Abstract:
A star-shaped intermediate conveyor ( 13 ) between the feed conveyor ( 11 ) and the delivery conveyor ( 12 ). The intermediate conveyor ( 13 ) has a plurality of radial arms ( 26 ), which are fastened to a central part ( 28 ) of the intermediate conveyor ( 13 ). The radially outwardly pointing arms ( 26 ) are rotatable about an axis of rotation ( 29 ) of the intermediate conveyor ( 13 ). In this way it is possible with any given orientation of the transporting hanger for an arm ( 26 ) to be brought under the hanger hook ( 16 ) of the transporting hanger. This ensures reliable transfer of a transporting hanger from the feed conveyor ( 11 ) to the delivery conveyor ( 12 ) under any circumstances in a simple way.

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims convention priority on German Patent Application No. 10 2006 048 142.9 having a filing date of 10 Oct. 2007, which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a method for transferring a transporting hanger for garments from a feed conveyor to a following conveyor, in particular a delivery conveyor, the transporting hanger that is hanging with a hanger hook on the feed conveyor being released from the feed conveyor and, for further transport, the transporting hanger being hung onto the following conveyor. The invention also relates to a device for transferring a transporting hanger for garments from a feed conveyor to a following conveyor, in particular a delivery conveyor. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    In textile processing establishments, in particular laundries, transporting hangers are used for transporting garments through the establishment. The transporting hangers may be ones that are used for hanging shirts, coats, jackets, overalls or the like or ones that are used for hanging or securing pants and other garments. 
         [0006]    During transport through the establishment, both the transporting hangers bearing a garment and empty transporting hangers must be transferred from one conveyor to another. These may be conveyors of any given type, and in particular also of different types, for example ones with a circulating conveying chain for driven further transport of the transporting hangers. In the transfer of the transporting hangers from one conveyor to the other, it has been found to be problematic if the transporting hangers have to be transferred from the feed conveyor to the following conveyor with differing orientation. The problems arising as a result are solved in practice in various ways. However, these solutions are always complicated and do not always lead to adequately reliable transfer of the transporting hanger from one conveyor to the other. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention is based on the object of providing a method and a device for transferring a transporting hanger for garments to a following conveyor, whereby a reliable transfer of transporting hangers of any given orientation to the following conveyor is possible in a simple way. 
         [0008]    A method for achieving this object is a method for transferring a transporting hanger for garments from a feed conveyor to a following conveyor, in particular a delivery conveyor, the transporting hanger that is hanging with a hanger hook on the feed conveyor being released from the feed conveyor and, for further transport, the transporting hanger being hung onto the following conveyor, wherein, when the transporting hanger is released from the feed conveyor, the hook of said hanger is caught by an intermediate conveyor, having at least one short intermediate conveying section, and it is transferred by at least one intermediate conveyor to the following conveyor. It is accordingly provided that, when the transporting hanger is released from the feed conveyor, the hook of said hanger is caught by an intermediate conveyor, having at least one short intermediate conveying section, and it is transported by the intermediate conveyor to the following conveyor. The intermediate conveying section eliminates the rigid assignment between the feed conveyor and the following conveyor, in particular a delivery conveyor, as a result of which transporting hangers can also be reliably transferred to the following conveyor with stems of the hanger hooks out in front, in that the intermediate conveying section, which is configured with preference in a movable manner, is brought into a position for attaching the hanger hook in time for the release of the transporting hanger from the feed conveyor even if the stem is out in front, after which the transporting hanger is further transported with its hanger hook by the intermediate conveying section to the following conveyor. 
         [0009]    It is provided with preference that, before the release from the feed conveyor, the at least one intermediate conveying section is moved by the transporting hanger, in particular its hanger hook, into a position for catching preferably the hanger hook. If, accordingly, the transporting hanger comes into contact with the intermediate conveying section with the stem of the hanger hook out in front, the further-transported transporting hanger causes the intermediate conveying section likewise to be moved further, whereby at least the next-following intermediate conveying section inserts itself under the loop of the hanger hook bent in a semicircular or U-shaped manner, and so passes through the plane of the hanger hook. When the transporting hanger is subsequently released from the feed conveyor, the transporting hanger is caught as it were at the hanger hook by at least one intermediate conveying section. 
