Waterproof reciprocating conveyor

Abstract

A reciprocating conveyor includes a plurality of elongated, load-supporting reciprocative slats mounted on a plurality of elongated, liquid-impervious slat-mounting base members secured side-by-side across a supporting frame. The adjacent sides of adjacent base members are interconnected by a waterproof seal, whereby the assembly of base members forms a waterproof floor under the reciprocative slats. A liquid collection receptacle is mounted on the frame adjacent one end of the base assembly to receive the liquid content of a load supported on the slats, and a drive mechanism for reciprocating the slats is contained within the receptacle and connected to the reciprocative slats through slots formed in the base members above the collection receptacle.

I claim: 
     
       1. A slat-type reciprocating conveyor, comprising: a) an elongated frame,   b) a plurality of elongated, imperforate, slat-mounting base members secured side-by-side across the frame,   c) seal means interengaging the longitudinal sides of adjacent base members and forming a waterproof seal therebetween,   d) a plurality of elongated load-supporting slats supported on the base members for longitudinal reciprocation, and   e) drive means supported by the frame and engaging the slats for reciprocating said slats.   
     
     
       2. The reciprocating conveyor of claim 1 including a liquid collection receptacle mounted on the frame below the base members and extending from one end of the base members for receiving the liquid content of a load supported on the conveyor. 
     
     
       3. A slat-type reciprocating conveyor, comprising: a) an elongated frame;   b) a plurality of elongated, imperforate, slat-mounting base members secured side-by-side across the frame, the longitudinal sides of the base members including upwardly extending flanges,   c) seal means interengaging the said flanges of the longitudinal sides of adjacent base members and forming a waterproof seal therebetween,   d) a plurality of elongated load-supporting slats supported on the base members for longitudinal reciprocation and   e) drive means supported by the frame and engaging the slats for reciprocating said slats.   
     
     
       4. The reciprocating conveyor of claim 3 wherein the seal means comprises an elongated strip of waterproof material bridging the upper portions of adjacent flanges. 
     
     
       5. The reciprocating conveyor of claim 3 wherein the adjacent flanges of adjacent base members diverge upwardly and form a trough between them, and the seal means comprises a waterproof mastic material contained in said trough. 
     
     
       6. A slat-type reciprocating conveyor, comprising: (a) an elongated frame,   (b) a plurality of elongated, imperforate, slat-mounting base members secured side-by-side across the frame,   (c) seal means interengaging the longitudinal sides of adjacent base members and forming a waterproof seal therebetween,   (d) a plurality of elongated load-supporting slats supported on the base members for longitudinal reciprocation,   (e) drive means supported by the frame and engaging the slats for reciprocating said slats, and   (f) a liquid collection receptacle mounted on the frame and extending from one end of the base members for receiving the liquid content of a load supported on the conveyor, the liquid collection receptacle containing the drive means.   
     
     
       7. A slat-type reciprocating conveyor, comprising: (a) an elongated frame,   (b) a plurality of elongated, imperforate, slat-mounting base members secured side-by-side across the frame,   (c) seal means interengaging the longitudinal sides of adjacent base members and forming a waterproof seal therebetween,   (d) a plurality of elongated load-supporting slats supported on the base members for longitudinal reciprocation,   (e) drive means supported by the frame and engaging the slats for reciprocating said slats,   (f) a liquid collection receptacle mounted on the frame and extending from one end of the base members for receiving the liquid content of a load supported on the conveyor,   (g) the base members including a fixed, hollow, load-supporting slat configured for disposition between reciprocative slats, and   (h) a waterproof plug closing the end of each hollow slat adjacent the liquid collection receptacle. .Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  A slat-type reciprocating conveyor, comprising: a) an elongated frame,   b) a plurality of elongated, imperforate, slat-mounting base members secured side-by-side across the frame,   c) a flexible seal member interengaging the longitudinal sides of adjacent base members and forming a waterproof seal therebetween, the adjacent base members defining a space extending between the base members across the interface,   d) a plurality of elongated load-supporting slats supported on the base members for longitudinal reciprocation, and   e) a drive mechanism supported by the frame and engaging the slats to reciprocate the slats..Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  A slat-type reciprocating conveyor, comprising: a) an elongated frame;   b) a plurality of elongated, imperforate, slat-mounting base members secured side-by-side across the frame, the longitudinal sides of the base members including upwardly extending flanges,   c) a flexible seal member interengaging the longitudinal sides of adjacent base members and forming a waterproof seal therebetween, the seal member being generally in the shape of an inverted U, with a pair of downwardly depending legs having inwardly extending portions for engaging the adjacent members and permitting the seal member to snap over and be engaged by the adjacent base members, the adjacent base members defining a space above at least one such base member and disposed between the seal member legs,   d) a plurality of elongated load-supporting slats supported on the base members for longitudinal reciprocation, and   e) a drive mechanism supported by the frame and engaging the slats to reciprocate the slats.