A folding system for a fabric product is provided. The folding system includes an information obtaining device, a folding device and a width controlling device. The information obtaining device obtains first information held by a fabric product. The folding device includes a platen member, a width adjusting mechanism and a folding mechanism. The platen member is for holding the fabric product. The width adjusting mechanism adjusts the width directional length of the platen member. The folding mechanism folds the fabric product on the platen member. The width controlling device controls the width adjusting mechanism by using the first information obtained by the information obtaining device.

A hanger system with hooks attached to and suspended from a hanging or stationary frame, and from one to a multiplicity of rods capable of holding garments or other items, which rest in the hooks. The hooks are designed to allow the rods to rest in vertical relation to one another within the hooks although, depending on the hanging orientation of the hanger system, the rods may hang adjacent to or diagonal from one another. The frame may be hung from a closet rod or similar support, or may be attached to a surface such as a wall or a shelf, either directly or with spacers between the frame and the surface.

A sizer for a hanger lacking a hook boss includes a pair of longitudinal walls spaced apart from each other by a pair of end sections. The sizer may include a pair of protrusion, wherein a first is disposed on a first wall of the pair of longitudinal walls and directed toward a second wall of the pair of longitudinal walls. A first jaw is disposed on one of the pair of end section. The pair of longitudinal walls flexes apart when the jaw passes over a flange of the hanger. The first jaw includes a lower portion having a curved edge. The first jaw further includes an upper portion. The lower portion and upper portion meet at an abrupt jaw point.

A dryer system for a firefighting ensemble comprising a housing having an air intake port and an air outlet port, a forced air assembly including a heater and a blower accommodated within the housing, a plurality of flexible porous hose segments coupled to the air outlet port operable to receive and conduct forced air therefrom, and the plurality of flexible porous hose segments are operable to conduct forced heated air into elements of the firefighting ensemble to speed drying.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a glove (100) from a conveyor (200) characterized by: a camera (10); a pick-up assembly (20) comprising a pair of inner grippers (21) and two pairs of outer grippers (22); a pair of sensors (30); a robotic arm (40) mounted with the pick-up assembly (20); a processor. The present invention also relates to a method for transferring a glove (100) from a conveyor (200), characterized by the steps of: locating a cuff (101) of the glove (100) on the conveyor (200) by capturing an image on the conveyor with a camera (10) and analyzing the image with a processor; using a robotic arm (40) to move a pick-up assembly (20) to the located cuff (101); gripping the cuff (101) with a pair of inner grippers (21) of the pick-up assembly (20) and lifting the glove (100) by retracting the pair of inner grippers (21); detecting the glove (100) position by using a pair of sensors (30); opening the glove (100) by grabbing and sliding apart the two pairs of outer grippers (22); shifting the glove (100) towards a workstation (300) by using the robotic arm (40); transferring the glove (100) to the workstation (300) by engaging the glove (100) to the workstation (300).

A method for printing on a lower surface of a peak of a baseball cap comprising: a) printing an image on the lower surface of the peak when the peak is at an elevated printing temperature and when the peak is in a generally planar configuration; b) allowing the peak to cool to a temperature below an elevated formation temperature; and, c) heating the peak to the elevated formation temperature and applying a non-planar shape to the peak, wherein the peak comprises a deformable insert that is solid at the elevated printing temperature and deformable at the elevated formation temperature.

A jersey hanger assembly is described. The jersey hanger assembly allows homes, businesses, schools, or other buildings to display an athletic jersey as a symbol of team pride or of support for an athletic team or an individual player on the team. The jersey hanger assembly includes a bracket member. The bracket member includes a receiving member. The jersey hanger assembly includes a pole with first and second opposing ends. The second pole end is insertable into the receiving member. The pole has a curved shape between the first and second opposing ends. A jersey flag for hanging on the jersey hanger is described. The jersey flag is material of a fabric cut or shaped to resemble an athletic jersey. The material includes a team logo or insignia. A sleeve or an open seam in positioned in the upper portion of the jersey flag to receive the pole.

A hat insert device for maintaining a hat in a desired condition is provided. The hat has an inner flap along an opening of the hat. The hat insert device comprises a flat, planar insert having a first side, a second side substantially opposite the first side, a top edge, a bottom edge substantially opposite the top edge, a first edge between the top edge and the bottom edge, and a second edge substantially opposite the first edge. A retaining mechanism is formed in either the top edge of the insert or the bottom edge of the insert for maintaining the insert in a desired position. Upon positioning the insert inside the inner flap at the front of the hat, the insert provides support, stiffness, and structure in the hat.