         [0010]    According to a preferred refinement of the method, it is provided that the respective intermediate conveying section is moved into the position for catching preferably the hanger hook by pivoting about one end. The pivoting of the respective intermediate conveying section makes it possible to insert the preferably perpendicular stem of the hanger hook of the respective transporting hanger between two successive intermediate conveying sections. While one intermediate conveying section lying against the perpendicular stem of the hanger hook is moved further, the then following intermediate conveying section is moved synchronously with it to the rear side of the stem, under the arcuately formed hanger hook. As a result, an intermediate conveying section ends up under the accurately formed upper part of the hanger hook in any event, irrespective of whether the latter is transferred with the stem out in front or the stem trailing behind, as seen in the conveying direction. 
         [0011]    With preference, the further movement of the end of each intermediate conveying section takes place transversely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the respective intermediate conveying section about an axis of rotation. As a result, the intermediate conveying sections are pivoted or turned like arms of a turnstile, whereby a stem of a hanger hook respectively ends up between two successive rod-shaped intermediate conveying sections. This leads to an isolated transfer of one transporting hanger in each case to an intermediate conveying section of the intermediate conveyor. It is in this case of no significance at all for the reliability of the transfer whether the stem of the hanger hook is out in front or trailing behind in the transporting direction. 
         [0012]    In the case of a preferred refinement of the method, the free ends of the intermediate conveying sections remote from the central axis of rotation move during the pivoting on a circular path about the axis of rotation. This circular path is intersected by the conveying section of the feed conveyor, the transporting hanger being released from the feed conveyor onto at least one intermediate conveying section of the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor after the conveying section of the feed conveyor enters the circular path of the free end of the intermediate conveying section and is caught by it. Because the turnstile with the intermediate conveyors is moved further by the out-in-front stem of a hanger hook while the further transport is still being performed by the feed conveyor, the stem of the transporting hanger pushes itself into the space between two successive rod-like intermediate conveying sections, whereby the hanger hook of the respective transporting hanger to be released enters the region of the circular path about the free ends of all the intermediate conveying sections and, when it is released from the feed conveyor, the hanger hook always falls onto an intermediate conveying section, to be precise either an intermediate conveying section lying ahead of the stem of the hanger hook (stem trailing behind) or a following intermediate conveying section (stem out in front). 
         [0013]    According to a preferred refinement of the method, each elongate, preferably rod-like, intermediate conveying section slopes down toward the free end. As a result, the hanger hook of the transporting hanger released onto the intermediate conveying section can slide off from the intermediate conveying section and in this way pass along the intermediate conveying section over the free end of the same into the region of the following conveyor, in particular the delivery conveyor. For this purpose, it is provided according to a further refinement of the invention that the intermediate conveying section respectively serving for transferring the transporting hanger to the following conveyor is arranged in front of the conveying section of the delivery conveyor during the transfer. In this way, the respective intermediate conveyor momentarily acts as an extension of the conveying section of the delivery conveyor for the purpose of the transfer of the transporting hanger to the same. 
         [0014]    In the case of a preferred development of the method, the transporting hanger is transferred to the delivery conveyor in approximately the same position in which the intermediate conveying section takes over the transporting hanger from the feed conveyor. In this way it is possible to carry out the taking over of the transporting hanger by the intermediate conveyor and the passing on of the transporting hanger from the intermediate conveying section taking over the transporting hanger to the conveying section of the delivery conveyor with the intermediate conveyor at a standstill, in a position of the intermediate conveyor in which an intermediate conveying section of the same acts as an extension of the conveying section of the delivery conveyor, whereby the intermediate conveying section onto which the transporting hanger passes when it is released by the feed conveyor remains in an unchanging relative position with respect to the then following conveyor, in particular the delivery conveyor. It is therefore possible for the transporting hanger to slide off from the intermediate conveying section, momentarily acting as an extension of the conveying section of the delivery conveyor, onto the following conveyor, in particular the delivery conveyor. 
