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Egg collector

  • US 4,159,696 A
  • Filed: 01/09/1978
  • Issued: 07/03/1979
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1978
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In an automated egg production system, including at least one row of cages adapted to confine egg-laying hens, an endless elongated cage conveyor belt disposed relative to the cages to receive eggs laid by the hens and to convey the eggs toward one end of the cage row, and collector means at said end of the cage row for transferring the eggs from the cage conveyor belt to another conveyor, the improvement wherein said collector means comprises:

  • a frame at said one end of the cage row;

    means on said frame for guiding and moving said cage conveyor belt in a substantially horizontal path through a lateral offloading station in said frame;

    wiper means adapted to engage eggs on said moving conveyor belt and displace said eggs laterally from the conveyor belt;

    an egg transfer ramp assembly mounted closely adjacent said cage conveyor belt at said offloading station for receiving eggs displaced laterally therefrom by said wiper means, said ramp assembly including a plurality of elongated spaced parallel tines having downwardly sloping end portions;

    an endless intermediate belt conveyor having a plurality of egg receiving cups secured in spaced relation longitudinally therealong;

    means mounting said intermediate conveyor for movement through a horizontal path laterally subjacent said cage conveyor belt and underneath said transfer ramp and thence downwardly to a lower egg discharge station;

    each of said egg cups of the intermediate conveyor comprising a plurality of outwardly projecting fingers disposed in an arcuate concave arrangement facing opposite the direction of travel of said intermediate conveyor;

    said cup fingers and said tines of the transfer ramp being relatively spaced and disposed for interdigitating movement of the said cup fingers between and relative to said tines, whereby the eggs received on the transfer ramp are deposited individually and successively in the cups of said intermediate conveyor;

    and means at said lower discharge station of the intermediate conveyor operable to change the direction of movement of said intermediate belt conveyor to cause the egg cups successively to be tilted downwardly at an angle sufficient to discharge the eggs therefrom.

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