Abstract:
An apparatus having a base for automatically opening interdigitated tab fingers formed on a hang strip. The base includes an item advancement station and an item attachment station is disposed at an edge of the base. A supply of hang strip material is provided at a base edge opposite the item attachment station. The hang strip supply is mounted to the base and is fed through the advancement station and across and through a tab retainer that maintains at least one of the interdigitated tab fingers open until the tab station is guided to the item attachment edge of the base. At the item attachment edge, perpendicular transversal of a corner or edge of the base causes one set of the interdigitated fingers to open, while at least one interdigitated tab finger opened at the item advancement station clears the back edge of the retainer. The item to be hung is placed onto the upwardly extended one(s) of the finger tabs at the base edge, and the other tab finger, upon clearing the tab retainer, is caused to be closed upon the item as the hang strip continues advancement through the attachment end of the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for releasably attaching items to a web, and deals more particularly with a device for attaching items arranged along a strip having formed interdigitated tabs to which the strips with the items is readily hung for sale to consumers in a store or point of sale location. 
     2. Background Art 
     The use of hang strips for point of sale merchandising is well known. Merchandisers have recognized the value of hang strip systems and manufacturers have responded by developing the use, loading and hanging of hang strips for point-of-purchase merchandising. Many versatile and useful configurations have been developed providing for ease of mounting the hang strips onto a merchandising mount located at the point of sale. The hang strips provide an attachment mechanisms for attaching items to be displayed on the hang strips. The hang strips include attachment fingers which hold the items, the items being releasable, held on the hang strip. When desired, the items can be detached by the purchaser at the time of purchase. 
     For examples of hang strip disclosures, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,656,917; 5,553,721; 5,103,970 and others, such as those available from assignee hereof, AGT, Inc., of Melrose Park, Ill. All of these patents relate to the configuration and interrelationship of elements on a hang strip, and essentially relate to hang strips cut to specified lengths, having of from about three to about twelve hang tabs to which the releasably attachable items are attached. 
     Hang strip materials can be commercially obtained in the form of a continuous roll, having evenly spaced apart cut portions for attaching or loading items for display. In these arrangements, the hang strip material is fed through a device for loading attachable items onto each of the tabs, and when a desired number of items are attached to a section of the continuous strip, the loaded strip section is then detached either by cutting or tearing along a transversely perforated boundary between adjacent sections. 
     Use of hang strips has become common so that associated devices used for loading the hang strip in an efficient and speedy procedure have become available. For example, a device available from Slip &amp; Snip, Inc. of Sweet Home, Oreg. provides a sprocket wheel for advancing the hang strip, and provides for guides which hold the lateral edges of the hang strip adjacent the surface of a flat base. The sprockets of the sprocket wheel extend above the surface of the base so that each interdigitated tab of the cut portions is opened by a sprocket which protrudes through the cut portion. The sprocket engages the cut portion and, by rotation of the wheel, the sprocket advances the hang strip through the loading station, somewhat like a film in a photographic or movie camera. 
     At a maximum of the protrusion of the sprocket through the cut portion, the interdigitated tabs are opened and extend essentially transversely to the web surface of the hang strip. At that instant, the operator can load an attachable item onto the interdigitated tabs, and as the strip is further advanced so that the sprocket protrusion recedes below the surface of the base, the interdigitated tabs close over the attachment portion of the item to releasably retain it on the hang strip. The attachment is releasable, yet strong enough to hold the item in place when the loaded strip is shipped and hung for display at the point of sale location. A prospective purchaser of the item may easily remove the item from the hang strip for purchase, in accordance with known hang strip systems. 
     One difficulty that arises from use of the aforementioned loading device is that the sprocket mechanism is fully protruding through the tab at the time that the item is attached onto the open interdigitated fingers. This causes the sprocket to interfere to some extent with the item loading operation. Also, and especially if the item is bulky, attaching an item which extends over the previously loaded item on an adjacent cut portion causes the items to stack up. Bulky items cause space above the strip to be filled quickly, and will further interfere with loading. This results from the two dimensional surface of the base on which the items are attached to the hang strip. The items must be placed one atop the other during the attachment process, which leads to lack of space and other considerations. 
     Another loading mechanism which is also available is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,118. The device described therein utilizes an elaborate system where indexing of hang strip movement of the tabs in discrete incremental sections to an item attachment station is controlled by an operator-activated actuator. The hang strip material is automatically advanced upon operator activation and the loading mechanism pauses to stop an unloaded cut portion of the strip adjacent an article attaching station. As described, a pin at the item attaching station is inserted into each hang strip cut portion from beneath the surface of the base to open at least some of the interdigitated tab fingers of each cut portion, thereby permitting loading of an item. 
