Egg Transfer Machine for Poultry Houses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transferring pre-incubated eggs to poultry houses result in hatching rate variability, chick welfare issues, contamination risks, and high egg damage due to manual handling and complex systems, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a transfer machine that removes eggs from setter trays and positions them on a thick layer of insulating covering material, such as litter, in the poultry house, avoiding direct contact with potentially contaminated surfaces and reducing the risk of damage through a controlled and efficient transfer process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-incubated eggs are allowed to hatch in setter trays, then chicks immediately have feed and water available, but the setter trays become contaminated with manure and germs reducing hatching rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (setter tray) from the hatching process. Instead of allowing eggs to hatch in the setter tray, the method transfers pre-hatched chicks to a clean litter area, thereby removing the source of contamination while maintaining the benefit of immediate feed and water access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the hatching action in advance in a controlled hatchery environment where temperature and humidity can be precisely managed. This preliminary hatching ensures high survival rates before transfer, eliminating the need for chicks to navigate complex tray structures while newly hatched.
2Device complexity
If manual handling is used to transfer eggs, then equipment costs are reduced, but egg damage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (automatic egg transfer machine with suction cups) that mediates between the setter tray and the litter area. This intermediary handles eggs with precision and care, eliminating manual handling damage while avoiding the complexity of fully automated incubation systems.
3Reliability
If complex temperature control systems are implemented, then hatching consistency improves, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature control function into two separate locations: a controlled hatchery environment for incubation, and a simple litter area for post-hatching. This segmentation allows precise temperature control where needed (during incubation) while avoiding complex systems in the post-hatching area.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If setter trays are designed with high openness for air flow, then egg ventilation improves, but chick welfare deteriorates due to corners and edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts chicks from the potentially harmful setter tray environment after hatching. By transferring chicks to a smooth litter surface, the design can maintain high openness and air flow in the setter tray during incubation without exposing chicks to the harmful corners and edges.
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
This method ensures a consistent hatching rate, minimizes egg damage, and reduces the risk of contamination while maintaining efficient placement and high chick health outcomes, as eggs are transferred directly to a soft and insulating surface, eliminating the need for complex systems and manual handling.
Implementation Method 1
a thick layer of insulating covering material, such as litter, in the poultry house
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
In the method according to the invention, the eggs which are pre-incubated in setter trays (1) are transferred to the poultry house in these setter trays (1). In the poultry house, a layer of insulating covering material (3) is provided on the floor of the poultry house, in one or more strips. The covering material (3) comprises, in particular, litter which is applied in a layer thickness of at least 2 cm. By means of a set of egg pickup members (9) of a transfer machine (4), the pre-incubated eggs are removed in the poultry house from the setter trays (1), after which they are positioned on the covering material (3) by means of the transfer machine (4). In this way, the eggs can be placed in the poultry house efficiently, with a minimal risk of damage to the eggs a high hatching rate being ensured.