US2778504A - Garment dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1957 w. L. BYRNE GARMENT DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1954 l Q MJZM,

TTOR NEY Jan. 22, 1957 w. BYRNE GARMENT DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheefo 2 Filed June 30, 1954 :[rivznroa WILLIAM LLOYD Bvizws, :IBY MGM Jan. 22, 1957 BYRNE 2,778,504

GARMENT DISPENSER Filed June 30, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 /63 0002 4-3 CHAIN DRIVE DOORMOTOIi} DOOR PULL 51 -g mf M REVERSIBLE M CABLE 5/ 4 MOTOR 49 Y A 65 6,: :9 LINE 7 6 9 071T T- 6 7 60..- -o gr p- 0 REVERSING SWITCH IwENToa 8 WILLIAMLLOYD BYRNE, 35 M Q J'IILTTOFNEY Jan. 22, 1957 w. BYRNE GARMENT DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30, 1954 N Y 5 m m x M N NWQT E O T v L 1M m l- 5 Mm W cm mm Jan. 22, 1957 w. BYRNE GARMENT DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 50, 1954 Jan. 22,- 1957 w. BYRNE 2,778,504

GARMENT DISPENSER Filed June 30, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. WILLIAM LLOYD BYRN'E, :[BY M- L IIT TO RNEY United States Patent GARMENT DISPENSER William Lloyd Byrne, lndianapolis, .lnd., assignor to B & G Machinery Co., Inc., Indianapoiis, End, a corporation of Indiana Application June -30, 1954, Serial No. 440,477

4 Claims. (Cl. 211-15) This device in the form herein described and illustrated finds one particular use in dry cleaning establishments. It consists of a mechanism holding a rather large number of garments which have been cleaned, pressed and packaged such as having an envelope slipped thereover, while awaiting dispensing to the customer. The device provides for storing a maximum number of garments in a minimum amount of space, and yet making each garment very quickly available when the customer calls for the garment.

The invention includes an endless conveyer travelling generally horizontally, and one which may be reversed in direction of travel very easily and quickly so as to bring a numbered garment to the dispensing station with a minimum loss of time. The conveyer carries a plurality of stations therealong each carrying a different identification marking, corresponding to the number or marking of the individual garment at the time it is placed upon the conveyer. Furthermore, since the storage position of the garments is generally in a more or less heated portion of the plant, and the customer enters in a room or ofiice preferably maintained at a cooler temperature, the conveyer is mounted to be adjacent a door or window opening between the plant and this room, and this opening is normallyclosed so as to prevent the transmission of heat therebetween. The door may or not be interconnected for its control of movement with the operation of the conveyer. It may be separately opened either by hand or by an aircy!linder, or its control may embody means for opening the door or window closure, and then following that opening setting the conveyor into operation to bring the desired marked garment immediately to the door opening so that it may be lifted from the conveyer and given to the customer, the closure carried across the.

door or window opening, the driving means for the conveyer being inoperative when the closure is in the closed position. That is, the conveyer moving mechanism is inoperative in respect to the station at the window or door.- It is desirable that the conveyer mechanism be operable at a remote position from that closure so that the conveyer may be loaded with the garments independently of dispensing of garments at the dispensing end.

A primary object of .the invention is to provide a garment dispensing or perhaps more properly a dispatching mechanism which will save the time not only of the attendant, but more importantly the time of the customer so that the garments may be delivered to the customer without the usual delay heretofore encountered due to the fact that the attendant would have to go out into the plant, and go from rack to rack trying to locate the specific garment, and at the same time while looking for the garment tending to squeeze together and wrinkle or muss garments crowded onto the rack. The invention permits not only the saving of much time, but permits the garment to be delivered in its best possible condition without having been wrinkled after the pressing operation.

These and many other objects and advantages of. the.

