US1984659A - Conveying and grouping machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1934- s. c. SIMMONS ET AL CONVEYING AND GROUPING MACHNES Filed Jan. 22, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VEA/TOR s J70/#e7 mmams' Har/7 M. 67mm@ Dec- 18, 1934 sfc. SIMMONS ET Al. 1,984,659

CONVEYING AND GROUPING MACHINES Filed Jan. 22, 1934 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 ATTORNEYS CONVEYING AND GROUPING MACHINES Filed Jan. 22, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 3 N 5 ATTOR EYS Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES.

APATEN'l` OFFirE Simmons, Pittsburgh,

Pa., assignors to Star- Service Hanger Company, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 22, 1934, Serial No. 707,634

" 2s claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a conveyor for Wire garment hangers and the like which is adapted to receive the garment hangers in bundles or unspaced relation and to space and group them preparatory to removal to an enameling or coating apparatus.

Second, to provide a machine or apparatus for this purpose which is mainly automatic in operation, such manual operations as are required being simpler and requiring a minimum of effort.

Third, to provide a machine or apparatus for this purpose which is of large capacity.

Fourth, to provide a machine or apparatus embodying these advantages which isv comparatively simple in structure.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of our invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A. machine embodying the features of our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine em- Y bodying the features of our invention, parts being broken away for convenience in illustration` and parts being shown mainly in conventional form.

Figs. 2 ,and 2A are complementary plan views, the work being shown in several positions, but it will be understood that the machine is not completely filled with work as in continuous use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Fig.

s l, one of the positions of the hangers in removing being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on line Y 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2A.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section on line 7 7 of Fig. 2A showing details of the clutch control and a stop control.

Fig. 8 is a conventionalized View illustrating a group of hangers as lifted from the machine by an operator as by means of a transfer or. supporting rod for the coating apparatus.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated the machine is of such length: as tor serve as a conveyor. It should be understood,l however, that this is varied in practice according to the particular needs of the factory and that the machine is desirable when used merely for (Cl. ISS-34) grouping and spacing the hangers. We have not attempted in the accompanying drawings to illustrate the parts in relative proportion.

At one end of the machine is a power unit designated generally by the numeral 1 comprising a suitable frame and housing containing a motor 2 which is connected to the main drive shaft 3 by means of the belt 4 and the pulley 5-. The main drive shaft has a section 6 provided with threads, in this embodiment two threads to an inch; a section 7 in advance of the section 6, having threads four to the inch; a section 8 in advance of the section 7 having threads four to the inch. Between the sections 8 and 7 is a short section 9 having threads four to the inch but substantially deeper than the threads of the section 8. The purpose of this will appear as the description proceeds.

In advance of the section 8 of the shaft 3 is a conveyor feed shaft 10 having a threaded section 11 .with threads seven to the inch, and a section l2 with threads four to the inch. This feedv shaft is alined with the main shaft 3 but is driven independently thereof, the shafts having a journal connection 13. The shaft l0 is driven through the shaft 14 disposed in parallel relation to the shaft 3 and intermittently driven through the clutch 15. The driven member of the clutch 15 is connected to the shaft 3 by means of the sprocket chain 16 and suitable sprockets, see Fig. 2A. The shaft 14 is connected to the feed conveyor shaft 10 by means of the sprocket chain 17 and suitable sprockets.

At the rear of the machine and parallel with the shaft 14 is a rockshaft 18 controlled by the arm 19 coacting with the cam 20, see Figs. 2A and 7. The cam 20 has a lift portion 21 of approximately 270 degrees, this being a timing cam for controlling the rockshaft and through it thev control arm 22 for the clutch 15 so that the shaft lllis intermittently driven. The cam 20 is driven from the shaft 3 through the sprocket chain 24 and suitable gearing in the gear box 25, the gearing not being illustrated.

' The object of this connection is to intermittently drive the shaft le. and through it the shaft 10 at suitable speeds relative to the shaft 3.

