Patent Publication Number: US-6705496-B2

Title: Indicator attachment mechanism and method and apparatus for removing indicators from hangers

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation application of copending U.S. Ser. No. 09/255,135 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,910 filed Feb. 19, 1999 which is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/875,508 filed Jul. 30, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,569 issued Sep. 18, 2001, corresponding to 371 International Application No. PCT/US96/01286 having an International Filing Date of Feb. 2, 1996. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to improvements in indicator attachment mechanisms for molded plastic hangers, such as garment hangers and to a method and apparatus for removing indicators from garment hangers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For purposes of displaying garments suspended on hangers in an orderly and attractive manner to the retail customer, it is often desired to affix an indicating means on the hanger in a position visible to the retail customer while the hanger is suspended on a rack. The indicating means identifies some attribute of the garment suspended from the hanger, such as size, quality, color, manufacturing data, or pattern. 
     The provision of a readily visible size indicator on a garment hanger is now accepted by retailers as a desirable addition to a garment hanger. To accommodate the various types of hangers available in the industry numerous indicating means have been developed in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. Similarly, hangers have been developed to accommodate a variety of different indicating means. 
     In Australian Patent No. 638436 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a low-profile molded plastic indicator for a garment hanger which requires limited modification to the hook of the hanger to enable the indicator to be securely attached to the top of the hook where it is most visible is described. The improvements described in the above patents overcame the major disadvantages of one type of indicator (trapezium-shaped) described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,902 which required a specially molded hook profile to support the indicator. 
     The indicator according to Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 is also designed to enable sorting into a predetermined orientation to enable automated handling and fitting of the indicators to hangers as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,806 and 5,285,566 which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. For these reasons, the indicator has enjoyed considerable commercial success. 
     The indicator is retained on the hook by means of at least one abutment projecting from the hook which engages an aperture in the side wall of the indicator. While it is possible to disengage the indicator from the abutment(s) by bowing the side walls in the regions of the apertures, this is a difficult operation and often results in some damage to the indicator or to the hanger. 
     Furthermore, it is increasingly common for customers to require that the indicator be removable from the hanger for re-use with other sized garments or re-location and the attachment mechanism described above does not readily facilitate this operation. It is, of course, equally necessary for the indicator to remain securely attached to the hanger during the usual handling operations to which the hanger is subjected in day to day use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved indicator attachment mechanism which securely fastens an indicator to a hanger but which permits removal of the indicator in a simple operation that reduces the likelihood of damage to the indicator or to the hanger. 
     The invention therefore provides a molded plastic hanger having an indicator attachment device, wherein the hanger has a hook formed with an upstanding web to be received within a downwardly opening cavity of a molded plastic indicator, and attachment means formed on the web to engage and releasably secure the indicator to the web. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the indicator has side walls formed with at least one aperture adapted to receive the attachment means. The attachment means preferably comprises a resilient detent means which is formed in said upstanding web and has a laterally projecting portion positioned to engage the side wall aperture of the indicator to prevent removal of the indicator from the hook. The resilient detent means also enables the laterally projecting portion to be disengaged from the opening to facilitate removal of the indicator from the hook without damage to the indicator or to the hook. 
     In use, as will be described more fully below, the laterally projecting portion is disengaged from the side wall by inserting a probe or pin through the side wall aperture to displace the laterally projecting portion from the aperture to thereby release the indicator from the hook. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the detent means comprises a downwardly depending leg integrally molded within a molded opening in the upstanding web and resiliently connected to the web to enable deflection of the laterally projecting portion into the plane of the web to facilitate removal of the indicator from the web. 
     The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for removing indicators from garment hangers. 
     The method and apparatus of the present invention provide an extremely versatile arrangement which can accommodate virtually all types of indicators mounted on the hook of a hanger. The method and system can also accommodate a wide variety of hanger types. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system which includes: a first means for receiving an indicator affixed to a hanger; a second means for securing said hanger for removal of the indicator; actuating means for driving the first and second means upwardly and downwardly; and means for ejecting the indicator. After the indicator is ejected the first plate is driven downwardly to its lower position and the apparatus automatically repeats the operation. 
     In one embodiment the first means includes a first plate defining a recess, such that the indicator affixed to the hanger is received by the recess. The first means preferably further includes a pin positioned to displace the indicator attachment mechanism. 
