Vertical Egg Washer Carousel Conveyor Reduces Processing Line Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional egg washers and dryers require extensive horizontal and floor space due to their design, leading to inefficient use of space in egg processing facilities, as they need to accommodate continuous conveyance and washing/drying cycles that exceed available facility dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A vertical egg washer or dryer system utilizing a carousel conveyor with integrated spray bars or air knives, which allows for efficient use of vertical space by conveying eggs in an ascending and descending fashion, reducing the horizontal length of the processing line while maintaining effective washing and drying capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional horizontal conveying washers and dryers are used, then eggs can be continuously washed and dried, but the horizontal length and floor space required become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the conventional horizontal conveying arrangement into a vertical carousel configuration. Eggs are conveyed upward on one side of the vertical circle and downward on the other side, allowing continuous processing within a compact vertical footprint. This dimensional change from horizontal to vertical space utilization directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining continuous operation capability while dramatically reducing horizontal length requirements.
2Reliability
If the washing and drying cycles are extended to ensure quality, then better egg processing is achieved, but the required horizontal length increases
Solution Approach 1:
By converting the processing path from horizontal to vertical, the system can accommodate extended washing and drying cycles without increasing horizontal footprint. The vertical carousel allows eggs to remain in the processing chamber for extended periods while circulating through the vertical loop, maintaining quality standards while preserving compact horizontal dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous circulation of eggs through the vertical carousel ensures that washing and drying actions are continuously applied throughout the extended cycle. Eggs are constantly exposed to spray bars and air knives during their vertical circulation, maintaining high-quality processing even over extended time periods without requiring additional horizontal space.
3Area of stationary object
If spray bars and air knives are integrated into the vertical carousel body, then space is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates spray bars and air knives directly into the vertical carousel body structure, merging the washing and drying functions with the conveying mechanism. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate external washing and drying chambers, optimizing space utilization while the integrated design actually simplifies the overall system architecture by reducing the number of discrete components and their interconnections.
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 vertical system effectively reduces the overall length of the egg processing line, optimizing space usage within facilities by leveraging vertical space, ensuring efficient egg handling and processing without compromising the washing or drying quality.
Implementation Method 1
A least one of a plurality of egg washer spray bars are integrated into the body in communication with the carousel conveyor for washing/drying the eggs while supported upon the carousel conveyor
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of egg dryer air knives, are integrated into the body in communication with the carousel conveyor for washing/drying the eggs
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical washer or dryer, such as integrated into an egg handling operation. The vertical washer or dryer includes a vertically extending body supporting a carousel conveyor adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within the body between an inlet location and an outlet location of the body. A first egg conveyor communicates the eggs with the inlet location of the carousel conveyor, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with the outlet location. A least one of a plurality of egg washer spray bars or, in the separate variant, a plurality of egg dryer air knives, are integrated into the body in communication with the carousel conveyor for washing/drying the eggs while supported upon the carousel conveyor.