2,778,504 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 invention will become apparent to those versed in the art, in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a structureiembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the structure;

Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical section on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail in vertical elevation of a garment hanger bracket;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation and partial section of the structure;

Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram relating to a door travel control;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram in detail'of a relay reversing control of the drive motor;

Fig. 8a is a wiring diagram in part of an automatic garment dispatch selector control;

Fig. 8b is a wiring diagram completing that shown in Fig. 8a;

Fig. 9 is a detail in top plan view of the relationship of a selector cam and switch tongue cam followers; and

Fig. 10 a diagram of a manually operated door.

An endless belt 10 of any suitable nature, herein shown as a chain is supported by a plurality of spaced apart trolleys 11 mounted on an endless track 12. The track is generally horizontally disposed and is of an extended elliptical nature. The trolleys 11 interconnect with the chain belt 10 by means of legs 13 extending downwardly and interconnecting with an upper ear 14 of a chain link 15. These trolleys as indicated in detail in Fig. 3, have sets of rollers 16 at the upper end resting on the top side of the track 10 and a lower set of rollers 17 engaging along.

the under side of the track 12.

Spaced along the chain It), at regular intervals, hereinshown as at every consecutive link 15, there is a garment hanger bracket 19 having an upper plate portion 20 exthrough from the front side of the plate 20 and extending outwardly therebeyond, and on through the member 13 to be secured by a nut 23. The lower portion of the plate Z0 is attached to the lower car 21 by any suitable-means,

herein shown as by means of a screw 24.

The plate 2t? merges by its lower end into a hook 253 which is twisted generally to a 30 degree angle with the face of the plate 26. Thisangle of twist is best illustrated in Fig. 3.

The track 12 is supported in any suitable manner, suchas by hanging from the ceiling or beams spaced above the;

floor, or herein shown as being carried by a pair of spaced apart posts 26 and 27 carried by the bases 28 and 29 respectively. The upper ends of the posts carry a pair of rails 30 and El therebetween, across the ends of which are cross arms 32 and 33 engaging the inner sides of .the

track i2. At each end of the track 12, there is carried respectively wheels 34 and 35 around which the chain wraps for approximately one hundred eighty degrees. One,

of these wheels 35 at least, is a sprocket to drive the chain lit This sprocket may be either at the relatively front or rear end of the track 12, herein shownat the rear end. .These wheels 34 and 35 are suitably carried from the cross arms 32 and 33 to have vertically extending shafts 36 and 37 extending respectively therefrom. In the illustration employed, the wheel 34 is an idler pulley and is mounted at the forward end of the track 12 andits shaft 36 extends upwardly through a bearing 38 which is adjustably carried'forwardly of the cross arm Silas a means of bringing the chain 16 into a substantially taut condition.

The shaft 37 extends upwardly from the sprocket 35 and drivingly through an upper sprocket 39. A driving chain 40 extends around the upper sprocket 39 and is carried forwardly to a smaller sprocket 41 which is mounted on the upright shaft 42 of a driving motor 43. Thus, by means of the motor 43, when it is energized, the chain it may be set in motion to travel around the track 12.

The forward end designated by the numeral d4 of the conveyer system thus far described is adjacent a door opening 45. Across this opening is mounted a suitable door, herein shown diagrammatically as of the accordion folding type being anchored at the side 46 of the opening. Normally this door, designated by the numeral 47 is held in a closed position by any suitable means, herein shown as by means of a spring 48. A stall motor 49 has a winding drum '0 fixed on its shaft, and about this drum fill there is a cable 51 carried by one end portion, the other end portion being fixed to a post 52 at the open end side of the door 47. The door 4? is shown in a closed position in Fig. 2, and in an open position in Fig. 5.

