GB2164909A - Garment sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Hangers loaded with garments move down input rail 15 one by one to input station B where they are loaded onto carriers 11 suspended, from an endless conveyor 10, which is moving in the direction indicated. The hangers are off-loaded from the carriers 11 onto appropriate output rails 21 to 26 at respective output stations C. The system is co- ordinated by an electronic processor 47 which has access to information on the number of units of distance along the conveyor 10 between the input station B and each output station C and counts the units of distance moved by the conveyor 10, e.g. as indicated by a pulsed signal from proximity switches 14 on drive wheel 13. The processor 47 receives information on the required output station destination of each garment, e.g. from a digital code keyed into keyboard 48, or a bar code read by laser scanner 19, and actuates an output device at the appropriate output station C to pick the hanger off the carrier 11 when it has moved the relevant number of distance units from the input station B. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Garment sorting apparatus This invention relates to garment sorting apparatus as used, for example, after large scale laundering of garments to sort same into batches depending on their destination.

Garment sorting systems are known which comprise an endless conveyor having hooks or pick-up probes suspended at intervals therealong. The hooks or probes move around on the conveyor picking up garments (loaded onto hangers) which are positionsd at loading stations and discharging them at remote work stations or storage stations.

With most of the known systems, however, the garments (loaded onto hangers) picked up from any given loading station are always discharged at the same work station or storage station. In other words there has to be a plurality of loading stations, one corresponding to each work or storage station where garments may need to be discharged. Moreover, before distribution of the garments to their appropriate work or storage stations by the pick-up probes, each garment has to be man-handled and positioned at the correct loading station by an operator. In one such system, there are ten, twenty or thirty different loading stations, each at a slightly different height with the pick-off probes for the respective stations suspended at corresponding heights.In another such system the loading stations and the respective pick-up probes have matching cams and cam followers so that any one loading station will only have its garment picked up by a probe which delivers to the correct work station or storage station, with which the probe is also compatible.

In another known sorting system which is slightly more sophisticated, the operator can adjust a marker at each loading station to indicate the required destination of the garment being positioned there and the pick-up probes are able to recognise the marker positions and transport each garment to the appropriate destination.

All of these systems have the disadvantage that the operator must recognise the station to which each garment must be despatched and also position the garment or the marker appropriately. Accordingly numerous errors can arise.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved garment sorting system which is far simpler to use and is less prone to operator error than known systems. In other words, a more automated system is aimed for which can sort and distribute garments more efficiently than hitherto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pick-up probe or carrier for such a system which facilitates pick-up and discharge of garments loaded on hangers with minimum likelihood of jamming.

With the first-mentioned object in view, the present invention provides, as a first aspect, garment sorting apparatus comprising an endless conveyor having carriers suspended at intervals therealong for reception of hangers loaded with garments at an input station and for selective off-loading of same at a plurality of output stations and drive means operative to drive the conveyor, characterised in that each output station is arranged a pre-determined number of units of distance along the conveyor beyond the input station, and in that control means are provided which are operative to detect and count the units of distance moved by the conveyor, to note the desired output station for each garment arriving at the input station and to bring about off-loading of each garment (on its respective hanger) at the appropriate output station.

Preferably, whilst driving the conveyor, the drive means also provides a pulsed signal to the control means, each pulse indicating that the conveyor has moved a fixed unit of distance. For example, in a preferred practical embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, the drive means includes a sprocket wheel having one marker or several symmetrically arranged markers thereon and a sensor located adjacent the sprocket wheel, which sensor transmits a signal, i.e. a pulse, to the control means each time the marker or one of the markers contacts same or passes same.

Advantageously the carriers on the conveyor are positioned one unit of distance apart.

Each garment sorted by means of this apparatus will, of course, carry a code indicative of the output station to which it should be despatched. The control means preferably includes an electronic processor having a random access memory for storing codes indicative of output station destinations of the garments being sorted, means for comparing input codes in respect of garments arriving at the input station with the stored codes, and means for actuating output devices at the respective output stations to bring about offloading of each garment (on its respective hanger) at the appropriate output station.