     To overcome the stacking of bulky items on the surface of the base encountered in the aforementioned device, the item attachment station is disposed adjacent a base edge. As the interdigitated tab fingers are paused at the base edge, the pin is inserted to protrude through the cut portion to move certain ones of a set of tabs away from the web of the hang strip material. As the hang strip material is half folded over the base edge, it causes the opposite set of interdigitated fingers to also move away from the web of hang strip material for easier attachment of the items to the tab fingers. 
     This device, however, suffers from an unnecessary complexity and from an excessive number of moving parts occasioned by the elements described therein, such as the air pressure operator control mechanism, the indexing mechanism and the indexing procedure which counts the number of times the indexing has occurred so that a bang strip section may be cut by a cutting means, such as a knife. Excessive moving parts are known to be subject to failure, resulting in down time while the device is replaced. 
     What is considered necessary is an easy to operate, failure resistant, inexpensive device which has a minimum of moving parts and which does not include subsystems which require activation by or coaction of the operator to operate the apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, what is considered to be the subject matter of this invention is an apparatus for releasably attaching items to a hang strip comprising a base, an item attaching station located on the base, hang strip material supply for continuously providing hang strip material to the item attaching station, and hang strip material advance drive to continuously move the hang strip material through the item attaching station. Preferably, the advance drive includes a sprocket wheel having sprockets for engaging formed cut portions in the hang strip material and for advancing the hang strip material through engagement of the sprockets with each of the formed cut portions. The advance drive and sprockets further maintain the cut portions open and a tab retainer retains open selected ones of the interdigitated tabs, which are opened by the advance drive until the item is attached to the other set of interdigitated tabs. 
     Preferably, the base includes a drive aperture formed therein and the advance drive is disposed partially below a base surface and partially extends through the aperture. The article attaching station is preferably located at a base edge and includes a guide for constraining and redirecting the path of the hang strip material downwardly about a right angle turn at the base edge. The guide redirects the hang strip material travel path from an essentially horizontal path to one that is downwardly and vertically directed. Means for cutting a hang strip transversely of its length is optionally provided and disposed on or adjacent the base. The optional cutting means may include a knife for automatically cutting the hang strip material into hang strips, each strip having a desired number of the formed cut shapes which have been attached at the item attachment station. 
     Preferably, the hang strip material supply includes a roll of the hang strip material mounted to a column attached to the base and extending vertically therefrom. The column includes a transversely extending spindle which may be threaded at one end thereof to be secured to the column utilized for mounting the supply roll. 
     One feature and distinct advantage of the present invention is an apparatus which is capable of receiving hang strip material in which is contained a plurality of similarly oriented hang tabs which are caused by operation of the apparatus to be opened so as to permit an item to be inserted within the opening of the otherwise closed tabs. Normal operation of the apparatus does not require activation of an advance mechanism by the item loader or apparatus operator. 
     The invention further may provide an optional device in the aforementioned apparatus wherein a given number of items can be successively attached to the hang strip material and thereafter the hang strip material is automatically cut to a specific item length with the given number of items remaining attached to the cut length of the hang strip material resulting in individual hang strips, ready for hanging at a point of sale. 
     The apparatus for releasably attaching items to a hang strip optionally also may include sensing means in the line of travel of the hang strip material for sensing the passage of a predetermined number of cut portions and for causing a cutting means to separate hang strips, each having the predetermined number of cut portions, from the hang strip material emanating from the supply thereof. 
     More specifically, described below is a hang strip loading apparatus for loading attachable items to a hang strip material, the hang strip material having a predetermined thickness, two lateral edges and a plurality of cut portions extending through the thickness of the hang strip material, each cut portion forming interdigitated tabs for releasable attachment of items thereto, each cut portion being spaced from the hang strip lateral edges and from any adjacent cut portions, wherein the device comprises a base having an upwardly facing surface, a hang strip material supply station for mounting a supply of hang strip material capable of continuously paying out hang strip material, an item attaching station, a hang strip material advance station for continuously advancing the hang strip material from the hang strip material supply station through the item attachment station, the advance station including at least one guide spaced from the base surface by at least the thickness of the hang strip material, the guide having an opening shaped and dimensioned to retain the two lateral edges of the hang strip material adjacent the base surface at the hang strip material advance station while exposing an opening directly above the cut portions thereof, the hang strip material advance station further including a cut portion tab lifting mechanism, comprising at least one protrusion member capable of protruding above the base surface, each protrusion member being shaped and dimensioned to protrude through one cut portion of the hang strip material so as to lift the interdigitated tabs above the surface of the base, the advance station further including an advance driver for translating the protrusion member and the hang strip material through the advance station from the supply toward the item attachment station, and a tab retainer adjacent the hang strip advance station, spaced from the base surface such that at least one of the interdigitated tabs of each cut portion lifted by the protrusion is retained by the tab retainer in a lifted position while the cut portion is rectilinearly translated from the advance station to the item attachment station, the tab retainer having a tab release portion at the item attaching station permitting the tab to close over the item after it has been releasably mounted to at least one of those interdigitated tabs not retained by the tab retainer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention shown with a supply roll of hang strip material located at one end thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially fragmentary plan view of a first embodiment of an indexing station of the apparatus in which is used a single pawl mounting block. 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4A illustrates a plan view of a guide according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4B is a side view of the guide shown in FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 5A illustrates a plan view of a retainer according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5B is a side view of the retainer shown in FIG.  5 A. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the guide of the present invention showing a unitary guide according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the apparatus is illustrated, generally indicated at  10 , which comprises a base  12  having an upwardly oriented essentially horizontal surface  15  and at least one vertical wall  13  disposed at one peripheral end of the surface  15 . Surface  15  meets vertical wall  13  at a base edge  14 . 
