GB2232391A

GB2232391A - Apparatus for the hanging transport of objects, in particular items of clothing, through a treatment device

Info

Publication number: GB2232391A
Application number: GB9009394A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wilfried Dreischmeier
Original assignee: Martin Kannegiesser
Current assignee: Martin Kannegiesser
Priority date: 1989-05-31
Filing date: 1990-04-26
Publication date: 1990-12-12
Also published as: FR2647762B1; DE3917630A1; FR2647762A1; GB9009394D0; DE3917630C2

Description

:2:2:-::3:: 1l 4 =I:L 1 ( 1 1 Apparatus for the hanging transport of

objects, in particular items of clothing, through a treatment device is

The invention relates to an apparatus f or the hanging transport of objects, in particular items of clothing hanging on coat-hangers,, through a treatment device serving to smooth the items of clothing according to the preamble of Claim 1.

The apparatus according to the invention serves primarily for the transport of items of clothing hanging on coat-hangers through a treatment device customarily called a finisher, as is described, for example, in German Patent Specification 2,,827.433. This known treatment device has relatively narrow inlet and outlet openings to reduce the outlet of noise, steam and hot air, through which openings the Items of clothing have to be conveyed into and out of the treatment device in longitudinal alignment. In contrast, a transversely aligned further transport of the items of clothing is required inside the treatment device in order, for reasons of efficiency, to be able to accommodate as large a number of items of clothing as possible in packs.

In order to meet these requirements, a correspondingly designed apparatus for the transport of the items of clothing through the treatment device (finisher) is required. Such a device is known from German Patent Specification 2,100.116. This apparatus has two separate conveying devices, namely a first conveying device having a travelling hook for hanging the conveying chain having the coat-hangers for the longitudinally aligned transport of the items of clothing into the treatment device and out of the latter, and a second conveying device having a conveyor spiral for the transversely aligned transport of the coat-hangers hanging on said conveyor spiral with the items of clothing through the treatment chamber of the treatment device. These two conveying devices require the items of clothing with the coat-hangers to be rehung twice in the treatment device. and to be precise from the first conveying device onto the second conveying device and vice versa. Consequently. this known apparatus has. on the one hand, the disadvantage that two separate conveying devices are required while. on the other hand, the twofold rehanging inside the treatment device takes place out of sight of the operating personnel and thus faults cannot be easily recognized and can only be rectified at great effort.

Setting out from the above, the underlying object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type mentioned at the beginning which is of simple construction and guarantees a reliable transport of the items of clothing through the treatment device.

To achieve this object, the apparatus according to the invention has the features of Claim 1. Due to the fact that the conveying route has a plurality of slides, displaceable on at least one guide rail path, for hanging up the coat-hangers provided with the items of clothing to be treated, both longitudinal and transverse transport of the items of clothing, as well as an associated change in spacing of the items of clothing in relation to one another for the transversely aligned transport in close succession, are possible since the coat-hangers accommodating the items of clothing no longer hang directly on the conveying chain, but on the slides decoupled from said conveying chain. In this case, the coat-hangers with the items of clothing always remain on the slides in the region of the treatment device, that is to say they do not need to be rehung. Additionally, the conveying route of the apparatus according to the invention does not require a plurality of conveying devices in contrast to the prior art according to German Specification 2,100,116; rather, said conveying route can be formed from one or more uniform guide rail paths and the slides, which are constructed identically to one another.

According to a preferred development of the apparatus, the slides are mounted positively and nonrotatably in the guide rail path. By this means, , the slides maintain their intended direction of orientation i k in relation to the conveying route during further transport in the guide rail path. Expediently, the guiding of the slides is effected by the fact that their sliding pieces, travelling in the guide rail sections of the guide rail path. which guide rail sections are preferably constructed to be C-shaped in cross-section, are constructed corresponding to the inside dimension of the guide rail sections. Consequently,, the sliding pieces have a multiple function in that, on the one hand, they serve for the displaceable mounting of the slides in the guide rail path and, on the other hand, effect the securing against rotation of the slides in the guide rail sections. The sliding pieces are preferably of approximately square construction so that they guarantee a guiding, which is secure against rotation, of the slides in two alternative positions, offset by 9V, in relation to the guide rail sections. In this manner, longitudinal transport of the items of clothing can take place in the one relative position of the slides in relation to the guide rail sections, while transverse transport of the items of clothing is possible in the alternative position of the slides which is rotated by 90.

