Abstract:
The invention relates to a transport device ( 10.1 ), in particular in the form of a suspension conveyor, said device comprising one or more trolleys ( 11 ) which are movably mounted on a trolley track ( 15 ) in a trolley track direction and on each of which a device ( 18, 19 ) hanging downwards for receiving transported goods is arranged. To achieve a simple construction and operation, the device ( 18, 19 ) for receiving transported goods forms at least one flexible material web ( 18 ) that is planar when open and that can be fastened at both ends ( 19 ) to the trolley ( 11 ), forming a carrying loop hanging downwards.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of conveyor technology. It relates to a transport device. 
       Discussion of Related Art 
       [0002]    A multiplicity of suspension conveyors are known in the prior art, wherein the conveyed goods to be conveyed are accommodated by transport pockets which are constituted in a comparatively complex manner and are equipped with complex opening and closing mechanisms which, precisely in the case of a larger conveyor installation with many individual pockets, result on the one hand in considerable additional expenditure on the erection of a new installation and on the other hand have an increased susceptibility to malfunction or a complete functional failure in the continuous operation. 
         [0003]    Publication DE 10 2008 061 685 A1 discloses a loading station for transport pockets transported in a suspension conveyor installation, with an upper feed rail for the transport pockets, with a vertical conveyor adjoining the feed rail for feeding the transport pockets into a lower loading position, with a device for opening the transport pockets in the loading position and with a lower discharge rail adjoining the vertical conveyor for discharging the transport pockets out of the loading position. 
         [0004]    Publication DE 10 2008 026 720 A1 describes a transport pocket with a carrying wall, which is provided in its upper region with a carrying coupling and a swivellable bracket, in its lower region with at least one coupling, in its upper region with means for opening the coupling and with means for closing the coupling, and with a bottom side wall flexible at least in the lower region, which is connected in its upper region to the swivellable bracket and is provided in its lower region with counter-coupling means to be received in the at least one coupling. 
         [0005]    Publication DE 10 2011 101 987 A1 discloses a transport pocket for conveying conveyed goods in a conveyor installation, in particular a suspension conveyor installation, with a carrier part, which is designed to be received on a conveying line of the conveyor installation, with a loading means for receiving the conveyed goods, wherein the loading means comprises a closure flap, which comprises a handling strap with a clamping portion, wherein the carrier part comprises a clamping device with a clamping lever, which can be displaced between a holding position, in which a holding force acts on the clamping portion, and a release position, and wherein the clamping lever is coupled in the holding position with the clamping portion in such a way that the accommodated conveyed goods bring about an increase in the holding force by their weight. 
         [0006]    Publication DE 10 2012 108 757 A1 relates to a carrying pocket for a suspension conveyor device for the suspended transport of objects, comprising a holding frame, a pocket hag, which hangs on the holding frame and in which objects to be transported can be accommodated, and a suspension element, which is connected to the holding frame and by means of which the carrying pocket can be suspended on the suspension conveyor device in order to be transported in a suspended manner by the suspension conveyor device. The pocket bag comprises a first and a second bag section, which each comprise a first bag end section connected to the holding frame and a second bag end section facing away from the holding frame, wherein the second bag end sections are connected together by a linkage mechanism, which can be brought into an unloading position in which the second bag end sections are arranged at a distance from one another, so that for the discharge of objects the pocket bag is provided with an outlet opening formed between the two bag end sections, and which can be brought into a loading position in which the second bag end sections are arranged adjacent to one another, so that the outlet opening is closed and the pocket bag can receive objects. 
         [0007]    Publication DE 10 2013 205 172 A1 discloses a transport pocket for the suspended transport of goods. The transport pocket has a stiff carrying wall which, in its upper section in the transport position is connected to a carrying element for the suspended carrying of the transport pocket. A flexible goods retaining wall forms, together with the carrying wall, a carrying pocket closed at the bottom and at two opposite sides at least in the transport position of the transport pocket. The carrying wall is connected to the retaining wall between an upper—in the transport position—wall-connecting portion and a lower—in the transport position—wall-connecting portion, in such a way that the length of the web-like retaining the wall between the two wall-connecting portions are adapted variably to the transport of different goods. The embodiment of the transport pocket is such that this length adaptation of the retaining wall takes place by a relative displacement of the retaining wall with respect to the carrying wall at least in the region of one of the two connecting portions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is the object of the invention, therefore, to provide a transport device in the manner of a suspension conveyor, which can be used in a versatile and flexible manner, which equally permits straightforward manual operation, but also fully automatic conveying, and is characterised by a straightforward structure and greatly reduced susceptibility to malfunction. 