     Disposed and mounted on surface  15  of the base  12  is a supply  20  of hang strip material, such as that illustrated in FIG.  1 . The mounting mechanism for the hang strip material supply  20  may comprise a plurality of conventional bolts  21  or other conventional means, which preferably extend through a supply mount  22  and attach the supply mount base  22  onto surface  15  adjacent an oppositely disposed edge  16  of base  12 , as shown. Although the hang strip material supply  20  is shown disposed above the surface  15  of base  12 , it is contemplated that other arrangements are possible. For example, the hang strip material supply may be mounted below or laterally adjacent the base  12 . 
     Preferably, when mounting above the surface  15 , mount  22  is attached to a frame  24 . Frame  24  includes an axle or spindle  25  which mounts a continuous roll  27  of hang strip material  26 . The hang strip material  26  is conventionally a thin film of plastic or other flexible material having parallel sides approximately 1½ inches apart for hanging items  11  thereon. For a description of conventional hang strips, such as those which are contemplated as resulting from operation of the apparatus  10 , reference is made to the aforementioned patents. 
     The hang strip material is paid out as the roll  27  rotates around the spindle  25 . Although the hang strip material  26  is shown comprising a roll  27 , other feed arrangements of the hang strip material supply are contemplated. For example, the hang strip material supply may comprise a container (not shown) in which sections of the hang strip material are laid end to end, the ends being attached to each other, and a continuous stream of hang strip material may be paid out of the container. Such an arrangement is used, for example, by stenographers and court reporters for paying out continuous paper strips on which court transcripts are stenographed. What is required is that the hang strip material be freely available to be paid out from the material supply  20  toward the other stations of the system, as described below. 
     In most instances, the hang strip material  26  comprises a flat continuous strip of polyethylene plastic having an essentially uniform thickness and an essentially uniform width L (FIG.  2 ). As the hang strip material is paid out from the supply  20 , it comes off in a continuous strip which has top and bottom surfaces. The hang strip material normally further includes a plurality of cut portions  32  which are disposed between the parallel sides  30 . The cut portions  32  are preferably cut in the shape of a “W,” as shown, and as is taught by the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,721. The cut portions  32  extend through the plastic hang strip material  26  from the top surface to the bottom surface of the hang strip material  26 . The two nearly vertical sides of the cutout  32 , the lateral sides of the “W” shapes, may be angled relative to the longitudinal edges of the hang strip material  26 , or, as shown, may be parallel to the edges. The width W of the cut-out portion  32  must be less than that of the width L of the hang strip material  26 , and the cut-out should not extend to either edge of the hang strip material. Significantly, the width W of the cut-out should have a predetermined width, as is described below. 
     The cut-out  32  preferably provides a plurality of cut sections which can be bent away from the plane or web of the surface of hang strip material  26 . Each of the cut portions  32  provides a plurality of interdigitated tabs  34 , which extend in one direction parallel to the lateral sides of the hang strip material  26 . Another set of tabs  36  extend in the opposite direction. The interdigitation of the tabs provides a web of interdigitated fingers having a capability of bending away from the surface and separating from the web of the hang strip material and from each other so as to project above that surface. The interdigitated tabs  34 ,  36  have a memory which attempts to bring the tabs  34 ,  36  back within the plane of the web of hang strip material  26 . When an item  11  is placed within the tabs  34 ,  36 , the tabs tend to close over the item  11 , thereby releasably attaching the item  11  to the hang strip material web, in accordance with known methods as described in the aforementioned patents. 
     Although each cut portion  32  is shown as having only three interdigitated fingers, two extending in one direction  34  and the other one extending in the opposite direction  36 , other configurations are possible. At least three fingers or tabs  34 , 36  are preferable. 
     A specific orientation of the fingers is preferred. That is, two of the fingers  34  should extend toward the direction of the hang strip material supply  20 , and the other finger  36  extends away from the hang strip material supply  20  and toward the edge  14  of the base  12 . However, a configuration of hang strip material can be used in which more than one set of fingers extends in either direction (not shown). 
