Egg Breaking Device with Gravity Tray Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for processing eggs, such as those used in professional bakery environments, face issues like egg breakage due to suction cup underpressure and inefficiency, as well as the inability to handle trays of inferior quality, and existing egg-breaking devices risk cracking eggs during processing.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring an egg carrier and tray holder system that rotates to transfer eggs without suction cups, combined with an egg-breaking mechanism that uses a pressure-free lock and rotating blades to carefully cleave eggs, and a separate device for separating egg yolks and whites using a tiltable tray with a sloping opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If suction cups are used to pick up and move eggs, then eggs can be automatically transported, but a relatively large number of eggs break due to underpressure and improper adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful suction cup mechanism from the egg handling system and replaces it with a tray inversion mechanism. Eggs are transferred by gravity when the tray is inverted, eliminating the underpressure that causes egg breakage while maintaining automated transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by instead of picking up eggs individually with suction cups, the entire tray is inverted and eggs are poured onto carriers. This reverse approach eliminates the harmful adhesion forces while achieving the same transport objective.
2Ease of operation
If suction cups apply underpressure to hold eggs, then eggs can be suspended and moved, but energy is consumed and the environment is burdened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the pneumatic vacuum system with a simple mechanical tray inversion mechanism. Gravity naturally suspends and transports eggs without requiring energy-consuming vacuum pumps, eliminating both energy consumption and environmental burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses gravity as a free natural force to suspend and transport eggs. The inverted tray automatically pours eggs onto carriers without requiring external energy input, making the system self-sufficient and energy-free.
3Extent of automation
If suction cups are used to handle eggs, then automated processing is achieved, but trays of inferior quality such as wet or damaged cardboard trays cannot be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The tray inversion mechanism is universally applicable to trays of any quality or condition. Unlike suction cups that require specific surface properties for adhesion, the mechanical inversion method works with wet, damaged, or varied cardboard trays, greatly enhancing system adaptability.
4Reliability
If a lock exerts pressure on an egg to fix its position on supports, then the egg is secured, but the egg may crack during processing
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp applies upward force to counterbalance the downward force of gravity on the egg, achieving secure positioning without excessive pressure. This force equilibrium prevents egg cracking while maintaining position stability throughout the breaking process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for breaking eggs, comprising at least one pair of supports for an egg, at least one blade, which is movable from a position outside the supports to a position inside the supports for cleaving an egg situated on the supports, a lock for fixing the position of an egg placed on the supports, wherein the lock is movable between a first position wherein the lock unblocks a space for placing an egg on the supports and a second position wherein the lock blocks a space for removing an egg from the supports and a clamp, to ensure that the lock bears against an egg in the second position without exerting pressure or to ensure that the lock is positioned just above an egg.