Egg Tray Advancement System for In Ovo Injection Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual operation of in ovo injection apparatuses without automated conveyor systems leads to alignment errors and safety hazards due to the need for manual positioning of egg flats, resulting in inconsistent injections and increased risk of operator injury.
Innovation Solution
An advancement system comprising a guide assembly and manual advancement device that ensures proper alignment and positioning of egg carriers beneath the injection head, using a stop to prevent over advancement and reduce operator exposure to injection devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual positioning of egg flats is used without automated conveyor systems, then device complexity is reduced, but alignment precision deteriorates leading to injection errors
Solution Approach 1:
A guide assembly is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the egg flat positioning. The guide assembly includes guide rails and guide blocks that constrain and direct the egg flat into proper alignment with the injection devices, eliminating the need for automated conveyors while ensuring precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The advancement device enables the operator to manually advance the egg flat through the guide assembly in a controlled manner. The system provides self-aligning features through the guide structure, allowing the operator to easily position egg flats without requiring complex automated positioning systems.
2Device complexity
If manual positioning of egg flats is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but operator safety deteriorates due to exposure to injection devices
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly acts as a protective intermediary structure that separates the operator from the injection devices. The guide rails and guide blocks create a constrained pathway that allows egg flats to be positioned without requiring the operator to place body parts near the injection devices, thereby reducing safety hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The dangerous function of manually positioning egg flats directly beneath the injection devices is extracted and replaced with a guided advancement mechanism. The operator interacts with the system through the guide assembly structure rather than directly positioning egg flats in the hazardous injection zone.
3Ease of operation
If manual positioning is used, then ease of operation is improved for simple setups, but reliability deteriorates due to operator errors such as misalignment and multiple injections
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly serves as a reliable intermediary mechanism that ensures consistent and accurate positioning of egg flats. The guide rails and guide blocks provide physical constraints that prevent misalignment and ensure each egg flat is positioned correctly for injection, eliminating operator errors while maintaining manual operation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide assembly performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions before the injection process begins. By pre-constraining the egg flat path and position through the guide structure, the system ensures reliable injection consistency without requiring complex automated control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An advancement system for an in ovo injection apparatus is provided. Such an advancement system is configured to advance an egg carrier carrying a plurality of avian eggs to an injection assembly. The advancement system includes a guide assembly configured to receive the egg carrier and provide support thereto during advancement of the egg carrier. A manual advancement device slidingly engages the guide assembly such that the manual advancement device is movable along the guide assembly. The manual advancement device is capable of interacting with a trailing end of the egg carrier to advance the egg carrier to an injection position. At least one stop is positioned to interact with the manual advancement device during advancement of the egg carrier so as to prevent progression of the manual advancement device beneath the injection assembly, thereby locating the egg carrier at the injection position. An associated method is also provided.