Method for removing indicators from hangers

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in indicator attachment mechanisms for molded plastic hangers, such as garment hangers and to a method and apparatus for removing indicators from garment hangers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of displaying garments suspended on hangers in an orderly and attractive manner to the retail customer, it is often desired to affix an indicating means on the hanger in a position visible to the retail customer while the hanger is suspended on a rack. The indicating means identifies some attribute of the garment suspended from the hanger, such as size, quality, color, manufacturing data, or pattern.

The provision of a readily visible size indicator on a garment hanger is now accepted by retailers as a desirable addition to a garment hanger. To accommodate the various types of hangers available in the industry numerous indicating means have been developed in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. Similarly, hangers have been developed to accommodate a variety of different indicating means.

In Australian Patent No. 638436 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a low-profile molded plastic indicator for a garment hanger which requires limited modification to the hook of the hanger to enable the indicator to be securely attached to the top of the hook where it is most visible is described. The improvements described in the above patents overcame the major disadvantages of one type of indicator (trapezium-shaped) described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,902 which required a specially molded hook profile to support the indicator.

The indicator according to Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 is also designed to enable sorting into a predetermined orientation to enable automated handling and fitting of the indicators to hangers as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,806 and 5,285,566 which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. For these reasons, the indicator has enjoyed considerable commercial success.

The indicator is retained on the hook by means of at least one abutment projecting from the hook which engages an aperture in the side wall of the indicator. While it is possible to disengage the indicator from the abutment(s) by bowing the side walls in the regions of the apertures, this is a difficult operation and often results in some damage to the indicator or to the hanger.

Furthermore, it is increasingly common for customers to require that the indicator be removable from the hanger for re-use with other sized garments or re-location and the attachment mechanism described above does not readily facilitate this operation. It is, of course, equally necessary for the indicator to remain securely attached to the hanger during the usual handling operations to which the hanger is subjected in day to day use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved indicator attachment mechanism which securely fastens an indicator to a hanger but which permits removal of the indicator in a simple operation that reduces the likelihood of damage to the indicator or to the hanger.

The invention therefore provides a molded plastic hanger having an indicator attachment device, wherein the hanger has a hook formed with an upstanding web to be received within a downwardly opening cavity of a molded plastic indicator, and attachment means formed on the web to engage and releasably secure the indicator to the web.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the indicator has side walls formed with at least one aperture adapted to receive the attachment means. The attachment means preferably comprises a resilient detent means which is formed in said upstanding web and has a laterally projecting portion positioned to engage the side wall aperture of the indicator to prevent removal of the indicator from the hook. The resilient detent means also enables the laterally projecting portion to be disengaged from the opening to facilitate removal of the indicator from the hook without damage to the indicator or to the hook.

In use, as will be described more fully below, the laterally projecting portion is disengaged from the side wall by inserting a probe or pin through the side wall aperture to displace the laterally projecting portion from the aperture to thereby release the indicator from the hook.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the detent means comprises a downwardly depending leg integrally molded within a molded opening in the upstanding web and resiliently connected to the web to enable deflection of the laterally projecting portion into the plane of the web to facilitate removal of the indicator from the web.

The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for removing indicators from garment hangers.

The method and apparatus of the present invention provide an extremely versatile arrangement which can accommodate virtually all types of indicators mounted on the hook of a hanger. The method and system can also accommodate a wide variety of hanger types.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system which includes: a first means for receiving an indicator affixed to a hanger; a second means for securing said hanger for removal of the indicator; actuating means for driving the first and second means upwardly and downwardly; and means for ejecting the indicator. After the indicator is ejected the first plate is driven downwardly to its lower position and the apparatus automatically repeats the operation.

In one embodiment the first means includes a first plate defining a recess, such that the indicator affixed to the hanger is received by the recess. The first means preferably further includes a pin positioned to displace the indicator attachment mechanism.

In operation, the actuating means drives the first plate downwardly to receive the indicator in the recess and then upwardly to remove the indicator from the hanger while the hanger is secured by the second means.

The hangers with indicators affixed thereto can be lined up on a feeding rail which is slanted such that the force of gravity drives the indicator affixed to the hanger into the recess. In a preferred embodiment the second means includes an edge for holding the top region of the hanger to prevent the hanger from moving when the indicator is removed by the upward movement of the first plate. In a particularly preferred embodiment the second means includes a plate which is driven downwardly to separate the hanger undergoing the decapping process from the rest of the hangers on the feeding rail.

