Importance

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Abstract

A conveyor slat (10) includes a top (12) two laterally spaced apart sidewalls (22, 24), two bottom flanges (26, 28) projecting laterally inwardly from lower portions of the sidewalls (22,24), and a channel space (CS) that is vertically between the top (12) and the bottom flanges (26, 28) and horizontally between the sidewalls (22, 24). A reinforcement insert (38) is positioned within the channel space (CS). The reinforcement insert (38) comprises an elongated body (38) having a top (40), two opposite sidewalls (42, 44) depending from the top (40), a longitudinal channel (45) in the top (40), and an opening (46) in the top communicating with the longitudinal channel (45). The insert (38) is shaped and dimensioned to fit within the channel space (CS) of the conveyor slat (10), horizontally between the two sidewalls (22, 24) of the conveyor slat (10) and vertically between the top (12) and the bottom flanges (26, 28) of the conveyor slat (10). The insert (38) is positioned within the channel space (CS) in the conveyor slat (10). Then, an adhesive is injected through the opening (46) in the top (40) of the insert (38), into the longitudinal channel (45) in the top of the insert. The shallow channel (45) provides for optimum thickness of an adhesive layer. The presence of the sidewalls (42, 44) eliminate the need for clamps to clamp the insert (38) to the conveyor slat (10) while gluing the two together. After the insert (38) is secured to the conveyor slat (10), holes are drilled in the conveyor slat top (12) and the insert top (40) to receive screw fasteners used for securing the reinforced conveyor slat (10, 38) to a connector member (CM) that is attached to the drive beam (48).

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First Claim