Patent Publication Number: US-2023142043-A1

Title: Real-Time Hanger Orientation Detection For A Rail-Based Garment Conveyor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to an orientation detection system, and more specifically to determining an orientation of a hanger on a rail-based garment conveyor with the orientation detection system. 
     Traditionally, retailers have maintained a limited population of items at a store-front or storage facility for order fulfillment. However, modern technology has increased the ability of retailers to maintain an increasing number of items in the population that are available to customers for order fulfillment. With the increase of the number of items in the population, systems for efficient automated processing of that population have introduced a variety of complex challenges. 
     For example, due to the throughput of rail-based garment conveyors in modern autonomous garment intake systems being very high, any technical fault caused by a garment hanger being attached to the rail-based system in an incorrect orientation can be highly detrimental to system efficiency. To illustrate, a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation has the potential to derail and/or clog the rail-based system such that a large number of trailing garment hangers also further derail and/or clog the rail-based system. Remedying this technical fault is time consuming and greatly decreases the efficiency of the system. Described herein is an orientation detection system that allows for determining whether a garment hanger is in an incorrect orientation before the garment hanger can cause a technical fault. By diagnosing whether a garment hanger is in an incorrect orientation, the orientation detection system is able to prevent technical faults that decrease system efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hanger orientation detection system is configured to detect the orientation of a hanger on a rail-based garment conveyor. The hanger orientation detection system includes an attachment member the couples the hanger orientation detection system to the rail of a garment conveyor. A pivot arm is coupled to the attachment member. The pivot arm is pivotable between a no-contact pivot state and a contact pivot state. The orientation detection system is in a no-contact pivot state when a garment hanger in a correct orientation on the rail of the garment conveyor translates past the pivot arm without contacting the pivot arm. Conversely, the orientation detection system is in a contact pivot state when a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation on the rail of the garment conveyor translates past the pivot arm and contacts the pivot arm. Contacting the pivot arm displaces the pivot arm in a measurably manner. 
     A sensor is continuously monitoring the pivot state of the pivot arm. The sensor measures the deflection of the pivot arm to determine the pivot state. When the sensor senses that the pivot state changes from the no-contact pivot state to the contact pivot state (by deflecting), a notification system electrically coupled to the sensor generates an alert signal. The alert signal indicates the change in pivot state, and correspondingly indicates that a hanger is in the incorrect orientation on the rail-based garment conveyor. The notification system may also transmit a notification (i.e., based on the alert signal) to the garment conveyor when the sensor determines a hanger is in the incorrect position. The notification may cause the garment conveyor to stop translating the garment hanger in order to prevent the technical fault. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention has other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is an illustration of a garment marketplace, according to one example embodiment. 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate an orientation detection system on a rail-based garment conveyor, according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG.  3 A  illustrates the pivot state of the orientation detection system when a garment hanger is in a correct orientation, according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG.  3 B  illustrates the pivot state of the orientation detection system when a garment hanger is in an incorrect orientation, according to one example embodiment. 
         FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  illustrate detection of an incorrect orientation for a garment hanger, according to one example embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a workflow diagram for a method to determine an incorrect orientation of a garment hanger using an orientation detection system, according to one example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The figures and the following description depict various embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Garment Marketplace 
       FIG.  1    is an illustration of a garment marketplace, according to one example embodiment. A garment marketplace  100  includes a garment processing system  110 , a garment store  160 , and an online portal  170 . In various other embodiments, the garment marketplace  100  can include additional or fewer systems, or the system may be combined in another manner. 
     Broadly, the garment marketplace  100  place allows users to buy and sell garments to one another via an online portal  170 . For example, the garment marketplace  100  may allow three unique users to interact in order to purchase and sell garments. To illustrate, a first user may access the online portal  170  to send a first garment to the garment marketplace  100  for storage in a garment store  160  until it is sold via consignment on the online portal  170 . A second user may access the online portal  170  to sell and send a second garment to the garment marketplace  100 , which then stores the garment in the garment store  160  before resale via the online portal  170 . A third user may access the online portal  170  to purchase both the first and second garments, and the garment marketplace  100  sends the third user the first and second garments. In this case, the first user would receive some portion of the proceeds for the sale of the first garment because it was offered for sale on the garment marketplace  100  via consignment. 
