CA2371028C - Automated system for sizing hangers with an indicating means - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification discloses an automatic means for assembly of hangers and indexing caps at the time clothing is hung from the hangers, the means comprising means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps; means for receiving a separate plurality of stacked hangers; reciprocal means for simultaneously dispensing one of the caps and securing the caps to one of the hangers to define an indexed hanger wherein an index defined by the secured cap is correlated to a specific characteristic of a garment hung thereon.

Description

AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR SIZING HANGERS
WITH AN INDICATING MEANS
This application is a Divisional application of allowed Canadian application serial number 2,063,196, filed on March 17, 1992 and allowed on July 27, 2001.
The present invention is applicable to the field of garment hangers from which clothing or other articles of apparel are suspended. In particular, it includes a method, means and system for manufacturing and distributing the indicating means to a plurality of locations for attachment to said hangers, and a method and means for automatically affixing an indicating means to the hanger which identifies some attribute of the garment suspended therefrom.
It is known to affix an indicating means to a particular size from a plurality of like garments arranged adjacent thereto on a display rack. Consumer taste and fashion have dictated a desire for mass produced, but well fitted garments:
For example, men's suits, commonly sold by chest measurement are now available for short, regular, tall, and extra tall proportions for a given size, thereby providing four different "attributes" for a given garment size, i.e., 42S; 42R, 42T, 42XT respectively.
The manufacturers of women's garment, particularly those who manufacture bra and panty sets, have also experienced a comparable increase in the number of attributes allocated to a given garrncnt, in addition to its size. For example:, a bra 4l l.th a chCSt size of 3C~ tray be available it live diiLc~rent cap s.izcs ( n-pD) and for ret k.illrl types of linc~cr: ie, rn<:ly be watched w.itll one or trot:e coT.-rc:slpom3.ing panty size s.
Ior tlni.s reason, the trade has developed a variel:y ~ of i.ndcxing rnc<-tns to iurtller suh-d.i.vide garments try t.lue.ir appropriate ak:tr:ibut:es, a7.7. of which are today rnanual.ly ~~LLixed.
For exarnpJ.e, U.S, latent: 9,322,902 discloses art iIldlCatOr .far garTTlent IlallgCrS, 41111(:ll 1S CLII:rE.'tltly aSS.igrled t() Z.0 the ass.ic~nne oC floe present <,pp~7.i.cW.i.on, and wh.icll f.-ur t:tler di:~cl.oses a Z.irst ind.i.catoz: wlri.cll may be snapped over tllr:
wire 11001: of a banger, and a s-econd indicator, disclosed in L'igures 3-6 wtlich may be at~taclaed to either a wire hanger, tit a plastic hanger zs i.llustrated in Figures 9 and 6.
t.l . s. Patent ~ , 137 , 6G1 di.sc:loses an "identii;ication procedure fol: suspended art.i.cles of clothing and carrier for appl.icati.on of the' procedure." Tn this patent, the marking of data with respect to size; .qua7.ity, color, manufact'_uring data, delivery, pattern or price is affixed to a label mernber and rcrnovabl.y secured to the hanger.
U.S. Patent 3,029,953 discloses a rectangular plastic guard which is adapted to be secured to the wire look of a clothes hanger, and L7111.C11 Cxk=erldS upwardly tllereFrom to assist in preventing the clothes hangers from becoming entangled with one another.
U.S. i~atent: 1,0~)3,2G1 d.i.scloses a cl.otlles banger harticuJ.arly adapted fox: handing sets oL furs, with a riletal rectangular p7.ate 10 which rr~c:ci.ve~; an index car:d descr:.i.bi.ng the fur s suspended there f yarn .

