JPH0928302A - Egg shell breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for collecting liquid egg by exactly cutting eggs without contamination of egg shell pieces even when the eggs are small in sizes and tough in shell membrane such as a quail egg. SOLUTION: This egg shell breaker is provided with egg-receiving cases 2, 2,... which have a plurality of egg-receiving holes 5, 5,... bored vertically through, can receive and hold the eggs and are horizontally supported at both of their ends by the intermittently rotating endless band, the supporting plate 6 which is fixed over the passing way of these egg-receiving cases and has holes 7, 7,... bored in almost trapezoid form in its cross section so that a part of the top of eggs may poke through the holes and these holes oppose to the egg-receiving holes on the egg-receiving cases 2, the egg shell cutting blade 8 which is set on the supporting plate 6 and can freely reciprocate back and forth across the egg-thrusting hole and the egg booster 11 which boosts eggs in the egg-receiving holes so that their tops may poke through the thrusting holes.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an egg breaking device, and more particularly to an egg breaking device suitable for breaking eggs of small diameter eggs such as quail eggs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the egg breaking of chicken eggs, an automatic egg breaking machine for grasping the eggs and automatically breaking them and letting out yolk and egg white (hereinafter referred to as egg liquid) from the inside of the eggshell and collecting them. Has been introduced, and high-speed processing of 400 to 600 pieces per minute is possible.

However, in the case of eggs that are significantly smaller than chicken eggs such as quail eggs, a structure is adopted in which the egg liquid is drained from the inside of the eggshell as in the egg breaking machine for general chicken eggs. It is extremely difficult to do so, and there is no choice but to use a completely different method.

As an egg breaking method suitable for breaking eggs of such a small diameter, for example, as seen in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-132068, the upper end of a vertically supported egg is cut with a cutting blade, and after cutting, There is one in which the egg is turned over so that the egg liquid is allowed to flow out.

[0005]

However, in the device described in the above publication, the egg is held in the hollow cushioning material of the egg support case and exposed upward from the holding hole of the egg holding plate at the upper end of the egg. Since the structure that cuts the existing part with a cutting blade, if there are many variations in size like a quail egg, the holding state (fixing degree) of the exposed part by the holding hole will be different and in an unstable state However, there is a problem in that reliable cutting is not performed because the cutting state is uneven and the eggshell is destroyed, and the eggshell pieces are easily mixed.

[0006] Further, when the egg liquid is taken out after cutting the eggshell,
Since the structure is such that the cut surface of the eggshell is shielded and inverted, and after reversal, the shield is released and the egg liquid flows out, so the mechanism is remarkably complicated and the operating efficiency is naturally low, making it extremely suitable for mass production. It cannot be adopted.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has an object to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, even if it is a target egg such as a quail egg having a small egg diameter and a strong eggshell membrane. In order to enable accurate egg shell cutting, reduce the mixture of eggshell pieces, and to support mass production with a simple structure, it is possible to pierce vertically and receive and hold eggs. Both ends of the egg receiving case, in which the egg receiving holes are arranged, are horizontally supported by an endless belt that can be rotated intermittently, and a support fixedly provided above the egg receiving case so as to cover the passage of the egg receiving case. Egg is pushed up by the egg pushing means from the egg projecting hole of the plate to project a part of the upper end of the egg, and the egg projecting hole is formed on the support plate under a state of being held in a fixed state regardless of the size of the egg. The eggshell cutting blade is arranged so that it can move back and forth across Ri in which attempted to solve the problem by which is adapted to cut the top end of the egg.

Preferably, the egg pushing means is a coil spring having an outer diameter capable of pushing up the lower end of the egg, and the cut egg shell is movable in the direction of arrangement of the egg projecting holes of the support plate. It is desirable to install a vacuum hose for collection so that the shell debris after breaking eggs can be removed by suction. On the other hand, the inverted portion of the endless belt is positioned corresponding to both sides of the opening edge of each egg receiving hole of the egg receiving case to prevent the egg from falling in the egg receiving hole and discharge only the yolk egg white. By providing the eggshell retainer, it is possible to automatically discharge and collect the egg liquid in the eggshell, and to discharge the empty eggshell after passing through the eggshell retainer. The egg shell cutting blade preferably has a blade edge angle in the range of 40 to 50 ° in plan view.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the entire configuration of the present invention. Chains 1 and 1 as endless belts are endlessly rotatably arranged side by side, and egg receiving cases 2, 2 ... Are provided between the chains 1 and 1. It is supported in a horizontal posture by supporting members 3 and 3 with a constant pitch P, and the chains 1 and 1 are egg receiving cases 2 and 2 by a drive source (motor) not shown.
.. is intermittently rotated in the direction of arrow A by one pitch P.