The control means also advantageously includes a keyboard for keying in a digital or alphanumeric input code in respect of each garment and/or a laser scanner for reading a bar code as a garment carrying same moves towards the input station and for supplying same as an input code to the electronic processor. A liquid crystal display may conveniently be provided to display the keyed-in code or the transiated code corresponding to the bar code respectively to enable a visual check by the operator.

As mentioned, each output station is a predetermined number of units of distance beyond the input station in the direction of travel of the conveyor. This information is also held in the memory of the processor, so that having determined the desired output station for a particular garment from the code it carried, the number of units of distance the garment must travel between loading onto and offloading from the carrier is determined. A counter in the electronic processor continuously counts the number of pulses received, e.g. from the drive means, which corresponds to the units of distance travelled by the conveyor.After the garments have been loaded onto the carrier and after the correct number of counts has been incremented to the counter, the garment reaches the correct output station and an output device at this output station is actuated by means of a signal from the processor.

At the input station, the apparatus advantageously includes a device comprising two elongate elements which extend parallel to each other for a portion of their length at respective sides of the path of the carriers, one of the elements having an inclined input arm leading downward from an input rail.

At each output station, the apparatus advantageously includes an output device comprising an angled finger which, under the influence of the control means, is swingable into a position extending between the path of the carriers and a respective output rail so as to pick off a hanger loaded with a garment from one of the carriers.

The configuration of the carrier is extremely important in ensuring that loading and offloading of hangers loaded with garments from the conveyor is achieved in problem-free manner, i.e. without jamming. Advantageously, each carrier suspended from the conveyor has a configuration including, in sequence, a first downwardly extending region, a second region which is bent and inclined upwardly relative to the first region, a third region which is bent relative to the second region and extends substantially horizontally or at an upward incline back towards the first region but is offset from the first region, and a fourth region (designed for reception of a garment hanger hook) which inclines downwardly from the third region and has an upturned end.

This carrier co-operates successfully with both the loading device and the output device of the apparatus of the invention.

The configuration of the carrier is, by itself, a separate aspect of the present invention.

Moreover, carriers, and/or a loading device and/or output devices having the features mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may be provided in any garment sorting apparatus of the type comprising an endless conveyor having carriers suspended at intervals therealong for reception of hangers loaded with garments at an input station and for selective offloading of same at a plurality of output stations and drive means operative to drive the conveyor.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one practical embodiment of the garment sorting apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the carriers as represented diagrammatically at position A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the carrier shown in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrow III in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing how carriers interact with the loading device at position B in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the loading device of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an end view showing one of the carriers in combination with the loading device of Figs. 4 and 5 in the direction of the arrows VI in Figs. 4 and 5;; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view illustrating one of the carriers interacting with an output device at position C in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an end view, to a reduced scale, illustrating the carrier and output device of Fig.

7 as well as one of the output rails of the apparatus; and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another practical embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, which is larger than the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

A practical embodiment of the garment sorting apparatus of the invention, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, comprises an endless conveyor 10 in the form of a stainless steel chain with carriers 11 suspended at 30 cm intervals therealong. The conveyor 10 runs inside a series of slotted tubes 12 (see Figs.

4 to 7) which are supported from below by uprights (not shown), or, alternatively, from above. Guards (not shown) may also be provided to further protect the conveyor 10 from interference.

The conveyor 10, which may, for example, be 1 8m long, is driven by a sprocket wheel 13 at one end. The sprocket wheel 13 is connected to a motor by way of gearing (not shown) and a chain tensioning device (not shown) is also provided at this end of the conveyor 10. Four markers in the form of proximity switch or contact switch probes 14 are arranged symmetrically, i.e. equidistant from each other on a circular path, on one surface of the sprocket wheel 13 and a sensor 44 is arranged above or below the edge of the wheel 13. If, for example, the circumference of the wheel 13 is 120cm, the actuation of the sensor 44 by each probe 14 indicates that the conveyor has travelled 30 cm.

At one side of the conveyor 10, a single downwardly inclined input rail 15 is provided.

This has at least three gates, namely a supply gate 16, an inspection gate 17 and an input gate 18 each in the form of a retractable fin ger in contact with the rail 15 so as to prevent passage of hangers down the rail 15 until retracted. Adjacent the inspection gate 17 there is a keyboard 48 and a laser scanner 19.

