US2661715A - Egg cleaning and sealing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 H. c. M LEAN EGG CLEANING AND SEALING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1949 Dec. 8, 1953 H. c. M LEAN EGG CLEANING AND SEALING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5

#9299 c. MCLGQN,

1 VENTOR.

HTTOQNEV Dec. 8, 1953 H. c. MOLEAN EGG CLEANING AND SEALING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet s Filed Feb. 5. 1949 EN TOR.

Hnees c. MCLEHN,

,QTTOENEV Patented Dec. 8, 1953 EGG CLEANING AND SEALING MACHINE Harry G. McLean, Los Angeles, Calif.; Nellie Troxel, administratrix of said Harry 0. Mc- Lean, deceased, assignor to Nellie I. Troxel, Los

Angeles, Calif.

Application February 3, 1949, Serial No. 74,452

13 Claims.

My invention relates to egg cleaning and sealing machines.

The machinery prior to my invention for cleaning eggs has many defects. The prior dry abrasive method must be adjusted to the average egg. A prolonged abrasive action is necessary to clean a very dirty egg and this action should not be applied to a slightly soiled egg.

Eg s with irregular shapes or pebble surfaces are often ground too thin at the high points and the fine abrasive belt coatings become filled with dirt too quickly under the prior dry abrasive method. Also, frequently, very dirty eggs are not completely cleaned and they must be sorted out and sent through the prior machine again, thus increasing the cost of cleaning.

The prior washing method is also too slow because it takes too long for the fluid to soak through the dirt. Long soaking may remove the natural sealing of the egg and sometimes the cleaning fluid penetrates to the inner skin of the egg. The labor cost in the prior washing method is also high.

I have developed a fast and effective cleaning and sealing machine and process. In my machine and process the egg is first given a quick rinse. Then a second rinse is combined with a light wiping from abrasive wiping pads that are provided with coarse abrasive coatings. These pads are mounted in pad carrying wiper wheels which permit a light wiping from coarse abrasive pads. The third step is to give the egg a wiping from damp, soft fabric pads. Then, as a fourth step, the egg is wiped by a series of squeegee pads.

The final, or fifth, step is a squeegee wiping combined with a light application of sealing fluid of a proven composition. This machine and method delivers the eggs in a clean and safe condition for cold storage.

It is an object of this machine to clean the eggs sothoroughly that inspection is not necessary.

Another object of my invention is to clean the eggs and seal them in such a way that they are attractive for the commercial market.

Another object of my invention is to reduce the cost of cleaning and sealing eggs.

Another object of my invention is to reduce or eliminate the breakage of eggs in the cleaning and sealing process.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, the novelty consisting in the features of construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of the members and the relative proportioning, disposition and operation thereof, all as M is more completely outlined herein and as is particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this present specification,

Figure l is a vertical side view, partly in section, of my egg cleaning and sealing machine, showing my preferred embodiment in the com,- pletely assembled position.

Figure 2 is a vertical front elevation of my machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional front view, taken along the lines 33 of Figure 1, showing the relative position of my egg cleaning pads at one stage of the operation.

Figure 4 is a detail view of some of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical side view, partly in section, showing my egg transferring mechanism.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the relative positioning and mounting of my egg cleaning pads on their wheel.

Figure '7 is a detail view showing the mounting of my pad supporting springs.

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the mounting of my egg cleaning pads.

Figure 9 is a detail view of my spring wire pad holders.

Figure 10 is a sectional view, in elevation, showing part of my drive gear mechanism, and its mounting.

Figure 11 is a detail view along the lines I lll in Figure 1, showing the detail of part of my drive gear mechanism. 1

Referring to the drawings, I will describe the first power train of my egg cleaning and sealing machine [0. A motor l2 drives the motor drive shaft M, which in turn drives two integrally attached helical drive gears, l5 and I8, shown in assembly in Figure 2 and in detail at [6 in Figure 10. Gear I8 is like gear 16 in detail.

Helical gear I6 drives helical gear 20 and helical drive gear I8 drives helical gear 22. These gears are duplicates, as is seen in Figure 2, and it is therefore necessaryrto describe the power train of only one of them.

Helical gear 20 drives shaft 24, to which it is integrally attached.