The first plate of the present embodiment includes a milled out portion defining a recess substantially corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the indicator such that when the first plate is in its lower position gravity forces the foremost indicator into the recess. The first plate also includes a pin extending from the recess in a position corresponding to the indicator attachment mechanism on the hanger. When the indicator engages the recess of the first plate the pin thereby displaces the indicator attachment mechanism to release the indicator from the hanger. It will be noted that the pin can be positioned in any of several positions provided the configuration of the recess configuration is substantially to the exterior dimensions of the indicator. Thus, the system of the present invention is easily adapted to accommodate a variety of indicator configurations.

To remove the indicator from the hanger the first plate is driven upwardly by, for instance, pneumatic cylinder means, when the indicator is resting in the recess of the first plate.

The system further contemplates ejection of the indicator from the recess of the first plate. In one embodiment an aperture is defined in the first plate and the ejection means generates an air blast that passes through the aperture to eject the indicator from the recess. In a preferred embodiment the second means further includes a second plate having a window through which the indicator passes upon ejection. The window can be dimensioned to accommodate a variety of indicator configurations. A discharge tube can be attached to said second plate such that upon ejection the indicator is removed from the decapping apparatus and collected in a separate device.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device for manually removing an indicator from a hanger with an indicator attachment mechanism. In a preferred embodiment the device includes a plate with at least one recess for receiving at least a portion of the indicator. The device further includes a pin positioned within the recess such that when the indicator rests in the recess the pin releases the indicator attachment mechanism. In a particularly preferred embodiment the indicator attachment mechanism comprises a resilient detent leg as discussed above which the pin depresses to release the indicator from the hanger.

The device for manually removing the indicators from hangers can include through-holes for mounting to a support such that the operator need not handle the device while manually decapping the hangers. The device can further include more than a single recess and pin such that the device can be used in more than one orientation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for removing an indicator from a hanger by inserting a pin defined on a first plate into the indicator to displace the indicator attachment mechanism and thereby release the indicator from the indicator attachment mechanism. The method can be performed either manually or automatically.

The automated method for removing the indicator from the garment hanger comprises: holding a plurality of hangers with indicators affixed thereto; selectively engaging one of the indicators; displacing the indicator attachment mechanism and removing the indicator from the hanger.

In one embodiment the method comprises selectively engaging and receiving the indicator affixed to a hanger in a recess of a first plate; inserting a pin included in the first plate into the indicator to displace the indicator attachment mechanism, and removing said indicator from the hanger by carrying the indicator upwardly in the first plate. In a second embodiment the method further contemplates moving the first plate upwardly and aligning said recess with indicator therein with a window in a second plate and ejecting the indicator from the recess through the window into a discharge tube.

Before the indicator is selectively engaged the second plate can be driven upwardly to permit the indicator affixed to the garment hanger to advance along a feeding rail and rest in the recess in the first plate and then downwardly to prevent a second indicator affixed to a second hanger in the plurality of hangers with indicators from advancing. After the indicator is disengaged from the hanger the second plate is moved upwardly to permit the second indicator affixed to the second hanger to advance.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present method the step of displacing the indicator attachment mechanism contemplates depressing a resilient detent leg included in the indicator attachment mechanism with a pin on the first plate to release the indicator from the hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects of the invention may now be more readily ascertained from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which:

FIG. 1

illustrates a front elevation view of the hook of a hanger incorporating the improved indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2

illustrates an enlarged sectional view taken along line

2

—

2

of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

illustrates a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the hanger hook depicted in

FIG. 1

with an indicator of the type described in Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 held in place by the indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 4

is an enlarged sectional view taken along line

4

—

4

in

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 5

illustrates a front elevation view of a third embodiment of the hanger hook incorporating the indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 6

illustrates a front elevation view of a fourth embodiment of the hanger hook incorporating the indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 7

is a fragmentary front elevation view similar to

FIG. 1

illustrating a fifth embodiment of the indicator attachment mechanism;

FIG. 8

illustrates a sectional view taken along line

8

—

8

of

FIG. 7

;

FIG. 9

illustrates a sectional view taken along line

9

—

9

of

FIG. 7

;

FIG. 10

illustrates a top view of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 11

illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the decapping apparatus according to the present invention with a feeding rail with a plurality of hangers thereon;

FIG. 12

illustrates a sectional view taken along line

12

—

12

of the decapping apparatus of

FIG. 11

in a first feed position;

FIG. 13

illustrates the sectional view of

FIG. 12

with the two plates in a second and lower feed position;

FIG. 14

illustrates a sectional view of the two plates in the lower position with a second embodiment of the front plate;

FIG. 15

illustrates a sectional view taken along line

15

—

15

of the decapping apparatus of

FIG. 11

;

FIG. 16

illustrates a sectional view similar to

FIGS. 13 and 14

with a third embodiment of the front plate, wherein the indicator is to be removed from a second embodiment of the hanger;

FIG. 17

illustrates a partial sectional view taken perpendicular to the view of

FIG. 16

;

FIG. 18

illustrates a perspective view of the back plate of the decapping apparatus of

FIG. 11

;

FIG. 19

illustrates a perspective view of the front plate of the decapping apparatus of

FIG. 11

;

FIG. 20

illustrates an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the pin positioned on the back wall of the recess of the back plate;

FIG. 21

illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a second embodiment of the pin positioned on the back wall of the recess of the back plate;

FIG. 22

illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a manual decapping device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 23

illustrates a sectional view of the manual decapping device taken along line

23

—

23

of FIG.