The appearance of the egg receiving case 2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the enlarged cross-section in FIG. 3, a plurality of (eight in the figure) egg receiving holes 5 having an inner diameter that does not allow eggs 4 such as quail to drop and having a generally inverted trapezoidal cross-section that is vertically penetrated. 5 are provided.

A supporting plate 6 is fixedly provided at a position above the egg receiving cases 2, 2 so as to cover the passing trajectories of the egg receiving cases 2, 2 ... In the egg receiving holes 5, 5 of the egg receiving case 2. A plurality (8) of penetrating holes 7 having a substantially trapezoidal cross section are provided so as to vertically face each other, and the egg receiving case 2 is provided with the egg projecting holes 7 of the supporting plate 6. , 7 ... When the egg receiving holes 5, 5 ... Directly face the position directly below (7, B position), the chain 1,
1 is to be stopped. The inner diameter of the egg projecting hole 7 is the upper end 4 of the target egg 4 having a normal size.
The dimension a is such that the outer peripheral surface of the egg 4 can be brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the egg projecting hole 7 when projecting to a height suitable for cutting.

On the upper surface of the support plate 6, cutting blades 8, 8 ... Having cutting edges 8a, 8a ... Corresponding to the egg projecting holes 7, 7 ,. In the illustrated example, the bases of the eight cutting blades 8, 8 ... Are fixed to the substrate 9, and the substrate 9 is fixed by the air cylinder 10 in FIGS.
Is moved forward and backward in the direction of arrow C, and its blade edge 8a has a stroke capable of crossing the egg projecting hole 7.

Egg lifting means 11 is arranged immediately below the stop position (B) of the egg receiving case 2. The egg lifting means 11 corresponds to the egg receiving holes 5, 5, ... On the base plate 13 which is moved up and down by the air cylinders 12, 12 so as to correspond to the eggs 4 respectively.
The coil springs 14, 14 having an outer diameter capable of pushing up the lower end of the egg are arranged upward, and the coil spring 14 pushes up the egg 4 when the egg pushing means 11 moves upward, and the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion is shown on the right side of FIG. As described above, the support plate 6 is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the egg projecting hole 7. It is most preferable to use the coil spring 14 because the egg 4 can be pushed up strongly and reasonably and strongly, but it is also possible to replace it with a push rod made of soft rubber, soft plastic, or the like, and in combination with the spring. Good.

A vacuum hose 15 for recovering the cut egg shells is reciprocally moved in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 1 over the entire width of the support plate 6 along the row of the egg projecting holes 7, 7 ... Of the support plate 6. The support plate 6 is provided so as to freely control the eggshell pieces and the eggshell powder cut by the cutting blades 8, 8 ...
It is designed so that suction can be removed from above.

In the inversion area E of the chains 1, 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, each egg receiving hole 5, 5 ... Of the egg receiving case 2
The egg shell holders 16, 16 ... Are supported at their upper ends by a shaft 17 and are swingably arranged at positions corresponding to both sides of the opening edge of the egg receiving holes 5 and slightly overlapped with the egg receiving holes 5, and the egg receiving case 2 has an inversion area E. When entering, both sides of the cut surface of the egg with the upper end cut off hit the eggshell retainers 16,16, and as the reversal progresses, the egg fluid flows out by its own weight, and the eggshell is retained by the eggshell retainers 16,16 and does not fall. It can be turned over. The eggshell holder 16,
The position where the egg receiving case 2 reaches a position deviating from 16 is the egg shell discharging position (position F in FIG. 4).

The cutting edge 8a of the cutting blade 8 has a cutting edge angle θ in plan view, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 and the front view of FIG.
Is 40 to 50 °, and the best result is preferably 45 °. Both side portions including the cutting edge 8a are single-edged blade portions 8b, 8b.
After "a" pierces the egg shell, the egg shell is cut by the blade portions 8b, 8b on both sides, and when the maximum width portion of the cutting blade 8 is reached, the upper shell of the egg 4 is completely separated. .

Next, the operation will be described. One egg 4 is loaded into the egg receiving holes 5, 5, ... Of the egg receiving case 2 at a position upstream of the support plate 6 by appropriate means. The egg receiving case 2 that has received the eggs 4 is arrowed A by one pitch due to the intermittent rotation of the chains 1 and 1.
., And stops at a position (stop position B) immediately below the egg projecting holes 7, 7 ...