Shaft 24 is integrally attached to miter drive gear 26 (seen in Figure 11) which in turn drives miter driven gear 28 and shaft 39, to which it is integrally attached. Bearings 32 and .34 mounted in housing 36 rotatably support shaft 30, which drives bevel driv gear 38. Gear 38 drives bevel driven gear 40 which is integrally attached to drive shaft 42 shown in assembly in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11.

Tubular spacers 43, shown in Figure 1, surround drive shaft 42 at appropriate intervals.

Drive shaft 54, shown in Figure 2, is identical with drive shaft 32 and is driven by a similar train of mechanism from gear 22 like the train from gear to shaft #2.

Centers 45, shownin Figure l, for wiper wheel discs 46 complete the first power train, from the motor 12 to these wiper wheel discs i-E which support the wiper pads.

The speed of rotation of the wiper wheel disc 46, which is determined by the rotational speed of motor i2, is not critical, and may vary according to the toughness of the eggs being cleaned, according to the toughness of the carrier springs I28 and 138 used, and according to the nature of the material used for wiper pads !22. Thus, if relatively tough springs i223 and i313, or relatively hard wiper pads I22 are employed, or if relatively weak eggs are being cleaned, wiper wheel discs 46 and hence motor 12, should move relatively slowly to prevent too great an impact on the eggs as the wiper pads [22 are brought into contact with the eggs. On the other hand, if relatively weak springs I28 and 38 are used, or if soft cushiony wiper pads I22, such as sponge rubber wiper pads, are used, or if relatively strong eggs are being cleaned, then wiper wheel discs 46 and hence motor 52 may move faster.

Although relatively fast winding strokes of wiper pads I22 over the eggs will more efficiently clean the eggs, relatively slow wiping strokes are still very efiicient. A typical operating speed is for wiper wheel discs 46 to rotate at about sixty (60) revolutions per minute. However, it is to be understood that this speed is not in any way critical, and that wide variations may be employed with satisfactory results.

The next power train, from the motor 2 to the centrifugal pump, also starts from motor drive shaft i4 through its integral helical drive gear 48 (seen in assembly in Figure 2), which drives helical driven gear 50, seen in Figure 10. Gear 50 drives shaft 52, which is integrally connected to spur drive gear 54 that drives spur driven gear 56, which is integrally attached to driven shaft 58. Shaft 58 is mounted in bearing 60 in the right hand end wall 62. Shaft 5% drives the centrifugal pump, as is hereinafter described.

. Shaft 58 also drives the friction drive wheels in the manner that I will now describe. Worms 64, shown in assembly in Figure 5, and in detail in Figures 3 and 4, drive worm gears 65, which are integrally attached to shaft 68. Shaft 68,

in turn, is integrally connected to friction drive wheels 78, which are always mounted in pairs.

Idler wheels '12 are rotatably mounted between the friction drive wheels 10 to complete the train and to prevent the rims of egg wheels 15 from returning fluid to the eggs. Since Wheels '59 and 12 must squeeze the rims of wheels M to remove the fluid, a frictional drive, provided in my preferred embodiment shown herein, is preferable. Egg rotating wheels M are mounted above friction drive wheels '10, which drive the egg rotating wheels by means of beveled rim E5 on friction drive wheel 10 which frictionally engages and drives bevel 18 on egg rotating wheel 14.

Thus, rotative power from motor 12 is carried to shaft 58, which drives friction drive wheels iii which in turn rotate the egg rotating wheels la. The egg 3G is thus rotated by egg rotating wheels 74 whenever this train of mechanism is in action.

I will now describe the mechanism which actuates the egg transfer through the various posid tions that the egg assumes in being cleaned and sealed.

Drive shaft 68 is rotated by the train of mechanism described above and it also is attached to crank arms 82 which rotate with shaft 68. Crank arm 32 carries integrally connected shaft 84, which is in turn connected to egg transfer plate 85. Thus the egg transfer plate 86 rotates with crank arm 82.

V-shaped egg transferring notches 88, preferably five in number in the embodiment shown, act in the manner hereinafter described to transfer the egg through the various positions for cleaning and sealing.

