Shaker conveyor with elliptical gear drive system

A shaker conveyor adapted to be mounted on a mechanical press for progressively transferring material such as scrap metal pieces from the press, said conveyor comprising

• a series of generally horizontal and parallel spaced elongated trays supported by an elongated carriage extending transversely of said trays with said trays positioned for longitudinal reciprocating movement and adapted to receive the material,
• said elongated carriage supported by longitudinally spaced carriage support members each supported by a linear bearing and rail unit for horizontal reciprocating movement parallel to said trays,
• a drive unit including an electric motor having a motor shaft connected through a gear reducer to rotate an input shaft of a gearbox having an output shaft, with said drive unit located between said carriage support members,
• said gearbox including an elliptical input gear having an axis eccentric to an axis of rotation of said input shaft of said gearbox, with said input gear in continuous mesh with an elliptical output gear having an axis eccentric to an axis of rotation of said output shaft of said gearbox,
• a set of first rocker arm and link assemblies connecting said carriage support members to opposite end portions of an elongated drive shaft extending parallel to said carriage and supported for rotation, and
• a second rocker arm and link assembly eccentrically connecting said output shaft of said gearbox to an intermediate portion of said drive shaft and located between said set of first rocker arm and link assemblies to produce oscillation of said drive shaft and reciprocation of said carriage and said trays through said set of first rocker arm and link assemblies.