CA 02245272 1998-08-07
a3'.D~LLD~.~~Z'QIt ~i-ANC~E~t~
AND MxITHQD A~1D A~;p,A,RATUS FOR
~tE~QVI~TG ZNDIC,AT,9RS_ ~'RQM ~iAN~R~
F~i~e_la of t~r,~n_wer~t.~.oz~:
This invention relates to a garment hanger
having a side sizer indicator, and a method and
apparatus for removing the side sizer indicator from the
hanger.
B~.~kqpound of tl~e ~nver~tiori:
' ~ For purposes of displaying garments suspended
on hangers in an orderly manner to they retail customer,
certain retail stores desire to affix an indicating
means on the side of the hook of the hanger w~-Le.re the
hood meets the hanger body. The indicating mNans
identifies some attribute of the garmFrnt suspended from
the hanger, such as size, quality, color, man~ifacturi.ng
data, or pattern.
To accommodate the various types of :angers
available. in. the industry, numerous ir~dicatin~x 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.
U.S. Patent 4,115,940 discloses a s~.de sizer
indicator for a garment hanger, having a removable
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indicia carrying tab. The indicia. is attacheU: to a web
contiguous to the hanger body which is joined to both
the body and the hook.
The small size and the removable nature of
this indicia generated concern an the part of some
garment hanger manufacturers that prompted the
development of non-remov,~ble or child proof irdicia for
garment hangers.
U.S. Patents 5,096,101 and 5,199,60 disclose
garment hangers with locking or irremovable information
tabs, which hangers use a rib or thickened body portion
to surround the indicia and block access to the
underside of the indicia.
U. S. Patent 5, ~~41,182 also d.isclose~, a garment
15~ with a locking information clip having hook like
elements or a raised platform to seat the cliff, each of
which prevents easy removal of the clip.
Environmental concerns have also generated a
desire for hangers having information indicia which are
~~ essentially unremovable for the average consumer, but
removable with the appropriate tooling for re~,.se and
recycle purposes. Inasmuch as the indicators are
generally colored plastic, it is highly desirable in
any recycling program to remove the indicator before
grinding the hangers for reuse. Further, in a. reuse
program, it is necessary to remove the old size indicia
before fitting a new one.
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An example o:~ a garment hangez: with a child
proof size indicator and a. special tool for removing the
~~ indicator is illustrated i.n U.S. Patent 5,449,099. As
taught is in this patent, the hanger ma_~r be molded with
S cuts in the protective rib which surrounds the c~lzp to
enable manual access by a special tool. This system
however does not enable automated removal of the size
indicia as necessary for commercially viable reuse or
recycle programs.
U.S. Patent 5,611,469 discloses a Hanger With
Identification Clip having a through opening in the
attachment web between the attachment ri.b and the
childproof safety rib. However, once the indicator is
mounted, the opening is covered and cannot be used to
provide entry of an indicator detachment tool.
6"mmarv of the Tnventiy n:
Accordingly, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an improved garment hanger having
an indicator detachment opening which allows arE
indicator to be attached 1.o a hanger in one or more of
the,foregoing ways, but which permits removal of the
indicator in an automated operation that reduces the
likelihood of damage to the indicator or to the hanger.
The invention therefore provides a molded
. plastic hanger having a modified indicator attachment
area or tab holder integr<~lly formed as part of the
hanger, with a ridge on the tab holder which surrounds
the tab to prevent a consumer from obtaining a "finger
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purchase" on the tab to remove the tar>. 'fhe modified
tab holder includes a.t least one through opening in the
web and ridge which enables an automated wedge tool to
be inserted through the opening and engage the indicator
S on~one side and a reaction surface on the other to
remove the indicator from the hanger.
In another embodiment of the invention, the
indicator attachment area includes a raised area for
seating the indicia whic.'h prevents unauthorized ar
inadvertent removal, since the raised area causes a
finger nail or other_ sliding tool to "jump" when it
engages the raised portion. In this embodiment, the
indicator attachment area includes a through c>pening
which also extends through the raised area, arid any
locking ridges formed. on the indicator attachment area.
This opening enables an automated wedge tool t.o be
inserted through the opening and engage the indicator on
one side and a reaction aurface on the other t:o remove
the indicator from th.e hanger.
In use, as will be described more fully below,
the indicator or side si;~er is disengaged from the
indicator attachment area by inserting a wedge through
the opening or aperture to thereby release the indicator
from the garment hanger.