A shaft 26 is provided, disposed in parallel relation to but in a plane below the conveyor shaft 3. This shaft has' a threaded portion 27 with threads two to the inch corresponding to the section or portion 6 of the shaft 3, and a tapered lift portion 28, with threads three to the inch, joining the portion 27 with a portion 29 having relatively shallow threads approximately one to Aing indicated at 42 and 43.

the inch. In advance of this portion 29 is an unthreaded portion 30 having fixed thereto a spiral pick-up spring 31, the turns of which are approximately four to an inch. This pick-up is supported by a rod 32 extending from the rear ends of the slides or steady bars 33. The threaded portions of these shafts are supported by bracket bearings 34, the shaftsresting in these bearings so that the threads are exposed and permit the work to be carried along by the shafts and over or past the bearings.

The work, in this case the garment hangers 35, is of the widely used type of wire hangers provided with suspending hooks 36. In practical use of the machine such as the embodiment of our invention illustrated, the hangers are taken from the forming machine and hooked upon the threaded portion 11 of the feed conveyor shaft 10. The only care required is that the hooks should all face rearwardly. The hangers are engaged in bundles of such size as may be convenient for the operator to handle. The shaft 10 being intermittently driven as described feeds the hangers along substantially without separating; however, when they reach the portion l2 of this feed conveyor shaft the separation begins as indicated in Fig. 2, and they are carried along by this intermittently driven feed conveyor shaft and delivered upon the continuously driven shaft, the section 8 of which, as described, has threads corresponding to the threads of the section l2, namely four to an inch. This thread is preferably quite shallow and has just enough depth to insure that the hangers are advanced.

The purpose of having the section 12 of greater pitch than section 1l of the feed shaftis to prevent an excessive pressure on the hangers that are bunched before or stopped by the stop 37 mounted on the rockshaft 18 to swing to and from stopping position. The movement of this shaft, as stated, is controlled by the cam 20, the stop swinging out of the way for predetermined periods to allow a predetermined number of hangers to pass. The speed of the shaft 3 in the embodiment illustrated is such that about fifty hangers will pass while the stop is in retracted position. The threads ofthe shaft sections 8 and 12 are shallow enough to permit the hangers being held back by the stop and to prevent their piling up or being thrown off the shaft by the pressure of the following hangers.

As the hangers are carried` forward by the` feed shaft, suspendedentirely from their hooks, the arms of the hangers are brought into' engagement with the steady bars 33 which stop any swinging or swaying movement, and the forward end of these bars guides the front ends ofthe hangers to the rotating pick-up spring 3l and tilts the hangers on their hooks as they are carried on to the shaft 26. As the hangers are carried forward to the stop and to prevent the'hooks being lifted off the conveyor shaft 3 as they are retarded by the stop, they are engaged by a pivoted yholder 38 which is carried by a bail-shaped frame 39 secured at 40 to the frame or supporting brackets 41. This holder 38, which might be termed a doctor bar, is adjustable on :its bail-shaped support, its attaching means be- 42 may be a pivot and 43 a slot connection permitting the swinging adjustment of this holder member.

The section 30 of the shaft 26, as stated, is preferably without threads, while the section 29 has coarse shallow threads which, while acting to carry the hangers along without swaying movement, permit straightening of the hangers, that is, permits them to come into a parallel relation as they are carried forward by the main conveyor shaft.

A holder bar 44 is pivoted at 45 on an arm 46 projecting from the support 39. This bar 44 rests on the hangers as they are carried forward by the conveyor shaft and then holds them steady as theyV are picked upl by the tapered portion 28 of theshaft 26.` This also enables the separate or individual picking up of the hangers by such portion of the shaft so that they are delivered thereby singly and in spaced relation to the delivery portion 27 of the shaft 26. The shaft 26 is driven slightly faster than the shaft 3, the trainof gears designated generally by the numeral 47 connecting the shaft 26 to the shaft 3 being such` as to accomplish this. The object is to compensate for the lag resulting from the retarding action described as the hangers are engaged by the portion 28 of the shaft 26.

