Egg Shelling Apparatus with UV Sanitization to Reduce Bacterial Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing egg shelling technologies fail to achieve a long shelf life for egg products while maintaining organoleptic qualities comparable to fresh eggs, and they often require longer production times and higher bacterial loads.
Innovation Solution
An egg shelling apparatus that utilizes ultraviolet radiation and sanitizing devices to reduce bacterial loads, combined with lower pasteurization temperatures and times, and a modular conveyor system for efficient separation and handling of yolk and albumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shelling plants and processes are used, then production time is reduced, but bacterial load in the final product is considerably higher
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing UV irradiation and sanitizing devices before the pasteurization process to pre-reduce bacterial load on eggshell surfaces. This preliminary sanitization allows the subsequent pasteurization to achieve the required final bacterial reduction with shorter exposure times, thus resolving the contradiction between bacterial load reduction and production time.
2Productivity
If higher pasteurization temperatures are used, then productivity is improved, but organoleptic qualities of the product deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the pasteurization process by using lower temperatures (57-72°C) combined with extended isothermal periods, rather than high temperatures with short times. This parameter change allows achieving the required bacterial reduction while preserving the organoleptic qualities of the egg product, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and product quality.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing preliminary sanitization with UV irradiation and sanitizing devices before pasteurization, the patent reduces the initial bacterial load, which allows the use of milder pasteurization conditions (lower temperatures) that preserve organoleptic qualities while still achieving the required final bacterial reduction.
3Reliability
If longer isothermal periods are used, then bacterial load reduction is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing UV irradiation and sanitizing devices before the pasteurization process to pre-reduce bacterial load on eggshell surfaces. This preliminary sanitization allows the subsequent pasteurization to achieve the required final bacterial reduction with shorter isothermal periods, thus resolving the contradiction between bacterial load reduction and production time.
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 apparatus significantly reduces bacterial loads, extends shelf life, and improves organoleptic qualities of the final product, allowing for shorter production times and better product quality compared to prior art systems.
Implementation Method 1
sanitizing devices (18, 19a, 19b, 20, 30) housed in the casing (11) and adapted to emit ultraviolet radiation
Implementation Method 2
the product to be pasteurized, be it a mixture of yolk and albumen or pure albumen, is made to touch a hot surface from which it receives the pasteurization heat
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for shelling eggs which includes: —a casing (11) defining a shelling compartment (A) and an unloading compartment (B); —a shelling device (12) housed in the shelling compartment (A) and configured to open egg shells; —an unloading device (13) housed in the unloading compartment (B) and comprising at least one hopper member (14a, 14b, 14c) suitable for receiving and unloading a shelling product consisting of albumen, yolk or a mixture of albumen and yolk; —a transport device (15) comprising conveyors (16, 17) configured to separately transport albumen and yolk from the shelling device (12) to the unloading device (13); —sanitizing devices (18, 19a, 19b, 20, 30) housed in the casing (11) and adapted to emit ultraviolet radiation and which comprise a first sanitizing device (18) positioned to irradiate operating surfaces of the at least one hopper member (14a, 14b, 14c), to reduce a bacterial load on said operating surfaces which are surfaces that come into contact with yolk and/or albumen during the operation of the apparatus (10).