In a lower neck sizer for a garment hanger and a combination turnable wire hook hanger and lower neck sizer, the lower neck sizer includes a body dimensioned to generally surround a cylindrical projection and the support flanges adjacent to the body flange of the hanger, and an inwardly extending tab secured to the sizer body configured to engage the hanger at the lower neck region to resist removal. The lower neck sizer also has a discontinuity traversing the height of the body to facilitate mounting on the hanger.

A hanger may be used for supporting a garment. The hanger may include a hook, a medium connected to the hook, a first branch, a second branch, a third branch, and a fourth branch. The first branch may be connected through the medium to the hook and oriented according to a first direction. The second branch may be connected through the medium to the hook and oriented according to a second direction. The third branch may be coplanar with both the first branch and the hook, disposed between the first branch and the hook, connected to the medium, and oriented according to a third direction different from the first direction. The fourth branch may be connected to the medium and oriented according to a fourth direction different from the second direction, wherein the medium may be disposed between the third branch and the fourth branch.

An applicator for applying compression stockings and bandages to the limb of a user. The applicator includes a rigid tubular body, an open top with a rim, an open base and a passageway between the base and top. The applicator includes two or more longitudinal slots in the side wall of the tubular body for use in loading. An anterior notch allows an ergonomic application of the stocking and loading. The applicator may be formed in two parts for variation of its internal dimension. It preferably includes a foot arch. The applicator may be adapted for removal of the stocking. The invention extends to a method of donning and removing a compression stocking.

A web assembly can be used for making and maintaining a contour of a baseball or softball glove. The web assembly comprises a plurality of horizontal straps comprising a top strap and a bottom strap mechanically coupled to a plurality of vertical straps comprising a left strap and a right strap. A right durable strap and left durable strap are mechanically coupled to at least one horizontal strap where the at least one horizontal strap is further mechanically coupled to the right strap and the left strap. In this manner, a user can wrap the web assembly around the glove and affix the right durable strap to the left durable strap with a hook and loop fastener, and allowing for the straps to deform slightly to make and maintain the contour of the glove.

A wetsuit hanger hangs over a door, fence, gate, tailgate of a truck, or similar object and comprises a member, over which the wetsuit is draped, projected away from the object the wetsuit is being hung from.

A base assembly includes two vertical lower segments, one vertical upper segment, and an intermediate segment there between. A cover has linear leg sections covering the lower segments, a head section covering the upper segment, and a shoulder section covering the intermediate segment. Stuffing within the cover is in full contact with the cover and the base assembly.

A cap shaper has contact-members adapted for supporting and shaping a cap from its inside; The cap shaper is elastically deformable under external forces, and maintains a generally larger contact-members' collective-outline dimension than that of the cap inside when free from external forces; When placed inside the cap the cap shaper deforms under the confines of the smaller cap inside due to the contact forces exerted to the contact-members from the contacted cap regions, displacing the contact-members, resulting cap shaper internal elastic tension and tendency to expand and substantially self-adapt for the contact-members to contact and fit in with the cap regions of contact, accommodating minor cap size and shape variations, counter balancing the contact forces and maintaining the tensioned contact to shape the cap.

A frame for facilitating storage, transport, stacking and organizing garments includes four panels linearly aligned and connected by folds or creases. The rear panel has two flaps extending transversely. The frame is integrated with a shirt when folding such that the front panel positions the front of the shirt on the front of the folded frame. The flaps extend across the front of the shirt and detachably engage to secure the shirt in a semi-rigid state having a cuboid shape. The cuboid shape is maintained by the frame and facilitates stacking, organizing, transport and storage.

[Object of the invention] Releasing all clips at once easily. [Solution] A clothes hanger comprises a substantially horizontally arranged rod, a rigid hanger body which support the rod at the both ends thereof, a plural clip through which the rod is inserted, and a plural spacer through which the rod is inserted between the clips. Each clip has a pair of clip bodies, a hinge situated near the center of said clip bodies, a through hole formed above the hinge, an operation part situated above said through hole, a holding part at the lower end of the clip bodies and an elastic element which forces the holding part to the closed position.

