Laying Nest Expulsion Plate Curved Gear Rack Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current expulsion systems for laying nests, such as the gear rack and torsion systems, face issues like high operational costs due to the need for heavy-duty drives and the possibility of chickens being left behind or not being effectively removed, especially with the gear rack system requiring heavy components and the torsion system allowing chickens to potentially remain in the box.
Innovation Solution
A laying nest with an expulsion system featuring a shaft with a gear wheel, a pivotably and slidably connected expulsion plate, and a gear rack that moves along a curved path to ensure the expulsion plate closely follows the box bottom, preventing chickens from being left behind and reducing the need for heavy components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gear rack system is used to expel hens from laying nests, then the expulsion function is achieved, but heavy-duty drives and heavy components are required, increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the expulsion plate vertically upward as in traditional gear rack systems, this invention inverts the approach by moving the expulsion plate horizontally along a curved path. The gear rack is positioned horizontally and the gear wheel rotates to move the expulsion plate along this curved trajectory, effectively reversing the conventional vertical motion approach to achieve expulsion with lighter components.
Solution Approach 2:
The expulsion plate moves along a curved path rather than a straight vertical line. This curved trajectory allows the lower edge of the expulsion plate to closely follow the bottom contour of the laying nest, ensuring complete expulsion of hens while using a more efficient, lighter gear mechanism instead of heavy-duty vertical lifting components.
2Reliability
If a torsion system is used to expel hens, then the expulsion function is achieved, but the lower edge of the expulsion plate is at a large distance from the bottom of the box, allowing chickens to pass under and remain behind
Solution Approach 1:
The curved path of the expulsion plate allows its lower edge to closely track the bottom contour of the laying nest throughout the expulsion motion. This curved trajectory eliminates the large gap present in torsion systems, ensuring that chickens cannot pass under the plate and remain behind, while maintaining reliable expulsion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The expulsion plate is moved dynamically along a curved path rather than rotating in place. This dynamic motion along a predetermined curved trajectory ensures that the lower edge of the plate maintains close proximity to the box bottom throughout the expulsion process, achieving both reliable expulsion and precise positioning.
3Reliability
If a gear rack system lifts the full weight of hens and bottoms, then expulsion is achieved, but heavy-duty drives are required, increasing operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional vertical lifting approach by using horizontal curved motion. This allows the gear mechanism to push hens along a curved path rather than lifting their full weight vertically, significantly reducing the force and energy requirements while maintaining effective expulsion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic curved motion of the expulsion plate allows for more efficient force application. Instead of overcoming full gravitational weight in a vertical lift, the system uses a curved trajectory that leverages gravity and requires less force, reducing operational energy costs while achieving reliable expulsion.
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 solution allows for accurate and efficient removal of chickens from the laying nests, reducing operational costs and ensuring that all chickens are expelled, including dead ones, by allowing precise control over the expulsion plate's movement along the gear rack's curved path.
Implementation Method 1
a shaft 26 which is provided with at least one gear wheel 28 which is fixedly connected with the shaft 26; a gear rack 34 which is fixedly arranged in the box 12 and which is configured for cooperation with the gear wheel 28
Implementation Method 2
The gear racks are connected by one end to the bottom 4 of the box of the laying nest 6. The bottom is pivotably arranged and can be pushed by the gear rack from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position upon rotation of the drive shaft.
Data Source
AI summary
A laying nest comprising boxes (12) having at least a bottom (24), sidewalls (18), a back wall (22), and a roof (20). Further, the laying nest comprises an expulsion system which comprises a shaft (26) which is provided with at least one gear wheel which is fixedly connected with the shaft. An expulsion plate of the expulsion system is rotatably connected with the shaft and via a support shaft is pivotably and slidably connected with the box. The expulsion system further comprises a gear rack (34) which is fixedly arranged in the box and which is configured for cooperation with the gear wheel, such that upon rotation of the shaft, this shaft moves along the gear rack, thereby carrying along the expulsion plate.