Abstract: The present invention relates to a hanging device for supporting a hanger on a suspended conveyor, on which articles of clothing may be hung. The hanging device includes a base body; a flap which is pivotally mounted on the base body for pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the direction of transport; the flap having an open position and a closed position; and an arrangement for locating the hook of the clothes hanger on a portion of the base body, resting against the flap, with the flap in its closed position. These and other features of the hanging device provide dependable loading, transport and delivery of the clothes hangers under all circumstances.

Abstract: A storage conveyor which has a loading point and a removal point and in which a removal device is arranged preceding (upstream from) the removal point. The removal device includes a separately driven removal belt which is arranged between the two major courses of the horizontally circulating conveyor chain. The removal belt is guided so that it passes from below the conveyor chain to above it. The hanger hooks which rest with their top region on the conveyor chain are engaged at their tip by the removal belt, lifted off the conveyor chain and transferred to a slide rail at the removal point which they engage at their top region, and along which they then slide under the action of gravity. The removal belt can be moved faster than the conveyor chain, so as to separate the hangers as they are being lifted off the conveyor chain. As a result of these features of the storage conveyor, it is possible to supply and remove the hangers in a straight line so that high throughput is possible.

Abstract: A conveyor which can be used both as a storage conveyor for storing goods hanging on hangers, particularly articles of clothing, and as a feed or an oblique conveyor. A traction belt which rotates in a direction of transport grasps the hanger hooks at their tip, whereby the hangers are engaged away from their center-of-gravity line. In this way, both the loading and the delivery points of the conveyor can be developed in an operatively reliable manner. Since the traction belt, structured preferably as a toothed belt, can be supported at any desired place without preventing or impeding its transporting ability, the storage conveyor can be of any desired length. By means of a guide ledge which is formed on the base body of the conveyor and extends parallel to the direction of transport, the hangers transported are prevented from swinging out and thus sliding out of the conveyor. The particular application of the conveyor is determined by selection of the traction belt.

Abstract: A computer-controlled system for transporting workpieces, in which each workpiece is placed on a load carrier, each workpiece and load carrier being marked with an identifier. A central computer is loaded with data relative to each given workpiece, its respective load carrier, and work to be performed on such workpiece, and predetermines a path to be followed by such load carrier. The load carrier is placed on a main path, its identifier is read, and if work is to be performed on a workpiece carried thereon, a switch is thrown to divert the load carrier to an auxiliary path and then to a work station. The load carrier may be diverted to the work station by a swing-out device or by a spur path, for example. After such work, the load carrier is returned to the main path and its identifier is read again to determine whether it again is to be diverted to an auxiliary path for performing further work on a workpiece carried thereon.

Abstract: A coding device for conveying systems comprises code carriers in connection with individual conveying units (30,32) of the conveying system and at least one reading device (48) which is arranged at the conveying track of the conveying system. The code carriers are constructed as rotatable discs (30), and a driving device (50) for rotating the discs during the reading process is provided in connection with the reading device (48).

Abstract: A device for the removal of bobbins from an automatic rotor spinning machine having a conveyor belt placed on the automatic spinning machine for collecting and delivering completed bobbins comprises a transfer device with a frame, a receiving conveyor belt swiveling on the frame in a vertical direction for receiving bobbins from the automatic spinning machine, a roller conveyor section extending the receiving conveyor belt and which can be swiveled between a position inclined in the direction of feed and a horizontal position, a receiving chute placed parallel to the roller conveyor section, a pusher for transfer of bobbins from the roller conveyor section to the receiving chute, a lifting device for vertically moving the receiving chute between a position adjacent to the roller conveyor section and a number of additional positions, and a tilting device for tilting the receiving chute around its longitudinal axis between a horizontal receiving position and a position essentially at a 90.degree.

Abstract: In apparatus for transporting and storing bobbins, especially for removing them from automatic spinning machines, the bobbins are received and collected in an inclined collecting chute from a conveyor belt, are then brought into a horizontal arrangement as a result of the pivoting of the collecting chute, and are pushed in groups from the collecting chute into a transfer chute. A conveyor carrier belonging to a suspension conveyor and provided with at least one chute portion for receiving a group of bobbins is brought into a position adjacent to the transfer chute. The transfer chute is moved into a position located next to the chute portion of the conveyor carrier, and the bobbins are transferred into the chute portion of the conveyor carrier. The bobbins are subsequently moved into a desired target position by means of the conveyor carrier.

Abstract: A conveyer for hanging garments or the like in which the carriage for the articles to be suspended as rollers riding on an on-edge endless band formed along its upper edge with a continuous bead and suspended from a track in which an endless chain supporting the band is continuously driven. An abutment can be selectively introduced into the path of the carriage to temporarily immobilize it and allow loading of articles onto or unloading of articles from the carriage.

Abstract: A coupling device for so-called power and free handling conveyors wherein, for example, a carrier is displaceable along the track and can be coupled to or decoupled from a drive chain by the coupling device. According to the invention, the coupling device comprises a pair of jaws swingably mounted upon a common pivot extending parallel to the track of travel and provided with ramps or camming surfaces designed to spread these jaws to release a carrier or to enable the jaws to engage the carrier. The pivot is provided with an abutment limiting the swinging displacement of the jaws.

Abstract: In an overhead-rail materials-conveyance system including an endless drive chain juxtaposed to an endless rail for driving hanger-type carriers suspended therefrom by means of wheels, a coupling assembly for carrier entrainment comprises a plurality of jaws pivotably mounted on the drive chain for swinging about respective axes parallel to the transport direction. The jaws are each provided with beveled edges for cammingly engaging coupling and uncoupling heads projecting vertically from front and back ends, respectively, of the carriers; the jaws have recesses of a breadth greater than the width of the coupling heads and less than the width of the uncoupling heads for forming locked engagements with only the coupling heads upon spreading of the jaws thereby. Upon the approach of a train of carriers towards a standing carrier, the uncoupling head thereof spreads the jaws entraining the first carrier in the train, thereby releasing this carrier.

Abstract: A circulating conveyor, e.g. of the type in which a load carrier passes along an endless track and supports material to be conveyed, e.g. garments suspended by hangers from the load carrier, comprises in addition to the circulating track, a load carrier which runs with a plurality of wheels on the endless rail and has a displacement chain formed by a multiplicity of rigid links each constituted by a rigid bar hinged at its ends to the adjoining links. The lateral flanks of the bar are engageable by a friction drive roller and a counter roller to displace the chain and hence the load carrier along the circulating path.

Abstract: In a monorail system in which a carriage is displaceable along a track and is adapted to be connected to or released from load carriers or the like, a coupling device is provided which comprises a hook swingably mounted on the axis of one of the supporting rollers of a carriage or carrier and adapted to engage a portion of the roller dolly of the other vehicle above the rail.