     In operation, the actuating means drives the first plate downwardly to receive the indicator in the recess and then upwardly to remove the indicator from the hanger while the hanger is secured by the second means. 
     The hangers with indicators affixed thereto can be lined up on a feeding rail which is slanted such that the force of gravity drives the indicator affixed to the hanger into the recess. In a preferred embodiment the second means includes an edge for holding the top region of the hanger to prevent the hanger from moving when the indicator is removed by the upward movement of the first plate. In a particularly preferred embodiment the second means includes a plate which is driven downwardly to separate the hanger undergoing the decapping process from the rest of the hangers on the feeding rail. 
     The first plate of the present embodiment includes a milled out portion defining a recess substantially corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the indicator such that when the first plate is in its lower position gravity forces the foremost indicator into the recess. The first plate also includes a pin extending from the recess in a position corresponding to the indicator attachment mechanism on the hanger. When the indicator engages the recess of the first plate the pin thereby displaces the indicator attachment mechanism to release the indicator from the hanger. It will be noted that the pin can be positioned in any of several positions provided the configuration of the recess conforms substantially to the exterior dimensions of the indicator. Thus, the system of the present invention is easily adapted to accommodate a variety of indicator configurations. 
     To remove the indicator from the hanger the first plate is driven upwardly by, for instance, pneumatic cylinder means, when the indicator is resting in the recess of the first plate. 
     The system further contemplates ejection of the indicator from the recess of the first plate. In one embodiment an aperture is defined in the first plate and the ejection means generates an air blast that passes through the aperture to eject the indicator from the recess. In a preferred embodiment the second means further includes a second plate having a window through which the indicator passes, upon ejection. The window can be dimensioned to accommodate a variety of indicator configurations. A discharge tube can be attached to said second plate such that upon ejection the indicator is removed from the decapping apparatus and collected in a separate device. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device for manually removing an indicator from a hanger with an indicator attachment mechanism. In a preferred embodiment the device includes a plate with at least one recess for receiving at least a portion of the indicator. The device further includes a pin positioned within the recess such that when the indicator rests in the recess the pin releases the indicator attachment mechanism. In a particularly preferred embodiment the indicator attachment mechanism comprises a resilient detent leg as discussed above which the pin depresses to release the indicator from the hanger. 
     The device for manually removing the indicators from hangers can include through-holes for mounting to a support such that the operator need not handle the device while manually decapping the hangers. The device can further include more than a single recess and pin such that the device can be used in more than one orientation. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for removing an indicator from a hanger by inserting a pin defined on a first plate into the indicator to displace the indicator attachment mechanism and thereby release the indicator from the indicator attachment mechanism. The method can be performed either manually or automatically. 
     The automated method for removing the indicator from the garment hanger comprises: holding a plurality of hangers with indicators affixed thereto; selectively engaging one of the indicators; displacing the indicator attachment mechanism and removing the indicator from the hanger. 
     In one embodiment the method comprises selectively engaging and receiving the indicator affixed to a hanger in a recess of a first plate; inserting a pin included in the first plate into the indicator to displace the indicator attachment mechanism, and removing said indicator from the hanger by carrying the indicator upwardly in the first plate. In a second embodiment the method further contemplates moving the first plate upwardly and aligning said recess with indicator therein with a window in a second plate and ejecting the indicator from the recess through the window into a discharge tube. 
