GB416069A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for cleaning eggs - Google Patents

Abstract

416,069. Cleaning eggs. COPE & COPE, Ltd., and COPE, W. J., 100, King's Road, Reading. March 8, 1933, No. 7024. [Class 28 (ii).] In an egg-cleaning apparatus, the eggs are supported between parallel roller brushes having helically arranged bristles, and the bristles are extended locally in tufts to contact with and clean the ends of the eggs. In the construction described, three brushes are arranged in triangular relationship, the apex being lowermost, and are driven by a chain passing over sprockets 14 on the ends of the roller shafts and over a driving sprocket 17. The extended bristles 35 may be provided on one or more brushes and preferably extend around the whole circumference of the brush. The tufts are preferably arranged on two of the brushes and the tufts on one brush are preferably staggered in relation to the tufts on the other brush, the spaces between the tufts being somewhat less than the length of an egg so that both ends of the egg are brushed at once. The mid-points of the brushes are supported by a bearing plate 18 having a central cut-away portion for the passage of the eggs, and shoulders on which the brushes rest, the two upper brushes being retained on the shoulders by pins depending from a saddle piece 24. The saddle piece 24 is reinforced by a horizontal stay 25 secured to the rear end of the trough 10 by a bolt 26, the stay 25 also serving to prevent the eggs from being squeezed upwards from between the brushes. The eggs are introduced between the brushes through a slitted rubber diaphragm 29, and are discharged over a shoot 31. The lower brush dips into the cleaning liquid 30 which may be drawn off when desired by a cock 33. The brushes may be geared together and driven by an electric motor.