The method and apparatus of the present
invention provide an extremely versatile arrangement
which can accommodate virtually all types of side sizer
indicators mounted on a garment hanger. The method and
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system can also accommodate a wide variety of hanger and
indicia types.
Accordingly, ii',: is an object of the invention
to provide a system which includes: a first means for
S securing the hanger for ,removal of the indicator; an
automated actuating means for driving a wedge through an
opening or aperture in the hanger; and means for
collecting and disposing of the indicator.
In operation, the reciprocal wedge is actuated
~ to engage the indicator and the reaction surface in the
indicator attachment area to remove the indicator from
the hanger while the hanger is secured by in a. reference
position.
The hangers with side sizer indicatr.~rs affixed
thereto can be lined up on a feeding rail which 5_s
slanted such that: the force of gravity feeds the hanger
into position against an automated means for
manipulating and securing the hangers in a predetermined
area.
The first mean; of the present emboc;:iment may
also include a milled out portion or template defining a
recess substantially corresponding to the shape and
dimensions'of the hanger to be received such that when
the hanger is received in the recess, the thr~~ugh
opening is correctly positioned for the automatic wedge
mechanism. When the indicator engages the recess of the
first plate the indicator detachment mechanism is
positioned to remove the size indicator from the hanger.
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Thus, the system of tl~e present invention is easily
adapted to accommodate a variety of ha~.ger
configurations.
In another embodiment, the first means
preferably,further includes a reciprocal wedge
positioned to displace the indicator. The first means
also includes a second plate which reciprocates parallel
to the first plate to secure the hanger for removal of
the indicator.
' In operation, the actuating means drives the
first plate downwardly to position the hanger, and then
drives the second plate t.o separate the hanger from a
bulk supply of the hangers. The reciprocal wedge is
then actuated to engage the indicator and the reaction
surface in the indicator attachment area to remove the
indicator from the hanger while the hanger_ is secured by
the second plate. ThES first plate is then raised to
allow the garment hander to move on for further
processing.
The hangers with side sizer indicators affixed
thereto can be lined up on a feeding rail which is
slanted such that the force of gravity drives the
hanger into position against the first plate. In a
preferred embodiment !~he second plate may include an
guides or templates fc~r holding the hanger to prevent
the hanger from moving when the indicator is removed by
the reciprocal movement of the sedge. In a particularly
preferred embodiment the second plate is driven
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downwardly to separate the hanger undergoing the
detaching process from the rest of the hangers on the
feeding rail.
The first plate of the present embodiment may
also include a milled out portion or template defining a
recess substantially corresponding to the shape and
dimensions of the hanger to be received such that when
the first plate is ire its lower position gravity forces
the hanger into the recess or template.
a0 To remove t:he indicator from the haz~.ger the
wedge is driven transversely to the first means by, for
instance, a pneumatic: cylinder means, while the hanger
is resting in the recess of the first means.
The system further contemplates forceful
, ejection of the indicator from the hanger, which
~~ ej ect~ion may direct t:he indicator into a vacuum capture
plenum.
A vacuum collection system can be attached to
said vacuum captuxe ~>lenum such that upon ejection, the
indicator is removed from the detaching appar~itus and
collected in a separate device.
In a preferred embodiment the first and second
plates may further includes a guide path or window
through which the indicator passes upon ejection. The
guide path or window can be dimensioned to accommodate a
variety of indicator configuratiozis. The vacuum
discharge tube can be attached to said guide path or
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window such that upon: ejection the indicator is removed
from the detaching a~~paratus 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 attacl-ament mechanism.
In a preferred embodiment the device includes a wedge
tool for manual insertion into the through opening
formed in the indicator attachment web of the hanger.
The device for manually removing the
indicators from hangers can include a bench mounted
wedge and a hanger guide mounted to a support such that
the operator need not handle the device while manually
removing the indicator from the hangers.
zt is a further object of the presera
invention to provide a method ~or removing an indicator
from a hanger by inserting a wedge mounted on a first
means into the though opening in the hanger to displace
the indicator from the indicator attachment area on the
hanger. The method can be performed either manually or
automatically.
The automated method for rerraoving t:r~e
indicator from the garment hanger comprises: holding a
plurality of hangers with indicatoi:s affixed ehereto;
selectively engaging one of the hangers; securing the
hanger; and inserting the displacement wedge into the
opening in the indicator attachment area to remove the
indicator from the hanger.
