Egg collection machine

Abstract

This configuration of a transfer mechanism for inclining from the vertical direction a portion of the trajectory of a pair of endless chains comprises: a pair of movable sprockets (25); guide holes (35) formed in the horizontal direction through a pair of side walls (31); operation levers provided with a pair of first arms (11A) turnably attached about a first axis (P1) to each of the side walls, and a connecting arm (11B) that connects the first arms; a pair of second arms (12), one end of each of which is connected, so as to be able to turn about a second axis (P2), to the first arms, and the other ends of which are connected to a rotation shaft via the guide hole, the pair of second arms (12) turning about a third axis (P3), which is the center axis of the rotation shaft; and a pair of guide sprockets that guide the trajectory of the endless chains in the vertical direction below at least the movable sprockets.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an egg collector for use in poultry farms. [Background technology]

[0002] In poultry farms where many chickens are raised and eggs are produced, rows of cages, each with a large number of cages connected horizontally, are stacked in multiple levels, and an egg collector is installed adjacent to this multi-level cage structure. The egg collector is a device that receives and collects eggs from multiple collection conveyors arranged along each cage row, and transfers the eggs to a transfer conveyor that transports them to a downstream processing facility where they are washed, packaged, and other processes.

[0003] The egg collector has a pair of endless chains with multiple placement sections fixed at regular intervals between them, and each chain is wound around a pair of sprockets spaced apart from each other above and below. In the egg collector, the placement sections are transported vertically by the circulation of the pair of endless chains, and in the process, eggs are transferred to a transfer conveyor.

[0004] Some poultry farms equipped with such equipment have multiple downstream processing plants, and there is a need to switch the destination of eggs to one of the multiple downstream processing plants. For example, if different types of birds are raised in each row of cages, different types of eggs may be packed at different downstream processing plants. Alternatively, eggs may need to be transferred to another downstream processing plant for maintenance at one of the multiple downstream processing plants. In such cases, it would be convenient to provide a transfer conveyor for each of the multiple downstream processing plants, and to be able to switch the conveyor to which eggs are transferred from the egg collector to one of the multiple transfer conveyors.

[0005] Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed an egg collector that can switch the transfer conveyor from which eggs are transferred to one of multiple transfer conveyors (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In these proposals, the multiple transfer conveyors are spaced apart vertically and adjacent to the egg collector. The egg collector then moves a pair of transfer sprockets that mesh with each of the endless chains in the horizontal direction at positions corresponding to each of the multiple transfer conveyors, bringing them closer to the transfer conveyor to which the eggs are transferred. As a result, part of the path of the pair of endless chains is inclined relative to the vertical, causing the placement section to tilt at that part, causing the eggs to be transferred toward that transfer conveyor.

[0006] The above proposal does not disclose a specific mechanism for horizontally moving the pair of transfer sprockets. In actual work sites, there has been a demand for a mechanism that can easily move the transfer sprockets horizontally with little force. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3541118 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3584150 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned situation, the present invention aims to provide an egg collector equipped with a mechanism that can easily move a pair of sprockets, which mesh with each of a pair of endless chains that circulate vertically, horizontally with little force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the egg collection machine according to the present invention comprises: "An egg collector having a pair of endless chains that circulate in a vertical direction, a plurality of placement sections supported between the pair of endless chains, and a transfer mechanism that tilts a part of the track of the endless chains relative to the vertical direction in order to transfer eggs placed on the placement sections, The transfer mechanism includes: a pair of movable sprockets that are connected by a rotating shaft portion to rotate together and that mesh with the endless chain during horizontal movement; a pair of side walls each extending vertically from an installation surface and having the pair of endless chains positioned therebetween; a pair of guide holes each extending horizontally through one of the side walls; an operating lever including a pair of first arm portions each attached to one of the side walls so as to be rotatable about a first axis, and a connecting arm portion connecting the pair of first arm portions at an end side opposite to the first axis; a pair of second arms, each having one end connected to an intermediate portion of the first arm portion so as to be rotatable about a second axis and the other end connected to the rotating shaft portion via the guide hole, which rotate about a third axis that is the central axis of the rotating shaft portion; and a pair of guide sprockets that are provided below at least the movable sprocket and guide the track of the endless chain in the vertical direction.

