Garment sorting and processing system and method

Abstract

A system and method input, at a first station (78), information of a particular garment (10) into a computer system (80) using a machine-readable garment identification tag (12). Garment data from a garment identification tag (12) is assigned to a garment identifier (44), which is printed or formed on the hanger collar member. The hanger collar member (44) provides consistent scan points for all subsequent sorting stations (84) in the system (70). This eliminates the need to find the scanning position of the garment label (12) in a sorting station (84) following the initial station (78). Each hanger collar member (44) has a machine-readable code (46) assigned to an associated garment (10) and placed on a neck (30) of a hanger (16) of the garment (10). The position of the hanger collar member (44) on the neck (30) of the hanger (16) makes it easy to access and read, significantly superior in these aspects to the garment label (12).

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 454,980, filed on March 28, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a system and associated method for sorting articles hung on hangers, and more particularly to a system and associated method for sorting garments hung on hangers and moved on a conveyor through a cleaning facility. Background Art

[0004] Commercial uniform rental laundry facilities handle large quantities of clothing or garments and must be able to sort the garments once they have been washed and are ready for delivery to customers. Typically, commercial facilities need to label and sort the garments by delivery route, customer, and user. Most laundries sort the garments manually. Automated sorting machines can be used to sort the garments, which reduces the amount of manpower required. Sorting machines used for this purpose typically include a conveyor onto which garments supported by hangers are conveyed. The conveyor carries the garments along the conveyor's path to various processing and sorting stations. Each garment typically has a coded label that is detected or scanned by a detector. The coded information is then transmitted to a computerized processor, which controls the automatic sorting of the garments. Each station may be equipped with an automatic system for removing items from the conveyor. An operator manually scans the label of each garment into a computer using a barcode scanner. The barcode allows the computer to track each item as it moves along the conveyor, so the computer can control the automatic movement of the item as it passes the appropriate sorting station.

[0005] The conveyor for sorting these various articles usually consists of a conveyor having an attachment member or a hanger tree on which garments supported on hangers are placed. Once the articles are placed on these attachment members, the conveyor transports the garments to various sorting stations along the path of the conveyor. Each sorting station is provided with an automatic device for removing the garments from the conveyor so that garments identified as being for a specific route, customer or user are collected at each sorting station. The conveyor is usually continuously moving, wherein the garments are placed one at a time on the attachment members, each of which supports one or more garments. In order to provide the conveyor with garments to be sorted, it is usually necessary for an operator to deliver each individual garment to the attachment member of the conveyor. In most cases, the operator also needs to scan or enter the identification data of each garment into a computer at some sorting stations along the conveyor line. This allows each item to be tracked by the computer as the item moves along the conveyor, so that when the item passes through the appropriate sorting station, the computer can control the automatic device for removing the item.

[0006] Due to the large volume of garments to be sorted, the task of feeding and identifying garments becomes quite repetitive. Human operators feeding garments into the sorting conveyor is often slow and inefficient. An automated feeding system is needed where large quantities of garments can be separated and fed into a conveyor and automatically identified.

[0007] Additionally, items such as clothing are difficult to identify and difficult to achieve identification throughout the system so that effective sorting can be accomplished. This is easy to understand, as the identification of clothing cannot simply be printed on the visible outer surface of the clothing, but is usually fixed in locations such as the inside of the cuffs or collar, which are not usually easy to see. In addition, when clothing is hung on conventional tracks or conveyors, entanglement of clothing or clothing hangers is a problem that hinders the automatic identification and transportation of clothing.

