Egg Handling Apparatus with Multi-Shooter Speed Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Egg handling apparatuses face challenges in reliably releasing eggs into receiving holes across varying transporting speeds without the need for a shift mechanism, which increases costs and maintenance, and existing solutions are inadequate for high-speed conveyance.

Innovation Solution

An egg handling apparatus with a control unit that determines the operation of shooting mechanisms based on transporting speed, using a larger number of fixed shooting mechanisms to adjust egg releasing positions, eliminating the need for a shift mechanism and ensuring accurate egg placement across different speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a shift mechanism is used to move the shooting mechanism to adjust releasing positions, then the apparatus can accommodate varying transporting speeds, but the cost and maintenance work increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of varying transporting speedsVSAvoidcost and maintenance work
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus divides the shooting mechanism into multiple independent shooting units (first shooting mechanism and second shooting mechanism) positioned at different locations. Each unit handles specific speed ranges, eliminating the need for a shift mechanism to move a single shooting unit. This segmentation allows the system to accommodate varying speeds without mechanical repositioning components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the number of shooting mechanisms is increased to cover more positions, then accurate egg release can be achieved at different speeds, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccurate egg release positionVSAvoidnumber of shooting mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically selects which shooting mechanism to operate based on the detected transporting speed. The system transitions from a static single-shooting-mechanism approach to a dynamic multi-mechanism selection approach, where the active shooting mechanism changes according to operational conditions. This dynamic selection achieves accurate egg release without requiring all shooting mechanisms to be simultaneously active or complex mechanical shifting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the transporting speed is increased to improve productivity, then more eggs can be processed, but the egg release accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveegg processing speedVSAvoidegg release position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameter (which shooting mechanism is active) based on the transporting speed. At different speed ranges, different shooting mechanisms are selected to maintain optimal release accuracy. This parameter-based selection allows the system to adapt to high-speed operation while preserving release precision, as each shooting mechanism is optimized for specific speed conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3581504B1Egg processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 NABERU KK
  • EP3581504B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3581504B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3581504B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

An egg handling apparatus (1) includes a plurality of holding members (2), a plurality of egg receiving holes (41-46), and a plurality of shooting mechanisms (31-37). The plurality of holding members (2) are mutually spaced and thus attached to a transporting conveyor and each hold an egg (E). There are six egg receiving holes (41-46), for example. The egg receiving holes (41-46) are disposed in a direction in which the plurality of holding members (2) are transported to receive the eggs (E) held by the plurality of holding members (2). The number of shooting mechanisms (31-37) is larger than the number of egg receiving holes (41-46), and for example, seven shooting mechanisms are provided.