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In a second embodiment the method Further
contemplates moving a second plate downwardly to secure
the hanger and separate the hanger from the plurality of
hangers while aligning said indicator with a guide path
or window in either t:he first or second plate and
ejecting the indicate>r from the hanger through the guide
path or window into a~ discharge tube.
Before the next hanger :is selectively engaged
the second plate is driven upwardly to permit the next
hanger and indicator to advance a7.ong a feeding rail and
rest against or in the recess in the first plate and
then downwardly to separate the hanger from the
plurality, and to prevent a second hanger in the
" plural. i,ty of , hangers wi th indicators f rom advancing .
~5 After the indicator is disengaged from the hanger the
second plate is moved. upwardly to permit the next hanger
and indicator to advance.
Brief' ~escrintbi.~f ~ pLrawinas:
The foregoing .and other objects of t:he
invention may now be more readily ascertained from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments
thereof, taken in oon.junction with the accompanying
drawings; in which.
Figure 1 illustrates a front. elevat5.on view of
the hook of a hanger incorporating a typical Bide siaer
locking attachment mechanism, and the through opening of
the present invention. formed therein;
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Figure 1(a) iJ.lustrates a front elevation view
of a portion of a hanger incorporating a side sizer
locking attachment mechanism, and a modified form of the
through opening of the ~>resent invention foamed therein;
Figure 2 illustrates a.n enlarged sectional
view of a portion of they garment hanger and indicator of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 i:Llustrates an enlarged sectional
view of a portion of a second type of garment hanger and
14 side sizer~ indicator.
Figure 4 i=llustrates a diagrammatic view of
the first means for detaching apparatus an indicator in
the detaching position;
Figure 5 i> an illustrative view of the wedge
anc~ garment hanger with indicator just before detachment
of the indicator;
Figure 6 is an. illustrative view of the wedge
and garment hanger w_~th indicator at the moment of
detachment of 'the indicator.
~ Figure 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of a
manual detachment mechanism constructed in acs~ordance
with the present invention;
Figure 8 i:> a cross-section view of the manual
detachment apparatus illustrated in Figure 7 taken along
section lines 8-8' of Figure 7.
Figure 9 i:~lustrates a perspective view of one
embodiment of the det:ach.ing apparatus according to the
present invention with a.feeding rail, a plurality of
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'hangers thereon, and a first plate for recei~~ing a
hanger;
Figure 10 illustrates a second sequential view
of the detaching apparatus according to the present
invention with a second plate securing the hanger, while
the wedge removes the indicator;
Figure 11 illustrates a third sequential view
of the detaching apparatus according to the present
invention with a first plate releasing the processed
hangers, while the second plate maintains a separation;
Figure 12 is an isometric schematic
illustration of the detachment apparatus of_ the present
invention illustrating t:he control and'aetuating
mechanisms therefor.
petailed D~scri~~ the ~~~~,red Embodim~t~,:
In the preferred embodiment, the improved
' hanger 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.
The hanger 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is
equipped with a hook 14 for engaging a rod ox other
supporting means, and a body 12 for supporting a garment
to be hung on the hanger. A web 16 extends between the
hook 14 and the body 12 to provide an indicator
attachment mechanism to receive an indicator la which
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bears an indicia or ~~olor, or both, relating to a
characteristic of th~a garment suspended ~rom hanger body
12. As illustrated :in P'igu,re 1, it is common for the
" indicator 18 to be attached to the web member 16 by
snapping it downward:Ly over an attachment rib 20 in the
dizection of arrow A, illustrated in Figure 1. The web
also includes a second rib 22 which may be used to
childproof the hanger and prevent easy removal of the
indicator 18.
Environmental concerns on t:~e part ~~f large
retail sales organizations have prompted a desire for
hangers having side :>izers 18 that are essentially
unremovable for the average customa_r ~~.nd, thus, '
"childproof" within the meaning of th~~t term as
described by the garment. industry. T'~e industr_y also
desires that the side sizers be removable with the
appropriate tooling ?:or reuse and rec;~cle purposes, but
at present~no automat:.ed apparatus is available for this
removal. Inasmuch as the indicators a:re generally
colored plastic, it :is highly desirable in any recycling
program to remove the indicator before grinding the
hangers for reuse. :Cf the program is a reuse program
rather than a recyel:ing program, it: i;s necessary to
remove the old size :indi.cator before attaching a new
one .
