Egg conveyor

Abstract

An egg conveyor is used to convey eggs (11), in particular in larger egg-laying facilities. In the case of an egg conveyor with a longer conveying path, the conveyor chain (21) which can be driven circumferentially along the conveying path (10) is subject to high loads. In order to keep the load of the conveyor chain (21) within limits in the case of a longer conveying path, an intermediate drive (28) is provided in addition to the main drive (27). The driving force is thus introduced into the conveyor chain at different positions, so that it is subject to less load. This also leads to a smoother driving of the egg conveyor. Preferably, in the area of ​​the intermediate drive, the conveyor chain in the area of ​​the upper branch is guided along an arc-shaped bulge. This results in a more favorable overlap coefficient between the conveyor chain and the drive gear driving the conveyor chain. The intermediate drive can be converted into a conveyor chain in the area of ​​the upper branch or the lower branch, which can be selectively driven. The intermediate drive can therefore be used more widely.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an egg conveyor. Background Art

[0002] The demand for eggs is largely met by so-called egg-laying units or egg-laying facilities. In these egg-laying facilities, a large number of hens are kept for the purpose of laying eggs. From an economic point of view, the size of such egg-laying facilities is constantly increasing, and therefore the number of eggs laid by the hens per day is also increasing. The eggs must be transported from the poultry sheds by egg conveyors to processing stations, where they are, in particular, sorted and packaged.

[0003] As the size of egg-laying units increases, egg conveyors with longer conveying paths are required. Such egg conveyors are designed as chain conveyors with parallel, continuous conveyor chains that are connected to one another via rod-shaped or tubular receiving elements extending transversely to the conveying path. The receiving elements are so closely connected one behind the other that they form a grate-like return section on which the eggs rest immobile during transport along the conveying path.

[0004] Until now, the conveyor chain of such egg conveyors has been driven by a main drive. The upper branch (upper return) that receives the eggs moves along the conveying path in the conveying direction, while a lower branch (lower return) of the chain conveyor returns to the beginning of the conveying path below the upper branch. In the case of long egg conveyors, a correspondingly long conveyor chain is required, which is subject to high mechanical loads, mainly tensile loads, because the main drive is only driven at one position. In addition, in the case of long conveying paths, it is difficult to realize the necessary rising or lowering conveying path sections. Summary of the invention

[0005] Starting from the above, the object of the present invention is to provide an egg conveyor for long conveying paths, which is preferably designed in the manner of a chain conveyor and which at least eliminates the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] The egg conveyor according to the invention for achieving this purpose comprises: two parallel, spaced-apart and continuous conveyor chains extending along a conveying path, which are connected to each other by an elongated rod-shaped or tubular receiving element extending transversely to the conveying path; and a main drive device, which drives these conveyor chains in a common and similar manner in a circular manner, wherein at least one intermediate drive device is arranged in the line of the conveying path, in the region of which a drive is connected between the upper branch and the lower branch of the conveying path and / or between the upper chain strand and the lower chain strand of each continuously circulating conveying chain. The spacing is enlarged by a hill-shaped or arc-shaped bulge of the upper branch and by a hill-shaped or arc-shaped offset of the lower branch, wherein the hill-shaped or arc-shaped bulge of the upper branch and / or the hill-shaped or arc-shaped offset of the lower branch have such a height or size that the teeth of the drive gear of the intermediate drive device can either only engage with the chain links of the upper chain strand of the upper branch or only engage with the chain links of the lower chain strand in the area of ​​the lower branch of the conveyor chain, wherein the hill-shaped or arc-shaped bulges or offsets of the upper branch and the lower branch have multiple different heights along the conveying path.

[0007] In this egg conveyor, it is provided that at least one intermediate drive is arranged in the path of the conveyor path. The conveyor chain of the egg conveyor is thus driven at a plurality of positions distributed over the length of the conveyor path, so that the conveyor chain and the drive gear, also called "sprocket", which engages with the conveyor chain, are subjected to less load. This also makes it possible to more easily design the rising and / or falling sections in the path of longer conveyor paths.

[0008] The described or each intermediate drive device has two drive gears, each of which drives one of the continuous conveyor chains arranged side by side in parallel. The two spaced drive gears of each intermediate drive device keep the spacing corresponding to the spacing of the conveyor chain non-rotatably arranged on a common drive shaft that can be driven by rotation. The drive shaft extends transversely to the conveying path or parallel to the receiving member extending along the conveying path along the conveying direction of the eggs, and the receiving member is used for the eggs that need to be transmitted along the conveying path by the egg conveyor. Here, the longitudinal center axis of the preferred drive gear is located on the rotation axis of the drive shaft. In this way, the precise synchronous drive of the two spaced and side-by-side conveyor chains of the egg conveyor is guaranteed. In addition, the corresponding intermediate drive device therefore only needs a unique drive device, which is a motor, such as an electric motor, but preferably a motor with a transmission mechanism or a motor-transmission mechanism-unit. The transmission mechanism guarantees the drive of the conveyor chain required for fragile eggs at a lower speed.