tJ.:~. Patcrot: ~t, l..l.~>, TWO cl.i.:~c:l.oscs a c~arrncrrt. lr~.rngcr.
.1.
w.i.t1 a size, indie:atoz: tzr wir.i.clr tire i.rrd.i.e;.i.a or ear~-r:y t:Wo i.s vi:sihlc wVcv t:lre cyn:mcnt i.s li.r.rrzel on tlrc tzangcr .
Des.ie~rr haterzt 3U2,?19 cli:~closcs a garmcrzt tranc.3cr in thz:ce cmlaodiments, two of which disclose indexing indi.ci.a.
~ Design I>vLen~ 302, 21h .is also ass.'tcJned t_o Lloe assignee of Lire hrcscnt i rrvcn~i.on.
Desi.dn L'atcnt 2~1~t, 197 di.sc7.oscs arz oz:natncntal design for s.i_zc .i.r~cl.i.c:atot l;or a c~<m:motrl:. Irarrgcr that .is irrt:cndcd for atlazchrrrent t.a a d<-o:meat lrange.r. iac:li of t:l~ese 3-0 devices is manually aLL.i.red, and f-_urther, tnay include additional steps of prizzting, urri.ti.ng, or otherwise creating tl~c desired ir~dici_a to l.~e attached to floe hanger .
Z. j '1.'Irc pz:escnt itzvctztion is an automat.i.c system foz:
sizing hangers with an ind:i_c<nting means that is dircct~ly related to 50lrlc~ attIl.IJIttC oL the garment suspetzdcd Iz:otn the banger. 'llne indicating means is automatically attached to the hanger at the time the garment i_s hung or suspended f.-rorn Lire hanger. '1'hc i.rwcntion further includes a method, rnearas and system foz: irral7llfacturi.rrc3 tlae i.ndicat:a.rrg means, arid then di:~~z:ibut.LfrC3 t:lrcm t:o a In:l.rzr:a:l..it:y of :Locations ar:orrrul tlrc 410r1d for attachment to t:.hc gar z:rnent: hangers al. the Lime the garments az:e snsF>errded tlrc.refr:orn.
'.flzc pz:esent invention provides a co7_orful, easy to read, visual display of one or moz:e attributes oL the garment ~uhi.ch could be easily discerned by the customez: when a plurality of like garment., az:e suspended from a display rack.
'.fhc siz.irrc3 irulic:at:oz: :i.:; at:t:~rclred ahovc the hook of t:lre banger to 1~e casi.ly v.i.si.l.~l.e al~ovc tlrc iran<Jr-_r s, even wlrcn a plur:al.i.ty ~j of like garments are suspended adjacent one another on a longitudinal rail. By imprinting the size in an Arabic numeral, i.e., 44, and a garment attribute in a color, it is possible for the customer to select the desired garment quickly and easily. When plural garments are involved, such as a bra and panty set, the bra size can be imprinted on one side of the indexing means, while the panty size can be printed on the opposing side of the indexing means.
Also disclosed is a system for producing a plurality of hangers, each of which has an index coded cap which is related to a specific characteristic of the garment hung from the hanger wherein the individual hangers are produced at a plurality of locations, and the index coded caps are produced at a central location. This system is particularly adapted to the manner in which garments are currently manufactured, distributed and sold in international trade. Large national retailers of clothing generally contract with a plurality of clothing manufacturers to produce uniform standardized clothing which is essentially identical from batch to batch, even though manufactured by different entities. These plurality of manufacturers in turn produce the clothing at their own plants, or in many cases sub-contract the production of the garments to far eastern manufacturers based in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea.
It is desirable to maintain a consistent appearance for the indexing features of the hanger. It is also desirable to locally produce the hanger at the remote manufacturing location to avoid the shipping costs associated with the bulk shipment of millions of hangers from the United States to far eastern locations. Therefore, the present -S-invention is pa r:ticularly suited Lo Llae production UL uniform 1 i.nclerir~g caps in floe Ur~il:ed States; avd tle sto.Lnnertl: oC tlto::e caps ,to <-t p:l.W alily of c3arittcnl. ream.tr<-rc:turing locations, wherein the caps may be aul:c~mat:ically attached to the garmcat lt~-tnget:s, al the t:.i.tne the: c~rm:rneW t toder: i.7 dispensed foz-~ securing the clothing therc:t,o. 'ihe use of such a hanger facilitates tlrc: "t:ac>~; r.-early" hr:oduc:t.i.on of clol:it.i.rog a~:l:ic:l.es wl~ere.'tn the cLothirtg articles me rrranufactut:ed aad sushcruled >=rom handers in the Tar: cast:, t:oc~cl:lter: wiLla tile r:eta.i.l_ store's price lag, and mounted in .intezrnoclal containers for:
~'~ slr_i.tarllCrll tea tltc Un'ttcd ~tatcsa orltcrcupon the "racl: ready"
clothing rnay be transterr:~d from the .i.nterrnodal container l.o the display racl; in the r.~eLail store wl.ttoout any additional lalaor i.tyu t .
'1'o fatc:i.lital.e tlti s sysl:crn, tle present a.nvontion .l. j also incJ.udr.s a mcan;a f-.or. a:l.i.clni.racJ <~nd st:acl:i.ng tltc index coded caps in a pt:edetermined re7.a~.ionslti.p to Urte another, so that: the caps may he loadcc.l .itt a machine: for automatically affixi.ncj the index coded catas Lo the gartoent: hanger. 'Ii~e present invention aJ.so includes means for transporting the ?0 stacked cap and a buCldle Wlll.cll rtlallltaJ..tt s said predetermined relationship to the plural_il:y of locations for wliclr tle stacked caps arc to be aLt:ached Lo the hangers. Finally, the presents invention includes automatic means for sequentially affixing the index coded caps to the garment: hangers at each of the p7.uraliLy of locations wherein Lyre index coded caps are secured to floe hander automata.ca7.ly at: floe time tyre garment is lung from the hanger:.
'1'lre present: inv!enl:ican also includes a mectoani:~ed means for manuft-tcturing a bttndJ.e of stacked indrxing caps Lor subsequent at:taclnnent to a plurality of lrande:rs wlter:ein ._ floe i:nd.ivi.clua:i index coded calve; arc .irtjcction ruoldecl in a 11~7.ttral..i.t:y oC col.ored batcltcs. 'flro mechanized rnearrs i:urt:lter pr~cltrc3es a cenlt:.i.f-.r.tclal rnc~an~; f:or: a7.ic~ni.nd t:itc colas from each hatch in a lm:cr.letcrtninccl st:.ac:l;ed t:eJ.ationslrip to one another, and a means for. bind.i.t~g t:hc c:arlos into a bundle f~.m: tr,ansport ~ to a plut:ali.ty of remote locat.i.ons.
'1.'hc present i.nvcntion a7. so includes a ga.ttnent Il~'rrlgCl 1'lavlng art ittdcxing cap Oor .identifying at least one cttaraCt:cl: i.st..i.c: o.C the garment:. Itand.i.ng therefrom whcrei.n the clarrncnt: lmrtdon .i.ttcl.ncacs <r lrc>ol: atdalplccl t:o ency'tdc: ~r ro<l or =LU other suppor:ti.ng rneatts, and art upstanding flancJo oxf:end.ing from the hook for receiving otre of a pll.lr.ality of d.i.fferent i.rtdering ceps, sail f-.lancje; axterading and projecting ahove the top r_ontour of tlae hook. 'l.'he hanger of the present invent.i.on also includes a snap Li.t engagement means defined by Lhe 1. 5 upstanding f7.aogc, attd a gcrtc:ral.l_y planar and stackab:le indcr..i_ng cap having a recess ~Lorrrtrd tlter:ein for t:ec:e.ivind lire flange of tha hanger therc:o-ii.t:lain. 'fhe indexing carp also defines a thr:ougli opening «lticlr faci.li.tates stacE:ing the indexing cap in a bundle of stacked caps during transport, and which receives the snap tit engagement. means when the i.nde~.ing cap is attactoed to the hanger .
'flte prc:scn t invenl.ion also includes stn atttornatic means for assembly of-. the .indexing coded cap and the hanger at the t:itne fife clothing is hung -f.rorn tire hanger. 'flti.s 2~
means includes a magazine for receiving a bundle of stacred caps, a separate magazine fot: r:eceivi.ng a ~lural.'tty of stacked hangers, and a rec.t.pl'UCaI_ means for simultaneously dispensing one of the index caps t.-rom the magazine and sccurirrg said cah to the ltattdcr at the tune l.lre ioanclcr is presented to the operator: for: attaching the c7.otlri.nc~i t:hcrcto.
JJ

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an automatic means for assembly of hangers and indexing caps at the time clothing is hung from the hangers, the means comprising means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps;
means for receiving a separate plurality of stacked hangers;
reciprocal means for simultaneously dispensing one of the caps and securing the caps to one of the hangers to define an indexed hanger wherein an index defined by the secured cap is correlated to a specific characteristic of a garment hung thereon.
Desirably, the hanger and the index cap to be secured are positioned in a common plane, the means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps and the means for receiving a plurality of hangers is a magazine, respectively.
It is also preferably for the above embodiment of the present invention, that the reciprocal means includes a plate defining a first cutout which defines the size and shape of the index cap and second cutout which is arcuate and extends from the first cutout to a leading edge of the plate, the first and second cutouts aligning the index cap and hanger prior to engagement, the reciprocal means reciprocates along a common plane with the cap and the hanger to remove a cap from the magazine and thereafter secure the cap to the hanger as the hanger and cap are dispensed from the hanger magazine.
In another embodiment of the present invention, 'there is also provided a manual means for assembly of hangers and indexing caps at the time clothing is hung from the hangers the means of the indexing caps being secured in a stacked bundle of caps by a plastic ribbon and a releasable clamp, the manual means comprising means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps; means for removing the releasable clamp; alignment means for aligning the hanger with the cap to assist an operator in inserting the. hanger into the indexing cap.
It is desirable in the above embodiment of the present invention that the means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps is a magazine and the means for removing the releasable clamp disengages a plastic barb.
Further, it is preferable the magazine defines an opening at its bottom end whereby after a hanger has been inserted into the recess of a cap the cap may be removed from the magazine by withdrawing the hanger.
In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a manual means for assembly of hangers and indexing caps at the time clothing is hung from the hangers, each of the hangers having a hook member and each of the indexing caps defining a recess for receiving a portion of the hook member of one of the hangers, each of the indexing caps further defining an aperture through which a plastic ribbon is inserted to hold the indexing caps in a stack, a releasable clamp being attached to the .plastic ribbon at one end of the stack to secure the indexing caps in a stacked bundle, the manual means comprising means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps means for removing the releasable clamp from the plastic ribbon: and alignment means for aligning one of the hangers with one of the indexing caps to assist an operator in inserting the portion of the hook member of one of the hangers into the recess of one of the indexing caps.
It is preferably in the above embodiment that the means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps is a magazine.
Further, it is preferable of the above that the magazine defines an opening at its bottom end whereby after the portion of the hook member of one of the hangers has been inserted into the recess of one of the indexing caps, the one of the indexing caps is removed from the magazine by withdrawing the one of the hangers from the alignment means.
Additionally, the releasable clamp is a plastic barb and the means for removing the releasable clamp disengages the plastic barb from the plastic ribbon, wherein the releasable clamp is a plastic barb slidingly engaged at one end of the plastic ribbon and the means for removing the releasable clamp disengages the plastic barb from the plastic ribbon.
Moreover, the means for removing the releasable clamp is a reciprocating fork.

