Individual Egg Transport Device with Magnetic Gripping

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Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial poultry farming, the transportation of eggs on trays leads to micro-breaks and increased contamination risks due to rolling eggs, which complicates sorting and handling.

Innovation Solution

An individual egg transport device with a magnetic gripping system and suction cup capabilities, along with a mobile gripping shuttle, is used to handle and transport eggs efficiently, reducing physical contact and contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If eggs are rolled on a conveyor belt for transportation, then the eggs can be moved efficiently along the conveyor system, but the eggs bump against each other causing micro-cracks in the eggshells and significantly increase contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveegg transportation efficiencyVSAvoideggshell integrity and contamination control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the egg transportation system into individual compartments, with each compartment holding a single egg. This segmentation prevents eggs from contacting each other during transport, eliminating micro-cracks and contamination risks while maintaining efficient conveyor-based transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an individual egg holder as an intermediary device between the egg and the conveyor belt. This holder contains the egg in a protected position, preventing direct contact between eggs and eliminating the harmful effects of rolling and bumping while enabling efficient conveyance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If individual egg holders with magnetic gripping elements are used, then eggs can be transported without contact and contamination risk is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to magnetic components and gripping mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination controlVSAvoidgripping system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical gripping systems with a simple magnetic gripping element. The magnet embedded in the individual holder provides automatic grasping of the egg without requiring mechanical clamps, actuators, or complex control mechanisms, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable contamination control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic gripping element automatically grasps the egg when the holder is positioned near it, eliminating the need for external actuation or control systems. The egg is held in place by magnetic attraction without requiring additional mechanical intervention, simplifying the overall device design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution enables stable and contamination-reduced transportation of eggs, improving the sorting and handling process by minimizing physical contact and ensuring precise egg placement.

Implementation Method 1

The gripping element includes a magnet, or a metallic piece, which is arranged under the upper cup to enable the gripping member to grasp the individual device by magnetic attraction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

it has a peripheral groove; the base has metallic pads distributed over the bottom of the base... a suction cup coaxial with the gripping rod, capable of grasping an egg by suction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4255178B1Individual egg transport device, complementary filling installation and associated method
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 NECTRA
  • EP4255178B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4255178B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4255178B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an individual egg transport device (10), characterised in that it comprises: - an upper cup (18) provided to receive an egg (14), - a base (20) provided to ensure a stable position of the egg (14) when the individual device (10) is placed on a conveyor belt, - a gripping element (22) allowing a gripping member (12) to grasp the individual device (10) in order to transport it from a first location to a second location. The invention also proposes a gripping member (12), a filling facility and a filling method using the individual egg transport device (10).