[0009] Preferably, it is provided that the teeth of the drive gear, when viewed from the side of the teeth, in particular along the longitudinal center axis and / or the rotation axis of the drive gear, have a tooth profile which, except for tolerances limited by function and / or caused by wear, is embedded in the corresponding chain link without play and / or fills the corresponding chain link to the maximum extent. Therefore, the corresponding teeth of each sprocket can be embedded without relative movement between the chain link and the teeth embedded in the chain link. Therefore, the at least one intermediate drive device arranged in the line of the conveying path in addition to the main drive device does not produce a twitching movement, which causes damage to the eggs that are further conveyed along the conveying path on the egg conveyor, in particular when the eggs are close to each other and therefore contact each other during the upper branch of the egg conveyor. As a result, the eggs are conveyed gently and carefully by the egg conveyor along its conveying path. The drive gear of the intermediate drive device is smoothly and gently embedded in the chain link of the conveying chain of the egg conveyor, so that the maximum protection of the eggs is achieved during the conveying of the eggs by the egg conveyor along its conveying path.

[0010] In a preferred possible construction of the egg conveyor, provision is made for the mutually identical teeth of the drive gears to be provided with a tooth thickness which results in a tooth of each drive gear always being in a position of the drive gear in which the tooth extends maximally into the associated chain link, preferably to such an extent that it extends through the chain link, and firmly pressing the chain link adjacent to this chain link against the end of the chain link through which the corresponding tooth of the associated drive gear extends. This is preferably achieved in that the tooth thickness, which is the same for all teeth, is equal to the inner chain link length which is equal to the pitch of the conveyor chain minus the diameter of two adjacent chain links. Thus, the respective tooth penetrates the chain link which can be engaged with it, but still leaves space for the adjacent chain links which extend through the chain link engaged with the tooth at the ends opposite to each other in order to form the conveyor chain. Thus, the tooth embedded in the respective conveyor chain, due to its size, in particular its tooth thickness, presses the adjacent chain link against the end of the chain link located between which the respective tooth of the respective drive gear enters or passes.

[0011] It is particularly advantageous if the pitch of the teeth of the drive gear is twice as large as the pitch of the chain links of the conveyor chain. Thus, only one tooth of each drive gear always enters every second chain link of the respective conveyor chain. Since the chain links of the drive chain follow one another after being rotated 90° relative to one another, only one tooth of the drive gear always enters a chain link of the same orientation and, in particular, a chain link extending transversely to the radial direction of the tooth in question. In this way, the chain links located in between are bridged, which are oriented differently and no tooth can enter these chain links.

[0012] According to an advantageous design possibility of the egg conveyor, each drive gear is provided with five to nine identical teeth. Preferably, each drive gear has an even number of teeth that are identical to one another, and preferably six or eight teeth. Such drive gears have a small diameter, so that they can be easily arranged between the upper and lower strands of the conveyor chain and thus between the upper and lower branches of the egg conveyor.

[0013] An advantageous possible development of the invention provides that the teeth of the drive gear have a rectangular profile when viewed from the side, wherein the tooth height is slightly less than the tooth thickness, preferably the tooth height is 0.7 to 0.95 times the tooth thickness. The teeth thus constructed can penetrate sufficiently deeply into the corresponding chain link, preferably to such an extent that they extend almost completely through the chain link. In addition, such teeth exhibit a gentle entry characteristic into the corresponding chain link and can be easily and without jamming and re-extracted from the chain link. At the same time, the adjacent chain links that were already connected to the chain link in the initial phase of the entry of a tooth into the chain link assigned to it are tightly pressed against the two side ends of the chain link into which the corresponding tooth has entered. The same applies to the situation where the corresponding tooth comes out of the chain link.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous to round and / or chamfer all teeth of the drive gear at the transition area from their tooth flank to the tooth tip and / or tooth root. In particular, in combination with a rectangular basic contour of the teeth, this enables the respective tooth to enter the chain link assigned to it without jamming, and the rounded or, if applicable, also chamfered tooth root can be supported under the respective chain link when the tooth is completely inserted into the chain link or extends completely through the chain link.

[0015] It is advantageous if the radius of the rounding of the tooth root is 0.4 to 0.5 times the outer width of the respective chain link. An adjacent chain link then rests against the respective rounding of the tooth root of the respective tooth without getting stuck. This prevents the respective chain link from getting stuck on the tooth when the tooth has completely entered the chain link.

[0016] An advantageous development possibility of the invention is that the drive gear has teeth that are identical to one another, wherein the tooth height is equal to 0.8 to 1.2 times the outer width of the chain links of the conveyor chain. The tooth can thus penetrate the chain link assigned to it to approximately the same extent as the chain links adjacent on both sides and rotated by 90° are correspondingly high. This already causes the chain links adjacent on both sides to press tightly against the mutually opposite ends of the central chain link that is intended to be penetrated by the tooth when the tooth enters the chain link assigned to it and when it is withdrawn from this chain link.