_./-In the accomL~anyi.nc~ dr_awirrg:5:
1 1'.ic~ure 1 is a plan view of one side of a 1»:a ~tnd loanl:y cy-rrfilC'I11: banger irav.i.ncJ rail a.trdox coded cap r:eJ..3t.i.nc) to an aCtri.l~uLc of a t.~ra to lx: sn:;pmulc~d tlrc:t:el:rorn :
I'.i.gut:e 2 is an c:xl,~loded view of i_he opposite side ~ of the bra and panty hander iJ.7.uslrated in I figure 1 with the index coded cap separated from t:he hanger and displaying an attribute of a panty to Ve suspended therefrom:
Figure 3 i_:Ll.uslrates a cross-section of the index coded cap t.at~en along section 11.I1e 3-3' of Figure 2 ;
to Figure 4 rt'pl:e seot:s a corresponding ct:oss section of the loatiger taken along section line 3-3' of I~'igua:a 2 ;
ridm:c~ 5 il_ltasl:a:at:es an end-view or the indexing cap i_llustral.ed i.n L'igure J ;
L'i.gure 6 i_ll.usLrates a to~.o view of the ittde~:ing cap and ltool~, il=1_r.rstratcd in t?i.gt.rre l L~igure 7 i_s an iscimetri.c view of a mectaanized means for prociuci.ng a bundle of stac~;ed index caps i.n accot:dance with tl7e present invention;
f'i.girrC: ~3 is a top v.ic:w of a means for al.a_gtt.ing and st:acl:inc~ said index drld coded caps:
i.~ i.gure 9 is a d.iag-r arnmatic view taking along card section 9-3' of L i_gure Fi Figure l0a is a diagrammatic view of arv air jet separator means t:al;en al.aoc_~. :;cc:L.'ton line 7.0-10' i.n 1'i.gur:e 0:
25 Figure 101J is a diagrammatic illustration of an air jet separator means also taken along section line 10-10' i_n rigut:e 9 ;
figure 11 .is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 11-11' of Figure Figure 12 is a partially cross-sectioned isometric view of an index coded cap manufactured in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 13 is partially cross-section planar view -- of the stacking means of the present invention;
Figure 14 is a top plan view of the magazine o1 the present invention;
t ic~ut:e 1.5 is .~ ~u7.~an v:>_c~_vr of a l~uttdl.e of_ ;tacl:eca index codec7 calps ht.'eLrat:ecl irt ~~cccn:c.lmtcc~ wa.l:.lt the ln:e ,ctrl:
invetttiott ;
I'igttt:r: 15a i s art ~tl.t:ct:m7t.c entlroclinrcrW of a l~cat:t_i.on oI Llte: ittvetttion .i.llu;;t~:a.O:c~.c1 .i.tt I'.i.gttre 15 ;
L'.i.gure 1G is ~atv .i::~cnncl:ci.c Ii:Latt vie~.r .i.llu.;t:t:at.irtel the means for: ass~tnul~.tlti the i.nclcx anc), coded catL~s and lmnger_'s at the tune Lhe ltanget:s are d.i. ,Imosecl ;
I'igut:e 17 is a tolo I:~l.mo view of t:lte rtreatts Lot.' as:sernbl.ing illuslr.ated irt l .i.gut:e ? G, .i.l7.ustrat:cttg a secotul oheral:irtg ~>osa.tion in clot:t~d l.ittc~s;
Figure 1f3 is art i.sornetr.ic plan vieca of a mattttr-tJ.
means Lot: assembling ittc7er. cocaed c:ahs and )tattclet:s ;
F .i.gut:e 19 .i.s a top ~o.att v:w~w oL a ltot: lions oC lltu ittvent.i.on 5.llustrated .i.tt I.i.clur:c .l.f.l;
1.'.i.gure 2U is rt :;:mlc lo:l.~trt v.i.ew of.- Llte cl.etncrtt illusLt:ated its LicJut:e 1~J.
)~igures ~.-G ilJ.ustratte a gatrtnent ltattger attc~ Lice .i.ndeY coc~ecl cap of the Lw:esettt; .i.ttvent:i_oa. tdiv.i:le the invention will be descr.:i.t~ecl attd a.7.:l.ttsl.t:at:ed with t:chect t.o a single bra and panty laarte~cr, it .i.s uttdet:st:oocl tlt~tt the :invention is equal7.y ap~:l..i.calal.c; tv ot:lter types of gatt:rnettt hangers. ns :illustratecJ in L~.i.cJut:os 1 and 2, the c~at:rncttt:
ltanget: .i.s a Lord 7nd paltry Itaogot: I -tva.ttg Ira lt~tttder stt:atp clips 12a-12b and partly ltatoctet: c.l.'tps l3at, 13b art:attciecl at _C~_ citlucr end oC centz:al suphot:t 19. The banger pz:esetrts a 1 Lust si.dc in figure 1, awl tlrc aty~osi.l:e side in rigure 2, wa.tht the Index cap positioned for: attachment in >:i.gure ?..
llatlgcl 11. also inclt.tdc:~ a pool; member 15 ltavi.ng an upstanding flange 1G (il_Lustz:ated in figure 2) for receiving ~ one of a plurality of different indexing caps; one of which is illustral:ed at 17 in rigures 1-G. The flange 16 projects atbove the top contour of hoot, 15. n snap fit engagement means 1B is defined on the upstanding flange 1G as illustrated in figure ?_. 'fhe: index coded cap 1? is generally to planar and stacl:able and has a recess 19 formed tloereitl (illustrated in figure 3) for receiving the upstanding flanc3e 1.G there4rit11in. 'fhe indexing cap 17 defines a through opening ?.0 (illustrated in F~.gur:es 1-3 and 12) which receives the snap fit engagement rneans 1Ii when the index cap is fi.ttc-i 15 to the upstarldi.ng flange. fhi.s through opening is also used to forth a louodle of stac):e<l cap: as will be herE:itlaf ter later described with respect to l~.i.gurcas 13-15. The hook otember further defrncs a horizototatl >=l.atlge 21 4rhi_ch cooperates with the snap fit engagement means 1. f3, and a first 7.Ga and second 1Gb edge of f lunge J. I. to encJzrc~c t:llc r c:ccs s 19 clef fined within the index. cap in a 4redgi.t~g rn<.~nner. Edges 1Ga and 16b extend i.tE~wardly and .1.114rf1t:dl.y i.n an angular Catsli.on to ass.i~;t i.rl centering the cap for engagetnc:nt of the snap fit engagement means 1t3. Hook member 15 also inc7.udes an inner flange ?_2 which extends from the tip 1.5a of the hook to the intermediate frame member 14 to strengthen the hook and to provide a larger load bearitlg surface when the hanger engages a r od or other suppor ti.ng means during use . Book mernber 15 also inc:Ludes a second reinforcing rib 23 whiclo extends upwardly froth control support member 14 to strengthen the r~

W. W
fool: and to rc::~i.st tw.i.>tinc) cat: Lleruz:e of Clre liooh 15 when 1~ iare garrncnt lravdcr is in use. Flatrc)cs 22, 23 join mth si.rniJ.arly do f-.i.ncd upper. Ll.anc~r 2n, defined by central supE.aoz:t mctniJCr 1~t . Cctrtral suhpor nrctnltct: 1.4 includes uphcr artd lower Llatrdes 24, 25 and a cerWet: mecla_aJ. f:J.ande 26 w1 _ch serves Lo ~ stiffen the hander.
13y c:lroos.i.rrcJ a zwl.art:.iveJ.y t:csiJ.ient ll.a:~t:ic tnatcrial fat: Lloc hander: 11, znd a relativeJ.y stifL pJ.astic:
mater.'tal for t:he cap, the snap Lit engagement can be made rcl.aL.i.vcJ.y E~ct:rn~.ment, s.irrrc~ c~trc:e tlae .i.ndcx coded cep i:~