22

.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and to the embodiments depicted in

FIGS. 1-10

, there is illustrated generally a hook

2

adapted to engage a rod or other supporting means, with an upwardly projecting web

4

extending upwardly above the top contour

2

a

of hook

2

that engages the rod or other supporting device. An opening

6

is defined in said upwardly projecting web

4

such that upwardly projecting web

4

completely surrounds opening

6

. Leg

8

descends from an upper portion

10

of the upwardly projecting web into the opening

6

.

Referring to

FIGS. 1

to

4

of the drawings,

FIG. 1

shows a first embodiment of the hook

2

of a molded plastic garment hanger in simplified form which in practice typically includes the usual strengthening ribs

12

a

,

12

b

shown in

FIG. 3

around the perimeter of the hook. The hook

2

is formed with a flange

14

defining a top region

16

, which in a preferred embodiment is flattened and slightly larger in peripheral dimensions than the lowermost portion of an indicator

18

(shown in

FIGS. 3

,

4

and

10

) having side walls

20

,

22

formed with at least one retention aperture

24

,

26

, as described in Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354, the contents of which are incorporated into this specification by cross-reference. The apertures

24

,

26

define through-openings which facilitate stacking of the indicator

18

with other indicators prior to fitting to a hanger.

The upstanding web

4

extends centrally from the top region

16

of the hook

2

, and in this embodiment the web

4

is shaped similarly to the shape of the cavity of the indicator

18

so as to comfortably fit within that cavity. Alternatively, the web

4

can be configured in the manner shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

herein or Australian Patent No. 638436. In a preferred embodiment the upstanding web is narrow.

The web

4

is formed with integrally molded indicator attachment means

28

. In the present embodiment the indicator attachment means includes central opening

6

from the upper portion of which a resilient detent leg

8

extends downwardly terminating in a laterally projecting portion

30

configured to engage one of the apertures

24

or

26

in the side wall of the indicator

18

, as shown in

FIG. 4

of the drawings.

Since the detent leg

8

is narrow and is resiliently connected to web

4

, it is easily deflected laterally by means of a probe or pin inserted into the aperture

24

or

26

which engages laterally projecting portion

30

to displace laterally projecting portion

30

toward the plane of the web to clear the aperture

24

or

26

and allow the indicator to be removed from the web

4

. This operation can be achieved simply and quickly with little or no damage to the indicator

18

or the attachment means

28

. Nevertheless, while the laterally projecting portion

30

remains in the position shown in

FIG. 4

of the drawings, the indicator

18

will remain securely fastened to the web

4

and will withstand all usual handling operations to which the hanger is usually subjected in day-to-day use.

To improve the flexibility of the detent leg

8

, it can be reduced in thickness as shown at

200

in

FIG. 4

of the drawings.

Referring now to

FIGS. 5

,

6

and

7

of the drawings, third, fourth and fifth embodiments of the invention are shown in which the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts. In the embodiment of

FIGS. 5 and 7

, the resilient detent leg extends angularly from its point of attachment to the web

4

, as shown most clearly in

FIGS. 8 and 9

of the drawings, and has a shorter laterally projecting portion

30

formed at its free end. The upstanding web

4

of the hook

2

is further formed with a pair of ribs

34

on either side of the central semi-circular opening

6

to prevent the indicator (not shown in

FIGS. 5 and 7

) from being inadvertently laterally displaced to clear the laterally projecting portion

30

which engages the aperture of an indicator similar to that shown in

FIG. 4

of the drawings. If desired, ribs

34

can be provided in the embodiment of

FIGS. 1-4

of the drawings.

FIG. 6

illustrates the hook

2

of the present invention in which flange

14

is integrally formed as part of strengthening rib

12

, and extends around the perimeter of the hook

2

.

In the present invention the upstanding web

4

formed on the hook

2

of the hanger can be shaped and dimensioned similar to the shape of the cavity of the indicator

18

so as to comfortably fit within that cavity. By the same token, as depicted in

FIG. 5

, upstanding web

4

can also be formed in the “normal” shape of the shape of the hook

2

so the hanger can be used with or without the indicator. The web can also be configured in the manner shown in Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 or in any other manner to accommodate the cavity dimensions of any other type of indicator, including indicators that have angled or sloping end walls to conform to the angularity of the hook design.

