The Horizontal Transporter is an "on-demand" system. In other words, the system only works when there is product that needs to be carried from the load point to the offload point.

To operated the system, the crew person simply inserts the bag of product into the special product clip which holds the bag on the system. The system is started by pressing the "Load" button, and the clip is moved rapidly along the track at up to 8 ft per second. When the clip arrives at the offload point, the bag is automatically released from the clip onto a short chute where it is picked up by the server. The system will automatically stop as soon as the bag is unloaded unless further bags are loaded in the meantime.

When the restaurant is busy, the system does not need to complete the delivery of the first load before carrying the second load. The crew person can simply press the "load" button again when the system is still running, which slows the system down for a few seconds to enable the crew person to load the next bag into a product clip. As soon as the bag is loaded, the system accelerates back to full speed and continues to deliver the product. The system will keep running as long as bags are being consecutively loaded onto the system, and will only stop after the last bag is offloaded.

The time to carry a bag from loading to offloading will vary depending on the length of the system and the complexity of the route. The system normally runs at speeds ranging from 5 feet per second to 8 feet per second. Systems that have few corners tend to run at faster speeds than systems that have lots of corners.

The system is very unobtrusive. Because it is either suspended under the ceiling or runs in an enclosure above the ceiling, it is out of the way of normal operations. The location and way that the bags are suspended under the track means that the system rarely gets dirty.

The cost of operation is negligible and maintenance requirements are minimal. The system is designed to operate without additional lubricant as the cars are made from a special plastic formulation that has a built in lubricant. The product clips are robust, and the drive system consists of a solid state control and simple fractional horsepower DC motors that draw less than 3 amps each.

The location and orientation of the track at the load zone is critical for the easy loading of the system. The load point is a U shaped section of track with bottom of the U position at about waist level. Depending on the rotation direction of the system, the actual point where the bag is loaded into the product clip is either on the right side (anticlockwise rotation) or on the left side of the unload zone. The train of cars in the track must be travelling in an upwards direction at the actual point where the system is loaded so that the crew person can easily slide a bag into the product clip with an upwards motion.

The orientation of the load zone will dictate the start direction of the route of the system as the loaded side track must turn from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction overhead so that the bags always hang underneath the track. When you face the load point, the route of the track will therefore start out behind your back.

The load zone is made up from one 180 degree horizontal corner, and two inside 90 degree vertical corners. The Load control and the Emergency Stop control are located at the load point.

Load zones can be mounted against a wall; suspended from the ceiling and adjacent to equipment; or on top of a counter.

The unload zone is the inverse of the load point.The unload zone is a U shaped section of track with the bottom of the U slightly above table level. The train of cars must be travelling in a downwards direction through the unload point, then it turns through a 180 degree corner before travelling back upwards.  As the loaded clip enters the 180 degree corner, a small arm on the clip engages a clip opening bar, which opens the clip. The bag is then automatically released out of the clip onto an inclined tray, where it is retrieved by the crew person.  The unload tray is positioned so that the bag does not drop as it is released from the clip.

There are two types of unload zone: Side drop, which can be designed to unload from left to right; or from right to left; or in-line which drops directly under the track in a back to front direction.

Side drop unload zone:	In-line unload zone:

Horizontal Corners enable the track to turn through 45 degrees, 90 degrees and 180 degrees. This allows the Transporter to snake its way through confined spaces.

	Horizontal 90 21" x 21" Average Radius 12 3/4		Horizontal 45 21" x 11" Average Radius 12 3/4"
	Horizontal 180 30" x 21" Average Radius 12 3/4"

Vertical corners enables the track to turn so that it is either running vertically or on a 45 degree incline. This allows the Transporter to negotiate changes in elevations, for example to travel from one floor to another, or to rise up to pass over a drive-thru lane.

	Inside 90 21" x 21" Average Radius 13"		Outside 90 21" x 21" Average Radius 15"
	Inside 45 21" x 21" Average Radius 13"		Outside 45 21" x 21" Average Radius 13"
	Inside 180 30" x 21" Average Radius 13"		Outside 180 30" x 21" Average Radius 13"

The Transporter system is often used to carry products to remote kiosks that service a second drive-thru lane.  In these cases, The Transporter track route passes over the first drive thru lane in a bridge. Most commonly, the bridge forms a part of a canopy that connects the kiosk to the main building.

To maintain sufficient headroom for vehicles to pass under the bridge, the track route must run at a higher elevation above grade than it would inside the building.  This requires an inclined transition in the track to change elevations.  If a kiosk and bridge is being planned, consideration must be given to the building design when positioning structural elements such as beams and joists.

Sometimes the route of the Transporter passes through public spaces such as the dining room or even spaces outside of the restaurant boundaries. When this happens the track needs to be enclosed so that the public do not have access to the track or to bags being transporter; and also, in the rare event that a bag inadvertently falls from the system, the public is protected from falling or moving objects.

There are two ways to enclose the system:

	A light weight aluminum and glass enclosure that is suspended under the ceiling. This allows the public to see the track and to see the bags being carried by the ceiling. Sliding glass panels allow easy access for cleaning and maintenance.   This type of enclosure is best suited to straight runs with few corners and where the ceiling is high enough to allow sufficient headroom underneath the enclosure.   Vertical runs of track can also be protected by this type of enclosure.
	An enclosure between a false ceiling and the underside of the roof or floor slab above. This hides the system from the public. This type of enclosure requires a clear path with adequate clearances for the loaded and return tracks. It also requires access at intervals for cleaning and maintenance. Obstructions such as structural beams, HVAC ducting, conduits and piping often make this type of enclosure challenging to design and build.
	All enclosures require sufficient clearances on each side of the track and below the track to allow the system to carry the bags without striking the sides of the enclosure.   The minimum size of any enclosure is 25" (650mm) wide by 20" (500mm) high.   Enclosures can also be combinations of above ceiling and below ceiling types.