EGG LIFTING DEVICE, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150225208A1
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ZOETIS LLC (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Inventors: Suh, William Dongwook
• Granted Patent: US 9,522,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 43/00 Testing, sorting or cleaning eggs investigating or analysing eggs, e.g. by candling G01N33/08; Conveying devices for batteries A01K31/165; Pick-up devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 29/06 Grasping devices for eggs; Supporting devices for eggs during boiling
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/00 Loading or unloading of vehicles B65G67/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/02 Loading or unloading machines comprising essentially a conveyor for moving the loads associated with a device for picking-up the loads
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/44 and applying frictional forces

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 are 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.

Claims

1. An egg lifting device, comprising:

a body; and

a securing arrangement extending from the body, the securing arrangement being configured to engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the securing arrangement for lifting thereof.

2. An egg lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the securing arrangement comprises a plurality of resilient members cooperating to form an open-ended arrangement through which the egg is capable of being received.

3. An egg lifting device according to claim 2, wherein the resilient members are formed of a pliant wire structure.

4. An egg lifting device according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator operably engaged with the body, the actuator being configured to linearly move the body and the securing arrangement extending therefrom.

5. An egg lifting device according to claim 1, further comprising a release device configured to release the egg from the securing arrangement.

6. An egg lifting device according to claim 5, wherein the release device has a biasing member and a release actuator.

7. An egg lifting device according to claim 6, wherein the release actuator is configured to be pneumatically operated.

8. An egg processing system, comprising:

a frame;

a head operably engaged with the frame and configured to ascend and descend; and

a plurality of egg lifting devices operably engaged with the head, each egg lifting device having a securing arrangement configured to engage and deflect about an egg such that an egg is seated within the respective lifting device for lifting thereof.

9. An egg processing system according to claim 8, wherein each egg lifting device comprises a body having the securing arrangement extending therefrom.

10. An egg processing system according to claim 8, wherein the securing arrangement comprises a plurality of resilient members cooperating to form an open-ended arrangement through which the egg is capable of being received.

11. An egg processing system according to claim 10, wherein the resilient members are formed of a pliant wire structure.

12. An egg processing system according to claim 8, wherein each egg lifting device is operably engaged with a respective actuator extending from the head, each actuator being operably engaged with the body and being configured to linearly move the securing arrangement such that the egg lifting devices are capable of ascending and descending.

13. An egg processing system according to claim 8, wherein each egg lifting device further comprises a release device configured to release the egg from the securing arrangement.

14. An egg processing system according to claim 13, wherein each release device has a biasing member and a release actuator.

15. An egg processing system according to claim 14, wherein the release actuator is configured to be pneumatically operated.

16. An egg processing system according to claim 8, further comprising an egg support assembly configured to raise each egg contained in an egg flat such that the egg lifting devices are capable of deflecting about the egg for securement thereto.

17. A method of removing eggs from an egg flat, the method comprising:

descending an egg lifting device to interact with an egg;

contacting a securing arrangement of the egg lifting device with the egg;

seating the egg within the securing arrangement by deflecting the securing arrangement about the egg; and

ascending the lifting device so as to lift the egg from an egg flat.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of releasing the egg from the securing arrangement by actuating a release device.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of raising the egg from the egg flat such that the securing arrangement is capable of seating the egg.