Conveyor transfer apparatus hook release device

In an apparatus for transferring an article from a first conveyor to a second conveyor, said first conveyor including a swingably mounted hook for supporting the article for forward movement with said first conveyor, said article being provided with a hanger for removably engaging the hook, said apparatus further including a pickup device, moving means for moving said pickup device forwardly to engage the hanger and upwardly to lift the hanger from the hook at a pickup position and thusly pick up the article, and for transporting the picked up hanger and article forwardly from the hook at the pickup position to a dropoff position adjacent the second conveyor whereat the second conveyor may receive the article from the pickup device, the improvement comprising:

• impositive force applying means for swinging the hook rearwardly away from the hanger at the pickup position only in the event the hanger is lifted from the hook by the pickup device sufficiently to disengage the hook from the hanger, said swinging means being constructed to apply a swinging force to the hook insufficient to swing the hook from the pickup device with the article carried thereon.