The indicator attachment mechanism described in the above embodiments provides a particularly simple and convenient means of retaining the indicator

18

on the web

4

of the hook

2

while enabling the indicator

18

to be conveniently removed in a simple operation which does not significantly damage either the indicator

18

or the hook

2

of the hanger. In this way, the disadvantages associated with the attachment mechanism described in our Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 are overcome in a simple but innovative manner.

In the preferred embodiment, the improved hanger hook of the present invention is formed of styrene which provides a clear virtually transparent hanger for maximum display of garments suspended therefrom. Alternately, the hanger could be formed from K resin, H.I. styrene, polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastic.

Referring now to

FIGS. 11-21

of the drawings, a perspective view of an automated system for removing indicators from hangers is provided.

FIG. 11

shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the decapping apparatus according to the present invention. A garment hanger

1

to be decapped is provided with an upstanding web

4

, which extends from a top region

16

of the hook of the hanger

1

. The web is formed with integrally molded indicator attachment means. The attachment means includes a central opening defined in the upper portion of the web

4

with a detent leg, which extends downwardly terminating in a laterally projecting portion

30

configured to engage one of the apertures

24

,

26

in the side walls of the indicator

18

. In a preferred embodiment the laterally projecting portion

30

is narrow and resiliently connected to the web

4

. In the embodiment depicted in

FIG. 11

the top region

16

is flat and has a width larger than the indicator

18

. As shown more clearly in

FIG. 12

, side wall of the indicator

18

is not aligned with the side walls of the hook of the flange. A top view of the indicator and hook of this embodiment is provided in

FIG. 10

which more clearly shows top region

16

of hook

2

extending beyond side walls

22

and

24

of the indicator

18

. In a second preferred embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 16

, the top region of the hook and the indicator have about the same width.

The method and apparatus for removing the indicator

18

from the hangers

2

will be hereinafter described with respect to

FIGS. 11-21

. Throughout this description, the term decapping will be used to describe the removal of the indicator

18

from hanger

1

.

As illustrated in

FIG. 11

, the laterally extending portion

30

is easily deflected laterally by means of a pin

120

inserted in the aperture

24

of the indicator

18

which engages the laterally extending portion

30

to displace it towards the plane of the web

4

to clear the aperture

24

and allow the indicator

18

to be removed from the hanger

1

. With the decapping apparatus of the present invention, indicators

18

can be automatically removed from their respective hangers

1

.

In this embodiment the hanger

1

is fed to the decapping apparatus by means of a feeding rail

105

. The feeding rail

105

is inclined so that the hangers

1

move downwardly toward the decapping apparatus by gravity. The hangers

1

can be put onto the feeding rail

105

manually or automatically. Other means to feed hangers

1

to the decapping apparatus could comprise a screw conveyor, a belt conveyor, or any other appropriate means to carry the hangers toward the decapping apparatus.

The decapping apparatus includes a front plate

106

, a back plate

107

and an actuating means

108

. The actuating means

108

comprises an escapement valve, which is pneumatically driven and includes two rods. Each of the rods is connected to the plate

106

or

107

via respective connecting means

109

and

110

. Front plate

106

and back plate

107

are arranged vertically and are facing each other. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 11

, the two plates

106

and

107

are almost quadratic, but any other appropriate shape, for example rectangular, can be used. The actuating means

108

moves the front plate

106

and the back plate

107

parallel to each other in a vertical plane. This movement is periodically repeated, so that one hanger after another can be decapped.

As can be seen in

FIG. 11

, the feeding rail

105

extends under the two plates

106

and

107

. The distance between the plates

106

and

107

when said plates are in their lower positions and the feeding rail

105

is preferably such that pin

120

in its lower position will be aligned with aperture

24

of indicator

18

. The height of the assembly is adjusted to provide automatic operation for different styles of hanger hooks. As illustrated in

FIG. 11

, the back plate

107

is in its lower position, and the front plate

106

is in its upper position. When the hanger

1

moves down the feeding rail

105

toward the decapping apparatus, the movement of the hanger

1

is stopped by the back plate

107

. As shown in

FIG. 12

, in operation, a plurality of hangers

1

are waiting in front of the decapping apparatus on the feeding rail

105

in line, to be decapped one after the other.