Disclosed herein is a hanger with a foldable/removable hook, of the type that is made up of an arched body and a projecting crook-shaped hook, provided with a base, which allows the removably hooking of said hook on said body, as well as a rotation thereof, with reference to the position of normal use thereof, from vertical to horizontal and vice versa, i.e. from perpendicular to parallel with respect to the arched body. In addition, when said hook is raised, so as to allow the hanger to assume a normal configuration, it has the same mechanical resistance of a common hanger with fixed hook.

An expandable and collapsible enclosure is provided for a garment refreshing appliance. The appliance has at least either a top or a bottom rigid housing structure. The enclosure comprises a wall structure extending substantially an entire height of the enclosure. The wall structure is made of a flexible material. An opening is provided in the wall structure through which garments can be introduced into or removed from the enclosure. A zipper is attached at the opening to selectively open and close the opening. A snap attachment mechanism is located at either or both of the top and a bottom of the wall structure for securing the wall structure to the top and/or bottom rigid housing structures.

A hanger assembly for a garment including a neck opening and a pair of shoulder areas, including: a frame having a pair of lateral ends, each lateral end configured to support one shoulder area of the pair of shoulder areas from inside the garment; and a suspensor, coupled to the frame to transition between a pair of locations along the frame with the pair of locations including a first location generally centered between the pair of ends and a second location closer to a particular lateral end than an other lateral end, the suspensor having a suspending mode wherein the suspensor is located at the first location and an insertion-removal mode in which the suspensor is located at the second location.

An implement for use in a bathroom or a kitchen which is composed of at least one rod which is oval in cross section, the rod being aesthetic in appearance and providing an advantageous force distribution over rods with circular cross sections. The implement can be a hanging device, such as a hanger, a hanger for ties and belts, and many other variations having a hook portion for engaging a cylindrical support, an over-the-door/vertical wall device also including the rods with the oval cross section, the latter devices being, for example, clothes supporting hooks, hooks for articles made from fabric; wire metal baskets having a rim and/or transition device made from a rod with an oval cross section; paper or magazine holders comprising parallel racks separated by upstanding walls; bag dispenser and handles for implements.

A long handled sock donning tool includes a handle portion adapted to be gripped by a user and an opposing sock engaging portion. The sock engagement portion includes first and second flanges spaced from an elongated support by first and second spacers. Each of the flanges include a sock engagement arm for retaining a sock thereon, and an opposing stabilizing arm for supporting the tool during the mounting of the sock onto the tool. First and second rubber sock gripping portions help retain the sock on the tool. Once an upper portion of a sock is folded over the sock gripping portions, a user's foot can be inserted into the sock comfortably without being forced into contact with a hard plastic wall of the tool. Additionally, the tool can be used as a shoe horn by fitting one of the first and second flanges into the heel of a shoe.

A hanger releasably supports a shirt. The hanger has a middle support and laterally extending shoulder supports. A hook is in an inverted J-shaped configuration. The hook is coupled to and extends upwardly from the middle support of the hanger. A clip has an interior segment and an exterior segment. The interior segment has an upper part coupled to the middle support. The interior segment has a pivot line and a convex lower part beneath the pivot line. The interior segment has a lower edge beneath the convex lower part. The exterior segment has an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edges of the interior and exterior segments form a semi-cylindrical finger. In this manner pressing the upper edge of the exterior segment will pivot the finger about the mid-line away from the middle support.

A protective coating solution, liquid, gel, or film and a method of using such a material to provide a sterile covering for fingers, hands, arms or other selected skin surface for use as a glove substitute.

A device to aid in conditioning a baseball glove, namely in the formation and/or maintenance of a baseball pocket, typically includes one or more balls, two or more looped straps, and a means for coupling the two or more looped straps to the one or more balls. The one or more balls are placed in a baseball glove proximate a desired location for the baseball pocket, and the two or more looped straps are fed through a slot of the glove interposing an interior of the glove and an exterior of the glove and wrapped around the exterior of the glove to force the ball deeper into the desired location for the baseball pocket and secure the glove around the ball.

The present invention relates to a method and device for display and/or storage of garments or other items of apparel such as skirts, dresses, ties, scarves, hats, jewelery and the like. In particular, the present invention provides a garment hanger comprising at least one rung member, wherein the at least one rung member comprises: first attachment formations disposed on the outer periphery of the rung member and adapted to receive a first portion of a first garment and; second attachment formations disposed within the outer periphery of the rung member and adapted to receive a second portion of a second garment.

