EP1485229B1 - Appareil de chargement automatique destine a des cintres a pince emboitables - Google Patents

Appareil de chargement automatique destine a des cintres a pince emboitables Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1485229B1
EP1485229B1 EP03742767.1A EP03742767A EP1485229B1 EP 1485229 B1 EP1485229 B1 EP 1485229B1 EP 03742767 A EP03742767 A EP 03742767A EP 1485229 B1 EP1485229 B1 EP 1485229B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pinch
grip
hangers
hanger
loading
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03742767.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1485229A1 (fr
EP1485229A4 (fr
Inventor
Stanley F. Gouldson
Olaf Olk
Jeffrey R. Sollanek
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/076,789 external-priority patent/US6711808B2/en
Priority claimed from US10/076,790 external-priority patent/US7121439B2/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1485229A1 publication Critical patent/EP1485229A1/fr
Publication of EP1485229A4 publication Critical patent/EP1485229A4/fr
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Publication of EP1485229B1 publication Critical patent/EP1485229B1/fr
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
    • A47G25/14—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers
    • A47G25/48—Hangers with clamps or the like, e.g. for trousers or skirts
    • A47G25/483—Hangers with clamps or the like, e.g. for trousers or skirts with pivoting clamps or clips having axis of rotation parallel with the hanger arms
    • A47G25/485—Hangers with clamps or the like, e.g. for trousers or skirts with pivoting clamps or clips having axis of rotation parallel with the hanger arms with a plurality of clips integral with, or supported by, the trouser-supporting bar
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
    • A47G25/14—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers
    • A47G25/1407—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers with identification means
    • A47G25/1414—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers with identification means connected to the hook member
    • A47G25/1435—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers with identification means connected to the hook member at a web between the stem and hanger body
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
    • A47G25/14—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers
    • A47G25/1442—Handling hangers, e.g. stacking, dispensing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to automated machinery for loading garments on hangers, and more particularly, to loading garments on nestable pinch-grip hangers.
  • the pinch grip hangers are used for hanging pants and skirts for shipment to retailers and display of the same in a retail environment.
  • the improved pinch-grip hangers are nestable in stacks and as such, are less costly to ship with or without garments attached thereto and easier to feed into automated production machinery for insertion of garments thereon.
  • hangers In the retail clothing industry clothing is typically suspended from hangers at the point of purchase. Such hangers are often inexpensive ship-on types and under prevailing garment-on-hanger programs, the garment is shipped from the manufacturer to the retailer while suspended from a hanger.
  • Traditional garment-on-hanger pant and skirt hangers used spring clips that were manually pushed into a locking position to secure the pants or skirts to the hanger.
  • a steel-retaining clip was manually clamped over a clamshell garment grip to secure the garment.
  • Use of the hangers in this device required a manual operation to slide the steel clip over the clamshell to close the retention clip on the garment.
  • pinch grip hangers have become popular in recent years.
  • pinch grip hangers generally have greater depth than clip hangers, resulting in fewer garments per rod or per loop when shipping the garments, and a tendency to inadvertently drop the garments when subjected to unexpected shipping loads, as adjacent hangers impact one another and open one or more of the pinch grips.
  • the pinch-grip hangers of the prior art are typically recycled after purchase of the garment thereon.
  • the hangers are generally shipped in quantity in shipping containers.
  • the cost of shipping the hangers is a function of the weight and cube (volume) of the container. Because of the size and shape of the pinch-grip hangers of the prior art, the volume of the container is not used effectively to hold the hangers. This leads to increased shipping costs.
  • Inadvertent opening of the pinch grips can also occur in a retail store environment, as customers push the garments to one side to better view a garment of interest.
  • Various guards have been proposed in the prior art to prevent the inadvertent opening of the pinch grips, but these guards further contribute to increased depth for the product.
  • pinch grip hangers of the prior art are loaded manually, since both pinch grips are normally biased to a closed position by a spring and both must be opened to load a garment into the grips. At the present time this requires an operator to perform four steps. Using one hand the operator must open the first pinch grip and then using the other hand to suspend the garment, one side of the garment is placed in the grip. This process is then repeated for the other pinch grip. With the second pinch grip the operator must also simultaneously tension the garment between the clips, and since both hands are already occupied, the tensioning step may require additional manual movements. At a minimum, four manual steps or movements are required for each garment that is loaded, resulting in relatively high labor costs for loading the garments.
  • a garment-to-hanger assembly machine in WO 99/65371 A1 a garment-to-hanger assembly machine is disclosed.
  • the machine includes a platen and a hopper chute, which is spaced upwardly and inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the platen.
  • the hopper chute includes adjustable guide rails and a hanger retention spring which operates to allow one hanger at a time to be released from the bottom of the stacked hangers for singulating an individual hanger.
