Abstract:
A support mechanism for preventing outward deflection of a cracker shaft (18) in an egg breaker assembly, about which are supported in orbiting fashion a plurality of circumferentially spaced rows of egg breakers. A disk shaped portion (16) is mounted in slaved rotatable fashion about an intermediate location of the cracker shaft (18) and exhibits a plurality of exteriorly facing and circumferentially offset inwardly recessed scalloped surfaces (20, 22, 24). An outer fixed and guiding cam (28) is secured to an aligning intermediate location of the breaker and exhibits an inner arcuate extending and guiding/support surface (30) in outwardly spaced and aligning fashion relative to the scalloped locations of the rotating disk (16). A perimeter support is disposed upon an aligning location of each cracker shaft (18) and which is captured between selected scalloped locations (20, 22, 24) and the inner guide supporting surface (30) corresponding to at least one of egg receipt, breaking and depositing of yolk and albumen contents to synchronized delivery cups and albumen trays associated with the breakers.
Abstract:
An egg transfer system for providing automated inspection and tracking of eggs prior to entering an egg breaker, as well as broken egg contents following breaking, and in which the transfer system includes a series of processing and inspection component interfacing with a central processor for grading and segregating the eggs into one of a number of classes including removal eggs. Removal gates are provided at intermediate locations of the egg transfer system, prior to the egg breakers, and are associated with removal of varying classes of eggs. The central processor interfaces with the various stations in order to assemble a dedicated data packet of egg related data which is assigned to a progressing location on the egg conveyor upon which a specified egg is located, and which can further include the central processor assigning the data packet to a location subsequent to the breakers holding specified shell egg contents. At least one, and typically two, manual removal locations are additionally provided, such as associated with the intermediate egg detection and removal station as well as the post-breaker station.
Abstract:
A system for sorting and packaging products, chosen from the group consisting of eggs and fruit (10), the system comprising: - a sorting machine with at least one single sorting track (1) with carriers; - at least one sensor for determining at least one characteristic of each product (10); - the control being adapted to classify a said product in accordance with the at least one characteristic; - a plurality of packaging conveyors (2) for supplying and discharging packaging units, such as boxes, crates or trays, crossing the sorting track and extending above the sorting track; - wherein adjacent each packaging conveyor a transferring device (3) is provided at the level of or higher than the packaging conveyor, arranged for taking over a said product from a carrier and for placing the product from above into a packaging unit (20) on the corresponding packaging conveyor.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an apparatus for turning eggs, comprising in succession, • a feeding device (13) for feeding eggs substantially over a horizontal surface in a conveying direction T to a turning track (1), whereby at least one row of successive eggs is formed, • a turning track (1), situated in line with the row, for rotating the eggs, in succession, to a direction with their pointed ends each pointing in upstream direction, and thereupon with their pointed end rotating and ending up substantially vertically, wherein all rotation is effected by rolling movements, and • a discharge track (30,31), situated in line with the row, for discharging the eggs from the turning track to a processing unit. With great advantage, the eggs, while being processed continuously and at high speed, are rotated in a proper direction to be packaged immediately after. The invention further provides a method for turning eggs.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting products such as fruits, the apparatus comprising : an endless conveyor, for instance a chain; conveying units for conveying the products, all one behind the other in a conveying direction and situated in a substantially horizontal plane, each connected with the conveyor, and each for conveying a single product, wherein each conveying unit is formed by : at least two rolling elements with the axes perpendicular to the conveying direction, for instance diabolo-like rolling elements; a connecting element by which each rolling element is rotatably and vertically movably connected with the conveyor; and a carrier element arranged between the rolling elements, while at least in an inspection position each product is situated on two successive rolling elements, and in a weighing position each product is situated on the carrier element, and each carrier element is connected with moving means for moving the carrier element to and from the weighing position for laterally discharging the product onto an output apparatus, wherein the discharge guide means assume the discharge position when they are energized by energizing means, while discharge positions for lateral discharge on both sides of the conveyor can be assumed. More particularly, the discharge guide means comprise a leaf spring, which leaf spring assumes a rest position in the case of conveyance and weighing, and has a deflection only upon movement to and from the discharge position. Compact and widely deployable sorting machines are thus enabled in an advantageous manner.
Abstract:
A sorting apparatus for sorting in particular delicate products such as fruit, the sorting apparatus comprising: at least one endless feed conveyor (10) and at least one endless sorting conveyor (20), the sorting conveyor being provided with carriers (21), for instance hand-shaped carriers and/or cups for each product separately, to carry the products, and the feed conveyor being configured to feed the products, and to transfer the products to the sorting conveyor, in particular such that the products can roll off the feed conveyor and can be received by the carriers, whereby the feed conveyor and sorting conveyor are configured such that the products upon transfer between the conveyors undergo only a substantially gradual change in velocity, and, preferably, makes a falling movement from the feed conveyor to a carrier of the sorting conveyor.
Abstract:
A method and sorting system for packaging products, wherein the products have been sorted in advance, in particular wherein the sorting is based on detecting and classifying at least one single characteristic, such as for instance weighing, wherein the method and the apparatus further provide that at least one single derived characteristic of the said at least one single characteristic is reproduced on the package, for instance with a printer. In a suitable manner, in packaging, a characteristic is reproduced on the package in real time which is applicable and usable for buyers or customers, or also for further operations.