A rotating rod in combination with a retractable concave/convex tape creates pairs of folds on a fabric article on a horizontal platform. A machine and method are described. The tape extends outward and downward to hold the article at a first fold location, while the rotating rod moves from below, then over and across the tape, pulling the fabric with it to create a second fold at the farthest motion of the rod. These motions are typically repeated on the other side of the article, then at right angles, created a finished, folded article of a generally rectangular shape.

A crown-type sizer for mounting on a hanger includes a body and a hook extending from a mid-point of the body. The sizer includes a pair of parallel walls and a pair of non-parallel walls, each wall of the non-parallel walls being joined to each wall of the parallel walls, the pairs of walls defining a lower open base and an open base in an upper part of the sizer for passing over the hook. Each of the parallel walls has a single boss disposed in a corner of the respective parallel wall and each non-parallel wall is shorter in height than at least one parallel wall.

In accordance with one embodiment, a display strap for displaying a first article of clothing (e.g., a tie) with a second article of clothing (e.g., a hanky, etc.) includes an elongated strap body having a first end and an opposing second end along with a top edge and an opposing bottom edge. The body has a plurality of score lines to permit the elongated body to be folded and the first end be drawn toward the second end. The body further has a locking slit formed therein proximate the first end and a locking tab formed at the second end for reception within the locking slit to form a continuous, folded strap body that captures the first and second articles of clothing for holding thereof at a first location. The display strap has a flag portion that extends upwardly from the top edge of the body and includes an opening formed therein for receiving a fastener that couples the first and second articles of clothing together at a second location that is spaced from the first location.

A garment-hanging accessory includes a strip of material having a first end and a second end; and a clip having an engaging end biased into a normally closed position and openable upon application of pressure upon opposing levers at an opposite end of the clip, the levers connected by a spring secured about a fulcrum point between the levers, each end of the strip of material secured to a respective opposite side of each of the opposing levers, opposite ends of each lever, not secured to either of the ends of the strip of material, co-acting to define a garment engaging end when the clip is in its normally closed position. The unsecured portion of the strip opposite the clip is suspended upon a primary garment hanger.

A garment stored, transported, and displayed as a soft wedge. A triangular prism is transformed from flat fabric pieces by flexible fasteners and a method of folding. Sleeves and other delicate decorations and components are protected from damage by folding into a self enclosed polyhedron defined by two triangles and three trapezoid faces without pins, straps, ribbons, cans, cylinders, bags, boxes, or bands.

An apparatus used to store and/or display garments, such as brassieres, is provided. The device includes a first semispherical cup, a second semispherical cup, and a connecting member. The connecting member is used to interconnect the first and second cups. The connecting member allows for the spacing between the first and second cups to be adjusted. Also provided are methods of using the apparatus to store and/or display garments.

A multipurpose clothes hanger having a frame assembly with a neck and shoulder area. Extending from the neck and shoulder area are first and second lateral sides. The frame assembly further has a bottom side that connects the first and second lateral sides. A hook assembly has first and second bases. Extending from the first and second bases are first and second hooks respectively. The first and second hooks each have at least one cutout. Each at least one cutout has first and second channels extending therefrom. The hook assembly further has a roller assembly and the hook assembly mounts onto the neck area. The roller assembly has a roller, and extending from the roller are first and second pins that extend from the roller in opposite directions. Each at least one cutout receives the roller, and the first and second channels receive the first and second pins respectively.

The present invention discloses a device for hanging clothes, comprising an engaging portion and a deformable elongate member, the elongate member comprising a connection mechanism such that the elongate member can be deformed back upon itself and connected to itself to form a loop.

A garment separator assembly is disclosed that includes at least two separators for maintaining even spacing between a plurality of clothing hangers on a clothing rod. The separators are spaced a distance apart that allows only a single clothing hanger to fit therebetween. Each separator includes a first member defining a first half of the separator and a second member hingedly coupled to the first member and defining an opposing second half of the separator. The second member, together with the first member, define a first inner-surface circumference and a second inner-surface circumference, wherein the second inner-surface circumference is adjacent the first inner-surface circumference. The first inner-surface circumference is larger than the second inner-surface circumference and both are sized and shaped to mate with clothing rods of various sizes and shapes.

