A table assembly for a patient transfer device has upper and lower tablessurrounded by belts which counter-rotate asthe table assembly moves between a patient and a supporting surface such as abed. The table assembly includes integrated means forlaterally retracting side plates of the upper table while adjusting incidentangles of the side plates and vertically separating the uppertable from the lower table. Guide slots in end plates fixed to a slideassembly retain positioning posts attached to ends of the sideplates. The slots are inclined upwardly toward a centerline of the tableassembly at different angles. A crank moves the side platesusing a rotating disk attached to a central frame of the upper table andlinkage arms with one end pivotally attached to a peripheralregion of the disk and another end pivotally attached to one of thepositioning posts. In an alternative embodiment the upper tableside plates are differentially extended at the ends, and valve control forpneumatic tubing is integrated with retraction of the sideplates. During patient delivery only the delivery side plate is raised, toavoid catching linens in the nip formed between upper andlower belts. The slide assembly supporting the table assembly includes a fixedplate, an intermediate plate, and a full-motion platewhich extend by means of rack-and-pinion drives. Each plate is symmetrical,and pinions are symmetrically located on oppositesides of the fixed or intermediate plate to allow hyperextension to either theleft or right. Improved steerage for the device is providedby two centerline wheels which counter-rotate from a straight position to aturning position and further to a lateral position whereinthe wheels are orthogonal to the longitudinal centerline of the device.
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