BRANCHING AND MERGING UNIT FOR HANGER SYSTEM

PURPOSE:To enable hangers to freely branch off and merge into, by providing a rotatable support member carrying thereon branch rails and auxiliary rails between two rails so that both rails may cross each other. CONSTITUTION:When rails 2a, 4a are connected with branch rails 9, 10, first and second cylinders 13, 15 are located in parallel with branch rails 9, 10, the piston rod 14 of the first cylinder 13 being retracted to its minimum lengths while the piston rod 16 of the second cylinder 15 being extended to its maximum length. Hangers are conveyed from the rails 2a, 4a to rails 2a, 2b through the branch rails 9, 10, respectively. Then, the piston rods 14, 16 and the first and second cylinders 13, 15 are extended so that a rotary support member 8 is rotated. Accordingly, a stopper 19 on the rotary support member 8 abuts against a stationary stopper 19 secured to a stationary support member 18, and therefore, the hangers conveyed from the rail 4a may be shifted onto the rail 2b through an auxiliary rail 11.