  • Condition is a nestable pinch-grip hanger capable of nesting in a stack of pinch-grip hangers which can be accommodated in a magazine of an automated production machine for feeding the pinch-grip hangers from the stack into the production machine for further processing therein.
  • the apparatus and the corresponding method for operating said apparatus is characterized in that the moving means comprises a pair of loading pins selectively engagable with the singulated pinch-grip hanger and movable from the tray portion to the loading means, wherein the pair of loading pins are extended into the tray portion to engage the singulated pinch-grip hanger and push the singulated pinch-grip hanger to the loading means.
  • the pinch grip hanger 100, 200 is molded of plastic with a support means 102, 202 for supportably hanging the hanger on a display.
  • the hanger further has a body 104, 204 supported by the support means 102, 202.
  • the body 104, 204 has two pinch grips 106, 206 disposed thereon for retaining a garment.
  • the hanger 100, 200 includes nesting means for nesting the hanger in a stack of similar hangers such that the hanger interlocks with the stack of similar hangers.
  • interlocks means that the relative motion between hangers in the stack is restricted by some degree.
  • the degree of restriction may require an applied force to separate the hangers from one another, such an applied force is not necessary.
  • the nestable hangers in the stack can be separated easily from one another, however, each hanger is shaped and/or configured to "fit" or nest with at least one other hanger in the stack analogous to the nesting of outdoor resin chairs.
  • the nestable hanger preferably nests in a plane substantially parallel with a plane of the stack of similar hangers and more preferably in substantially a same plane as the stack of similar hangers.
  • nesting of a hanger in a plane substantially parallel with a plane of the stack of similar hangers where the planes are not the same plane will be referred to as vertical nesting
  • nesting of a hanger in a plane substantially parallel with a plane of the stack of similar hangers where the planes are the same plane will be referred to as horizontal nesting.
  • the nestable hanger is described and shown herein in a horizontal nesting configuration, such is done by way of example only.
  • the support means is an upwardly extended hook member 108 formed of plastic and integrally molded with the body 104.
  • an alternative hanger 200 is shown therein in which the hanger is fitted with a wire metal hook 208 that is swivel mounted in the body 204 in a manner well known in the art.
  • the hook member 108 can include an upstanding flange member (not shown) that is adapted to receive a size indicia (not shown) for a characteristic of the garment suspended in the hanger, such as a size indicator permanently affixed to the hook member 108 as taught by U.S. Patent No. 5,604,975 or the size indicator releasably secured to the hook member 108 as taught by U.S. Patent No. 5,794,363 . Both of these patents are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • the hanger may also be fitted with a pivoting flange to receive a side sizer in the matter taught in U.S. Patent No. 6,260,745 , also assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • a side sizer is disposed on a transition portion between the hook member 108 and the body 104 of the hanger 100.
  • the body 104, 204 of the pinch grip hanger is a horizontally extending support bar 110, 210.
  • the support bar 110, 210 includes the pinch grips 106 positioned on either end 110a, 110b, 210a, 210b of the support bar 110, 210.
  • the central support bar 110, 210 is preferably formed of a square M-shaped cross-section that provides exceptional strength along the vertical axis of the hanger.
  • Each of the pinch grips 106, 206 include first and second pinch grip jaws 106a, 106b, 206a, 206b with the first jaw members 106a, 206a being integrally molded with the support bar 104, 204.
  • the second jaw members 106b, 206b are pivotally secured to the first jaw members 106a, 206a at a pivot mounting 112, 212, by a spring member 114, 214, as will be hereinafter discussed in detail.
  • Each of the pinch grip jaws 106a, 106b, 206a, 206b define garment-engaging areas 116, 216.
  • Each of the moveable first and second jaw members 106a 106b, 206a 206b also have an actuation end 118a, 118b, 218a, 218b used to open the pinch grip 106, 206 and pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b.
  • Each of the first and second jaw members 106a, 106b, 206a, 206b are molded with teeth 120, 220 where the teeth 120, 220 are preferably staggered so that they do not directly oppose each other.
  • each of the first and second jaw members 106a, 106b, 206a, 206b are fitted with a molded non-slip pad (not shown).
  • the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b are biased together by the spring member 114, 214 and are actuated apart by an actuation force applied at the actuation ends 118a, 118b, 218a, 218b.
  • hangers 100, 200 can be nested in either a horizontal or vertical nesting configuration, the horizontal configuration is shown by way of example only
  • nests 300, 400 of hangers 100, 200 are shown with three individual hangers 100, 200 in the nest 300, 400, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of individual hangers 100, 200 greater than two can be nested .
  • the nesting of hangers 100, 200 will be described and shown in Figures 6 and 7A with more specificity with regard to hangers 100. Unless otherwise noted, the nesting of hangers 200 is similarly configured to that shown and described with regard to hangers 100.