The,presen~_ invention includes a hanger having
a side sizer indicia tab wherein the tab is essentially
unremovable for the average consumer, but removable with
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the indicator detacl-vnent: mechanism of the present
invention. To enable removal of the ~ab, at least one
through opening 24 is formed in web 15 which extends
through the web, and through the security rib 22 which
prevents access or "finger purchase" cn the edges of
indicia 18. Alternately, the through opening may extend
through both the attachment rib 20 and. the security rib
I22, or may extend to the attachment rib, with a cut
through the attachment nib 20 as illustrated in the
enlarged portion of Figure 1 (a).
Figure 2 illustrates in cross-section, web 16
of hanger 1 having a side sizer indicia 18 attached
thereto. As illustrated in Figure 2, the size indicia
18 includes a pair of inwardly extending barbs or ridges
26a, 26b which snap over the enlarged retention rib 2Q
of web 16. A variety of internal rib or barb
constructions axe known in the prior art and illustrated
in the various patents referred to in the summary of the
prior art above.
As illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a
security rib 22 is also provided on web 16 to prevent
the easy removal of the indicia by enabling ":finger
purchase" under one of t:he inwardly directed :Legs 28a,
28b of the size indicia 18.
An alternate :>ecurity arrangement is
illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the web 16 receives an
indicator 18 in the 'matter illustrated by arrow A in
Figure 1. The web 16 of the hanger illustrated in
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Figure 3 is formed somewhat differently in cross-section
and uses an alternate means for thwarting the easy
removal of the indicator 18. As illustrated in Figure
1, the web 16 include s a first rib 20, which cooperates
with internal barbs or ridges 26a, 26b to ser_ure the
indicator to the web 16. Web 16 also includes an
enlarged rib 30 which st:abiliaes the indicator 18 to
prevent undesirable movement of the indicator in normal
use. The arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 also
' includes a security :Land 22a which is elevated above the
~~ planar surface 16a o:E web 16. In practice, this
elevated land 22a and the curved portion 22b pause a
fingernail or other :removal device to "jurctp" the gap
between the indicator 18. and the land 22a, making it
extremely difficult 'or the average consumer to remove
the indicator 18.
The presents invention uses at least one
through opening 24 formed in web 16 to enable the
removal of the "non-x-emovable" indicators 18. The
through opening 24 includes a reaction surface 24a and
an opening which extE~nds through the web and through the
security rib 22 or the security land 22a to a space 24b
underlying the indicator 18. The through opening rnay
extend through both the attachment rib 20 and the
security rib 22, or rnay extend to the attachment rib,
with a cut through the attachment rib 20 as illustrated
in the enlarged port:~on of Figure 1 (a). The through
opening should not bEa so large as to permit "finger
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purchase" on the underside of the ind:icat=or, and should
be~transverse to the indicator l8.
The removaJ_ of the "non-removable" indicator
18 will be described with respect to Figures 5 and 6
which illustrate in cross-section the web 16 of hanger
1, and the indicator 18 of Figure 2 together with the
removal tool of the present invention.
As illustr~~ted in Figure 5, the indicator 18
is securely attached to 'web 16 by virtue of the
retention rib 20 and internal barbs 26a and b which
engage the retention rib 20. The open ends 28a, 28b are
also supported on web l6 on either side of through
opening 24.
To remove the side sizer indicator 18, a wedge
tool is inserted into the through opening 24 between the
reaction surface 24a and the inwardly extending legs
28a, 28b. As the wedge tool penetrates through the
through opening 24, a. first side of the wedge tool 100a
engages the reaction surface 24a while the tapered
removal edge 100b engages the-inwardly extending arms
28~a and 28b of the in.dic~ator 18. The downward motion
indicated by the arrcw B in Figure 6 results in a
laterally outward pressure in the direction of arrow C
on the inwardly extending legs 28a, 28b causing the mid-
~~ porti~w o~ the indicator to bow outwardly, to a point
where the barbs or ribs :26a, 26b which axe ~ormed of
plastic, will be resiliently deformed and slide over the
retention rib 20 to the position illustrated in Figure
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5. The resilient quality of the plastio materials from
which the indicators 18 are normally formed creates a
sudden release of the indicator 18 from web 16,
expelling the indicator 18 in the direction cf arrow C.