Operation In the plant where one of these devices is installed, an operator will work at the rear end of the system designated by the numeral 55. Garments will be brought up to near that rear end, and the operator will take one of the garments which has been bagged and is carried on a coathanger and engage the hook 56 of the hanger over one of the bracket hooks The only position that the garment hanger hook can take on the bracket hook is to have the garment generally disposed 30 degrees to the angle of travel of the chain 10. At the time the operator handles the garment being placed on the chain or conveyer 10, the operator will pick a tag or plate 57 from any suitable source such as a tray, but herein shown as from a downwardly inclined chute 58. Noting the number on the tag 57, the operator will push a button of the switch 59 to move the chain around until a bracket plate 26 appears carrying the same number thereon as does the tag, and then the operator will place the garment on that particular bracket 19 and place the tag 57 over the pin 22 so that the tag and bracket numbers correspond. Also the operator will place this number on the order ticket which follows the garment normally through the plant, and sends this ticket with this tag number up to the attendant Who would be at the front of the conveyer system outside of the door 47. The switch 59 will so control through its numbers of buttons the movement of the belt 10 as to stop it, cause it to travel in one direction, or cause it to travel in the reverse direction, whichever movement takes the shortest possible time to bring the numbered bracket 19 around to the operator which number would correspond to the tag 57 picked up. These tags 57 may take any suitable form or color, but are preferably made out of a rigid material such as a plastic or even metal, so that they will wear and the numbers thereon be visible over long periods of time. The garments one after another as they become available from the plant where the cleaning and pressing operations have been carried on will be placed on the chain 10 as above indicated, the chain being caused to move in either direction according to the next tag 57 picked up and so on.

Moving to the front end of the system, outside of the door 47, the attendant, upon a customer coming in and presenting his identification check or ticket to the attendant, the attendant compares that identification ticket with the order ticket which has been sent up by the operator in order that the tag number may be obtained from the order ticket. The attendant then turns and operates the switch 60 which controls the stall motor 49 to set it into operation to open the door 47 against the pull of the spring 48, and when the door 47 can travel no further in its collapsed condition, the motor 49 remaining energized will so hold the door 47 open. Then the attendant looking through the opened doorway will observe the tags 57 appearing at the end 44 of the conveyer system, and by determining whether or not the wanted tag number is higher or lower will then push one of the buttons of the switch 61 to bring the tag number around to the end of the conveyer belt 10 whereupon the switch 61 is again operated to stop the travel of the belt 10, and then the tag carrying the number of the garment wanted is picked oil of the pin 22, and the garment taken from the book 25 and given to the customer. The tag 57 taken off for that particular delivered garment may then return to the opposite end 55 of the conveyer system by any suitable means, such as by a tray on a cart, but herein shown as a chute 58 above referred to which is inclined downwardly from the upper end 62 preferably adjacent the switch 61. That is, the tags being round when deposited in the chute 58 will roll down to the back end to be available for the operator.

A feature of the control system is to be noted in that as long as the door 47 is in the open position, the front switch 61 may be operated to bring around the desired garment, but the rear switch 59 cannot be operated to cause the chain 1% to travel until the door 47 is closed. This is accomplished by reason of the introduction of the door operated switch 63 which is in path of the post 52. Normally when this door 47 is closed, the rear switch 59 may be operable. The switch 63 is of the double throw type. As indicated in Fig. 6, in the wiring diagram, when the door 47 is closed, the switch 63 will open a circuit from the line through the conductor 64 and the conductor 65 which leads to the control switch 61, thereby preventing a closure of the switch between the line conductor 64 and the other side of the line conductor 66 which also leads to the switch 61. In this diagram, it is to be observed that the switch 63 in the door-closed position will close a circuit from the conductor 64 through the conductor 67 to the switch 59 so that that switch may be energized from one side of the line to the other side of the line through the wire 68 interconnecting with the wire 66. Since the exact electrical circuits required to obtain the stop, and reversing of the belt or chain drive motor 43 do not constitute a part of the invention per se in this one particular form so far described, the details thereof are not illustrated, particularly since they are within the knowledge of the person in the electrical art. It is to be noted further that the stall motor 49 which is controlled through the switch 60 is interconnected from that motor 49 from the line wire 66 through the wire 69 to the motor and from the motor to the other side of the line by the wire 70. The door 47 is allowed to close through the effort of the spring 48 by openlng the switch 60, the spring 48 causing the drum 50 to turn to permit the unwinding of the cable 51 therefrom.