  • the nesting means can comprise the actuatable ends 118a, 118b, 218a, 218b defining a pocket 124 having a shape and size larger than a size and shape of the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b such that the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b are accommodated into a corresponding pocket 124 of the individual hangers 100, 200 in the stack of hangers 300, 400.
  • the pocket 124 preferably accommodates enough of the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b to provide a stable stack of nesting hangers 300, 400.
  • pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b need not positively lock into the pocket 124, such as by a press fit or interference with a protrusion in the pocket 124, it is sufficient that the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b be loosely secured in the pocket 124.
  • the nesting means can also comprise alone or in addition to that described above, the pinch grips 106, 206 being equidistant from the hook 108, 208 on opposite ends of the body 104, 204 in a first direction (indicated by arrow A) and the pinch grips 106, 206 further being offset in a second direction (indicated by arrow B) orthogonal to the first direction by an amount equal to a thickness of at least a portion of a corresponding hook member 104, 204 in the stack of individual similar hangers 300, 400.
  • the amount of offset in the direction of arrow B is substantially equal to the thickness of the corresponding hook member 104, 204.
  • the offset facilitates nesting of the hangers 100, 200 in the horizontal stacking configuration.
  • the nesting means can also include alone or in combination with that described above, the body 104, 204 having a cut-out portion 122 corresponding to at least a portion of the hook member 104 on the stack of similar hangers 300, 400 to accommodate the hook member 104 in the stack of similar hangers 300, 400 while nested together in the stack.
  • the hangers 100, 200 further comprise means for preventing inadvertent actuation of the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b while a garment is inserted between the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b.
  • the means for preventing inadvertent actuation of the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b can comprise at least one guard member 126 disposed on the actuation end 118a, 218a, of the first jaw 106a, 206a.
  • the at least one guard member 124 projects outwardly from the first jaw 106a, 206a towards the actuation end 118b, 218b of the second jaw 106b, 206b such that an inadvertent actuation force F is at least partially blocked from being applied to the actuation end 118b, 218b of the second jaw 106b, 206b.
  • the means for preventing inadvertent actuation of the pinch ends 119a, 119b, 219a, 219b can also comprise, alone or in combination with that described above, at least one of the first and second jaws 106a, 206a, 106b, 206b having a shape such that a widest portion W of the pinch grip 106, 206 in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation R is below the axis of rotation R.
  • Figure 4 illustrates the widest portion W of the pinch grip 106, 206 being due to a convexly curved portion 126 formed on the second jaw 106b, 206b.
  • any object which is pressed against the second jaw 106b, 206b will likely be applied against the convexly curved portion 126 and will tend to keep the first and second jaws 106a, 206a, 106b, 206b closed rather than tend to open the jaws.
  • the container 500 is a shipping container and has walls 502 (including a bottom) defining an interior 504.
  • the container can have a top 506 or be open at the top.
  • the container 500 can be fabricated from numerous materials known in the art for shipping containers, such as cardboard, or plastic.
  • a plurality of stacks of hangers 300 are disposed in the interior 504 where each of the individual stacks of hangers 300 comprise a plurality of nestable hangers 100 as described above.
  • the stacks of hangers 300 are shown having 12 individual hangers 100 in a horizontal nesting configuration, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of individual hangers greater than one in either a horizontal or vertical nesting configuration may be disposed in the container 500 .
  • the container 500 is shown having several stacks of hangers 300 disposed therein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of stacks of hangers 300 greater than one can be disposed in the container 500 .
  • novel nesting hangers 100, 200 and nesting stacks thereof 300, 400 provide for greater shipping density than would be possible with pinch-grip hangers of the prior art which are loosely packaged in containers.
  • nesting means particularly due to the offset and cut-out discussed above, also provide for greater display density when garments are disposed thereon and the hangers are hung from a display.
  • the means for preventing inadvertent actuation discussed above provides means for inadvertent actuation of the pinch grips 106, 206 when a garment is retained by the pinch grips 106, 206 when the hangers 100, 200 are both hung from a display and while being transported with the garments retained thereon.
  • the hanger 100 preferably has a web 128 having a fixed latch 140 and a pivoting latch 142.
  • the pivoting latch 142 is preferably located at a central portion of the web 128 and the fixed latch 140 is located on at least one end of the pivoting latch 142.
  • the fixed latch 140 as shown in Figure 11a comprises two abutments 140a, 140b located on each end of the pivoting latch 142.
  • the pivoting latch 142 projects from a first side 144 of the web 128 and the fixed latch 140 projects from an opposite side 146 of the web 128.
  • the pivoting latch 142 is preferably defined by a slot 148 cut through the web 128.
  • the slot preferably has a shape defined by at least two sides 148a, 148b.