         [0015]    A device for achieving the object mentioned at the beginning is a device for transferring a transporting hanger for garments from a feed conveyor to a following conveyor, in particular a delivery conveyor, wherein an intermediate conveyor is arranged between the feed conveyor and the following conveyor and the intermediate conveyor has a number of intermediate conveying sections that can be moved at one and the same time. The fact that an intermediate conveyor is arranged between the feed conveyor and the following conveyor, in particular a delivery conveyor, and the intermediate conveyor has a number of intermediate conveying sections that can be moved at one and the same time allows the transporting hanger to be transferred to the following conveyor by means of an “appropriate” conveying section according to the orientation on the feed conveyor. In particular, the transporting hanger with the stem of the hanger hook out in front in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor can, by coming into contact with the front of an intermediate conveying section, bring at least the following intermediate conveying section into a position that is suitable for guiding the transporting hanger released from the feed conveyor by the hanger hook to the conveying section of the following conveyor. 
         [0016]    The intermediate conveying sections of the intermediate conveyor are assigned to the conveying section of the feed conveyor in such a way that at least one intermediate conveying section for taking over the transporting hanger, in particular a hanger hook of the same, intersects the conveying section of the feed conveyor. As a result, the transporting hanger released from the feed conveyor passes with its hanger hook onto at least one intermediate conveying section, from which the transporting hanger can be reliably transferred to the conveying section of the following conveyor. 
         [0017]    It is provided with preference, for the transfer of the transporting hanger from the intermediate conveyor to the delivery conveyor in particular, to extend the conveying section of the same by at least one intermediate conveying section. In this case, with preference an end region of the at least one intermediate conveying section serving for the transfer overlaps a beginning region of the conveying section of the following conveyor. As a result, a reliable transfer under any circumstances of a single or isolated transporting hanger to the conveying section of the following conveyor is ensured. In this case, the end region of the respective intermediate conveying section is preferably located over the beginning region of the conveying section of the following conveyor, whereby the transfer can take place under gravitational force, without the intermediate conveyor being driven, by the hanger hook sliding off. 
         [0018]    It is further provided that the intermediate conveying sections are formed by elongate arms, which have a star-like or spider-like relative arrangement in relation to one another. The elongate arms may move through the plane of the hanger hook, whereby it is ensured with any given orientation of the transporting hanger on the feed conveyor that a transporting hanger released from the same passes with the hanger hook onto at least one intermediate conveying section formed as an elongate arm. 
         [0019]    It is provided with preference that all the arms for forming the intermediate conveying sections are connected by one end at a center point of the intermediate conveyor. In this way, all the conveying sections or arms of the intermediate conveyor can be made to advance together on an equal basis. If, accordingly, one elongate arm is moved further by an out-in-front stem of a hanger hook, the other elongate arms follow this movement. As a result, at least one arm can end up under the hanger hook to form an intermediate conveying section, even with the stem of the hanger hook out in front. 
         [0020]    The elongate arms of the intermediate conveyor forming the intermediate conveying sections extend radially outward from the center point of the same. With preference, the free ends of the arms, preferably formed in a rod-like manner, then lie on an imaginary circular path, which extends concentrically around the center point of the intermediate conveyor. As a result, the intermediate conveyor is formed in the manner of a turnstile, which has a preferably upright or slightly inclined axis of rotation lying at the center point, about which all the arms are simultaneously rotatable. The turnstile has a plurality of arms formed in the same manner. The number of arms may be 3 to 16. By turning the turnstile about the axis of rotation, all the arms that extend radially outward from the axis of rotation are pivoted simultaneously. In this case, some arms, preferably only one arm or else two or three arms, intersect(s) the conveying section of the feed conveyor, in that the stem of the hanger hook of the respective transporting hanger ends up between two successive arms. This ensures that, when the transporting hanger is released from the feed conveyor, the upper part of the hanger hook, bent around in a U-shaped manner, always passes onto an elongate rod-like arm with any given orientation of the transporting hanger on the feed conveyor. 