According to a further embodiment of the apparatus,, at least one hanger organ is provided below each slide for the accommodation, which is essentially secure against rotation,, of one coat-hanger, namely a coathanger hook. In conjunction with the mounting, which is secure against rotation, of the slides on the guide rail path, it is thus guaranteed that the coat-hangers with the items of clothing maintain their intended longitudinal and transverse orientation during transport along the conveying route without appreciable pendulum or rotational movements. By this means, both the longitudinally orientated items of clothing can pass smoothly through the narrow inlet and outlet openings on the treatment device and transverse orientated items of clothing can travel through the treatment zone of the treatment device in packs without appreciable mutual contact or the risk of becoming entangled.

Expediently, each slide has one hanger organ with two identically constructed, obliquely aligned receiving slots which are situated opposite each other in opposite alignment. In this manner, during a complete circulation on the conveying route, the slides no longer need to have their original position relative to the guide rail path at a certain starting position, for example a coat-hanger transfer point; rather, it is guaranteed even in the case of a change in direction of the slides of 180 occurring during the circulation that one of the two guide slots is directed in each case to a certain side of the guide rail path.

According to a further proposal of the invention, the guide rail sections are preferably mutually offset by 900. The guide rail path is interrupted in the corner regions between adjacent guide rail sections, by which means, at least inside the treatment device, despite the 90 change in direction of adjacent guide rail sections, the slides can pass without a relative rotation from one guide rail section to the adjoining - offset by 90 - guide rail section to the transition from longitudinal conveyance of the items of clothing when travelling into and out of the treatment device to transverse conveyance of the items of clothing through the treatment zone. Consequently, this reorientation of the items of clothing in the treatment device takes place in the case of the apparatus according to the invention without a second conveying device.

In the case of the apparatus according to the invention, a circulating conveying chain is provided for the forward movement of the slides along the conveying rail path, which conveying chain serves due to the hanging of the coat-hangers on the slides in contrast to the prior art according to German Patent Specification 2,100,116, solely as a forward movement organ, but not at the same time as a carrying organ f or the items of clothing. Expediently, the conveying chain has carriers which are arranged with certain mutual spacings and which, by resting on the sliding pieces, push the slides further along the conveying route. Consequently, there is no direct connection between the conveying chain or the carriers arranged on it and the sliding pieces on the slides. It is this that enables the conveying chain to be steered out of the region of influence of the slides in certain sections of the conveying route. For example, a transition of the slides from one guide rail section to another can take place without the influence of the conveying chain.

In the treatment region of the items of clothing, that is to say in that guide section in which transversely aligned transport of the items of clothing takes place in packs, the conveying chain is preferably completely steered out of the region of influence of the sliding pieces on the slides. In this case, the further transport of the slides takes place in packs in cycles by the fact that the slides lying next to one another can be pushed further successively in each case by one slide which has been pushed additionally into the guide rail section situated in the treatment chamber.

According to a development of the invention, the spacings of the slides pushed successively through the treatment chambers are defined by a spacer assigned to each slide. Thus the sequence of the items of clothing to be treated in transverse orientation can be specified corresponding to the requirements in a simple and effective manner by a corresponding dimensioning of the spacer.

Advantageous developments of the apparatus acording to the invention can be seen in the subclaims.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an outline illustration of the apparatus showing in particular the course of the conveying route, Fig. 2 shows a section IIII through the apparatus in the region of a treatment chamber of a treatment device (tunnel finisher), Fig. 3 shows a section III-III in enlarged illustration C_ is through the apparatus in the region of the treatment chamber, Fig. 4 shows a section W-W in enlarged illustration through the apparatus, Fig. 5 shows a lateral view of the apparatus, turned in relation to Fig. 4 by 90 with a guide rail partially cut open, Fig. 6 shows a detail VI in enlarged illustration in the region of an inlet corner in front of a central guide rail section, Fig. 7 shows a vertical section VII-VII through the corner section according to Fig. 6, Fig. 8 shows a detail VIII, namely a corner region at the end of the central guide rail section, Fig. 9 shows a vertical transverse section IX-IX through the corner section according to Fig. 8, Fig. 10 shows a lateral view of a coat-hanger transfer point of the apparatus, Fig. 11 shows an outline of the apparatus in enlarged illustration in the region of a coat-hanger discharge point and Fig. 12 shows a lateral view of the coat-hanger discharge point.

The apparatus shown here serves for the transport of items of clothing 20, which are to be smoothed, through an appropriate treatment device, namely a tunnel finisher 2 1.