When a group of hangers has accumulated at the take-off end of the machine, the operator passes a pick-up rod 48 through the front ends of the arms as indicated in Figs. 2A and 9 and positions the rod in the frontbight of the hanger, and then lifts up thereon as indicated by dotted lines, in Fig. 3. As the forward ends of the hangers are lifted upwardly, swinging the hooks on the conveyor shaft, the rearends come into contact with the stripper bar 49, see Figs. 2A and 3, which disengages the hooks from the conveyor shaft as indicated in Fig. 3, permitting the operator to place the group of hangers, properly spaced on the bar, on a suitable conveyor or into a dipping or coating machine. The object of the spacing is to properly positionvthe hangers so that they are out of contact and may be coated by dipping.

To prevent displacement of the hangers and jamming of the machine in the event the oper ator should fail to remove the grouped hangers at the take-off end, we` provide an automatic control 50 which is positioned to be engaged by therst hanger of the group and to be actuated thereby.,` A manual control 51 is also provided. Both the automatic and manual controls 50 and 51 are connected by the control rod 52 to a control switch indicated at 53, see Fig. 1.

`With theparts arranged as illustrated and described, th e feed section of the conveyor may be Aofgany length desired, and, it will be understood, will vary according to the particular in stallation. The balance of the machine, if desired, may be entirely standardized, and for economy in manufacture is preferably standardized.

In operation the operator serving the forming machines placesv the hangers upon the section 11 of the feed conveyor and preferably some attention is given to the section l2 thereof so that if it becomes overloaded a number of hanges may be removed and replaced on the sectionll. It will be understood that the capacity of the machine is determined by the spacing mechanism andthat it would be possible to overload the feed end of the machine. However, the feed conveyor ,shaft is driven with a step by step movement, the feed shaft being at rest. while the spacing stop 37 is in actuated position as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thereby preventing the delivery of hangers to the spacing conveyor shaft while they are being grouped in front of the stop. As soon as the stop is lifted to allow the hangers to pass the feed shaft starts.,

The hangers are automatically carried along to take-olf position and are properly spaced and supported in parallel position for removal, as described. To prevent the friction of the feed conveyor and the auxiliary spacing conveyor on the hangers displacing the hangers, the shafts are driven in opposite directions. In the embodiment illustrated the shaft 3 rotates a clockwise direction and the shaft 26 in an anti-clockwise direction.

We have illustrated and described our improvements in an embodiment which we have found entirely practical. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe various modifications and adaptations which might be desirable as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our iinprovements as may be desired.

The machine illustrated is adapted for hangers made of different gages of wire, in fact, for such range in gagesas is found in commercial hangers at the present time.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front of and in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaft constituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads of the same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of the threads cf the receiving and intermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shaft having an unthreaded front portion and an intermediate portion with shallow threads joined to the take-off portion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-olf portion, the unthreaded portion terminating in a coiled springl extension, said intermediate and front portions of said auxiliary shaft being disposed opposite the intermediate portion of the main shaft, an inclined supporting rod for and disposed within the spring extension of the auxiliary shaft, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the main shaft, means for intermittently driving said feed shaft, a control means for said feed shaft driving means and said stop whereby the stop is actuated to,y work engaging position during the periods of rest of the feed shaft, a work holder positioned to hold the work to the shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop, and a work hold-down member disposed to engage the work as it is translated from said intermediate portion of the auxiliary shaft to the take-off portion thereof.

2. In an apparatus of the class described', the combination of a main spacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front of and in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaft constituting an extension for the main shaft an'd having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads, of the same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threadsv and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving and intermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shaft having an unthreaded front portion and an intermediate portion with shallow threads joined to the take-olf portion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the unthreaded portion terminating in a coiled spring extension, said intermediate and front portions of said auxiliary shaft being disposed opposite the intermediate portion of the main shaft, an inclined supporting rod for and disposed within the spring extension of the auxiliary shaft, and means for intermittently driving said feed shaft.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front of and in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaft constituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the

main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions With threads of the same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of thel threads of the receiving and intermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion beingk of less pitch than the threadsv of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shaft having an unthreaded front portion and an intermediate portion with shallow threads joined to the take-off portion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the unthreaded portion terminating in a coiled spring extension, said intermediate and front portions of said auxiliary shaft being disposed opposite the intermediate portion of the main shaft, steady bars disposed on opposite sides of and in a plane below the receiving portion of the main shaft, the front steady bar carrying an inclined supporting rod for and disposed within the spring extension of the auxiliary shaft, and means for intermittently driving said feed shaft.

