Abstract:
An installation for transporting objects, in particular items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers, on conveying paths of a transporting roller, in particular a roller having two parallel spaced-apart flanges on end sides thereof and a central part located therebetween, as well as a through-passage opening extending through a center thereof disposed between the flanges and the central part. The central part has at least one peripheral, annular circumferential part which can rotate separately from the two flanges, so that when the circumferential part rotates as a result of bearing on one of the conveying paths, the two flanges remain in a rest state irrespective of the rotation of the circumferential part. A hook-like carrier element is provided for an object which is to be transported, passing through the through-passage opening and projecting from the latter by way of its free end. The conveying path includes a fixed rolling ridge with a transporting-roller running track on its top side, so that the transporting roller rides on the rolling ridge with the two flanges of the transporting roller engaging laterally around the rolling ridge, and with the circumferential part of the transporting roller engaging the transporting-roller running track. A comb-like conveying mechanism is guided along the rolling ridge, spaced apart laterally from the same at least corresponding to the thickness of the flange projecting there. The comb-like conveying mechanism is provided with gaps which are dimensioned for engagement with the free end of the hook-like carrier element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an installation for transporting objects, in particular items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers. 
     Such installations transport the objects on conveying paths by means of a transporting roller, containing two parallel spaced-apart flanges on the end sides and a central part located therebetween as well as a through-passage opening leading through the center between the flanges and the central part, the central part having at least one peripheral, annular circumferential part which can rotate separately from the two flanges, and the two flanges being connected to one another and to the circumferential part such that, in the case of the circumferential part rotating as a result of bearing on the conveying path, the two flanges are in a rest state irrespective of the rotation, a hook-like carrier element for an object which is to be transported passing through the through-passage opening and projecting from the latter by way of its free end. 
     The transporting roller of the abovementioned transporting installation is known from EP 10 13 569 A1 and is designed in order to avoid the smoothing effect which arises with a build-up of at least two transporting rollers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an installation which is intended for transporting objects of the type mentioned below and ensures, by straightforward means, the reliable transportation of objects which are to be transported on conveying paths. 
     Accordingly, the invention provides that the conveying path comprises a fixed rolling ridge with a transporting-roller running track on its top side, the transporting roller riding on the rolling ridge, the two flanges of the transporting roller engaging laterally around the rolling ridge, and the circumferential part of the transporting roller engaging with transporter-roller running track, and that guided along the rolling ridge, spaced apart laterally from the same at least corresponding to the thickness of the flange projecting there, is a comb-like conveying mechanism, of which the gaps or clearances are dimensioned for the engagement of the free end of the hook-like carrier element. 
     This manner of transporting-roller movement allows a straightforward design of the transporting means for the transporting roller in the form of a comb-like conveying mechanism which can be moved along the conveying path and in the gaps of which the free end of the hook-like carrier element for the goods which are to be transported can be accommodated in order for the transporting roller to be carried along. 
     The comb-like conveying mechanism is advantageously connected to a link chain running parallel to the conveying path, in particular a laterally curved chain of a drive arrangement. 
     The comb-like conveying mechanism preferably comprises tines in the form of regularly spaced-apart carry-along pins which extend perpendicularly to the through-passage opening of the transporting roller and perpendicularly to the transporting-roller running track, in order to provide the highest possible clearance for the reliable engagement of the free end of the hook-like carrier element. 
     According to a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the rolling ridge, provided by the transporting-roller running track, is formed as part of a profile rail, in which the link chain is guided. 
     This profile rail preferably has a generally C-shaped cross section, an upwardly oriented edge of the C-profile rail forming the transporting-roller running track. 