By reason of the 30 degree angular hanging of the garments designated by the numeral 71, the transverse width of the conveyor system may be reduced materially, and the outer edge portions of the garments may be made more readily observable and handled when the attendant picks the garments off of the conveyer. In the showing, particularly in Figs. 2 and 5, of the construction, the width of the conveyer system is somewhat exaggerated in order to show the details clearly. Normally in practice, the lateral width of the conveying system, that is between the two parallel flights of the belt 10 need to be made only that length which will permit the inner edges of the garments to clear the supporting posts 26 and 27. In so doing, there can be a plurality of these conveyer systems mounted side by side for a greater number of garments to be carried and handled in the one particular plant.

In Fig. 7, is shown a wiring diagram in detail for control of movement of the conveyer through the rear and a ra front switches 59 and 61, wherein thecircuits are adaptable for use not only from two controlled stations, but also for interconnection with a garment, automatic dispatcher selector controller as will hereinafter 'be more fully explained.

First however in reference to the two station control, the terminal 80 of the switch 59 is connected through the wires 81 and 82 to the line wire 83 leading from ya source of electricity. Closing the switch 59 between the terminals 80 and 34 completes a circuit from the line wire 33, wire 82, and 81 as follows: wire 85, relay windin 36, wire-87, across the contacts 88 and 89 (normally closed), and wire 90 to theother line wire 91.

The energizing of the relay winding 86' closes the contacts 91a and 92, thereby connecting the line wire 91 through the wire 93 to 'the conveyer drive motor 94. Also energizing the'winding o, closes the contacts 95 and 96, thereby connecting the other line wire 83 to the motor 94 through the wires 97 and 98, and thus the motor 94 starts running to drive the conveyer belt in one direction of travel. The motor 94 is stopped by opening the switch 59 across the terminals 80 and 84.

To set up a reverse travel of theconveyer belt 10, the switch 59 is closed across the terminals fill and 9 9. This switching closes a circuit from the line wire 83, wires 82 and 81, through the wire 1110, the relay winding 101, wire 11112, across the contacts 103' and 1114 of the relay 86 (the normal positions of the contacts with deenergized relay windings 86 and 101 are those shown in the diagram), and the wire 105, to the other line wire 91.

This circuit energizes the relay winding 1111 and the relay winding 86 remains tie-energized by reason of the relay 1M opening the contacts 88 and S9.

The energizing of the relay winding 1111 closes a circuit from the line wire 91 across the contacts 1% and 107 through the wire 1153 to the motor 94'reversing winding, from the other line wire 83, across the'contacts 109 and 13% through the wire 98, to the motor 94, thereby setting the motor 94 in a reverse direction of conveyer drive.

The front switch 61 has terminals 84a, 30a, and 99a in parallel respectively with the terminals 84, 80, and 99 of the switch 59, and hence its operation parallels that of the switch 59 in all respects as to the control of the respective circuits described in reference to the switch 59 in the first instance. It is tobe noted that in reference to both switches 59 and 61, these switches have to be maintained in closed positions by manual pressure there.- against,'assuming that the normal spring urged button switches are employed, and the switch is open upon release of that pressure.

The control of conveyer travel may be automatically had as to certain definite, selected lengths of the belt 10' being brought up to the front end 44101" presentation of the desired numbered garment at that front 44. For example, assume that the belt length selected from any one of the other lengths regardless of in what position around the conveyer the selected lengths may be in reference to the front 44, that particular selected length may be automatically presented at the front 44 simply by pushing a button for that selection.