         [0009]    The problem is solved by the subject invention. Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are further described herein. 
         [0010]    The transport device according to the invention, which is constituted in particular in the form of a suspension conveyor, comprises one or more carriages, which are movably mounted on a running rail in a running rail direction and on each of which a device for receiving transported goods is arranged hanging downwards. 
         [0011]    The device for receiving transported goods forms at least one flexible material web that is planar when opened, said material web being able to be fastened at both ends to the carriage thereby forming a carrying loop or transport loop hanging downwards. 
         [0012]    If a plurality of carriages is present, the latter can be moved individually, but also a plurality thereof can be interlinked and, in the extreme case, form a closed circulating chain. 
         [0013]    In the closed state, the flexible material web forms a transport loop having a drop-shaped edge contour, which is open at both sides with no side walls, into which transport loop conveyed goods can be introduced and securely held there during the conveying process. In order to empty the transport loop, the latter is opened (at one side), so that the material web (in the unguided state) hangs down and releases the previously held conveyed goods. 
         [0014]    The material web must on the one hand be sufficiently flexible in order to adapt to the conveyed goods. On the other hand, however, it must be sufficiently stable to form the drop-shaped contour and also to retain the latter at least approximately during the filling of the conveyed goods. 
         [0015]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one material web has a rectangular shape with a predetermined width and a predetermined length. 
         [0016]    In particular, the at least one material web has a ratio of width (B) to length (L) greater than 0.1. The width can amount to several hundred mm. 
         [0017]    If the device is to be used, for example, to convey items of clothing or similarly large transported goods, it is expedient for the material web to have a width of approx. 500 mm. 
         [0018]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the at least one material web comprises a fabric, which in particular can be coated. 
         [0019]    By means of a suitable coating, the fabric can optionally be made stiffer, smoother, duller, electrically conductive or insensitive to moisture, in order to adapt the properties of the material web to the goods to be conveyed. Depending on requirements, the fabric can be produced from natural or synthetic fibres. Thus, a fabric comprising high-strength fibres is recommended when heavy angular objects are to be transported. The type of fabric can also be adapted to the intended use. 
         [0020]    It is however also conceivable for the at least one material web to comprise a film, which in particular can also be laminated and can comprise a plurality of layers joined together. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, it is conceivable and also included in the term “material web” that the material web is constituted as a modular band chain or a mat chain, such as is known to the person skilled in the art from the field of conveyor technology. 
         [0022]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, first and second devices for fastening the material web to one of the carriages are arranged at both ends of the at least one material web. These devices must be designed such that they can introduce the gravitational forces exerted by the transported goods on the material web into the carriage without being torn out or torn off. They must also stabilise the material web in its width in order that it does not fold together like a bag when under load. 
         [0023]    In particular, the devices for fastening the material web to the carriage each comprise a transverse bar at each end of the material web. The transverse bars made of metal or plastic or wood take up the gravitational forces acting over the width of the material web and can introduce them in a concentrated manner into the carriage. A round or rounded cross-sectional contour of the transverse bars reliably prevents a notching effect and premature tearing of the fabric web. 
         [0024]    The transition from the material web to the respective transverse bar proves to be particularly straightforward manner if the transverse bars fit into pockets provided for the purpose at the ends of the material web. These pockets can be formed in a straightforward manner in that an end portion of the material web is bent back with a curvature and is sewn to the web by a transverse seam at the bent-back end. 
         [0025]    Particularly straightforward opening and closing of the transport loop is achieved by the fact that the first device for fastening the at least one material web to the carriage is fixedly connected to the carriage, and that the second device for fastening the at least one material web to the carriage is connected detachably to the carriage. When the second device is released from the carriage, the material web can basically hang down freely at the first device and thus enable easy unloading of the transport loop. 