As shown in

FIG. 11

, at the start of the decapping cycle, the back plate

107

is lowered to its lowermost position. Plate

107

has a recess

119

positioned on an outer portion of the surface facing the front plate

106

. Recess

119

is dimensioned to correspond to the dimensions of the indicator

18

, so that when a hanger

1

is pressed against the back plate

107

, the indicator

18

is received in the recess

119

. A pin

120

is provided on the back wall of the recess

119

in a position corresponding to the aperture

24

of the indicator

18

. The dimensions, such as the size and the shape of the pin

120

are selected according to the dimensions, particularly the shape and the depth, of the aperture

18

, so that the pin

120

enters the aperture

18

and is able to displace the laterally projecting portion

30

of the web

4

of the hanger

1

to clear the aperture

18

, and allow the indicator

18

to be removed from the hanger

1

as described above. In the preferred embodiment shown in

FIG. 11

, the pin

20

has a rectangular cross-section, but any other appropriate shape can be used, as will be described herein.

At the start of the decapping cycle, the front plate

106

is raised but only needs to be raised upwardly until it no longer covers the recess

119

. In other words, the amplitude of the movement of the plates

106

and

107

has to be at least the height of the recess

119

, so that the indicator

18

can be received in the recess

119

.

After the indicator

18

is received in the recess

119

of the back plate

107

, the front plate

106

is moved downwardly to seat the indicator

18

firmly or at least to hold the indicator firmly in the recess

19

of the back plate

107

. In this position the pin

120

of the back plate

107

displaces the laterally extending portion

30

of the hanger

1

, to permit the release of the indicator

18

from the hanger

1

. The pin

120

is long enough to fully displace the laterally extending position

30

from the recess

24

of indicator

18

, but is not long enough to engage the aperture

6

of hook

2

. As is shown in

FIG. 12

, the lower edge

146

of the front plate

106

can be beveled, so that the downward movement of the front plate

106

separates hanger

1

from the rest of the hangers so that front plate

106

enters between the hangers. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 12

, the lower edge is beveled towards the back plate

107

.

As illustrated in

FIG. 15

when the pin

120

has displaced the laterally extending portion

30

from the indicator

18

, the indicator may be removed from hanger

1

when the back plate

107

is moved upwardly to its upper position, while the front plate

106

stays in its lower position. Since pin

120

of the back plate

107

extends into the aperture

18

of the indicator

18

, the back plate

107

carries the indicator

18

upwardly. In the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 11-15

, front plate

106

engages hanger

1

and prevents the hanger

1

from also being carried upwardly.

FIG. 13

illustrates this situation, wherein both of the plates

106

and

107

are in their lower positions and the beveled lower edge

146

of the front plate

106

holds the hanger

1

down by abutting against the edge of the top region

116

of the hook of the hanger

1

. Consequently, the pin

120

has two functions: displacing the laterally extending portion

30

of the hanger

1

to release the indicator

18

from the hanger

1

and carrying the indicator

18

upwardly to separate the indicator

18

from the hanger

1

.

FIG. 14

shows the decapper mechanism with a second embodiment of the front plate

106

. The lower edge

148

has a step-shape to hold the edge of the top region

16

down. As depicted in this embodiment and

FIG. 2

top region

16

is preferably flat. For clarity of illustration,

FIGS. 13 and 14

show only the plates

106

and

107

in their lower positions, a few hangers

1

and the feeding rail

105

. As illustrated in

FIG. 11

, the front plate

106

has an aperture or a window

118

having generally the same shape as the recess

119

of the back plate

107

. When the back plate

107

is in its upper position and the front plate

106

is in its lower position, the recess

119

and the window

118

match, so that the indicator

18

can be removed from the recess

119

through the window

118

. The window

118

can have any appropriate shape, as long as the indicator

18

can pass through it.

In the described embodiment, the indicator

18

is removed from the recess

119

by means of an air blast. As can be seen in

FIG. 11

, the back wall of the recess

119

has an aperture

121

, which is connected to an air control means by means of a tube

127

, shown in FIG.

15

. The air blast through the opening

121

is controlled, so that, when the back plate

107

reaches its upper position, and the front plate

106

is in its lower position, an air blast is generated or enabled, which pushes the indicator

18

through the window

118

of the front plate

106

. The released indicator

18

passes through the window

118

of the front plate

106

and is collected by a discharge tube

124

, which is positioned in front of the window

118

and leads the released indicator to a container

125

.

Upon removal of the indicator

18

, hanger

1

continues, as soon as the back plate

107

is moved upwardly, to slide down the feeding rail

105

. As illustrated in

FIG. 15

, hanger

1

with web

4

is moving down the feeding rail

105

after being decapped. The decapped hanger is either collected manually or automatically therefrom, for example by means of a screw conveyor. Said screw conveyor can collect decapped hangers from a plurality of feeding rails

105

coming from respective decapping apparatuses.

As illustrated in

FIGS. 11 and 12

, the decapping apparatus is driven pneumatically, and further comprises position control means

111

, air control means

114

, a first timer

116

, a second timer

117

, and an air valve

137

. The air valve

37

generates and/or controls the pressurized air, by which the decapping apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is controlled and driven.

