GB1337931A - Installation for automatic placement of eggs into cellular trays - Google Patents

Abstract

1337931 Egg packaging machines VSESOJUZNY NAUCHNO-ISSLEDOVATELSKY INSTITUT ELEKTRIFIKATSII SELSKOGO KHOZYAISTVA 12 May 1972 22315/72 Heading B8C An installation for automatically placing eggs into cellular trays 4 comprises an egg director 1 giving each egg the same orientation on an egg accumulating conveyer 2 in cells 21 from which the eggs are placed in the cells of a tray by mechanism 3, a conveyer 5 to transfer trays from a magazine 6 beneath conveyer 2 to a device 7 which stacks the filled trays from below with 90 degree rotation of alternate trays, and deposits stacks of a predetermined height on to conveyer 10. Large eggs do not pass through cells 21 and accumulate in receptacle 101. The mechanisms are all driven in synchronism by electric motor 8 through chains 50, 79, 80 from a bevel wheel 87. An egg dropping from director 1 into a cell 21 is sensed by devices 9 which advance conveyer 2 by the spacing of two cells. When a row of five eggs have accumulated, a plate 31 comprising the floor of cells 21 is rotated to drop the eggs into a row of cells in a tray, the tray then being advanced by a cell width. A timing disc 27, rotates on a shaft 32 of conveyer 2 until follower 29 enters notch 33 to swivel plate 31 and rotate tray advancing paddles 38 on shaft 37 through a ratchet 39. Lugs 34 on disc 27 actuate sensor 35 to halt conveyer 2 after each incremental movement. Stacking device 7 receives the filled trays on a platform 59 which is vertically reciprocable on push-rod 60 of crank gear 58. Pin 67 of push-rod 60 moves in cam slots 66 or 65 of a cylinder 61, as directed by rocker devices 63, 64, whereby the rod and platform 59 alternately rotate through 90 degrees. The filled trays are pushed upwards past swing catches on frame 51 which support the stack of trays until sensor 52 is tripped by the top tray to electromagnetically release the catches. The stack then drops on to conveyer 10. Empty trays 4 are supplied from the. base of magazine 6 by opposed cylinders 44 whose spiral threads 45 engage the tray flanges, to feed a tray on to a conveyer 5. Sensors 77, 94, 95, 97, 98 and 99 react to the passage of the trays to prevent malfunctioning.