Reciprocating floor conveyor having separable floor unit and drive unit

摘要

Disclosed is a reciprocating floor conveyor having a separable floor unit and power drive unit (24). The floor unit includes a bottom frame (38, 40, 42, 44) and at least three sets of elongated reciprocatable floor members (26, 28, 30) which are supported on the bottom frame for independent longitudinal reciprocation in a single plane between start and advanced positions. A separate transverse drive beam (32, 34, 36) for each set of floor members (26, 28, 30) is connected to the underside of its respective set of floor members (26, 28, 30). The power drive unit includes a separate drive leg (54, 56, 58) for each set of floor members (26, 28, 30). Each drive leg is detachably connectable to a separate transverse drive beam (32, 34, 36) to reciprocatably drive it and its set of floor members (26, 28, 30). Each drive leg (54, 56, 58) is mounted to swing forwardly and rearwardly about a pivot point (60, 62, 64). A separate drive motor (66, 68, 70) for each drive leg ( 54, 56, 58) is operably connected (92, 94, 96) to swing the drive legs (54, 56, 58) to, in turn, move the drive beams (32, 34, 36) and the respective connected floor members (26, 28, 30) between start and advanced positions. The drive motors (66, 68, 70) operate in sequence to move a majority of the drive legs (54, 56, 58) together in one direction and then to return each drive leg (54, 56, 58) separately in the opposite direction. In this manner, the floor unit and power drive unit may be separated for independent transportation thereof and for interchange between other similar floor units and power drive units.