I will now describe the train of mechanism that moves my egg wipers into and out of operative position. Connecting rod 90, shown in assembled position in Figures 3 and 5, is attached to my egg transfer plate 36 by connection 92. At the lower end of connecting rod 90 is a connection as for engaging and supporting shaft 96. Spacer sleeve 98 keeps the members 84 properly spaced on shaft 96.

A fixed double mounting Hill on the right hand end of each shaft 96 also supports each shaft Hi2 and is connected to each link I02.

Thus, as the egg transfer plate 85 rotates it causes rods 99 to move up and down so that the top ends of rods 88 have a circular motion while the lower ends have an up and down motion. This up and down motion is transmitted to connecting links i012 which move the wiper wheels clear of the eggs during the egg transfer action in the manner that I will now describe.

Links R32 are connected to levers 104 by the shaft 5%. Levers I84 are rotatably mounted on tubular hinge pin "38 and a fixed rod or shaft lit connects the two levers H14. As link Hi2 moves upwardly it thus rotates lever 34 about tubular hinge pin Hi8 and causes rod H0 to move upwardly until it contacts lug I [2 on arm H4. Arm H4, in turn, supports pad supporting wheel disc 46 so that upward movement of lug H2 and arm H4 will rotate the pad supporting wheel disc 35 about the axis formed by the tubular hinge pin E08 so as to cause the pad supporting wheel disc to move upward out of contact with egg 2!). This movement continues to the uppermost extent of the movement of link I92.

When lins Hi2 starts down wheel disc 46 moves downwardly similarly, actuated by gravity and rotating about its pivot, tubular hinge pin I88. This downward movement of wheel disc at continues until projection H6 on arm H4 contacts hinge pin H8, which also serves as a splash cover shaftas well as a stop for projection H5. The position of this hinge pin H8 with respect to projection H5 is such as to arrest wheel 46 at the desired position to cause the pads to contact the egg and resume the wiping operations. This completes the train of mechanism for moving the egg pad wheel disc 46 into and out of operating position.

A splash cover are is fixed to hinge pin H8 and it collects the fluid thrown off by the wiper wheels. Supporting arms 42! of the splash cover I26 rest against hinge pin 108 when the splash covers are in proper position over the wiper wheels. When it is desired to change the wiper pads the splash covers I29 can be manually swung clear of the wiper wheels for this purpose.

I will now describe the wiper pads and their mounting on wheels 55.

or of soft fabric or of squeegee material.

tact.

Wiper pads I22 may be. of abrasiviematerial They arev mounted under spring clips I24 (as is-shown in Figure 8), on spring pad holders I26, which are mounted on carrier springs I28 and I30. Spring I28 is mounted on pivot pin I32 which may be split, as shown in Figure 7, and spring I is similarly mounted on pivot pin I34. The two springs I28 and I38 are both anchoredon anchor pin I36, as is seen in Figure 6. These pins, I32, I34, and I36 are mounted in holes I38 drilled in discs 46 to receive them. This construction allows the wiper pads to slide tangentially over the egg 80. The flat spring clips I24 have a double function, first to hold the wiper .pad I22 securely to the horns of the pad holder I26 and second to provide a smooth cover for the wiper pad to prevent its abrading the soft rim of the egg wheels in case of accidental con- The extended ends of the carrier springs I28 and I30 are tapered in to clear other nearby carrier springs, as is shown in Figure 7. The

mechanism I44 controls therate of flow of seal ing fluid. The container I is mounted on a bar or bracket I46 which is held in place by pins I48 on the right hand splash covers I20, as is seen in Figures 1 and 2.

The cleaning fluid is pumped by a centrifugal pump I50 actuated by shaft 58, the power train of which was described hereinabove, and it drives the cleaning fluid through tube I52 to produce spray I54 through opening I56 in tube I52. The intake for this pump I50 is shown at I58 where it obtains fluid from the reservoir I60, provided for that purpose. This reservoir is mounted between the end plates I62 forming the left hand end wall, the right hand end wall being numbered 62.

A drain plug I64 facilitates cleaning of the fluid reservoir I60.

The end walls, 62 and I62, are connected by a split housing I65, which is bolted together by bolts I68. This housing I66 is bolted to the end walls by bolts I10.

Another housing I12, attached by bolts I14 to wall 62, protects the gear mechanism.