         [0026]    It has proved to be a stabilising factor if the first device for fastening the material web to the carriage is fixedly connected to the carriage by two fastening elements spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction. 
         [0027]    Two parallel, vertical bars are in particular provided as fastening elements, which fixedly connect the first device to the carriage. 
         [0028]    In contrast, the second device for fastening the material web to the carriage can be connected detachably to the carriage preferably by hooking. Hooking and unhooking can in principle be carried out manually. However, it can also readily be carried out fully automatically if suitable engagement means are present between the second device and a suitable opening and closing mechanism. 
         [0029]    In particular, the hook-shaped carrying elements can be arranged on the carriage for hooking up the second device. 
         [0030]    Alternatively, an eyelet-shaped carrying element can be arranged on the carriage for hooking up the second device, into which eyelet-shaped carrying element the second device can be hooked with a hook. 
         [0031]    In order to provide the possibility of engagement with the second device, the transverse bar of the second device can project at both ends laterally beyond the material web and in each case comprise a fastening element there, by means of which the second device can be engaged with devices arranged laterally on the transport device. 
         [0032]    The actuating elements can be identical at both ends of the transverse bar. 
         [0033]    In particular, the actuating elements can be rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the transverse bar and be from the group of rollers, ball bearings and wheels. 
         [0034]    The actuating elements can however also be mounted non-rotatably on the transverse bar and can be constituted hemispherical, spherical or cambered. 
         [0035]    In order to enable swivelling around the longitudinal axis of the transverse bar during the engagement or to bridge a larger spacing, the actuating elements can also be constituted as roller levers. 
         [0036]    A further embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the at least one material web is provided with an information carrier, which contains and/or can store information concerning the respective material web or the transport loop and/or the transported goods transported therein. As a result, it is possible to monitor the path of the transported goods or the transport loop even inside the transport device, to assemble specific sequences of goods along the transport route or to remove individual goods in a targeted manner from such a sequence or to insert them into such a sequence. 
         [0037]    According to yet another embodiment, safety tapes are applied at the edges on the longitudinal sides of the at least one material web, which safety tapes are locally connected fixedly to the material web at a plurality of fastening points arranged with a spacing one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, in such a way that the portions of the safety tapes located between two adjacent fastening points bulge out when the material web is arched and form a securing means for the transported goods transported in the carrying loop against slipping out laterally from the transport loop. A securing means can thus be achieved in a particularly straightforward and effective manner, which is automatically formed during the formation of the transport loop by suspension of the material web and which assumes its initial form again when the material web is straight. 
         [0038]    Another type of securing means, more precisely against unintentional unhooking of the material web, results if hook-shaped carrying elements are arranged on the carriage for hooking up the second device, into which hook-shaped carrying elements the second device can be hooked with a securing portion in a first rotational position and is secured against unhooking in a second rotational position. This is particularly the case when the opening of the hook is so narrow that a securing portion with a semicircular cross-sectional area can pass through the opening only in a specific rotational position, whereas in another rotational position it does not pass through the opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0039]    The invention is to be explained in greater detail below with the aid of examples of embodiment in connection with the drawing. In the figures: 
           [0040]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 8  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 10  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 12  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 13  shows a side view of a further example of embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, which is characterised by a reduction in the carrying elements on the carriage; 
           [0053]      FIG. 14  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 15  shows a side view of the opened material web hanging freely on the carriage in the example of embodiment from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0055]      FIGS. 16A  shows a side view of the material web fastened with two ends to the carriage and pulled together to form a transport loop filled with transport goods in the example of embodiment from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0056]      FIG. 16B  shows a side view of a step in the unloading of the transport loop after  FIG. 16A ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 16C  shows a side view of another step in the unloading of the transport loop after  FIG. 16B ; 
           [0058]      FIG. 17  shows a side view, a further example of embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, which is characterised by a change in the coupling of the transport loop to the carriage; 
           [0059]      FIG. 18  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0060]      FIGS. 19  shows a side view, a further example of embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, which comprises different lateral actuating elements; 
           [0061]      FIG. 20  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0062]      FIG. 21  shows a side view, a material web bent to form a transport loop, said material web having safety tapes for securing against slipping-out laterally; 
           [0063]      FIG. 22  shows a view in the conveying direction of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0064]      FIG. 23  shows a type of securing means against unintentional unhooking of the material web; 
           [0065]      FIG. 24  shows a type of securing means against unintentional unhooking of the material web; and 
           [0066]      FIG. 25  shows a further example of embodiment of a transport device according to the invention with more than one material web (in the example two), so that a plurality of transported goods can be transported separately from one another. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0067]      FIGS. 1 and 2  each show, in a side view ( FIG. 1 ) and in a view in the conveying direction ( FIG. 2 ), an example of embodiment of a transport device according to the invention. 