     In other words, the online portal  170  provides access to the garment marketplace  100  and enables individual users to offer garments for sale, buy garments from the garment store  160 , managed consigned garments, and more generally enables the functionality of the garment marketplace  100 . The online portal  170  may be a website, a phone application, or some other service that provides access to the functionality of the garment marketplace  100 . In an embodiment, the online portal  170  is a website that maintains a retail page for each individual garment maintained in the garment marketplace  100 . Thus, users can navigate between retail pages on the website as if they are browsing a store. The website also includes functionality that enables a user to send garments to the garment marketplace  100  for resale or consignment. 
     The garment store  160  stores garments in the garment marketplace  100 . In an example configuration, the garment store  160  is a translatable rail system, or garment conveyor. The translatable rail system comprises item storage locations, and each garment may be stored in one or more of the item storage locations. Because the garment store is translatable, the item storage locations may be translated throughout the garment store  160  for ease of access. An example garment store is found in U.S. Pat. No. 10,450,139, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     As part of its buying and selling process, the garment marketplace  100  processes received garments with a garment processing system  110 . The garment processing system  110  includes an intake system  120 , a garment identification system  140 , and a garment storage system  150 . In various other embodiments, the garment processing system  110  can include additional or fewer systems, or the system may be combined in another manner. 
     Broadly, the garment processing system  110  processes received garments for storage in the garment store  160  (“stored garment”) and sale via the online portal  170 . That is, users browse and buy stored garments from the garment store  160  via the online portal  170 , and the garment marketplace  100  sends the purchased garments to the purchasing user. 
     The intake system  120  is configured to receive garments from users of the garment marketplace  100  (“intake garments”) and prepare them for storage. Receiving garments can include unpackaging the garment from a parcel, unpacking the garment from a shipping crate, etc. Preparing garments for storage can include moving the garments to the garment identification system  140 , or storage system (e.g., the garment store  160 ), as needed. 
     The intake system  120  includes a garment conveyor. The garment conveyor is configured to move garment hangers through the garment marketplace  100 . To do so, the garment conveyor includes an actuatable rail. The rail is configured such that garment hangers are couplable to the rail. Garment hangers may be coupled to the rail by, for example, hanging the garment hanger on the rail, although other possibilities are also possible (e.g., clasps, pins, screws, etc.). Garments may be coupled to the garment hangers by, for example, hanging the garment on the garment hanger. Other examples of coupling garments to garment hangers are also possible (e.g., clasps, pins, tape, etc.). 
     The garment marketplace  100  actuates the rail to move garment hangers (and thereby any affixed garments) through the garment marketplace  100  along a path through the garment marketplace  100 . For convenience, the path that garment hangers take through the marketplace is considered to be the space in which the garment hangers hang below the rail. In other words, the path is the volume of space through which a garment hanger travels as it moves through the garment marketplace  100 . Of course, other paths are also possible depending on the configuration of the garment hanger and garment conveyor. 
     The intake system  120  also includes an orientation detection system  130  configured to detect the orientation of a garment hanger on the garment conveyor. To illustrate, consider an intake garment placed on a garment hanger as part of the intake process. The garment hanger can hang on a rail if the garment hanger in one of two orientations (e.g., for simplicity, leftward facing or rightward facing). In some examples, the garment processing system  110  is configured for operation using only one of the two orientations. That is, rightward facing garment hangers may move throughout the garment marketplace  100  without causing technical faults, while leftward facing garment hangers may cause technical faults when moving through the garment marketplace  100 . For example, a leftward facing garment hanger may derail off of the garment conveyor when moving through the garment marketplace  100 , while a rightward facing garment hanger would not derail. In other examples, a leftward facing garment hanger may not derail, but may still cause a damaging technical fault (e.g., becoming wedged into portions of the garment conveyor such that motion would stop). In other words, garment hangers in the garment marketplace  100  can have an incorrect orientation (e.g., leftward facing) or a correct orientation (e.g., rightward facing), and the orientation detection system  130  is configured to determine that orientation. The orientation detection system  130  is described in further detail below. 