     As the hang strip material  26  is paid out from the supply  20  and approaches the item attachment station  30  adjacent edge  14 , it first encounters a guide  40 , which may comprise one or more sections. As is shown in the cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 3, and more clearly in the detail illustrations of the guide  40  shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, a groove or step  42  extends along the entire length of the lateral edge wall  44  of each portion of the guide  40 . The step  42  has a dimension somewhat greater than the thickness of material  26 , so that it may slide along the groove  42  without projecting outside of the groove. 
     The guide is shaped and dimensioned to accept the hang strip material  26  as it is paid out from the supply  20 , and to guide the material longitudinally toward and adjacent the surface  15  of the base  12 . The guide  40  preferably comprises an elongated flattened central portion  50  essentially parallel to the surface  15  of base  12 , an upturned hang strip receiving portion  52  which extends obliquely upward from the central portion  50 , and a perpendicularly, downwardly angled item attachment portion  54 . Once the hang strip material meets the surface  15  at the central portion  50 , the hang strip material  26  is maintained essentially parallel to surface  15  within groove  42 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, guide  40  comprises two separate, distinct guide portions which coact to maintain the hang strip material  26  parallel to the surface  15  adjacent the item attachment station  30  disposed adjacent edge  14 . However, the guide may also be a unitary element having a connection section, as is described with reference to the guide illustrated in FIG. 6, below. However, for purposes of the following discussion, guide  40  will be described as two portions, which are each attached to the surface  15  of base  12  in a manner to permit the hang strip material  26  to be transported transversely along the surface  15  of base  12  within a channel formed by the two opposed grooves  42  of each guide portion. For this reason, the groove or step  42  must have a vertical dimension somewhat larger than the expected thickness of the hang strip material so as to not interfere with the transportation of the hang strip material  26  through the channel. 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, the guide  40  comprises two opposite portions, which may be mirror images of each other. That is, when viewed in the longitudinal direction with the downwardly extending item attachment portion  54  closest to the viewer and the upturned hang strip receiving portion farthest away, each of the portions of guide  40  is disposed parallel to each other so as to permit a longitudinal passageway between the walls  44  of the guide  40 , and the channel formed by the grooves  42 . The width of the channel is slightly smaller than the lateral width L of the hang strip material  26 , to permit slideability of the hang strip material through a slight clearance. The width of passageway between walls  44  is noticeably smaller than the width L of the hang strip material  26 . 
     The groove or step  42  of the guide portions defines an overhanging or cantilevered projection which provides for a space between it and the base surface  15  to accommodate a thickness for the hang strip material  26 . A lateral dimension between the inner walls of the grooves  42  is slightly greater than the lateral width of the hang strip material  26  to permit passage of the hang strip material  26  laterally along the opening between the two portions of guide  40 . 
     Each portion of guide  40  further includes at least two longitudinal guide attachment apertures  46  which provide a means of attachment by upstanding threaded bolts  56  (FIGS. 1 and 2) extending upwardly through surface  15  and retained to the base to avoid from rotation, for example, by welding or by a bolt securement within the base  12 . The bolts  56  extend through apertures  46  and are capable of receiving wing nuts  58  onto the threaded portion thereof. Tightening of wing nuts  58  over the bolts  56  secures the portions of guide  40  from transposition laterally of the direction of travel of the hang strip material  26 , thereby maintaining the lateral distance between walls  44  essentially fixed during operation of the apparatus  10 . 
     Attachment apertures  46  extend longitudinally from close to the wall of groove  42  toward the opposite wall of the portions of guide  40 , so that some lateral adjustment of the guide  40  may be made to accommodate for different widths L of the hang strip. For example, if a wider width L of hang strip material  26  is mounted at the hang strip material supply  20 , then the hang strip material is brought to the upturned hang strip receiving portion  52  of the guide  40 , the wing nuts  58  are unscrewed, and the lateral width of the opening between walls  44  of the guide  40  are adjusted to accommodate the width of the wider or narrower hang strip material. After centering of the gap between the two portions of the guide  40 , and a parallel disposition between walls  44 , the wing nuts  58  are again re-tightened and the guide is ready for receiving and transposing the different width hang strip material received from the hang strip material supply  20 . 
     Bolts  56  are disposed on the surface  15  of base  12  in a position relative to the attachment apertures  46  of the guide  40  to position the transition portion  55  disposed between the central portion  50  and the downwardly extending portion  54  to define the item attachment station  30  adjacent the edge  14  of base  12 . The two portions of guide  40  are attached to bolts  56  after the lateral distance between walls  44  is established. 