The rate of downward mo~rement of the wedge tcol 100
determines to some extent the forcefulness of the
detachment of indicator 18 from web 16, and the
detachment process can be regulated to some extent by
varying the penetration rate of wedge tool 100 through
l0 the through opening 24. A thin blade type wedge tool
may also be employed in combination with a through
opening 24 which cuts through the attachment rib 20 to
insure complete removal of the indicator in the event of
multiple security ribs.
$ The automated detachment of the indicator 18
from the hangers 1 will be described with respect to
Figure 6. One or more hangers are suspended from an
angled rod 105 (illustrated in FigurE 12), which rnay
gravity feed the hangers to the first means X07 for
20 removal of the indicator. The first means 1G7 may
reciprocate into a support position by virtue: of a
support and drive mechanism 133. A plurality of blocks
200, 202 and 204 may define a template for securing the
hanger from undesirable movement, and in combination
25 with angled rod 105, define a registration means for
aligning the hanger with the automatic detachment wedge
100. Wedge tool 100 is mounted to the first means,
(which reciprocates wedge 100 through the thrc>ugh opening
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24 defined in hange:c 1. In a preferred embodiment, it
is driven by a pneumatic cylinder or electric solenoid.
While sandwiched in this position, the wedge
tool 100 is driven through the through open5_ng 24 in
hanger 1 in the manner previously described with respect
to Figure 3. Wedge tool 100 may be easily driven by a
pneumatic cylinder ;attached to the back plate 107.
Alternately, electromagnetic or hydraulic drive
mechanisms may be wtilized as desired. The penetration
of wedge tool 100 rnsul.ts in the forcible detachment of
'the indicator 18 as illustrated i_n Figure 6. The first
means 107 may then be reciprocated out of engagement
with the hanger 1 to provide for removal a.nd/or reuse of
the hanger. -
Thus, the detachment mecha°~:ism illustrated in
Figure 6 cycles repetitively to automatically detach a
plurality of the "nc>n-removable" indicators 18 from a
plurality of hangers 1.
As illust::ated in Figure 6, the first means
107 includes a slot 107a to allow reciprocation of the
means 107 about hanger rod 105. Alternately, first
means 107 could be 1_ormed as a laterally reciprocating
plate traversing the space between the support rod 105
and the hanger body 12, provided the wedge tool 100 is
reciprocated to a position approximate that of through
opening 24. While :in the start of downward position
' illustrated in~Figur_e 6, the hanger 1 may be further
aligned for process_'ing by means of removable template
f
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blocks which are illustrated in dotted lines at 200,
202, and 204 in Figuze 7. These blocks may be secured
to the back plate 107 by means of alignment pins oz
screws 206. The template blocks 200-209 enable a
variety of hanger configurations and styles to be
automatically processed by the apparatus of the present
invention. Blocks 200-204 provide registration blocks
far the hanger 1 that maintain the hanger in a proximate
location for entry of wedge tool 100 through the through
~ opening 24. Blocks 202 <~nd 204 also define therebetween
an emit window~for the forcible expulsion of indicator
1B when the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through
opening 24.
Alternatively, recesses may be milled into the
first means 107 to provide a stabilizing template for
the hanger 1 to be processed, and to provide an exit
path for indicator 18.
A vacuum tube 126. may also be provided
adjacent the exit path defined between blocks 202 and
204 to receive the indicator 18 and convey it to a
collection bin for further process~.ng or recycling.
Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, there is
illustrated a tool for manually removing the indicators
18 from hanger 1. Figure 7 illustrates a plan view of
the manual removal tool, while Figure 8 illustrates a
section view taken along section 1i_ne 8-8' of Figure 7.
The device for manually removing an indicator
from a garment hanger can .be hand-held, or may have a
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rectangular shape as il7,ustrated in Figures ? and 8 fox
bench mounting. The device includes a plate 138 which
can be made of metal or molded plastic and includes a
recessed area 139 fo:c receiving the hanger and a wedge
tool 100 which extends upwardly from the recessed area
139 to engage the through opening 24 i.n the hanger
having an indicator ~ro be removed. The wedge tool 100
performs exactly the same function as previously
described with respect t.o Figures 4-6. The only
difference is that with the manual detac2nnent mechanism,
the hanger 1 is manually positionEd with the wedge tool
100 entering the through, opening 24, and then the hanger
is pressed downwardl~r against the recess in plate 139 to
effect removal of thES indicator 1B. ~n alignment: pin
105~a and alignment b:Lock.s 200a and 204a may be provided
to assist the operator in aligning the hanger 2 to
engage the wedge too7_ 100 in the through opening 24. As
the hanger is pressed into engagement with the recessed
area 139, the wedge tool 100 removes the indicator 18 in
~ the direction of arrow C as illustrated in Figure 7.