[0010] In the connecting mechanism configured as described above, when the first arm portion is rotated around the first axis by operating the operating lever, the third axis moves along the horizontal guide hole via the second arm connected to the first arm portion by the second axis. The third axis is the central axis of a pair of movable sprockets that are connected by the pivot shaft portion and rotate together. In other words, the movable sprocket can be moved horizontally by operating the operating lever. The movable sprocket then engages with the endless chain midway through its horizontal movement, pushing the endless chain as it moves toward the end of its movement. This allows the trajectory of the endless chain that engages between the lower guide sprocket and the movable sprocket to be tilted from the vertical.

[0011] This type of connecting mechanism can be thought of as using a second-class lever, with the first axis as the fulcrum, the point where force is applied to the operating lever as the force point, and the second axis as the point of action. The length of the first arm, the distance between the first and second axes in the first arm, the distance between the connection point of the first arm and the connecting arm and the second axis, and the length of the connecting arm can be set with a high degree of freedom, making it easy to move the point of action closer to the fulcrum than the force point. Therefore, the second arm can be easily rotated around the second axis with a small amount of force, and the movable sprocket can be easily moved horizontally via the second arm.

[0012] Note that the "middle portion" where the second axis is provided in the first arm portion does not mean the exact center portion of the first arm portion, but refers to the position between the end portion on the first axis side and the end portion on the opposite side.

[0013] In addition to the above configuration, the egg collection machine according to the present invention has: "The guide hole may be bent downward at the end on the side where the third axis moves when the first arm portion is rotated around the first axis by pushing down the operating lever."

[0014] In this configuration, when the operating lever is pressed down, the third shaft moves to its maximum horizontal position, and the guide hole is bent downward. From this position, the second arm can be rotated around the second shaft, causing the end of the second arm facing the third shaft to drop into the bent portion of the guide hole. This prevents the third shaft from returning to its original position along the horizontal portion of the guide hole due to interference between the bent portion of the guide hole and the second arm, and fixes the position of the movable sprocket.

[0015] In addition to the above configuration, the egg collection machine according to the present invention has: It may further include a chain stopper that moves back and forth relative to the endless chain, engages with the endless chain when in the forward position, and is released from the engagement when in the backward position.

[0016] With this configuration, the chain stopper can be advanced to engage with the endless chain, preventing the endless chain from rotating. This prevents the endless chain from moving unintentionally, allowing the movable sprocket to be moved horizontally with stability and ease of operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] As described above, according to the present invention, an egg collection machine can be provided that has a mechanism that can easily move a pair of sprockets that mesh with each of a pair of endless chains that circulate vertically horizontally with little force. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a transfer mechanism in an egg collector according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the transfer mechanism of FIG. [Figure 3] 3(a) to 3(d) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transfer mechanism of FIG. [Figure 4] 4(a) to 4(c) are diagrams illustrating switching of the transfer conveyor to which eggs are transferred when multiple transfer conveyors are installed adjacent to an egg collector. [Figure 5] 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrams illustrating the configuration and operation of the chain stopper. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the transfer of eggs when the track of the endless chain is tilted from the vertical direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] An egg collection machine 1 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] A poultry farming facility equipped with an egg collection machine 1 is a facility where a large number of birds are raised to produce eggs. This poultry farming facility has a multi-tiered cage structure (not shown) in which rows of cages, each row consisting of a large number of cages connected horizontally, are stacked in multiple tiers. If the direction in which the cage rows extend is the longitudinal direction, the egg collection machine 1 is installed adjacent to one end of the multi-tiered cage structure in the longitudinal direction. If the poultry farming facility has multiple multi-tiered cage structures, an egg collection machine 1 is installed for each multi-tiered cage structure.

[0021] Egg collector 1 has a pair of endless chains 21 between which a plurality of placement sections 22 are fixed at regular intervals. Each of endless chains 21 is wound around a pair of sprockets (not shown) spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction, and circulates vertically. In other words, egg collector 1 has two pairs of sprockets spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction.