     The garment identification system  140  is configured to identify a garment. Garment identification is a multi-faceted process that may include taking an image of the garment, accessing an image of the garment, generating a unique shop keeping unit (“SKU”) for the garment, accessing or receiving characteristics of the garment (e.g., from a user), classifying the garment with a machined-learned model, querying a user to identify a garment, etc. The garment identification system  140  is described in greater detail below in regard to  FIG.  2   . 
     The garment store system  150  is configured to store garments in the garment store  160 . For example, the garment storage system  150  may translate the garments to the garment store  160  along a rail system, using robotic automation, human assistance, or some combination thereof. The unique SKU assigned to each garment by the garment processing system  110  is used to track each unique garment within the garment marketplace  100 . For example, the garment marketplace  100  may monitor the location of garment in the garment store  160  using its unique SKU. 
     Processing intake garments for the garment marketplace  100  is a difficult problem because each garment is generally unique. Thus, in the garment marketplace  100 , each intake garment must be identified, catalogued, and associated with a unique SKU as it is moved through the garment marketplace  100 , so that that the intake garment can be sold via the online portal  170 . As the number of intake garments and garment processing speed increases, garment hangers having an incorrect orientation create a substantial risk to the intake efficiency of the garment marketplace  100 . For instance, a technical fault caused by a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation can cause the garment processing system to be offline for tens of minutes while the fault is corrected. A garment orientation detection system can prevent this downtime by detecting a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation before it causes a technical fault in the garment marketplace  100  that decreases garment marketplace  100  efficiency. 
     II. Orientation Detection System 
     As described above, the orientation detection system  130  increases the processing efficiency of the intake system  120  by preventing technical faults in the garment marketplace  100  caused by garment hangers in an incorrect orientation. 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate an orientation detection system on a rail-based garment conveyor, according to one example embodiment.  FIG.  2 A  illustrates a profile view of the orientation detection system, and  FIG.  2 B  illustrates an isometric view of the orientation detection system. 
     In the illustrated examples, the orientation detection system  130  is coupled to a garment conveyor. The garment conveyor is a collection of components configured to convey garments on garment hangers through the garment marketplace  100 . Here, the garment conveyer includes a support structure  210  and a rail  220 , but the garment conveyor may include other components not illustrated here (e.g., an actuation mechanism) or may arrange the components in a different manner. 
     The support structure  210  is a mechanically rigid object configured to support garments on garment hangers as they are conveyed through the garment marketplace  100  by the garment processing system  110 . A rail  220  is coupled to the support structure  210  such that the support structure  210  structurally supports the rail and any garment hangers attached to the rail  220 . Additionally, the rail  220  is a mechanical structure configured such that garment hangers are removably couplable to the rail  220 . Garment hangers may be coupled to the rail  220  in a correct orientation or an incorrect orientation. 
     Moreover, when the garment conveyor actuates the rail  220  the rail moves through the garment marketplace  100 . Thus, garment hangers coupled to the rail  220  also move through the garment marketplace  100  when the garment conveyor actuates the rail  220 . Garment hangers coupled to the rail  220  are said to move along a path  222  through the garment marketplace  100  when the garment conveyor actuates the rail. A path  222  is represented by the volume of space through which a garment hanger travels as it moves through the garment marketplace  100 . Here, for example, the path  222  is the empty space below the rail  220  (through which the garment conveyor would convey garment hangers). 