         [0068]    The transport device  10 . 1  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises a running rail  15 , which extends in a conveying direction (arrow in  FIG. 1 ) and runs horizontally in the example of  FIG. 1  and which, in the example, is produced from the a repeatedly bent sheet metal strip symmetrical with respect to a vertical central plane and comprises two mutually opposite carrying rails and a guide rail with a rectangular profile constituted below in the middle. A carriage  11  is guided movably in the rail direction suspended on running rail  15 . Carriage  11  has a U-shaped carriage body  12 , which carries on both legs in each case a pair of carrying runner rollers  13   a  and  13   c  and in the lower region guiding runner rollers  13   b,  with which it engages in running rail  15  laterally and from beneath. 
         [0069]    A laterally outwardly projecting driver  14   a  and  14   b  is fitted to carriage body  12  respectively between lateral runner roller pairs  13   a  and  13   c,  which driver can bring the carriage when required into engagement with a drive device, a braking device, a switching device or suchlike. A pair of fastening elements  17  or more precisely  17   a, b  spaced apart normal to the rail direction and a pair of carrying elements  16  or more precisely  16   b  arranged behind the latter in the running direction project vertically downwards from the lower base of U-shaped carriage body  12 . 
         [0070]    The two bar-shaped fastening elements  17  or more precisely  17   a, b  are connected fixedly at the lower end to a first transverse bar  20  extending horizontally and normal and symmetrical with respect to the rail direction. The two hook-shaped carrying elements  16  or more precisely  16   a, b  receive a second transverse bar  19  arranged parallel to first transverse bar  20 , said second transverse bar being able, as it were, to be “inserted” into the two hooks  16   a, b  and removed again. 
         [0071]    Each of the two transverse bars  19  and  20  fits in an associated pocket of a rectangular material web  18  which has a predetermined width B ( FIG. 1 ) and a predetermined length L ( FIG. 15 ), said pocket being constituted at the end. In the unhooked state ( FIG. 15 ), material web  18  hangs only via transverse bar  20  on carriage  11  and with free transverse bar  19  vertically downwards and thus has the form of a planar web. In the suspended state ( FIG. 16 ), in which transverse bar  19  is hooked up into hook-shaped carrying elements  16  or more precisely  16   a, b,  material web  18  forms a laterally open carrying or transport loop, into which transported goods  30  to be conveyed can be placed. Material web  18  can be provided with an information carrier  29 , which is glued on or sewn on or sewn in or otherwise fastened. In particular, information carrier  29  can be an RFID or a comparable, also optical, contactless readable element, which contains and/or can store information concerning the given material web  18  or transport loop and/or transported goods  30  transported therein. 
         [0072]    In order that transverse bar  19  fitted in the pocket of material web  18  can be suspended in hook-shaped carrying elements  16  or more precisely  16   a, b,  corresponding cut-outs are provided in material web  18  in the suspension region, through which cut-outs direct access to transverse bar  19  located in the pocket is possible (see  FIG. 2 ). Moreover, transverse bar  19  can comprise sections with reduced diameter in the region of the cut-outs, said sections with reduced diameter preventing displacement of suspended transverse bar  19  in the bar longitudinal direction. As an alternative, and for the same purpose, transverse bar  19 , which in itself is thin, can comprise a thickened portion between the two carrying elements  16   a, b.    
