Patent ID: 7080727
Filing Date: 2006-07-25
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A transport unit adapted to transport a plurality of apparel units over a rail/conveying system, with said apparel units being able to be positioned in a first position in a substantially horizontal alignment relative to one another and also supported in a second position to be substantially vertically aligned relative to one another, where said system comprises a rail subsystem which comprises at least one rail having a first rail location and a second rail location, and a conveying subsystem extending over at least a portion of said rail subsystem, with said conveying subsystem comprising a plurality of driven conveying elements located at spaced locations and arranged to be moved along a conveying path of said rail, said transport unit comprising: a) a carrier section having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a vertical axis, first and second carrier end portions, longitudinally spaced, and having first and second carrier end connecting portions, respectively, said carrier section having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apparel unit support regions arranged to engage and support said apparel units; b) first and second roller support sections which have first and second lower roller carrier connecting portions, respectively, arranged to be connected to said first and second carrier end connecting portions of the carrier section, respectively, said first and second roller support sections having first and second upper roller portions, respectively, to engage said rail; c) said second roller support section being rotatably connected to the second carrier end connecting portion for rotation about a generally transverse axis about which the carrier section is able to rotate from a substantially horizontal first operating position to a substantially vertical second operating position, with said second roller support section remaining in engagement with the rail section and with the first roller support section being at a substantially fixed angular position relative to possible angular movement of the first upper roller portion about said transverse axis whereby said transport unit can be positioned in a first operating position in which said carrier section is generally horizontally aligned and connected to both roller support sections which are in engagement with said rail and supporting said apparel units in a first support position in general horizontal alignment with one another so that said transport unit can be engaged by a conveying element to be moved along a rail, and a transport unit first end portion can be disengaged from load bearing engagement with the rail and at least the first end portion of the carrier section can be lowered to said second operating position where the carrier section is in a substantially vertically oriented position and supported primarily by the second roller support section to place the apparel units in a second support position so as to be in substantially vertical alignment, after which the transport unit in a second operating position and with said apparel units in a second support position can be moved or stored in the second position.