Disclosed is a paw insertion device. In one embodiment, the device includes two pivotally interconnected arms. Each of the arm can include a paw insertion guide at a distal end. The insertion guides are designed to be inserted into an article of animal footwear. The opposite grip ends of the arms can then be brought together to spread apart the insertion guide and permit the animal paw to be easily positioned within the footwear. A lock subassembly is also included for permitting the insertion device to be locked in the opened position.

A footwear hanger includes a suspension portion for suspending a pair of shoes having toe separators in as side-by-side relation in an upright position, and a pair of support portions connected to, and in mirror symmetrical relationship with, the suspension portion. Each support portion has a plurality of uprights together operative for jointly supporting one of the shoes. The uprights of each support portion are spaced apart from one another and include bound spaces in which the toe separators of the respective shoe are received for holding the shoe upright in the upright position.

A garment folding apparatus includes a planar center panel having a length and a width, the width being less than the length. The center panel is configured to fold in a lengthwise direction. The apparatus further includes a planar left side panel joined by a hinge to the center panel. The apparatus further includes a planar right side panel joined by a hinge to the center panel on a side opposite to the left side panel. The left side panel and the right side panel each comprise raised handle portions on an outer edge thereof. When the left side panel and the right side panel are folded onto the center panel, the handle portions fit into corresponding notches formed in side edges of the second portion of the center panel and corresponding notches formed in inner side edges of the left side panel and the right side panel.

A friction reducing element for a hanging device includes a roller configured for positioning on an upper portion of a hook and a tubular elastomeric sleeve stretch-fitted over an outer surface of the roller. The roller is provided with a contoured outer surface and the sleeve is made from a thermoset elastomer such that the friction reducing element facilitates positioning of the hanging device, along a clothing rod. Use of the thermoset elastomer also prevents premature development of areas of deformation on the friction reducing element over time. The friction reducing element may be assembled into an upper portion of a hook for a clothes hanger, or other similar hanging device.

A stackable garment hanger is configured to stack vertically, with successive hangers being positioned in an undulating, back-and-forth manner. At least a portion of each garment hanger nests within the outline of the next garment hanger in a vertical stack of identical garment hangers. The front and back garment hangers may be substantially mirror images of each other. The garment hanger includes at least one pair of binding slots extending therethrough and separated by a predetermined distance that coincides with the up-and-down, undulating offset distance between each adjacent, nested and stacked garment hanger. In this manner, a coaxial opening or continuous channel is formed through the alternating, successive alignment of an upper slot an adjacent lower slot, a further adjacent upper slot, and so forth.

A pre-threaded and knotted needle with a length of thread knotted though the eye of the needle and a connection securing the ends of the thread and a sleeve securing a bundle of the thread so that the thread is not tangled until it is released and ready for use The thread is bundle is formed by wrapping it into a bundle and securing a sleeve around the bundle of the thread so that the thread is not tangled until it is released and ready for use. The bundle is released for use by pulling on the needle and the end of the thread to release the bundle of thread.

A biochar generator may include a pyrolysis chamber, a heater connected to the pyrolysis chamber and a biochar collection chamber in communication with the pyrolysis chamber. A biochar collection chamber sensor may sense a composition of the biochar collected in the biochar collection chamber to define a sensed composition of the biochar. A controller in electrical communication with the biochar collection chamber sensor may utilize the sensed composition of the biochar to dynamically alter conditions in the pyrolysis chamber to alter the composition of the biochar.

A process for the controlled gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock includes pyrolizing the feedstock by conveying the feedstock through a retort surrounded by a plurality of successive heating chambers each comprising an axially adjustable chamber separation wall and each operated at a predetermined temperature, wherein a predetermined dwell time of the feedstock in each of the plurality of successive heating chambers is controlled by a conveyance rate of the feedstock through the retort and a position of each of the axially adjustable chamber separation walls to produce a gas product and a solid product. The gas product includes methane and noxious chemicals and the solid product includes carbon, and the pyrolizing step is controlled using feedback related to constituents of the gas product.