  • the pivoting latch 142 is further defined by a living hinge, shown by dotted line 130 closing the shape of the slot 148.
  • the slot 148 is preferably substantially two sided 148a, 148b and the living hinge 130 closes the shape of the slot 148 thereby forming a triangular shaped pivoting latch 142.
  • the pivoting latch 142 preferably has an engagement means for facilitating movement of the pivoting latch about arrow A shown in Figures 11b .
  • the engagement means preferably comprises a cantilevered end 122 of the pivoting latch 142 which when a releasing force (F R ) is applied thereto provides a mechanical advantage for movement of the pivoting latch 142 out of engagement with the size indicator. Simultaneously, the opposite side of the pivoting latch 142 displaces the size indicator such that it no longer engages the fixed latch 140.
  • size indicator 150 generally having a face 160 and two sides 162, 164 depending therefrom to form a generally C-shaped channel 166.
  • Each of the sides 162, 164 terminate in a foremost edge 131, 132.
  • the foremost edges 131, 132 are preferably configured such that the cantilevered end 168 of the pivoting latch 142 is exposed when a size indicator 150 is secured on the web 128.
  • the size indicator 150 includes finger means 134 for engaging the fixed and pivoting latches 140, 142, respectively, such that the size indicator is secured on the web during normal use. However, the size indicator is releasably secured on the web 128 such that it may be released from the web 128 when the pivoting latch 142 is pivoted out of engagement with the finger means 134 of the size indicator when the release force (F R ) is applied.
  • the finger means 134 preferably comprises an inwardly facing ridge 134a, 134b disposed at each of the foremost edges 131, 132 and projecting inwards towards the channel 166 of the size indicator 150.
  • a second size indicator 150a of the first embodiment is illustrated in Figure 10c in which like reference numerals refer to similar features, the second size indicator being referred to generally by reference numeral 150a.
  • the second size indicator 150a has engagement abutments 162a and 164a which protrude from the inside of the sides 162, 164, respectively, to touch the side walls of the fixed and pivoting latches 140, 142 when secured to the web 128.
  • the size indicator 150a further has a pair of spaced projections 160a, 160b projecting from an inner surface of the face 160.
  • the web 128 preferably also has a guard 136 extending across the web 128 and below the size indicator 150a.
  • the guard 136 has a down-turned portion 138, which follows the contours of the cantilevered end 168 to thereby enable access to the edges of the size indicator, and the engagement means prevents inadvertent actuation of the pivoting latch 142.
  • the cantilevered end 168 and engagement means are preferably configured to engage a tool (not shown) used for application of the releasing force (F R ).
  • the engagement means is preferably a dimple 141 formed on a side of the cantilevered end 168. The tool having a tip substantially conforming to the shape of the dimple 141 and having a width such that it is not prevented from engaging the dimple 141 by the guard 136.
  • the web preferably also has an outermost edge 128d having an outermost portion 128e of a predetermined cross-section.
  • the first version of the size indicator 150 has a trough 170c ( Figure 10a ) with a mating cross-section substantially configured to receive the outermost portion 128e therein for preventing a lateral movement of the size indicator along direction E-E ( Figure 12a ) when the size indicator 150 is secured on the web 128.
  • the preferable predetermined cross-section of both the outermost portion 128e and the trough 170 is substantially rectangular.
  • the second version of the size indicator 150a having first and second spaced projections 160a and 160b, respectively, which project from the inner surface of the face 160.
  • the first and second projections 160a, 160b are spaced such that the outermost portion 128e is accepted therein when the size indicator 150a is secured on the web 128 to prevent lateral movement of the size indicator 150a along direction E-E (illustrated in Figure 12a ).
  • the engagement abutments 162a, 164a cooperate with the trough 170 or the first and second spaced projections 160a, 160b to prevent side-to-side movement of the size indicator on the web and contribute to a secure and solid attachment of the size indicator to the hanger.
  • the web 128 further comprises locating means for locating the size indicators 150, 150a in a predetermined position on the web 128.
  • the locating means preferably comprises first and second guides 146a, 146b disposed adjacent each side edge 148a, 148b of the size indicator 150, 150a and spaced apart to align the size indicators therebetween and to center the size indicators during application thereof on the web 128.
  • the first and second guides 146a, 146b do not extend the full length of the side edges 148a, 148b of the size indicator but define elongate openings 150a, 150b which expose the side edges 148a, 148b of the size indicator.
  • Size indicator 150a is mounted on the web 128 by sliding it over web 128 in the direction of arrow C. While being mounted in the direction of arrow C, the pivoting latch 142 pivots in the direction of arrow G until the inwardly facing ridges 134a, 134b of finger means 134 pass over the fixed and pivoting ridges 140, 142. After which, the inwardly facing fingers 134a, 134b snap into place in an area defined by the guide 136 and a bottom edge of the fixed and pivoting ridges 140, 142. As such, the size indicator 150a is releasably secured on the web 12B.
