal-latching-storage-tote-gray-with-green-latch/-/A-14757141

I'd get a couple, maybe one for each shirt size and then the 2 of you can knock out the folding together after cooled down.

[Fleetee]

It's time for another employee. Catch bins are like squeegees, you gotta have them, but that will only let you print a few dozen before one of you has to go down there and catch up, and you're back to where you started. Your production is going up, so get another body in there, even if part time.

Steve

Yea that did come to mind... I would have to literally stop printing when the bin is full.

[Fleetee]

Woah, thanks for the swift feedback everyone!! I'll try both the big cardboard box and the tote and if it doesn't seem like its working out, probably going to take the advice of just hiring someone

[Frog]

It's also not uncommon to have a few bins, maybe on wheels, so that even when you do get someone who can catch, and stack, and maybe fold, they can also switch bins, and move around doing other short tasks when needed.

[RICK STEFANICK]

It's time for another employee. Catch bins are like squeegees, you gotta have them, but that will only let you print a few dozen before one of you has to go down there and catch up, and you're back to where you started. Your production is going up, so get another body in there, even if part time.

Steve

Yea that did come to mind... I would have to literally stop printing when the bin is full.

AND we all know stacking shirts sucks and takes more time than printing if they fall in a box. especially if you have to size. I would always separate and print by size if I had to print and stack.That position is a very important one , that person is the last to see  the product before its boxed, how its boxed and folded is critical as to what the customer sees when they open it. In my opinion that position is stacking, counting and separating but also quality control. Very important to hire the right person when you get to that point. Also they can separate incoming garments for orders , do shipping. all that while your not printing

[Maxie]

I agree with Rick.
For us the most important part of the catchers job is quality control.
We do a lot of small orders and we don’t strip the machine until the catcher tells us that the order is ok.