There is described a system and method for recycling carbon-containing material, in particular tires and plastics materials. The system includes a heating arrangement for anaerobically heating carbon containing material to produce carbon-containing gases. A condensing arrangement is also used to condense a proportion of the carbon-containing gases to provide condensed gases and non-condensed gases. In addition, a recirculating arrangement is provided for recirculating the non-condensed gases into the heating arrangement. Further systems and methods for pre- and post-processing of the carbon-containing material are also disclosed and products of the systems and methods are also described.

The present invention provides a microwave assisted flash pyrolysis system to carry out microwave assisted flash pyrolysis in an industrial scale. The microwave assisted flash pyrolysis system comprises at least one microwave generator; a chamber comprises: at least one feedstock inlet, at least one baffle plate, a microwave-transparent rotating window, and at least one microwave inlet, at least one wet gas outlet, and at least one dry end product outlet. The present invention also provides a method using the same system to carry out microwave assisted flash pyrolysis.

This invention relates to a system for obtaining hydrocarbons from organic or inorganic solid waste, wherein said system comprises: an inlet chamber, within which is a mixer assembly which mixes and conveys the waste through said chamber, which is also at ambient temperature, thus avoiding any thermal shock to the solid waste for processing; a dehydration chamber with a mixing assembly therein, and the upper part of this chamber contains an expansion chamber for promoting more efficient molecular breakdown; the thermal breakdown is carried out in two reactors which are operated at different temperatures, the first thermal disassociation reactor which has inside a mixer unit, and which in its upper part houses an expansion chamber, the second thermal breakdown reactor, therein has a mixer unit, and in the upper portion thereof houses an expansion chamber and at the top end thereof a vertical expansion tower; wherein the thermolytic steam is homogenized, a separator of heavy hydrocarbons, which does not require an additional cooling system, a multiple valve determines the temperature and oxygen content of the vapors and conveys them to the expansion tower in order to optimize the production of hydrocarbons, and to obtain a liquid hydrocarbon with high heating value.

Methods and apparatus for processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency are disclosed. In particular, multi-stage processes are disclosed to convert various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. Disclosed processes subject the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. Various materials produced at different points in the process may be recycled and used to play other roles within the process. Also disclosed are apparatus for performing multi-stage processes of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.

Method for fast pyrolysis of lignocellulose including: mechanically comminuting the lignocellulose to lignocellulose particles; at least one of completely drying and preheating the lignocellulose particles; mixing the lignocellulose particles with heat transfer particles so as to provide a mixture; heating the heat transfer particles, prior to the mixing, to a temperature between 500° C. and 650° C.; and heating, in a pyrolysis reactor with oxygen excluded, the lignocellulose particles using the heat transfer particles so as to establish a temperature between 400° C. and 600° C. for 1 to 50 seconds and so as to react the lignocellulose particles so as to provide pyrolysis coke, pyrolysis condensate, and pyrolysis gas.

A heat-resistant door device for closing a horizontal coke oven chamber is made of a refractory material, using a material containing silica or a material containing silica and aluminum oxides, in particular. The material has a low temperature expansion coefficient and it is thermally well insulating so that the door is not deformed and/or distorted during the coal carbonization process. The door device is built of a coke oven wall mainly located above the door and embracing the door as well as of a mobile door located underneath. Thereby less cold ambient air enters into the coke oven chamber and radiation losses are minimized. The door may be comprised of an ellipsoidal bulge by which the coke can be better pushed into the coking chamber. The oven wall embracing the oven door can also be made of a refractory material containing silica or of a material containing silica and aluminum oxides.

The invention relates to a method of positioning service equipment of a coal-charging larry cart at charging ports of a coke oven, wherein a rail-guided larry cart is moved on the roof of a coke oven and is positioned at locations known by a machine control system and corresponding to charging ports in the oven roof in order to charge the oven chambers, and wherein then at least one piece of service equipment of the coal-charging larry cart is guided to the charging ports by horizontal biaxial positioning movements. According to the invention, an optical measurement method is used after each positioning of the larry cart to detect the coordinates of at least one marking that is applied to the oven roof and that has a fixed relationship with the center axis of a charging port within a measurement field that is predefined by the measurement method and to compare them with reference values that are stored in the machine control system for the marking. The deviations between the measured coordinates and the coordinates stored in the machine control system are determined for both axial directions. Differential values are then taken into account as correction values during the positioning movement of the piece of service equipment. The subject matter of the invention is furthermore formed by an apparatus for carrying out the described method.