The length of the belt 10may be divided into any suitable number of lengths, arbitrarily selected preferably in accordance with the number of brackets 19 carried thereby. In the present instance, by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, the belt 14) will be assumed to have a total of two hundred and fifty brackets 19 carried therearound. Then as a convenient number for illustration, the belt could be divided into unit lengths, each length carrying twenty-five of these brackets 19. The length would be determined somewhat by the diameter of the drive wheel 35, whereby the selected length would be that which will be limited to surrounding the forward half or even less of the circumference of that wheel 35, which presentation would provide a length wherein all 6 brackets 19 in that length would bereadily visible from the front 44. These lengthsselected may be as short or long as'may be desired, but in any eventeach length remainsfixed for any one electrical set-up.

One particular electrical set-up for automatically bringing up one particular belt length is ilustrated in Figs. 8a and Sb taken in conjunction with the diagram illustrated in Fig. 7, this set-up employing ten lengths, each length of the belt 10 carrying twenty-five brackets 19, out of the total of the two hundred and fifty brackets 19 spaced around the belt. This set-up may be termed an automatic dispatch selector system.

In this dispatch selector system, there is a selector switch box 110 mounted conveniently near the conveyer front end 44carrying one switch for each one of the ten conveyer lengths. The manual control switches 59 and 61 may be included or dispensed with, or the rear end position switch 59 retained as may be desirable for loading the conveyer from the rear end as has previously been recited. The switches of the box 110 are interconnected to the circuits carried in the primary cabinet 111. This cabinet 111 together with the panel 112 carrying the motor drive relays 86 and 101 and their circuits all may be mounted above the conveyer as indicated in Figs. 1, '2, and'6.

The wheel 35 drive shaft 37 drivingly interconnects by any suitable means, herein as shown by a chain 225 with a cam shaft 113 at a driving speed ratio of one revolution of the shaft 113 for one complete travel of the full length of the belt 19 around the wheel 35. This shaft 113 drives a plurality of cams spaced apart along the shaft, ten in all. These cams each operate a pair of switches, the cams and switches being hereinafter designated by specific reference numerals.

Referring to the switch box 110, this box carries in effect five double throw switches, giving ten circuit controls. These switches have terminals 114, 115, 116, 117, and 118, respectively, all connected to a common wire 119 leading through a cut out or stop switch 121), the wire 121, through the terminal 122, the wire 123 (Fig. 7), across the relay 101 contacts 124 and 125, wire 126, across the contacts 127 and 128 of the relay 86, and the wire 129 to the line wire 83. v

interconnecting the contact 114 with the contact 1311 brings up to the front 44, the conveyor belt 19 length carrying brackets numbers 1 to 25. The connecting of contacts 114 and 131} closes a circuit from the line wire 83 as just above indicated through the wire 131, the winding of a relay 132, wire. 133, terminal 134 of switch 135, across to terminal 136 of the switch (normally closed, unless the 1-25 bracket number length is already at the front 44), the wire 13?, the wire 133, to the terminal 139 connecting with the line wire 91.

The switch has an operating tongue 135a in the path of a cam 140 (one of those above mentioned) which is fixed on the shaft 113. Energizing the relay 132 as indicated closes the contacts 141 and 142 to form a closed circuit from the contact 141 connected to the wire 131, wire 121 (then connected with the line wire 83 as above described), and the contact 142 connected to the wire 143, connecting through the wire 144 through the terminal 145 to the wire 33. Thus a circuit is maintained through the relay 132 winding between the line wires 83 and 91, when the contacts 114 and 1311 separate, these contacts being part of a spring opening push button switch.

The relay 132 contacts 146 and 147 close a circuit from the wire 143 (leading from 83) through the wire 148, terminal 149 of the switch 150 (closed when the 1-25 bracket length is not in the front 44 position), across the terminal 151, wire 152, wire 153, terminal 154, wire 155, wire 1041, relay 101 winding, wire 102, contacts 103 and 104, and wire 105, to the line wire 91, thereby closing the motor 94 circuit through the closing contacts 106 and 107 as above described, and the conveyer belt then starts travelling to bring up the selected length which carries brackets 19 numbering 1-25 to the front 44.