[0022] The egg collector 1 has a casing that rotatably supports two pairs of sprockets around which a pair of endless chains 21 are wound. The casing also supports a drive mechanism (not shown) that includes a motor that drives the endless chains 21 to rotate. Although the casing is not shown in detail, it has a pair of side walls 31 that stand upright in the vertical direction from the installation surface. The pair of endless chains 21 are arranged in the space between these side walls 31. The endless chains 21 circulate along the surfaces of the side walls 31.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6 , each of the placement sections 22 includes a first bar 22a and a second bar 22b suspended between a pair of endless chains 21. An egg E is placed on the placement section 22 with a portion of the egg E exposed in the space between the first bar 22a and the second bar 22b. More specifically, each placement section 22 includes a pair of sets each including a base bar 22e and two long bars 22f fixed to each end of the base bar 22e and forming an isosceles triangle with the base bar 22e. Each of the base bars 22e is fixed to the endless chain 21, such that one of the pair of sets is fixed to one end of the endless chain 21 and the other set is fixed to the other end of the endless chain 21. The first bar 22a connects one end of each pair of the base bars 22e. The second bar 22b connects the vertices of the isosceles triangle in each set.

[0024] In the egg collection machine 1, the pair of endless chains 21 circulate, causing the placement unit 22 to move vertically. On the other hand, in a multi-stage cage structure, a collection conveyor is arranged horizontally for each row of cages. The collection conveyor has a transport path that extends horizontally along the row of cages, and transports eggs laid by the birds to the egg collection machine 1. The placement unit 22, which moves as the pair of endless chains 21 circulates, receives eggs from one of the collection conveyors as it moves upward, and transports the eggs with them placed on it.

[0025] A plurality of transfer conveyors 50 are installed adjacent to the egg collector 1. The plurality of transfer conveyors 50 transport eggs to different downstream processing facilities and are installed adjacent to the egg collector 1 with their conveying surfaces spaced apart in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the placement units 22 place eggs on the endless chain 21 as it ascends, so the lowest transfer conveyor 50 is provided above the uppermost collection conveyor. If the placement units are of a type that can place eggs on the endless chain 21 both as it ascends and as it descends, the transfer conveyors can be located adjacent to the egg collector on the side opposite to the side where the collection conveyor is located adjacent to it.

[0026] Hereinafter, in egg collector 1, the side adjacent to transfer conveyor 50 will be referred to as "side A," and the opposite side will be referred to as "side B." In egg collector 1 of this embodiment, a pair of endless chains 21 that circulates vertically is driven to rise on side A.

[0027] The egg collection machine 1 is equipped with the same number of transfer mechanisms 10 at height positions corresponding to each of the multiple transfer conveyors 50. The transfer mechanisms 10 move the movable sprockets 25 that mesh with the endless chains 21 horizontally so as to approach the transfer conveyors 50, and part of the track of the endless chains 21 that circulate vertically is inclined relative to the vertical direction.

[0028] The configuration of the transfer-out mechanism 10 will be described mainly with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In addition to a pair of movable sprockets 25, one transfer-out mechanism 10 includes one operating lever 11, a pair of second arms 12, and guide holes 35 provided in each of a pair of side walls 31. The operating lever 11 of this embodiment is made up of a pair of first arms 11A and one connecting arm 11B. Here, the first arm 11A corresponds to the "first arm portion" of the present invention, and the connecting arm 11B corresponds to the "connecting arm portion" of the present invention.

[0029] Each first arm 11A is attached to one side of the side wall 31 so as to be rotatable about a first axis P1. Specifically, by passing a pin (not shown) through a hole 31a formed through the side wall 31 and a hole 11e formed through one end of the first arm 11A, the first arm 11A rotates about the first axis P1, which is the axis of the pin.