  • a releasing force (F R ) is applied to the cantilevered end 168 of the pivoting latch 142, preferably by engaging the dimple 141 thereon with a release tool (not shown).
  • the release force (F R ) results in the pivoting latch 142 to pivot about the living hinge 130 in the direction of arrow G.
  • planar side wall of the pivoting latch 142 causes the inner ridge 134a of the finger means 134 of size indicators 150, 150a to extend past the furthest extending portion of the fixed latch 140. At this point, the size indicator 150, 150a may be manually removed from the web 128.
  • FIG. 13 and 14 there is illustrated an automated apparatus of the present invention for loading (alternatively referred to as inserting) garments into the pinch grip hangers 100, the apparatus being generally referred to by reference numeral 400.
  • hanger 100 is shown being loaded in apparatus 400, those skilled in the art will appreciate that hanger 200 may also be used without departing from the present invention.
  • the apparatus 400 is shown with regard to a horizontal nest 300 of hangers, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a vertical nest can also be used with the apparatus modified accordingly to accommodate and feed the vertical nest.
  • the apparatus 400 has legs 402 for supporting a platform 404.
  • the platform 404 has a rectangular tray portion 406 for holding at least one nest 300 of hangers having the movable jaw member 106b facing upwards away from the platform 404.
  • the tray portion 406 may have a tapered lead-in portion 408 facilitating the loading of the nest 300 into the tray 406.
  • the platform 404 further has a loading portion 410 where each of the individual hangers 100 in the nest 300 are loaded with a garment between the first and second jaw members 106a, 106b of the pinch grips 106.
  • the legs 402 are provided with braces to add stability to the apparatus 400.
  • the tray portion 406 has a lower surface 412 upon which the nest of hangers 300 lies and which is inclined such that the hangers 100 are at least partially fed from the tray portion 406 to the loading portion 410 by gravity.
  • a transition portion 412a of the lower surface 412 between the tray portion 406 and loading portion 410 is preferably curved, such curve is preferably very gradual, i.e., has a large radius.
  • the platform further has two channels 414 in the lower surface 412 such that pushing and locating pins (discussed below) can communicate with the hangers 100 from below the lower surface 412.
  • Each of the individual hangers 100 in the nest of hangers 300 is singulated from the nest 300 and fed to the loading portion 410. Therefore, preferably the nest of hangers 300 are held in the tray portion 406 by front and rear pairs of locating pins 416a, 416b.
  • Each of the locating pins 416a, 416b are preferably connected to or integral with a shaft 418 of a first and second pairs of pneumatic cylinders 420a, 420b, respectively. of course, both of the locating pins for each pair can be connected to a single pneumatic cylinder.
  • the first and second pairs of pneumatic cylinders 420a, 420b are held in place under the lower surface 412 of the platform 404 by a bracket 422 such that the pins 416a, 416b communicate with the channels 414.
  • the first and second pneumatic cylinders 420a, 420b are actuated between retracted and extended positions to retract the pins 416a, 416b below the lower surface 412 or extend above the lower surface 412 to engage the hangers 100, respectively.
  • Each of the first locating pins 416a engage a lower edge 110c of the support bar 110 of a first hanger 100 in the nest, while each of the second locating pins 416b engage a lower edge 110c of the support bar 110 of a second hanger 100 in the nest 300.
  • the pair of first locating pins 416a are retracted to free the first hanger 100 in the nest from the nest 300 due to the effect of gravity from the inclined surface of the tray portion 406 while the pair of second locating pins 416b are extended to restrict the movement of the second and remaining hangers 100 in the nest 300.
  • the pair of first locating pins 416a are again extended and the pair of second locating pins 416b are retracted to allow the remaining hangers 100 in the nest to engage the first pair of locating pins 416a due to the effect of gravity.
  • a sensor may be used to detect the singulation of the first hanger 100 in the nest 300 from the nest before the first pair of locating pins 416a are extended.
  • a means for vibrating the lower surface 412 may also be used with or without the sensor to ensure the singulation of the first hanger 100 from the nest 300. Such means are well known in the art, such as an eccentric motor operatively engaged with the lower surface 412.
  • a pair of pushing pins 424 move though the channels 414 to push the singulated hanger 110 through the curved transition portion 412a to the loading portion 410.
  • the singulated hanger 100 is located at a proper position in,the loading portion, such as by pushing the singulated hanger 100 against a pair of shallow stops 426 corresponding to each of a forward edge of the fixed jaw member 106a.
  • the pushing pins 424 stop moving, which can be determined by exceeding a predetermined torque in pushing motors (described below) or positioning a sensor in the stops 426 or on an appropriate position on the lower surface 412 of the platform 404 in the vicinity of the loading portion 410.