[0017] Another advantageous design possibility of the egg conveyor provides that the at least one intermediate drive is arranged between the upper branch and the lower branch of the egg conveyor. The at least one intermediate drive is thus arranged in a space-saving manner in the intermediate gap between the upper branch and the lower branch. Preferably, it is provided that two drive gears of the intermediate drive, which extend parallel and side by side at a distance, are arranged between the upper chain strand and the lower chain strand of two circumferentially / circulatingly guided, parallel conveyor chains of the chain conveyor.

[0018] An advantageous development possibility of the egg conveyor is to selectively connect the at least one intermediate drive to the upper chain strand of the upper branch or the lower chain strand of the lower branch. The drive sprocket of the at least one intermediate drive can then engage with the conveyor chain in the region of the upper branch or the lower branch of the egg conveyor as required. This option provides great flexibility when designing the egg conveyor, in particular when arranging the at least one intermediate drive in the path of the conveying path of the egg conveyor.

[0019] The same diameter of the drive gear and / or the spacing of the upper and lower branches of the conveying path are coordinated so that the teeth of the drive gear engage either in the upper strand of the conveyor chain that helps to form the upper branch or in the lower strand that participates in forming the lower branch. Preferably, the drive gear is provided with as few teeth as possible, more precisely five to seven teeth, in particular six teeth. The at least one intermediate drive can thus be used in an egg conveyor whose branches, in order to save space, must not be spaced more apart than is usually the case.

[0020] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the upper branch and / or the lower branch are provided with an outwardly convex direction at the location of the corresponding intermediate drive. The corresponding intermediate drive can then also be arranged between very closely adjacent branches. At the same time, a favorable overlap coefficient between the conveyor chain and the drive gear is achieved by the outwardly convex direction of the upper branch and / or the lower branch, in particular of the conveyor chain with which these upper and lower branches are arranged.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous to configure the conveyor chain as a round-link chain (also called "round steel chain") with identical chain links. The chain links are elliptical, more precisely preferably as long-link and / or standard chain links. The terms "standard" and "long-link" are to be understood as defined in the relevant DIN standards, such as DIN 762, 764 and / or 766 or the corresponding EU standards for round-link chains. Such round-link chains have identical chain links that are arranged alternately in succession, upright or lying.

[0022] The teeth of the drive sprocket and the chain links of the conveyor chain are coordinated so that one tooth can be embedded in a lying chain link. The drive gear is preferably dimensioned so that one tooth of the drive gear can always pass through a lying chain link.

[0023] In the case of a tooth passing through a lying chain link, the front and rear tooth flanks are supported on the opposite ends of the vertical chain links adjacent to each other and guided through the lying chain link. As a result, the corresponding tooth is embedded in a lying chain link almost without play and rests on at least one adjacent vertical chain link, preferably on two adjacent chain links, which results in a gentle, uniform and, in particular, smooth drive of the conveyor chain of the egg conveyor.

[0024] Furthermore, it is provided that, since the teeth of the drive gear engage in the lying chain links of the conveyor chain, the drive gear is designed in the manner of a single wheel with a row of teeth distributed circumferentially on the outer circumference of the drive gear. Such drive gears can be designed to be very narrow in such a way that they are preferably equal to the inner width of the oval chain links of the conveyor chain, preferably slightly smaller, so that the teeth do not get stuck in the lying chain links.

[0025] In the case of a toothing of the drive gear engaging in the lying chain link, the adjacent upright chain link is located between two adjacent teeth of the respective drive gear. Here, the free space, in particular the inter-tooth gap, between consecutive teeth of the drive gear is formed in such a way that the upright chain link can be received in the free space or inter-tooth gap between two consecutive teeth substantially without getting stuck.

[0026] In order to enable the teeth of the drive gear to pass through the lying chain links, the inner cavity of which is narrow due to the adjacent upright chain links to which it is linked, the thickness of each of the identical teeth of the drive gear is equal to the pitch of the round link chain minus twice the thickness of the chain link. The identical teeth of the drive gear are therefore matched in size to the chain links. The teeth can thus be embedded without gaps in the lying chain links of the conveyor chain designed as a round link chain. "Without gaps" in this sense means that small gaps of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, caused by tolerances or caused by wear are allowed without affecting the intentional, continuous and smooth drive of the egg conveyor according to the invention by the at least one auxiliary drive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 A perspective view of an egg conveyor.

[0029] Figure 2 For perspective, Figure 1Enlarged detail II.

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Side view of the enlarged detail in.

[0031] Figure 4 The intermediate drive of the egg conveyor is shown in a side view with the driven upper branch of the egg conveyor raised.

[0032] Figure 5 For similar Figure 4 , in which the upper branch is elevated to a lesser extent.

[0033] Figure 6 For similar Figure 5 , in which the lower branch of the egg conveyor is driven raised. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1 A possible route of an egg conveyor is shown by way of example. The route shown corresponds to a conveying path 10 of the egg conveyor. Along this conveying path 10, only Figures 1 to 3 The eggs 11 schematically shown in the figure are conveyed along the conveying path 10 in the conveying direction 12 from a starting end 13 of the conveying path 10 to an end 14 of the conveying path 10. Along the conveying direction 12, after the starting end 13 there is a short horizontal straight section 15, a 90° arc section 16, a straight rising section 17 and a longer straight horizontal section 18, which extends to the end 14 of the conveying path 10. The present invention is not limited to having Figure 1 More specifically, the present invention is applicable to egg conveyors having any type of conveying path different from that shown in FIG. Figure 1 The present invention is mainly applicable to conveying paths with any number of arc segments, straight segments, rising segments or ramp segments. How the conveying path is formed depends essentially on the local actual situation in the egg-laying plant or unit in which the corresponding egg conveyor is used.

