Apparatus for processing garments including a hanger mechanism

Abstract

A garment processing apparatus is disclosed. The garment processing apparatus may include a hanger bar having a plurality of variable width notches, each of the variable width notches being capable of supporting a hanger with a garment thereon. The garment processing apparatus may also include a cabinet having an interior, the hanging bar being supported in the interior of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet is configured to process one or more of the garments.

1 . A garment processing apparatus, comprising: 
 a hanger bar having a plurality of variable width notches, each of the variable width notches being capable of supporting a hanger with a garment thereon; and    a cabinet having an interior, the hanging bar being supported in the interior of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet is configured to process one or more of the garments.    
   
   
       2 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the variable width notches in the hanger bar is formed with a sliding notch wall.  
   
   
       3 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising an actuator coupled to the sliding notch wall of each of the variable width notches.  
   
   
       4 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of springs, each of the springs coupling the actuator to the sliding notch wall of a different one of the variable width notches.  
   
   
       5 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the actuator comprises an elongated member extending at least a portion of the length of the hanger bar, and a plurality of members extending from the elongated member, and wherein each of the springs couples a different one of the members extending from the elongated member of its respective sliding notch wall.  
   
   
       6 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein each of the variable width notches in the hanger bar is formed with a second notch wall opposing a respective one of the sliding notch walls.  
   
   
       7 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the second notch wall of each of the variable width notches comprises a fixed notch wall.  
   
   
       8 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising an actuator coupled to the sliding notch wall of each of the variable width notches, the actuator being configured to move the sliding notch wall in relation to its respective opposing second wall for each of the variable width notches.  
   
   
       9 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the cabinet comprises a door, and wherein the actuator is further configured to move the sliding notch wall towards its respective opposing second wall for each of the variable width notches when the door is moved from an open position to a closed position, and wherein the actuator is further configured to move the sliding notch wall away from its respective opposing second wall for each of the variable width notches when the door is moved from the closed position to the open position.  
   
   
       10 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a manifold in the interior of the cabinet, the manifold having a plurality of arms, and wherein the variable width notches are configured to support the hangers such that each of the garments is positioned between a different pair of adjacent arms.  
   
   
       11 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the manifold is further configured to traverse the length of the garments at least one time while discharging water, air or steam.  
   
   
       12 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the manifold is further configured to traverse the length of the garments at least one time while discharging water during a wash and rinse cycle, and traverse the length of the garments at least one more time while discharging air during a dry cycle.  
   
   
       13 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 10  wherein each of the different pair of arms are configured to discharge water, air or steam in a downward direction towards the garment therebetween.  
   
   
       14 . A garment processing apparatus, comprising: 
 a hanger bar having a plurality of notches, each of the notches being capable of supporting a hanger with a garment thereon, the hanger bar further comprising means for varying the width of each of the notches; and    a cabinet having an interior, the hanging bar being supported in the interior of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet is configured to process one or more of the garments.    
   
   
       15 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a manifold in the interior of the cabinet, the manifold having a plurality of arms, and wherein the notches are configured to support the hangers such that each of the garments is positioned between a different pair of adjacent arms.  
   
   
       16 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the manifold is further configured to traverse the length of the garments at least one time while discharging water, air or steam.  
   
   
       17 . The garment processing apparatus of  claim 15  wherein each of the different pair of arms are configured to discharge water, air or steam in a downward direction towards the garment therebetween.  
   
   
       18 . A method of processing a plurality of garments in an apparatus including a cabinet having an interior and a hanger bar having a plurality of notches in the interior of the cabinet, the method comprising: 
 placing each of a plurality of hangers in a different one of the notches, each of the hangers having a garment thereon;    adjusting the width of each of said different one of the notches in accordance with the hanger placed thereon; and    processing the garments.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising increasing the width of each of said different one of the notches, and removing the hangers from the cabinet.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the width of each of said different one of the notches is adjusted using an actuator.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the cabinet further comprises a door, and wherein the width of each of said different one of the notches is adjusted using an actuator responsive to the position of the door.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the processing of the garments comprises spraying the garments with water from a manifold that traverses the length of the garments at least one time.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the processing of the garments comprises blowing air onto the garments from a manifold that traverses the length of the garments at least one time.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the processing of the garments comprises applying steam to the garments from a manifold that traverses the length of the garments at least one time.