     Preferably, the transition portion  55  and the downwardly extending item attachment portion  54  are cantilevered from the surface  15  of the base  12 , but the attachment portion  54  and the rounded corner of the transition portion  55  are disposed a small distance beyond the vertical wall  13  and edge  14 . The grooves  42  of each section of guide  40  continue to guide the edges of the hang strip material  26  between the item attachment portion  54  and downwardly extending base wall  13 . The clearance between the groove  42  of the downwardly extending item attachment portion  54  and the vertical wall  13  of base  12  must be large enough to permit the passage therethrough of the hang strip material  26 , but not so large as to bend the material  26  away from the item attachment station  14 . This configuration is useful in the attachment sequence of the items  11 , as will be explained below in the description of the operation of the device. 
     Placement of the bolts  56  and  87  on the surface  15  of the base  12  is an important consideration. Enough clearance must be provided between the uppermost surface  51  of the guide central section  50  and with regard to the other elements, described below, which will be disposed upon the surface  51 . For this reason, it may be beneficial and desirable to drill and tap holes in the surface  15  of base  12 , into which bolts (not shown) are engageable, thereby attaching the portions of guide  40  to the surface  15  of base  12 . Vertical and horizontal clearance of the head of such bolts (not shown) on surface  51  will provide the necessary space to support other elements disposed over surface  51  of central portion  50 . Of course, alternate attachment configurations will readily become apparent to the person having ordinary skill in the art which may provide for efficient operation. For example, the configuration shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,118 may be utilized, with modifications. Such alternative attachment configurations are contemplated as being equivalents hereof, and to come within the scope of the present invention, but the attachment configuration is not considered a critical part of the present invention. 
     As the hang strip material  26  is guided through the hang strip receiving section  52  and between the surface  15  and grooves  42  of guide  40 , it is directed downwardly toward, and in parallel with, surface  15  of base  12 . As most clearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hang strip material is guided by the guide  40  to the surface  15  and is retained parallel thereto by the cantilevered portions of the guide  40  defined by grooves  42  and walls  44 . As described above, the lateral dimension between walls  44  of the two portions of the guide  40  is smaller than the lateral width L of the hang strip material, so that the overhanging edges of grooves  42  and walls  44 , which define the guide channel, inhibit the escape by upward movement of the edges of the hang strip material  26 . This configuration exposes a central section of the hang strip material, which is in the passageway defined by the edges covered by the cantilevered portions of the guide  40 . 
     The transposition of the hang strip material along and through the guide channel may be accomplished by any of a number of ways. One feature of the present invention is to accomplish the longitudinal translation or transposition through the guide channel by means of a sprocket wheel which further performs the function of raising the interdigitated tabs or fingers  34 , 36  above the surface of the web of the hang strip material  26 . In this regard, the sprocket wheel works for the most part like the aforementioned apparatus which is available from Slip and Snip, Inc. of Sweet Home, Oreg. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, sprocket wheel  70  is rotatable about an axle  71 . Axle  71  is disposed below the surface  15  of base  12 . The sprocket wheel  70  includes a plurality of sprockets  72 , preferably having rounded comers  74 . The width of the sprocket wheel  70  has a predetermined width S, which is slightly less than the width W between the two ends of the cut-out portion  32 . Thus, one of the sprockets  72  of wheel  70  may protrude through the cut-out  32  to cause each of the interdigitated tabs  34 ,  36  to bend away from the web surface of the hang strip material  26 , as shown in FIG.  3 . In determining the optimal width of the sprockets  72 , it is important to recognize that it must be able to fit within the dimension of the side walls forming each W-shaped cutout  32 . 
     The protrusion of a sprocket  72  into a cutout  32  forces each of the interdigitated tabs  34 , 36  to disengage the associated others of the interdigitated tabs of the cutout  32 . Since the interdigitated tabs  34 , 36  are each attached to the web of the hang strip material at their opposite ends, tabs  34  being attached at the “top” of the W-shaped cut-outs  32  and tabs  36  being attached at the “bottom,” the tabs bend away from the web in opposite orientation. As configured in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the tabs  34 , when lifted from the web surface of the hang strip material  26 , have free ends which are closer to the hang strip material supply  20  disposed at edge  16 , and the attached ends of the tabs  34  are closer to edge  14 . Conversely, for tabs  36 , the attached ends are closer to the supply  20  and the free ends are closer to edge  14 . Moreover, the protrusion of a sprocket  72 , as shown in FIG. 3, will cause the bending of the tabs  34 , 36  in opposite directions as the hang strip material passes through the guide, and the lateral edges of the hang strip material are being held down by the cantilevered portions of guide  40 , as explained above. Thus, the sprocket  72  cannot lift the entire web of hang strip material  26  away from the surface  15 , but is only permitted to lift up the interdigitated tabs  34 ,  36  of the particular cut-out portion  32  which is passing above the sprocket wheel  70 . 
     The aforementioned prior art device of Slip and Snip, Inc. attaches the items, e.g. item  11 , to the hang strip material  26  at this point, leading to spatial considerations. As is described above, the attachment of items using the prior art device results in operational difficulties in space limitation and sprocket interference. This invention and the present inventive configuration is an improvement over the prior art devices. 