  • the means for supporting and moving the pushing pins 424 is preferably as shown in Figure 13 .
  • Such means includes a pushing motor 428a and main pulley 428b supported under the lower surface 412 in the vicinity of the channels 414 by brackets (not shown).
  • the pushing motor 428a and main pulley 428b are interconnected by a belt 430.
  • the pushing pins 424 are carried on the belt 430 and run in the same longitudinal direction as the channels 412.
  • An idler pulley 432 may be necessary to conform the shape of the belt to the corresponding shape of the lower portion 412 of the platform 404.
  • the pushing motor 428a is activated to rotate the belt 430 counterclockwise causing rearward pushing pins 424a to emerge from the lower surface 412 and engage with the singulated hanger 100.
  • the rearward pushing pins 424a continue to travel towards the loading portion 410 to push the singulated hanger therewith to the loading portion 410 until the singulated hanger 100 is appropriately positioned at the loading portion 410, as discussed above.
  • rearward pushing pins 424a push the singulated hanger 100 towards the loading portion 410
  • frontward pushing pins 424b are free to move towards a rearward position (since, as described below, the previous singulated hanger has been mated with a garment and removed, therefore no longer being an impediment to the continued travel of the forward pushing pins 424b).
  • the pushing pins 424 can also be moved linearly, such as by a linear motor, ball screw, and the like.
  • the apparatus 400 further has first and second pinch grip actuators 434 (shown in phantom in Figure 14 ).
  • the first and second pinch grip actuators 434 are preferably pneumatic cylinders and have an actuation rod 436 corresponding with the actuation ends 118b of the movable jaw members 106b for each of the pinch grips 106 of the singulated hanger 100.
  • a roller 438 is provided the end of each actuation rod to facilitate the relative movement between the end of the actuation rod 436 and the actuation end 118b of the movable jaw members 106b.
  • an operator manually inserts a garment in the direction of arrow A into the open pinch grips 106.
  • the garment engages a lever sensor 440 which retracts the actuator rods 436 to close the pinch grips 106 on the garment, thereby securing the garment on the hanger 100.
  • the operator then manually removes the garment and attached hanger 100 from the loading portion 410 by pulling on the garment thereby releasing engagement of the garment on the lever sensor 440.
  • the first pair of locating pins 416a are retracted to singulate the next hanger 100 in the nest of hangers 300. The sequence described above then repeats for all of the hangers in the nest 300.
  • Additional nests 300 can be loaded into the tray portion 406 before all of the hangers 100 from the previous nest have been processed because the new nest 300 will nest with the remaining hangers 100 from the old nest 300. In this way, the garment loading process does not have to be stopped for loading of the hangers 100. Furthermore, several nests of hangers 300 can be stacked above each other, each on their own tray portion, and the nests or the trays themselves can be fed into the position shown in Figure 13 after a previous nest has been processed.
  • the powering and sequencing of the above components of the apparatus 400 can be done manually, they are preferably under the control of a central programmable processor (not shown) that controls and sequences the components in an automated fashion.
  • a central programmable processor not shown
  • the only manual intervention necessary is for the loading of the nests of hangers 300 into the tray portion 406, the insertion of a garment between the open jaw members 106a, 106b of the pinch grips 106, and the removal of the garment and attached hanger from the platform after the jaw members 106a, 106b have been closed on the garment.

Landscapes

  • Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)
  • Chain Conveyers (AREA)
  • Non-Silver Salt Photosensitive Materials And Non-Silver Salt Photography (AREA)

Claims (13)

  1. Appareil (400) pour charger des vêtements sur des cintres à pinces individuels (100, 200) d'un ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces, l'appareil (400) comprenant :
    une trémie pour retenir l'ensemble emboîté des cintres à pinces (100, 200), chacun des cintres à pinces individuels (100, 200) dans l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) ayant un corps (104, 204), deux pinces (106, 206) disposées sur le corps (104, 204) pour retenir un vêtement dans celles-ci, et des moyens d'emboîtement pour l'emboîtement du cintre à pinces individuel (100, 200) dans une pile de cintres similaires (100, 200) de sorte que le cintre à pinces individuel (100, 200) s'inter-verrouille avec la pile de cintres similaires (100, 200) ;
    des moyens de séparation pour séparer un cintre à pinces individuel (100, 200) de l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) ; et
    un moyen de chargement (410) pour charger un vêtement sur le cintre à pinces individuel séparé (100, 200),
    où la trémie est une plate-forme (404) ayant une portion de plateau (406) pour retenir l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) sur sa surface inférieure (412),
    où la plateforme (404) comprend en outre une portion de transition (412a) entre la portion de plateau (406) et le moyen de chargement (410), et
    où la surface inférieure (412) est inclinée vers le moyen de chargement (410),
    caractérisé en ce que
    le moyen de chargement (410) comprend un moyen de déplacement pour déplacer le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) de la portion de plateau (406), à travers la portion de transition (412a) et dans le moyen de chargement (410),
    et
    le moyen de déplacement comprend une paire d'axes de chargement (424) pouvant être sélectivement mis en prise avec le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) et déplaçable de la portion de plateau (406) au moyen de chargement (410), où les deux axes de chargement (424) s'étendent dans la portion de plateau (406) pour venir en prise avec le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) et pour pousser le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) dans le moyen de chargement (410).