3-~ sccut:ed toy sna)~ L.i.t cnc~~rc~cmc.~rrl: l nths lfl, it is ncc:cssary to bend oz: i:lcr. t:he side wal:Ls l'la, 11E~ beyond barlos l.a lrcioz:e the cap can l.~c, t:etnovecl . '1'ln a sti_f fness of tlzc plastic material_ used Lo f-.or:m the c:mp therehy determines the degree oC di.if-_icttlty one cncount-.ers in rcrnoving the cap. Fur they , 'l~~ Llre fit and cooperation oI tlrc Llat edge 17c oL the cap and the loori.zonta:L fJ.ange 21. makes it d.i..fL.icult to insert a screw dr_ivcr , at: otlrcz: rncans, wi.t:lr wlr.i.c:h l:o irry t:l7c side: vraJ.J.s apart Loz: removal oC the c:alo.
Jrs i7.:l.ustratcd in L ~.c~uz:es 1-6, the finder, carp ?0 includes several i.nde;;ing features. The Cap is color coded to denote a specific attribute of the garment suspended trorn tl~e lounger. In addition, tire i_ndrxi.ng cap 17 carries on one:
side tlne lec~c~nd 9~tDU as i.J.ltzstrated aL 26 to denote a bra s.i.rc srtslocndcd from tlrc lr~-rnctc.t:. on the apE.~osi.t:e side of tlrc cap, as illustz:ated at 27 _i.n E.'igure 2, a panty size "6" is indicated ~or a hypothetical. bra and panty set. In tHis instance, l.lrc co:l.or coding c:otrJ_d t:elate to a ecrta.i.n <Jrade and quality of garment:, a ccrtai.n style of gartnert.t, or to vi.sualJ.y t:eittfarr.:e one: oI t_!tc hz::i.nt_ed i_ndicia :.;trclr as cup size or plnty size. '.Clti.s cc>l.or at:t:r.i.hut,e would assist, the .;

~. 1. "
purctrusez: in selc:ct.inc3 tBc' alol:~rcrpr:ial.e darrncnt Lor lais or trey 1 intc:rrded use.
'1'trc irule:; cap 17 i:;, to:i.arrar, travinri a f.i.r:sC and second planar side 1-la, 17b which facilitate st<lcl:lnc~ of the cal.~s for shiprnent as a bund.Le of stac):ed caps. '1'he bottom ~ Ioortion of the cap 1'Ic defines a fi.~at edc.Ie, wtri7.e tire top ccjge of ttrc garment 1'7d is z:ouncic:d. Tlre flat configuration 17c and rotrndcd confi.gtrrai:ion 1.7d assist the sorting and stac;l;ing meclrr.mi.srn in autornat.i.c:G~:l.ly ali.grring acrd sLael;incJ
the caps in a hreclet~ei:mined rnarrncz: as wall be hereinaf ter illustrated and described witty respect to Figures F3-11.
?~s illustrated in 1 figure 6, the: top of tyre i.nde;:ing cap 1'7d is unadoi:nod in tBe preferred ernbodi:ment and i.s somewhat wider. than the infernal flange 15a and 15b. It should be rooted that as i.l:Ltrstz:ated in Figure 6, fi.anges 22 and 23 are not vi.sil>le, arrd t:.lrat hear:izontal fl.anc~e 21 is substantially the sarne lengltr ~as the indexing cap 17, and therefore not visible in Figure 6.
'.Llrn garment trangc~r .i.l.l.ustz:ated in Figures 1 arid 2 al so includes a center st~:endtlaening rib 26. Tyre use of ribs ?O
27.-2G a7. 1. ow tire contra:L web of Lire hanger t:o be reduced in thickness and weight, thereby ;t:educing the material cost for t.lre lr~zrrclez: and the ~~lzi.plpi.ncJ <:io,t du.ri.nd tran:~.i.l: (:corn the various re~notc: rrrarmfac,l:ur:a.rrc~ t:aci:Li.t:i.es Lo the tJrri.tc:d Slates.
In the hreferz:ed embodiment.., .flue Bangor is formed of Styrene which provide s a clear, vi. z: tually tr<~nsparent hangar for rnaxa_murn display of br.-rs and 1-ianti.es suspended they:efr:om.
hlternate7.y, t:.tre hangc~t: ccor7.d he formed fz:om I: Resin, II.I.
Styrene and I'o:l.ypropyJ_c~no or otlrcr suitable tlreumop:Lastic.a.
Figuz:e 7 is an i~;onretric view aL a rnerloar~ized means for manufactrrz:i.rrg a bundJ.e of stacked inde;c.irrg caps Jj - ~,. 7 _ 1 ( illustl:uted in E~icy.Irc 1~) . 'fire means include s an .i.njccti.on molding macl~.ine 30 ira.viry a suhivJ.y ol: pelJ.e:tized tlrerrno-hlas~i.c t:hz:oyh atr air conveyor: :~ystcrn 31 aIld a pa.ii: of ohpo sing mold cavities, c3cnerrzll.y ~.Ilcl~c:ated at 32. In one embodi.went oL the iovcnl._i.oo, c:luc i.njcctaon tnold.i.ng machine is tnanutactured ioy various :>uF~E>I.I.CS arolrtld tl~e world. T.n opcrati.on, tl~e mold cavities 3?_ az-e first fi_l:l.ecl 4r.i.tlv thcr:mo-plastic at elevated temperatures and pressure to .form multiple index coded caps in a s.i.ngl.c cycle. '.Lhc nurnuer of ].p indc}; coded caps Lozmed drrrincJ each Cycle 15 a Function o>=
the capac~i(:y of the injccl:i.on rno:iding oachine and tire mold conei.gur:at.i_on. As Llac injc:ct_i.on mold 32 is separated, tire indcv, coded cabs, arid tno:idi.trcl syr:ucs Lyl.l .from floe cavi.t.i.es onto conveyor: Velt J3 wiri.ctr 1_ravc:l.s hctrcath tire .in jecl.i.on i~ molding rnact~ine. '1'tre index ccrlcd caps and moi.ding sprues arc then discloargecl into an oloet:r hotoloet: 3~1 oL a sp_ue separator 35 which discfoarge s the .i.oc)c~x carts t~lo:ollgll all nptoer opeo.i.ng onto .i.nlcrmccl.ia~c corrvcyor: 3C, mocl tlrc~. nolcli.ng ~lm:~.ics i.trto a WlStc collec:ti.otr hUx 37. 'L'l~e acct.rnrulatcd sprt.res rnay t11eI1 tie slrredcled and i:e-:'trrt r:odocccl .i.trto the product strcarn at 31. as dcsiccd.
'1'tm sprue: sehar ~t:or 35 is a device, manu-factured by Alliance ~qilit~ment Co. of Starling, Mass.
and uses counter rotati.rtg i~twr~he:s to direct the index coded caps through the upper opening 3Fi onto conveyor 36.
'.rte caps deposited on conveyor 3G are then transferred to a second conveyor 39 for t.rans_port to an aligning and stack3_IZg rzrachine gcr~ezally .indicated at 90. While vclt:.
conveyors a~.~e illustrated .in 1'icJure '7, it should be 3p understood that air conveyors or other suitable means for transport of the index coded caps cou7_d be used to move the caps from the injection molding location Lo the -> r-u.~