[0035] The illustrated conveying path 10 of the egg conveyor extends in the area of ​​an egg-laying unit or in an area with at least one poultry shed with laying birds and an adjacent or separate building in which the eggs 10 from the poultry shed or sheds are preferably sorted and packaged. Depending on the circumstances, cleaning and often other processing of the eggs 11 can also take place in this building. Figure 1The at least one poultry shed or building for handling poultry eggs 11 is not shown. Usually, the starting end 13 of the conveying path 10 is assigned to a poultry shed or an egg collection room of multiple poultry sheds, while the terminal 14 of the conveying path 10 is located in a building where the poultry eggs 11 are sorted, cleaned and / or packaged.

[0036] The egg conveyor shown in the drawings is constructed in the manner of a chain conveyor and can therefore also be referred to as an egg chain conveyor. This conveyor has a fixedly mounted frame and a carrier 20 that can be driven circumferentially. The carrier 20 is constructed in the manner of a double-chain conveyor in that it has two parallel, mutually spaced, circumferential conveyor chains 21 and a plurality of receiving members connecting these conveyor chains and extending transversely to the conveying direction 12. These receiving members are configured as crossbars 22 in the embodiment shown in the drawings. The crossbars 22 connecting the conveyor chains 21 are arranged at a relatively small spacing from each other, which is smaller than the eggs 11 to be conveyed and prevents even relatively small eggs from falling between the two parallel crossbars 22.

[0037] The parallel conveyor chains 21 guided in a loop are located in parallel vertical planes. The conveyor chains 21 are turned 180° at the beginning 13 and at the end 14 of the conveying path 10. This forms an upper branch 23 of the egg conveyor and a lower branch 24 located below the upper branch at a small distance, which are connected to each other via turning parts at the beginning 13 and at the end 14 of the conveying path 10. The upper branch 23, which is composed of the upper chain strands of two parallel adjacent conveyor chains 21 and the crossbar 22 connecting these chain strands, receives the eggs 11 to be further conveyed along the conveying direction 12 and thus forms a carrier 20 of the egg conveyor or egg chain conveyor for further conveying along the conveying path 10. Here, the eggs 11 are placed stationary on the crossbar 22 forming the upper side of the upper branch 23. The lower branch 24 of the carrier 20 of the egg conveyor returns empty from the end 14 of the conveying path 10 to the beginning 13 of the conveying path 10 counter to the conveying direction 12 to the beginning 13 of the conveying path 10 .

[0038] The upper branch 23 of the egg conveyor carrier 20, which consists of parallel conveyor chains 21 and crossbars 22 connecting the chains to one another, is guided by guides conventionally provided in chain conveyors on the upper part of the frame 19. The same also applies to the lower branch 24, which can also be guided or supported at a distance from the upper branch 23 in the lower region of the frame 19.

[0039] The conveyor chain 21 is preferably a round steel chain for continuous conveyors, which is constructed uniformly and preferably conforms to DIN 762, 764 and / or 766 or similar and / or newer standards that replace these standards. The pitch of the chain links can be 3 times the nominal thickness of the chain links. 1 / 2 times or 5 times. The invention is preferably applicable to so-called long-link round steel chains, which have a pitch which is equal to 5 times the nominal thickness of the chain links.

[0040] Two identical conveyor chains 21 extending parallel to each other in a vertical plane have alternating, successive, upright chain links 25 and lying flat chain links 26. The upright chain links 25 and flat chain links 26 of the two conveyor chains 21 are guided in guide rails of the frame 19 so that the conveyor chains 21 substantially maintain the orientation of their upright chain links 25 and flat chain links 26 during their circulation or circulation.

[0041] The crossbars 22 extending parallel to the conveying direction 12 are firmly connected at their mutually opposite ends to the chain links 25, 26 of the conveyor chain 21. Each chain link 25, 26 is assigned a crossbar 22 ( Figure 2 The ends of the transverse rods 22 connected to the flat links 26 that are opposite to each other are bent or angled so that all the transverse rods 22 connected to the flat links 26 and the upright links 25 are located in a common plane on the upper side, namely the plane of the upper branch 23 or the lower branch 24.

[0042] The egg conveyor has a main drive 27 which can be arranged at one end of the conveying path 10. Figure 1 ), the main drive 27 is located at the beginning 13 of the conveying path 10. In addition, the egg conveyor has an intermediate drive 28, which is arranged between the ends of the conveying path 10 that are opposite to each other. Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the intermediate drive 28 is located in the region of the longer straight section 18 of the conveying path 10. However, the intermediate drive 28 can also be arranged at a point in the course of the conveying path 10. In the case of longer conveying paths, it is conceivable to equip the egg conveyor with a plurality of preferably identical intermediate drives 28. It is also conceivable to arrange two main drives 27 at the beginning 13 and at the end 14 of the conveying path 10.