The eggs are discharged from my machine along track I16 and they enter the machine along track I18.

The remaining supporting and connecting mechanism is a motor supporting bracket IBt, which is attached by bolts I82 to wall 62.

I will now describe the method of operating my egg cleaning and sealing machine and of performing my method of cleaning and sealing eggs.

An egg is placed on the feed track I18, the downwardslope of which causes the egg to roll until it bumps the first pair of egg Wheels 1e. During this travel and while the egg is arrested by wheel 14 the egg is rinsed by cleaning fluid pouring outin' spray I54 from holes 556 in tube I52. The next step is to transfer the egg from track I18 to a position between the first and second pairs of egg wheels 14. This transfer is effected by the egg transfer plate 86, which isactuated by the power train described above to cause one of its V-shaped notches 88 to engage the egg 80 and lift it from its position on track I18v to a posi- 2 I02, as described above.

tion between the first and second pairsof egg rotatingjwheels 14. When the egg is thus do.- posited between the egg rotating wheels 14 it is supported and continually rotated there by these wheels. During the time of this transfer of the egg 80 from the track I18to its position between the first pair of wheels 14 by means of notches 88 the wiper pads I22 are rotated out of the way by rotation of pad supporting wheel4'6 ontubular hinge pin I08 by the vertical movement of link After the egg is thus deposited in a position between the egg rotating wheels 14, as is shown in Figure 3 hereof, the pad supporting wheel discs 46 are returned to operative position by the lowering of link I02 and the contacting of projection II6 with hinge pin IIB as described above.

The pads on this first wheel disc 45, the left hand one in Figure 1 hereof, are equipped with abrasive material and the tube I50 with its openings I56 to produce'cleaning fluid spray I54 extends over the egg in this position. Thus, the egg receives a combined washing and wiping under the first splash cover I20, shown at the left of Figure 1 hereof.

The abrasive wiping of the egg in this position and the soft wiping and squeegee wiping, accompreventing the eggs 80 from moving from wheels 14. Figure 3 hereof shows the egg 86 with two of these pads, I22, in contact with it, showing the pull in opposite directions. A third pad, I22, from the right hand wheel disc in Figure 3 is about to engage the egg 68. The two pads now in contact remain in contact with the egg 80 until after this third pad I22 on the right hand wheel disc has contacted the. egg 80, thus making three pads contacting the egg 8!! during part of the time.

After the wheels have progressed beyond this position where there are those three pads contacting the egg 86, the right hand pad I22 will slip off of the egg B0 and it will assume the position shown by the next pad in the right hand wheel disc '46 in Figure 3, thus again leaving only two pads contacting the egg 86. These two pads Will continue to contact the egg until the next pad I22 on the left hand wheel progresses far enough to contact the egg and then again, there will be three pads contacting the egg 80 until the pad I22 that is contacting the egg 80 on the left wheel in Figure 2 moves far enough to move off of the egg and assume the position of the next pad I22, shownin Figure 3 hereof.

In this manner, there are always two or three pads I22 contacting and wiping the egg, at least one of them being on each of the wheel discs 46 so as to pull in opposite directions and effect abrasive or wiping action without breaking the egg or necessitating wiper pads of the same shape as the egg in order to hold the egg in place. These pads may be of the shape shown in Figure 8,

first and second wheels I4, perhaps best shown in Figure 5 hereof, to a position between the second and third egg rotating wheels I4. This position is the one below the second splash cover I25} from the left in Figure 1 hereof. The washing fiuid tube I52 does not extend over this position, as is seen in Figure 1 and the pads I22 on these wheels are made of soft fabric, so as to provide a damp wiping.

Between all of these movements from position to position the mechanism of transferring the egg and moving the wheels 46 out of position, described hereinabove, is repeated.

After the damp Wiping between the second and third pairs of wheels I4 the egg is then transferred to the position between the third and fourth wheels 14, this being the third position. Here the egg is wiped by the squeegee pads I22 attached to holders I26. These squeegee pads wipe the egg dry from the cleaning fluid, or virtually dry, and leave the egg clean and ready for market.