     Before the indicator is selectively engaged the second plate can be driven upwardly to permit the indicator affixed to the garment hanger to advance along a feeding rail and rest in the recess in the first plate and then downwardly to prevent a second indicator affixed to a second hanger in the plurality of hangers with indicators from advancing. After the indicator is disengaged from the hanger the second plate is moved upwardly to permit the second indicator affixed to the second hanger to advance. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present method the step of displacing the indicator attachment mechanism contemplates depressing a resilient detent leg included in the indicator attachment mechanism with a pin on the first plate to release the indicator from the hanger. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects of the invention may now be more readily ascertained from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of the hook of a hanger incorporating the improved indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the hanger hook depicted in FIG. 1 with an indicator of the type described in Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 held in place by the indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a front elevation view of a third embodiment of the hanger hook incorporating the indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a front elevation view of a fourth embodiment of the hanger hook incorporating the indicator attachment mechanism of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a fifth embodiment of the indicator attachment mechanism; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the decapping apparatus according to the present invention with a feeding rail with a plurality of hangers thereon; 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the decapping apparatus of FIG. 11 in a first feed position; 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the sectional view of FIG. 12 with the two plates in a second and lower feed position; 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of the two plates in the lower position with a second embodiment of the front plate; 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a sectional view taken along line  15 — 15  of the decapping apparatus of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 16 illustrates a sectional view similar to FIGS. 13 and 14 with a third embodiment of the front plate, wherein the indicator is to be removed from a second embodiment of the hanger; 
     FIG. 17 illustrates a partial sectional view taken perpendicular to the view of FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of the back plate of the decapping apparatus of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of the front plate of the decapping apparatus of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 20 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the pin positioned on the back wall of the recess of the back plate; 
     FIG. 21 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a second embodiment of the pin positioned on the back wall of the recess of the back plate; 
     FIG. 22 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a manual decapping device according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 23 illustrates a sectional view of the manual decapping device taken along line  23 — 23  of FIG.  22 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings, and to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-10, there is illustrated generally a hook  2  adapted to engage a rod or other supporting means, with an upwardly projecting web  4  extending upwardly above the top contour  2   a  of hook  2  that engages the rod or other supporting device. An opening  6  is defined in said upwardly projecting web  4  such that upwardly projecting web  4  completely surrounds opening  6 . Leg  8  descends from an upper portion  10  of the upwardly projecting web into the opening  6 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4  of the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the hook  2  of a molded plastic garment hanger in simplified form which in practice typically includes the usual strengthening ribs  12   a ,  12   b  shown in FIG. 3 around the perimeter of the hook. The hook  2  is formed with a flange  14  defining a top region  16 , which in a preferred embodiment is flattened and slightly larger in peripheral dimensions than the lowermost portion of an indicator  18  (shown in FIGS. 3,  4  and  10 ) having side walls  20 ,  22  formed with at least one retention aperture  24 ,  26 , as described in Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354, the contents of which are incorporated into this specification by cross-reference. The apertures  24 ,  26  define through-openings which facilitate stacking of the indicator  18  with other indicators prior to fitting to a hanger. 
     The upstanding web  4  extends centrally from the top region  16  of the hook  2 , and in this embodiment the web  4 ′ is shaped similarly to the shape of the cavity of the indicator  18  so as to comfortably fit within that cavity. Alternatively, the web  4  can be configured in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 herein or Australian Patent No. 638436. In a preferred embodiment the upstanding web is narrow. 
     The web  4  is formed with integrally molded indicator attachment means  28 . In the present embodiment the indicator attachment means includes central opening  6  from the upper portion of which a resilient detent leg  8  extends downwardly terminating in a laterally projecting portion  30  configured to engage one of the apertures  24  or  26  in the side wall of the indicator  18 , as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. 
     Since the detent leg  8  is narrow and is resiliently connected to web  4 , it is easily deflected laterally by means of a probe or pin inserted into the aperture  24  or  26  which engages laterally projecting portion  30  to displace laterally projecting portion  30  toward the plane of the web to clear the aperture  24  or  26  and allow the indicator to be removed from the web  4 . This operation can be achieved simply and quickly with little or no damage to the indicator  18  or the attachment means  28 . Nevertheless, while the laterally projecting portion  30  remains in the position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the indicator  18  will remain securely fastened to the web  4  and will withstand all usual handling operations to which the hanger is usually subjected in day-to-day use. 
     To improve the flexibility of the detent leg  8 , it can be reduced in thickness as shown at  200  in FIG. 4 of the drawings. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  of the drawings, third, fourth and fifth embodiments of the invention are shown in which the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 7, the resilient detent leg extends angularly from its point of attachment to the web  4 , as shown most clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, and has a shorter laterally projecting portion  30  formed at its free end. The upstanding web  4  of the hook  2  is further formed with a pair of ribs  34  on either side of the central semi-circular opening  6  to prevent the indicator (not shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) from being inadvertently laterally displaced to clear the laterally projecting portion  30  which engages the aperture of an indicator similar to that shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. If desired, ribs  34  can be provided in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the hook  2  of the present invention in which flange  14  is integrally formed as part of strengthening rib  12 , and extends around the perimeter of the hook  2 . 
