US1687361A - Laundry-marking tag - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, v192s. 1,687,361

E. J. CARROLL ET AL LAUNDRY MARKI NG TAG Filed April 29, 1927 /NVNTORS da NEY5` l ATTO Patented oci, 9, 1928.

vUNiTED STA EMIL J. CARROLL, or NORWOOD, AND-GEORGEW; JOHNSON, or' BOND HILL, OHIO, AssIGNoRs yro THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OE NORWOOD s'rA- TION,'OHIO, A CORIPORA'IIONOI` OHIO.

LAUNDRY-MARKING TAG.

I Application led April 29, 1927. Serial Noy 187,560.

This invention relates to marking apparatus for fabric articles'toxbe treated and,

particularlyv to that type of such apparatus wherein non-corrosive markers are applied to the yseveral articles with suitable identification means for properly classifyingsuch arti--` cles, as for example, the identification of the Wash of anindvidual Wherebyit may be separated or sorted from a larger -mass of articles" belonging to others aftera laundering process. i

The present invention yaims to Overcome some of the diiiculties encountered heretofore in such identifying and sorting apparatus and markers by providing a normally open clamping marker having clamping parts,

justable holding device in the form of a staple embracing the clamping parts beyond the edge of the fabric article, and thereby holding the clamp in closed position upon v the article and at the same time being adjustable for various thicknesses of material. Thesemarkers, in some instances, identified in lots or groups or, in fact, in any desired arrangement, one suitable' arrangementrbeing where each marker is provided with an identification number and with a physical configuration identifying it With a suitably identified rack preferably in the form of a hollow rail with .a slot at tlie'bottom providing lips or flanges for supporting the markers and with an entrance or gate at ythe front and bottom adapted to permit the insertion of the marker upwardly into the rack. For the purpose of causing each rack .to receive its own .particular articles as distinct from others, it is provided Within and at its top with a suitable cross. sectional configuration, with the notched recesses at the end of its oWn marl-:er thereby identifying and assorting the articles belonging to that particular rack.

Important phases of the invention are the following, to. Wit, the normal spring opening of tlieclanipiiig parts of the marker to facilitate release and application to thefabiic article; the holding of these clamping parts in place by means beyond the edge of the marker and of a type to be inherently adjustable to -tlie position of the twoclamping mem- 4bers'When engaging articles of various thicksecured tothe article by an adwill be formed bar adapted by its i. to correspond f bend a transverse bead 'engaging the other nesses; the provision of means for increasing the life ofthe spring marker when made Ofa side of the marker; the particular configuration of the rack with its entrance gate; and. means for vcentering the marker into the gate.l

Other features and phasesof the invention kwill be brought out. in4 connection Withl the following description, drawings and claims. In thevdrawings, Fig; l' is aside view partly in section showing the apparatus; Fig. 2 isa vertical section' just ahead of one of gate; Fig. 3 shows the marker in open position; Fig. 4 is a view ofthe stapleyFig. 5 shows an assembled marker clamped to the article; Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section;

,65 the markers as it is` located in the entrance 7 is asection throughthewaists of the clamp-.f Y ingV members; and Fig. Sis a'modied form of marker made up of two separate'pieces vas'v opposed to theorie piece marker as shown in the other figured, v

In the embodiment Wall or other mainsupport. Projecting from this support l is a tubular rack of substantially rectangular formin cross section com- A i ,75 set fort-h inthe draW- v ings, the apparatus comprisesa suitablesup-- port ladapted to'be applied or secured to a to designate the particular rack.` Tor the rear of the end Wall rand notched outof the flanges 5 is a suitable entrance opening or i gate 7 ofsuitable` size and configuration to.'

readily receive the markers vertically,`as Will appear. Secured to the side Walls 3 and'll and extending Ydown beyond the ends ofthe opening or gate 7 are suitable guiding clips'8 having outwardly bent spring ends 9 to facilitate the entrance of the lmarker into the opening orl gate.

