Cleanout system for a reciprocating slat conveyor

For use with a reciprocating slat conveyor in a container that has spaced apart sidewalls, a front end wall and a rear end discharge opening, a cleanout system, comprising:

• a sheet member having a front end, a rear end and side edges that are adjacent the sidewalls of a container;
• a guide eye connected to an upper forward portion of the container;
• a winding reel spaced from said guide eye;
• a strap extending downwardly through the guide eye to a connection with the front end of the sheet member, and extending upwardly from the guide eye to the winding reel, said guide eye being elevated in the container to such an extent that the strap can be wound on the winding reel to pull the front end of the sheet member into an elevated position below the guide eye and adjacent the front end wall of the container;
• said guide eye including a strap passageway defined on one side by a bearing and on the other side by a latch spring, whereby the strap is positioned to move lengthwise in the strap passageway between the bearing and the latch spring;
• a block on the strap, that when the latch spring is relaxed is thicker than the strap passageway is deep;
• wherein in response to the strap being wound on the winding reel, the block is moved through the strap passageway against the latch spring, depressing the latch spring to allow the holding member to move into a position passed the latch spring, wherein said latch spring moves back into a relaxed position when the holding member is said opposite side of the guide eye;
• and
• wherein when the block is on the opposite side the latch spring will engage the block and block it from moving back through the strap passageway.