[0008] A given facility must clean and process a wide variety of garments and the system must track each and every garment throughout the process. Several types of garments may be easily scanned for tracking throughout the system. However, difficulties arise when large and varied garments need to be automatically scanned. Being able to locate accessible machine-readable tags on a wide variety of garments (e.g., pants, blouses, aprons, vests, overalls, dresses, coats, capes, shawls, etc.) is difficult in most cases and an efficient reading process becomes almost insurmountable when considering the need to locate the machine-readable tags in an inconspicuous location on the garment when in use. For example, placement of the tag 12 on a typical button-down base shirt 10 is typically on the back, neck area below the collar 14, such as Figure 1 As shown. This makes it easy to see the clothing tag 12 on such a shirt 10 when the shirt 10 is on the hanger 16. Moreover, when the shirt 10 is worn, the tag 12 in this position is completely concealed. On the other hand, other garments 10 present difficulties in this regard. For example, the tag 12 may be placed on the inner waistband of pants or slacks 10. This placement allows the tag 12 to be hidden when the pants 10 are worn. However, when the pants 10 are folded and hanging on the hanger 16, it is difficult, if not impossible, to access the waistband tag 12 for scanning or reading. These complexities and difficulties are multiplied when the process requires reading each clothing tag 12 on the various garments 10 at multiple locations throughout the system.

[0009] These and other issues should be addressed through improved automated tracking systems and processes for garment washing and sorting facilities. Summary of the invention

[0010] In various embodiments, the present invention solves these and other deficiencies in the prior art. The system and method of the present invention utilizes machine-readable garment tags to input information about a particular garment into a computer system at a first station. In one aspect, the present invention provides an output to a digital display / monitor to show a sorting operator where to place the garment on a hanger on a manual sorting conveyor. In this regard, the operator no longer needs to read human-readable data on a bar code. There is no need to have human-readable data on the garment tag in addition to the machine-readable code or bar code.

[0011] A single initial scan of a garment tag or barcode at the initial sorting hanging station can also bring other benefits. The garment barcode data is assigned to a system barcode that is printed or formed on a hanger neck member. The hanger neck member provides a consistent barcode scanning point for all subsequent sorting stations in the system. This eliminates the need to find the location of a garment tag in a sorting station after the initial station for scanning. Each hanger neck member has a machine-readable code that is assigned to the relevant garment and placed on the neck of the hanger for the garment. The position of the hanger neck member on the neck of the hanger makes it easy to approach and read, which is significantly better than a garment tag in these aspects. The machine-readable code on the hanger neck member is read at each required station after it is applied to the hanger to track the movement of the garment on the hanger. The hanger neck member is removed from the relevant hanger after the last sorting station and its system machine-readable code data barcode is cleared from the system so as to be reused / reallocated to another garment at the initial station later.

[0012] Another aspect of various embodiments of the present invention is to utilize digital output from the initial sorting station to instruct a robot or other non-human operator where to place the identified garments in the second and / or subsequent sorting stations. This approach reduces the number of human operators in the second and subsequent sorting areas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the manner in which these features and advantages are achieved, will become more apparent, and the present invention itself will also be better understood with reference to the following description of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a front bottom view of an exemplary garment and a garment label thereof for treatment in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 1A is an enlarged view of an exemplary clothing label;

[0016] Figure 2is a perspective view of a garment on a hanger moving along a conveyor system and having a garment identification member in the form of a hanger neck member applied to the neck of the hanger from a box containing a plurality of such hanger neck members in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a leading hanger neck sleeve member in a box applied to the neck of a hanger;

[0018] Figure 3A-3B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hanger neck cover member according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4A-4E is a sequential front view of a hanger neck member applied to a hanger neck according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a hanger neck cover mounted on a hanger neck;

[0021] Figure 5A yes Figure 5 An enlarged view of a hanger neck member;

[0022] Figure 6 It is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG.