     The orientation detection system  130  is coupled to the garment conveyor. The orientation detection system  130  is a collection of components configured to determine an orientation of a garment hanger coupled to the rail  220  as is moves along the path  222 . As illustrated, the orientation detection system  130  includes an attachment member  230 , a pivot member  240 , a pivot arm  250 , a bumper  260 , a sensor  270 , and an adjustment member  280 . The orientation detection system  130  may include other components not illustrated here or may arrange the components in a different manner. 
     The attachment member  230  is configured to removably couple the orientation detection system  130  to the support structure  210  of the garment conveyor. As illustrated, the attachment member  230  is shaped as an “L”. That is, the attachment member  230  has a short leg and a long leg and has an external face (the outside face of the “L”) and an internal face (the inside face of the “L”). The attachment member  230  is configured such that the internal face of the short leg is couplable to an external face of the support structure  210 . As illustrated, the attachment member  230  is coupled to a top face of the support structure  210  with a bolt. Of course, the illustrated attachment member  230  is just an example, and other embodiments are also possible. For instance, the attachment member  230  may be structured with different shapes (e.g., a “U”, “C”, or “I”), may be coupled to the support structure  210  in different locations, and may be coupled to the support structure  210  using various techniques (e.g., screws, clasps, etc.). 
     The pivot member  240  is coupled to an external surface of the attachment member  230 . In this manner, the attachment member  230  mechanically supports the pivot member when the orientation detection system  130  is coupled to the garment conveyor. The pivot member  240  is a mechanical device configured to pivot a pivot arm  250  about an axis (i.e., change the pivot state of the pivot arm  250 ). For example, the pivot member  240  may rotate about an axis when a garment hanger contacts a bumper  260  coupled to the pivot arm  250 , which displaces the pivot arm  250  and causes the pivot member  240  to rotate about the axis. Alternatively stated, the pivot member  240  is movable between a “contact state” and a “no-contact state”. To illustrate, a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation may contact the bumper  260 , which displaces the pivot arm  250  and causes the pivot arm  250  to pivot the pivot member  240  to the contact state. On the other hand, a garment hanger in a correct orientation does not contact the bumper  260 , which does not displace the pivot arm  250  and does not cause the pivot arm  250  to pivot the pivot member  240  to the no-contact state (or remain in the no-contact state). 
     In various embodiments, the pivot member  240  may be some other movable component able to determine whether a garment hanger is in an incorrect orientation. For example, the pivot member  240  may translate along an axis, rotate about an axis, move relative to another component, etc. 
     The pivot arm  250  is mechanically coupled to the pivot member  240  such that displacements of the pivot arm  250  cause the pivot arm  250  to rotate the pivot member  240  about an axis. The pivot arm  250  generally extends from the pivot member  240  towards the path  222 . Similar to the pivot member  240 , the pivot arm is moveable between a contact state and a no-contact state. In the no-contact state, the pivot arm  250  has not been deflected about the axis of the pivot member  240 , and in the contact state the pivot arm  250  has been deflected about the axis of the pivot member  240 . 
     In various embodiments, the pivot arm  250  may be some other component configured to assist in articulating the pivot member  240  between the contact state and noncontact state. That is, the pivot arm  250  may be any mechanical component that articulates the pivot member  240  from the contact state to no-contact state depending on the orientation of the garment hanger in the path. Whatever, the case, the pivot member  240  and pivot arm  250  are configured to articulate between (1) a contact state where the orientation detection system  130  (e.g., via the bumper  260 ) contacts a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation, and (2) a no-contact state where the orientation detection system  130  does not contact a garment hanger because it is in a correct orientation. 