     The comb-like conveying mechanism preferably spans to the full extent, by way of its tines, the gap between the mutually facing edges of the C-profile rail for the purposes of providing a clearance which is bounded at the top and bottom, in order for the free end of the hook-like carrier element, and thus the transporting roller, to be reliably secured throughout the conveying displacement. 
     An advantageous development of the invention provides that the installation has a location for supplying or introducing the transporting roller(s) into the conveying path, having a downwardly sloping section which opens out laterally into the conveying path and comprises a fixed rolling ridge with a transporting-roller running track on its top side, said rolling ridge opening out into the rolling ridge of the conveying path, there being provided in the downwardly sloping section, on which the transporting roller(s) is or are conveyed to the conveying path by the action of gravitational force, an arrangement for restraining the transporting roller(s), which can be released synchronously with the presence of a gap of the conveying mechanism in the supply location, with account being taken of the period of time taken for the respective transporting roller to come into contact with this gap. 
     This object is achieved by the features set forth below. Advantageous developments of the invention are also specified below. 
     At this introduction location, or generally in the case of diverters which open out into the conveying path, the gap sequence of the conveying mechanism is coordinated with the timing of the respective diverter. Provided for this purpose is a corresponding clock generator, for example in the form of a gearwheel, which engages in the gaps of the comb-like conveying mechanism, or the spaced-apart tines thereof, and controls the diverter in a correspondingly synchronous manner. 
     The restraining arrangement at the abovementioned location for introducing transporting rollers into the conveying path preferably comprises a restraining pin for releasing a leading transporting roller and a further restraining pin for restraining trailing transporting rollers, it being possible for the restraining pins to be moved in the direction of their longitudinal axes between a restraining position in front of the respective transporting roller and a release position, in which they are disengaged from the respective transporting roller. The restraining pins can preferably be moved essentially perpendicularly to the transporting-roller running track of the downwardly sloping section. 
     The invention further provides that the conveying path comprises at least one ejecting location or discharging line which branches off from it and has a downwardly sloping section, which has a fixed rolling ridge with a transporting-roller running track on its top side and on which the transporting roller(s) is or are conveyed to a collecting location by the action of gravitational force, the ejecting location comprising a diverter which can optionally be brought up to the conveying path in order to transfer the transporting roller(s) to the downwardly sloping section of the ejecting location, with the free end of the hook-like carrier element passing through the through-passage opening thereof, being disengaged in the process. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained in more detail, by way of example, hereinbelow, with reference to the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows, schematically, an embodiment of an installation for transporting items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers with single-stage sorting, 
     FIG. 2 shows, schematically, an embodiment of an installation for transporting items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers, with two-stage sorting, 
     FIGS. 3 to  5  show an embodiment of the introduction location at which items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers are introduced into the conveying path of the installation of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 showing a leading transporting roller being separated off from trailing transporting rollers, FIG. 4 showing the transfer of the transporting roller separated according to FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 showing the beginning of the next separating operation once the leading transporting roller has been transferred, 
     FIG. 6 shows an ejecting location of the installation of FIGS. 1 and 2, at which transporting rollers with items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers are ejected from the conveying path, 
     FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a transporting roller of the installation of FIGS. 1 and 2 on the conveying ridge of the conveying path of the installation, 
     FIG. 8 shows a front view of the transporting roller from FIG. 7 in the direction transverse to the conveying path, and 