[0043] The intermediate drive 28 has a three-dimensional frame 29 with two parallel, preferably identical end plates 30 and a plurality of transverse rods 31 connecting the end plates. The two spaced-apart end plates 30 are located in two parallel vertical planes. The spacing of these planes and the end plates 30 is selected so that they extend on the outside along two parallel conveyor chains 21. The end plates 30 thus extend along the conveying direction 12, while the transverse rods 31 connecting the end plates 30 extend transversely to the conveying direction 12. The transverse rods 31 are positioned so that they are located between the chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 that form the upper branch 23 and the chain strands that form the lower branch 24. The end plates 30 have inner guide grooves 32 and 33 for the chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 that belong to the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24. The guide grooves 32 and 33 for the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24 are designed so that the sections of the flat chain links 26 that protrude outward relative to the upright chain links 25 are embedded in these guide grooves.

[0044] In the region of the intermediate drive 28, the upper branch 23 has an upwardly directed arcuate bulge 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower branch 24 also has such a bulge, which in the case of the lower branch 24 is a downwardly directed arcuate offset 35. The arcuate offset 35 of the lower branch 24 is smaller than the arcuate bulge 34 in the case of the intermediate drive 28 illustrated here. It is also conceivable that the lower branch 24 extends in a straight line in the region of the intermediate drive 28, i.e. without the arcuate offset 35. Due to the arcuate bulge 34 and / or the arcuate offset 35, the spacing between the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24 of the circumferentially driven carrier 20 of the egg conveyor is enlarged in the region of the intermediate drive, in particular in the middle section of the intermediate drive.

[0045] The intermediate drive 28 also has two identical drive gears 36, which are also referred to as "sprockets" in the terminology. The two mutually spaced, parallel drive gears 36 are connected by a drive shaft 37. This connection fixes the drive gear 36 to the drive shaft 37 in a non-rotatable and non-movable manner. One end of the drive shaft 37 projects outward relative to an end plate 30. Thus, a drive end 38 of the drive shaft 37 is formed. This drive end 38 is equipped with a drive device not shown in the drawings. In this case, the drive device is preferably a variable speed motor, which is composed of an electric motor and a reducer configured to the electric motor for reducing the speed of the electric motor to a much smaller conveying speed of the egg conveyor. The electric motor is preferably configured as a variable speed electric motor.

[0046] The two identical, spaced-apart drive gears 36 are designed as single-row drive gears 36 with only one single tooth row. The drive gears 36 are located in parallel vertical planes, which coincide with the parallel vertical planes of the circulating conveyor chain 21. The mutually identical teeth 39 of the two drive gears 36 can thus engage alternately in the interior of a lying chain link 36. In the case of the drive gears 36 being arranged in a vertical plane, the horizontal axis of rotation of the drive shaft 37 extends transversely to the conveying direction 12 of the egg conveyor.

[0047] The drive gear 36 and the drive shaft 37 connecting these drive gears to each other are arranged between the chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 forming the upper branch 23 and the chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 forming the lower branch 24. Due to the arc-shaped protrusion 34 of the chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 in the upper branch 23 in the area of ​​the intermediate drive 28 and / or the arc-shaped offset 35 in the chain strand area of ​​the conveyor chain 21 in the lower branch 24, the distance between the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24 is increased in the area of ​​the intermediate drive 28 and in this way a space is provided for the drive gear 36 to be arranged between the chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 in the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24. This space or space is so large that the drive gear 36 always meshes only with the upper chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 in the area of ​​the upper branch or only with the lower chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 in the area of ​​the lower branch 24. The intermediate drive 28 thus drives either the conveyor chain in the area of ​​the upper branch 23 or the conveyor chain 21 in the area of ​​the lower branch 24 ( Figure 4 , 5 and 6).

[0048] The drive shafts 37 of the two spaced-apart, parallel drive gears 36 are variably supported on the end plates 30 that are opposite one another, so that the height of the drive shafts 37 together with the drive gears 36 and the drive device between the conveyor chains 21 of the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24 is variable. Figures 3 to 5 ) or with the conveyor chain 21 of the lower branch 24 ( Figure 6 ) so that the teeth 39 of the drive gear 36 are either embedded in the flat chain links 26 of the conveyor chain 21 of the upper branch 23 or in the flat chain links 26 of the conveyor chain 21 of the lower branch 24. Therefore, the intermediate drive device 28 can drive either only the upper branch 23 or only the lower branch 24 of the egg conveyor. When the drive gear 36 of the intermediate drive device 28 is connected to the conveyor chain 21 of the upper branch 23, for example, the teeth 39 of the drive gear 36 do not contact the flat chain links 26 of the lower branch 24 ( Figure 3 ).

[0049] Combine the following Figures 3 to 5, i.e. the upper branch 23 of the egg conveyor driven by the intermediate drive 28, the same drive gear 36, in particular the structure of its teeth 39, is explained.