     As described above, a bumper  260  is mechanically coupled to the end of the pivot arm  250 . The bumper  260  is a mechanical object structured to extend into the path  222  of a garment hanger such that a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation contacts the bumper  260  and a garment hanger in a correct orientation does not contact the bumper  260 . When a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation contacts the bumper  260 , the pivot arm  250  is deflected and the pivot member  240  rotates. In other words, a garment hanger contacting the bumper articulates the pivot member  240  and/or the pivot arm  250  from the no-contact to contact state. Alternatively, a garment hanger in a correct orientation will not contact the bumper  260  and the pivot member  240  and/or pivot arm  250  will not deflect and remain in (or return to) the no-contact state. In some embodiments, a bumper  260  may not be included and the garment hangers may contact (or not contact) some other portion of the orientation detection system  130 . 
     In some configurations, the bumper  260  may be include an adjustment member  280 . The adjustment member  280  is a mechanically actuatable device that allows a user to move the location of the bumper  260  relative to the path  222 . For instance, a user may actuate the adjustment member  280  to move the bumper into the path  222 , out of the path  222 , higher in the path  222 , lower in the path  222 , etc. Adjusting the position of the bumper  260  in the path  222  may increase (or decrease) the ability of the orientation detection system  130  to detect garment hangers in an incorrect orientation. 
     The orientation detection system  130  additionally includes a sensor  270 . The sensor  270  is configured to determine the pivot state of orientation detection system  130 . That is, the sensor  270  is configured to determine whether the orientation detection system  130  is in the no-contact state or the contact state. Depending on the configuration of the orientation detection system  130 , the sensor  270  may determine the pivot state by measuring the pivot state of the pivot member  240  and/or the pivot arm  250 . For instance, the sensor  270  may determine the pivot state by measuring the rotation of the pivot member  240 , by measuring the deflection of the pivot arm  250 , etc. 
     Typically, the sensor  270  is configured to generate an alert signal when the sensor  270  senses the contact state. For example, the sensor  270  may generate the alert signal when the pivot member rotates and/or when the pivot arm deflects. Generating the alert signal when the orientation detection system  130  is in the contact state indicates that a garment hanger is coupled to the rail  220  in an incorrect orientation. Alternatively, generating no alert signal when the orientation detection system  130  is in the no-contact state indicates that a garment hanger is coupled to the rail  220  in a correct orientation. 
     The sensor  270  can be any type of sensor  270  configured to measure the pivot state of the orientation detection system  130  and generate an alert signal. For instance, in a configuration, the sensor  270  may be a mechanical sensor  270  that generates a signal when the pivot member  240  and/or pivot arm  250  contacts the mechanical sensor  270  as it moves from the no-contact state to contact state (or vice versa). In another configuration, the sensor  270  may be a proximity sensor  270  that generates a signal when the pivot member  240  and/or pivot arm  250  moves sufficiently close (or far) from the sensor  270  when it moves from the no-contact to contact state. Of course, other sensors are also possible. 
     In some instances, the sensor  270  may be further configured to read an output from the sensor  270 , interpret the sensor  270  output, and generate an alert signal in response. For instance, if the sensor  270  is mechanical, the sensor  270  may measure any of force, pressure, duration, etc. as an output of the sensor  270 . In this case, if the sensor  270  measures, for example, a mechanical force for greater than a threshold amount of time, the sensor  270  will generate an alert signal indicating that the pivot member  240  and/or pivot arm  250  is in an incorrect orientation. Other types of sensors  270  with other sensor outputs can function similarly. For example, if the sensor  270  is proximity based, the sensor  270  can determine that, for example, a time signal of a proximity measurement (e.g., time-series information describing the distance between the pivot arm  250  and the sensor  270 ) reflects that the pivot member  240  and/or pivot arm  250  moves from the no-contact state to the contact state and can generate the appropriate alert signal in response. 
     The sensor  270  also includes a notification system. The notification system is electrically coupled to the sensor and is configured to transmit the alert signal within the garment marketplace  100 . For instance, the sensor  270  may transmit the alert signal to an operator of the garment marketplace  100 , the garment processing system  110 , the garment conveyor, the garment intake system  120 , etc. In some cases, the garment processing system  110  may automatically take actions when receiving the alert signal. For example, the garment processing system  110  may actuate the rail  220  to stop or slow garment hangers in the garment marketplace  100 . Operators may then change the orientation of the garment hanger in an incorrect orientation to the correct orientation. Once the garment hanger is placed in the correct orientation, the operator may reengage the garment conveyor to continue moving garment hangers through the garment marketplace  100 . Remedying the orientation of garment hangers in the incorrect orientation prevents those garment hangers from causing detrimental technical faults in the garment marketplace  100 . 