The tunnel finisher 21 shown here is divided up in the interior into three regions. It has a central, tunnel-like treatment chamber 22, a feed chamber 23 arranged before the treatment chamber 22 and an exit chamber 24 arranged after the treatment chamber 22 (Fig. 1). The items of clothing 20 pass into the feed chamber 23 and out of the exit chamber 24 through a narrow inlet opening 25 and an outlet opening 26 respectively. Due to the narrow construction of the inlet opening 25 and of the outlet opening 26, the items of clothing 20 are required to be transported into the feed chamber 23 and out of the exit chamber 24 longitudinally in relation to the conveying direction. In contrast, the items of clothing 20 pass through the treatment chamber 22 for reasons of capacity in packs transverse to the conveying direction. For this reason, inside the tunnel finisher 21 a twofold change in direction of the items of clothing 20 is required. Additionally, the apparatus according to the invention for the transport of the items of clothing is constructed in a special manner.

The apparatus shown here has a conveying route which extends in a rectangular shape in a horizontal plane, and to be precise partially inside the tunnel finisher 21 and partially outside the latter (Fig. 1). The conveying route comprises a correspondingly (rectangularly) guided guide rail path 27 with a plurality of slides 28 displaceable on the latter, below which the items of clothing 20 are hung up with coathangers 29. On the slides 28 the items of clothing 20 can be transported in longitudinal alignment into the feed chamber 23, in transverse alignment through the treatment chamber 22 and finally in longitudinal alignment out of the exit chamber 24 again, and to be precise hanging solely on the guide rail path 27 without further conveying devices.

In the apparatus shown, the guide rail path 27 is composed of four guide rail sections 30, 31, 32 and 33. The first guide rail section 30 leads transversely to the direction of longitudinal extension of the treatment chamber 22 extending from the outside of the tunnel finisher 21 through the inlet opening 25 into the feed chamber 23. There follows in transverse alignment the guide rail section 31 which extends in longitudinal direction through the treatment chamber 22. Adjoining the latter guide rail section, again in transverse alignment extending approximately parallel to the guide rail section 30 is the guide rail section 32 which leads through the outlet opening 26 out of the exit chamber 24. The (fourth) guide rail section 33 finally extends outside the tunnel finisher 21 parallel to the guide rail section 31 in the tunnel finisher 21 between the two guide rail sections 30 and 32 to form the closed conveying route to guide the slides 28 in a closed (circular) loop (Fig. 1).

c The guide rail sections 30..33, which are essentially straight,, have an identical box-shaped crosssection with a rectangular design. The latter is formed from two upright,, parallel side walls 34, an upper, horizontal top wall 35 and a continuous bottom wall having a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail sections 30..33, which bottom wall consists of two horizontal bars 37 each adjoining one of the side walls 34. Furthermore, the guide rail sections 30..33 of the exemplary embodiment shown here have two L-shaped brackets 38 which lie opposite each other, extend longitudinally and protrude in relation to the upper top wall 35. By this means, the guide rail sections 30..33 can be attached by suitable screwing means to a support structure (not illustrated in detail) (Fig. 2).

The slides 28 of mutually identical construction are composed of a sliding piece 39 travelling with positive fit in the interior of the guide rail sections 30..33, a separator 40 projecting downwards through the slot 36 out of the guide rail sections 30..33, and a hanger organ arranged on said separator for in each case one coat-hanger hook 49 of the coat-hangers 29, namely a hanger 42 and a spacer 43 (Figs. 3 to 5). The sliding piece 39 is of approximately square construction with dimensions corresponding to the inside dimensions of the guide rail sections 30..33. By this means, in each case two parallel lateral surfaces 44 of the sliding piece 39 are guided in the guide rail sections 30..33 between the inside surfaces of the side walls 34, by which means the slides 28 are held non-rotatably in the guide rail path 27 by the sliding pieces 39. As a result of the square construction of the sliding pieces 39, guiding of the slides 28 takes place in two alternative positions offset by 90 in the guide rail sections 30..33 (cf. Figs. 3 and 4). As a result of the separator 40 projecting through the slot 36 in the guide rail sections 30..33 downwards from the latter, the hanger 42 and the spacer 43 are firmly connected to the respective sliding piece 39, and to be precise non-rotatably.