The switch 150 has a tongue 156 in the path of a cam 157 mounted on the shaft 113, and when the cam 157 turns that distance in accordance with the distance of the selected 1-25 bracket length from its initial position to the position of centering on the front 44, the contacts 149 and 151 separate and the circuit through the relay 13:2 winding is broken, thereby stopping the motor 94- and restoring the motor control relay 181 to its de-energized position.

This drive of the conveyor belt 10 to bring up the 1-25 bracket length has taken place by energizing the motor 94 to turn it in that direction which will bring the 1-25 length through the shortest distance of travel from its initial position around the endless belt 10 to the front 44. That direction of motor travel and hence belt travel is controlled by the shape of the rotation direction selector earn 157 in conjunction with the switch 150.

This switch 150 has a third terminal 158 in open circuit from the terminals 149 and 151 when the cam 157 is so turned for the circuit above described as closing between the terminals 149 and 151. When the earn 157 is in a different degree of rotated position corresponding to the location of the belt 1-25 bracket length on the opposite side of the conveyer, then an open circuit prevails between the terminals 149 and 151, and a closed circuit prevails between theterminals 149 and 158 by reason of the cam shape in producing different travels of the tongue 156. Under this condition, the motor 94 is energized to turn in a reverse direction to bring the said belt length from its position to the front 44 by the shortest travel distance.

This motor reversing circuit is completed from the terminal 158 through the wire 1611, wire 161, terminal 162, wire 163, wire 85, relay 86 winding, wire 87, contacts 88 and 89, and wire 90 to the line wire 91, energizing the motor 94 to turn in the opposite direction from that originally described for the first operation. Again, when the earn 157 revolves to that position corresponding to the front position of the 1-25 bracket length, the switch tongue 156 is no longer actuated to the closed switch position by the cam contour, and the circuit is broken to stop the motor 94.

Thus there is to be seen that the switch 135 serves to form that particular belt length selector means, and the switch 158 serves not only to set up travel of the belt, but to determine in which direction it will travel for the shortest (and hence in the quickest time) distance.

One of the selector cams such as cam 157 for example (all cams being of the same contour) is illustrated in Fig. 9. There is a circumferential surface length 165 substantially 170 degrees in extent, having a fixed radius, and there is a length 166 of lesser radius.

The switch 158 is of that type wherein there are two circuits controlled by it. In the one position of the tongue 156 on the low side of the cam 157, the circuit will be closed through the switch 150 between the contacts 151 and 149, and in the shifted position of the tongue 156 by riding on the high side of the cam, the circuit between the contact 151 and 149 is opened, and a circuit between contacts 151 and 158 is closed. These two circuit conditions are thus set up by rotation of the cam 157 turning one revolution for one complete revolution of the conveyor belt 18.

The cam 157 is set to have the low side positioned in reference to the location of the one particular length of the belt 18 on one side of the belt 10 in reference to the front 44, and to have the high side positioned in reference to the position of the same belt length which position it would have if it has been carried to the other side of the front 44.

The switch is of that type wherein it controls but one circuit, closed in one position of the cam (same shape as that of the cam 157) and opened in the other position as determined by the riding of the tongue 135a on the cam 140.

Assuming as a second example by way of explanation, that it is one of the brackets 19 within the group ranging from bracket numbers 125-150, which is desired to be brought to the front 44, the switch for that group is operated to close the contacts 114 and 167 to close a circuit from the line wire 83 interconnected as before described with the contact 114, through the contact 167, the wire 168, relay 169 winding, wire 170, terminal 171 of the switch 172, across through the terminal 173 ( terminals 171 and 173 normally being closed but open only if the belt length of brackets numbers 125-150 be at the front 44), wire 174, wire 138, terminal 139, and to the other line wire 91. The contacts 114 and 167 may separate as soon as the relay 169 winding is energized, which winding will then remain energized until the switch 172 opens.