     The sprocket wheel  70  includes a belt  76  and gear mechanism, or other appropriate device, which connects the axle  1  of sprocket wheel  70  to a sprocket wheel motive device, for example, an electric motor  78 . The motor  78  is itself connected by an electrical connection, such as lead wires  79 , to an on-off/adjustable, variable speed switch  28 , as described relative to FIG. 1 above. 
     Activation of the sprocket wheel motive device, such as by rotation of the spindle of the motor  78 , causes the sprocket wheel  70  to rotate about the axle  71 , causing rotation of the sprockets  72 , and successive ones of the sprockets  72  to protrude through the surface  15 . Each sprocket  72  thereby engages successive ones of the cutouts  32  of the hang strip material  26 , which are disposed at predetermined positions matching the sprocket separation. 
     The sprocket wheel  70  provides a dual function. First, as described above, each sprocket  72  causes the separation of the interdigitated tabs  34 , 36  or fingers from each other and from the web of the hang strip material  26 . The sprocket  72  protrudes through the aperture defined by cutout  32 , and permits a loose interference fit within the aperture of cutout  32 . As best seen in FIG. 3, as the interdigitated tab  34  is pushed up by the protrusion of sprocket  72 , the rounded corner  74  of each sprocket  72  engages the cutout portions of the opposing interdigitated tabs  36 , which has been caused to extend upwardly by the protruding sprocket  72 . The sprocket engages the cutout  32  because the cantilevered portions of guide  40  retain the lateral edges of the hang strip material flush against the surface  15  of base  12 , and protrusion of the sprocket  72  above the surface  15  causes it to protrude upwardly through the web of the hang strip material  26 . 
     Rotation of sprocket wheel  70  around axis  71  causes temporary engagement of the rounded corner  74  of each sprocket  76  with a corresponding cutout  32  of the hang strip material  26 . As the sprocket  72  is rotated by the wheel  70 , it advances in a longitudinal direction along the guide channel. 
     Appropriate and conventional electrical means are utilized to cause the motor to always rotate in the same direction, that is, clockwise as shown in FIG. 3, thereby causing the hang strip material  26  to advance through the guide channel from the supply  20  (FIG. 1) toward edge  14 . Advantageous spacing of the various elements of the system will ensure that each sprocket  72  engages a succeeding cutout  32 . For example, judicious disposition of the axle  71  at a sufficient distance below the level of surface  15  permits a circumferential distance between the radially extending sprockets  72  to match the linear distance between adjacent cutouts  32  of hang strip material  26 . Commercially available hang strip materials, and the resultant hang strips, normally provide for a predetermined distance between adjacent cutouts. The dimensional adjustment between the various elements, e.g., the location of sprocket axle  71  relative to the surface  15  of the base  12 , need not be changed once these have been optimized into a final configuration of apparatus  10 . 
     It should be appreciated also that the configuration of the hang strip loading apparatus  10 , as described above, joins the tab projection mechanism of the sprocket wheel  70  with the advance mechanism provided by the same sprocket wheel  70 . That is, the projection mechanism opens interdigitated tabs  34 , 36  and projects them upwardly from the place of the hang strip material web. Simultaneously, the advance mechanism engages the web of hang strip material  26  and advances it toward edge  14 . 
     The configuration shown permits the advance speed of the hang strip material  26  from the supply station  20  to the opposite edge  14  of the base  12  to vary at a desired rate, while simultaneously projecting and engaging each successive sprocket  72  through adjacent cutouts  32  as the hangs strip material  26  advances through the consecutive stations of the apparatus  10 . Of course, adjustable variability in the speed of the hang strip material advance through the apparatus  10  is a desirable characteristic. In the embodiment shown, the speed of advance is controlled by the adjustment knob  28  controlling the number of motor revolutions per minute. Another desirable characteristic of this configuration is that the adjustability of the speed cannot easily be regulated by the operator. Once the speed has been set prior to normal operation, the advance of the hang strip material  26  is continuous through the channel and is constant without reference to the ability of the operator to easily stop or slow down that hang strip material advance. It may be advantageous to provide a cover (not shown) which protects the adjustment knob  28  from easy access by the operator. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, mounted upon surface  51  of the guide  40  is tab retainer  80 , which comprises an important inventive feature of the present invention. The tab retainer  80  performs the indispensable function of retaining one set of interdigitated fingers, either  34  or  36 , in a bent back position while the hang strip material  26  is being advanced through the channel provided by the guide  40 . For purposes of the description below, the bent-back set of tabs will be tabs  36  (FIG.  3 ). However, it is possible to orient the hang strip material  26  in the opposite direction so that tabs  34  are bent back, rather than tabs  36 . Either set of bent back tabs or finger(s) is released as the cutout  32  reaches the edge  14 , so as to close over an item, Such as item  11 , which has been attached to the opposite set of tabs or fingers of each cutout  32 . 
