Abstract: Movable conveyor slats (10, 10?) have side parts (14, 14?, 16, 16?) which rest on top parts (94) of bearings (92). The bearings (92) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (72, 74) which extend outwardly and upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (12). The movable slats (10, 10?) have a web (22, 24) and lower flange portions (26, 28) which with the side parts (14, 16) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (72, 74) and the bearings (92) are received within the channel spaces.

Abstract: Opposite end sections (20, 26) of a piston/cylinder drive unit (14) are clamped to longitudinally spaced apart transverse mounting beams (10, 12), by a fixed clamp parts connected to the mounting beams (10, 12) and removable clamp parts that are connected by bolts to the fixed clamp parts. The piston rod end sections (20, 26) include longitudinal passageways having outer end openings that project outwardly from the clamps. Manifolds are secured to the mounting beams (10, 12) outwardly of the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). A detachable coupling connects ports in the manifold with the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). The piston cylinder drive unit (14) can be detached from the frame by first detaching the fluid couplings and then detaching the clamps which clamp the piston rod end sections (20, 26) to the mounting beams (10, 12).

Abstract: Movable conveyor slats (10, 10?) have side parts (14, 14?, 16, 16?) which rest on top parts (94) of bearings (92). The bearings (92) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (72, 74) which extend outwardly and upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (12). The movable slats (10, 10?) have a web (22, 24) and lower flange portions (26, 28) which with the side parts (14, 16) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (72, 74) and the bearings (92) are received within the channel spaces.

Abstract: A base structure (10) for a reciprocating slat conveyor is formed from a plurality of cellular base sections (18) that are connected by tongue and groove joints (28, 30). Each section is constructed from a lower wall (20), an upper wall (22) placed vertically above the lower wall (20), first and second opposite side portions (22, 24) connected to the upper and lower walls (22, 20) and a plurality of divider walls (26) spaced apart between the side portions (22, 24) and extending vertically between the upper and lower walls (20, 22). Each base section (18) comprises at least one elongated guide beam (36) that extends upwardly from the upper wall (22). The guide beam (36) has a top (42) on which an elongated bearing (14) is placed. The bearing (14) snaps onto the top (20) and a conveyor slat (16) snaps onto the bearing (14).

Abstract: Opposite end sections (20, 26) of a piston/cylinder drive unit (14) are clamped to longitudinally spaced apart transverse mounting beams (10, 12), by a fixed clamp parts connected to the mounting beams (10, 12) and removable clamp parts that are connected by bolts to the fixed clamp parts. The piston rod end sections (20, 26) include longitudinal passageways having outer end openings that project outwardly from the clamps. Manifolds are secured to the mounting beams (10, 12) outwardly of the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). A detachable coupling connects ports in the manifold with the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). The piston cylinder drive unit (14) can be detached from the frame by first detaching the fluid couplings and then detaching the clamps which clamp the piston rod end sections (20, 26) to the mounting beams (10, 12).

Abstract: Opposite end sections (20, 26) of a piston/cylinder drive unit (14) are clamped to longitudinally spaced apart transverse mounting beams (10, 12), by a fixed clamp parts connected to the mounting beams (10, 12) and removable clamp parts that are connected by bolts to the fixed clamp parts. The piston rod end sections (20, 26) include longitudinal passageways having outer end openings that project outwardly from the clamps. Manifolds are secured to the mounting beams (10, 12) outwardly of the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). A detachable coupling connects ports in the manifold with the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). The piston cylinder drive unit (14) can be detached from the frame by first detaching the fluid couplings and then detaching the clamps which clamp the piston rod end sections (20, 26) to the mounting beams (10, 12).

Abstract: A base structure (10) for a reciprocating slat conveyor is formed from a plurality of cellular base sections (18) that are connected by tongue and groove joints (28, 30). Each section is constructed from a lower wall (20), an upper wall (22) placed vertically above the lower wall (20), first and second opposite side portions (22, 24) connected to the upper and lower walls (22, 20) and a plurality of divider walls (26) spaced apart between the side portions (22, 24) and extending vertically between the upper and lower walls (20, 22). Each base section (18) comprises at least one elongated guide beam (36) that extends upwardly from the upper wall (22). The guide beam (36) has a top (42) on which an elongated bearing (14) is placed. The bearing (14) snaps onto the top (20) and a conveyor slat (16) snaps onto the bearing (14).

Abstract: A sheet member (30) is positioned on the slats (18) of a reciprocating slat conveyor in a container (10). A strap (32) leads from the forward end of the sheet member (30) to and through a guide eye (38) that is mounted at an elevated position (26) adjacent the front wall (16) of the container (10). The strap extends downwardly from the guide eye (38) to a winding reel (36) driven by a motor (34). A block (40) is connected to the strap (32) in a position so that when the front end of the sheet member (30) has been moved by the strap (32) into an elevated position adjacent the front wall (16), the block (40) on the strap (32) will move through the throat (124, 108) of the guide eye (38) to the opposite side of a latch spring (42) that defines one side of the throat (124, 108). When in this position, the block (40) contacts the latch spring (42) and is hard against a reverse movement of the strap (32) and block (40) through the guide eye (38).

Abstract: An inflatable bladder (50) is positioned between the top (24) of a lower slat (22) and the top (36) of an upper slat (20). An air supply/exhaust conduit (52) extends upwardly from a transverse manifold (76) to the inflatable bladders (50). Flanges (32, 34) on the lower slat (22) contact flanges (42, 44) on the upper slat (20) to stop upward movement of the upper slat (20).

Abstract: In a reciprocating slat conveyor, at least three slat sets of at least one slat (CS) each are driven by piston-cylinder drive units (26), one for each slat set. Each drive unit (26) is provided with a four-way proportional directional control (PDC) valve. Each PDC valve has a first position of adjustment in which it connects a first working chamber of its drive unit (26) to pressure (B) and a second working chamber to tank (T), and a second position of adjustment in which it connects the second working chamber to pressure (P) and the first working chamber to tank (T). Control logic (96) provides electrical control signals for directing the PDC valves to operate the drive units to advance more than half of the slat sets simultaneously in a first, conveying direction, and to retract the remaining slat sets in the opposite direction at a higher rate of speed. A controller compares the control logic signals with feedback signals generated by a separate linear position sensor PS for each slat set.