The air valve

137

, the timers

116

and

117

, the actuating means

108

, the air control means

40

and the position control means

111

respectively are connected by air tubes for pneumatic control. Also, the entire apparatus is held and fixed to a holding means (not shown).

As shown in

FIG. 12

, the position control means

111

comprises a first detector

112

for the position of the front plate

106

and a second detector

113

for the position of the back plate

107

. The first detector

112

and the second detector

113

work on a pneumatical basis and have a similar structure. First and second detectors

112

and

113

each include generally a cylindrical tube illustrated by

144

and

145

, respectively, and pistons

122

and

123

, respectively, which are movable within each of said cylindrical tubes

144

and

146

. The outer ends of pistons

122

and

123

are provided with contact plates, which are contacted by the upper sides of the front plate

106

and the back plate

107

, respectively.

In the upper position, the front plate

106

and the back plate

107

press inwardly pistons

122

and

123

, respectively, and cause a pneumatic signal in the position control means

111

, thereby permitting a steady control of the position and the movement of the plates

106

and

107

.

FIG. 12

shows a cross section of the control means

111

and the plates

106

and

107

, whereby the position of the plates

106

and

107

is the same as in FIG.

11

. Also, the discharge tube

124

and a collecting container

125

for the released indicators

18

are illustrated.

FIG. 15

illustrates a side view of the air control means

114

and the tube plates

106

and

107

. The air control means

114

comprises a third detector

115

for detecting the position of the back plate

107

. Third detector

115

has a cylindrical tube

149

and a piston

126

, which, generally have the same shape and function as the first and second position detectors

112

and

113

as described above. In

FIG. 15

, the back plate

107

is in its upper position, and the front plate

106

is in its lower position. The back plate having released and carried a indicator

18

upwardly from hanger

1

, contacts a contact plate

26

of the position detector

115

and moves the contact plate

126

together with its piston into the cylindrical tube of the detector

115

. This causes a pneumatic signal within the air control means

114

, which enables a pressurized air blast through a tube

127

, which is connected to the opening

121

of the back plate

107

by appropriate connection

128

. The air blast through the opening

121

ejects the released indicator

18

through the window

118

of the front plate

106

into the discharge tube

124

. The arrow in

FIG. 13

indicates the direction of the movement of the indicator

18

.

In operation, the back plate

107

moves downwardly to its lower position, which is followed by an upward movement of the front plate

106

to its upper position. The whole movement cycle is repeated periodically, so that a plurality of hangers

1

can be decapped easily and reliably in an automated process. Since one of the plates

106

and

107

is always in its respective lower position, there will be always a number of hangers

1

on the feeding rail

105

waiting to be decapped one after another, as shown in

FIGS. 12

to

15

.

The actuating means

108

controls the movement of the two plates

106

and

107

, so that the front plate

106

cannot move upwardly when the back plate

107

is not in its lower position, and the back plate

107

cannot move upwardly when the front plate

106

is not in its lower position. This ensures that the hangers to be decapped do not slide along the feeding rail

105

under the plates

106

and

107

without being decapped.

The first timer

116

controls the regular cycle of the movement of the two plates

106

and

107

, whereas the second timer

117

enables a repeated downward movement of the front plate

106

. If, for example the hook of the hanger

1

is bent or damaged, or the indicator

18

is bent or damaged, the front plate

106

is not permitted to slide downwardly to press or hold the indicator

18

into the recess

119

, since its lower edge contacts the upper edge of the indicator

18

and is therefore restricted in its downward movement. In this case, the timer

117

gives a signal to the actuating means

108

to lift the front plate

106

up again and retry to move it downwardly. This is repeated, until the indicator

18

is properly received in the recess

119

of the back plate

107

and the front plate

106

can move to its lower position without resistance. This problem can already partially be avoided by an appropriate angle or bend of the lower edge of the front plate

106

, as discussed above.

FIG. 16

shows a cross-section of the two plates

106

and

107

in their lower positions and several hangers

1

to be decapped on feeding rail

105

. These hangers

1

have a top region

16

a

on their hooks, which does not extend beyond the width of the indicators

18

. In other words, the sidewalls of the indicators

18

are substantially even with the sidewalls of the hooks and the hangers. Therefore, the hangers

1

cannot be held down by the lower edge of the front plate

106

abutting the edge of the top region

16

a

, as described and shown with respect to

FIGS. 13 and 14

. Since the hangers

1

cannot be held down by the front plate

106

, when the back plate

107

moves upwardly, this embodiment of the invention further includes a holding means

152

which is activated to hold down the hanger

1

being decapped, while the back plate

107

is moving up. The holding means

152

is pivotable around an axis

155

. In the present embodiment the holding means includes two parallel L-shaped arms

153

, which are connected by a cross bar

154

, as depicted in

FIGS. 16 and 17

.