Simultaneously with this stop, the air cylinders 12 and 12 of the egg lifting means 11 are extended and the coil spring 1 thereof is extended.
... push up the egg 4 from the lower end of the egg receiving holes 5, 5 of the egg receiving case 2 and bring the upper outer periphery of the egg 4 into close contact with the inner periphery of the egg projecting holes 7, 7 of the support plate 6. As a result, the upper end of the egg 4 is slightly held above the upper surface of the support plate 6 and is stably held (see FIG. 2).

Then, the air cylinder 10 is extended to move the substrate 9 forward (to the right in FIGS. 1 and 2), and each cutting blade 8 is moved.
The blade edge 8a of stabs the egg 4 and gradually cuts it. When this cutting is completed, the egg shell pieces that are cut and scattered on the support plate 6 are immediately sucked and removed by the reciprocating movement of the vacuum hose 15 in the arrow D direction.

Meanwhile, the air cylinders 12, 12 of the egg pushing means 11 are shortened and the coil springs 14, 14 ... Are lowered, and the egg whose upper end is cut off is lowered by its own weight again to receive the egg in the egg receiving case 2. Retained in the holes 5, 5 ...

Subsequently, the egg receiving case 2 advances by one pitch, and the egg held in the egg receiving case 2 is broken in the same manner as described above.

When the egg receiving case 2 for holding the cut eggs reaches the inversion area E of the chains 1, 1, both sides of the cut surface of the egg whose upper end is cut are pressed by the egg shell pressers 16, 16. Then, it moves to the reversal zone E, and during the reversal, the egg solution is discharged and recovered by its own weight. After passing through the eggshell retainers 16 and 16, the retention of the eggshell is released, so that the eggshell falls by its own weight from the eggs receiving hole 5 as shown in FIG. 4 and is appropriately recovered.

The above-mentioned action is continuously carried out, and the egg liquid and the egg shell are properly recovered.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the egg held in the egg receiving hole of the egg receiving case is pushed up from below the support plate by the egg pushing means so that the inside of the egg projecting hole of the support plate. Since the upper edge of the egg is cut with a cutting blade after it is fixed in close contact with the circumference and fixed, it is possible to cut in an immovable state regardless of the size of the egg diameter, which makes the cut surface flat without breaking the egg shell. After cutting, there is no mixing of egg shell pieces or egg shell powder into the egg liquid after cutting, and if a vacuum hose for cutting egg shell collection is installed side by side, it is possible to prevent further mixing of egg shell pieces etc., and collect highly pure egg liquid. can do.

Further, the structure is simple, and it can be used as it is, for example, by connecting it to a fried egg machine or the like, and the utility value can be enhanced.

If a coil spring is used for the egg pushing-up means, the egg can be surely pressed into the egg projecting hole of the support plate regardless of the size of the egg, and the cutting can be performed in a state of being firmly fixed, thus making a better cutting. You can Further, if the eggshell holder is arranged in the inversion zone of the endless zone, the movement of the egg receiving case can be used to automatically collect the egg liquid and the eggshell.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an egg liquid outflow state by the eggshell presser in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a situation at the time of discharging eggshell.

5 is an enlarged plan view showing a blade tip portion of the cutting blade in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Chien as an example of an endless band 2 Egg receiving case 4 Egg 5 Egg receiving hole 6 Support plate 7 Egg projecting hole 8 Cutting blade 8a Cutting edge 11 Egg pushing means 14 Coil spring 15 Vacuum hose for cutting egg shell recovery 16 Egg shell pressing

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An egg receiving case which is horizontally supported by an endless belt having a plurality of egg receiving holes penetrating vertically and capable of receiving and holding an egg and both ends of which rotate intermittently, and this egg receiving case. A support provided with an egg projecting hole having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, which is fixedly provided at a position above the case so as to cover the passing path of the case and from which a part of the upper end of the egg can project, corresponding to the egg receiving hole of the egg receiving case Plate, an egg shell cutting blade movably arranged on the support plate so as to move forward and backward so as to cross the egg projecting hole, and an upper end of the egg in the egg receiving hole when the egg receiving case is stopped An egg breaking device comprising: an egg pushing-up unit that pushes up an egg so that the egg is projected from the projecting hole. 2. The egg breaking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the egg pushing means has a coil spring having an outer diameter capable of pushing up the lower end of the egg. 3. The egg breaking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum hose for collecting the cut eggshells, which is movable in the arrangement direction of the egg projecting holes of the support plate. 4. The yolk egg white only is provided in the reversal portion of the endless belt, corresponding to both sides of the opening edge of each egg receiving hole of the egg receiving case, preventing the egg from falling in the egg receiving hole. The egg breaking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an eggshell retainer for discharging. 5. The egg breaking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the egg shell cutting blade has a blade edge angle of 40 to 50 ° in a plan view.