     Additionally, the sensor  270  (or some other sensor attached to the garment identification system  130  or garment conveyor) may be used to identify a garment hanger. For example, the sensor  270  may capture an image of the garment hanger and identify the garment based on a garment identifier on the garment hanger (e.g., a Q.R. code). The garment identifier may also be associated with any metadata for a garment hanging from the identified garment hanger. Thus, the alert signal can include information that assists an operator in identifying garment hangers that are in an incorrect orientation. For example, the alert signal may include a location of the garment hanger, the type of clothing hanging from the garment hanger, or some other identifying information for the garment hanger. 
     To illustrate the differences in the pivot state, the description turns to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B .  FIG.  3 A  illustrates the pivot state of the orientation detection system when a garment hanger is in a correct orientation, according to one example embodiment.  FIG.  3 B  illustrates the pivot state of the orientation detection system when a garment hanger is in an incorrect orientation, according to one example embodiment. The orientation detection system  130  and garment conveyor illustrated in  FIG.  3 A and  3 B  are substantially similar to the orientation detection system  130  illustrated and garment conveyor in  FIG.  2 A and  2 B . In  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , however, garment hangers are in the path  322  of the garment conveyor such that the orientation detection system  130  can determine the orientation of the garment hanger. 
     In  FIG.  3 A , an orientation detection system  130  is attached to a garment conveyor. A first garment hanger  310 A conveying a first garment  312 A through the garment marketplace  110  is removably coupled to the rail  320  in a correct orientation. A garment hanger  310  is in a correct orientation when the garment hanger  310  (e.g., first garment hanger  310 A) is coupled to the rail  320  such the garment hanger  310  does not contact the bumper  360  as it travels along the path  322 . As illustrated, the first garment hanger  310 A in a correct orientation because the open edge of the first garment hanger  310 A faces the bumper  360  of the orientation detection system  130 . In other words, the “C” shape of the first garment hanger  310 A is oriented such that the open side of the “C” is nearer the bumper  360  than the closed side of the “C” shape. 
     Because the first garment hanger  310 A is in the correct orientation, the garment conveyor conveys the first garment hanger  310 A past the orientation detection system  130  without contacting the bumper  360 . That is, the open edge of the “C” shape passes the bumper  360  without contacting the bumper and deflecting the pivot arm  350 . Because the pivot arm  350  does not pivot the pivot member  340  about an axis, the sensor  370  does not sense the contact state. Because the sensor  370  does not sense the contact state (i.e., the first garment hanger  310 A is in an incorrect orientation), the garment identification system  130  does not generate an alert signal and continues conveying the first garment  312 A through the garment marketplace  100 . The first garment identifier  314 A may be used to track the location of the first garment hanger  310 A and the first garment  312 A in the garment marketplace  100 . 
     In  FIG.  3 B , a second garment hanger  310 B conveying a second garment  312 B through the garment marketplace  100  is removably coupled to the rail  320  in an incorrect orientation. A garment hanger  310  is in an incorrect orientation when the garment hanger  310  (e.g., second garment hanger  310 B) is coupled to the rail  320  such the garment hanger  310  contacts the bumper  360  (e.g., at contact point  324  as it travels along the path  322 ). As illustrated, the second garment hanger  310 B is in a correct orientation because the second garment hanger  310 B is coupled to the rail  320  such the second garment hanger  310 B contacts the bumper  360  as it travels along the path  222 . The second garment hanger  310 B in an incorrect orientation because the closed edge of the second garment hanger  310 B faces the bumper  360  of the orientation detection system  130 . In other words, the “C” shape of the second garment hanger  310 B is oriented such that the closed side of the “C” is nearer the bumper  360  than the open side of the “C” shape. 