At the other side of the conveyor 10, there are a plurality of output rails, in this case six, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26. The minimum distance apart of such rails is 75 cm to allow garments to hang side by side. However, for simplicity in later explanation of the operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed that in the present example the rails are 90 cm apart.

The configuration of each carrier 11 is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Basically each carrier 11 comprises a first downwardly extending region 31, a second region 32 which is bent and inclines upwardly relative to the first region 31, a third region 33 which extends substantially horizontally back towards the first region 31, but which is offset from the first region 31, and a fourth region 34 which inclines downwardly from the third region 33 and has an upturned end 30.

That part 29 of the second region 32 immediately adjoining the first region 31 provides in combination with the first region 31, a Ushape in a vertical plane before the remainder of the second region 32 diverges from this plane. This pert 29 of each carrier 11 engages with a guide rail (not shown) along the output rail side of the conveyor 10 to ensure correct alignment of the carriers 11 for off-loading of garments.

The upper end of the first carrier region 31 is bent at right angles for attachment to a web 28 hanging down from the conveyor chain 10. The bent region has a transverse plate 49 welded thereto and beyond the plate 49 it has a screw threaded end region 5a.

The end region 50 projects through a hole in the web 28 and is secured by a nut whilst the plate 49 abuts the web 28 and thus correctly positions the carrier 11. Relative movement between the carrier 11 and the web 28, which would lead to undesirable swinging of the carrier 11, is prevented by side tabs 27 projecting from the plate 49, one at each side of the web 28.

Where the input rail 15 approaches the conveyor 10 there is an input station indicated at B in the Fig. 1 and illustrated in greater detail in Figs. 4 to 6. Where the output rails 21 to 26 approach the conveyor 10, there are respective output stations, one of which is indicated at C in Fig. 1 and illustrated in greater detail in Figs. 7 and 8.

At the input or loading station B, the input rail 15 joins a loading device 35 of special configuration, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6. The loading device 35 comprises two elongate elements 37, 38 which for more than half their respective lengths extend parallel to each other directly beneath the slotted tube 12 carrying the conveyor 10. At one end, the first element 37 inclines upwardly and outwardly away from the tube 12, thus providing an input arm 36 which is supported by a hook member 39, which in turn is connected to the tube 12 by a bracket 51. It is this arm 36 which joins the input rail 15, indeed, acts as an extension of same, and receives hangers loaded with garments from the input gate 18, as will be described later. An additional supporting strut 40 connects the first element 37 to another point on the hook member 39.At the same end of the device 35, the second element 38 is curved outwardly away from the first element 37, but subsequently bends upwardly beneath the tube 12 and is connected at its end to the hook member 39.

At the output or off-loading station C the output rail 22 approaches the conveyor 10. It will, of course, be understood that all of the output rails 21 to 26 incline downwardly from the conveyor 10. An output device in the form of an angled finger 41 is attached to the end of a hook member 42 which is mounted below the tube 12 by a bracket 52, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The hook member 42 is swivellable under pneumstic control so as to swing the attached finger 41 into a pick-off position in which one end of the finger 41 lies almost in the path of the carriers 11 travelling along on the conveyor 10 whilst the other end 45 is adjacent the end of the output rail 22. The finger 41 is bent in two places.

Firstly, at 46 it is bent in an approximately vertical plane and secondly at 43 it is bent sideways so that the end 45 is exactly in line with the upper end of the output rail 22 when the finger 41 is in its pick-off position. A similar hook member 42 and a similar finger 41 are located at the output station at the upper end of each of the output rails 21 to 26.

However, at the last output station in the direction of travel of the conveyor 10, i.e. at rail 26, the finger 41 may be held permanently in the pick-off position to ensure that no hangers carrying garments are transported by the carriers 11 beyond that point to jam the drive mechanism.

The final part of the apparatus is an electronic processor 47. As shown in Fig. 1, this processor 47 is connected to the supply gate 16, the inspection gate 17 end the input gate 18 on the input rail 15, to the keyboard 48 and the laser scanner 19, to the proximity or contact switch sensor 44 and to each of the pneumatic actuating mechanisms for the output devices 41. The processor 47 includes a counter to count pulses from the proximity or contact switch sensor 44 and a memory to store coding data for the garments being sorted by the apparatus and data relating to the unit distances between the input station B and the various output stations. The information stored can, of course, be changed at any time.