The egg is then moved by the process described above to the fourth position between the fourth and fifth egg rotating wheels M, where it is given a light application of sealing fluid combined with another squeegee wiping by squeegee wipers I22 on holders I26 of these wheel discs 46.

This sealing fluid comes from the container I40 through the opening I42 which is positioned immediately above the e g, as is seen in Figure 2 hereof. The rate of flow of the cleaning fluid is controlled by adjusting mechanism IM and the eggs are sealed ready for cold storage or candling.

Finally the egg is again transferred by the notches 88 on the egg transfer plate as from this fourth position between the fourth and fifth wheels I4 to the egg discharge track I16, which is slanted so as to cause the egg to move or roll onto a suitable conveyer belt or into whatever receiving means is provided.

My novel machine and method presents several important features. Dirt is removed from the dirtiest eggs without harm to the protective shell of the egg. The combined rinsing and abrasive wiping action softens, breaks up and removes the dirt with a very light touch from the abrasive pads. This mechanism permits the use of stiff fabric coated with coarse abrasives. In other machines where the abrasive element must be bent to the shape of the egg, only abrasive fabrics having extreme flexibility can be used. To secure flexibility only fine abrasive coatings and open coating can be used. Fine abrasive coatings fill with dirt easily and. soon lose their efiectiveness. By my method coarse abrasives which do not quickly fill with dirt can be used due to the construction and operation of my machine and method.

In machines using abrasive belts some means must be provided to hold the eggs on the supporting egg wheel and to press down the belt to clean the pressed portions of the egg. In my machine the drag of the pads of each wiper wheel is balanced by the opposing drag of the pads of the opposite wiper wheel. Since there is no wearing away of the egg shell in my machine the duration of the cleaning action is set in my machine to that required for the dirtiest eggs. Then all eggs come out clean and no final inspection is required.

Since the washing fluid is in contact with the egg shell for only a few seconds it does not have time to seep'through to the inner skin and, therefore, because of this limited contact, only the surface natural sealing of the egg is removed in my machine. The immediate application of a proven artificial sealing fluid assures the safe keeping condition of the egg. Eggs from my machine are not wet and can be handled for any other operation, such as candling or grading. The productive capacity of my machine can be increased by adding a few pairs of wiper wheels and the necessary pairs of egg wheels. Of course the number of wheels can be increased or decreased, as is desired, without changing the basic design of the machine, leaving most of the details unchanged. My machine is a superior cleaner having large capacity and the eggs go through my machine with a minimum of handling. The eggs are always thoroughly cleaned and are safe for storage when they have been processed through my machine.

t is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is my preferred embodiment and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including a plurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven in opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discs, egg transfer means operatively engageable with the egg to remove the egg from its egg wiping position, and egg wiping mechanism retracting means operatively connected to said egg wiping mechanism for moving said egg wiping mechanism out of the way of the egg during operation of said egg transfer means.

2. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including a plurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven in opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discs substantially transversely to the wiping motion of said wiping mechanism, egg spraying means for spraying the egg in its egg wiping position, egg sealing mechanism spaced from said egg wiping mechanism for applying a sealing material to the egg, and egg transfer means operatively engageable with the egg to move the egg from its egg wiping position to its egg sealing position.

3. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including a plurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven in opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism and an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position substantially transversely to the wiping motion of said wiping mechanism.

4. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including a plurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven by synchronized drive mechanism, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discs including a plurality of opposed egg rotating wheels and a drive means to rotate said egg rotating wheels, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to remove an egg from its egg wiping position including an egg transfer plate, an egg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said egg engaging surface will operatively engage and remove an egg from its egg wiping position, egg spraying means for spraying an egg in its egg wiping position; and av disc-retractingmechanism including a plurality of pivoted arms upon which the respective said synchronously driven opposed discs are rotatably mounted and means to pivot said arms about theirrespectiv e pivots to move said discs out of their respective operative positions when said egg.

ripheries of. said discs toccause the egg. to be.