[0023] Figure 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary garment conveyor system suitable for use with embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a sorting and processing facility suitable for use with the present invention;

[0025] Fig. 9 is a screen view at an initial sorting station of various embodiments of the present invention indicating where a specific garment should be placed based on the garment tag data of the specific garment;

[0026] Fig.10 is a diagram of a robot placing garments onto a conveyor at a facility according to various aspects of the present invention;

[0027] Fig.11 is a top plan view of a sorting and processing facility illustrating the large number of human operators required for the operation of the facility in the absence of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 12-13 is a top plan view of a sorting and processing facility utilizing an embodiment of the present invention to operate the facility with fewer human operators; and

[0029] Figure 14-152 are front elevation and perspective views, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a garment identification member in the form of a hanger neck patch applied to the neck region of a hanger. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] exist Figure 1 , an exemplary garment 10 is shown that can be cleaned, sorted and / or processed according to various embodiments of the present invention. The garment 10 has a garment tag 12, Figure 1 In the shirt garment 10 of the embodiment, the garment label is located below the collar 14 and in the back neck area of ​​the garment 10. Advantageously, placing the garment label 12 on this particular embodiment of the garment 10 allows the garment label 12 to be highlighted during cleaning, sorting and / or processing in a facility according to the present invention, but the garment label 12 is hidden when the garment 10 is used and / or worn. It should be understood that the sorting, processing and / or cleaning system according to the present invention must be applicable to a wide variety of garments 10, including but not limited to Figure 1 Shirts shown as well as a large variety of other garments in design, size and construction.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 1A As shown, the apparel tag 12 may have a variety of information, some of which may be machine readable and some of which may be human readable. Figure 1-Figure 1A An exemplary garment tag 12 in includes a tag, wherein the tag includes identification data to uniquely identify the associated garment. The tag is unique in the system such that no two of the multiple tags in the system have the same identification data. The human-readable information field 12a may include route, customer, and user information. The garment tag 12 may also have a machine-readable information field 12b, such as a barcode, QR code, optical character recognition data, combinations thereof, or other types. The present invention is not limited to any particular type of machine-readable information.

[0032] like Figure 2-Figure 3 As shown, an industrial facility for sorting, processing and / or cleaning garments 10 hangs garments 10 on hangers 16. The hangers 16 shown in the figures herein are wire hangers 16, but any design, style, shape, size or configuration of garment hangers 16 may be used with the present invention. Figure 3The wire hanger 16 shown most clearly is made of a single length of wire and has a linear crossbar 18, which may be omitted in some hanger 16 designs. The crossbar 18 terminates in one of two bends 20 at its opposite ends. A shoulder 22 protrudes from the two bends 20 opposite the crossbar 18. A support 24 protrudes from the shoulder 22 on each arm 26 of the wire hanger 16. The support 24 is coupled to a transverse bar 28, which in many embodiments of the wire hanger 16 is generally parallel to the crossbar 18. A neck region including a neck 30 extends upward from each transverse bar 28 and the two necks 30 are coupled together at a twist joint 32 oriented generally perpendicular to the crossbar 18. At the twist joint 32, the wire of each arm 26 forms a plurality of turns 34 around each other. The wire of each neck 30 is offset from each other as it enters the twist joint 32. The terminal end 36 of the wire of one arm 26 extends upward from the twist joint 32, and the wire of the other arm 26 is bent into a hook 38 and terminates at a terminal hook 40. The neck 30 and twist joint 32 can be considered the neck region of the hanger 16, with or without adjacent components. The hook 38 is suitable for hanging the hanger 16 and the garment 10 on the rod 42 ( Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4A ) or on a conveyor system, as will be discussed below.

[0033] One aspect of the present invention is a garment identification member that is unique to each garment 10, and embodiments of the garment identification member are Figure 2-Figure 6 1 is a hanger neck member 44 that is clipped or mounted on the hanger 16 near the neck 30 and twist joint 32 area of ​​the hanger 16. Each hanger neck member 44 includes a label or tag 46 that is clearly visible when the member 44 is mounted on the hanger 16 to be read by a scanner or reader. The label 46 may include machine-readable data that, when scanned or read, is used to identify the garment 10 on the hanger 16 on which the particular member 44 is mounted. The tag 46 on each member 44 carries identification data to uniquely identify the associated garment 10 on the associated hanger 16. Each tag 46 in the system is unique so that no two tags 46 in the system carry the same identification data.

