Laundry Hanger Conveyor Carriers with Easy Pivot Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conveyor devices for transporting laundry hangers require complex assembly and disassembly processes due to the use of rivets and manufacturer-specific angular fastening elements, leading to increased manufacturing effort and costs.

Innovation Solution

The carriers are pivotally mounted directly on the chain link via a bearing pin that engages between two connecting pins of the chain link and secured by a retaining device, utilizing simple, commercially available connecting elements like a disc and screw, eliminating the need for complex fastening means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rivets and manufacturer-specific angular fastening elements are used to attach carriers to the conveyor chain, then the carriers are securely attached, but the assembly and disassembly processes become complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier attachment securityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is divided into modular components: chain locks with connecting pins, carriers with bearing pins, and simple retaining devices. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining secure attachment through the interlocking modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The chain locks are designed with standardized connecting pins that can universally engage with carriers using common fastening elements like discs and screws. This universal interface eliminates the need for manufacturer-specific angular fastening elements, allowing the same connection mechanism to be used across different carrier types and applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If rivets are used to secure carriers to angular fastening elements, then the connection is strong and reliable, but the disassembly process requires destroying the rivets, increasing manufacturing effort and costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing effort
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining device is designed to be easily installed and removed by the operator without requiring specialized tools or destructive processes. The simple retaining mechanism allows carriers to be quickly secured and released, enabling maintenance and carrier replacement to be performed as routine self-service tasks rather than requiring complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If separately manufactured angular fastening elements are used to connect carriers to the conveyor chain, then the connection is secure, but additional manufacturing effort and costs are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The chain locks serve as universal connecting elements that directly interface with carriers through standardized bearing pins and retaining devices. This eliminates the need for separate angular fastening elements, reducing the bill of materials to common, inexpensive fasteners while maintaining secure mechanical connection through the chain lock's inherent structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4603431A1Conveyor device for transporting displaceable clothes hangers
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 FINTEC TEXTILPFLEGESYSTEME GMBH
  • EP4603431A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4603431A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4603431A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a conveyor device for transporting laundry hangers (2) which can be moved on a support device (1), said conveyor device comprising a motor-driven conveyor chain (3) and a plurality of carriers (4) which are pivotably arranged on the conveyor chain (3) via a chain lock (8) between a raised, over-travel position and a lowered, carrying position. In order to enable simple and cost-effective assembly and disassembly of the carrier, the carriers (4) are pivotally mounted directly on the chain lock (8) via a bearing pin (19) which engages between two connecting bolts (13) of the respective chain lock (8) and are secured by a holding device (25, 26).