  2. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la portion de plateau (406) possède une portion d'entrée effilée (408) pour faciliter le chargement depuis l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) dans celle-ci.
  3. Appareil (400) selon la revendication, dans lequel la plateforme (404) comprend en outre une portion de chargement (410) à laquelle le vêtement est chargé sur le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200).
  4. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 3, dans lequel le moyen de séparation comprend un moyen de libération pour libérer un premier cintre à pinces (100, 200) à séparer de l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) pendant que les cintres restants (100, 200) dans l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) sont retenus.
  5. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le moyen de libération comprend des première et deuxième paires d'axes de localisation (416a, 416b) actionnés sélectivement entre des positions étendue et rétractée, la première paire d'axes de localisation (416a, 416b) venant en prise avec un premier cintre à pinces (100, 200) à séparer dans l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) en position étendue, et libérant le premier cintre à pinces (100, 200) en position rétractée, la deuxième paire d'axes de localisation (416a, 416b) venant en prise avec les cintres à pinces restants (100, 200) de l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) dans la position étendue afin de retenir les cintres à pinces restants (100, 200).
  6. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 5, comprenant en outre un moyen de localisation pour localiser le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) à une position de chargement prédéterminée à la portion de chargement (410).
  7. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le moyen de localisation comprend une butée d'arrêt superficielle correspondant à chacune des deux pinces (106, 206) du cintre séparé (100, 200), où le cintre séparé (100, 200) est poussé contre les butées d'arrêt superficielles (426).
  8. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le moyen de chargement (410) comprend en outre un moyen pour ouvrir les deux pinces (106, 206) du cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) pendant qu'il se trouve à la portion de chargement (410) de sorte que le vêtement peut être inséré dans celles-ci.
  9. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le moyen pour ouvrir les deux pinces (106, 206) comprend un vérin actionnable correspondant à chacune des deux pinces (106, 206) du cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) pour la mise en prise avec un élément de mâchoire mobile (106a, 106b) de chacune des deux pinces (106, 206) pour déplacer les éléments de mâchoire mobiles (106a, 106b) afin d'ouvrir ainsi chacune des deux pinces (106, 206).
  10. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 9, comprenant en outre un moyen de capteur pour détecter le chargement du vêtement sur le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) pour fermer les pinces (106, 206) afin de fixer le vêtement dans celles-ci.
  11. Appareil (400) selon la revendication 10, où le moyen de capteur détecte en outre le retrait du cintre à pinces séparé chargé (100, 200) et initie la séparation d'un cintre à pinces restant suivant (100, 200) de l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200).
  12. Procédé pour charger un vêtement sur un cintre à pinces individuel (100, 200) d'un ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200), le procédé comprenant :
    (a) charger l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (200) dans une trémie étant une plateforme (404) ayant une portion de plateau (406) pour retenir l'ensemble emboîté sur une surface inférieure (412) de celle-ci et étant inclinée vers une portion de chargement (410) à laquelle le vêtement est chargé sur un cintre séparé (100, 200) et une portion de transition (412a) entre la portion de plateau (406) et la portion de chargement (410), chacun des cintres à pinces individuels (100, 200) dans l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) ayant un corps (104, 204), deux pinces (106, 206) disposées sur le corps (104, 204) pour retenir un vêtement dans celles-ci, et un moyen d'emboîtement pour l'emboîtement du cintre à pinces individuel (100, 200) dans une pile de cintres similaires (100, 200) de sorte que le cintre à pinces individuel (100, 200) s'inter-verrouille avec la pile de cintres similaires (100, 200) ;
    (b) séparer un cintre à pinces individuel (100, 200) de l'ensemble emboîté de cintres à pinces (100, 200) ; et
    (c) charger un vêtement sur le cintre à pinces individuel séparé (100, 200),
    où la séparation comprend la libération d'un premier cintre individuel (100, 200) de l'ensemble emboîté de cintres (100, 200) tout en retenant les cintres individuels restants (100, 200) de l'ensemble emboîté de cintres (100, 200), le premier cintre individuel libéré (100, 200) étant le cintre individuel séparé (100, 200), et
    où le chargement d'un vêtement sur le cintre à pinces individuel séparé (100, 200) comprend le déplacement du cintre individuel séparé (100, 200) à travers la portion de transition (412a) à la portion de chargement (410) pour le chargement du vêtement sur le cintre à pinces individuel séparé (100, 200),
    caractérisé en ce que le déplacement est exécuté par un moyen de déplacement qui comprend une paire d'axes de chargement (424) pouvant être mis en prise sélectivement avec le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) et déplaçables de la portion de plateau (406) à la portion de chargement (410), où les deux axes de chargement (424) s'étendent dans la portion de plateau (406) pour venir en prise avec le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) et pour pousser le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) et pour pousser le cintre à pinces séparé (100, 200) vers la portion de chargement (410).