[0034] like Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 6 As best shown, each hanger neck member 44 has a generally U-shaped cross-section. According to one embodiment, the member 44 has a channel-shaped configuration having a pair of spaced flanges 48 that are generally parallel to each other and joined together at an arcuate bend 50 of the member 44 . Figure 3A-3B The flange 48 in the embodiment is Figure 6The outer surface 52 of the member 44 includes the outer surface of the flange 48 and the outer surface of the curved portion 50, and the label 46 can be located on the outer surface 52 of the member 44, such as Figure 3B and Figure 5A As best shown in FIG. 1 , a rib 54 may be formed longitudinally on the inner face of each flange 48 proximate the curved portion 50. A pair of notches 56 are formed in opposite ends of the member 44 proximate the junction of the flange 48 and the curved portion 50. The notches 56 are offset from one another, as shown in FIG. Figure 3B and Figure 5-Figure 5A As best shown, one notch 56 is at the junction of one flange 48 and curved portion 50, and another notch 56 located on the other end of member 44 is at the junction of the other flange 48 and curved portion 50. In various embodiments, member 44 can be made of a durable polycarbonate or plastic material and / or can be produced by additive manufacturing. Label 46 can be adhesively applied to member 44, or permanently etched or formed on exterior face 52.

[0035] like Figure 6 As shown, when mounted on the hanger 16, the hanger collar member 44 snaps around the twist joint 32, with the ribs 54 capturing the wire of the twist joint 32 adjacent the curved portion 50. Figure 5 As best shown, the notch 56 at the lower end of the member is located on the neck 30 of the hanger 16 adjacent the transverse bar 28. Figure 5 As shown, when the component 44 is mounted on the hanger 16 , the component tag 46 is highlighted and presented for scanning or reading without being interfered with by the garment 10 on the hanger 16 .

[0036] like Figure 2-4E As shown, the supply of hanger collar members 44 can be contained in a dispensing clip or box 58, and the supply of members 44 can be biased or spring loaded in the box 58 to urge the leading member 44a in the box 58 toward the mouth 60 of the box 58 so that the leading member 44a can be discharged from the box 58 and attached to the hanger 16. Figure 3 and Figure 3A As shown, according to one embodiment, the cartridge 58 has an open top housing 62 to accommodate a supply of members 44 and the leading member 44a can be ejected from a mouth 60 of the cartridge 58 between a pair of jaws 64 each having an inwardly facing detent 66 .

[0037] Figure 3-4E One sequence of mounting the member 44 to the hanger 16 using the box 58 is shown. The hanger 16 may have the garment 10 hung thereon and the hook 38 of the hanger 16 may hang the hanger 16 and the garment 10 from a rod 42 or similar device. The member 44 may also be mounted to the hanger 16 before the garment 10 is hung on the hanger 16. Figure 4B4F, a box 58 with a leading member 44a positioned in the mouth 60 of the box is approached to the hanger 16. The wire in the hanger 16 adjacent to the hook 38 is inserted into the leading member 44a between the jaws 64 of the box 58. The flanges 48 of the member 44a are positioned on either side of the wire, with the wire positioned between the flanges ( Figure 4B 4G). Then, the box 58 and the leading member 44a are moved along Figure 4B The box 58 moves downward in the direction of arrow A so that the member 44a is close to the twisted joint 32 of the hanger 16. The box 58 continues to move downward relative to the hanger 16 to position the leading member 44a at the twisted joint 32 or neck area of ​​the hanger 16. Then, the box 58 moves along Figure 4C and Figure 4D The cassette 58 and the remaining components 44 are moved away from the hanger 16, thereby mounting the component 44 on the hanger 16. As the cassette 58 and the remaining components 44 are moved away from the hanger 16, the ribs 54 in the components 44 are used to hold the components 44 on the twisted joint 32 of the hanger 16. Once the leading component 44a is ejected from the cassette 58, the next component 44 is moved along the Figure 4D The direction of arrow C is pushed forward into the mouth 60 of the box to become the next leading member 44a. In this way, member 44 is firmly and releasably mounted on the hanger 16, wherein label 46 is prominently displayed on the hanger 16 without being interfered or blocked by the garment 10 hanging on the hanger 16.