I,- is In the case of the slides 28 shown here, the hanger 42 has at its lower free end 45 two receiving slots 46 for the coat-hanger hool 41 of one coat-hanger 29 in each case. The receiving slots 46 are constructed to be approximately U-shaped in cross-section and are open at the top, that is to say towards the guide rail section 30..33. Moreover, the receiving slots 46 are inclined, and to be precise in opposite directions with diverging openings 47, that means they extend approximately in V-shape in relation to each other, and to be precise, in the present exemplary embodiment, in each case inclined by approximately 450 to the vertical longitudinal mid-axis 48 (Fig. 4).

The hanger 42 with the two receiving slots 46 is formed in this case from two correspondingly profiled metal strips which are of identical construction, but are composed in a mirror-inverted relative arrangement to form the receiving slots 46 diverging in V-shape in opposite directions. Due to the connection of metal strips of this kind, the apex 49 of each receiving slot 46 has an elongated course, by means of which the coathanger hooks 41 hang on the slides 28 with the coathangers 49 securely against rotation and largely free from swinging (Fig. 5). Alternatively, it is conceivable to form the hanger 42 from two strips extending in parallel, transversely to the plane of the coat-hanger hook 41 with corresponding lateral slots. By this means, the coat-hanger hooks 41 can likewise be hung up on the slides between two adjacent mounting points securely against rotation and largely free from swinging.

In the exemplary embodiment shown of the slides 28, the spacer 43 is constructed as a rectangular box which is open at the bottom having a rectangular horizontal lid wall 50 which is surrounded by a peripheral upright edge 51. The lid wall 50 connected centrally to the separator 40 bears the hanger 42 on the underside. In contrast, the peripheral edge 51 of the lid wall 50 serves as a stop surface for adjacent slides 28, by which means the coat-hangers 29 with the items of clothing 20 hanging on them are kept at a (minimum) distance in the case of slides 28 lying next to one another. Further details are given below on this point and, in particular, on the dimensioning of the spacer 43.

The slides 28 are displaceable on the guide rail path 27 due to an endlessly circulating conveying chain 52. The latter travels above the sliding pieces 39 in the guide rail sections 30, 32F 33. The slides 28 are moved further along the conveying rail path 27 by carriers 53 which are arranged at certain spacings below the conveying chain 52 and protrude into the movement path of the sliding pieces 39 on the slides 28 by the fact that the carriers 53 (seen in conveying direction) rest on a rear lateral surface 44 of the corresponding sliding piece 39 and, by this means, push the slides 28 in front of them (Fig. 5). The drive of the conveying chain 52 is effected by an electric motor, in particular a controllable direct current gear motor 54. In the case of the apparatus described here, the latter is assigned to one of the two chain deflection wheels 55 in the corner region between the guide rail section 33 and the guide rail section 30, on the one hand, or the guide rail section 32, on the other hand, that is to say it is situated outside the tunnel finisher 21 (Fig. 1).

In the region of the corners 56 and 57 located in the tunnel finisher 21 between the guide rail section 31 and the guide rail sections 30 and 32, a deflection of the conveying chain 52 takes place in such a way that the latter passes through the entire treatment chamber 22 outside the guide rail section 31 arranged inside, namely in a parallel rail section 58 which is arranged next to the guide rail section 31 and is constructed here in the same way. In this manner, no further transport of the slides 28 takes place by the conveying chain 52 in the regions of the corners 56 and 57 and of the guide rail section 31). since the carriers 53 arranged on said conveying chain are guided around the sliding pieces 39 of the slides 28 situated in the region of the treatment chamber 22, that is to say they travel in the parallel 1 I- rail section 58 (Figs. 1 and 3).

The corner 56 is constructed in a special manner in the region -of the treatment chamber 22 between the guide rail section 30 and the guide rail section 31 adjoining the latter at right angles. Here, the corresponding guide rail sections 30 and 31 end with spacing in front of the corner mid point 59 such that the sliding pieces 39 of the slides 28 pass out of the guide rail sections 30, 31 in the region of the corner 56. In this case, the slides 28 are guided at the edge 51 of the spacer 43 by two stops 60 and 61, aligned at right angles to each other, on the outsides of the corner 56. By appropriate positioning of the stops 60 and 61, the longitudinal mid-axis 48 of the slides 28 is brought approximately into alignment with the corner mid point 59. The slides 28 are supported in the region of the corner 56 between the guide rail sections 30, 31 by a junction plate 92 in which the slot 36 is continued at right angles.

The feed of the slides 28 into the corner 56 is effected by the respective carrier 53 of the conveying chain 52, which carrier is guided after the positioning described above of one slide 28 in each case in the corner 56 by corresponding loop-like deflection of the conveying chain 52 between four deflection wheels 62 away from the rear side of the respective sliding piece 39 around the latter in the parallel rail section 58 (Fig. 6). In this case, one of the four deflection wheels 62 for the conveying chain 52 can be constructed as a displaceable tension wheel (bottom left in Fig. 6).