     Referring also to the detail of tab retainer  80  shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, tab retainers  80  comprise an essentially flat plate or disc having a top surface  81  and an undersurface  83 . Tab retainer  80  is attached to surface  51  of the hang strip material guide  40  by an appropriate attachment mechanism, as is described below. In the preferred embodiment, tab retainer  80  has a lateral width somewhat greater than its longitudinal width. The longitudinal width is defined as being along the centerline CL shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. However, an alternative embodiment, such as that shown in FIG. 1, may have different longitudinal and lateral dimensions. The longitudinal direction, and centerline CL, are defined as being essentially parallel to the direction which the hang strip material advances from the supply  20  toward the edge  14  of base  12 . 
     Tab retainer  80  includes a tab release notch  82  disposed adjacent one longitudinal edge  84  of the tab retainer  80  and has a second, forward longitudinal edge  85  at the opposed end of tab retainer  80 . The tab retainer  80  further includes two apertures  86 , which preferably extend longitudinally, in parallel to the centerline CL. The apertures  86  should be wide enough to permit a bolt  87  of appropriate diameter to extend through the apertures  86 . Tab retainer  80  further includes two spacers  88  (FIG. 5B) which may be integral with the flat plate of the tab retainer  80 , or alternatively may be separate elements, such as washers, which are used when the tab retainer  80  is attached to the guide  40 . The spacers  88  also have a corresponding aperture of similar width to the aperture  80  of the tab retainer plate, so that the aperture  86  extends through both the tab retainer  80  and through the spacers  88 . An alternative embodiment having washers (not shown) will be captive to the bolts  87 , so that only the tab retainer  80  need have longitudinal slots for adjustment of the location of the tab retainer  80  relative to the guide  40 . As a second alternative, spacers such as metal blocks (not shown) may be welded to the undersurface  83  of the tab retainer  80  or attached by other appropriate means to provide the desired vertical spacing between surfaces  51  and  83 . 
     The spacers  88  provide a pivotal function in the proper operation of the inventive apparatus  10 . The vertical height of the spacers  88  (or  88 ′) is especially important since it provides for proper spacing between the surface  51  of the guide  40  and undersurface  83  of the tab retainer  80 . The distance, indicated by the arrows S in FIG. 3, is important because the dimension S will govern how far the fingers  34 , 36  (FIG. 3) are bent back by the tab retainer  80 . 
     The tab retainer  80  is attached to the guide  40  by an attachment means, such as bolts  87  (FIGS.  1 - 3 ). The bolts  87  may attach directly to the portions of guide  40 , or, as shown, may require wing nuts  89  to be screwed onto bolts  87  attached to guide  40 , so as to hold the tab retainer  80  onto the surface  51  of the guide  40 . 
     Referring now to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the advancing hang strip material  26  is advanced in the direction of the arrow B by the clockwise rotation of sprocket wheel  70 . As the sprocket  72  protrudes through the web of material  26  and into the cutout  32 , it disengages the interdigitated tabs  34 ,  36  from each other and from the web of hang strip material and pushes up both tabs  34 , 36  out of the plane of the hang strip material web, as shown. Continued rotation of the sprocket wheel  70  causes further lateral advancement of the hang strip material  26  and the two sets of tabs  34 , 36  along the channel toward edge  14 . 
     However, the rounded corners  74  of each sprocket  72  act in different ways on each set of tabs  34 , 36 . The tabs  34 , as shown in FIG. 3, take a more vertical angle relative to the surface  15  than do the tabs  36 . As the sprocket  72  continues to rotate clockwise, it begins to descend toward the surface  15 , causing the resilient tab  36  to revert to a position adjacent the hang strip material web which is parallel to the surface  15 . As it descends, however, the resilient tab  34  is continually shifted longitudinally by the pressure of the rounded comer  74  on the edge of the cutout  32 . As the tab  36  descends toward tab retainer  80 , it is met by the top surface  81  of the tab retainer  80 . Continuing lateral advancement of the hang strip material  26  causes the engagement of the tab  36  with the tab retainer  80  to be pushed against the forward edge  85 , which forces the tab  36  to change shape by bending it back toward the supply  20  against itself. A bent-back tab  36 ′ is shown in FIG. 3 between the surfaces  51  and  83  located somewhat laterally of edge  85 . While in the bent back position, the continual lateral advance of the hang strip material  26  transposes the tab  36 ′ along the guide channel in a bent back position. 
     In the meantime, as the sprocket  72  recedes below the level of surface  15 , the other set of tabs  34  revert to the web of the hang strip material  26 . The cutout  32 , with the bent back tab  36 , proceeds to edge  14 , where the channel and transition portion  55  from guide  40  cause the direction of travel of the hang strip material to divert at right angles from a horizontal advance direction to a downwardly vertical direction, as shown in FIG.  3 . This abrupt, essentially perpendicular change in direction of the hang strip material advance causes the hang strip material  26  to bend at right angles around edge  14  as it advances into the item attachment station. 