Any

length, size or arrangementof racks may be employed to carry out anydesired requirements for the system `to be employed.-

The racks already described are used in conjunction With markersapplied 2 to the rfabric ioo articles and the-se markers," "as shown, Aare Y formed, in oney arrangement, of a single-strip thev upper wall 2 of the rack. One side 13 ofeach marker, the lower as shown in Fig. 5, is

fiat and is notched at 14 to form a waist. The outer end of this member is therclamping portion or jaw reference character 15 and its inner surface is provided with projections 16 for a purpose to be described. The other marker member 17 isprovided with a.'transverseinwardly proje cti ng bead 18engaging the'inner surface Y of thev lowen member 13 to vrelieve the `bent endaportion of some ofthe strain and to inl` crease the spring opening effect of the marker.V This member .17 lis notched at 19 to form a narrow waist corresponding in all respects the projections 16 to the similar arrangement of the lower member. The clamping jaw 20of this member 17 is provided with openings 21 registeringl with to produce projections in .the fabric and assist in holding the marker upon thearticle. The outer upper face of the member 17 at the waist is provided with a depression`22 .at the center for a purpose to be described vThese markers have a normal-tendency to spring open as'shown in Fig. 8 and are held clamped uponthe article by a staple 23 appliedin '2L11Y-suitable'manner at the waists of the two members 13 and 17.

By using a staple :of this kind the clampingjaws 15 and 2O may f sary. In using a staple to y and at thesame time the be applied to the article and the staple applied to hold the clamping members together beyond the edge of the fabric so that no -perforation of the'fabric for the staple is neceshold the clamping membersclosed upon the article such holding means becomesy at clamping aws will be brought tightly against the article by the confining action ofthe staple I Y l staple, when crimped over will-not'create such an undue holding action upon the clamping members that the outer ends of the jaws are separated as would be the case where a slidable band or the like was vmoved up along the clamping members and did not have a variable holding characteristic In other words, when the marker is applied to a relatively .thin fabric the staple will be crimped up tighter. When applied to a thick article it, will be extended somewhat. It is in this sense that the staple becomes an adjustable holding device for the clamping members of the marker. When the marker is applied the flimsy yielding fabric follows the upper jaw 15 and portions of the fabric are forced up into the openings 21 of the upper clamping jaw .so that a stronghold of the marker upon the fabric results. v 1

and is here designated by the' once adjustable since' the.

'upper clamping. member 31.

ample, the various laundryarticlesof a cus-l tomer are ,conveyed tothe marking room or any other suitable point.'v Here. the customer is delegated'a; certain number or other similar indication. The markers corresponding to vthismarlr'or` indication are applied to the various laundry articles belonging to .that customer. After being suitably marked the several articles pass through the various laun dering steps, the markers being made of suit able material so as not to be affected by the' various materials in the laundry process and be of such size and-shape that they pass through the various machines employed including the flat work ironer. When the arti; cles have been laundered they .are sorted and by a suitable designation upon each marker they are carried to the corresponding rack. To check the mental assortment made bythe employee the notches 11 and the rail 12 Vare provided in connection with the marker-and rack so that when the markeris inserted in` f the rack by the employee, if the proper men#l tal and physical assortment has been made A by the employee, then the' rack will receive the marker and a-lljoth ersofits kind wherebyl the customers articles when properly marked' are already assembled and may be handled as a'group.` f Y 'n' In the modification shown in Fig. 8, theV .marker is specifically of-a little different form. In 'this arrangement one member, the lower -one as shown, is a single flat piece of metal 25-prov1ded v105 portion 25 is an upper clamping end portion 110 29 bent up slightly at 30 and then sprung Y away from the lower member to provide anv Y This member is likewise provided ywith'a waist at 32. yThe two members are secured together by suitable 115 j rivets 3.3. Thisrmarker issubstantially of the same thickness astlie other .marker and mayl possess some advantageous features to recommend its use over the single piece marker.

What we claim is:

1. A laundry marker comprisingy a re-useable main portion having self-opening jaws,

a destructible and removable clamping means embracing Vsaid jaws, and means for preventing jaw releasing movement of said clamping means.

l 2. Ina Vdevice of theclass described in claim 1 wherein the clamping means is a metallic device crimped over oppositey sides of the '130 4. In a device ofthe class described in claim l wherein the clamping jaws are recessed at their edges for receiving the clamping means.

5. In a device of the class described in claim l wherein the clamping jaws are provided with waist-like recesses to receive the clamping means. Y v 6. In a device of the class described in claim l wherein one of the clamping means is provided With a recess in the region of the clamp` ing means for facilitating the insertion of a removing tool under the clamping means.

In testimony whereof We hereby affix our signatures. i vEMIL J. CARROLL.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON.

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