     Because the second garment hanger  310 B is in the incorrect orientation (rather than the correct orientation), as the garment conveyor conveys the garment hanger past the orientation detection system  130  the second garment hanger  310 B contacts the bumper  360 . That is, the closed edge of the “C” shape contacts the bumper  360  as it passes the orientation detection system  130 . When the second garment hanger  310 B contacts the bumper  360 , the pivot arm  350  deflects about an axis of the pivot member  340 . In response, the sensor  370  senses the change from no-contact state to the contact state. Because the sensor senses the contact state, the orientation detection system  130  determines the garment hanger is in an incorrect orientation and transmits an alert signal to the garment processing system  110 . The alert signal causes the garment processing system to stop conveying the second garment hanger  310 B through the garment marketplace  100 . The alert signal includes the second garment identifier  314 B on the second garment hanger  310 B to assist an operator in identifying the second garment hanger  310 B when correct its orientation. 
     It is understood that different configurations of garment hangers  310  can lead to variations as to correct or incorrect orientation. Whatever the configuration of garment hanger  310 , the orientation detection system  130  is configured to determine an orientation of a garment hanger  310  by sensing a pivot of the pivot arm  350  and/or pivot member  340  with the sensor  370 . 
     II.A Example Orientation Detection 
       FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  illustrate detection of an incorrect orientation for a garment hanger, according to one example embodiment.  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  illustrate a rail  420 , an orientation detection system  430 , a first garment  450 A, a second garment  450 B, a first garment hanger  440 A, and a second garment hanger  440 B. 
     The garment conveyor moves garments within the garment marketplace  100 . To do so, as described in greater detail above, the garment conveyor includes an actuatable rail. The rail  420  is structured such that garment hangers are removably couplable to the rail  420 . The garment conveyor actuates the rail  420  to move the rail  420  through the garment marketplace  100  and the garment hangers  440  correspondingly move through the garment marketplace  100 . Because garments  450  may be attached to garment hangers  440 , when the garment conveyor moves the garment hangers  440  any garment affixed to those garment hangers move correspondingly. 
     The orientation detection system  430  detects an orientation of garment hangers moving through the garment marketplace  100 . To do so, the orientation detection system  430  is positioned in the path such that garment hangers  440  in the correct orientation do not change the pivot state of the orientation detection system  430 , while garment hangers in the incorrect orientation change the pivot state of the orientation detection system  430 . 
     The orientation detection system  430  continuously monitors the pivot state. Thus, when a sensor of the orientation detection system  130  senses a change in the pivot state (e.g., deflection of the pivotable detection arm and/or the pivot member), the orientation detection system  430  can output an alert signal indicating the orientation of the garment hanger  440  is incorrect. Conversely, when a sensor of the orientation detection system  430  does not sense a change in the pivot state (e.g., no deflection pivotable detection arm and/or pivot member), the orientation detection system  430  does not output an alert signal (thereby indicating the orientation of the garment hanger  440  is a correct orientation). In cases such as this, the garment conveyor may continue to move the garment hangers through the garment marketplace  100  (e.g., towards a garment identification system  140  and/or a garment store  160 ). 
     To expand, as illustrated, the garment conveyor is moving a first garment  450 A and a second garment  450 B from a first location to a second location. The first garment  450 A is hanging on a first garment hanger  440 A and the second garment  450 B is hanging on the second garment hanger  440 B. The first garment hanger  440 A is in a correct orientation and the second garment hanger  440 B is in an incorrect orientation. 
       FIG.  4 A  illustrates a first moment in time as the garment conveyor is moving the first garment  450 A and second garment  450 B through the garment marketplace  100 . The first garment hanger  440 A is at a first location on the path, and the second garment hanger  440 B is at a second location on the path. The first location is further along the path than the second location. At this first point in time, neither the first garment hanger  440 A nor the second garment hanger  440 B has moved past the orientation detection system  430  along the path. 