[0038] like Figure 5 As best shown, in one embodiment, the bottom notch 56 of the member 44 is seated on the wire of the hanger 16 between the transverse bar 28 and the neck 30. The bottom notch 56 is offset from the longitudinal centerline CL at the bend 50 of the member 44 to be positioned on the wire because the neck 30 on one arm 16a is offset from the wire at the neck 30 of the other arm 16b of the hanger 16 below the twist joint 32. Figure 6 The cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 also shows the juxtaposition of the wires in arms 16 a, 16 b near the twist joint 32 .

[0039] Figure 12-13 An exemplary embodiment of a cleaning, sorting or processing system 70 having the benefits of various aspects of the present invention is shown, wherein each hanger 16 having associated garments 10 has a hanger collar member 44 mounted thereon. The member 44 on each hanger 16 in the system 70 allows a bar code reader 76 at a specific location within the system 70 to read the label 46 on the member 44, thereby eliminating a number of operators 72 within the system 70. Fig.12 The system 70 in FIG. 7 uses only three operators 72, while Fig.13The system in FIG. 70 uses only two operators 72 because the readers 76 located at various locations throughout the system 70 read the tags 46 on the components 44 in a more reliable, efficient, consistent and accurate manner than the prior art in which operators 72 read the garment tags 12. Example locations of the readers 76 are as follows: Figure 12-13 As shown, the present invention also includes other locations, quantities and specifications of the reader 76. The label 46 on the component 44 and the reader 76 for such label 46 are shown and described in various embodiments herein as using barcode technology, but embodiments of the present invention may also utilize other machine readable or detection technologies (e.g., QR, RFID, etc.).

[0040] In this aspect of the invention, a single scan of the garment barcode 12 at the initial sorting and hanging station 70a enters the information into the computer database 80 of the facility 70, which will be assigned a system barcode and printed or on the hanger neck cover component 44 label 46. The label 46 on the component 44 hanging on the hanger 16 of the garment 10 provides a consistent barcode scanning point for all garment sorting stations in the system 70. The present invention eliminates the need to find the location of the garment label / barcode 12 for scanning in the sorting station after the initial sorting and hanging station 70a. After the final sorting station 70b, the component 44 is removed and its system barcode is cleared for reuse / reallocation of subsequent garments 10 at the first sorting station 70a. In various embodiments of the present invention, thousands of components can be used in a single facility 70.

[0041] exist Figure 8 , an exemplary sorting and processing system / facility 70 according to one aspect of the present invention is shown, wherein a conveyor 74 has unsorted garments 10 hanging on hangers near a starting position 70a. A plurality of sorting stations 1-n and an exit conveyor 74 near a discharge position 70b are used for processed sorted garments 10 and for delivery to customers. Please note that in this schematic diagram, each sorting station 1-n is arranged in series, and other arrangements may also be used in the present invention.