al.i.c~n.i.ng and ,l_acl:i.rrg Stat.iott. '1'lre arl.i.c~ttartc~ arid st_~~c:king 3' machine irtcludcs at central. ltoEotor.r 41 ecau.i.ppecl wit:lt a shut-of f val.vc ancJ v.i.l.m:vLi.nc3 mac~oct: t:o at:;,i.:~L i.n c;onLr:ol_:l..i.rtcl t:ttc: flow of caps ft:orn t:he injection rnol.~i.i.nc3 rnaclti_rte 30, Lo the aligning alnd staclcing maciti.nc X10. lts the index coded caps ~ are di scilarged from ltopher 41, they arc: deposi.t:ed into a cit:cular cllamter general:Ly .i_tuli.cated in L'igurc 7 at X12 wln_iclr aligns the cabs i.tt a serial Iaslli.an a , wi.7.1 lae lterei.n~ttter Lt.trLtten illustrated and descr.i.bed with respect: to t figures t3-11. 1'tte inclcx coded c~~~~s are r:andotnly oriented during all 1.0 Stages of the transport from the injection molding machine 30 to the circular chamber X12. The ali.gdi.ng means provides a serial stream a~ i_rlClCx c:aE~s.4llt.tCll e:Xlt the circular chamber ~2 along conveyor 43 in seduentiaa: serial alignment with all caps a7.igned i.d the same direction attd orientation. '.C'he lr Ollt~llt O~ COrIVCyUr X13 Leeds a, stc~;cl::Lng mechan.LSm ~~1 t~Jlll.ctl creates a bundle of stacl:e:d cans ft:ortl the serial sequential stream arriving from COIlVCyOI: X13, as will be further illustrated and descril.~ed tnit:ll re sped to Figures 13-15.
When 100 cap s or any other: dc:~ired dumber, have been stacked i.n a st:acl;ine~ rrtechan.ism 4A, a tolasli.c r:i_bbon is .i.nserted through the oiacni.ng 20 do f-.i.ycd in the index coded caios to create a bundle of stacked cabs, which are then liL'ted Lrom the magazine for transport l,o a plurality o.E garment assembly locations. 'i'tle use of a central locatiad for injection y molding machine 30, a ssures that the resioecLive batches of index coded caps are all of the same color and appearadce.
'flle different colors of pl.ast:ic may be maintained in separate silos (riot S~lo4ltl) in L'i:gure 7) and direct:ad to the irlJecti.Orl tnol.di.ng machine 30 tltrougl attt. air conveyor: system a s illustrated at 31. When a l:i.rst bat:clt ofi caps is cort~pleted, 3~

-.l.~t-Llle rnoJ.d cavi.t.i.cs J2 azc chnrrgccJ to pz:cpaz:e molds w.it~h ttze 7. rzeW i.ndic.i:a, arrd tare air corzvcyor ~~y:~t~em wi.l.l draw a dif.tcrcnt coloz-cd pJ.asti.c fr:orn a sc:loarate silo. '.L'Izc z:c:st oL
the rnechani.zed system rClira~.n~~ cssent~.i.<.i.Lly uncloanged, thereby providinc) quid:, converrien~ anti a:aL~i.d ability to produce a ~ pJ_uz:ali_t:y of di.il_c:rent bat~rhcr~ of-. sLacl:ed index coded caps.
ns i.17_u,tra~ed in LV'.iduz:e: F3, the ali_c~ni.ng and st:acl:ing rncclnn.i.srn X10 .i.ncltrcles a ci.r:cul.ar chamber 42 Izav.i_rzg a stal.i.onary p.nt~cr: c~1rC11J.aI: 4rc-rJ.l X15 aruJ a rc.~La~irrg circular burl. X16. ns tine sl.acl;ed caps az:e ciz:oL~pc~d into the circular clzarnber by h017pet: AJ_; t:hey are rotated in a cot.tnter-clockwise dircctiorr by t.lv~~ rotating bowl. ~1G, and the centri.tuc)a1 force generated by tl~e rotat:i.ng howl. 'fine inverted and doWW aardly beveled slope of tl~e bovrl., i.J.:l.ustratcd _in F:igure 9, f-.oz:ccs tlzc jurnb:Le oL stacl:cd caps oul:4rdrtl:l.y against stationaz:y out:cz:
~.; ~.ril.l X15. n u:rrnp X17 extends Lrorn t:lre z:otati.ng bowl ~1G
uln~rardly to an arznuJ_ar band ~1E3 Which extends around the inner lower por Lion of side Wall X15. I~s t1e jumble of stacked caps encounters ramp X17, tl~e cent:i:~i_fucJal force drives selected caps upwardly along the ramp, 4rl.th a preference for those that arc aligrzcd aJ.ong the ci.rcurnCerenti:al path defined by the annular wand ~1~. The aligned caps are driven upwardly along ramp 47 by other caps Ctom the rear and a~:a held against the annular band 4fJ by tlae centrifugal Lorce exer fed by more i_owarc.lly dii:ee:te<1 cabs i.n the jumbled pile oL caps.
h transition plate 50 i.s pos:itioncd l.~araJ.lel to the upper edge of annular band 4i3 to assist the caps in making the radial. t:r:ar~s_i_t.ion from the radius defined Loy rump X17 Lo the r adius defined by annular: hand 9 ( . 11 separator pla to 51 is adjacent to ramp X17 and begins with the entry point: of z: amp 5l, L7Llt cUllt.l.Ililes U )Wc'lrdl~
L y east floe elevation of the upl.~er J _~

_.1.J-shell rlatined vy annular band ~1EI, and extends inwc-lrdly to 3. contact c-tnnulaz: l:)atrd rli3 <ts t:~,r~~h ~l'1 tpocrs af-_!:
uncierneattt.
'1'lte sepat:ator plate 51. i.s nntc:lt tlt.i.mrr~r than ratnl) A7, 4rli.i.le ramp 97 atnd c~rlrtulaz band ~lEl aue l.~c~tlt tltc app t: aximate wicltlt oL
otte oC these slacked c7ps. W,~ L.ltc stache:d cabs etnezvgc~ tz:om ~ the sepaLator plate 51 alot~c3 tltc. tap aL annulaz: band rf~, they cocountez: Lii:st and secarui a.i.t: _jet:~ 5?., 53. 'l.'i~e motive: foL~c:e far the c:aPs is a push ft:oln t:l~e rear gc:nel:ated 1)y the jt.unble of staclced caps advancinc3 upwaztil.y along ratop 4'7. 71s a.ll.ustrated itt r'igure l.Ob, a.i~r jet: 52 is directed dawnwaz:cil.y ~~ across the uppez: outer periyltery of the advancinc3 z: ow of index coded cai7s 17. 'i'lte ctzrveca lower poz:t.i.on 17d creates instability on the part of tlm-j cap iL the cap is oriented upside-doom. T~ir jet 5?_ str:5.l:es tltc inner recess 19 and drives the stacked c:ap oft t:lte wc-tl.~. .i.n flue direction oL at: row l~
T~. C3I1 tllC~' atllel: ltc'3IlC~, a i:)L'al)CLly c't~.J.c~llG'Cj, c1p 4rill aC~VF111cE.' under the air jet as illustt:ated i.n T'igure 10a, and tlto r OLtrldCd tOp 1)or t ion 1,'71) tl~e t: eby z: educes the :LilShc~lc t: a 1:
ec~ L z: am jet 52. 7~ SCGUnd air: jcl 53 i.s provided to displace aJ.l calo:~
f earn the annular loand W3 in the event the cottvey<)r mecl~anistn d3 and stacl:er lneclnani:stn 4rl are Lull. 'fhe ai..t jet 53 is activated when light from photo diode 5A is no longer received by i)lvot::o resi.star 5'.i a.s iltd.z.cated itr L'.iguz:e F3 because the column of stacked catos has completeJ.y filled the conveyor 93 attd stacl;i_ncJ tne:c:l~~zni.sut 9A. As the row of-. alic3tted caps passes air jet 53, it encounters guides 56, 57 which maintain the' caps in an a7.idned relationship as they are fed in the conveyor means 43. Tn ~idc.3ation to the centri.Cugal force generated by z:atating bowl 9f , additional. ai.r jets tray be provided eis l~IlClicated at 5f3 arid 59 to create an inner 3~ vortex of air mla.i.ci~ swirls at:aunci the .i.t~rtcr wall 45 Of the -1G_ clrc-llnl.)(;I: . l1 sCCOrI(1 a.l.I: )et ~~ l:s dl.I:CCt:C~d So111U:G111c'it:
i.lr4rc-lr:Clly 1 to assist the caps in floe transition from ramp 47 to annular hand ~lEi. vlriJc .it. wouJ.d be po:>s.il.rlc l.o corntoine ramp 97 arnd ramp 413 ira at >.itrg:Lc un.i.tary st.rucLurc, .i.t has Oeen fotirrd .ie s:;
expensive to use a sirvguJ.ar <'ilrIlttJ.ar band 4a, and a short ramp ~ X17 which is f.i.t:ted the l:ewi:th.
1.'lre I:emaini.ng jurnblc: of stacked caps i. s swept in a circular rrl~tllrlC'_1: against annular band r113 by rotating bovrJ. 46, and the centrifugal f-.ol:c:e generated by the eircuJ.ar rnovetnent of the caps. talren the jumble of caps has accumulated to a ~~0 predeternrirted height, the jumltl.e stir i.kes a feeler probe 60 illustrated irr E .igu re 11 . 'lirn feeler: probe GO i.s suspended from gantry 61 which spans both t=lne inner wall 45 and outer waJ.l G2 oC tlrc circular Cllalnl)CI: AZ. When defJ.ected Lay ttre juml.~le of s~acl:ed caps, a r:~.i.c:ro s4ri.tc:h (not shown) attached to feeler: proLre f0 actuates a slut-off valve in hopper 91 to stop the flow of index caps until the jumble is redi.tced to the predeterrni.ned level.. ns the feeler probe 60 I:etul:ns to its normal position, the outJ.et valve on hopper: 91 is opened, anti an electromagnet i.s energized which vibrates the loopper 20 ,I1 to assist i.n I:eleasing supply of caps into the circular clrarnber 92.
'.L'he ali.cJnrnent meclrarr.ism also includes a twisted guide G5 wlricll receives the row of stacked caps iIl a Ver: tical alignment as defined by guides '.'p6, 57 and annular band 9f3 (illustrated in Figure 9) and rotates them 90° to a flat horizontal position as illustrated i.n Fi.gure fl. 'lhe lower portion of guide G5 is cut: a4r~-Iy to rece.i.ve a conveyor belt 43 which is powered by motor X14 to assist in driving the caps to the stacking mechani_srn r14. 'floe driving force which transports the caps through the twisted portion of guide GS

