US2014646A - Method of applying a preservative to eggs - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1935. H. B. CHRISTIAN El AL 2,014,646

METHOD OF APPLYING A PRESERVATIVE TO EGGS Filed Feb. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVINTORS. BY Mail)? QWWWM wig tau ATTORNE S.

I Sept. 17, 1935. H. B. CHRISVTIAN ET AL 2,014,646

METHOD OF APPLYiNG A PRESERVATIVE TO EGGS Filed Feb. 8, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

H. B. CHRISTIAN ET AL METHOD OF APPLYING A PRESERVATIVE TOEGGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 17,1935.

Filed Feb. 8, 1953 we :5. BY

Array/5Y5.

I Patented Sept. 17 1935 METHOD OF APPLYING A PRESERVATIVE T0 EGGS Herman B. Christian, Oakland, and Harry E.

Kennedy, Berkeley, Calif.; said Christian assignor to said Kennedy Application February 8, 1933, Serial No. 655,736

which may be obtained 6 Claims.

The method of processing or preserving eggs,

which is now most commonly used, is that in,

which eggs are coated with a mineral oil either by submersion or precipitation, and then placed in cold storage.

This method is very efiicient but is fairly costly due to the considerable quantity of oil consumed, the labor involved, and the breakage encountered; that is, the eggs must be carefully candied to be sure that all cracked, blood-spotted and defective eggs are removed. The eggs must be graded as to color and size. The eggs must be oil coated and then packed and placed in cold storage, and when removed from storage, must be unpacked and subjected to a sand blast to remove the oil coating, and then again re-packed before delivery to the trade.

The different operations or steps described require handling of the eggs over and over again. This increases the percentage of breakage and time and labor is proportionately increased with a considerable increase in final cost.

The chief function of the oil coating applied to eggs is to seal the pores against evaporation, and the effectiveness of a process may be measured by the loss of weight during agiven period of time compared with eggs which have not been so treated. We have discovered that if eggs are subjected to a blast of mineral oil so finely atomized that the oil is like a fog, that the preserving action as measured by the above mentioned criterion is just as good, if not better, than that by simple immersion 'of the eggs. We have further discovered the distinct advantage, to-wit, that it is not necessary to remove the eggs from the flllers during. the processing action but merely to spray the eggs from above and below, the spray there is not sufiicient oil deposited on the filler to be noticeable. The oil which is deposited on the filler renders it less hygroscopic so that during the period of storage the dehydration by filler material is greatly" inhibited. We have also discovered that the film of oil, when deposited in thismanner, is so infinitesimal that the undesirable gloss appearing on the eggs, when dipped or otherwise coated, is not apparent with the present method.

The object'of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the operation of processing or preserving eggs;j to provide a methad and apparatus for processing eggs whereby as while subjecting the eggs to handling "and breakage of eggs is reduced to a minimum, oil consumption materially reduced, and sand blasting of the eggs to remove the excess oil after the eggs are taken from storage is entirely eliminated; and further, method and apparatus for applying a liquid preservative, such as oil or the like to eggs by projecting the liquid in a vaporous or atomized form against the eggs to seal the pores in the shells of the eggs.

The apparatus employed is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the trays upon which the eggs are supported while the oil coatingis being applied.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section taken on line VV of Fig. 2

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a standard form of egg crate.

Fig. 7 is a cross section of the egg crate show- 25 ing it open to permit removal or insertion of the eggs.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in section showing the valve mechanism and the pipes connected with the atomizing nozzles.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 8, showing the manner in which the valve handle is actuated Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and par- 35 ticularly Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates an elongated frame constructed of channel iron, or any other suitable materialfthe frame being supported by vertically disposed legs 2, or the like. Disposed at each end of the frame is a pair of cross shafts 40 -3 and 4, these shafts being journaled in adjustable bearing members 5. Each shaft is provided with a pair of interspaced sprocket gears, indicated by dotted lines at 6, and these gears carry and support a pair of interspaced endless'sprocket 45 chains 1. These chains form a continuous belt, generally indicated at B, and this beltis continuously driven from an electric motor C through a reduction gear drive D and a belt or chain, as indicated at 8, said belt or 'chain driving the 50 shaft 3.

