Egg lifting device, and associated systems and methods
First Claim
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1. An egg lifting device, comprising:
- a body; and
a securing arrangement extending from the body, the securing arrangement being formed of a plurality of resilient deflective members which deflect about an egg and along the contours thereof as the securing arrangement descends onto the egg such that the egg is seated, without additional mechanical actuation of the resilient deflective members, within the securing arrangement, the securing arrangement being configured to vertically align eggs oriented off-axis due to the forces exerted on the egg by the securing arrangement when engaging the egg.
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Abstract
An egg lifting device is provided. Such a device includes a body and a securing arrangement extending from the body. The securing arrangement is configured to engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the securing arrangement for lifting thereof. A plurality of egg lifting devices is arranged on an egg removal system such that multiple eggs are capable of being removed from an egg flat. Associated systems and methods are also provided.
58 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An egg lifting device, comprising:
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a body; and a securing arrangement extending from the body, the securing arrangement being formed of a plurality of resilient deflective members which deflect about an egg and along the contours thereof as the securing arrangement descends onto the egg such that the egg is seated, without additional mechanical actuation of the resilient deflective members, within the securing arrangement, the securing arrangement being configured to vertically align eggs oriented off-axis due to the forces exerted on the egg by the securing arrangement when engaging the egg. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An egg removal system, comprising:
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a frame; a head operably engaged with the frame and configured to ascend and descend for interacting with a plurality of eggs; and a plurality of egg lifting devices operably engaged with the head, each egg lifting device having a securing arrangement formed of a plurality of resilient deflective members which deflect about an egg and along the contours thereof as the securing arrangement descends onto the egg such that the egg is seated, without additional mechanical actuation of the resilient deflective members, within the respective lifting device for grasping thereof, the securing arrangement being configured to vertically align eggs oriented off-axis due to the forces exerted on the egg by the securing arrangement when engaging the egg. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of grasping eggs, the method comprising:
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engaging an egg lifting device to interact with an egg by contacting a securing arrangement of the egg lifting device with the egg, the securing arrangement having a plurality of resilient deflective members; and seating the egg, without additional mechanical actuation of the resilient members, within the securing arrangement by deflecting the securing arrangement about the egg along the contours thereof as the securing arrangement engages the egg, the securing arrangement being configured to vertically align eggs oriented off-axis due to the forces exerted on the egg by the securing arrangement when engaging the egg.
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Specification