Portable Egg Candling Apparatus with Inverting Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated machinery for chicken egg production is impractical for smaller-scale poultry farming, such as quail and specialty birds, due to its industrial scale and complexity, making it difficult to efficiently candle and transfer eggs from incubation trays to hatchery baskets.
Innovation Solution
A portable egg candling and containment transfer apparatus with a movable base, elevator deck, inverting candling table, and lighting system allows for manual candling and transfer of eggs from incubation trays to hatchery baskets, featuring a hand-operated mechanism for raising and lowering the deck, clamps for securing baskets, and electric lighting for inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated machinery for chicken egg production is used, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases for small-scale poultry farming
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into separate functional modules: an incubation tray holder, a hatchery basket holder, a candling light system, and a transfer mechanism. Each module can be independently operated and adjusted, allowing small-scale farmers to perform egg candling and transfer operations efficiently without requiring complex automated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus serves multiple functions within a single device: it holds incubation trays, supports hatchery baskets, provides candling lighting, and facilitates egg transfer. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high productivity for small-scale poultry operations.
2Productivity
If industrial-scale automated equipment is used, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for small-scale poultry farming
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus incorporates movable and adjustable components, including a tiltable incubation tray holder, an adjustable hatchery basket holder, and a movable candling light system. These dynamic elements allow operators to easily adjust the device to different configurations and operations, maintaining high productivity while preserving operational simplicity for small-scale farmers.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be self-adjusting and self-positioning through simple manual operations. The incubation tray holder can be easily tilted to discharge trays, the hatchery basket holder can be adjusted to different heights, and the candling lights can be positioned as needed. This self-service capability maintains high egg processing efficiency while requiring minimal operational complexity.
3Device complexity
If manual egg candling and transfer is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus merges multiple operations into a single integrated system: incubation tray holding, egg candling with lighting, hatchery basket support, and egg transfer are all combined in one device. This merging allows operators to perform all these tasks sequentially without moving between different pieces of equipment, maintaining simple device complexity while significantly improving egg processing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus acts as an intermediary between the incubation trays and hatchery baskets, providing a unified platform for egg candling and transfer operations. The integrated design with shared lighting systems, support structures, and positioning mechanisms allows for efficient egg processing while keeping the overall device complexity low, perfectly suited for small-scale poultry farming.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates efficient manual candling and transfer of eggs, enabling users to identify non-fertile or defective eggs and complete the incubation and hatching process effectively in smaller-scale poultry operations, improving efficiency and practicality for quail and specialty bird egg production.
Implementation Method 1
the pan houses at least one electric light fixture with at least one lamp for producing light for candling eggs
Data Source
AI summary
A portable egg candling and containment transfer apparatus including a movable base, a frame extending up from the base, a movable elevator deck movable between an elevated position and a lowered position, and a mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator deck. The apparatus further includes an inverting candling table pivotally mounted to the frame and having a pan with sidewalls and a floor. The pan is adapted for receiving and supporting incubator trays thereon. The pan houses at least one electric light fixture with at least one lamp for producing light for candling eggs positioned over the inverting candling table. The apparatus further includes at least one clamp for securing a hatchery basket over the pan and at least one latch for securing the inverting candling table in faceup/facedown positions.