After one slide 28 in each case has been brought to rest on the stops 60 and 61 by the corresponding carrier 53 of the conveying chain 52 in the corner 56, this slide 28 is moved on in the guide rail section 31 of the treatment chamber 22 in a direction offset by the conveying chain 52 by 90 with regard to the feed direction without a relative change in relation to its upright longitudinal mid-axis 48. This purpose is served by a pressure-medium cylinder 63 attached as an extension of the guide rail section 31 outside the corner 56, on the piston rod end 64 of which pressure-medium cylinder a tappet 65 is arranged forming a part of the stop 60, which tappet pushes the respective slide 28 into the guide rail section 31 when the pressure-medium cylinder 63 is extended and rests on the corresponding side of the edge 51 of the spacer 43 (Fig. 6).

To secure the slide 28 against slipping when the conveying chain 52 with the carrier 53 is moved away from the sliding piece 39, a latch 66 is arranged on the inside edge of the corner 56 which latch is swivellable in a horizontal plane and, charged by a spring, presses the slide 28 on the spacer 43 against the stops 60, 61 and, when the slide 28 is pushed into the guide rail section 31 against the pretension of a tension spring 67, clears the entry path of the slide 28 into the guide rail section 31, a protrusion 69 of the latch 66, extending parallel to the swivel point 68, guiding the slide 28 in turn on the spacer 43 in the direction transverse to the direction of entry (Figs. 6 and 7).

Due to the embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention described above, in particular of the corner 56, it is possible for the items of clothing 20 travelling into the feed chamber 53 in longitudinal orientation to be transferred in a reliable manner to a transverse direction to pass through the treatment chamber 22 on the same conveying route, that is to say without an additional conveying device and without rehanging the items of clothing 20 or the coat-hangerB 29 accommodating said items of clothing by the fact that the slides 28 are pushed from the guide rail section 30 into the guide rail section 31 extending transversely to the latter guide rail section without turning around their longitudinal mid-axis 48.

The slides 28 with the items of clothing 20 hanging on the coat-hangers 29 on them in packs pass through the guide rail section 31 inside the treatment chamber 22, the long sections of the edge 51 of the rectangular spacers 43 touching each other in the case of items of clothing 20 aligned transversely to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail section 31 (Fig. 1). By this means, the transversely aligned items of clothing 20 receive a relatively low transverse spacing in the treatment chamber 22, which transverse spacing is, for example, 77 mm. The further transport of the slides 28 following successively in packs in the guide rail section 31 takes place stepwise, namely always by the transverse spacing of one spacer 43, that is to say in this case 77 mm, when a further slide 28 in the region of the corner 56 at the front is pushed into the guide rail section 31 by the pressure-medium cylinder 63. Thus, the items of clothing 20 are transported discontinuously along the guide rail section 31 through the treatment chamber 22, one completely treated item of clothing 20 leaving the guide rail section 31 with a corresponding slide 28 in the region of the corner 57 whenever a new item of clothing 20 with a slide 28 is pushed into the guide rail section 31.

Even in the region of the corner 57, the guide rail sections 31 and 32 end with spacing before the corresponding corner point 70. opposite the latter, of f set in relation to the outside of the corner 57 and with spacing from the end of the guide rail section 31, a stop buffer 71 is arranged in a stationary manner next to the guide rail path 27. The spacing of this stop buffer 71 from the corner point 70 corresponds approximately to half the narrow side of the spacer 43 coming to rest on the latter such that, when the spacer reBtS an the stop buffer 71, the longitudinal mid-axis 48 of the slide 28 lies approximately on the corner point 70, from where the slide 28 can be pushed into the next transversely aligned guide rail section 33 again without turning around the longitudinal mid-axis 4B, and to be precise in the case of an item of clothing 20 being aligned longitudinally in relation to the conveying direction. This inward transport of the respective slide 28 into the guide rail section 32 takes place by means of the circulating conveying chain 52 which, for this is purpose, leads by a corresponding deflection roller 72 from the parallel rail section 58 back into the guide rail section 32, by which means a corresponding carrier 53 on the conveying chain 52 grips the sliding piece 39 of the respective slide 28 and, by this means, conveys the latter into the guide rail section 32 and further along the latter. In this case, the slides 28 are held. in turn, by a junction plate 93..

