Swivable Egg Transfer Nests for High-Speed Clean Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing egg transfer systems are bulky, prone to contamination, and unable to achieve high operating speeds without risking egg damage, and they lack the necessary compactness and resistance to dirt for reliable operation.
Innovation Solution
The system employs two elongated parallel carrier elements with swivably connected nest sections that expand and contract to receive eggs, allowing for high throughput while minimizing egg damage and contamination risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional egg transfer systems use bulky structures with multiple mechanical components, then they provide durable and reliable operation, but they increase the risk of contamination and cannot achieve high operating speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer assembly is divided into multiple independent transfer units, each handling individual eggs. Each unit contains nest defining elements that can independently move to receive and discharge eggs, allowing parallel processing and high operating speeds while maintaining simple, easy-to-clean individual components
Solution Approach 2:
The nest defining elements are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically open and close to receive and discharge eggs. This dynamic mechanism enables high-speed operation while maintaining a compact structure that minimizes contamination risk through simplified surfaces
2Reliability
If traditional egg transfer systems use complex mechanical structures, then they provide reliable operation, but they become bulky and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into simple, identical transfer units with minimal components. Each unit has only the essential nest defining elements and drive mechanism, eliminating complex auxiliary structures while maintaining reliability through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The nest defining elements change their position parameter dynamically - moving between closed (receiving) and open (discharging) states. This simple positional change enables the transfer function without requiring complex mechanical structures
3Productivity
If traditional egg transfer systems operate at high speeds, then they achieve high throughput, but they increase the risk of egg damage
Solution Approach 1:
The nest defining elements are designed to gently cradle the egg during transfer, providing protective containment before discharge. This cushioning effect protects the egg from damage even during high-speed operation
Solution Approach 2:
The nest defining elements dynamically adjust their position to match the egg's motion - closing to receive the egg, holding it securely during transfer, and opening for gentle discharge. This dynamic adaptation enables high-speed operation without egg damage
Data Source
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AI summary
Egg transfer assembly, including two elongated parallel carrier elements, the two carrier elements having arrays of nest sections, pairs of opposite nest sections defining egg receiving nests therebetween, wherein each nest section is swivably connected to the respective carrier element, in particular for providing an array of swivable egg receiving nests and preferably for providing an array of at least locally expandable egg receiving nests. Also, the invention provides an egg transfer system, for example part of an egg sorting system and/or egg packaging system, including a row of the egg transfer assemblies. Further, the invention provides an egg processing system, including at least one egg supply conveyor for supplying eggs along a transport direction S, as well as at least one of the egg transfer systems for receiving eggs from the egg supply conveyor.