[0030] The connecting arm 11B connects the pair of first arms 11A to each other so that the pair of first arms 11A rotate together around the first axis P1. The connecting arm 11B has a shape in which both sides of a thin, elongated plate are bent at right angles in the same direction, and both bent portions 11g are fixed to the end of the first arm 11A on the opposite side from the first axis P1. Specifically, the connecting arm 11B is fixed to the first arm 11A by tightening nuts onto bolts that are passed through multiple holes provided in the bent portion 11g of the connecting arm 11B and multiple holes provided in the end of the first arm 11A. Note that the connecting arm 11B and the first arm 11A may be welded together to ensure secure attachment. The connecting arm 11B and the first arm 11A are integrated to form the operating lever 11.

[0031] The operator grasps the middle portion 11h of the connecting arm 11B, which has bent portions 11g at both ends. To prevent this middle portion 11h from interfering with the pair of side walls 31, the axial direction of the bent portion 11g of the connecting arm 11B is inclined with respect to the extension direction of the first arm 11A. The inclined direction is toward the A side.

[0032] In the operating lever 11, the length from the boundary between the bent portion 11g and the middle portion 11h to the second axis P2 is set to be significantly longer than the length from the first axis P1 to the second axis P2. As a result, when the operating lever 11 is considered as a second-class lever, the distance from the point of application to the point of force is set to be significantly longer than the distance from the fulcrum to the point of application.

[0033] The movable sprocket 25 has teeth at a pitch that meshes with the endless chain 21. The central axes of the pair of movable sprockets 25 are connected by a rotating shaft portion 25p, and rotate integrally around a third axis P3, which is the central axis of the movable sprocket 25 and the rotating shaft portion 25p. The pair of movable sprockets 25 are disposed between a pair of side walls 31. A plurality of flat assist plates 25d protrude radially from the rotating shaft portion 25p. The multiple assist plates 25d are provided at equal angular intervals with respect to the third axis P3. Here, a case where there are two assist plates 25d is shown as an example.

[0034] The pair of guide holes 35 penetrate the side wall 31 at the same height and extend the same length horizontally. In this embodiment, the guide hole 35 is bent downward at one end. The bent end is the end on side A.

[0035] One end of each of the pair of second arms 12 is connected to the first arm 11A so as to be rotatable about the second axis P2. Specifically, a pin (not shown) is passed through a hole 12f formed in one end of the second arm 12 and a hole 11f formed in the first arm 11A, and the second arms 12 are rotated about the second axis P2, which is the axis of the pin. The position of the hole 11f is between the end of the first arm 11A on the first axis P1 side and the end on the opposite side, and in this case, is located at a position spaced from the first axis P1 by approximately half the length of the first arm 11A.

[0036] Each second arm 12 is attached to the rotating shaft portion 25p at the end opposite the second axis P2 via a guide hole 35. Specifically, a pin (not shown) is passed through a hole 12p formed in the end opposite the second axis P2 of each second arm 12, and is then passed through the guide hole 35 and attached to the end of the rotating shaft portion 25p. This pin rotates integrally with the rotating shaft portion 25p, but the second arm 12 is rotatable relative to the pin. In other words, the second arm 12 rotates around the third axis P3 at the end opposite the second axis P2, and the movable sprocket 25 is rotatable around the third axis P3.

[0037] The first axes P1 of the pair of first arms 11A are on the same line, and the second axes P2 of the pair of first arms 11A are on the same line. The first arm 11A and the second arm 12 are provided on the outer side of the side wall 31 (opposite the side facing the other side wall 31).

[0038] When the first arm 11A rotates around the first axis P1, a portion of the first arm 11A that is distant from the first axis P1 and the connecting arm 11B that is even further distant from the first axis P1 rotate within a large angular range. If such a portion that rotates widely slides while abutting against the surface of the side wall 31, resistance will increase. To prevent this, the first arm 11A is bent between the first axis P1 and the second axis P2 so that the side opposite the first axis P1 is spaced apart from the side wall 31. Correspondingly, the second arm 12 is also bent midway so that the second axis P2 side is spaced apart from the side wall 31 more than the third axis P3 side.