Alternatively, a continuous transport of the slides 28 in packs can also take place in the treatment chamber 22. For this purpose, a further, preferably endless, drive organ for the slide 28 is assigned to the guide rail section 31 in the region of the treatment chamber 22. In this case, it can be a further conveying chain, for example, with corresponding carriers, which transport chain has a preferably slower conveying speed compared with the conveying chain 52.

Outside the tunnel finisher 21, a coat-hanger transfer point 73 is assigned to the guide rail path 27. namely to the guide rail section 30. This has a support frame 74 which is mounted in a stationary manner next to the guide rail section 30 and on which a coat-hanger transfer slipway 76 is arranged swivellably about a vertical axis of rotation 75. Said coat-hanger transfer slipway consists of an elongated, sloping tube 76, on which the coat-hangers 29 with their coat-hanger hooks 41 can slide down automatically against a stop 78 attached in a stationary manner to the support frame 74. Here the coat-hangers 29 with the respective item of clothing 20 hanging on them assume a waiting position until transfer onto a slide 28 passing through the coat-hanger transfer point 73 (Fig. 10). The transfer of a coat-hanger 29 with an item of clothing 20 situated in

each case on the coat-hanger transfer slipway 76 takes place with the slide 28 continuing to travel by the fact that the slide 28, when reaching a discharge end 79 of the coat-hanger transfer slipway 76, passes with the spacer 43 into the region of a projecting bracket 80 assigned to the coat-hanger 1 - is - transfer slipway 76, by means of which bracket the coathanger transfer slipway 76 is partially carried along by the slide 28 by rotation of the coat-hanger transfer slipway 76 about its upright axis of rotation 75 in relation to the support frame 74. In this case, the coathanger hook 41 situated on the tube 77 leaves the region of the stop 78. by which means the coat-hanger 29 with the item of clothing 20 is fed via the discharge end 79 of the tube 77 to the hanger 42 of the slide 28 and Is threaded into one of the receiving slots 46 on the hanger 42. Subsequently, the bracket 80 on the coat-hanger transfer slipway 76 is disengaged from the spacer 43 on the slide 28, by which means the coat-hanger transfer slipway 76 is swivelled back into its starting position to transfer the next coat-hanger 29 onto the following slide 28. The return movement of the coat-hanger transfer slipway 76 can be effected by a spring, tensioned during forward swivelling, for example a tension spring (not illustrated) or a pressure-medium organ of simple function.

The coat-hanger transfer described above onto the respective slide 29 requires two receiving slots 46, lying opposite each other and being inclined in opposite directions, to be arranged on the hanger 42, since the slides 28 travel up to the coat-hanger transfer point 73 during one complete circulation on the guide rail path 27 as a result of the deflection in the corners 56 and 57 taking place without relative change but the twofold change in direction by 90 in the region of the chain circulation wheels 55 in different relative positions [lacuna] are offset in relation to one another by 180 in each case. In this case, the double receiving slots 46 guarantee that in each case one of said receiving slots will pass through the coat-hanger transfer slipway 76 facing in a direction towards the discharge end 79 of the tube 77.

Finally, likewise outside the tunnel finisher 21, namely behind the outlet opening 26 of the latter, a coat-hanger discharge point 81 is assigned to the guide rail section 32. Here, the discharge of in each case one coat-hanger 29 with a treated item of clothing 20 takes place with a momentary standstill of the corresponding slide 28. For this purpose, the conveying chain 52 is partially moved out of the guide rail section 32 by the fact that three deflection wheels 82 form a chain loop 83 leading away from the [lacuna] in the guide rail section 32 (Fig. 11). A central deflection wheel 82, which is again axially displaceable, can be constructed here for the tensioning of the conveying chain 52.

The carrier 53 transporting the respective slide 28 into the region of the chain loop 83 is moved by the latter out of the region of the sliding piece 39 in the case of the respective slide 28, by which means the latter comes to a momentary standstill at this point. At this point in time, the coat-hanger hook 41 assigned to the respective coat-hanger 29 is pushed out of the obliquely aligned receiving slot 46 by the fact that a [lacuna] about an ejector protrusion 85 of a lever 94, which is swivellable about a horizontal axis of rotation 84 in a vertical plane, partially grips the coat-hanger hook 41 and pushes it out of the receiving slot 46 onto an obliquely aligned conveying tube 86 lying below. Subsequently, the ejector protrusion 85 is swivelled back so that the slide 28 can be moved on freely. A doubleaction pressure-medium cylinder 87 serves here for the actuation of the ejector protrusion 85. One free end 91 of the ejector protrusion 85 is of sloping construction, and to be precise with an inclination opposite to the receiving slot 46 receiving a coat-hanger hook 41 such that said receiving slot crosses the free end 91 on the ejector protrusion 85 approximately in an X-shape in order to effect an essentially frictionless lifting of the corresponding coat- hanger hook 41 out of the receiving slot 46.