[0042] The unsorted garments 10 hanging on hangers are carried by a conveyor 70 (e.g., a horizontal spiral conveyor in one embodiment) and pass through an initial upstream reader or registration device 78 near a starting position 70a, where, for example, a camera, sensor, or reading device scans the code on the garment tag 12 on the garment 10 and the label 46 on the component 44 mounted on the associated hanger 16 at or near the first sorting section 70a. In the computer system 80 of the facility / system 70, a specific garment tag 12 is associated with the label 46 on the associated component 44 mounted on the hanger 16. Therefore, the reader 76 in the system 70 reads the label 46 at each subsequent time and location, and the specific details of the garment 10 are associated with the labels 12 and 46. After the first registration device 78, the garment tag 12 does not need to be read because the label 46 on the component 44 is easy to read. From here, the garment 10 passes through subsequent sorting stations 1 to n and is transported away by an exit conveyor 74b (which can also be a horizontal spiral conveyor). The garments 10 are correctly and properly sorted based on the reading of the tags 46 on the hanger neck members 44. For possible subsequent checking of the sorting, a scanning device 82 for identifying the garments 10 may be placed close to the exit conveyor 74b.

[0043] Depending on the size of the facility 70, the sorting section is controlled by one or more electronic circuits 19, each of which includes a PLC (which may be connected to a computer 80) and input and output circuits connected to the scanning / reading devices 76, 78, 82, the sorting stations 1, 2,...n and the drive body of the conveyor 74.

[0044] According to the invention, the system 70 further comprises a computer 80, which is connected to a database in which a production program is generated, for example, a production program for a day, since the actual data is retrieved from the database. When necessary, the daily program consisting of a plurality of codes (for example, a plurality of lines of code in the desired order) can be transmitted to a machine control device, for example, the machine control device comprises another computer, which processes the data volume of the day. The collected relevant data are further sent to the actual machine controller, which comprises one or more electronic circuits 19, which are directly connected to the system 70 and placed on or near the system. These electronic circuits control the input and output of the facility itself and ensure that the entire sorting is carried out in accordance with the manner specified in the database and the daily program of each customer regarding the order, size, color, quantity, etc. of the items. The garment tag 12 of the garment 10 is associated with the label 46 on the member 44 mounted on the relevant hanger 16 in the computer database.

[0045] Once the garment 10 on the hanger 16 is near the facility exit, the member 44 may be removed from the hanger 16 and its association with the garment 10 may be deleted from the computer database to facilitate subsequent reuse of the member 44 and tag 46 .

[0046] Another aspect of various embodiments of the present invention is as follows Fig. 9 , where the computer-assisted program uses a bar code reader input at each sorting station 84. The program provides output information 90 to a digital display / monitor 92, thereby showing the operator where to place a particular garment 10 hanging on a hanger 16 on the manual sorting conveyor 74. The garment tag 12 is read by the bar code reader 76, and the sorting program determines the position where the operator placed the garment 10 on the conveyor 74. This operation does not rely on the operator to read the human-readable data 12a on the garment tag 12. This aspect of the present invention also eliminates the need to set the human-readable data 12a on the garment tag 12.

[0047] Another aspect of various embodiments of the present invention is as follows Fig.10 As shown, the data read by the reader 76 from the garment tag 12 is used to guide the robot 94 or the currently available multiple: switches, conveyors and tracks where the garments 10 are placed in the subsequent sorting stations 1 to n to the initial sorting station 70a. The robot 94 can appropriately place the garment 10 on any of the various conveyor hooks 74a. Figure 12-13 As shown, this method reduces the number of manual operations at downstream sorting stations and can be used in conjunction with any reader 76 downstream of the initial sorting station 70a in the system 70.

[0048] Another alternative implementation of the clothing recognition component is as follows Figure 14-15 As shown, the hanger neck patch 96 has a first inner surface and a second outer surface. The first inner surface can be wrapped and fixed to the neck area of ​​the hanger 16, and the first portion of the first surface can be adhered to the second portion of the first surface. The second outer surface carries the mark 46.