[0050] In the intermediate drive device 28 shown in the figures, each drive gear 36 has an even number of six identical teeth 39. Depending on the specific situation, the drive gear 36 can also have a larger or smaller number of teeth 39, wherein the drive gear can also have an odd number of teeth 39. Preferably, the number of identical teeth 39 of each drive gear 36 is between 5 and 9, wherein they can also have 8 identical teeth 39.

[0051] Each of the identical teeth 39 of the two drive gears 36 has a width which is equal to the inner width of the chain links of the conveyor chain 21. The thickness of each tooth 39 is the dimension of the pitch of the conveyor chain 21 minus the double diameter of the chain links 25, 26. This corresponds to the inner length of the corresponding chain link 26 minus two adjacent sections of the upright chain links 25 which are embedded in the chain links 26 at the ends opposite to each other. The height of each tooth 39 is equal to 0.8 to 1.4 times the width of the corresponding chain link 25, 26, in particular 0.9 to 1.2 times the width of the corresponding chain link 25, 26 and / or 0.7 to 0.95 times the thickness of the corresponding tooth 39. Each tooth 39 is slightly rounded at its head and at its root. The rounding radius at the root of the corresponding tooth 39 is equal to 0.4 to 0.5 times the width of the corresponding chain link 25, 26.

[0052] The same outer diameter of each drive gear 36 is preferably equal to the clear (inner) spacing of the conveyor chains 21 of the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24 in the region of the longitudinal center axis of the drive shaft 37. However, the clear spacing of the segments of the conveyor chains 21 of the upper branch 23 and the lower branch 24 can also be up to 20% larger or smaller than the outer diameter of the corresponding drive gear 36. Figures 3 to 5 When the drive gear 36 is meshed with the conveyor chain 21 of the upper branch 23, the distance between the central rotation axis of the drive shaft 37 and the conveyor chain 21 of the lower branch 24 is greater than the distance between the central rotation axis of the drive shaft 37 and the conveyor chain 21 of the upper branch 23, and is so large that the teeth 39 of the drive gear 36 do not contact the lower branch 24 when driving the conveyor chain 21 of the upper branch 23. Figure 6 In the case of driving the conveyor chain 21 of the lower branch 24, the situation is just the opposite. Here, the drive shaft 37 together with the two drive gears 36 and the drive device in the two side end plates 30 moves downward so that the teeth 39 only mesh with the lying chain links 26 of the conveyor chain 21 of the lower branch 24.

[0053] In the region of the intermediate drive 28, the respective chain strands of the conveyor chain 21 of the upper run 23 are raised along the arc-shaped elevation 34, while the lower run 24 is deflected downward in the region of the arc-shaped deflection 35. Figure 4 In the illustration of , the upper arc-shaped bulge 34 is more pronounced than the lower arc-shaped offset 35. The upper arc-shaped bulge 34 is preferably approximately equal to twice the outer width of a chain link 25, 26, but can also be 1.8 to 2.6 times the outer width of a chain link 25, 26.

[0054] The above-mentioned dimension range must be selected so that when the teeth 39 of the drive gear 36 engage in the flat links 26 of the conveyor chain 21 of the upper branch 23 , the teeth 39 of the drive gear 36 do not engage in the flat links 26 of the conveyor chain 21 of the lower branch 24 .

[0055] Due to the above-mentioned dimensions and / or dimensional basis of the drive gear 36, in particular of its teeth 39 and of the arcuate protrusion 34 and the arcuate offset 35, the teeth 39 of each drive gear 36 that stand vertically above the rotation axis of the drive shaft 37 can respectively penetrate the lying chain link 26 of the corresponding conveyor chain 21 located above it, and at the same time the cross section of the corresponding tooth 39 can fill the inner cavity of the lying chain link 26 through which it passes to such an extent that the corresponding tooth 39 has only a small gap in the inner cavity of the lying chain link 26 through which it passes. At the same time, the mutually opposite side surfaces of the corresponding tooth 39 are in contact with the inner side of the lying chain link 26, while the mutually opposite tooth flanks are supported at the frontmost position of the adjacent upright chain link 25 that engages in the lying chain link 26 at the mutually opposite ends. Viewed in the conveying direction 12, the front tooth flank of the corresponding tooth 39 presses against the upright chain link 25 located in front. The respective tooth 39 penetrates the respective lying chain link 26 without any jamming or play and is simultaneously supported on the preceding upright chain link 25 in the conveying direction 12 for further conveying of the conveyor chain 21 .

[0056] first, Figures 4 to 6 The position of a drive gear 36 is shown in which two adjacent teeth 39 of the drive gear partially engage in two consecutive lying chain links 26 and are therefore located before and after a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 37. Figures 4 to 6It can be seen that, viewed in the conveying direction 12, a tooth 39 that is already behind the vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation gradually withdraws from the horizontal chain link 26 assigned to it, while the following tooth 39 begins to enter the next horizontal chain link 26. Due to the arc-shaped ridge 34, the corresponding conveyor chain 21 of the upper branch 23 has an arc-shaped path that passes over the drive gear 36. This leads to an increase in the contact ratio or overlap coefficient of the drive gear 36. As a result, the tooth 39 that moves out of a horizontal chain link 26 and the subsequent tooth 39 that moves into the next horizontal chain link 26 are supported with their front tooth flanks on a vertical chain link 25 located in front. In the phases of the teeth 39 entering and exiting the corresponding horizontal chain link 26, the front tooth flanks of these teeth 39 are supported on two vertical chain links 25 that follow one after another. Only when a tooth 39 has almost completely entered the inner cavity of a horizontal chain link 26, this tooth 39 is also supported - but now mostly or completely - on the vertical chain link 25 located in front.