     In the present invention the upstanding web  4  formed on the hook  2  of the hanger can be shaped and dimensioned similar to the shape of the cavity of the indicator  18  so as to comfortably fit within that cavity. By the same token, as depicted in FIG. 5, upstanding web  4  can also be formed in the “normal” shape of the shape of the hook  2  so the hanger can be used with or without the indicator. The web can also be configured in the manner shown in Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 or in any other manner to accommodate the cavity dimensions of any other type of indicator, including indicators that have angled or sloping end walls to conform to the angularity of the hook design. 
     The indicator attachment mechanism described in the above embodiments provides a particularly simple and convenient means of retaining the indicator  18  on the web  4  of the hook  2  while enabling the indicator  18  to be conveniently removed in a simple operation which does not significantly damage either the indicator  18  or the hook  2  of the hanger. In this way, the disadvantages associated with the attachment mechanism described in our Australian Patent No. 638436 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 are overcome in a simple but innovative manner. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the improved hanger hook of the present invention is formed of styrene which provides a clear virtually transparent hanger for maximum display of garments suspended therefrom. Alternately, the hanger could be formed from K resin, H.I. styrene, polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastic. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11-21 of the drawings, a perspective view of an automated system for removing indicators from hangers is provided. 
     FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the decapping apparatus according to the present invention. A garment hanger  1  to be decapped is provided with an upstanding web  4 , which extends from a top region  16  of the hook of the hanger  1 . The web is formed with integrally molded indicator attachment means. The attachment means includes a central opening defined in the upper portion of the web  4  with a detent leg, which extends downwardly terminating in a laterally projecting portion  30  configured to engage one of the apertures  24 ,  26  in the side walls of the indicator  18 . In a preferred embodiment the laterally projecting portion  30  is narrow and resiliently connected to the web  4 . In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11 the top region  16  is flat and has a width larger than the indicator  18 . As shown more clearly in FIG. 12, side wall of the indicator  18  is not aligned with the side walls of the hook of the flange. A top view of the indicator and hook of this embodiment is provided in FIG. 10 which more clearly shows top region  16  of hook  2  extending beyond side walls  22  and  24  of the indicator  18 . In a second preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16, the top region of the hook and the indicator have about the same width. 
     The method and apparatus for removing the indicator  18  from the hangers  2  will be hereinafter described with respect to FIGS. 11-21. Throughout this description, the term decapping will be used to describe the removal of the indicator  18  from hanger  1 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 11, the laterally extending portion  30  is easily deflected laterally by means of a pin  120  inserted in the aperture  24  of the indicator  18  which engages the laterally extending portion  30  to displace it towards the plane of the web  4  to clear the aperture  24  and allow the indicator  18  to be removed from the hanger  1 . With the decapping apparatus of the present invention, indicators  18  can be automatically removed from their respective hangers  1 . 
     In this embodiment the hanger  1  is fed to the decapping apparatus by means of a feeding rail  105 . The feeding rail  105  is inclined so that the hangers  1  move downwardly toward the decapping apparatus by gravity. The hangers  1  can be put onto the feeding rail  105  manually or automatically. Other means to feed hangers  1  to the decapping apparatus could comprise a screw conveyor, a belt conveyor, or any other appropriate means to carry the hangers toward the decapping apparatus. 
     The decapping apparatus includes a front plate  106 , a back plate  107  and an actuating means  108 . The actuating means  108  comprises an escapement valve, which is pneumatically driven and includes two rods. Each of the rods is connected to the plate  106  or  107  via respective connecting means  109  and  110 . Front plate  106  and back plate  107  are arranged vertically and are facing each other. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the two plates  106  and  107  are almost quadratic, but any other appropriate shape, for example rectangular, can be used. The actuating means  108  moves the front plate  106  and the back plate  107  parallel to each other in a vertical plane. This movement is periodically repeated, so that one hanger after another can be decapped. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 11, the feeding rail  105  extends under the two plates  106  and  107 . The distance between the plates  106  and  107  when said plates are in their lower positions and the feeding rail  105  is preferably such that pin  120  in its lower position will be aligned with aperture  24  of indicator  18 . The height of the assembly is adjusted to provide automatic operation for different styles of hanger hooks. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the back plate  107  is in its lower position, and the front plate  106  is in its upper position. When the hanger  1  moves down the feeding rail  105  toward the decapping apparatus, the movement of the hanger  1  is stopped by the back plate  107 . As shown in FIG. 12, in operation, a plurality of hangers  1  are waiting in front of the decapping apparatus on the feeding rail  105  in line, to be decapped one after the other. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, at the start of the decapping cycle, the back plate  107  is lowered to its lowermost position. Plate  107  has a recess  119  positioned on an outer portion of the surface facing the front plate  106 . Recess  119  is dimensioned to correspond to the dimensions of the indicator  18 , so that when a hanger  1  is pressed against the back plate  107 , the indicator  18  is received in the recess  119 . A pin  120  is provided on the back wall of the recess  119  in a position corresponding to the aperture  24  of the indicator  18 . The dimensions, such as the size and the shape of the pin  120  are selected according to the dimensions, particularly the shape and the depth, of the aperture  18 , so that the pin  120  enters the aperture  18  and is able to displace the laterally projecting portion  30  of the web  4  of the hanger  1  to clear the aperture  18 , and allow the indicator  18  to be removed from the hanger  1  as described above. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the pin  20  has a rectangular cross-section, but any other appropriate shape can be used, as will be described herein. 