Due to resilient guide elements 88, which are movable transversely to the conveying direction, on opposite sides of the spacer 43,, that slide 28, from which the coat-hanger 29 is to be removed, can be momen- tarily f ixed nondisplaceably on the guide rail section 32 so that the ejector protrusion 85 can be brought reliably into contact with the coat- hanger hook 41.

The continued transport of the empty slide 28 from the chain loop 83 is effected by a following slide 28, which is still loaded with a coathanger 29 and an item of clothing 20, when this slide is fed into the chain loop 83 by the conveyor chain 52. Then the carrier 53 on the conveying chain 52 pushing the following slideB 28 into the chain loop 83 can grip the empty slide 28 pushed out of the chain loop 83 on its sliding part 29 for further transport. In order that the carrier 53 actually picks up the sliding piece 39 of the (empty) slide 28 to be transported further on its side lying to the rear in conveying direction,, the spacer 43 has a corresponding length which ensures that, when the slide 28 is situated approximately centrally in the chain loop 83, the (empty) slide 28 situated in front of it and resting on it is pushed so far out of the chain loop 83 that the rear edge 89 of the sliding piece 39 is situated approximately next to the axis of rotation 90 of the deflection wheel 82 lying at the front in conveying direction (Fig. 11).

is 18 -

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus for the hanging transport of objects, in particular items of clothing hanging on coat-hangers through a treatment device serving to smooth said items of clothing, having a preferably circulating conveying route leading through the treatment device, on which conveying route the items of clothing can be transported at different positions relative to the conveying direction, characterized in that the conveying route has at least one guide rail path (27) having a plurality of slides (28), individually displaceable on it, for hanging up in each case one coathanger (29) accommodating one item of clothing (20).

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the slides (28) are mounted positively and nonrotatably on the guide rail path (27).

Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide rail path (27) is composed of successive guide rail sections (30.33).

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the slides (28) can be transported, maintaining their relative position (in the space), in different conveying directions in guide rail sections (30.33) having mutually variant directions of longitudinal extension.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the slides (28) have a sliding piece (39) lying inside the guide rail sections (30. 33) having a C-shaped cross-section, which sliding piece has parallel side surfaces (44) constructed corresponding to the inside spacing of parallel (upright) side walls (34) of the guide rail sections (30.33) to achieve the essentially nonrotatable longitudinal guiding of the slides (28) in the guide rail sections (30..33).

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6. Apparatus according to Claim 51 characterized in that the sliding pieces (39) are of approximately square construction to form two pairs of side surfaces (44) offset by 900, by which means the slides (28) are guided in the guide rail sections (30..33),, securely against rotation, in two alternative relative positions (offset by 90").

7. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and to one or more of the further claims, characterized in that the slides (28) have at least one hanger organ (hanger 42) which is constructed for the accommodation, which is essentially secure against rotation, of one coat-hanger (29) in each case, in particular of one coat-hanger hook (41).

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that each hanger organ (hanger 42) has two identical receivers (receiving slots 46), which are arranged in mirror image in relation to one another, for one coathanger hook (41) in each case.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or 8. characterized in that the receivers on the hanger organ (hanger 42) are constructed as receiving slots (46) which are aligned identically in relation to a vertical, but in opposite directions (V-shaped) and which are open at their ends directed towards the guide rail path (27).

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that a closed lower end of each receiving slot (46) has an elongated horizontally aligned apex (49).

11. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and to one or more of the further claims, characterized in that each slide (28) has at least one spacer (43).

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that the spacers (43) are arranged in the upper region of the hanger (42) projecting downwards out of the guide rail sections (30..33).

13. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and to one or more of the further claims, characterized in that the slides (28) are displaceable at least partially along the guide rail path (27) by means of a continuously circulating tension organ, in particular an endless conveying chain (52).

k

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, characterized in that the conveying chain (52) has carriers (53) arranged with spacing from one another, which carriers carry the slides (28) along by resting on the slides (28), in particular on the sliding pieces (39) guided inside the guide rail sections (30..33).