4'. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front of and in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed` shaft constituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads of the same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitch `internflediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving and intermediate portions, the

threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shaft having a portion with shallow threads joined to the take-off portion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-ofi portion, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the main shaft, means for intermittently driving said feed shaft, a control means for said feed lshaft driving means and said stop whereby the stop is actuated to work engaging position during the periods of rest of the feed shaft, a work holder positioned to hold the work to the shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop, and a work hold-down member .disposed to engage the work as it is translated from said intermediate portion of the auxiliary shaft to the take-off portion thereof. i

5. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a main spacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed atthe front of and in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaft constituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads Vof substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the main and auxiliary shafts having take-ofi" portions with threads of the same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving and intermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate `portion being of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the

`auxiliary shaft having a portion with shallow threads joined to the take-off portion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, and means for intermittently driving said feed shaft.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front of and in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaft constituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads of the same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having rela- 'ively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving and intermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitch than, the threads of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shaft having a portion with shallow threads joined to the takeoif portion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch 'than the threads of the take-off portion, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the main shaft, means for intermittently driving said feed shaft, and a work hold-down member disposed to engage the work as it is translated from said intermediate portion of the auxiliary shaft to the take-off portion thereof.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven spacing shaft and a `feed shaft .constituting an yextension for the spacing shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the spacing shaft having a take-off portion at its rear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving and intermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end. of the receiving portion of the spacing shaft, means for intermittently driving said feed shaft, a common control means for said feed shaft driving means and said stop whereby the stop is actuated to Work engaging position during the periods of rest of the feed shaft, and a work holder positioned to hold the work to the shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven spacing shaft, the spacing shaft having a take-off portion at its rear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the re ceiving and intermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, and a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rielaitend of the receiving portion of the spacing s a 9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven spacing shaft and a feed shaft constituting an extension for the spacing shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the spacing shaft having a take-off portion at its rear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the spacing shaft, means for intermittently-driving said feed shaft, a common control means for said feed 'shaft driving means and said stop whereby the stop is actuated to work engaging position during the periods of rest'of the feed shaft, a work holder positioned to hold the worl-z to the shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop, and a driving'control means including a trip arm operatively associated with the spacing shaft to be actuated by work advanced to a predetermined point thereon.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven spacing shaft and a feed shaft constituting an extension for the spacing shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion, the spacing shaft having a take-off portion at its rear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads, and means for intermittently driving said feed shaft.

l1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven spacing shaft having 'a take-off portion at its rear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the spacing shaft, a work holder positioned to hold the work to the shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop, and a driving 'control means including a trip arm operatively associated with the spacing shaft to be actuated by work advanced to a predetermined point thereon. Y

l2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven spacing shaft having a take-off portion at its rear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the spacing shaft, and means acting to hold the work to said shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft having .succeeding threaded portions of increasingpitch, a feed shaft disposed in axial alinement with the main shaft and constituting an extension therefor, the feed shaft having succeeding portions thereof provided with threads of increasing pitch, the threads at the rear portion of the feed shaft and at the front portion of the main shaft being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions of increasing pitch, means for intermittently driving the feed shaft, a work stop operatively associated with the main shaft at an intermediate point, the threads of said main shaft in advance of said work stop being relatively sha1- low, and control means for said feed shaft driving means and stop whereby the stop is actuated to work engaging position during periods of rest of the feed shaft.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft having succeeding threaded portions of increasing pitch, a feed shaft disposed in axial alinement with the main shaft and constituting an extension therefor, the feed shaft having succeeding portions thereof provided with threads of increasing pitch, the threads at the rear portion of the feed shaft and at the front portion of the main shaft being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions of increasing pitch, and means for intermittently driving the feed shaft.

l5. In an apparatus of the class described for spacing wire garment hangers and the like, the combination of a main spacing shaft having succeeding threaded portions of increasing pitch engaging the hooks of the garment hangers, the threads at the front portion of the main shaft being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions of increasing pitch engaging the cross members of the garment hangers to tilt the latter, a work stop operatively associated with the main shaft at an intermediate point, the threads of said main shaft in advance of said work stop being relatively shallow, and means acting to hold the hooks to said main spacing shaft when they are in position to be engaged by said work stop.