     At the start of the decapping cycle, the front plate  106  is raised but only needs to be raised upwardly until it no longer covers the recess  119 . In other words, the amplitude of the movement of the plates  106  and  107  has to be at least the height of the recess  119 , so that the indicator  18  can be received in the recess  119 . 
     After the indicator  18  is received-in the recess  119  of the back plate  107 , the front plate  106  is moved downwardly to seat the indicator  18  firmly or at least to hold the indicator firmly in the recess  19  of the back plate  107 . In this position the pin  120  of the back plate  107  displaces the laterally extending portion  30  of the hanger  1 , to permit the release of the indicator  18  from the hanger  1 . The pin  120  is long enough to fully displace the laterally extending position  30  from the recess  24  of indicator  18 , but is not long enough to engage the aperture  6  of hook  2 . As is shown in FIG. 12, the lower edge  146  of the front plate  106  can be beveled, so that the downward movement of the front plate  106  separates hanger  1  from the rest of the hangers so that front plate  106  enters between the hangers. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the lower edge is beveled towards the back plate  107 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 15 when the pin  120  has displaced the laterally extending portion  30  from the indicator  18 , the indicator may be removed from hanger  1  when the back plate  107  is moved upwardly to its upper position, while the front plate  106  stays in its lower position. Since pin  120  of the back plate  107  extends into the aperture  18  of the indicator  18 , the back plate  107  carries the indicator  18  upwardly. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-15, front plate  106  engages hanger  1  and prevents the hanger  1  from also being carried upwardly. FIG. 13 illustrates this situation, wherein both of the plates  106  and  107  are in their lower positions and the beveled lower edge  146  of the front plate  106  holds the hanger  1  down by abutting against the edge of the top region  116  of the hook of the hanger  1 . Consequently, the pin  120  has two functions: displacing the laterally extending portion  30  of the hanger  1  to release the indicator  18  from the hanger  1  and carrying the indicator  18  upwardly to separate the indicator  18  from the hanger  1 . 
     FIG. 14 shows the decapper mechanism with a second embodiment of the front plate  106 . The lower edge  148  has a step-shape to hold the edge of the top region  16  down. As depicted in this embodiment and FIG. 2 top region  16  is preferably flat. For clarity of illustration, FIGS. 13 and 14 show only the plates  106  and  107  in their lower positions, a few hangers  1  and the feeding rail  105 . As illustrated in FIG. 11, the front plate  106  has an aperture or a window  118  having generally the same shape as the recess  119  of the back plate  107 . When the back plate  107  is in its upper position and the front plate  106  is in its lower position, the recess  119  and the window  118  match, so that the indicator  18  can be removed from the recess  119  through the window  118 . The window  118  can have any appropriate shape, as long as the indicator  18  can pass through it. 
     In the described embodiment, the indicator  18  is removed from the recess  119  by means of an air blast. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the back wall of the recess  119  has an aperture  121 , which is connected to an air control means by means of a tube  127 , shown in FIG.  15 . The air blast through the opening  121  is controlled, so that, when the back plate  107  reaches its upper position, and the front plate  106  is in its lower position, an air blast is generated or enabled, which pushes the indicator  18  through the window  118  of the front plate  106 . The released indicator  18  passes through the window  118  of the front plate  106  and is collected by a discharge tube  124 , which is positioned in front of the window  118  and leads the released indicator to a container  125 . 