The endless belt consists of the interspaced chain 1 and a plurality of plates ortrays carried thereby, these trays being generally indicated at E. Each tray consists of a metal frame 9 conto provide a 5 surface is covered with a wire in traveling from 1 will be projected against the structed of sheet iron or the like. The upper mesh, as indicated at l0, and this forms a support for a layer of eggs and the filler in which they are supported. Thesides of the frame are channel-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, and a bolt il passes through the center portion of each channel member, and is secured to a lugor similar device i3 carried by each chain. Each egg supporting plate is thus centrally supported with relation to the chains 1 and they are for this reason free to turn about the sprocket gears 6 as they pass around the same. 1

The eggs are placed on the trays at that end of the machine which is generally indicated at F, and they are removed from the machine at the opposite end or that indicated at G. The eggs the receiving end to the discharge end first pass through a housing, generally indicated at H, where a coating of oil is applied, they then pass through a housing'l where they are candied, and they are finally removed from the machine at the discharge end G, as will hereinafter be described.

The manner of applying the oil, or other preservative agent ,to the eggs, is accomplished as follows: Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 8, it will be noted that a plurality of pipes i4 and I! extend through the housing indicated at H. These pipes are placed above and below the-conveyor where- 'by the trays are supported, and each set 01' pipes carries atomizing nozzles generally indicated at it and ii. The nozzles are identical in construction and the description of one will accordingly suflice. By referring to Fig. 8, a nozzle is shown at i6. This nozzle is in communication with a pipe i8 through which air under suitable pressure is supplied, the air being obtained from any pressure supply, such as a tank or the like, which is continuously charged by a pressure blower compressor or similar means. The air from the tank passes through a pipe i9 and on this pipe is mounted a valve 20. When the valve is opened the air passes through pipe 2| and this connects with the pipes i8 and the nozzle l8, hence giving a blast of air through the nozzle ii whenever the valve. 20 is opened. Extending through the pipe I8 is an oil supply pipe 22. This pipe connects with a nozzle 22 mounted within the nozzle ii. The flow of oil through the pipe 22 and the nozzle 23 is controlled by a valve 200, and the oil is delivered to this valve through pipe 24, said pipe being connected with a source of oil supply under pressure or from a gravity tank as desired. The valves 20 and 20a are connected and are actuated by a common shaft 2 on the ,end of which is secured a valve operating lever 26. When the lever assumes the full line position shown in Fig. 9, both the air and oil valves are closed but when a tray loaded with eggs enters the housing a pin 21 secured either to the chain or the tray engages the valve handle, and when the handle is swung to the dotted line position indicated at 28, both valves will be opened and oil in a vaporous or highly atomized condition eggs both from above and below, and when the pin 21 reaches the dotted line position, indicated at 29, it releases the hendie and the valve is immediately closed by a spring 30, or similar means. Thus, each tray carrying a layer of eggs is momentarily subjected to the atomized oil projected against the same and waste of oil is prevented, excess vapour being continuously removed through a pipe 3i which is connected with a suction blower or the like not shown.

passed through Any vapour which condenses and ms down the side of the housing may be collected in a pan :2 and a drain pipe 33 connected therewith may r'emove the oil or return it to the source of supply if desired. 5

. they pass through the housing H they are momentarily subjected to the oil applied in atomized or vaporous form, and they then pass out of the housing H into the housing I where they are candied by means of a light 40 placed below the 20 conveyor, see. Fig. 5. Defective or cracked eggs may here be removed, and when the eggs pass out of the candling housing'they reach the discharge point indicated at G, where operators remove the fillers, together with the egg contained there- 25 in, and replace them in the egg crates; forks or similar implements being employed for this purpose so-that a complete filler with the eggs contained therein may be removed in one operation., The crates, when re-iilled, are placed in cold 30 storage and are there retained until they are to be placed on the market.