  13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, comprenant en outre la répétition des étapes (b) et (c) pour les cintres à pinces individuels restants (100, 200) dans l'ensemble emboîté des cintres à pinces (100, 200).
EP03742767.1A 2002-02-15 2003-02-14 Appareil de chargement automatique destine a des cintres a pince emboitables Expired - Lifetime EP1485229B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US76789 2002-02-15
US76790 2002-02-15
US10/076,789 US6711808B2 (en) 2002-02-15 2002-02-15 Pinch grip hanger loading mechanism
US10/076,790 US7121439B2 (en) 2002-02-15 2002-02-15 Pinch grip hanger
US292128 2002-11-12
US10/292,128 US6923350B2 (en) 2002-02-15 2002-11-12 Pinch grip hanger
PCT/US2003/004563 WO2003070421A1 (fr) 2002-02-15 2003-02-14 Appareil de chargement automatique destine a des cintres a pince emboitables

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1485229A1 EP1485229A1 (fr) 2004-12-15
EP1485229A4 EP1485229A4 (fr) 2011-08-10
EP1485229B1 true EP1485229B1 (fr) 2013-05-15

Family

ID=27761311

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03742767.1A Expired - Lifetime EP1485229B1 (fr) 2002-02-15 2003-02-14 Appareil de chargement automatique destine a des cintres a pince emboitables

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1485229B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN100448602C (fr)
AU (1) AU2003211080A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2476291C (fr)
GB (1) GB2405399B (fr)
HK (1) HK1074826A1 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA04007953A (fr)
TR (1) TR200402305T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003070421A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2424830B (en) * 2002-02-15 2007-02-28 Stanley Frederick Gouldson Improved pinch grip hangers
US6711808B2 (en) * 2002-02-15 2004-03-30 Spotless Plastics Pty. Ltd. Pinch grip hanger loading mechanism

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US3740823A (en) * 1971-07-01 1973-06-26 Friedman A Method for clipping folded articles of clothing and the like
US3859710A (en) * 1973-09-13 1975-01-14 Batts John T Inc Garment loader for hangers
US3924671A (en) * 1974-04-18 1975-12-09 Charles R Gates Folding screen for light permeable skylights and the like
US4349127A (en) * 1979-09-11 1982-09-14 Atron, Inc. Device for affixing garments onto hangers
US4381599A (en) * 1980-11-17 1983-05-03 John Thomas Batts, Inc. Machine for attaching hangers to slacks
US4383362A (en) * 1981-03-06 1983-05-17 Graniero Ronald S Apparatus for opening and closing the clamping members of a hanger
US4873878A (en) * 1987-12-29 1989-10-17 Cintas Corporation Apparatus for inspecting and hangering pants
US5272806A (en) * 1988-12-20 1993-12-28 Plasti-Form Enterprises, Inc. Machine for injection molding and stacking indexing caps for clothes hangers
US5794363A (en) 1988-12-20 1998-08-18 Spotless Plastics Pty. Ltd. Hanger hook for a garment hanger with indicator
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US6289569B1 (en) * 1995-02-02 2001-09-18 Spotless Plastics Pty. Ltd. Method for removing indicators from hangers
US6264075B1 (en) 2000-01-07 2001-07-24 Spotless Plastics Pty. Ltd. Garment hanger having a removable size indicator
DE69930514T2 (de) * 1998-06-16 2006-10-05 Batts, Inc., Zeeland Kleiderbügel mit hoher lagerungsdichte und antientfernungsmittel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK1074826A1 (en) 2005-11-25
AU2003211080A1 (en) 2003-09-09
GB2405399B (en) 2005-08-31
CA2476291A1 (fr) 2003-08-28
EP1485229A1 (fr) 2004-12-15
CA2476291C (fr) 2011-06-14
CN1646256A (zh) 2005-07-27
GB0418354D0 (en) 2004-09-22
CN100448602C (zh) 2009-01-07
WO2003070421A1 (fr) 2003-08-28
EP1485229A4 (fr) 2011-08-10
TR200402305T2 (tr) 2005-04-21
MXPA04007953A (es) 2005-05-17
GB2405399A (en) 2005-03-02

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