Operation of the apparatus will now be ex plained with reference in particular to Figs. 1, 4 and 7.

Firstly, the necessary data is provided to the processor memory by means of a keyboard (not shown) attached to the processor 47.

This data includes a list of all the codes carried by the garments to be sorted, information as to which output rail each should be assigned, identification of the output rail to which garments to be rewashed or repaired should be assigned, and the number of distance units between the input station A and the various output stations in terms of the counts incremented by the counter while a fixed point on the conveyor 10 travels between these stations.

For example, if, as mentioned in the circumference of the sprocket wheel 13 is 120cm and there are four equidistant probes 14, one unit of distance will be 30cm, which for simplicity in this example is also the distance between carriers 11 on the conveyor 10. The distance between the loading station A and the first output station for rail 21 may be fifteen units and the distance between each adjacent output station for rails 21 to 26 may be three units. Thus, if a garment is destined for output rail 21, the processor actuates the output device 41 for rail 21 fifteen counts after loading of the hanger carrying the garment onto a carrier 11, so that the garment is unloaded at the correct place.

The sequence of events for one garment loaded on a hanger will now be described.

The garment arrives at the supply gate 16 at the upper end of the downwardly inclined input rail 15 from, for example, pressing and finishing equipment. Provided that there is no garment present at the inspection gate 17, the processor 47 actuates a pneumatic mechanism to open the supply gate 16 so that the garment on its hanger can slide down to the inspection gate 17. At the inspection gate 17 an operator checks the garment to see whether it is clean and whether any repairs are necessary. If the garment carries a bar code, this is read by the laser scanner 19 and relayed to the processor 47 which notes from its memory store to which output rail this garment should be assigned.Correct operation of the laser scanner 19 may be checked by having a digital code printed adjacent the bar code on the garment, which digital code is displayed by the processor 47 on a liquid crystal display on receipt of the scanner signal. A glance by the operator will confirm whether or not this correctly corresponds to the code on the garment.

Alternatively, if no laser scanner 19 is provided, the operator keys in the digital code displayed on the garment at the keyboard 48.

When the operator has completed inspection of the garment and has deemed the garment satisfactory he/she pushes a first key on the keyboard 48 to open the inspection gate 17 and allow the hanger to slide down to the input gate 18. If the garment is found not to be satisfactory and requires rewashing or repairing, the operator pushes a second button on the keyboard 48 prior to the first button so that the garment code is overriden and the processor 47 assigns the garment to the appropriate output rail designated for rewash/repair of garments.

By comparison with data in its memory store, the processor 47 'knows' from the garment code (or from actuation of the second button) to which output station that garment should be transported and also how many counts should be incremented by the counter after release of the input gate 18 before the appropriate output device 41 should be actuated.

The processor 47 holds the input gate 18 closed until the next pulse is received from the sprocket wheel sensor 44 so that arrival of the garment at the input device 35 is synchronised with the approach of a carrier 11 and also so that the garment is at a known position before the counter is incremented.

It may advantageously be arranged such that when a sensor pulse is transmitted to the processor 47 and the input gate 18 is released, the next carrier 11 is half a unit of distance, i.e. 15cm, from the loading point.

This gives the garment hanger time to drop down onto the loading device 35 before the hook 11 arrives.

When the input gate 18 is released the garment, which is of course loaded on its hanger, slides down onto the arm 36 of the loading device 35, which is directly in line with the end of the input rail 15. As the arm 36 converges with and descends towards the second element 38, the hanger hook 53 (see Fig. 4) is caused to swing round slightly by contact with the strut 40 so that the free end of the hanger hook also passes over the second element 38. It is important to have the two elements 37, 38 to hold the hanger steady and substantially perpendicular to the path of the oncoming carrier 11. If only one element were provided the hanger would swing and successful pick up of the hanger by the oncoming carrier 11 would be jeopardised. Moreover, of course, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6-the carrier 11 actually traveis between the elements 37, 38 of the loading device 35 in the direc- tion indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 so is itself correctly guided to effect pick-up of the hanger and garment from the device 35.