     When the cutout  32  reaches the item attachment station at edge  14 , the perpendicular fold in the hang strip material  26  causes the interdigitated tabs  34  to again separate from the web of the hang strip material  26  and to project upwardly from the hang strip material web at the item attachment station. The notch  82  provides sufficient clearance between edge  14  and the tab retainer  80  to permit the tabs  34  to bend away from the hang strip material web and to vertically protrude above edge  14  as the remainder of the hang strip material web  26  begins to bend vertically downwardly at edge  14 . 
     The tab retainer  80  continues to retain the tab  36  in a bent-back position and an unimpeded opportunity becomes available to attach an item  11  onto the essentially vertically protruding tabs  34 . Insertion of the item  11  onto tabs  34  must be done in an expeditious manner before the hang strip material advances, preferably before the continuing advance of the hang strip material releases bent-back tab  36  as it clears the retainer release notch  82 . 
     Once the item  11  firmly engages the upwardly extending tabs  34 , continuing forward advance of the hang strip material  26  causes the bent-back tab  36  to clear the retainer  80  at the release notch  82 . As soon as the tab  36  clears the notch  82  (see tab  36  in FIG.  3 ), the surface  83  no longer operates to retain the tab  36  in position and the tab  36  tends to revert to its original position within the web of the hang strip material  26  in the direction of arrow R. Of course, because item  11  has been attached to the opposing tabs  34 , tab  36  cannot completely revert to its original position. The resilient memory of the tab  36  once again brings the tab  36  into interdigitated relation with the opposing tabs  34 , over item  11  which is now held in place by the tabs  34 , 36 . As the hang strip material  26  continues to travel vertically downwardly, attached items  11  are held in place by tabs  32 , 34  at each cutout  32  of the hang strip. 
     Other features or modifications may become desirable to an operator of the apparatus  10 . For example, a knife or other cutting mechanism may be utilized after attachment of items  11 . An appropriate cutting mechanism (not shown) may be automatically or manually operated to cut the hang strip material at appropriate intervals. Cutting of the hang strip material would be necessary to provide manageable loaded hang strips, e.g., having 8-12 items per strip, which can be easily packed into boxes and removed at the point of sale. 
     The hang strip guide  40  is illustrated in FIGS. 1,  3  and  5 A,  5 B as comprising two longitudinal pieces being separated by a longitudinally extending channel between them. However, the hang strip guide may alternatively comprise a unitary hang strip guide  140  as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     A unitary guide  140  having a flanged curve  138  includes a channel groove  142  disposed along a longitudinal direction for receiving the hang strip material and for guiding it through the channel groove  142  of the guide  140 . FIG. 6 does not show the other elements of the apparatus  10  since these will be essentially identical to those shown in FIGS. 1-3 and  4 A- 4 B. Sprocket wheel  70  is shown to indicate the orientation of the unitary guide  140  relative to the other elements of the alternative apparatus configuration. 
     The unitary guide  140  further includes two guide extensions  143  and a central passageway between the walls  144  of the two guide extensions  143  which runs parallel to the grooves  42 . It is necessary that the lateral width between the two grooves  142  be somewhat larger than the gap between extensions  143 . That is, the grooves  142  provide for a step so that walls  144  of guide extensions  143  are cantilevered over the section of the surface  15  that will provide the channel for the hang strip material  26  to be transposed thereover, in accordance with the discussion above. 
     The gap between guide extensions  143  is not adjustable, as in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4C, but the guide  140  adjacent the item attachment station may be otherwise identical in construction adjacent the item attachment station, including downwardly projecting portions  154  and transition portions  155 . An alternative attachment mechanism may comprise threaded holes  164 , rather than slots. The unitary structure need not have means to adjust the lateral position of the guide extensions  143 , which permits for a single connection location of the guide  140  to the surface  15  of base  12 . Similarly, holes  164  may also provide for bolts (not sown) which extend above the surface  151  to provide for attachment of the tab retainer. 
     Other modifications, substitutions or alternative configurations may become apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art, and such modifications or alterations may provide a configuration which does not greatly depart from the scope of the present invention. For example, a unitary guide and tab retainer, as one integral construction, may be provided having identical or essentially identical height or lateral dimensions, in accordance with the teachings of this invention. It remains up to the general skill of a person in the field to devise a tab retainer guide construction which provides for one set of tabs of a hang strip material to be bent back while permitting the other to project upwardly. Such an arrangement maybe appropriate in an application which provides for a standardized hang strip material having standard dimensions and standard attachment items  11 , in which case no adjustments would be necessary for the dimensions of the apparatus. Accordingly, the above description is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting, the scope of the invention being limited only by the claims below.