         [0021]    It is further provided that all the arms extend in an inclined manner from the center point or the axis of rotation of the turnstile to the free outer ends. As a result, the arms slope down toward their free ends, whereby a hanger hook can slide off from the at least one arm on which it is hanging, for the transfer to the following conveyor, following gravitational force. 
         [0022]    According to a further refinement of the device, the turnstile is freely rotatable about the axis of rotation. Accordingly, the turnstile does not need to have a drive of its own. The turnstile is turned and the arms of the same are thereby pivoted by the stem of the hanger hook during the further transport of the transporting hanger on the feed conveyor. 
         [0023]    Further advantageous refinements of the method and of the device emerge from the subclaims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of the drawings, in which: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view of the device according to the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section II-II through the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section III-III through the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic plan view of the device for transferring a transporting hanger with the stem of the hanger hook out in front. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a plan view analogous to  FIG. 4  with the transporting hanger moved further. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the device of  FIGS. 4 and 5  with the transporting hanger being located in the transfer position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  shows a plan view of the device for transferring a transporting hanger with the stem on the hanger hook trailing behind. 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  shows the device of  FIG. 7  with the transporting hanger being located in the transfer position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    The invention is discussed on the basis of the example of the transfer of a transporting hanger  10  for garments (not shown), such as for example overalls, shirts, jackets or the like. The invention is concerned with the transfer of the transporting hanger  10  from a feed conveyor  11  to a following conveyor, in the exemplary embodiment shown a delivery conveyor  12 . This transfer is supported by an intermediate conveyor  13 , which bridges the conveying sections  14  and  15  of the feed conveyor  11  and the delivery conveyor  12 . The intermediate conveyor  13  has a number of pivotable intermediate conveying sections. For the transfer of the transporting hanger  10  to the delivery conveyor  12 , at least one intermediate conveying section inserts itself into the plane of a hanger hook  16  of the transporting hanger  10 . The hanger hook  16  has an arcuately bent hook  17  and an approximately perpendicularly extending elongate stem  18 . The stem  18  connects one end of the hook  17  to a lower part  19  of the transporting hanger  10 , which serves for hanging the garment. The stem  18  is formed onto one end of the hook  17  in one piece, so that the hook  17  is continued at one end by the stem  18  to form the hanger hook  16 . An end of the hook  17  remote from the stem  18  is formed as a free end  20 , which lies laterally alongside and at a distance from the stem  18 . 
         [0034]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, the feed conveyor  11  has an endless conveying chain  21 , which is driven in a circulating manner. Laterally projecting, horizontal pins  22  are arranged at equal intervals on the conveying chain  21 . Each pin  22  has on its side facing away from the conveying chain  21  a free end  23 . Respectively hung on the pin  22  is a transporting hanger  10  on the feed conveyor  11 . The transporting hanger  10  hanging on the pin  22  is in this way moved further by the driven feed conveyor  11  along its conveying section  14 . This conveying section  14  may follow any path. 
         [0035]    The transporting hangers  10  may hang on the pin  22  of the feed conveyor  11  in differing orientation. Either the perpendicular stem  18  of the hanger hook  16  is out in front or trailing behind in the conveying direction  14 . In the case of the out-in-front stem  18 , it is located in front of the pin  22 , as seen in the conveying direction  24 . A trailing stem  18  is located behind the pin  22 , as seen in the conveying direction  24 . 