In the holding position, the two arms

153

of the holding means

152

extend parallel to both sides of the feeding rail

105

and the hook of the hanger

1

, so that the arms

152

extend perpendicularly to the hanger

1

. The hanger

1

cannot move upwardly, since its upper edge abuts the lower surface of the arms

152

. After the indicator

18

is removed from the hanger

1

, the holding means is pivoted back to a free position (dashed lines in FIG.

16

), so that the decapped hanger

1

can move down the rail

105

. In a different embodiment (not shown) the holding means could include a similarly shaped holding means being swung horizontally to hold the hanger

1

down.

In

FIGS. 11

to

16

, the structure of the front plate

106

and the back plate

107

is only schematically shown.

FIGS. 18 and 19

show detailed perspective views of the back plate

107

and the front plate

106

, respectively.

FIG. 18

shows the back plate

107

in a perspective front view. The recess

119

is formed in the lower portion of a wall member

132

extending from the middle portion of the back plate

107

. The recess

119

can be dimensioned to accommodate the indicator

18

which, as depicted, has a basically rectangular shape. The recess

119

is provided with the pin

120

and the aperture

121

. The dimensions of the recess

119

are slightly larger than the dimensions of the indicator

18

to be decapped, so that the indicator

18

can be oriented properly upon entering into the recess

119

. This is important to ensure that the aperture

24

of the indicator

18

receives the pin

120

.

The recess

119

can be replaced by any other appropriate means, for example a frame or a single sidewall, as long as the pin

120

can enter into the opening

24

to release the indicator attachment mechanism to remove the indicator

18

, when the indicator

18

is pressed or held against the back plate. The shape of the pin

120

in

FIG. 18

is basically rectangular, but can be any other appropriate shape as necessary to match opening

24

.

As shown in

FIG. 18

, plate

107

has two rail or slide members

130

and

131

bolted thereto, which are positioned to each side of the wall member

132

defining a space between the wall member and the rail members

130

and

131

respectively. The rail members

130

and

131

each have a generally rectangular shape with concave surfaces and extend the complete height of the back plate

107

. The lower sides of the rail members

130

and

131

and the wall member

132

are connected by a common base plate

129

, which extends from and over the entire length of the back plate

107

. Rail or slide members

130

and

131

guide the movement of the plates

106

and

107

in connection with bearing assemblies

133

,

134

,

135

and

136

, which are shown in FIG.

15

.

FIG. 19

shows a perspective back view of the front plate

106

. The bearing assemblies

133

,

134

,

135

and

136

each have a generally longitudinal shape and extend vertically from and over a portion of the height of the front plate

106

. One pair of bearing members

133

and

134

is located to the left of the window

18

, and another pair of bearing assemblies

135

and

136

is located to the right of the window

118

. Each pair of bearing assemblies defines a space therebetween wherein the rail or slide members

30

and

31

of the back plate

107

can be inserted, when the decapping apparatus of the present invention is assembled. In other words, the rail or slide member

130

is received in the space between the bearing assemblies

135

and

136

, and the rail or slide member

131

is received in the space between the bearing assemblies

133

and

134

. This enables an exact reciprocable movement of the plates

106

and

107

. In a particularly preferred embodiment slide members

133

,

134

,

135

and

136

are a pair of roller-bearing assemblies having parallel rollers which engage rail members

130

and

131

and support the plates from either side.

FIG. 20

shows an enlarged perspective view of the pin

120

of the recess

119

. In the preferred embodiment pin

120

has a generally rectangular shape and is sufficiently small to be able to enter into the opening

24

of the indicator

18

to be decapped. Also, the pin

120

has a height sufficient to displace the laterally extending portion

30

of the web of the hanger

1

thereby enabling the indicator

18

to be released from the hanger

1

.

FIG. 21

shows an enlarged perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the pin

120

of the recess

119

. In this embodiment, the pin

120

has a generally oval shape. Other shapes, for example a cylindrical shape, can be substituted as appropriate.

Referring now in detail to

FIGS. 22 and 23

, there is illustrated a tool for manually removing indicators

18

from hangers

1

.

FIG. 22

shows a top view of one embodiment of the manual decapper, and

FIG. 23

shows a sectional view taken along line

23

—

23

in FIG.

22

.

