Drive system for reciprocating conveyors

Abstract

The subject invention is for use in reciprocating conveyors in which the load is carried and moved by groups of side-by-side slats which reciprocate longitudinally. The slats in each group are attached to a drive member and the drive members are actuated by the subject system to move the groups of slats in unison in one direction and sequentially in the other. The system includes a linear, double acting hydraulic actuator for each group and connected to the drive member for that group. The actuators have equal strokes, different piston areas and are connected in parallel to the hydraulic power supply. The actuators and drive members are arranged such that for motion in one direction the actuator having the largest piston area and its drive member cannot move until the other actuator(s) and drive(s) can move and thus they move in unison in that direction. For motion in the other direction the actuator with the largest piston area can move independently and moves first because as the fluid pressure increases it is the first to develop enough force to move the group of slats it actuates. As pressure increases, actuator(s) with lesser piston areas sequentially develop enough force to move the groups of slats to which they are connected. The actuators are controlled by one two position four way valve which is operated in coordination with the actuator having the least piston area. Coordination can be mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic.