Dual-Chain Egg Conveyor for Gentle Vertical Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional egg conveyors face challenges in safely transporting eggs over increasing distances and vertical transitions, especially in large laying units, as they often require redirection across multiple levels while maintaining egg integrity.
Innovation Solution
A dual-chain egg conveyor system with continuous conveyor chains and planar carriers that transition eggs from horizontal to vertical and back, using drivers with curved edges to prevent rolling and ensure stability, combined with secondary guides and support elements for seamless integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional chain conveyors with grid-like support elements are used for long-distance transport, then conveying distance is increased, but egg damage risk increases due to rough handling during vertical transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying system is divided into separate horizontal and vertical conveying sections, each optimized for its specific function. The horizontal section uses grid-like support elements for long-distance transport, while the vertical section uses individual carriers for gentle egg handling during elevation changes, preventing egg damage during transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
Individual egg carriers serve as intermediary elements that transfer eggs from the horizontal grid conveyor to the vertical conveying path and back. These carriers provide gentle, cradle-like support during vertical transitions, acting as a mediator that protects eggs from the rough handling that would occur with direct grid conveyor vertical transport.
2Area of stationary object
If vertical conveying is implemented to overcome height differences in large laying units, then space requirements are reduced, but the complexity of maintaining egg stability during transition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The individual egg carriers are designed to perform multiple functions: they support eggs during horizontal transport, provide gentle cradling during vertical elevation, and maintain egg stability during descent. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized mechanisms for each conveying phase, simplifying the overall system despite the vertical transition requirement.
3Productivity
If grid-like support elements are used closely together for long-distance horizontal transport, then conveying capacity is increased, but egg damage during vertical transition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the conveying function by using grid-like support elements only for horizontal transport where high capacity is needed, while individual carriers handle vertical transitions where egg protection is critical. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity in horizontal conveying while ensuring egg integrity during vertical movements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides an egg conveyor with which eggs can be conveyed vertically in a safe manner. This is achieved by an egg conveyor (10) for the vertical conveying of eggs (11) comprising two parallel, continuous, and continuous conveyor chains (20) running along a conveying path, which are connected to each other by elongated and planar carriers (21) extending transversely to the conveying path for carrying the eggs (11). Furthermore, this egg conveyor (10) has at least one drive (24) that drives the conveyor chains (20) jointly and simultaneously in a continuous rotation. At least two first guides (19) are arranged in a frame (16) of the egg conveyor (10), through which the conveyor chains (20) with the carriers (21) can be guided from a horizontal input area (12) via a vertical conveying area (14) to a horizontal output area (15) of the frame (16).