     FIG. 9 shows a cross section through the transporting roller along line I—I from FIG. 7 without the carrier element, conveying path and barcoding, but with cutouts and a securing part. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Since the conveying principle according to the invention of an installation for transporting objects is based on a specifically configured transporting roller with fixed side parts and a rotatable annular part in the center, this transporting roller, which is described in more detail, for example, in EP 1 013 569 A1, will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 7,  8  and  9 , in which the same parts with the same functions have the same designations. 
     In FIGS. 7 and 8, the transporting roller  1  essentially comprises two parallel disk-like outer flanges  2 ,  3  on the end sides in each case, the elements referred to above as fixed side parts, and a central part  4  located therebetween, the element referred to above as a rotary annular part. Provided along the associated center axis  5  is a through-passage opening  6 , in which a securing part  7  is optionally located. The transporting roller  1  is connected, via its through-passage opening  6 , to an arcuate carrier element or hook  8  of a hanger, on which items of clothing are conveyed in the transporting installation in question. For this purpose, the central part  4  of the transporting roller  1  bears on a rolling ridge, which will be explained in more detail at a later stage in the text, of a conveying path of the transporting installation, the inclination of the same making it possible for the transporting roller  1  to move. 
     As can be gathered from FIG. 8, the carrier element  8 , in the form of a clothes-hanger hook, bears on the ends of the securing-part  7  in each case. The securing part  7  is a hollow-cylindrical bushing, of which the end regions are bent outward in each case by riveting  24 ,  25 . 
     The inner construction of the transporting roller  1  cannot readily be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8. The transporting roller  1  is thus shown in section in FIG.  9 . The central part  4 , which is located between the first flange  3  and the second flange  2 , has an annular web  11 , which forms part of the first disk-like flange  3 , is directed towards the second flange  2 , is extended on one side and has a central bore as through-passage opening  6  of standard diameter. The annular web  11  has a slightly inclined outer surface from its point of attachment to the first flange  3  to its free end region  20 , which is flattened perpendicularly to the center axis  5 . The slightly inclined outer surface of the annular web  11 , at the same time, constitutes the inner running surface  12  for the rolling bodies  13 ,  14  of a rolling-contact bearing. A multiplicity of rolling bodies are usually necessary for a reliably functioning rolling-contact bearing. The inner running surface  12  has, in the center, an encircling groove-like depression  18 , which is adapted in an accurately dimensioned manner to the outer surfaces of the rolling body  13 ,  14  and in which the rolling bodies  13 ,  14  can move. On the outside, the rotatable circumferential part  15 , in the form of an outer ring, encloses the rolling bodies  13 ,  14  at a radial distance from the inner running surface  12 , and it has a disk-like side wall  21  which is angled perpendicularly to the center axis  5  and is located on the smaller-diameter side of the annular web  11 . In the direction of the side of the larger annular-web diameter or of the first flange  3 , the outer ring  15  is preferably open, inter alia for assembly reasons. The outer ring  15  is provided in each case with a slight amount of slot-induced play  16 ,  17  in relation to the inner surfaces  23 ,  22  of the first and of the second flanges  3 ,  2 . On its paraxial inner running surface  10 , the outer ring  15  may likewise contain an encircling groove-like depression  19 , which is likewise adapted to the surfaces of the rolling body  13 ,  14 . 
     The second disk-like flange  2  is firmly secured against the free flattened end region  20  of the annular web  11  by the securing part  7 , the securing part  7  pressing the second flange  2  onto the end region  20  of the annular web  11  by rigid riveting  24 ,  25 . The hollow-cylindrical securing part  7  has formed through it a channel  26 , into which the hook  8  of a clothes hanger is introduced and pushed through until that position of the hook  8  which is shown in FIG. 8 is reached. 
     In the simplest case (FIGS.  7  and  8 ), the second flange  2  may be provided with barcodings  37 . 
     In FIG. 9, the second disk-like flange  2  has hole-like cutouts  27 ,  28  in which, instead of the barcodings  37  shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, coding arrangements having electrical and electronic components (these arrangements not being shown) can be fastened. The coding arrangements may be, for example, radially or circularly arranged inductive, magnetic and/or capacitive arrangements or pins, made of a material differing from the flange material, in order for it to be possible to gather the storage information therefrom. The cutouts  27 ,  28 , however, may also constitute an annular groove in which it is possible to secure electrical components, coupled with ROM and/or RAM memory modules, which have been introduced therein. 
