Egg Transfer Assembly with Swiveling Nests for High-Speed 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 compactness and reliability.
Innovation Solution
An egg transfer assembly with swivably connected nest sections on rotatable carrier elements that expand and contract to accommodate eggs, using gravity and spring means for controlled deceleration, reducing egg collision risks at high throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixed nest sections are used in existing transfer systems, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the system cannot achieve high operating speeds without risking egg damage
Solution Approach 1:
The nest sections are made swivable relative to the carrier elements, allowing them to dynamically adjust their orientation. During egg reception, nest sections swing to receive eggs gently; during transfer, they swing back to maintain optimal receiving posture. This dynamic adjustment enables high operating speeds while preventing egg damage through controlled movement rather than rigid fixed structures.
2Productivity
If complex transfer mechanisms are used to achieve high throughput, then productivity increases, but the system becomes bulky and prone to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer assembly is divided into multiple independent nest sections, each capable of swiving independently relative to the carrier elements. This segmentation allows for compact, modular construction that maintains high throughput capability while reducing overall system bulk and eliminating complex interconnected mechanisms that would increase contamination risk.
3Reliability
If nest sections are made swivable to reduce egg collision, then egg damage decreases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nest sections utilize the kinetic energy of the incoming eggs and gravity to automatically swing into the receiving position. The swiving motion is driven by the egg's own momentum and gravitational force rather than requiring external actuators or complex control systems. This self-service mechanism reduces device complexity while maintaining egg damage reduction benefits.
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
The system achieves higher throughput with reduced egg damage and enhanced resistance to contamination, maintaining reliability and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
using gravity and spring means for controlled deceleration
Implementation Method 2
using gravity and spring means for controlled deceleration
Data Source
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.