         [0036]    At a transfer point  25 , the intermediate conveyor  13  is arranged with, according to the invention, a number of pivotable or rotatable intermediate conveying sections. In the exemplary embodiment shown, all the intermediate conveying sections are formed in the same manner, that is to say in each case formed by an elongate, rod-like arm  26 . Each arm  26  in this way forms an intermediate conveying section. All the arms  26  are arranged in a star-like or spider-like manner in relation to one another, in that they extend radially outward from a center point  27  of the intermediate conveyor  13 . All the arms  26  are firmly connected at their inner ends, pointing toward the center point  27 , to a central part  28  of the intermediate conveyor  13 . The star-shaped or spider-shaped arrangement of the arms  26  gives the intermediate conveyor  13  the form of a turnstile. The turnstile can be turned about an axis of rotation  29  extending through the center point  27 . The axis of rotation  29  extends approximately vertically in the exemplary embodiment shown. The turnstile of the intermediate conveyor  23  is not driven about the axis of rotation  29 ; rather, it is freely rotatable about the axis of rotation  29 . The turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13  shown has twelve identically formed arms  26 . The twelve arms  26  are spaced apart from one another by the same angles, so that, with twelve arms  26 , the angle between two respectively adjacent arms  26  is  30 . However, it is also conceivable for the intermediate conveyor  13  to have a greater or lesser number of arms  26 . It may have an even or odd number of arms  26 . 
         [0037]    Outer free ends of all the arms  26 , directed away from the center point  27 , lie on a common, imaginary circular path, which extends concentrically with respect to the center point  27  or with respect to the axis of rotation  29  of the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13 . All the identically formed arms  26  are formed as thin, elongate rods or tubes. The arms  26  are connected to the central part  28 , lying at the center point  27  or on the axis of rotation  29 , in such a way that the free ends  30  of all the arms  26  lie under the central part  28 . As a result, all the arms  26  run down toward their free ends  30 , so that the arms  26  form downward-sloping intermediate conveying sections on which the respective transporting hanger  10  can slide with the hook  17  toward the free end  30 . On account of the free ends  30  of the arms  26  lying lower than the center point  27 , the turnstile forming the intermediate conveyor  13  has an umbrella-like shape. 
         [0038]    The intermediate conveyor  13 , formed as a turnstile, is adjoined by the delivery conveyor  12 . The delivery conveyor  12  shown is formed as a gravity conveyor. For this purpose, the conveying section  15  of the delivery conveyor  12  is formed by a rail  31  with a path directed downward in the conveying direction  32  of the delivery conveyor  12 . The rail  31  is formed in the simplest case as a rod or a tube. The rail  31  may follow any path in the conveying direction  32  of the delivery conveyor  12 . Depending on the configuration of the rail  31 , the delivery conveyor  12  can in this way have any conveying sections  15 . 
         [0039]    The free end  33  of the rail  31  pointing toward the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13  protrudes with an end region into the imaginary circle about the free ends  30  of the arms  26 . An end region extending from the free end  33  of the rail  31  overlaps the end region of an arm  26  or two adjacent arms  26  in the vicinity of the rail  31 . The end region of the same extending from the free end  33  of the rail  31  is also arranged somewhat below the plane in which the arms  26  lie. This allows the arms  26  to run past the end region of the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12  that overlaps said arms. The described relative arrangement of the delivery conveyor  12  with respect to the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13  has the effect that an arm  26  or two adjacent arms  26  form(s) an extension of the delivery conveyor  12  in the direction of the center point  27  of the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13 . 
         [0040]    The method according to the invention proceeds as follows: 
         [0041]      FIGS. 4 to 6  explain the method for the case in which the transporting hanger  10  hanging on the delivery conveyor  11  is oriented with the stem  18  of the hanger hook  16  out in front in the conveying direction  24 . In  FIGS. 4 to 8 , this stem  18  is symbolized by a black circle for purposes of illustration. In  FIGS. 4 to 8 , the conveying section  14  of the feed conveyor  11  is merely indicated by a dot-dashed line. The pin  22  on the conveying chain  21 , on which the hook  11  of the transporting hanger  10  hangs, is not represented in  FIGS. 4 to 8 . Of the delivery conveyor  12 , only an end region extending from the free end  33  is depicted in  FIGS. 4 to 8 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 4  it is shown that, during the conveying of the transporting hanger  10  by the feed conveyor  11  in the conveying direction  24 , the out-in-front stem  18  of the hanger hook  16  comes into contact with the front of an arm  26  of the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13 . In the conveying direction  24  of the feed conveyor  11 , this arm  26  is located by one division between two arms  26  ahead of that preceding arm  26  that is momentarily acting as an extension of the conveying section  15  of the delivery conveyor  12 , that is to say lies on a common line with the latter. 