engagedby at least one wiper pad on each of said discsat all times during theegg wiping operation; and .egg. rotating mechanism adapted. to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discs including a pluralitynof opposed egg rotating wheels, a plurality of friction drive wheels disposed in driving frictional en-r gagement with said egg rotating wheels and drive means to rotate said frictiondrive wheels, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to remove an eggifrom its egg wiping position including an egg transfer plate, an engaging surface on said eg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said eg engaging surface will operatively engage and remove an egg from its egg wiping position, egg sprayingmeansfor spraying an egg in its egg wipingposition, and a disc retracting mechanism including apairof arms uponwhich the respective said synchronously driven drive shafts are rotatably mounted, a pair of hinge pins upon which the respective said arms are rotatably mounted, -a pair of levers rotatably ,mounted on the respective said hinge pins and engageable with therespective said arms, means for rotating said levers on the respective said hinge pins into and out of operative engagement with the respective saidarms when saidegg engaging surface is respectively in and out of operative engagment with an egg to effect rotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins and stop means to arrest returnrotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins at a desired point.

6. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including a plurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven by synchronized drive mechanism;- and a disc retracting mechanism including a plurality of arms upon which the respective said synchronously driven opposed discs are rotatably mounted, a plurality of hinge pins upon which the respective said arms are rotatably mounted, a plurality oflevers ro'tatably mounted on the respective said hinge pins and engageable with therespec tijve said arms, means'for rotating said levers on the respective saidhinge pins into and out of operative engagement with the respective said arms to effect rotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins and stop means to arrest'th'e return rotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins at a desired point.

7. In an eg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including ,aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven inopposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, an egg transfer mechanism tive' yenga'ge and move an egg fromits ggwip' adapted to remove an egg from itsegg wiping position betweensaid opposed discs including an egg transfer plate, an egg. engaging surface .on said egg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said egg engaging surface will operatively, engage and remove an egg from its eggv wiping position, and adisc retracting mechanism including a plurality of pivoted armsupon which the respective said synchronously driven opposed discs are rotatably mounted and means to pivot said arms about their respective pivots to move said discs out of their respective operative positions when said egg is operatively engaged by said, eg engaging surface. s

8. In an egg cleaning machine, an eggwiping mechanism including, a pair of synchronously driven drive shaftsa pair of opposed discs intogrally attached to the respective said shafts and a sufficient number of wiper pads equidistantly spring mounted around the opposed peripheries of said discs to cause the e g to be engaged by at least one wiper pad on each of said discs at alltimes during the egg wipingoperation, an egg rotatingmechanism adapted to rotate aneg in its egg Wiping position between said opposed discs, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to remove an. egg from its e g wiping position eluding an egg transfer plate an egg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said egg engaging surface will opera: tively engage and remove an egg from its c g wiping position, egg sprayingmeans for spraying an egg in its egg wiping position and a discre: traoting mechanism including a pair of arms upon which the respective said synchronous1ydriven drive shafts are rotatably mounted, a pairpf hinge pins upon which the respective said arms are rotatably mounted, a pair of levers rotataloly mounted on the respective said hinge pins and, engageable with the respective said arm s, means for rotatin said levers on the respective said hinge pins into andout of operative engagement with the respective said 7 arms when said egg engaging surface is respectively I into and out of p ra e en ag ment ith eg t ef e t r tary movement of said arms about the respectiv said hinge pins and stop means to arre st retu'n' rotary/ movement of said arms about the respec' tive said hingepins ata desired point. N v

In clean n e en s l i mechanism including a Pair of synchronously driven driveshafts, a p-air of opposed discs in sub; stantially planar alignment integrally attached to the respective said shafts and a sufii'cientnumb'r of wiper pacl's'- equidistantly spring moun ed around the opposed peripheries of said discs to. cause the egg to be .engageuby at least onejwiper Dad o eacuof said discs" at an times cufr ngtnez egg wiping operation, an egg rotatingi'nechanisrfi adapted tofrotate -an egg'in its egg wiping posi tionbetween Said opposed discs, an egg tr n's'fer mechanis adapted to move'an egg from its egg wipingposi'tion to an egg sealing position includ ing an egg transfer plate, an eggengagin g stir faceon said egg transfer plate and means forso applying circular motion tojsai d egg transfer platej that said egg engaging surface will up ns pes ii fit s. eess 'al s os on e s ing means for spraying an egg in its egg wip ng position a disc retracting mchanisrfi including a pair of ari'nsupon w ch the respective said synchronously driven drive shafts are rotatably mounted, a pair of hinge pins upon which the respective said arms are rotatably mounted, a pair of levers rotatably mounted on the respective said hinge pins and engageable with the respective said arms, means for rotating said levers on the respective said hinge pins into and out of operative engagement with the respective said arms when said egg engaging surface is respectively in and out of operative engagement with an egg to effect rotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins and stop means to arrest return rotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins at a desired point, and egg sealing means including a sealing fluid reservoir and means for conducting said sealing fluid from said reservoir to said egg after said egg has been moved from its e wiping position to its egg sealing position by said transfer mechanism.

