Patent ID: 7374034

Claim:
A reciprocating slat conveyor, comprising: a plurality of laterally spaced apart, upwardly convex, movable conveyor slats; a plurality of laterally spaced apart, upwardly concave, fixed slats between the movable slats; an elongated, upwardly concave, plank of bearing material on each fixed slat, each plank of bearing material extending lengthwise and crosswise of its fixed slat and having opposite side portions; said movable slats each having a top with side portions that overhang the side portions of the planks of bearing material that are on the fixed slats, below said side portions of the tops of the movable slats, said side portions of the tops of the movable slats sitting down on and being slideably support on and by the side portions of the planks of bearing material; wherein the planks of bearing material cover the regions of the fixed slats that are between the movable slats; wherein each fixed slat has a base structure and a top, said top including side portions which extend laterally outwardly from the base structure; and said movable conveyor slats including lower side parts that project laterally outwardly into positions below the laterally outwardly projecting side portions of the tops of the base structure of the fixed slats, said side parts including bearing material confronting the side portions of the top of the base structure.