       FIG.  4 B  illustrates a second moment in time as the garment conveyor moves the first garment  450 A and second garment  450 B through the garment marketplace  100 . The second moment in time is after the first moment in time. The first garment hanger  440 A is at a third location on the path and the second garment hanger  440 B is on a fourth location on the path. The third location is further along the path than the first, second, and fourth location. The fourth location is further along the path than the first and second location. 
     At this second point in time the first garment hanger  440 A has moved past the orientation detection system  430 , while the second garment hanger  440 B has not moved past the orientation detection system  430 . Because the first garment hanger  440 A is in the correct orientation, the pivot state of the orientation detection system  430  does not change as the first garment hanger  440 A travels past the orientation detection system  430  on the path. Accordingly, the orientation detection system  430  does not sense a change in the pivot state and does not create an alert signal indicating the first garment hanger  440 A is in an incorrect position. As the second garment hanger  440 B has not moved past the orientation detection system  430 , it does not generate an alert signal. 
       FIG.  4 C  illustrates a third moment in time as the garment conveyor moves the first garment  450 A and the second garment  450 B through the garment marketplace  100 . The third moment in time is after both the first moment in time and second moment in time. The first garment hanger  440 A is at a fifth location on the path and the second garment hanger  440 B is on a sixth location on the path. The fifth location is further along the path than the first, second, third, fourth, and sixth locations. The sixth location is further along the path than the first, second, third, and fourth locations. 
     At this third point in time, the second garment  450 B has moved past the orientation detection system  430 . Because the second garment hanger  440 B is in the incorrect orientation, the pivot state of the orientation detection system  430  changes as the second garment hanger  440  travels past the orientation detection system  430  on the path. Accordingly, the orientation detection system  430  senses a change in the pivot state and creates an alert signal indicating the second garment hanger  440 B is in an incorrect position. 
     II.B Implementing Orientation Detection 
       FIG.  5    is a workflow diagram for a method to determine an incorrect orientation of a garment hanger using an orientation detection system, according to one example embodiment. In various embodiments, method  500  can include additional or fewer steps or the steps may be accomplished in other orders. Moreover, in various embodiments, method  500  can repeat any of the steps, or any series of steps, at any time. 
     A garment conveyor in moving a garment hanger from a first location to a second location along a rail. A garment is affixed to the garment hanger such that it moves from the first location to the second location as the garment hanger moves along the rail. An orientation detection system including a pivotable detection arm is attached to the garment conveyor. The pivotable detection arm is positioned in the path (e.g., via a bumper) between the first location and the second location. 
     The garment conveyor moves  510  the garment hanger along the rail and the orientation detection system continuously monitors  520  the pivot state of the pivotable detection arm as the garment hanger moves. 
     The garment hanger moves past the pivotable detection arm as it travels from the first location to the second location. Because the garment hanger is in an incorrect orientation, the garment hanger contacts the pivotable detection arm and causes the pivotable detection arm to pivot. A sensor of the orientation detection system senses  530  the deflection of the pivotable detection arm. In response to sensing that the pivot state of the pivotable detection arm has changed, the orientation detection system outputs an alert signal indicating the orientation of the garment hanger on the rail is in an incorrect orientation. 
     III. Additional Considerations 
     Although the detailed description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely as illustrating different examples and aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention includes other embodiments not discussed in detail above. Various other modifications, changes and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus of the present invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
     In the claims, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly stated, but rather is meant to mean “one or more.” In addition, it is not necessary for a device or method to address every problem that is solvable by different embodiments of the invention in order to be encompassed by the claims. 
     In alternate embodiments, aspects of the invention are implemented in computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. Apparatus of the invention can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps of the invention can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. The invention can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random-access memory. Generally, a computer will include one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks. Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) and other forms of hardware.