         [0073]    Actuating elements  21   a, b  are arranged in each case at the two outer ends of suspended transverse bar  19 , which actuating elements project laterally beyond width B of material web  18  and, in the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , have the form of simple rollers rotatable around the central axis of transverse bar  19 . By means of these roller-like actuating elements  21   a, b,  transverse bar  19  can roll on a guide link arranged on both sides of running rail  15  and be moved upwards by means of the link in order to unhook transverse bar  19  automatically and to achieve the opened state represented in  FIG. 15 . Accordingly, automatic hooking-up can also be brought about by means of actuating elements  21   a, b  (transition from  FIG. 15  to  FIG. 16 ). 
         [0074]    Transverse bars  19  and  20  can be made of metal, plastic or wood. They can be constituted by solid material, but can also be tubular. 
         [0075]    Material web  18  can be made of a fabric, which in particular can be coated. With a suitable coating, the fabric can optionally be made stiffer, smoother or duller, electrically conductive or insensitive to moisture, in order to adapt the properties of the material web to the goods to be conveyed. A stiffened fabric enables a better loop formation and exhibits more resistance to damage. A fabric smoother on the outer side allows adjacent, mutually contacting loops to slide off one another more easily. A duller fabric on the inner side, e.g. by a rubber coating, prevents slipping of the transported goods in the transport loop and damps down movements of the transported goods in the loop. An electrically conductive fabric prevents harmful electrostatic charges. A coating insensitive to moisture protects the material web against liquids running out of the transported goods. 
         [0076]    Depending on the requirement, the fabric can be produced from natural or synthetic fibres. Thus, a fabric comprising high-strength fibres (e.g. Kevlar®) is recommended when heavy angular objects are to be transported. The type of fabric can also be adapted to the intended use. In particular, a fabric allows the possibility of constituting the pockets for transverse bars  19 ,  20  by a transverse seam. 
         [0077]    It is however also conceivable for material web  18  to comprise one or more film(s), which can be laminated. 
         [0078]    Material web  18  in the simplest case has a rectangular shape with a predetermined width B and a predetermined length L. Both magnitudes are governed by the size of the objects or goods to be conveyed. In particular, material web  18  can have a width of several hundred mm. If the transport device is to be used for example to convey items of clothing or similar broad conveyed goods, it is expedient for the material web to have a width of approx. 500 mm. 
         [0079]      FIGS. 3 to 12  show, similar to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in each case in a side view ( FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 ) and a view in the conveying direction ( FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ), further examples of embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, which differ from the example of embodiment from  FIGS. 1 and 2  only in the type of lateral actuating elements fitted to transverse bar  19 . 
         [0080]    In the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  (transport device  10 . 2 ), ball bearings  22   a, b  are provided instead of rollers  21   a, b,  said ball bearings running particularly smoothly and for example further reducing the forces required for unhooking transverse bar  19 . 
         [0081]    In the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6  (transport device  10 . 3 ), tyred wheels  23   a, b  are provided instead of rollers  21   a, b,  said tyred wheels enabling smooth and in particular quieter running on the guide link. 
         [0082]    In the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8  (transport device  10 . 4 ), hemispherical actuating elements  24   a, b  screwed fixedly to transverse bar  19  are provided instead of rollers  21   a, b,  said hemispherical actuating elements being less susceptible to malfunction and enabling a sliding engagement. 
         [0083]    Similar advantages are achieved with fixedly screwed spherical actuating elements  25   a, b  in the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 9 and 10  (transport device  10 . 5 ) and with fixedly screwed cambered actuating elements  26   a, b  in the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 11 and 12  (transport device  10 . 6 ). 
         [0084]    The invention is not restricted to transverse bars  19  and  20  of the same length, but also allows the transverse bars to have different lengths. 
         [0085]    The example of embodiment of  FIGS. 13 and 14  (transport device  10 . 7 ) differs from the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  (transport device  10 . 1 ) in that hook-shaped carrying elements  16  or more precisely  16   a, b  fitted to carriage body  12  are completely dispensed with and instead hooks  27   a, b  are fastened to the ends of transverse bar  20  to receive transverse bar  19 . 