[0039] The transfer-out mechanism 10 also includes guide sprockets 26 that mesh with the circulating endless chain 21 and vertically guide the trajectory of the endless chain 21. At least one pair of guide sprockets 26 is provided for each transfer-out mechanism 10, and is located below the movable sprocket 25 (see FIG. 6).

[0040] Next, the operation of the transfer-out mechanism 10 configured as described above, the accompanying change in the trajectory of the endless chain 21, and the accompanying transfer-out of eggs will be described mainly with reference to Figures 3 and 6. Since the operation of each of the multiple transfer-out mechanisms 10 is the same, only one transfer-out mechanism 10 will be described here.

[0041] First, when the transfer-out mechanism 10 is not in operation, the third shaft P3 is located at the end of side B in the guide hole 35 (see FIG. 3(a)). In this state, the movable sprocket 25 is separated from the endless chain 21, whose track is vertical, without engaging with it.

[0042] When the middle portion 11h of the connecting arm 11B is grasped and the operating lever 11 is tilted toward side A, the first arm 11A, which is integrated with the connecting arm 11B, rotates about the first axis P1. Because the second arm 12 is connected to the first arm 11A via the second axis P2, a force acts on the second arm 12 to rotate about the first axis P1. However, the second arm 12 is connected to the rotation shaft portion 25p of the movable sprocket 25 via the third axis P3, and the movement of the third axis P3 is restricted by the guide hole 35. Therefore, as the first arm 11A rotates about the first axis P1, the second arm 12 rotates about the second axis P2 at one end and about the third axis P3 at the other end. The third axis P3 moves horizontally along the guide hole 35 toward side A. Accordingly, the movable sprocket 25, with the third axis P3 as its central axis, moves toward side B (see FIG. 3(b)).

[0043] When the operating lever 11 is further tilted toward the A side, as the first arm 11A further rotates about the first axis P1, the third axis P3 moves along the guide hole 35 together with the second arm 12 which rotates about the second axis P2 and the third axis P3, and reaches the end of the A side (see FIG. 3(c)). During this movement, the movable sprocket 25 engages with the endless chain 21, whose track is vertical, and moves while pushing the endless chain 21 toward the A side.

[0044] Because guide hole 35 is bent downward at the end of side A, when third shaft P3 reaches the end of side A, second arm 12 is rotated downward about second shaft P2, pushing third shaft P3 down and dropping it into the bent portion of guide hole 35. The interference between the bent portion of guide hole 35 and second arm 12 acts as a stopper, preventing third shaft P3 from returning toward side B, and fixing the position of movable sprocket 25 (see FIG. 3(d)).

[0045] As shown in Figure 6, the trajectory of the endless chain 21 ascending on the A side is vertical until it reaches the guide sprocket 26, which is located below the movable sprocket 25. When the trajectory of the endless chain 21 is vertical, the placement section 22 stably holds the eggs E, as shown in the placement section 22 at the lower right in Figure 6. When the movable sprocket 25 is moved to the A side by operating the operating lever 11 as described above, the trajectory of the endless chain 21 tilts toward the A side between the guide sprocket 26 and the movable sprocket 25. As a result, the placement section 22 tilts downward as it passes through this section, and the eggs E that were placed on it are transferred toward the transfer conveyor 50. The transfer conveyor 50 is equipped with a guide plate 59 that extends toward the egg collector 1, and guides the eggs E that roll off the placement section 22 onto the conveying surface of the transfer conveyor 50.

[0046] Furthermore, assist plates 25d protrude from the rotating shaft portion 25p and rotate together with the movable sprocket 25. Therefore, even if an egg E remains precariously placed on the downwardly tilted placement portion 22 and does not roll out, the rotating assist plates 25d come into contact with the egg E from above, thereby assisting the egg E in transferring out. The number of such assist plates 25d is set to match the number of placement portions 22 that pass between the guide sprocket 26 and the movable sprocket 25 during one rotation of the movable sprocket 25. Note that the transfer mechanism 10 is not shown in Figure 6.

