US 6,585,106 B1Granted

Reciprocating slat conveyors

OwnerRaymond Keith Fosterinventor

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Abstract

Bolt fasteners extend through a bottom wall (38) in longitudinal guide beams (14), to secure the guide beams (14) to transverse frame members (70, 72). The guide beams (14) include sidewalls (40, 42) which extend upwardly from the bottom wall (30) to laterally outwardly extending top flanges (44, 46). The bolts may be installed from above by use of a tool that is inserted into the space between the sidewalls (40, 42). After the guide beams (14) are secured to the frame members (70, 72), bearing/seal members (48) are friction-fitted onto the tops of the support beams (14). Conveyor slats are installed in the spaces between the support beams (14). The conveyor slats (10) include side portions (20, 22) which extend laterally outwardly into positions above the bearing/seal members (48). The side members (20, 22) include downwardly extending beads B which contact the upper surfaces (62) of the bearing/seal members (48).

Claims16

Dependent claims

In a reciprocating slat conveyor composed of side-by-side conveyor slats, each having laterally outwardly extending opposite upper side portions, each said side portion including a longitudinal support that contacts and slides along a longitudinal bearing surface on a longitudinal support beam that is below it, a conveyor structure comprising:

wherein said longitudinal support beam includes laterally outwardly directed side portions having outer edges;
wherein each said longitudinal bearing member includes a top portion and laterally spaced apart side portions extending downwardly from the top portion to a lower edge and having inner surfaces;
wherein the lateral distance between the outer edges of the side portions of the support beam is greater than the lateral distance between the inner surfaces of the side portions of the bearing member;
and
wherein said bearing member is adapted to be secured to the support beam by positioning it above the support beam and pushing down on the bearing member, so as to cause the support beam to enter into the bearing member and make an interference fit with the inner surfaces of the side portions of the bearing member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.