The switch 172 has a tongue 175 in the path of the cam 14!) with a cam bearing end substantially degrees from the cam bearing end of the tongue 135a. Since the cam lobe is less than 180 degrees in circumferential length, both tongues 175 and 135a will not be actuated to closed and open switch positions simultaneously. The circuit controlled by the switch 172 thus energizes the relay 169 winding to close two pairs of contacts. One pair of contacts 176 and 177 close a circuit from the wire 168 which leads as above described through the conducting elements from the line wire 83, through the wire 178, wire 144, terminal 145, and line wire 83, thus maintaining the line wire 83 connection with the relay 169 winding. The other pair of relay 169 contacts 1'79 and 184) close a circuit from the wire 144, through the wire 181, the terminal 182 of the switch 183 across the terminal 184, the wire 185, wire 153, terminal 154, wire 155, wire 100, relay 101 winding, wire 102, relay 86 contacts 103 and 104, and wire 105 to the other line wire 91, whereupon the energization of relay 101 closes the contacts 106 and 107 to connect the line wire 91 through the wire 108 through the motor 94 connections for one direction of turning, the wire 98 through the relay 101 contacts 109 and 109a to the other line wire 83, thus energizing the motor 94 to turn in the one direction to bring the belt length of brackets 125-150 to the front 44 by the shortest distance determined by the position of the cam 148 at the time the switch contacts 114 and 167 are closed.

If that position of the bracket 125-150 numbers is such that the motor 94 should revolve in the opposite direction for the shortest belt travel, that condition is taken care of by reason of the fact that the switch 183 has a third terminal 186 then connected to the terminal 182 with the terminal 184 disconnected from the terminal 182 by position of the switch tongue 164 actuating the switch 183 by turning of the earn 157. The circuit leads from the switch terminal 186 through the wire 188, to the wire 161, terminal 162, wire 163, wire 164, relay 86 winding, wire 87, relay 101 contacts 88 and 89, and wire 90 to the other line wire 91, to energize the relay 86 and close its contacts 91a and 92 to close the circuit from the line wire 91, through the wire 93, motor 94 reverse connections, wire 98, relay contacts 96 and 95, and wire 97 to the other line wire 83, thus setting the motor 94 turning in the opposite direction.

In the same manner, other bracket 19 groups of numbers may be individually and selectively brought to the front 44 by the other switches at the selector box 110. The operations of the system for the groups numbers 1-25 and 125-150 have been described.

To bring up the number group 25-150, the contacts 115 and 205 are closed at the box 110 to energize the relay 206, to complete motor 94 drive circuits through 9 the group selector switch 207, and the motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 208. For the group 50-75, the contacts 116 and 209 are closed to energize the relay 211), closing circuits through the group selector switch 211 and the motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 212.

For the group 75-100, the contacts 117 and 213 are closed to energize the relay 214 closing the circuits through the group selector switch 215 and the motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 216.

For the group numbers 100-125, the contacts 118 and 217 are closed to energize the relay 218 to close circuits through the group selector switch 219 and the motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 220.

For the group numbers 150-175, the contacts 115 and 221 are closed to energize the relay 222 to close circuits through the group selector switch 223 and the motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 224.

For the group numbers 175-200, the contacts 116 and 225 are closed to energize the relay 226 and close circuits through the group selector switch 227 and motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 228. For the group numbers 200-225, the contacts 117 and 229 are closed to energize the relay 230 to close circuits through the group selector switch 231 and the motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 232.

For the group numbers 225-250, the contacts 118 and 233 are closed to energize the relay 234 to close circuits through the group selector switch 235 and the motor 94 rotation direction selector switch 236.

All of the group selector switches 135, 172, 207, 211, 215, 219, 223, 227, 231, and 235 are exactly alike and are of standard construction well known to those versed in the art and commercially obtainable. Likewise, all of the motor rotation direction switches 150, 183, 208, 212, 216, 220, 224, 228, 232, and 236 are exactly alike and are of standard construction well known to those versed in the art and commercially obtainable. Hence the structural details of each of these switches are not herein illustrated and described.