16. In an apparatus of the class described for spacing wire garment hangers and the like, the combination of a main spacing shaft having succeeding threaded portions of increasing pitch engaging the hooks of the garment hangers, the threads at the front portion of the main shaft'being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed atl the side of and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions `of increasing pitch, and means acting to hold the hooks to said main spacing shaft when they are in 'position to be engaged by said work stop.

17. In an apparatus of the class described for spacing wire garment hangers and the like, the combination of a main spacing shaft having succeeding threaded portions of increasing pitch engaging the hooks of the garment hangers, the threads at the front portion of the main shaft being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions of increasing pitch, means acting to hold the hooks to said main spacing shaft when they are in position to be engaged by said work stop and means for driving the main and auxiliary shafts in opposite directions, the threads of one shaft being right hand threads and those of the other being left hand threads.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, the vcombination of a main spacing shaft having succeeding threaded portions of increasing pitch, a feed shaft disposed in axial alineinent with the main shaft and constituting an extension therefor, the feed shaft having succeeding portions thereof provided with, threads of increasing pitch, the threads at the rear portion of the feed shaft and at the front portion of the main shaft being relatively shallow, means for intermittently driving the feed shaft, a work stop operatively associated with the main shaft at an intermediate point, the threads of said main shaft in advance of said work stop being relatively shallow, and control means for said feed shaft driving means and stop whereby the stop is actuated to work engaging position during periods of rest of the feed shaft.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft threaded to advance and space wire garment hangers having their hooks engaged with such shaft, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of the main shaft to support one end of the hangers and threaded to advance and space hangers resting thereon, and means for driving said shafts in opposite directions, the

threads of one shaft being right-hand threads v and those of the other being left-hand threads.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main spacing shaft threaded to advance and space wire garment hangers having their hooks engaged with such shaft, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of the main shaft to support one end of the hangers and threaded to advance and space hangers resting thereon, and means for driving said shafts.

21. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a spacing shaft threaded to advance and space Wire garment hangers having their hooks engaged therewith, and a driving control means for said shaft including a trip arm operatively associated with the main shaft to be engaged by work advanced to a predetermined point.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven shaft having succeeding portions of increasing pitch to advance and space a plurality of garment hangers suspended therefrom by their hooks, a second shaft disposed parallel to said driven shaft and having threads to advance and space the ends of garment hangers resting thereon and bring them into parallel relation while suspended from the main shaft, and a stripper bar arranged on the inside of the auxiliary shaft to facilitate the disengagement of the hooks from the main shaft as the hangers are lifted from their forward ends with a tilting movement.

23. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven shaft having succeeding portions of increasing pitch to advance and space a plurality of garment hangers suspended therefrom by their hooks, and a second shaft disposed parallel to said driven shaft and having threads to advance and space the ends of garment hangers resting thereon and bring them into parallel relation while suspended from the main shaft.

24. An apparatus of the class described `com'- prising shafts threaded to advance and space wire garment hangers supported thereby with the hangers in parallel relation and supported so as to permit rthe insertion of a rod through corresponding ends of a plurality of spaced alined hangers, and means associated with the shafts to guide the hangers during' the dis@ engaging movement thereof from the shafts.

25. An apparatus of the class described comprising vertically and horizontally offset shafts threaded to advance and space triangular wire garment hangers having suspension hooks supported thereby with the hangers in parallel relation, said shafts being arranged to support said hangers so as to permit the insertion of a rod through corresponding angular ends of a `plurality of spaced alined hangers, and means acting to operate said shafts in unison.

26. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for advancing triangular wire garment hangers having suspension hooks and spacing and alining them in parallel relation, and positioned so as to permit the insertion of a rod through corresponding angular ends of a plurality of the hangers, said means including a hook engaging screw and a cross member engaging screw arranged relative to each other to support the hangers in tilted position, and means acting to rotate said screws in unison.

STANLEY C. SIMMONS. HARRY M. SIMMONS.

Images