The hanger hook 53 lies across the parallel portions of the elements 37 and 38 as the carrier 11 approaches. The downwardly inclined region 34 of the carrier 11 pushes the top of the hanger hook to the end of the elements 37, 38 where it then falls into the crook formed by the upturned end 30. The angle of incline of the region 34 is such that a normal hanger hook 53 with a normal load should not ride up to the top of the incline.

However, if for some reason this occurs the hanger hook 53 simply falls off the rear of the carrier 11 where the horizontal region 33 merges into the region 32, so the apparatus as a whole is not damaged or jammed. The region 32 is bent steeply out of the plane of the regions 33 and 34 so that the free end of a hanger hook will not in any circumstances catch onto this region 32.

The carrier 11 carries the garment loaded on its hanger steadily around the conveyor path end the counter in the processor 47 counts the pulses from the sensor 44. Where the garments pass around a fairly sharp bend in the conveyor path, a projecting guide rod may be provided to contact and slow the outer edges of the hangers so that the hangers are reasonably perpendicular to the conveyor path as they approach the output stations. Also in this region the lower parts 29 of the carriers 11 contact and are guided along the previously mentioned guide rail which is positioned a short spacing beneath the tube 12.

It will be assumed, for the sake of this explanation that the garment just picked up by the carrier 11 is to be off-loaded from the carrier 11 onto the output rail 22. This output rail is eighteen distance units from the loading station B. When eighteen pulses have been counted by the counter (starting from half a distance unit before the loading station B), the carrier 11 will be half a distance unit from the output station C and the processor 47 will actuate the pneumatic mechanism at this output station to swing the hook member 42 and move the finger 41 closely adjacent the path of carrier 11. The firiger 41 remains thus while the carrier 11 on the conveyor 10 moves e.g. one distance unit (i.e. to half a distance unit beyond the output station).

With reference to Fig. 7, the carrier 11 is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow and the hanger hook 53 passes onto the end of the finger 41 while remaining looped over the carrier 11. The end region of the finger 41 is inclined upwardly to the highest point 46 where it turns down again. The hanger hook 53 moves up this incline and as it tends to be held back while the carrier 11 moves on, it also rides up the inclined region 34 of the carrier 11. When the highest point 46 of the finger 41 and the top of the inclined region 34 of the carrier 11 are substantially in line, the hanger hook 53 slides down the slight incline from the point 46 to the point 43 of the finger 41. At the point 43, where the finger 41 is bent sharply towards the upper end of the output rail 22, the hanger hook 53 is caused to turn sharply and its free end clears the end 30 of the carrier 11.The hanger and its garment then slide down to the end 45 of the finger 41 end onto the output rail 22.

If the hanger hook 53 is very badle misshaped such that it cannot clear the end 30 of the carrier 11, it still does not remain on the carrier 11. Since the finger 41 is virtually in contact with the carrier 11, the hanger hook 53 would be pushed up the inclined region 34 and would fall off the rear of the region 33, as previously described. In other words, it would not be carried any further so it could not jam or damage the drive mechanism of the apparatus.

It is important that there should be a slight downward slope between points 46 and 43 so that the hanger hook is over-centre before being directed sideways. If this was not so the hanger hook might slide back down the first part of the finger 41 after release from the carrier 11.

The same sequence of operations occurs for each garment supplied to the input rail 15 while the processor 47 and the drive means of the apparatus are switched on, until all the garments are sorted onto appropriate output rails 21 to 26.

It should, of course, be understood that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention. Many variations are possible. In particular, the number of output rails may vary depending on the user's requirements. At the moment a maximum of 45 is envisaged, but more are possible. All the measurements may of course differ from those mentioned, which were only given to assist explanation. Also the contact or proximity switches may be replaced by magnetic reed or photoelectric switches. Indeed, the counting of units of distance moved by the conveyor may be accomplished in quite a different manner. Furthermore, the memory store of garment codes etc., may be held in a separate computer, with the processor only having counting and co-ordination functions. Other modifications are also possible.

Fig. 9 illustrates a larger and more complex embodiment of the apparatus of the invention which operates on exactly the same principles as those described in relation to Figs. 1 to 8.