     As can be gathered from FIGS. 7 to  9 , in the transporting roller  1 , the central part  4  in other words has at least one peripheral annular circumferential part  15  which can be rotated separately from the two flanges  2 ,  3 , the two flanges  2 ,  3  being connected to one another and to the circumferential part  15  such that, in the case of the circumferential part  15  rotating as a result of bearing on the conveying path, the two flanges  2 ,  3  are in a rest state irrespective of the rotation. This configuration of the transporting roller is the basis for the design according to the invention, which will be explained hereinbelow, of the transporting installation for transporting, in particular, items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers. In particular, this transporting roller, with fixed outer elements and a rotating inner element, allows a transporting means or a pushing arrangement to act directly on the transporting roller. A corresponding transporting installation will be explained hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 1 to  6 . 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show, schematically, in general terms, two embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention for transporting, in particular, items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers, the installation according to FIG. 1 being provided for single-stage sorting, while the installation according to FIG. 2 is provided for two-stage sorting. 
     The transporting installation shown in FIG. 1 comprises an open-circuit conveying path  41  with a supply location  42  at one end for unsorted goods and with an end  43  for the removal of sorted goods. Provided between the supply location  42  and the removal end  43  of the conveying path  41  are a plurality of parallel discharging lines, of which merely four discharging lines  44  to  47  are illustrated in FIG.  1 . The discharging lines  44  to  47 , on the inlet side, branch off from the conveying path  41  via diverters  48  to  51 . On the outlet side, the discharging lines  44  to  47  pass over into the conveying path  41  again via diverters  52  to  55 . Between their inlet and their outlet, the discharging lines  44  to  47  are each provided with a downwardly sloping section, in order to transfer the incoming goods to the outlet-side diverters  52  to  55  on account of the gravitational force thereof. The discharging lines provide a sorting means which is referred to here as being single-stage because the goods only pass through one or more of the discharging lines once. 
     In contrast to this, FIG. 2 shows a modified design of the transporting installation of FIG. 1, with two-stage sorting of goods. In addition to the design with a plurality of discharging lines which is shown in FIG. 1, the transporting installation according to FIG. 2 comprises a return line  56 , which is connected to the conveying path  41 , via an inlet diverter  57 , downstream of the discharging lines  44  to  47 . In addition, the return line  56  is connected to the conveying path  41  upstream of the discharging lines  44  to  47  and downstream of the supply location  42 . For the purposes of transporting goods, the return line  46  likewise comprises a downwardly sloping section, which runs in the opposite direction to the downwardly sloping sections of the discharging lines  44  to  47 . 
     Formed at the end of each discharging line  44  to  47  is a collecting location or a transfer station  58 , by means of which goods coming in via the discharging lines  44  to  47  are collected and can be introduced into the conveying path  41  again in a specific manner. A similar collecting location  62  is located at the end of the return line  56 . 
     Details of the transporting installation according to FIGS. 1 and 2 can be gathered from FIGS. 3 to  5 , which show the installation in detail in the region of the supply location  42 . 
     Accordingly, the conveying path  41  and the supply location  42  comprise a respective profile rail  63 ,  64  with a generally C-shaped cross section. On account of the C-shaped cross section, the profile rail  63 ,  64  is closed all the way round apart from a respective gap  65 ,  66 , which is bounded by the mutually facing edges of the C-shaped profile rail. Of these two edges, the bottom or upwardly oriented edge is formed as a transporting-roller running track  67 ,  68 . The running track  67  or  68  thus forms the top side of a respective rolling ridge  69 ,  70 , which forms one of the mutually facing ends of the C-shaped profile rail  63  with the respective gap  65 ,  66  located therebetween. The transporting roller  1 , which is shown in FIGS. 7 to  9 , FIGS. 3 to  5  showing four running-track rollers  1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″ and  1 ′″, rides on said rolling ridge  69 ,  70 , the central part  4  of each transporting roller being in rolling contact with the running track  67 ,  68 , while the lateral, stationary flanges  2 ,  3  of each transporting roller engage over the rolling ridge  69 ,  70  on both sides, as a result of which the respective transporting roller is guided laterally. Additional lateral guidance for the transporting roller  1  is provided by the guide ridge  71 ,  72 , which is located opposite the respective rolling ridge  69 ,  70 , constitutes that end of the respective C-shaped profile  63 ,  64  which is located opposite the rolling ridge  69 ,  70  and engages between the two flanges  2 ,  3 , albeit without coming into contact with the central part  4  of the transporting roller  1 . Interacting with one another, the rolling ridge  69 ,  70  and the guide ridge  71 ,  72  thus provide lateral positive guidance for the transporting roller  1 , with the result that said roller cannot pass laterally out of the profile rail  63 ,  64  although, in the gap  65 ,  66  of the latter, it can run in an essentially resistance-free manner, i.e. under rolling resistance, on the running track  67 ,  68 . Added to this rolling resistance at most, when the goods hanging on the transporting rollers pivot laterally, is a brief contact resistance between the two flanges  2 ,  3  and the ridges  69  to  72 . 
     In order to convey the transporting rollers on the essentially horizontally running conveying path  41  or in the profile rail  63 , use is made of a link chain  73 , which is guided via gearwheels, spaced apart in the running direction, outside (as is shown) or alternatively within, the profile rail  63  and is driven via an electromotive drive (not shown). 
     The motion of the link chain  73  is transmitted to the transporting rollers with the aid of a comb-like conveying mechanism  74 , which runs along the gap  65  in the profile rail  63 . The comb-like conveying mechanism is connected to the link chain  73  by a connecting means (not shown) which is arranged in the profile rail and, with the link chain  73  located on the outside, engages through a slot in the profile rail  63  (said slot not being shown either) located opposite the gap  65 . The tines of the comb-line conveying mechanism  74  run perpendicularly to the through-passage opening  6  of the transporting rollers running in the gap  65  and perpendicularly to the transporting-roller running track  68 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the tines of the comb-like conveying mechanism are formed as uniformly spaced-apart carry-along pins for the free end of the hook-like carrier element  8  of the goods-securing part, e.g. in the form of a clothes hanger. The interspaces or clearances  78  of the tines or carry-along pins, of which two pins are designated  75  and  76  in FIGS. 3 to  5 , and the height of these spaces are selected such that the free end of the carrier element, coming from the supply location  42 , can pass into these spaces  78  and is then carried along together with the respective transporting roller and the goods hanging thereon. On account of the specific construction of the transporting roller, that flange  2  or  3  of the transporting roller which is oriented toward the interior of the profile rail engages with at least the two carry-along pins  75 ,  76  defining the accommodating clearance, without relative movement, and the associated friction, occurring between these parts during the conveying movement, because these flanges are fixed and do not accompany the rolling movement of the rolling part of the transporting roller, as has been explained above with reference to FIGS. 7 to  9 . 
     The operation of transporting rollers entering into the conveying path  41  via the supply location  42  will be explained hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 3 to  4 . 
     As has been indicated above, the supply location  42  is defined by a profile rail  64  with a C-shaped cross section corresponding to the profile rail  63 . At least in the region of the supply location  42 , that is to say at the location where the profile rail  64  opens out laterally into the profile rail  63 , the profile rail  64  has a downwardly sloping section, of which the lowermost point is situated at the location at which the profile rail  64  opens out into the profile rail  63 . On account of this downwardly sloping section, the transporting rollers, with the clothes hangers hanging on them, which are fed into the profile rail  64  at the other end of the latter move down the downwardly sloping section under the action of gravitational force. In order for the transporting rollers  1  to  1 ′″ to be fed into the conveying path  41  or the profile rail  63  separately and at the appropriate point in time, that is to say when a predetermined clearance  78  of the comb-like conveying mechanism  74  reaches the location at which the profile rail  64  opens out into the profile rail  63 , a restraining arrangement is formed at the supply location  42  upstream of the opening-out location. This restraining arrangement comprises two restraining pins  84  and  85 , which are spaced apart one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the profile rail  64 . The restraining pins  84  and  85  can have their axial position adjusted in a manner known per se by means of drive cylinders  86 ,  87 , with the aid of which the restraining pins  84 ,  85  can optionally be displaced into a position in front of a respective transporting roller. 