[0057] Due to the hill-like arcuate protrusion 34 of the upper branch 23 in the region of the intermediate drive 28, the teeth 39 of the drive gear 36 engage with a greater or increased contact ratio or an increased overlap coefficient in the conveyor chain 21. The result is a uniform and smooth drive of the conveyor chain 21, which results in a gentle drive of the egg conveyor. This protects the fragile eggs 11 as much as possible. Therefore, the conveying path 10 can be equipped with the at least one intermediate drive 28 in addition to the main drive 27, without compromising the careful transport of the eggs 11 by multiple drives.

[0058] In accordance with Figure 4 When adjacent teeth 39 of the corresponding drive gear 36 are partially embedded in the lying chain link 26, the upright chain link 25 located in between is located in a tooth groove 41 or tooth gap between the consecutive teeth 39. The tooth groove 41 forms the tooth root between the adjacent teeth 39. The depth of the tooth groove 41 is configured so that an upright chain link 25 can be received therein without being stuck, in particular with sufficient clearance. In this way, it is ensured that only the teeth 39 embedded in the lying chain link 26 are in contact with the conveyor chain 21 and that the teeth 39 can be embedded in the lying chain link 26 sufficiently deeply and without hindrance. The transmission of force from the drive gear 36 to the conveyor chain 21 is carried out only through such teeth 39 of the two drive gears 36, which are supported on the part of the upright chain link 25 that is respectively present in front of a tooth 39 and extends through a respective lying chain link 26.

[0059] The elastic hose 40 is inserted on the edges of the end plates 30 of the intermediate drive 28 which are opposite to each other. In this case, it can be a rubber hose or a plastic hose. The hose 40 preferably also extends over the sides of the frame 19. The hose 40 thus defines the opposite edges of the upper branch 23 of the egg conveyor. The hose 40 thus serves to guide the eggs 11 on both sides on the upper branch 23. At the same time, the flexible hose 40 protects the eggs 11 from damage during the further transport along the conveying path 10.

[0060] Figure 4 The illustration of shows the intermediate drive 28 driving the upper branch 23 of the egg conveyor. Here, the upper chain strand of the conveyor chain 21 runs on an arc-shaped ridge 34 in the region of the intermediate drive 28, which deflects the conveyor chain 21 to a greater extent than the lower, flatter arc-shaped deflection 35.

[0061] By moving the drive shaft 37 together with the drive gear 36 and the drive device fastened thereto downward in the direction of the lower branch 24, the teeth 39 of the drive gear 36 mesh with the section of the chain strand of the lower branch 24 of the conveyor chain 21 that is located in the area of ​​the intermediate drive device 28. The teeth 39 then no longer engage in the upper chain strand of the conveyor chain 21. Therefore, when the drive gear 36 is moved downward, the lower chain strand of the conveyor chain 21 is driven by the intermediate drive device 28 instead of the upper chain strand of the conveyor chain 21.

[0062] Figure 5 The drive of the upper strand of the conveyor chain 21 by the intermediate drive 28 is shown again. However, in this case, the conveyor chain 21 in the region of the upper branch 23 is driven on a relatively flat surface. Figure 4 The upper branch 23 then moves over the arc deflection 35 located below in the intermediate drive 28. This is achieved by tilting the entire intermediate drive 28 about a horizontal rotation axis. The upper branch 23 then acquires a relatively flat arc hill or a relatively flat arc ridge in the region of the intermediate drive 28 due to the arc deflection 35 located above after the tilt. This results in a smaller wrap angle on the drive gear 36 than in the case of the intermediate drive 28 according to FIG. Figure 4 In the case of an intermediate drive 28 , after the intermediate drive 28 has been tilted, the arc-shaped bulge 34 located underneath then leads to a greater deflection of the lower branch 24 in the region of the intermediate drive 28 .

[0063] Figure 6 Shown with Figure 5 Compared to the coupling of the drive gear 36 to the chain strand of the conveyor chain 21 of the lower branch 24, which is achieved by lowering the drive gear 36 together with the drive shaft 37 and the drive device. The lower branch 24 is then offset more significantly than the upper branch 23, so that in accordance with Figure 6 After the intermediate drive device 28 is switched, Figure 5Compared with the drive of the conveyor chain 21 in the region of the upper run 23 , the wrap angle of the lower run 24 is greater.