10. In an egg cleaning machine, an eg wiping mechanism including a pair of synchronously driven drive shafts, a pair of opposed discs in substantially planar alignment integrally attached to the respective said shafts and a sufficient number of wiper pads equidistantly spring mounted around the opposed peripheries of said discs to cause the egg to be engaged by at least one wiper pad on each of said discs at all times during the egg wiping operation, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its eg wiping position between said opposed discs including a plurality of opposed egg rotating wheels, a plurality of friction drive wheels disposed in driving frictional engagement with said egg rctatin wheels and drive means to rotate said friction drive wheels, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to move an egg from its egg wiping position to an egg sealing position including an egg transfer plate, an egg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to egg transfer plate that said egg engaging surface will operatively engage and move an egg from its egg wiping position to its egg sealing position, egg spraying means for spraying an egg in its egg wiping position, a disc retractingmechanism including a pair of arms upon which the respective synchronously driven drive shafts are rotatably mounted, a pair of hinge pins upon which the respective said arms are rotatably mounted, a pair of levers rotatably mounted on the respective said hinge pins and engageable with the respective said arms, means for rotating said levers on the respective said hinge pins into and out of operative engagement with the respective said arms when said egg engaging surface is respectively in and out of operative engagement with an egg to effect rotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins and stop means to arrest return rotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins at a desired point, and egg sealing means including a sealing fluid reservoir, means for conducting said sealing fluid from said reservoir to said egg after said. egg has been moved from its egg wiping position to its egg sealing position by said egg transfer mechanism.

. 11. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including a pair of synchronously driven drive shafts, a pair of opposed discs integrally attached to the respective said shafts and a suflicient number of wiper pads equidistantly spring mounted around the opposed peripheries of said discs to engage the egg during the cleaning operation, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position be tween said opposed discs, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to remove an egg from its egg wiping position including an egg transfer plate,

1 an egg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said egg engag ing surface will operatively engage and removetheir respective pivots to move said discs out of their respective operative positions when said egg is operatively engaged by said egg engaging surface.

12. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg Wiping mechanism including a plurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven' in opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping posi tion between said opposed discs, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to remove an eg from its egg wiping position, egg spraying means for spraying an egg in its egg wiping position, and a disc retractin mechanism adapted to move said discs out of their respective operative positions when said egg is being removed from its egg wiping position by said egg transfer mechanism.

13. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including a plurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven in opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discs substantially transversely to the wiping motion of said wiping mechanism, egg spraying means for spraying the egg in its egg wiping position, and egg transfer means operatively engageable with the egg to remove the egg from its egg wiping position.

HARRY C. MCLEAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 604,621 Kunkel May 24, 1893 622,937 Wright Apr. 11, 1899 863,841 George Aug. 20, 1907 1,113,190 Brandt Oct. 13, 1914 1,121,871 Romberg Dec. 22, 1914 1,357,794 Moe Nov. 2, 1920 1,529,461 Brogden et a1. Mar. 10, 1925 1,776,784 Cramer Sept. 30, 1930 1,336,086 Perl Dec. 15, 1931 1,864,085 Moe June 21, 1932 1,920,960 Cogsdill Aug. 8, 1933 1,978,838 Gavlak Oct. 30, 1934 2,012,655 Bowman Aug. 27, 1935 2,035,042 Bridgman Mar. 24, 1936 2,042,794 Meyer June 2, 1936 2,153,296 Brogden Apr. 4, 1939' 2,287,141 Schofield June 23, 1942 2,371,867 Bayles Mar. 20, 1945 2,408,648 Inman Oct. 1, 1946' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 102,939 Australia Jan. 10, 1938

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