Egg Lifting Platform for Sanitary Carrier Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The poultry industry faces inefficiencies and contamination risks in removing non-live eggs from egg carriers, as existing automated systems are costly and may not adequately protect live eggs during the process.
Innovation Solution
An automated egg removal apparatus featuring an egg lifting system with a platform assembly that includes an endless belt or platform capable of moving between egg lifting devices and carriers, allowing for efficient vertical lifting and collection of eggs without lateral or horizontal motion, thereby reducing footprint and maintaining throughput while ensuring sanitary conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated egg removal devices are used, then egg removal efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The egg removal system is divided into separate functional modules: an egg lifting system with multiple lifting devices, a platform assembly with movable platform, and a drive assembly. Each module performs a specific function, allowing for simplified design and manufacturing of individual components while achieving automated egg removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The platform assembly incorporates a movable platform that can be positioned between the egg lifting devices and the egg carrier, and a drive assembly that winds and unwinds the platform in a serpentine path. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt during operation, improving egg removal efficiency without requiring a completely complex fixed structure
2Extent of automation
If automated egg removal devices are used, then labor costs are reduced, but risk of contamination to live eggs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable platform serves as an intermediary element between the egg lifting devices and the egg carrier. It physically blocks the egg lifting devices from directly contacting the egg carrier and live eggs, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining automated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary protective action by positioning the movable platform to obstruct access of egg lifting devices to the egg carrier before egg removal occurs. This preventive measure reduces contamination risk to live eggs during the automated egg removal process
3Productivity
If lateral or horizontal motion is used for egg collection, then egg collection capacity is improved, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly winds and unwinds the movable platform in a serpentine path, utilizing vertical and diagonal motion rather than purely lateral or horizontal movement. This dimensional change allows egg collection capacity to be improved while minimizing the device footprint by using space more efficiently in three dimensions
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for removing eggs from an egg carrier is provided. Such an apparatus includes a frame and an egg lifting system having an array of egg lifting devices configured to lift eggs from the egg carrier. A platform assembly has a platform configured to be moveably positioned between the array of egg lifting devices and the egg carrier. In this manner, the platform is capable of being positioned to receive eggs released from the egg lifting devices while concurrently obstructing access of the egg lifting devices to the egg carrier. An associated method is also provided.