Egg Cassette Inversion for Reliable Floor Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing egg placing machines in poultry farming are often expensive, complex, and unreliable, requiring high energy consumption and posing challenges in handling and distributing eggs efficiently on the poultry shed floor.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring an egg-containing cassette that can be inverted to selectively dispense eggs onto the litter in a poultry house, equipped with a navigational and control system for precise egg placement, and a mechanism for preparing the litter surface to ensure safe and efficient hatching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vacuum pumps are used to lift and transfer eggs, then eggs can be transferred to the floor, but energy consumption increases and the device becomes complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveegg transfer reliabilityVSAvoidpower requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using vacuum suction to lift eggs upward, the invention inverts the logic by using gravity to make eggs fall downward. The cup is flipped upside down, allowing eggs to drop out naturally under gravity, eliminating the need for continuous vacuum power consumption while maintaining reliable egg transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential function of egg transfer from the complex vacuum pump system and isolates it into a simple mechanical inversion action. By removing the vacuum pump and using only the cup's inversion motion, the system achieves egg transfer with minimal energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If vacuum suction is used to hold eggs, then eggs can be transferred, but a good seal must be maintained to avoid egg dropping and breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveegg transfer reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the cup to reverse the egg release mechanism. Instead of relying on vacuum seal maintenance to control egg release, the cup is flipped so that eggs are held by the cup's shape and released by simple inversion, eliminating the need for complex seal control while maintaining reliable transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The cup is designed as a simple, inexpensive, single-use component. Rather than investing in complex, expensive vacuum pump systems with maintenance requirements, the invention uses disposable cups that are cheap to replace, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If a lengthy track with supporting structure is installed, then hatching trays can be moved along the shed, but the device becomes expensive and requires heavy installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveegg setting capacityVSAvoidinstallation weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into portable, modular units that can be moved independently rather than requiring a continuous fixed track. Each unit operates autonomously, allowing the shed to be served by multiple small devices instead of one large installed structure, reducing overall installation weight and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The egg setting device is designed to be self-contained and portable, requiring no external supporting infrastructure. The device carries its own power source and control systems, eliminating the need for heavy installed tracks and support structures while maintaining high productivity through autonomous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the tray is not removed from the hatcher for several days, then hatching can be completed, but the chick survives in a weakened state without access to water and food

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehatching completionVSAvoidchick health condition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary egg setting on the shed floor before hatching is complete. Eggs are positioned in advance on the litter, allowing chicks to access them immediately upon hatching. This preliminary placement eliminates the need to wait for tray removal and ensures chicks have immediate access to food and water

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary egg setting device that bridges the gap between the hatcher and the chick's need for immediate nourishment. This intermediary system places eggs on the floor in advance, serving as a mediator between the enclosed hatching environment and the open shed floor where chicks can freely access food and water

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12213457B2Egg laying device

Publication Date: 2025.02.04 ONFARMHATCHING LTD

AI summary

An egg placing machine cassette for receiving eggs to be laid upon a surface. The eggs being received in a two-dimensional array and wherein the cassette comprises a base portion, side walls extending from a first end of the base portion and a lid portion that is connected to a second end of the side walls, that second end being distal from the base portion. The cassette is provided with a first opening mechanism, by which a setter tray is able to be placed inside the cassette. The cassette is further provided with a second opening mechanism, in which the lid portion can be partially and/or progressively opened to allow a predetermined number of eggs to be removed therefrom.