Where eggs are handled by the processing methods now in common use, it is necessary to first remove the eggs layer by layer from the g5 crates and to place them in baskets or plates on a conveyor 'similarto that shown in this application, and then to remove the fillers as the eggs are either dipped or the oil is showered over the eggs as they pass through a housing similar to that shown at H. The quantity of oil applied is very considerable, and in order that the coating shall not be too thick, it is customary to heat-the oil to a fairly high temperature but, even so, the quantity pearance oi the eggsis undesirable as they have a glossy oily appearance. After the eggs have this machine and have been coated, as described, the fillers must be replaced and the eggs are then removed, together with the fillers, and placed in the crates. The crates are then placed in cold storage, and when "they are removed from cold storage, they must again be unpacked as the oil coating must be removed before the eggs can be marketed. To accomplish this the eggs are passed through a sand blasting machine, and in passing through this machine, the fillers are again removed and when they are passed through the machine the eggs will be replaced in the flllers, and the fillers, together with w the eggs, returned to the packing cases, and they are then ready for the market. This method requires handling and rehandling of the eggs over and over again. The breakage of eggs due to handling and re-handling increases in proportion. The quantity of oil consumed is also excessive.

By the present method re-handling of the eggs is reduced to the very minimum, and the eggs are at no time removed from the fillers, as it is only necessary to remove each layer of eggs, together with their fillers, from the crates and place them on the trays of the machineshown in Figs. 1 and 2. After they are placed on the trays they pass through the housing E, where ablast of atomized 16 of oil applied is excessive and the apoil is projected against the eggs, both from above and below. This blast is momentary and the quantity of oil applied is so infinitesimally small that it does not detrimentally affect the apearance of the eggs, nor does it detrimentally ail'ect the fillers in which the eggs are contained; con.- versely, it reduces moisture absorbing qualities of the fillers and to this extent reduces evaporation while the eggs are in storage. When the eggs have been oiled by the present method and reof .eggs a day. Where small quantities of eggs are handled, an apparatus such as disclosed in Fig. 10 may be desirable. This merely consists of a housing, such as indicated at 50, a shelf is formed in the housing, as indicated at ii, and a screen tray supporting the eggs to be oiled is pushed inwardly on the shelf. Spray nozzles, indicated at 54, are placed above and below the shelf, and a pair of valves to control the spray nozzles, similar to those shown in Fig. 8, are employed. A handle controlling the valves is placed adjacent the innerwall of the housing, or at one side thereof, and this is engaged by the tray when it is inserted: Hence, as the tray is inserted and shoved into place it engages the handle and the. valves are opened, thus projecting a highly atomized or vaporous form of 011 against the eggs, both from above and below, and by merely pulling the tray outwardly the valves are again automatically closed, thus completing the operation. Hence, a simple form of apparatus which functions in substantially the same manner as the larger form disclosed can be employed with equal efliciency. If cold weather is encountered and the oil is too viscous, it is obvious that it may be passed through a heater or the like.

Mineral oil has been described as the preservative agent, but it should be understood that any other liquid preservative capable of being atomized or converted into a vaporous form may be employ and while certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described,

we wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A method of preserving eggs which consists in creating a zone permeated with a highly atomized oil of foglike consistency, and exposing the eggs thereto for a period just sufficient to permit the atomized oil to seal the pores in the shells without leaving any perceptible coating of oil on the shells.

2. A method of preserving eggs which consists in producing by pressure applied to a liquid preservative, a vapor-laden area of fog-like consistency, and exposing the eggs thereto for a period suflicient to seal the pores in the shells without leaving a perceptible coating or preservative on 20 the surfaces.

3. A method of preserving eggs which consists in creating a zone permeated with a highly atomized oil of foglike consistency and exposing the eggs contained in the customary paper filler, thereto, for a period sufficient to seal the pores in the shells and to render the tiller less hygroscopic.

4. A methodof preserving eggs which consists in moving a plurality of eggs through a chamber 3 filled with highly atomized oil of fog-like consistency and exposing the eggs thereto for a period just sufllcient to seal the pores in the shells without leaving a perceptible coating ofoil on the surfaces. 7

5. A method of preserving eggs which consists in creating within a chamber a zone permeated with highly atomized oil of fog-like consistency by projecting the oil under pressure from the top and the bottom-thereof, and exposing the eggs thereto for a period suflicient to seal the pores in the shells without leaving a perceptible coating of oil on the surfaces.

6. A method of preserving eggs for cold storage which consists in creating a zone of foglike vapor formed by highly atomized liquid preservative, then passing the eggs contained in the customary paper filler through said zone, and timing the exposure of the eggs to the vapors so that the pores in the shells will be sealed without depositing any perceptible coating of the material upon the surfaces.

HERMAN B. CHRISTIAN. HARRY E. KENNEDY.

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