[0064] Reference numerals list

[0065] 10 Conveying path

[0066] 11 Eggs

[0067] 12 Transmission direction

[0068] 13 Beginning

[0069] 14 Terminal

[0070] 15 Straight line segments

[0071] 16 90° arc segments

[0072] 17 Ascending section

[0073] 18 Straight line segments

[0074] 19 Framework

[0075] 20 Carrier

[0076] 21 Conveyor Chain

[0077] 22 Crossbar

[0078] 23 Upper branch

[0079] 24 Lower branch

[0080] 25 vertical links

[0081] 26 flat links

[0082] 27 Main drive unit

[0083] 28 Intermediate drive

[0084] 29 Rack

[0085] 30 End plate

[0086] 31 Transverse rod

[0087] 32 Guide groove

[0088] 33 Guide groove

[0089] 34 Arc bulge

[0090] 35 Arc Offset

[0091] 36 Drive gear

[0092] 37 Drive shaft

[0093] 38 Drive end

[0094] 39 teeth

[0095] 40 Hose

[0096] 41 Tooth groove

Claims

1. An egg conveyor, comprising: Two parallel, spaced-apart, continuous conveyor chains (21) extending along a conveyor path (10), which are connected to each other via elongated rod-shaped or tubular receiving parts extending transversely to the conveyor path (10); and a main drive device (27) which drives the conveyor chains (21) in a common and identical manner, characterized in that at least one intermediate drive device (28) is arranged in the line of the conveyor path (10), in the region of which the spacing between the upper branch (23) and the lower branch (24) of the conveyor path (10) and / or between the upper chain strand and the lower chain strand of each continuously circulating conveyor chain (21) is limited by the hill-like shape of the upper branch (23). The conveyor chain (10) is provided with a plurality of conveyor chains, the plurality of upper and lower branches having a plurality of different heights.

2. The egg conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intermediate drive (28) has two drive gears (36) which mesh with the two parallel conveyor chains (21) and are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a common, rotationally drivable drive shaft (37).

3. The egg conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The drive gears (36) each have a plurality of identical teeth (39) which, viewed from the side, have the tooth profile of the corresponding chain link (25, 26) of the conveyor chain (21) without jamming.

4. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each tooth (39) of the drive gear (36) has a tooth thickness equal to the inner length of the corresponding chain link (26) engaged with the tooth (39) minus twice the thickness of the chain link (25, 26).

5. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each tooth (39) of the drive gear (36) has a tooth thickness equal to the pitch of the chain links (25, 26) of the conveyor chain (21) minus twice the thickness of the corresponding chain link (25, 26).

6. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The distance between adjacent teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) is twice as large as the pitch of the chain links (25, 26) of the conveyor chain (21).

7. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) engage only in every second chain link (26).

8. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each drive gear (36) has five to nine identical teeth (39).

9. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) have a rectangular profile when viewed from the side.

10. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) are rounded and / or chamfered in the transition region from the tooth flank to the tooth tip and / or in the transition region from the tooth flank to the tooth root.

11. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) have a height which is equal to 0.8 to 1.2 times the outer width of the chain links (25, 26) of the conveyor chain (21).

12. The egg conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least one intermediate drive device (28) is arranged between an upper branch (23) and a lower branch (24) of the conveying path (10).

13. The egg conveyor according to claim 12, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) of the at least one intermediate drive device (28) can selectively engage with the upper branch (23) or the lower branch (24).

14. The egg conveyor according to claim 12, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the identically designed drive gearwheel (36) is 0.8 to 1.4 times the inner distance between the upper branch (23) and the lower branch (24) in the region of the intermediate drive (28).

15. The egg conveyor according to claim 12, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the identically designed drive gears (36) is equal to the distance between the upper chain strand and the lower chain strand of the conveyor chain (21) outside the region of the at least one intermediate drive (28).

16. The egg conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveyor chain (21) is designed as a round-link chain having identical, mutually linked and alternating upright chain links (25) and horizontal chain links (26).

17. The egg conveyor according to claim 2, characterized in that: The longitudinal center axis of the drive gear (36) is located on the rotation axis of the drive shaft (37).

18. The egg conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The drive gears (36) each have a plurality of identical teeth (39) which, viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drive shaft (37), have a tooth profile of the corresponding chain link (25, 26) of the conveyor chain (21) without jamming.

19. The egg conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that: Each drive gear (36) has six or eight identical teeth (39).

20. The egg conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) have a rectangular profile when viewed from the side, and the tooth height is 0.7 to 0.9 times the tooth thickness.

21. The egg conveyor according to claim 10, characterized in that: The rounding radius of the tooth root of each tooth (39) is equal to 0.4 to 0.5 times the width of a corresponding chain link (25, 26) of the conveyor chain (21).

22. The egg conveyor according to claim 12, characterized in that: The two drive gears (36) extending parallel to each other at a distance are arranged between the upper chain strands of the upper branch (23) and the lower chain strands of the lower branch (24) of the parallel circulating conveying chain (21).

23. The egg conveyor according to claim 13, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) of the at least one intermediate drive (28) can selectively engage with the upper chain strand of the conveyor chain (21) or the lower chain strand of the conveyor chain (21).

24. The egg conveyor according to claim 16, characterized in that: The teeth (39) of the drive gear (36) engage alternately in successively lying chain links (26).

Images