[0049] Based on the above disclosure of the general principles of the invention and the detailed description of at least one embodiment, it is easy for those skilled in the art to understand the various modifications that the invention can make. Therefore, we wish to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A system for handling a plurality of garments, each of the plurality of garments being hung on one of a plurality of hangers, each of the plurality of hangers having a hook and a neck region below the hook, the system comprising: a plurality of garment identification members, each of the plurality of garment identification members being positioned on one of the plurality of hangers proximate the neck region; a plurality of markers, each marker of the plurality of markers being on one of the plurality of garment identification members and positioned proximate the neck region of an associated hanger, wherein each of the plurality of markers includes identification data to uniquely identify an associated garment on the associated hanger, wherein each of the plurality of markers is unique in the system such that no two of the plurality of markers in the system have the same identification data; and at least one reader positioned and adapted to read the plurality of indicia on the plurality of garment identification members; Each of the plurality of garments is suspended below the neck region of the associated hanger of the plurality of hangers to allow the reader to read the plurality of markings on the plurality of garment identification members.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein: Each of the plurality of clothing identification components further comprises one of the following: a hanger neck member mounted on the neck region of the associated hanger, each hanger neck member having a generally U-shaped cross-section and having a pair of spaced flanges, the pair of flanges being generally parallel to each other and coupled together at an arcuate bend of the hanger neck member, the neck region of the associated hanger being positioned between the spaced flanges, an outer face of the hanger neck member carrying the indicia; as well as A hanger neck patch having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is wrapped around and fixed to the neck region of the hanger, and a first portion of the first side is adhered to the second portion of the first side, and the second side carries the indicia.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein: The hanger neck member further comprises: a longitudinal top end and a longitudinal bottom end; and A top notch and a bottom notch are located in the longitudinal top end and the longitudinal bottom end, respectively, the top notch and the bottom notch are each positioned proximate the curved portion and adapted to receive an arm of the hanger therein.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein: The top recess is longitudinally offset relative to the bottom recess.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein: The hanger neck member further comprises: A first rib and a second rib, each formed on one of the flanges and protruding from an inner face of the hanger neck member at a position spaced apart from the bent portion, capture the neck region of the hanger.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: A box contains a first group of the plurality of garment identification members arranged in sequence such that a leading garment identification member in the first group is positioned for mounting on one of the hangers proximate the neck region.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: A conveyor from which each of the plurality of hangers and associated garments are suspended for movement around the system.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of garment tags, each of the plurality of garment tags being located on one of the plurality of garments; as well as A plurality of garment tags, each of the plurality of garment tags being located on one of the plurality of garment labels, wherein each of the plurality of garment tags includes garment identification data to uniquely identify the associated garment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein: The at least one reader further comprises: A registration device is located upstream within the system to read both the garment identification data on each of the garment tags and the identification data on each of the plurality of garment identification members to associate the garment identification data with the identification data for the associated garment in the system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein: Since the clothing identification data for each of the multiple clothing items is associated with the identification data for the corresponding clothing item in the system, each of the at least one reader positioned in the system downstream of the registration device reads only the identification data on the clothing identification member for each of the multiple clothing items.