Another embodiment of the automated detachment
of the indicator 18 from the hangers ~L will be described
with respect to Figures 9-11. As illustrated in Figure
9, a support rod 105 is angled downwardly and receives a
plurality of hangers 1 thereon which slide downwardly
along rod 105 until. they reach back p~:ate 107.
Alternately, a screw rod conveyor may be used for rod
10,5 to sequentially advance a plurality of hanger 1 into
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position for detachmE:nt of the indicators 18. In the
initial start position, the back plate 107 is extended
downwardly, straddling rod 105 as illustrated in Figures
4 and 12. When at least one hanger la has been received
against the back plate 107, a front plate 106 is
reciprocated downwardly and the direct.i~on o~ the arrow D
in Figure 10 by a pneumatic drive motor 204. Front
plate 106 includes a rounded wedge engagement surface
106a which penetrates. the hangers supported are rod 105
10~ and separates hanger 1a from the x-ema5.nder of the
hangers 1 as the front plate 106 is driven dovmwardly.
The front plate 106 a.nd the back plate 107 are mounted
for reciprocation on support means 133 and are driven
.. upwardly and.downwarclly by pneumatic drive motors 108a,
108b via connecting rods or pistons 109, 110. It should
be noted that in Figures 9-11 the relative proportions
of the various components have been exaggerated to
clarify the operation, of the device, and the depiction
in Figures 9-11 is intended to be illustrative in a
schematic sense, and not a literal depiction of the
elements . As illustrated in Figure 10, the front plate
106 has been extendecl downwardly to its second position
commensurate with ths~ start position of back plate 107.
Hanger 1a has been separated for the remainder of the
hangers 1 and is now sandwiched between front plate 106
and back plate 107. While sandwiched in this position,
the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening
24 in hanger 1a and into a matching cavity on front
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plate 106 in the mann~'r previously described with
respect to Figures 5 .and 6. wedge tool 100 may be
easily driven in the direction of arrow B in Figure 10
by a pneumatic cylinder 7.02 attached to the back plate
107.
After the i:ndic:ator has been removed from
hanger 1a, the wedge tool. 100 is retracted, and back
plate 107 is raised to the position illustrated in
Figure 21 while front plate 106 remains in its downward
position. This enables t:he hanger la to slide down the
support rod 105 i.n the direction of arrow E where it may
be collected or advanced for Further processing by a
screw rod conveyor or the like.
After the hanger la is free of the <detachment
mechanism, plate 107 is reciprocated downwardly to the
position illustrated in Figure 9, and the front plate
106 is raised to the ;position illustrated in Figure 9 to
allow the collected group of hangers to slide down
support rod 105 into engagement with back plate 107 at
the~start position as previously with respect to Figure
9. Thus, the detachment mechanism illustrated in
Figures 9-11 cycles repei~itively to detach the °non-
removable" indicators 18 fxom a plurality of hangers 1.
As illustrated in Figure 4, the back plate 107
includes a slot 107a to <allow reciprocation of the back
plate 107 about hanger rc>d 105. Alternately, back plate
107 could be formed as a laterally reciprocating plate
traversing the space between the support rod 105 and the
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hanger body 12, provided the wedge tool 100 i.s
reciprocated to a position approximate that c~f through
opening.24.Figure 4 is an illustration of the
apparatus taken along section lines ?~7~ of Figure 10.
It is understood that b;~.ck plate 107 is supported by the
support means 133 and is reciprocated upwardly and
downwardly in the direction of arrow F by means of the
pneumatic drive 108(b) as previously described with
respect to Figures 9-11.. While in the start of downward
position illustrated in Figure 4, the hanger 1 may be
further aligned for :processing by means of removable
template blocks which one illustrated in dotted lines at
200. 202, and 204 in Figure 4. These blocks may be
secured to the back plate 107 by means of alignment pins
or sorews 206. The template blocks 200-204 enable a
variety of hanger configurations and styles to be
' automatically processed by the apparatus of the present
invention. Blocks 200-404 providE registration blocks
for the hanger 1 that maintain the hanger in a proximate
location for entry of wedge tool 100 through the through
.
openi~g,24. ,Bl.ocks 202 and-204 also define therebetween
an exit window for the forcible expulsion of indicator
18 when the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through
opening 24.
