Egg Washing Apparatus Segmented Fluid Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing egg washing apparatuses face inefficiencies in water usage and unpredictable washing results due to the reuse of washing liquid, leading to high water consumption and variable pollution levels, especially in high-capacity egg sorting machines.
Innovation Solution
An egg washing apparatus featuring an endless roller conveyor with multiple sprayer units and collectors, where each sprayer unit is supplied with fresh washing fluid from the downstream collector, ensuring a controlled flow and reducing pollution variability by progressively reusing cleaner fluid upstream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a single large collecting reservoir is used to reuse washing liquid, then water consumption is reduced, but the washing result becomes unpredictable and variable due to pollution accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The single large collecting reservoir is divided into multiple separate collecting reservoirs, each associated with a specific sprayer unit. This segmentation prevents pollution accumulation in a shared reservoir and ensures each sprayer receives consistently clean washing liquid, maintaining reliable washing results while still enabling water reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
Individual pumps are introduced as intermediaries to transport washing liquid from each dedicated collecting reservoir to its corresponding sprayer unit. This ensures controlled and consistent delivery of clean washing liquid to each sprayer, preventing the variability that occurs when multiple sprayers share a common reservoir.
2Loss of substance
If washing liquid is reused in succession through multiple sprayer units, then water consumption is reduced, but the degree of pollution varies greatly leading to unpredictable washing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The washing system is segmented into multiple independent washing stations, each with its own sprayer unit and dedicated collecting reservoir. This ensures that each washing station operates with consistently clean water, eliminating the quality variability that occurs when washing liquid is sequentially reused across multiple stations.
Solution Approach 2:
Each washing station receives fresh or consistently clean washing liquid through its dedicated pump and reservoir system, ensuring that the local washing quality at each position remains consistent and predictable, rather than deteriorating as liquid moves through the system.
3Reliability
If a single sprayer unit uses fresh washing liquid while others reuse it, then washing effectiveness is maintained for downstream eggs, but upstream eggs receive increasingly polluted liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the washing liquid supply so that each sprayer unit has its own dedicated collecting reservoir and pump. This ensures that every sprayer, regardless of position in the sequence, receives consistently clean washing liquid, preventing the progressive pollution that occurs in sequential reuse systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sprayer unit serves itself with clean washing liquid through its own dedicated pump and reservoir, rather than relying on a sequential flow from a shared source. This self-service approach ensures that pollution levels do not accumulate and that washing effectiveness is maintained at all positions.
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 setup achieves a well-defined and controllable washing fluid flow, ensuring cleaner fluid is consistently used for downstream eggs while progressively increasing reuse of washing fluid for upstream eggs, resulting in a more predictable and effective washing process with reduced water consumption.
Implementation Method 1
at least two sprayer units, arranged above the roller conveyor in succession viewed in the conveying direction, each provided with a fluid supply opening for, in use, supplying washing fluid to the respective sprayer unit
Implementation Method 2
under each sprayer unit a washing fluid collector corresponding therewith is arranged, wherein each washing fluid collector is provided with a discharge opening, wherein, apart from the washing fluid collector farthest upstream, the discharge opening of each fluid collector is in fluid communication with the fluid supply opening of a sprayer unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus for washing eggs, wherein the eggs are conveyed by an endless roller conveyor in conveying direction T, wherein the roller conveyor is transmissive to a washing fluid, wherein the roller conveyor passes said apparatus, and wherein, all eggs are sprayed, by a washing fluid sprayer, with a washing fluid with substantially the same composition for all passing eggs, wherein the washing fluid sprayer comprises at least two sprayer units arranged above the conveyor in conveying direction, wherein a well-defined flow of washing fluid is set against the conveying direction onto the eggs, namely via the said at least first unit, and then, after collection and supply of said washing fluid of the said well-defined flow, to the at least second unit onto eggs following in upstream direction. With such an apparatus, a well-settable and controllable fluid flow is obtained.