i:~ yeneratecJ by tine jurnlJle ot: staclced caps ciz:culati_r~c3 00 1. l.otntirtg bow J_ ~tfi and is tz:an sur.iltccl end to end tltrouglz cerclv oL tire caps al..i.gned irz, scr.i.al. Ca~:lr.ioo along the tap shell: of annulaz: iranei ~lEl. .
I~s .i.l.lustz:atecl i.n I'.ic~urc 13, the corwc:yor Itlc:<lrrs X13 ~ .includes an crzdlcss lcJ.t GG wl~i.c:ti a.s tcnsi.onecl by idlcz:
rollcz: 6-l and dr: ivet~ uy motor means ~! ~1 ( i.l.ltzstr ated la E'ic3urc t3) . ns iJ.a.u: trsated in E'i.yurc_ 1.3, tyo caE>s, 1'! and 1'!' arse Sllowrl eY,it1.11g gui.dc rncans G5. 'Lire Liz:st cag 17 is clri_v~n inwardly try tl~e conveyor rneazas unt.i.l it strikes tare outer ~i~ 4l<711 of rnac3azine 70. n Li.loeroi~t.ic f~hotodiode-ptwtoresistor rnec11an1SrT1 1r1c11C<lted at 'll senses tl~e arrival. of tire new cap 17, a control rnearrs (not shown) ac:tnatcs pneumatic rriOLUr 'l2 vahiclo dyivcs plunger 73 alld j)l.attUZ:rn 'TA
ul~warda.y, tlvcr:ehy cl.evat.incJ t:lze cap 17 to the posil:iorz 3-~ illustr ated by cap 17' ' in L'i.c3ure 13. hs fife cap is elevated upwardly, a loai.r of loevclecl cloys '75 <-zncJ 76 are cli.spl.accd outwardly vy means of Llzci.z: l:ve:lecl cclge, (one of wlr.iclr .i.s .illustrated at 7~7 in L~ figure 13 ) , urntil the cap ttas l.zassrd ueyond t1e uplncr face oC ttzc clogs. ns soon as cap 17 is in ?~ position, sim:ing rnc~ans 7t3, 79 ur.c3o fife doc3s 75 aad 76 inwardly, thez:eby suspending <:aEy 1'7 in the neon position illustrated by cap 17' ' in Figure 13. While flue plunger '13 is in ao extended position, a .skirt F30 pz:events tine entry of any additional cap, suchr as cap 1'l' , until the plunger leas retracted to the position illustrated in I?.figure 13. 'lhe operation of pneumatic motor 'l2 is controlled by a tuner, actuated by .Ciberoptics 71 connected to a ghotoresistor-photodiode arrangcrnent, arid loy Ciueropt.i.c arrangernent F32 w)riclv is a rraru3ed at tl~e l.ol~ oL the stacking arrangcmant to :' '>

c~cncratc ~n iolcrru~:~t: signal I:or t:l)e control mcalis whcrll tllc 1 magaz~ nc 70 is f ul.l.y l.oadcd .
1'lagazinc 'lU i.s dcL:ined by a hair of c:otnplc«icrit:ary U-shaped channels 70a, 'TOb as a.llu stralted in L'.i.cfure i~l . n wc.iglit:inc~ rncc>llani:~m f13 i.s ditnr.rr.s.i.oncd to travel w.illl.in the ~ guides 70a, '70b arid exert a dowras~rar:d Corcc on the: st:achecl caps as the stacking t«ccllatlis«1 'I2 .i.s oporating. '111e vrciglil:im~ mcatrs f13 i.s <:omnr:~r.t:c:cl t:a a ver:ti.ca:l. zo<l f3~1 1y «tealtis of onset arm t35 whi.ctl rnairitai.ns t:ltc weight f33 in aligru«etlt, and provides for: the easy rc~tnoval. of the weight when the x~ maga7irle 70 is fi.ll.ed. In addition, a tricti.otl guide f3G is mounted on 4roight F3J , and corlt:ai.tls a thumvscrew 137 wlli.ch can exert: a vertical drag ori~ wci.gilt iii, which drag acts to oCfsot Lhc force of pr)cumatic cyli.rlder 72. It teas beers found in pr: acticc, i:llat Ltlc force alicl :speed of lmeumati.c cylinder 7~, ~ when coupled Witll the J.iglU: weight of the index cap 17, will cause the index czps to ili,lo ,in nwtgazine 70, un7.ess l:cst~:aiocd by at wc.i.glit: suc:ll ass tll~l: itida.c~ted at 113.
tdlmo tlic rnilgazioe is filled, tile stacked cabs, one of wllicl) is a11_ustrat:ed at 17' ' ' w.i.l.l .i.nter:rupt a l.iglit team GO
cm.ittcd by a 111otodi.ocJe irl f:ihcr:ohtic al:i:ay 112., and krill c-fcneratc: an i.titcxzupt s.i.grl~l.l. i:oz: ll)e control r«e.ans wll.icll cotitl:ol.s ptleumatic: cy:lindet '12. nt tll~-zt time, the ohcrator:
Clad 3:C1t1UVC tltE'_ WC:3.t31)t fl.l clr7cJ 54r.LIlC~ It ~ll:Ut.lnd lt5 aX.iS