[0047] Next, we will explain the operation of switching the transfer conveyor 50 that eggs are transferred to from the egg collecting machine 1 when multiple transfer conveyors 50 are installed per egg collecting machine 1. Here, we will use Figure 4 to illustrate a case where three transfer conveyors 50 are installed adjacent to one egg collecting machine 1. The three transfer conveyors 50 are installed spaced apart vertically. The egg collecting machine 1 is provided with the same number of transfer-out mechanisms 10 corresponding to each transfer conveyor 50. The transfer-out mechanisms 10 are installed so that the height of the guide holes 35 is slightly higher than the conveying surface of the transfer conveyors 50.

[0048] Furthermore, egg collector 1 is equipped with chain stopper 40 that moves forward and backward relative to endless chain 21 and meshes with endless chain 21 when it is in the forward position. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, chain stopper 40 is equipped with a base portion 41 supported between a pair of side walls 31, and a slider 42 that slides relative to base portion 41. Figure 4 shows the case where chain stopper 40 is positioned below the lowest transfer conveyor 50, but the position is not limited to this.

[0049] The base portion 41 is formed with a groove 41g that guides the sliding of the slider 42 in the horizontal direction. The slider 42 has multiple vertically aligned teeth 43 at one horizontal end. These teeth 43 are arranged at a pitch that meshes with the endless chain 21. The slider 42 is provided with multiple horizontally elongated slots 45, and the same number of bolts 46 protrude from the base portion 41 in correspondence with the slots 45. Thus, with each bolt 46 inserted into a slot 45, the slider 42 slides horizontally within the length of the slot 45. The slider 42 is fixed in position relative to the base portion 41 by tightening a nut 47 on the portion of the bolt 46 that protrudes beyond the surface of the slider 42. A washer plate 48 is interposed between the nut 47 and the slider 42. When the pair of endless chains 21 is circulating in the egg collector 1, the chain stopper 40 is retracted, as shown in FIG. 5(a).

[0050] As shown in Figure 4(a), when eggs are being transferred toward the lowest transfer conveyor 50, to switch the transfer destination of the eggs to another transfer conveyor 50, first, the driving of the endless chain 21 is stopped. At this time, as described above with reference to Figure 3(d), the movable sprocket 25 of the lowest transfer mechanism 10 has moved to its maximum extent toward side A and is fixed in position. On the other hand, as described above with reference to Figure 3(a), the movable sprockets 25 of the other two transfer mechanisms 10 have moved to their maximum extent toward side B.

[0051] In this state, the nut 47 and washer plate 48 are removed from the bolt 46 of the chain stopper 40, and the slider 42 is moved forward to engage the teeth 43 with the endless chain 21, as shown in Figure 5(b). By tightening the nut 47 onto the bolt 46 via the washer plate 48, the position of the slider 42, which is engaged with the endless chain 21, is fixed, as shown in Figure 5(c). This prevents the endless chain 21 from rotating.

[0052] Thereafter, by pushing up the operating lever 11 of the lowest transfer-out mechanism 10, the state is returned to that of FIG. 3(a) via the states of FIG. 3(c) and FIG. 3(b).

[0053] Next, the transfer-out mechanism 10 corresponding to the height of the transfer conveyor 50 to which the eggs are to be transferred is operated. For example, if the middle transfer conveyor 50 is to be the transfer destination, the middle transfer-out mechanism 10 is operated to move the movable sprocket 25 toward side A, as shown in FIG. 4(b). Because the chain stopper 40 prevents the endless chain 21 from rotating, the operation of moving the movable sprocket 25 horizontally while engaging with the endless chain 21 can be performed stably and with good workability.

[0054] As shown in Figure 3(d), after fixing the position of movable sprocket 25, chain stopper 40 is retracted to release teeth 43 from endless chain 21. In this state, if endless chain 21 is driven, eggs are transferred from egg collector 1 toward middle-level transfer conveyor 50. Similarly, if the eggs are to be transferred to the top-level transfer conveyor 50, movable sprocket 25 is moved toward side A in top-level transfer-out mechanism 10, as shown in Figure 4(c).

