Egg Transfer Device with Simultaneous Placement Module

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current egg inspection and transfer systems in poultry farms are inefficient, leading to suboptimal filling of hatching trays, increased labor costs, and higher risks of egg damage due to manual handling and complex robot arm movements, resulting in lower hatching rates and higher operational costs.

Innovation Solution

A device utilizing two conveyor belts and an inspection unit with a transfer unit to remove rejected eggs, along with egg placement modules that can simultaneously retrieve and place eggs from prehatching drawers to hatching trays, optimizing the number of eggs per tray and minimizing egg movement and handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If manual placing of eggs is used to optimize hatching tray filling, then the filling level of hatching tray is improved, but labour costs and risk of egg damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling level of hatching trayVSAvoidlabour costs and egg damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated inspection transfer machine that uses optical inspection and automated transfer mechanisms. The machine inspects eggs and automatically transfers them to hatching trays, eliminating manual labor while maintaining optimal filling levels and reducing egg damage through controlled transfer mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection transfer machine performs self-inspection and self-transfer operations without human intervention. The system automatically identifies viable eggs through inspection and transfers them to appropriate hatching trays, making the process autonomous and eliminating the need for manual labor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If complex robot arm is used for egg transfer, then automation is improved, but device complexity and investment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of egg transferVSAvoidcomplexity of robot arm system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the egg transfer system into separate functional modules: an inspection unit that examines eggs and a transfer unit that moves them. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring a complex universal robot arm, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection transfer machine is designed as a multi-functional device that can handle multiple tasks: inspecting eggs, identifying viable ones, and transferring them to hatching trays. This universal design replaces the need for specialized complex robot arms with a single integrated system that performs all functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If robot arm performs many movements for low egg numbers, then individual egg placement is improved, but time consumption increases and capacity remains low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual egg placement precisionVSAvoidegg transfer capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection unit examines eggs before the transfer unit moves them, identifying which eggs need to be transferred and to where. This preliminary action allows the transfer mechanism to move multiple eggs simultaneously or in efficient sequences rather than performing numerous individual movements, improving both precision and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection and transfer operations are performed in continuous sequence without interruption. The machine inspects eggs as they pass through and immediately transfers viable ones to hatching trays, maintaining continuous operational flow and maximizing transfer capacity while ensuring precise placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Adaptability or versatility

If eggs stay outside incubators for long periods, then transfer flexibility is improved, but hatching percentage decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer flexibilityVSAvoidhatching percentage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection transfer machine rapidly moves eggs through the inspection and transfer process, minimizing the time eggs spend outside the incubator. The system is designed to complete inspection and transfer in the shortest possible time, rushing through the necessary operations to maintain egg viability and hatching rates while still providing the flexibility needed for quality control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP2377393B1Device for inspecting and transferring eggs and a method applied to this end

Publication Date: 2013.04.10 INNOVATEC

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AI summary

Device (1) for inspecting and transferring eggs from a prehatching drawer (4) to a hatching tray (5), in which the device (1) contains two conveyor belts (2-3) that can respectively convey prehatching drawers (4) with prehatched eggs and empty hatching trays (5), whereby the device (1) contains an inspection unit (7) that has means to enable the prehatched eggs to be inspected, whereby the inspection unit (7) contains a transfer unit (8) to remove the rejected eggs from the prehatching drawer (4), whereby the device (1) contains at least one egg placement module (10-11) that can take all eggs out of a prehatching drawer (4) simultaneously and can separately place one or more of the eggs taken out.