AlternativE~ly, recesses may be milled into the
back plate 107 to provide a stabilizing template fox the
hanger 1 to be processed., and to provide an exit path
for indicator 18.
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It is to b~~ nc>ted that the ;locks 200-204 are
no greater in thickness than the clearance between the
.Front plate 106 and back plate 107 to enable the hanger
1 to~~be securely captured therebetween. for removal of
the indicator 18. ~~ vacuum tube 126 may also be
provided adjacent them exit path defined between blocks
202 and 204 to recei5re the indicator .L8 and convey it to
a collection bin fox further processing or recycling.
As illustrated in Figure 4, the apparatus is
schematically illustrated in isometric form with the
indicators 18 on the opposite side of rod 105, and the
wedge tool 100 mounted on the opposite side of plate
107. Tn a preferred embodiment, the detachment
apparatus may be driven ,pneumatically and ~urt:her
include a position cc~ntrol means 111, an air control
means 114, a first timer 116, a second timer 7.17, and an
air valve 137 The air valve 137 genezates and/or
controls pressurized air by which the detachment
apparatus is controlled .and driven.
The air valve 137, the timers 116 and 117, the
actuating means or pneumatic cylinders 108, 108b, the
airlcontrol means 114 and the position control. means 111
are respectively connected by air tubes for pneumatic
control. The entire apparatus, including a
reciprocating support 13:3, which is rat illustrated in
Figure 12 is supported to a Fixed mount as indicated at
120.
CA 02245272 1998-08-07
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As illustrated in Figux-e 12, the position
control means 111 includes a first detector 712 for the
position of the fron'~ plate 106 and a second detector
113 for the position of back plate 10'7. The Eirst
detector 112 and the second detector 113 work on a
pneumatic basis and lzaue~ a similar structure. First and
. second detectors 112 and 113 each include contact plates
which are contacted witri the upper sides 106 ~cf the back
plate 107 respectively. In the upper positions, the
front plate 106 and 'the back plate 107 press 'upwardly on
the contact plates r~sspectively, to create a pneumatic
signal in the position control means 111, thereby
permitting a steady ~~ontrolled movement o~ plates 106
and 107.
The actuating means 108a, 1~8b controls the
movements of the two plates 106, 107 and the control
sequence is such tha~~ the front plate 106 cannot move
upwardly when the ba~~k plate 7_07 is not in its lowermost
position, and the bank plate 107 cannot move upwardly
when the front plate 106 is not in its lowermost
position. This insures that the hangers having side
sizer indicators to be detached do not slide along
feeding rail 105 und~ar t:he plates 106, 107 when not
being processed.
~ The first 'timer 116 Controls the regular cycle
,. of tie, movement of tl~e t:wo plates 106 and, 107, whereas
the second timer 117 enables a repeated downward
movement of the front plate 106, if, for example, the
CA 02245272 1998-08-07
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hook of a hanger 1 i;s bent or damaged, or the indicator
28 is bent or damaged. In this case, the timer 117
gives a signal to the actuating means 108a to lift the
front plate 106 up again and to retry to move it
downwardly. This is repeated until the hanger 1 is
properly received wit=hin. the alignment blocks 202, 204
of plate 107 so that front plate 106 ran move to its
lower position without resistance.
It is understood that although preferred
embodiments of the present invention have been described
and that various modifications may be made by one
skilled in the art without departing from the scope of
the invention is defined in the following claims. while
the detachment apparatus of the described embodiment is
pneumatically driven, the detachment apparatus could be
driven by electrical, mechanical or other appropriate
drive means.
Furthermore, the present invention has been
described and illustrated in connection with a single
type of side sizer indicator 18, although it ~s
understood that the ~>resent invention can be used
without adoption, or easily adapted to accommodate
virtually any type of side sizing indicator.
While it has been shown and described what is
considered.to be the preferred embodiment of the
invention, it will, c~f courses, be understood that
various modifications and changes in form or detail can
be readily made withc~ut departing from the spirit of the
CA 02245272 1998-08-07
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invention. It is, therefore, intended that the
invention not be. limited to the exact form and detail
herein shown and des~~ribed nor to anything less than the
whole o~ the inventi~~n as hereinafter claimed.