     In FIG. 3, the front restraining pin  84 , as seen in the conveying direction in the profile rail  64 , is located in front of the leading transporting roller  1 , with the result that the latter butts against the restraining pin  84 , while the rear restraining pin  85  is located on the rear side of said transporting roller  1 , in front of the next, trailing transporting roller  1 ′. The leading transporting roller  1  has thus already been separated off from the trailing transporting rollers  1 ′,  1 ″ and  1 ′″, of which the roller  1 ′ is restrained by the rear restraining pin  85 , while the following transporting rollers  1 ″,  1 ′″ butt against one another and against the transporting roller  1 ′. 
     Starting from the position in FIG. 3, the next step is for the front restraining pin  84  then to be drawn back from its position in front of the transporting roller  1  when a restraining pin  82   a , which is concealed in FIG. 3, is situated immediately in front of the location at which the profile rail  64  opens out into the profile rail  63 . For this purpose, the motion of the link chain  73  is synchronized, in a manner which is not illustrated specifically, with the actuation of the drive cylinder  86  for the front restraining pin  84 , e.g. by means of a synchronization gearwheel  79  which interacts with the link chain  73 , with account being taken of the time which is required for the released transporting roller  1  to run out of its restrained position, with the restraining pin  84  extended, to the location at which the profile rail  64  opens out into the profile rail  63 . There, the free end of the hook-like carrier element  8 , which is oriented inward (toward the interior of the profile rail  63 .) and projects from the through-passage opening  6  of the transporting roller, engages in the clearance  78  of the conveying mechanism  74 , which is situated at the opening-out location, with the result that the transporting roller is carried along via the carrier element. 
     The next step, as is shown in FIG. 5, is for a further transporting roller  1 ″″ to run up and thus form the last transporting roller of the abutting transporting rollers  1 ′,  1 ″,  1 ′″,  1 ″″, of which the now leading transporting roller  1 ′ comes into abutment against the restraining pin  84 , which has now been extended again, once the rear restraining pin  85  has been retracted. In order to separate the now leading transporting roller  1 ′, the rear restraining pin  85  is extended again, and the operation of separating the leading transporting roller, the beginning of which is shown in FIG. 3, begins anew, as has been explained above. 
     A transporting-installation configuration which is similar to the supply location is located, for example, at the transition from the discharging lines  44  to  47  to the conveying path  41 . At this location, the diverters  52  to  55 , as appropriate, are formed in a manner corresponding to the profile rail  64  at the supply location  42 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a location for moving the transporting rollers out of the conveying path  41  onto one of the discharging lines, for example the discharging line  44  according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The discharging line  44 , in turn, comprises a profile rail  88 , which is curved similarly to the profile rail  64  and opens out into the conveying path. The profile rail  88  likewise opens out into the profile rail  63 , which defines the conveying path  41 . The profile rail  88 , however, serves for ejecting transporting rollers, and the goods hanging on them, from the conveying path  41 . Since not every transporting roller is to be transferred from the profile rail  63  to the profile rail  88 , a diverter is formed between these two profile rails  63  and  88 . This diverter comprises a rolling-ridge section  89 , which is articulated pivotably on the profile rail  63 , and a guide-ridge section  90 , which is articulated pivotably on the profile rail  63 . In the pivoted-in state, the rolling-ridge section  89  forms part of the rolling ridge  69  of the profile rail  63 , while, in the pivoted-in state, the guide-ridge section  90  forms part of the guide ridge  71  of the profile rail  63 . In the pivoted-out state, or when the diverter is positioned such that transporting rollers are to be ejected from the profile rail  63  onto the profile rail  88 , the rolling-ridge section  89  interrupts the rolling ridge  69  and the guide-ridge section  90  interrupts the guide ridge  71 , and these sections  89 ,  90  of the diverter, in the pivoted-out position, then adjoin a respective rolling ridge  91  and a guide ridge  92  of the profile rail  88 , as a result of which transporting rollers arriving at the diverter are ejected into the profile rail  88 . 
     In order to adjust the sections  89 ,  90  of the diverter, use is made of a diverter-switching mechanism  93 , which is merely illustrated schematically as a C-shaped clamp. 
     As soon as a transporting roller located on the diverter leaves the diverter, it is transported by the downward slope on the discharging line, under the action of gravitational force, to a collecting location. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 Transporting roller 
               