     Upon removal of the indicator  18 , hanger  1  continues, as soon as the back plate  107  is moved upwardly, to slide down the feeding rail  105 . As illustrated in FIG. 15, hanger  1  with web  4  is moving down the feeding rail  105  after being decapped. The decapped hanger is either collected manually or automatically therefrom, for example by means of a screw conveyor. Said screw conveyor can collect decapped hangers from a plurality of feeding rails  105  coming from respective decapping apparatuses. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the decapping apparatus is driven pneumatically, and further comprises position control means  111 , air control means  114 , a first timer  116 , a second timer  117 , and an air valve  137 . The air valve  37  generates and/or controls the pressurized air, by which the decapping apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is controlled and driven. 
     The air valve  137 , the timers  116  and  117 , the actuating means  108 , the air control means  40  and the position control means  111  respectively are connected by air tubes for pneumatic control. Also, the entire apparatus is held and fixed to a holding means (not shown). 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the position control means  111  comprises a first detector  112  for the position of the front plate  106  and a second detector  113  for the position of the back plate  107 . The first detector  112  and the second detector  113  work on a pneumatical basis and have a similar structure. First and second detectors  112  and  113  each include generally a cylindrical tube illustrated by  144  and  145 , respectively, and pistons  122  and  123 , respectively, which are movable within each of said cylindrical tubes  144  and  146 . The outer ends of pistons  122  and  123  are provided with contact plates, which are contacted by the upper sides of the front plate  106  and the back plate  107 , respectively. 
     In the upper position, the front plate  106  and the back plate  107  press inwardly pistons  122  and  123 , respectively, and cause a pneumatic signal in the position control means  111 , thereby permitting a steady control of the position and the movement of the plates  106  and  107 . FIG. 12 shows a cross section of the control means  111  and the plates  106  and  107 , whereby the position of the plates  106  and  107  is the same as in FIG.  11 . Also, the discharge tube  124  and a collecting container  125  for the released indicators  18  are illustrated. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the air control means  114  and the tube plates  106  and  107 . The air control means  114  comprises a third detector  115  for detecting the position of the back plate  107 . Third detector  115  has a cylindrical tube  149  and a piston  126 , which, generally have the same shape and function as the first and second position detectors  112  and  113  as described above. In FIG. 15, the back plate  107  is in its upper position, and the front plate  106  is in its lower position. The back plate having released and carried a indicator  18  upwardly from hanger  1 , contacts a contact plate  26  of the position detector  115  and moves the contact plate  126  together with its piston into the cylindrical tube of the detector  115 . This causes a pneumatic signal within the air control means  114 , which enables a pressurized air blast through a tube  127 , which is connected to the opening  121  of the back plate  107  by appropriate connection  128 . The air blast through the opening  121  ejects the released indicator  18  through the window  118  of the front plate  106  into the discharge tube  124 . The arrow in FIG. 13 indicates the direction of the movement of the indicator  18 . 
     In operation, the back plate  107  moves downwardly to its lower position, which is followed by an upward movement of the front plate  106  to its upper position. The whole movement cycle is repeated periodically, so that a plurality of hangers  1  can be decapped easily and reliably in an automated process. Since one of the plates  106  and  107  is always in its respective lower position, there will be always a number of hangers  1  on the feeding rail  105  waiting to be decapped one after another, as shown in FIGS. 12 to  15 . 
     The actuating means  108  controls the movement of the two plates  106  and  107 , so that the front plate  106  cannot move upwardly when the back plate  107  is not in its lower position, and the back plate  107  cannot move upwardly when the front plate  106  is not in its lower position. This ensures that the hangers to be decapped do not slide along the feeding rail  105  under the plates  106  and  107  without being decapped. 
     The first timer  116  controls the regular cycle of the movement of the two plates  106  and  107 , whereas the second timer  117  enables a repeated downward movement of the front plate  106 . If, for example the hook of the hanger  1  is bent or damaged, or the indicator  18  is bent or damaged, the front plate  106  is not permitted to slide downwardly to press or hold the indicator  18  into the recess  119 , since its lower edge contacts the upper edge of the indicator  18  and is therefore restricted in its downward movement. In this case, the timer  117  gives a signal to the actuating means  108  to lift the front plate  106  up again and retry to move it downwardly. This is repeated, until the indicator  18  is properly received in the recess  119  of the back plate  107  and the front plate  106  can move to its lower position without resistance. This problem can already partially be avoided by an appropriate angle or bend of the lower edge of the front plate  106 , as discussed above. 