11. A system for handling a plurality of garments, each of the plurality of garments being hung on one of a plurality of hangers, each of the plurality of hangers having a hook and a neck region below the hook, the system comprising: a plurality of garment identification members, each of the plurality of garment identification members being positioned on one of the plurality of hangers proximate the neck region; a plurality of markers, each of the plurality of markers being located on one of the plurality of garment identification members and positioned proximate a neck region of an associated hanger, wherein each of the plurality of markers includes identification data to uniquely identify an associated garment on the associated hanger, wherein each of the plurality of markers is unique in the system such that no two of the plurality of markers in the system have the same identification data; and at least one reader positioned and adapted to read the plurality of indicia on the plurality of garment identification members; wherein the at least one reader further comprises a registration device located upstream within the system to read both the garment identification data on each of the garment tags and the identification data on each of the plurality of garment identification members, thereby associating the garment identification data with the identification data for the associated garment in the system; wherein each of the plurality of garments is suspended below the neck region of the associated hanger of the plurality of hangers to allow the reader to read the plurality of indicia on the plurality of garment identification members; Wherein, each of the plurality of clothing identification components further comprises one of the following: (a) a hanger neck member mounted on the neck region of the associated hanger, each hanger neck member having a generally U-shaped cross-section and having a pair of spaced flanges, the pair of flanges being generally parallel to each other and coupled together at an arcuate bend of the hanger neck member, the neck region of the associated hanger being positioned between the spaced flanges, the outer face of the hook neck member carrying the indicia; and (b) a hanger neck patch having a first side and a second side, the first side being wrapped around and secured to the neck region of the hanger, and a first portion of the first side being adhered to a second portion of the first side, the second side bearing the indicia; a box containing a first group of the plurality of garment identification members arranged in sequence such that a leading garment identification member in the first group is positioned to be mounted on one of the hangers proximate the neck region; a plurality of garment tags, each of the plurality of garment tags being located on one of the plurality of garments; and a plurality of garment tags, each of the plurality of garment tags being located on one of the plurality of garment labels, wherein each of the plurality of garment tags includes garment identification data to uniquely identify the associated garment; Wherein, since the clothing identification data of each of the multiple clothing pieces is associated with the identification data for the corresponding clothing in the system, each of the at least one reader positioned downstream of the registration device in the system only reads the identification data on the clothing identification component for each of the multiple clothing pieces.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein: The hanger neck member further comprises: a longitudinal top end and a longitudinal bottom end; and a top notch and a bottom notch in said longitudinal top end and said longitudinal bottom end, respectively, said top notch and said bottom notch being respectively positioned proximate said curved portion and adapted to receive an arm of said hanger therein; Wherein, the top recess is longitudinally offset relative to the bottom recess.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein: The hanger neck member further comprises: A first rib and a second rib, each formed on one of the flanges and protruding from an inner face of the hanger neck member at a position spaced apart from the bent portion, thereby capturing the neck region of the hanger.

14. A method for handling a plurality of garments, each of the plurality of garments being hung on one of a plurality of hangers, each of the plurality of hangers having a hook and a neck region below the hook, the method comprising the steps of: attaching each of a plurality of garment identification members to one of the plurality of hangers proximate a neck region of the associated hanger, each of the plurality of garment identification members having an indicia with identification data to identify an associated garment on the associated hanger; as well as conveying the plurality of garments through a plurality of stations; Indicia on each of the plurality of garment identification members is read to facilitate processing of the associated garment through the plurality of stations.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein: Each of the plurality of garments is suspended below a neck region of an associated hanger of the plurality of hangers to facilitate the reading step.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising, wherein the attaching step further comprises one of: clamping a hanger neck member onto the neck region of the associated hanger, each hanger neck member having a generally U-shaped cross-section and having a pair of spaced apart flanges that are generally parallel to each other and coupled together at an arcuate bend of the hanger neck member, the neck region of the associated hanger being positioned between the spaced apart flanges, the outer face of the hook neck member carrying the indicia; and A hanger neck patch having a first side and a second side is wrapped around the neck region of the associated hanger, a first portion of the first side being adhered to the second portion of the first side, the second side bearing the indicia.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: The notches on the longitudinal ends of the hanger neck member are mounted to the arms of the associated hanger.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein: The attaching step further comprises: A leading hanger neck member of the group of the plurality of hanger neck members is dispensed from a box containing the group of the plurality of hanger neck members.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein: Each of the garments has a garment tag, and each of the garment tags has a garment tag, and each of the garment tags includes garment identification data to identify the associated garment, and the method further comprises: Both the garment indicia on the garment tag and the indicia on the garment identification member of each of the plurality of garments are initially read at an upstream station of the plurality of stations to associate the garment identification data with the identification data for the associated garment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: Since the garment identification data for each of the plurality of garments is associated with the identification data for the corresponding garment, the reading step further includes reading only the identification data on the garment identification member for each of the plurality of garments.

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