Abstract: An interchangeable hook-and-bracket system for a manufacturing process is disclosed. The interchangeable hook-and-bracket system may be configured to cooperate with a vertical conveying system of a food-processing system. Interchangeable hooks of the conveyor system may comprise hook portions and bracket portions that may be configured to releasably attach to one another. The bracket portions may be made substantially of a structurally robust material such as a metal and may be non-releasably attached to the conveyor system, and the hook portions may be made substantially of a flexible material such as a polymer-based material. More than one hook portion may correspond to a bracket portion, each hook portion having a configuration corresponding to a particular product, casing, throughput, and/or process condition.

Abstract: Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage having a rotatable article support; and a turning block associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.

Abstract: A conveyor installation for conveying and accumulating hanging items comprises a drive chain which is mounted to a guide rail, and retaining members which are mounted on rollers below the drive chain. The retaining members—together with the items to be transported which are suspended therefrom—are conveyed by the drive chain in a direction of conveyance and, if required, stopped and accumulated by means of a stopping device, with the drive connection being released between the drive chain and the retaining members by displacing the drive chain upwards due to a particular design of coupling members arranged on the lower side of the drive chain.

Abstract: An article support assembly includes a carriage for riding along a conveyor and a holder and turning block depending from and rotatable together relative to the carriage for supporting an article. Rotation of an article is effected in response to the article support and turning block moving past a turning station along a conveying path. Position stops are operatively arranged between the turning block and the carriage for holding the turning block and holder yieldably in at least one predetermined indexed orientation relative to the carriage. The position stops include at least one pair of confronting magnetic elements associated with the carriage and the turning block and located to align with each other when the turning block and holder are in the predetermined indexed orientation.

Abstract: An article support assembly (1) is adapted for movement by a conveyor along a path of conveyance. The article support assembly (1) includes a trolley (5) for engagement by the conveyor and a shackle (3) configured to support an article, and rotatable with respect to the trolley. A turning block (33) is associated with the shackle (3), and rotation of the turning block with respect to the trolley (5) causes corresponding rotation of the shackle relative to the trolley. Yieldable indexing features (23, 27, 29, 31) are operatively arranged between the trolley (5) and the turning block (33) to define at least a first and a second incremental rotational position or orientation for the shackle (3). The yieldable indexing features (23, 27, 29, 31) of the article support assembly (1) are biased into yieldable engagement by magnetic repelling forces.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for the handling, transport and or storage of items of wearing apparel which are hung on hangers. In the system, there is plurality of transport units which travel over a rail system from a first location (e.g. an inbound location) to a second location (e.g. an outbound location). Each transport unit has a carrier section which, in the first operating position of the transfer unit, is generally horizontally aligned, and is suspended from a rail by means of first and second roller support sections at opposite ends of the carrier section. The transport unit has a second operating position where the carrier section is rotated relative to one of the roller support sections to a more vertical orientation where the garment units are closer together in a horizontal direction and more vertically aligned with one another, this being a position in which the garment units can be stored and/or shipped in a more closely packed configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suspended conveyer device for conveying supports (7) for goods to be conveyed along conveyer paths (54, 58), comprising a running rail arrangement with running rails (52, 56) which are associated with the conveyer paths and on which the supports (7) for goods to be conveyed can be guided. According to the invention, a rerouting station (50) is provided which is constructed to selectively reroute supports (7) for goods to be conveyed from a first conveyer path (54) to a second conveyer path (58) or to leave them on the first conveyer path (54), and to selectively reroute supports (7) for goods to be conveyed from the second conveyer path (58) to the first conveyer path (54) or to leave them on the second conveyer path (58). The invention also relates to a rerouting station of this type.

Abstract: A carrier locking system for a horizontal pendulum conveyor employs a coupler at the free end of a generally L-shaped pendulum arm which interlocks with a receiver on a carrier. The coupler and receiver are normally in an unlocked position when the carrier travels along a horizontal path, and automatically interlock when the carrier travels along an inclined path. Locking the carrier to the pendulum arms prevents the carrier from becoming separated from the pendulum arms when descending into a surface treatment tank.

Abstract: A movable, adjustable carrier assembly suitable for transporting a tire through a tire retreading plant along a conveyor track at different heights. The adjustable carrier assembly includes a main bar and a support bar. The support bar self-lockingly engages one of a plurality of notches or slots in the main bar. By reason of the multiplicity of notches, the height of the support bar, and accordingly the height of the tire it is transporting, can be adjusted, thus permitting a tire to be transported throughout a tire retreading plant on a single adjustable carrier, the height of the tire being adjusted as needed at the various operational stations. Also, the same adjustable carrier can be adjusted to accommodate tires of different sizes.

Abstract: A hanger for an endless, continuously traveling conveyor for carrying articles on wire hooks through a spray paint field. The hanger has an upper element permanently attached to the traveling conveyor and a lower element easily removed and replaced while the conveyor is traveling, so that the holes in the lower element for the wire hanger hooks can be easily cleaned of encrusted paint.