15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the conveying chain (52) runs partially in the guide rail sections (30.33), displacement of the slides (28) being effected by means of the carriers (53) essentially only in these regions.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and to one or more of the further claims, characterized in that successive guide rail sections (30..33) extend at right angles to one another, the conveying chain (52) being guided around corners (56, 57) of adjacent guide rail sections (30, 31 or 31, 32) in such a way that their carriers (53) either lose contact with the sliding pieces (39) of the slides (28) or (again) come into contact with said sliding pieces.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, characterized in that the conveying chain (52) is guided in a treatment region (treatment chamber 22) of the treatment device outside the guide rail section (31) assigned to said treatment device, and to be precise preferably inside a separate rail section, namely in particular a parallel rail section (58) arranged next to the guide rail (31).

18. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and to one or more of the further claims, characterized in that the slides (28) can be transported further in the treatment region (treatment chamber 22) of the treatment device resting mutually on their spacers (43) in cycles along the guide rail section (31),, preferably by means of a pressuremedium organ (pressuremedium cylinder 63) which can travel in longitudinal direction of the guide rail section (31) out or in to move on all the slides (28) situated on the guide rail section (31) by the width of a slide (28), in particular of the spacer (43).

7

19. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and to one or more of the further claims. characterized in that the coathangers (29) can be transferred to the slides (28) continuing to be conveyed.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, characterized in that a coat-hanger transfer point (73) is arranged next to the guide rail section (30) leading to the treatment device,, which coat-hanger transfer point has a coathanger transfer slipway (76), from which in each case one coat-hanger (29) slides automatically from the top into the correspondingly obliquely aligned receiving slot (46) of the slide (28) sliding past.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 20, characterized In that the coathanger transfer slipway (76) for transferring one coat-hanger (29) onto the respective slide (28) can be moved on at least partially synchronously with the slide (28) and. the transfer of the coat-hanger (29) onto the slide (28) having been completed, can be moved back into the starting position.

22. Apparatus according to Claim 21, characterized in that the coathanger transfer slipway (76) can be pulled along by the slide (28) passing through said coat-hanger transfer slipway during the transfer of the respective coat-hanger (29).

23. Apparatus according to Claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the coathanger (29) to be transferred can be stopped with positive fit shortly before a discharge end (79) of the coat-hanger transfer slipway (76), preferably by means of a pin-type stop (78) which. at the beginning of the pickup of the coat-hanger transfer slipway (76) by the respective slide (28) can be brought out of engagement with the coat-hanger (29), namely the coat-hanger hook (41), for the coat-hanger (29) to slide freely down from the coat-hanger transfer slipway (76) into one of the two receiving slots (46) on the corresponding slide (28).

24. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and to one or more of the further claims, characterized in that. with the conveying chain (52) travelling continuously, one slide (28) in each case can be stopped briefly in the region of a coat-hanger discharge point (88) to discharge the coathanger (29) from the slide (28).

25. Apparatus according to Claim 24, characterized in that the conveying chain (52) is deflected in the region of the coat-hanger discharge point (81) in such a way that it loses contact with the slide (28) situated momentarily at the coat-hanger discharge point (81).

26. Apparatus according to Claim 25, characterized in that, in the region of the coat-hanger discharge point (81), a stepwise further transport of the slide (28) situated momentarily at said coat-hanger discharge point is effected by the immediately following slide (28) (still) transported by the conveying chain (52).

27. Apparatus according to one or more of Claims 24 to 26, characterized by a discharge organ which is movable in the region of the coat-hanger discharge point (81) transversely to the upright plane of the coat-hanger hook (41) likewise in an upright plane, which discharge organ pushes the coat-hanger (29) with the treated item of clothing (20) hanging on it out of the respective receiving slot (46) on the slide (28) during the momentary standstill of the slide (28) situated at the coathanger discharge point (81).

28. Apparatus according to Claim 27, characterized in that the discharge organ has a swivellable ejector protrusion (85) which has a sloped (free) end (91) which is inclined in approximately the opposite direction to the receiving slot (46) receiving one coat-hanger hook (41) in each case in such a way that, during the swivelling of the ejector protrusion (85). the free end (9 1) of the latter extends approximately transversely to the direction of longitudinal extension of the corresponding receiving slot (46).

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29. Apparatus for the hanging of objects substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

Pub.ished 1990 a Ti-ePatcr.'Of-c.S'a.eHouse-66 71 H;9hHolborn.LondonWC I R4TP.Purther copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD- Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187