[0055] In this way, when switching the transfer conveyor 50 to which the eggs are transferred, the following procedure is carried out. (1) The drive of the endless chain 21 is stopped. (2) The chain stopper 40 is moved forward to prevent the endless chain 21 from rotating. (3) The movable sprocket 25 is moved toward the B side by the operation of the transfer mechanism 10 corresponding to the transfer conveyor 50 to which the eggs are currently being transferred. (4) The movable sprocket 25 is moved toward the A side by the operation of the transfer mechanism 10 corresponding to the transfer conveyor 50 to which the eggs are to be newly transferred. (5) The chain stopper 40 is moved backward, and the endless chain 21 is driven to rotate.

[0056] 4(a) to 4(c) show a case where guide sprockets 26 are provided above and below the movable sprocket 25 in one transfer-out mechanism 10. The lower guide sprocket 26 maintains the vertical trajectory of the ascending endless chain 21 until it approaches the movable sprocket 25, which has moved horizontally. The upper guide sprocket 26 returns the trajectory of the endless chain 21, which has passed the movable sprocket 25 on an inclined trajectory, to the vertical trajectory. However, if the gap between the vertically separated transfer conveyors 50 is not large, the upper guide sprocket 26 can be omitted. This is because the lower guide sprocket 26 in the upper transfer-out mechanism 10 functions in the same way as the upper guide sprocket 26 in the lower transfer-out mechanism 10. Furthermore, in the case of an egg collector of the type that discharges eggs as the endless chain ascends, there are no eggs placed on the placement section 22 after it has passed the topmost movable sprocket 25, so there is no problem even if the trajectory of the endless chain 21 is inclined all the way up to the upper sprocket of the upper and lower sprockets that circulate the endless chain 21.

[0057] The present invention has been described above by citing preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and design changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0058] For example, in the above embodiment, the egg collector 1 is provided with the same number of transfer-out mechanisms 10 equipped with movable sprockets 25 as the number of transfer conveyors 50, and these mechanisms are arranged in accordance with the height of the transfer conveyors 50. However, this is not limited to this, and an egg collector may be configured such that the uppermost transfer conveyor 50 does not have a movable sprocket 25, and a sprocket for tilting the trajectory of the endless chain 21 is fixed. This is because, in the case of an egg collector that discharges eggs as the endless chain ascends, the movable sprockets 25 of any of the transfer-out mechanisms 10 associated with the lower transfer conveyors 50 are not moved horizontally only when eggs are transferred to the uppermost transfer conveyor 50.

[0059] In the above example, the operating lever 11 is formed by integrating two members, the first arm 11A and the connecting arm 11B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operating lever may be originally formed as an integrated unit, for example, by bending a metal plate cut into a desired shape.

Claims

1. An egg collecting machine having a pair of endless chains that circulate in a vertical direction, a plurality of placement sections supported between the pair of endless chains, and a transfer mechanism that tilts a part of a track of the endless chains with respect to the vertical direction in order to transfer eggs placed on the placement sections, The transfer mechanism includes: A pair of movable sprockets that are connected by a rotating shaft portion and rotate together; a pair of side walls each extending vertically from an installation surface and having the pair of endless chains positioned therebetween; A pair of guide holes each extending horizontally through one of the side walls; an operating lever including a pair of first arm portions each attached to one of the side walls so as to be rotatable about a first axis, and a connecting arm portion connecting the pair of first arm portions at an end side opposite to the first axis; a pair of second arms each having one end connected to an intermediate portion of the first arm portion so as to be rotatable around a second axis and having the other end connected to the rotating shaft portion via the guide hole, the pair of second arms rotating around a third axis which is a central axis of the rotating shaft portion; and a pair of guide sprockets that are provided below at least the movable sprocket and guide the track of the endless chain in the vertical direction. An egg collecting machine characterized by the above.

2. The guide hole is bent downward at an end portion on a side where the third shaft moves when the first arm portion is rotated about the first shaft by pushing down the operating lever.

2. An egg collector according to claim 1 .

3. The endless chain further includes a chain stopper that moves forward and backward relative to the endless chain, engages with the endless chain when it moves forward, and is released from the engagement when it moves backward.

2. An egg collector according to claim 1 .

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