Egg Transfer Machine Using Suction Cups for Poultry Litter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for hatching eggs in poultry houses face challenges such as uneven hatching times, risk of infection due to complex and open setter trays, high labor costs, and egg damage during transfer, leading to reduced hatching rates and bird welfare issues.
Innovation Solution
A transfer machine with a movable frame and actuators for controlled egg pickup and placement, using suction cups to minimize egg handling risks, and adjustable egg spacing for temperature control, allowing for efficient and safe transfer of thousands of eggs per hour directly onto an insulating litter layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If set eggs are allowed to hatch in setter trays and then transported to broiler house, then chick transport and preparation time is reduced, but chicks are packed closely together which adversely affects bird welfare and increases disease susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful element (day-old chicks) from the system by allowing eggs to hatch in a controlled environment (hatchery) before transport. This separates the hatching process from the broiler house, eliminating the welfare issues of packed chicks while maintaining time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary hatching action in the hatchery before transport to the broiler house. By hatching eggs in advance in a controlled setting, the system prepares chicks for transport in a safer condition, reducing disease susceptibility while maintaining operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If set eggs are transported to broiler house in X-Treck or Patio systems, then chicks can hatch in the broiler house avoiding transport, but the systems are expensive and complex with high maintenance and cleaning costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses disposable paper sheets instead of complex, expensive, and difficult-to-clean transport systems like X-Treck or Patio. The paper sheet is a simple, low-cost, single-use solution that eliminates the need for complex machinery while achieving the same welfare benefit of hatching in the broiler house.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical transport systems (X-Treck/Patio) with a simple paper sheet-based system. This substitution eliminates the need for sophisticated machinery, reducing complexity, maintenance costs, and cleaning requirements while maintaining chick welfare benefits.
3Temperature
If setter trays are designed with high degree of openness for temperature control, then egg temperature can be controlled during setting, but the trays are difficult to clean and have many corners where infections can hide
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex, difficult-to-clean setter trays with disposable paper sheets. The paper sheet provides a simple, clean surface that eliminates the cleaning problems associated with complex tray designs while still allowing temperature control during the setting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The paper sheet can be designed with different colors or markings to indicate temperature zones or handling instructions, providing temperature control information without requiring complex physical structures that would be difficult to clean.
4Productivity
If manual transfer of eggs from setter trays to broiler house floor is performed, then labor costs are high and egg damage risk increases, but automated systems are expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a paper sheet as an intermediary carrier between the setter tray and the broiler house floor. The paper sheet holds multiple eggs simultaneously and transfers them in one operation, eliminating manual handling of individual eggs while using a simple, low-cost mechanism rather than expensive automated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple eggs onto a single paper sheet for simultaneous transfer. This merging approach allows efficient bulk transfer without the need for complex automated individual egg handling systems, maintaining egg integrity while improving productivity.
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
Increases hatching rates and reduces egg damage, eliminates risk of infection by avoiding direct contact with contaminated surfaces, and enhances bird welfare by providing a clean and safe environment, while maintaining high capacity without additional labor or equipment costs.
Implementation Method 1
using suction cups to minimize egg handling risks
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer machine, the setter trays being placed with set eggs on a carrying mechanism. The carrying mechanism positions the setter trays under a transfer mechanism that includes a series of egg pick-ups. By moving the transfer mechanism down towards the eggs, the egg pick-ups can pick up the eggs and lift them out of the setter trays.