More particularly, the device for manually removing an indicator from a garment hanger has a plate

138

which can have a rectangular shape as shown in

FIGS. 22 and 23

. The plate

138

can be made of metal or molded plastic and comprises at least one recess

139

, which is provided with a pin

140

. The recess

139

and the pin

140

correspond to the above-described recess

119

and pin

120

of the back plate

107

of the automatic decapping apparatus. The recess

139

and the pin

140

perform exactly the same functions as described in relation to recess

119

and pin

120

. The only difference is that with the manual decapper, the indicator

18

has to be pressed manually onto the recess

139

, so that the pin

140

is inserted in the opening

24

of the indicator

18

to displace the laterally extending portion

30

of the hanger and to effect release of the indicator

18

from the hanger

1

. In this embodiment the indicator

18

or at least the body with hanger

1

has to be manually held or pressed onto the recess

139

, to manually separate the plate

139

with the indicator

18

from the hanger

1

. In a preferred embodiment the plate

138

can define through-holes

176

for mounting the device to a support (not shown).

All the variations and features explained in view of the recess

119

and the pin

120

of the back plate

107

of the decapping apparatus are also true for the recess

139

and the pin

140

of the plate

138

of the manual decapper. The pin

140

can also be configured as shown in

FIGS. 20 and 21

. In the preferred embodiment shown in

FIGS. 22 and 23

, the plate

138

has a rectangular shape for ease of handling by the operator with the recess

139

being provided at a long side of the plate

138

. However, in the alternative, the recess can be provided at a short side of the plate

138

. Or the decapper device

138

can have further recesses, so that depending on the size and the shape of the indicator

18

to be removed multiple applications with the manual decapper of the present invention can be performed. For ease of operation the operator may chose to mount the device

138

to a support (not shown) via through-holes

176

so that it is not necessary for the operator to handle the manual device

138

but only the hangers and the removed indicators.

In the embodiment shown in the

FIGS. 22 and 23

, a further recess

141

is provided on one of the short sides of the rectangular plate

138

. The recess

141

is provided with a pin

142

positioned on the edge of the short side

143

and has no side walls. This allows the recess

141

and the pin

142

to be applied to indicator caps

18

of any configuration. In addition, the short side

143

can be curved thereby adapting to the form of the hook of the hanger

1

, from which the indicator

18

is to be removed. It should be understood, that for the recess

141

and the pin

142

the above-described features and variations explained in view of the recesses

119

and

139

, and the pins

120

and

140

are also true and applicable.

Also, it should be understood that although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, various modifications by one skilled in the art can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the enclosed claims. Particularly, the decapping apparatus of the described embodiment is pneumatically driven. However, the decapping apparatus, namely the plates

106

and

107

could also be driven by means of electrical, mechanical or any other appropriate drive mechanism. Also, the position control means

111

and the air pressure control means

114

can work using optical, electrical or any other appropriate detection means which detects the position of the plates

106

and

107

, respectively. The released indicator

18

can also be ejected from the recess

119

through the window

118

of the front plate

106

by means other than a pressurized air blast, as described above. For example, the decapped indicator

18

could be ejected through the window

18

by means of an ejection pin or vacuum ejector.

Furthermore, the present invention has been described and illustrated in conjunction with a single type of indicator

18

. The present invention can also be used without any adaptation or easily adapted to accommodate other types of indicators.

While there have been shown and described what are considered to be the several preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail can readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described nor to anything less than the whole of the invention herein disclosed as hereinafter claimed.

Number	Name	Date
4006547	Samuels	Feb 1977
4322902	Lenthall	Apr 1982
4333590	Princiotta	Jun 1982
5096101	Norman	Mar 1992
5238159	Zuckerman	Aug 1993
5305933	Zuckerman	Apr 1994
5377884	Zuckerman	Jan 1995
5383583	Zuckerman	Jan 1995
5388354	Marshall et al.	Feb 1995
5407109	Zuckerman	Apr 1995
5417352	Jen	May 1995
5441182	Sullivan	Aug 1995
5449099	Blanchard	Sep 1995
5469995	Bredeweg et al.	Nov 1995
5477995	Dooley et al.	Dec 1995
5485943	Zuckerman	Jan 1996
5503310	Zuckerman	Apr 1996
5507086	Marshall et al.	Apr 1996
5524801	Dooley et al.	Jun 1996
5590822	Zuckerman	Jan 1997
5603437	Zuckerman	Feb 1997
5611469	Eiley et al.	Mar 1997
5628132	Marshall et al.	May 1997
5641100	Mitchell	Jun 1997
5642840	Abdi	Jul 1997
5649651	Lam	Jul 1997
5687887	Bond et al.	Nov 1997

Number	Date	Country
599230-A2	Jun 1994	EP
755742	Aug 1956	GB
2064472A	Jun 1981	GB

Method for removing indicators from hangers

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

PCT Information

US Referenced Citations (27)

Foreign Referenced Citations (3)