     FIG. 16 shows a cross-section of the two plates  106  and  107  in their lower positions and several hangers  1  to be decapped on feeding rail  105 . These hangers  1  have a top region  16   a  on their hooks, which does not extend beyond the width of the indicators  18 . In other words, the sidewalls of the indicators  18  are substantially even with the sidewalls of the hooks and the hangers. Therefore, the hangers  1  cannot be held down by the lower edge of the front plate  106  abutting the edge of the top region  16   a , as described and shown with respect to FIGS. 13 and 14. Since the hangers  1  cannot be held down by the front plate  106 , when the back plate  107  moves-upwardly, this embodiment of the invention further includes a holding means  152  which is activated to hold down the hanger  1  being decapped, while the back plate  107  is moving up. The holding means  152  is pivotable around an axis  155 . In the present embodiment the holding means includes two parallel L-shaped arms  153 , which are connected by a cross bar  154 , as depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17. 
     In the holding position, the two arms  153  of the holding means  152  extend parallel to both sides of the feeding rail  105  and the hook of the hanger  1 , so that the arms  152  extend perpendicularly to the hanger  1 . The hanger  1  cannot move upwardly, since its upper edge abuts the lower surface of the arms  152 . After the indicator  18  is removed from the hanger  1 , the holding means is pivoted back to a free position (dashed lines in FIG.  16 ), so that the decapped hanger  1  can move down the rail  105 . In a different embodiment (not shown) the holding means could include a similarly shaped holding means being swung horizontally to hold the hanger  1  down. 
     In FIGS. 11 to  16 , the structure of the front plate  106  and the back plate  107  is only schematically shown. FIGS. 18 and 19 show detailed perspective views of the back plate  107  and the front plate  106 , respectively. 
     FIG. 18 shows the back plate  107  in a perspective front view. The recess  119  is formed in the lower portion of a wall member  132  extending from the middle portion of the back plate  107 . The recess  119  can be dimensioned to accommodate the indicator  18  which, as depicted, has a basically rectangular shape. The recess  119  is provided with the pin  120  and the aperture  121 . The dimensions of the recess  119  are slightly larger than the dimensions of the indicator  18  to be decapped, so that the indicator  18  can be oriented properly upon entering into the recess  119 . This is important to ensure that the aperture  24  of the indicator  18  receives the pin  120 . 
     The recess  119  can be replaced by any other appropriate means, for example a frame or a single sidewall, as long as the pin  120  can enter into the opening  24  to release the indicator attachment mechanism to remove the indicator  18 , when the indicator  18  is pressed or held against the back plate. The shape of the pin  120  in FIG. 18 is basically rectangular, but can be any other appropriate shape as necessary to match opening  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 18, plate  107  has two rail or slide members  130  and  131  bolted thereto, which are positioned to each side of the wall member  132  defining a space between the wall member and the rail members  130  and  131  respectively. The rail members  130  and  131  each have a generally rectangular shape with concave surfaces and extend the complete height of the back plate  107 . The lower sides of the rail members  130  and  131  and the wall member  132  are connected by a common base plate  129 , which extends from and over the entire length of the back plate  107 . Rail or slide members  130  and  131  guide the movement of the plates  106  and  107  in connection with bearing assemblies  133 ,  134 ,  135  and  136 , which are shown in FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 19 shows a perspective back view of the front plate  106 . The bearing assemblies  133 ,  134 ,  135  and  136  each have a generally longitudinal shape and extend vertically from and over a portion of the height of the front plate  106 . One pair of bearing members  133  and  134  is located to the left of the window  18 , and another pair of bearing assemblies  135  and  136  is located to the right of the window  118 . Each pair of bearing assemblies defines a space therebetween wherein the rail or slide members  30  and  31  of the back plate  107  can be inserted, when the decapping apparatus of the present invention is assembled. In other words, the rail or slide member  130  is received in the space between the bearing assemblies  135  and  136 , and the rail or slide member  131  is received in the space between the bearing assemblies  133  and  134 . This enables an exact reciprocable movement of the plates  106  and  107 . In a particularly preferred embodiment slide members  133 ,  134 ,  135  and  136  are a pair of roller-bearing assemblies having parallel rollers which engage rail members  130  and  131  and support the plates from either side. 