Reference is made to Fig. 10, wherein there is illustrated a door operator working independently of the motor drive and group selector systems. In this Fig. 10 structure, the door 47 is of the accordion collapsible type and carries the post 52, in this case fixed to an endless cable 237. The cable 237 has an approximately horizontally disposed lower flight 238 extending between the spaced pulleys 239 and 240. The flight 238 extends around the pulley 240 and downwardly and around a pulley 241 by a flight 242, upwardly from the pulley 241 and thence over a pulley 243 and back around the pulley 239 into the flight 238.

The flight 242 is connected to a piston rod 244 which extends upwardly from a piston 245 in a cylinder 246. A valve 247 has an operating member 248 such as a button above the floor 249 extending from a piston valve member 250, which member 250 is normally urged in the valve housing 251 to a position whereby fluid under pressure from any suitable source will normally be interconnected from the pressure source pipe 252 through a tube or pipe 253 to the lower end of the cylinder 246 to carry and maintain the piston 245 at its upper limit of travel. The valve piston 250 is shifted in the housing 251 by pressure on the button 248 to switch the pressure application on the cylinder 246 through a tube or pipe 254 to the top end of the cylinder 246 above the piston 245 so as to lower the piston 245 and thus pull on the cable 242 flight to pull the flight 238 and open the door 47.

The attendant, upon pushing the selected switch button at the housing 110, will step on the button 248 to open the door 47 and take the garment from its bracket 19 which has been brought up to the conveyer front 44 immediately back of the door 47. Releasing the button 248 will permit the spring 255 to shift the valve piston 10 250 to its door closing position, which is that position illustrated in Fig. 10.

Therefore, it is to be seen that I have presented an exceedingly simple but most effective and unique means for handling garments without damage to them and with the least confusion and expenditure of time as well as of effort. While I have described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed such as in the exact switch construction; exact timing of the selector switches; the exact means for opening and closing the door at the forward end of the conveyer system; the specific mounting of the garment hanger bracket on the belt; and the like, all without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. in a garment storage and dispenser device, the combination with a supporting structure, a plurality of garment holding members carried by said structure movable around the structure in an endless path past a dispensing station, and a motor moving said holders along said path, of a plurality of cams one for each of a selected number of said holders; said cams being driven by said motor at the same speed as that of said holders; group selector switches actuated by part of said cams; motor drive direction switches being actuated by other of said cams;

manual switches, one for each of said group selected number of holders; and circuit means initially interconnecting a manual switch with a corresponding selector and motor drive direction switch.

2. in a garment storage and dispenser device, the combination with a supporting structure, a plurality of garment holders carried by the structure movable around an endless path past a dispensing station, and a motor moving said holders, of a manually operated switch for each of a selected group of said holders; a holder group selector switch for each of said groups, each normally closed for a particular group absent from the station; a pair of travel direction switches for each of said selected groups, one of which is normally closed; circuit means initiated to closed conditions by actuation of one of said manual switches and thereafter maintaining a closed circuit from a power source between said selector switch, and said one direction switch, both corresponding to the same holder group, and said motor; and mechanical means actuated by travel of said motor opening said circuit through said selector switch and said one direction switch and closing the other direction switch in the pair thereof upon a predetermined motor travel, said motor being driven in one direction through said circuit by closure of saidv one direction switch and driven in the opposite direction by the closure of the other switch in the pair.

3. structure of claim 2 in which said mechanical means comprises a single cam for each two selector switches, and a single cam for each two pairs of direction switches.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said manual switch closes a circuit energizing electromagnetic means to set up and maintain said ciosed circuit in turn energizing a second electromagnetic means maintaining said closed circuit upon opening of said manual switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 928,980 Kaufman et al. July 27, 1909 1,717,246 Perling June 11, 1929 1,905,229 James et al. Apr. 25, 1933 1,940,867 James et al Dec. 26, 1933 1,972,258 Boyle Sept. 4, 1934 2,673,779 Stewart et al. Mar. 30, 1954 2,689,578 Lyon Sept. 21, 1954

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