               
                 2 
                 Second flange 
               
               
                 3 
                 First flange 
               
               
                 4 
                 Central part 
               
               
                 5 
                 Center axis 
               
               
                 6 
                 Through-passage opening 
               
               
                 7 
                 Securing part 
               
               
                 8 
                 Carrier element 
               
               
                 11 
                 Annular web 
               
               
                 12 
                 Inner running surface 
               
               
                 13 
                 Rolling body 
               
               
                 14 
                 Rolling body 
               
               
                 15 
                 Circumferential part 
               
               
                 16 
                 Play 
               
               
                 17 
                 Play 
               
               
                 18 
                 First groove-like depression 
               
               
                 19 
                 Second groove-like depression 
               
               
                 20 
                 Free end region 
               
               
                 21 
                 Disk-like side wall 
               
               
                 22 
                 Inner surface 
               
               
                 23 
                 Inner surface 
               
               
                 24 
                 Riveting 
               
               
                 25 
                 Riveting 
               
               
                 26 
                 Channel 
               
               
                 27 
                 Cutout 
               
               
                 28 
                 Cutout 
               
               
                 36 
                 Latching cutout 
               
               
                 37 
                 Coding arrangement 
               
               
                 41 
                 Conveying path 
               
               
                 42 
                 Supply location 
               
               
                 43 
                 Removal end 
               
               
                 44 
                 Discharging line 
               
               
                 45 
                 Discharging line 
               
               
                 46 
                 Discharging line 
               
               
                 47 
                 Discharging line 
               
               
                 48 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 49 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 50 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 51 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 52 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 53 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 54 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 55 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 56 
                 Return line 
               
               
                 57 
                 Diverter 
               
               
                 58 
                 Collecting location 
               
               
                 59 
                 Collecting location 
               
               
                 60 
                 Collecting location 
               
               
                 61 
                 Collecting location 
               
               
                 62 
                 Collecting location 
               
               
                 63 
                 Profile rail 
               
               
                 64 
                 Profile rail 
               
               
                 65 
                 Gap 
               
               
                 66 
                 Gap 
               
               
                 67 
                 Running track 
               
               
                 68 
                 Running track 
               
               
                 69 
                 Rolling ridge 
               
               
                 70 
                 Rolling ridge 
               
               
                 71 
                 Guide ridge 
               
               
                 72 
                 Guide ridge 
               
               
                 73 
                 Link chain 
               
               
                 74 
                 Conveying mechanism 
               
               
                 75 
                 Carry-along pin 
               
               
                 76 
                 Carry-along pin 
               
               
                 78 
                 Clearance 
               
               
                 79 
                 Synchronization gearwheel 
               
               
                 84 
                 Restraining pin 
               
               
                 85 
                 Restraining pin 
               
               
                 86 
                 Drive cylinder 
               
               
                 87 
                 Drive cylinder 
               
               
                 88 
                 Profile rail 
               
               
                 89 
                 Rolling-ridge section 
               
               
                 90 
                 Guide-ridge section 
               
               
                 91 
                 Rolling ridge 
               
               
                 92 
                 Guide ridge 
               
               
                 93 
                 Diverter-switching mechanism