     FIG. 20 shows an enlarged perspective view of the pin  120  of the recess  119 . In the preferred embodiment pin  120  has a generally rectangular shape and is sufficiently small to be able to enter into the opening  24  of the indicator  18  to be decapped. Also, the pin  120  has a height sufficient to displace the laterally extending portion  30  of the web of the hanger  1  thereby enabling the indicator  18  to be released from the hanger  1 . 
     FIG. 21 shows an enlarged perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the pin  120  of the recess  119 . In this embodiment, the pin  120  has a generally oval shape. Other shapes, for example a cylindrical shape, can be substituted as appropriate. 
     Referring now in detail to FIGS. 22 and 23, there is illustrated a tool for manually removing indicators  18  from hangers  1 . FIG. 22 shows a top view of one embodiment of the manual decapper, and FIG. 23 shows a sectional view taken along line  2323  in FIG.  22 . 
     More particularly, the device for manually removing an indicator from a garment hanger has a plate  138  which can have a rectangular shape as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. The plate  138  can be made of metal or molded plastic and comprises at least one recess  139 , which is provided with a pin  140 . The recess  139  and the pin  140  correspond to the above-described recess  119  and pin  120  of the back plate  107  of the automatic decapping apparatus. The recess  139  and the pin  140  perform exactly the same functions as described in relation to recess  119  and pin  120 . The only difference is that with the manual decapper, the indicator  18  has to be pressed manually onto the recess  139 , so that the pin  140  is inserted in the opening  24  of the indicator  18  to displace the laterally extending portion  30  of the hanger and to effect release of the indicator  18  from the hanger  1 . In this embodiment the indicator  18  or at least the body with hanger  1  has to be manually held or pressed onto the recess  139 , to manually separate the plate  139  with the indicator  18  from the hanger  1 . In a preferred embodiment the plate  138  can define through-holes  176  for mounting the device to a support (not shown). 
     All the variations and features explained in view of the recess  119  and the pin  120  of the back plate  107  of the decapping apparatus are also true for the recess  139  and the pin  140  of the plate  138  of the manual decapper. The pin  140  can also be configured as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the plate  138  has a rectangular shape for ease of handling by the operator with the recess  139  being provided at a long side of the plate  138 . However, in the alternative, the recess can be provided at a short side of the plate  138 . Or the decapper device  138  can have further recesses, so that depending on the size and the shape of the indicator  18  to be removed multiple applications with the manual decapper of the present invention can be performed. For ease of operation the operator may chose to mount the device  138  to a support (not shown) via through-holes  176  so that it is not necessary for the operator to handle the manual device  138  but only the hangers and the removed indicators. 
     In the embodiment shown in the FIGS. 22 and 23, a further recess  141  is provided on one of the short sides of the rectangular plate  138 . The recess  141  is provided with a pin  142  positioned on the edge of the short side  143  and has no side walls. This allows the recess  141  and the pin  142  to be applied to indicator caps  18  of any configuration. In addition, the short side  143  can be curved thereby adapting to the form of the hook of the hanger  1 , from which the indicator  18  is to be removed. It should be understood, that for the recess  141  and the pin  142  the above-described features and variations explained in view of the recesses  119  and  139 , and the pins  120  and  140  are also true and applicable. 
     Also, it should be understood that although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, various modifications by one skilled in the art can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the enclosed claims. Particularly, the decapping apparatus of the described embodiment is pneumatically driven. However, the decapping apparatus, namely the plates  106  and  107  could also be driven by means of electrical, mechanical or any other appropriate drive mechanism. Also, the position control means  111  and the air pressure control means  114  can work using optical, electrical or any other appropriate detection means which detects the position of the plates  106  and  107 , respectively. The released indicator  18  can also be ejected from the recess  119  through the window  118  of the front plate  106  by means other than a pressurized air blast, as described above. For example, the decapped indicator  18  could be ejected through the window  18  by means of an ejection pin or vacuum ejector. 
     Furthermore, the present invention has been described and illustrated in conjunction with a single type of indicator  18 . The present invention can also be used without any adaptation or easily adapted to accommodate other types of indicators. 
     While there have been shown and described what are considered to be the several preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail can readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described nor to anything less than the whole of the invention herein disclosed as hereinafter claimed.