guide ~~, arid i.tisert a lal:ast:i_c stratici 9U th~ougla the ai.i.gtlcd tlmotrqll holes 2U deJ:ined iJy the : tact: oL alic~ved cabs. The ~.7~,aStlC 17aI1d ~O 1S ICCGtaIl,gtl.ial: 111 CI:U55-SCGtlOtl aS
i.7.lustzatcd a.tl F'irlt.lre 1'_ia, rlticl nnal,clics the rectanguialr conf.i.gm:ation oC through ltoi.e: 2U cleLi.ned in each of the stacked caps, to tivel:cJ~y mai.litain the caps i.n tlle.il: init.ia:L
''~ al5.gtuncnt during tt:ansl.~ort. '1'lle pJ.astic strand 90 rnay ~5 i.ncl.udc oac-way var:t~s c.32, ')3 as i:l.lustr:atc:d .i.n L'.'tc)ttre 15a, ~c~
1 a round lo:l.a stic ball 9~1 a~; i.lJ.u >tralc:d .in I ic~urc 15. LW :ll mcrzas I9~1 dcL.i.rvc:> a c:i.rcul.ar .i.nact: al>en:i.nct wbi.ctr rec:c.ivc~s tlrc, rectangular cross-section ~i strand c.3U i.n a l.indit7c,~
errc~agcmcr~t. '1'lre uartdimi crrcyrclerncrrt tnay he turtlrer ctOrattcecl ~ Vy set:raLiotas 95 Lornted ort the out:'r sur face of t.t~e lower horti.on or pa.ast.i.c strand 9U.
hs _illusti:aLec1 itr lv.icytr:c 12, tfrc index caps 1'7 include Lust i'7a and second 1'lb generally planar side walls which facilitate then stac:l:i.rtg as a bundle of stacked caps x~ as illustrated in I figure 15. '!'be though bole 20 defined in both side wall 17a, 17b, is conLi.gured to tnatclt the rectangular configuration of tl~e plastic strand 90 illustrated in 15a. The index cap may include a variety of indicia such as "h4DD" illustrated at lle and various design ~r ornamentation. as it~dica~ed aL 17t'. As can be seen ~xom ~'iguze 12 and rigure 3, the intzer cavity 19 i.s tapered to snugly engage the upstartdind Llarrge 1G derived by the fool; 15 oL banger 17..
Z~litb respect to the rate oL supply o.t the index ~ coded caps to the stacl:i.ng tneclvanism illustrated in 1 figure 13, it should be noted that the bowl speed of rotating floor ~6, the vibration oa: ltopl7er tneans 4i, the speed of conveyor means 43, and tl~c repeti.t:1.U11 Z:iltG oI pneumatic ITlotOt: 77 at:e all independently contro:l.lal7.c~ to ensure maximum tl~rouglrput of the crevice .
i figures 1G and 17 illustral:e an automatic rneans for assembly oL hanget:s and indexing caps at the tirtte the clothing is lmrag i"T:orn the trattc3ers. The device is a rnodiCied Llanget:nral:ic 5E39 manuLactured by '1'r fret-Master , 4BG0 t~torth 5ttt ~ Street ltigltway, 'Iempl~, Pennsylvania 195GU.

'.l'1oc original. llanc~ermatic macloine includes a pait_ 1 of magazine towers 1U1 and 102 wh.tch are dimensioned to contain a vertical stack of 1»ngcrs thcrebctween. '1'ltc hangers r:cst orr a lolat:en rncmbcr l.O~l and arc selectively engaged by a reciprocating l.~l:ate 1U~ wliicl~ sel.ecti.vel.y engages the lower rTlOSt loanc~cr and ut:ges it outwardly to stop means 1.0~> and 107 wlicn <~c:tt.mU:.ccl. n~ .i.t reacln.s t:luc: stolo means, it disE>l.accs Ll~c outer 1->l.atetr lUG as .'tl:Lustrated in I igurc: 17, which opens a pneumatic llccd port mounted in the face of platen 10~! . ns l:oag rrs the outer platen 1.06 is in its cxtcudcd hosi.tion, tlac hr~cuma.itic n~otoz rncans rcnuiins statiooany. V~IIC.'rl tl~e operator leas Lifted a gar:rncnt to the e~;tcnded hanger and removes the hanger, the outer platen 106, wli.cl i~; storing loaded, returns to t:he: inner platen 101, thereby sea7_.ing the hroeumati.c bl.c~d port, and activating a control means ( not sloowo ) Lor pnctrmati.c motor 103 to return reciprocating plate 105 to i.ts ori.gi.nal posi.ti:on. l~laen set to fully atztomati.c opcrat.i.on, the pneumatic motor 103 .rill immediately locgin a rctur.-n strohc Cor plate 105 which will pick up at~otlicr l~angrr from magazines 101, 10?, and advance it outward:Ly against eccentric stops 106 and 107.
In the present invention, a third magazine lOF3 has been added wh.i.ch rccc.i.ves t:he bundle of stacked caps illustrated in figure 15, and floe configuration of rcciprocat_i.rrg lol.atc 1.05 ha;> l.~ceta a:Ltcr:ed to prov.'tde a cut-out lOSa W111c11 GOI't~Ol:inS to the cxt:et:i.or clirnension of the index coded cap 17. Immediately adjacent cut-out 105x, are alignment cams.109. 'i'he ends of llla, lllb of reciprocating plate 105 have also been altered to provide a spring loaded tip for engagcrnent of the hanger 11. In addition, the magazines 101 and 102 are now indopendentl_y adjustable by means vt bracket 11U and support 112 t0 configure the lltangermatic machine to a wide variety of hanger configurations. Isach of tl~e: magazines 101, 102 and lOfi have cut-outs lOla, 107.a which al7.ow the bangers and index caps to be withdrawn from the magazines as plate rneans 105 reciprocates forwardly as illustrated in Figure 16.
Stand-off legs 113-115 are used to elevate the ftangermatic above the employee work bench, to assist the operator in draloing the article oC cl.ot_Iring avot.tt tle hanger )JeLore the hinge:: is wil.ldrawn from the tfanc~ermatic machine.
alternately, the individual legs c:an be altered in length to provide a slar~t:cd conLicJarvL.i.on which w.i.ll facilit:at-.e i~~~mli.ng clothes therefrom.
hs i.ll.ustrated in I figure 7.7, the Ilangermatic machine is loaded witto a L~undle oL stacked caps indl.cated at 117 which arc loatded into magazine 103. P~agazinc I.UB is suspended above the recd?rocatind plate 105 and platen 104 by bract;eLs 116, 117. Prior to engagement with the hanger 11 the spring loaded Lips llla, 1111 of reciprocal:ing plate 105 are Lully distended. As plate 105 moves forward, or Ci04rI'lwardly as :Ll:Lustrated .in figure 17, it first engages an index cap Lrom the stack of-. caps _117 within recess .105a. '1'he alignment SUl:f_ace 10~ ce:utel:s th 1 ook 15 within reciprocating plate 105 so float the index cap is properly aligned with the ups t:eitlCiIIICJ ilangc~ 1G during attaclunent. hs indicated earlier, the upwardly and inwardly directed edges lGa, 16b of f7.ange 1G also assist in centering the index cap as it is attached to laook 15. i~late 105 is dimensioned 511C11 that ttie index cap is seated.on hook 15 by the impact of plate 105 as the floating shri.ng loaded tips llla, 111)J
en a a the center g g portion of hanger 11. The hanger is then rlz:.i.vcrt fc~r:4l~lr <I l,y, or Cj()47n4lill:dl.y a :~ .i.:l :l.tr~~l:n.zt:ed :tn 1°.i.r)ur:c 1.7 ~' out of the rnaga.tzi.rre;~ 101, 10: Lo tine posit:.ion il.l.us tratecl by the clotted lines in ri.gurc 17. ns il:lustrated in I:'igure 17, the hanger engages pi.votcd cccr_nt.ri.c sl:ops lOGa, IOGh and displace s the end paz:l:iort of plat:cn 101 outwardly as ~ il.lustz:ated in Figure 17. 'ihe spring loaded t=ips llla and lllb compensate for irregularities in hanger molding, and reduce the .i_rnloact of the reciprocating plate 105 on the central portion 1~1 oL floe hanger. '.Chas substantially eliminates the broken and shal:tered hangers normally l0 encounte:t:ed in this type of device. ns the pneumatic cylinder lU3 drives plate 10~, the spring loaded tips llla, lllb are compressed, and the spring loaded platen 107 is extended, thcr:eby opening the pneumatic bl.ced line positioned between platen 10~, and platen 1U7. ns il.lustrated in Figure 17 , the lldrlC_JCr J.s now prescntc:d to the operator with floe clips 12a-12c suspended above the woz:k space, and free frog any immediately adjacent encumbrances, so that the operator may quicl~:ly and easily attach a bra strap thereto. ns the article of clothing is attached to the hanger, it is lifted free oL t:he sl:~ring loaded tips lll_a, lllb of platen 105, which allows platen 107 to close, thereby actuating the control mechanism foz: the I~langermatic machine, to return reciprocating plate 105 bac)~: to its original starting position as il7.ustrated in Figure 17. If set on automatic, as soon as the plate 105 has reciprocated Lo its fully retracted position, it .1.5 I:ecl.prOCated forward to automatically dispense another index coded cap and hancjer.
1'i.cJure lI3 .'t7.lustz:ates a manual means for affixing the finder. caps to hanger l.l. ns illustrated in I'i.gure lFi, a stationar:y platen 125 is fi.tt:ed w.i_th guide means 12G; 127 _73-411r1ch ar:e secut:ed to l:M.atcrv 1.15 by sr_r:ews and elongated si.ots 'L 12E3 which enable the tzreans to be adju sled for a var iety of hanger I ool: si.zcs. n l7acl:et rnc~aos 12) suspends ao i.n<.lex cap magazine 130 above platen 125, the approximate distance of the Wldth Uf one index coded cap. Immediately under magazine ~ 130 is an open.i.ng 1.37. 4111.1.rli is al.i<:~ncd with the through Izole 20 defined in the indey cap. Inzrnediately below the opening 131 is a i:ec.iproca~ing for l; 132 which has l7oth izori.zontal arid vertical fork tines as illustrated in Figures 19 and 20.
In operation, a hirndl.e of stacked caps, such as that illustrated i.n Figure 1.5, a_s dropped into the magazine 130, such thzt ttie serrated end 95 and ball closure means 94 extend through opening 131. Reciprocating fork 132 is then driven inwardly in tlzc direction illustrated by arrow l3 in Figure 1~ to engage ball means 99 as illustrated in Figures ~'S 19 and 20. Jas illustrated in Figure 19, the strap 90 is fricti.onai.ly engaged within ball 99. As soon as the ball is engaged by the fork means 132, the strap 90 is witlodrawn from the top of the rzlag~-tz.ine, and the operator is then tree to insert a hanger such that: the hook of the hanger engages the lowermost index coded cap in the rnagazine 130. In operation, the operator. i.ies the hangci: fiat on platen 125, and reciprocates it inwardly in the direction of arrow A until the hanger hoo4~, has firmly seated within the index coded cap.
Tho hanger anti cap are then W1.t11draWn from the stack, and 2~ another under, coded cap is present for attachrrrent. Legs 133-135 ale pi:ovided to position platen 125 at a comfortable working height for the operator.
ns will be understood from the foregoing, the present invention includes a system for producing a plurality of hangers having index coded caps which are automatically J