         [0043]    During the further transport of the transporting hanger  10  by the feed conveyor  11  in the conveying direction  24 , the stem  18  of the transporting hanger  10  pushes ahead of it the arm  26  with the front of which it is in contact. In this case, the stem  18  of the transporting hanger  10  causes a turning of the entire intermediate conveyor  13  in the clockwise direction, that is to say in the direction of rotation  34 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows the intermediate conveyor  13  in a state in which it has been turned further by the division of the arms  26 , that is to say in the exemplary embodiment shown approximately 30°, in the direction of rotation  34  about the vertical axis of rotation  29 . In this case, the arm  26  with which the stem  18  is in contact comes into line with the longitudinal axis of the conveying section  15  of the delivery conveyor  12 , that is to say acts as an extension of it. During the further movement of the intermediate conveyor  13  by 30° (compare  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the arm  26  that is following the arm  26  with which the stem  18  is in contact, seen in the direction of rotation  34 , ends up under the arcuate hook  17  of the transporting hanger  10 . In this case, the arm  26  crosses the vertical plane of the hanger hook  16  ( FIG. 5 ). As a result, the free end  30  of the arm  26  is located on the rear side of the hanger hook  16 , facing the conveying section  14  of the feed conveyor  11 . 
         [0045]    In the further conveying of the transporting hanger  10  on the conveying section  14  of the feed conveyor  11  in the conveying direction  24 , the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13  is once again turned further by one division of the arms  26 , that is to say in the exemplary embodiment shown approximately 30°, in the direction of rotation  34 , in that the stem  18  of the transporting hanger  10  further pushes ahead of it the arm  26  with which it is in contact. In this case, the next-following arm  26 , inserted into the plane of the hanger hook  16 , comes into line with the delivery conveyor  12 , in that specifically the longitudinal axis of the arm  26  lies on the longitudinal axis of the delivery conveyor  12  and it consequently acts as an extension of the delivery conveyor  12  beyond the free end  33  of the rail  31  of the latter, counter to its conveying direction  32 . Here, a free end region of the arm  26  overlaps a free end region of the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12 , the free end region of the arm  26  being located approximately over the end region of the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12 . As a result, the arm  26  can extend away over the free end region of the delivery conveyor  12 . Here, the arm  26  acting as an extension of the delivery conveyor  12  is located approximately centrally under the hook  17  of the transporting hanger  10 , the arm  26  intersecting the vertical plane of the hanger hook  16  of the transporting hanger  10  approximately at right angles ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0046]    When the transporting hanger  10  and the turnstile-like intermediate conveyor  13  have reached the position shown in  FIG. 6 , the transporting hanger  10 , specifically its hanger hook  16 , is released from the feed conveyor  11 , for example by withdrawing the pin  22  holding the transporting hanger  10  on the conveying chain  21  of the feed conveyor  11 . The transporting hanger  10  with the hanger hook  16  then falls approximately down onto the arm  26  of the intermediate conveyor  13  that is located centrally under the hook  17  of the transporting hanger  10 . As a result of the inclined path of the arm  26  (and also of the other arms  26  of the intermediate conveyor  13 ) toward the delivery conveyor  12 , the hook  17  slides down off the arm  26  in the direction of its free end  30 . As a result of the overlapping of the end region of the arm  26  with the end region of the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12  pointing toward the arm  26 , the transporting hanger  10  slides with the hook  17  onto the free end region of the rail  31  lying under the free end  30  of the arm  26 . Because, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12  is also inclined, the transporting hanger  10  being transferred from the intermediate conveyor  13  to the delivery conveyor  12  then slides with its hook  17  along the delivery conveyor  12  in the conveying direction  32  to the following processing station, a store or the like. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 7 and 8  schematically show the transfer of a transporting hanger  10  from the feed conveyor  11  to the delivery conveyor  12  with an opposite orientation of the transporting hanger  10  hanging on the delivery chain  21  of the feed conveyor  11 . Here, the stem  18  of the hanger hook  16  trails in the conveying direction  24  of the feed conveyor  11 . That is to say that the bent hook  17  of the hanger hook  16  is located in front of the perpendicular stem  18  of the hanger hook  16 , as seen in the conveying direction  24 . Accordingly, during the further transport of the transporting hanger  10  by the feed conveyor  11  along its conveying section  14  in the conveying direction  24 , the hook  17  can pass over two successive arms  26  of the intermediate conveyor  13  before the perpendicular stem  18  impinges behind an arm  26 . This situation is shown in  FIG. 7 . In the present case of the trailing stem  18 , no insertion of an arm  26  following the arm  26  that is being pushed ahead into the plane of the hanger hook  16  is necessary. Because of the trailing stem  18 , the hook  17  passes directly over two successive arms  26 . These arms  26  thereby intersect the plane of the hanger hook  16  at different angles ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0048]    In principle, the transporting hanger  10  could be released from the feed conveyor  11  already in the position of the intermediate conveyor  13  that is shown in  FIG. 7 , because an arm  26  is already acting as an extension of the conveying section  15  of the delivery conveyor  12  and, when the transporting hanger  10  is released from the intermediate conveyor  13 , the hanger hook  16  ends up on this arm and possibly the following arm  26 , with which the stem  18  of the hanger hook  16  is in contact. The hanger hook  16  can then be caught by both arms  26  and, by slipping off the arms  26 , in particular the arm  26  that is momentarily acting as an extension of the conveying section  15  of the delivery conveyor  12 , end up on the end region of the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12  that is overlapping this arm  26 . 
         [0049]    With preference, the transporting hanger  10  impinging on an arm  26  with the trailing stem  18  is transported further by the feed conveyor  11  a little more along the conveying section  14 , and the turnstile of the intermediate conveyor  13  is thereby moved further in the direction of rotation  34 , to be precise preferably only by half a division between two arms  26 , that is to say approximately 15°. Then the end region of the conveying section  15  of the delivery conveyor  12  that protrudes into the circular path of the free ends  30  of the arms  26  is located approximately midway between two adjacent arms  26  ( FIG. 8 ). If the transporting hanger  10  is then decoupled from the pin  22  previously carrying it on the conveying chain  21  of the feed conveyor  11 , the transporting hanger  10  falls with the hook  17  onto the two adjacent arms  26 , whereby the hook  17  is positioned centrally in front of the conveying section  15  of the delivery conveyor  12 . By sliding off both arms  26 , the hook  17  of the transporting hanger  10  passes over the free end  30  of the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12  that is lying under the arms  26 , whereby a reliable transfer of the transporting hanger  10  to the delivery conveyor  12  is ensured. The two successive arms  26  need not have a relative position with respect to the end region of the rail  31  of the delivery conveyor  12  such that this end region lies midway between the arms  26 , as represented in an idealized form in  FIG. 8 ; it is also sufficient if the end region of the rail  31  is located somewhere between the arms  26 . 
         [0050]    The invention can be implemented with transporting hangers of any configuration, including those with at least one clip, for example for pants. 
       LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  transporting hanger 
           11  feed conveyor 
           12  delivery conveyor 
           13  intermediate conveyor 
           14  conveying section 
           15  conveying section 
           16  hanger hook 
           17  hook 
           18  stem 
           19  lower part 
           20  free end 
           21  conveying chain 
           22  pin 
           23  free end 
           24  conveying direction 
           25  transfer point 
           26  arm 
           27  center point 
           28  central part 
           29  axis of rotation 
           30  free end 
           31  rail 
           32  conveying direction 
           33  free end 
           34  rotating direction