         [0086]    In the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 17 and 18  (transport device  10 . 8 ), an eyelet-shaped carrying element  16 ′ is fitted on carriage body  12  for the suspension of transverse bar  19 , into which eyelet-shaped carrying element transverse bar  19  can be hooked with a hook  31  fitted centrally thereon. 
         [0087]    Finally, the example of embodiment of  FIGS. 19 and 20  (transport device  10 . 9 ) shows, as actuating elements, roller levers  28   a, b  with ball bearings fitted at the ends of transverse bar  19 , with which the engagement possibilities with transverse bar  19  can additionally be extended. 
         [0088]    In principle, the transport or carrying loop according to  FIG. 16A  formed from material web  18  is open at the sides and thus differs from a pocket that is also closed at the sides. However, straightforward and effective means can be provided in order to prevent transported goods  30  from slipping out laterally or at least to make this difficult. Suitable means for this purpose are represented in the example of embodiment of a transport loop in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . For this purpose, safety tapes  35   a, b  similar to curtain tapes are fixed at the edges to the longitudinal sides of material web  18 . These safety tapes  35   a, b  are fixedly connected to material web  18 , for example by sewing, gluing or clamps, at a plurality of fastening points  39  arranged with a (e.g. identical) spacing one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, whilst the portions of safety tapes  35   a, b  located between two adjacent fastening points  39  are not connected to material web  18  ( FIG. 22 ). 
         [0089]    The effect of this is that when material web  18  is arched, the portions of safety tapes  35   a, b  fitted on the inner side and located between adjacent fastening points  39  bulge out or stand up and securing means for transported goods  30  transported in the carrying loop against laterally slipping out of the transport loop are formed ( FIG. 21 ). Safety tapes  35   a, b  can of course be arranged on both sides of material web  18 , when both sides of material web  18  can each form the inner side of the transport loop, i.e. the material web can be used on both sides. 
         [0090]    Another type of securing means emerges according to  FIGS. 23 and 24  whereby hook-shaped carrying elements  16  with hooks having a particularly narrow opening are arranged on carriage  11  for hooking up the second device or transverse bar  19 . The counterpart to this narrow hook opening is a securing portion inside device  19  with a, for example, hemispherical cross-section (cross-sectional drawing A-A in  FIG. 24  top right), which is dimensioned such that second device  19  can be hooked up with the securing portion in a first rotational position (represented with an unbroken line in  FIG. 23 ) and is secured against unhooking by a form-fit connection in a second rotational position brought about by swivelling lever  37  of actuating elements  28   a, b  through 90° (represented in  FIG. 23  by a dashed line). 
         [0091]    The loading and unloading of the transport loop formed by means of material web  18  by suspension or hooking-up can take place manually or automatically.  FIGS. 16B  and C show steps in the mechanical unloading of a transport loop. For this purpose, the closed loop with transported goods  30  according to  FIG. 16A  first sits on a pivoting belt conveyor  32 , which is located in a horizontal position. Since transported goods  30  are thus supported by the belt conveyor, the transport loop can be unhooked at one side and be hooked at the side with transverse bar  19  in a hooking device  34  on another horizontal belt conveyor  33  ( FIG. 16B ). 
         [0092]    By pivoting belt conveyor  32  out of the horizontal position into an inclined position ( FIG. 16C ), transported goods  30  can then slide on material web  18  onto the other belt conveyor  33  located lower down, on which they are transported away. Other types and procedures for loading and unloading are of course also conceivable. 
         [0093]    Finally, it is readily conceivable within the scope of the invention to combine a plurality of material webs  18 ,  18 ′ with one another instead of only one material web  18  according to  FIG. 25 , and more precisely either one above the other, as shown in  FIG. 25 , or also beside one another. A plurality of transported goods  30 ,  30 ′ can thus be transported separately from one another. The loading and unloading then has to be adapted accordingly. 
         [0094]    All the shown examples of embodiment have the advantage arising from the invention that, with the at least one hookable and unhookable material web  18 , a particularly simply constructed and easily operated and also extremely robust and functionally reliable conveyor installation can be produced.