In this further embodiment garments loaded on hangers move along a rail from a finishing tunnel 60 to an input rail 15 adjacent which there is a bar code laser scanner 19 and a keyboard 48 for input of garment codes to a central processor (not shown). The garments on hangers are then sequentially loaded onto carriers 11, as previously described, transported around an endless conveyor 10, and offloaded onto respective output rails 61 (seventeen of which are shown). Any gsrments which require repair or re-pressing, as judged by an operative adjacent the input rail 15, are transported further around the conveyor to an additional rail 62 and re-cycled via repair or pressing sections 63, 64 respectively.

Claims (17)

1. Garment sorting apparatus comprising an endless conveyor hsving carriers suspended at intervals therealong for reception of hangers loaded with garments at an input station and for selective off-loading of same at a plurality of output stations and drive means operative to drive the conveyor, characterised in that each output station is arranged a pre-determined number of units of distance along the conveyor beyond the input station, and in that control means are provided which are operative to detect and count the units of distance moved by the conveyor, to note the desired output station for each garment arriving at the input station and to bring about off-loading of each garment (on its respective hanger) at the appropriate output station.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive means provides a pulsed signal to the control means, each pulse indicating that the conveyor has moved a fixed unit of distance.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the drive means includes a sprocket wheel having one marker or several symmetrically arranged markers thereon and a sensor located adjacent the sprocket wheel, which sensor transmits a signal to the control means each time the marker or one of the markers contacts same or passes same.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the carriers on the conveyor are positioned one unit of distance apart.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means includes an electronic processor having a random access memory for storing codes indicative of output station destinations of the garments being sorted, means for comparing input codes in respect of garments arriving at the input station with the stored codes, and means for actuating output devices at the respective output stations to bring about off-loading of each garment (on its respective hanger) at the appropriate output station.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means includes a keyboard for manually supplying input codes to the electronic processor.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means includes a laser scanner for reading bar codes and supplying these as input codes to the electronic processor.

8. Apparatus as claimed in sny preceding claim further including, at the input station, a loading device comprising two elongate elements which extend parallel to each other for a portion of their length at respective sides of the path of the carriers, one of the elements having an inclined input arm leading downward from an input rail.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the input rail is inclined downwardly towards the loading device and a retractible finger contacts the input rail and is operative to selectively allow hsngers loaded with garments to slide down the input rail to the loading device.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further including, at each output station, an output device comprising an angled finger which, under the influence of the control means, is swingable into a position extending between the path of the carriers and a respective output rail so as to pick off a hanger loaded with a garment from one of the carriers.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each carrier has a configuration including, in sequence, a first downwardly extending region, a second region which is bent and inclined upwardly relative to the first region, a third region which is bent relative to the second region and extends substantially horizontally or at an upward incline back towards the first region but is offset therefrom, and a fourth region which inclines downwardly from the third region and has an upturned end.

12. Garment sorting apparatus comprising an endless conveyor having carriers suspended at intervals therealong for reception of hangers loaded with garments at an input station and for selective off-loading of same at a plurality of output stations and drive means operative to drive the conveyor, characterised in that each carrier has a configuration including, in sequence, a first downwardly extending region, a second region which is bent and inclined upwardly relative to the first region, a third region which is bent relative to the second region and extends substantially horizontally or at an upward incline back towards the first region but is offset from the first region, and a fourth region which inclines downwardly from the third region and has an upturned end.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further including, at the input station, a loading device comprising two elon'gate elements which extend parallel to each other for a portion of their length at respective sides of the path of the carriers, such that a hanger loaded with a garment and arranged with its hook over both elements will be picked up by a carrier moving along between the elements.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13 further including, at each output station, an output device comprising an angled finger which is swingable into a position extending between the path of the carriers and a respective output rail so as to pick off a hanger loaded with a garment from one of the carriers.

15. A carrier for attachment to a conveyor for reception of a hanger loaded with a garment, said carrier comprising a first downwardly extending region, a second region which is bent and inclined upwardly relative to the first region, a third region which is bent relative to the second region and extends sub stantially horizontally or at an upward incline back towards the first region but is offset from the first region, and a fourth region which inclines downwardly from the third region end has an upturned end.

16. Garment sorting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A carrier for attachment to a conveyor for reception of a hanger loaded with a garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.