,. , .. .,.___. . ... ......_.. ..._._..,_._....:_.._... . .." ,,.. .._, ...>..... ..._ ~ . .,_ ... ........... .. . ." ,- ~.._..". _,.".... . . . .. .
~-1 of L:rvecl to thc: Banger at a pl.urali~y of rctnote locak:ions.
'I'l~e i.miex cycled t:dj~s filly 1.7C InaS:3 pz:odttced in a necltan.ized tzteans and method of injection molding, aligoirtg, sl.acl;ing and binding oL t=he caps into a stack hundl.e foz sBa.hmcntr. t~taen re ~Bc bundle of: sLachccl carps luc.is t~t:ri.ved al. it:s cnd des~inaLlOII, i~ is inserLcd into a magazine 10a or 130 and Lhe caps ar.c subseguent:ly ai:~achcc9 to a locally produced hanger.
1.0 j t~

Claims (16)

WE CLAIM:

1. A automatic means for assembly of hangers and indexing caps at the time clothing is hung from said hangers, said means comprising:
means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps;
means for receiving a separate plurality of stacked hangers;
reciprocal means for simultaneously dispensing one of said caps and securing said caps to one of said hangers to define an indexed hanger wherein an index defined by the secured cap is correlated to a specific characteristic of a garment hung thereon.

2. An automatic means for assembly of hangers as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hanger and said index cap to be secured are positioned in a common plane.

3. An automatic means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps is a magazine.

4. An automatic means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said means for receiving a plurality of hangers is a magazine.

5. An automatic means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said reciprocal means includes a plate defining a first cutout which defines the size and shape of said index cap and second cutout which is arcuate and extends from said first cutout to a leading edge of said plate, said first and second cutouts aligning said index cap and hanger prior to engagement.

6. An automatic means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said reciprocal means reciprocates along a common plane with said cap and said hanger to remove a cap from said magazine and thereafter secure said cap to said hanger as the hanger and cap are dispensed from said hanger magazine.

7. A manual means for assembly of hangers and indexing caps at the time clothing is hung from said hangers, each of said indexing caps defining an aperture through which a plastic ribbon is inserted to hold said indexing caps in a stack, said means for assembly and said indexing caps being secured in a stacked bundle of caps by said plastic ribbon and a releasable clamp, said manual means comprising:
means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps;
means for removing said releasable clamp from said plastic ribbon; and alignment means for aligning said hanger with said cap to assist an operator in inserting a hook member of said hangers into said indexing cap.

8. A manual means for assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps is a magazine.

9. A manual means for assembly as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein said means for removing said releasable clamp disengages a plastic bar.

10. A manual means for assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein each of said hangers have a hook member and each of said indexing caps define a recess for receiving said hook member of one of said hangers, and wherein said magazine defines an opening at its bottom end whereby after a hook member of said hanger has been inserted into the recess of one of said indexing caps, said one of said indexing caps may be removed from said magazine by withdrawing said hanger.

11. A manual means for assembly of hangers and indexing caps at the time clothing is hung from said hangers, each of said hangers having a hook member and each of said indexing caps defining a recess for receiving a portion of said hook member of one of said hangers, each of said indexing caps further defining an aperture through which a plastic ribbon is inserted to hold said indexing caps in a stack, a releasable clamp being attached to the plastic ribbon at one end of said stack to secure said indexing caps in a stacked bundle, said manual means comprising:
means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps;
means for removing said releasable clamp from said plastic ribbon; and alignment means for aligning one of said hangers with one of said indexing caps to assist an operator in inserting said portion of said hook member of one of said hangers into said recess of one of said indexing caps.

12. The manual means for assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means for receiving a bundle of stacked caps is a magazine.

13. The manual means for assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein said magazine defines an opening at its bottom end whereby after said portion of said hook member of one of said hangers has been inserted into the recess of one of said indexing caps, said one of said indexing caps is removed from said magazine by withdrawing said one of said hangers from said alignment means.

14. The manual means for assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said releasable clamp is a plastic barb and said means for removing said releasable clamp disengages said plastic barb from said plastic ribbon.

15. The manual means for assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein said means for removing said releasable clamp is a reciprocating fork.

16. The manual means for assembly as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein said releasable clamp is a plastic barb slidingly engaged at one end of said plastic ribbon and said means for removing said releasable clamp disengages said plastic barb from said plastic ribbon.