US3722173A

US3722173A - Alignment and packaging unit for eggs

Info

Publication number: US3722173A
Application number: US00205638A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Noguchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-12-07
Filing date: 1971-12-07
Publication date: 1973-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-27

Abstract

An egg alignment and packaging unit so designed and arranged that a number of eggs supplied at random are aligned and placed in a predetermined number and finally contained in an egg container, so that the egg packaging operation can be performed both positively and efficiently.

Description

United States Patent 1 91 Field of Search 453/59 R, 61, 62, 166, 246

Noguchi' 1451' Mar. 27, 1973 541 A IGNMENT AND PACKAGING UNIT [56] References Cited 5 FOR EGGS I I UNITED STATES PATENTS [76] Invent-O" Hflmji fl g N Ala 2,895,589 7/1959 Rostron .1 ..198/33' Ko-Jizo- Oaza, Tokorozawa, 3,592,001 7 1971 Gross A Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee [22] q' 1971 Att0rneyAlvin Browdy et a].

21 Appl. No.: 205,638 [57] ABSTRACT An eg'g alignment and packaging unit so designed and I g [52] l J.S. Cl. ...53 /62, 53/166, 53/246 arranged that a number f eggs Supplied at random [51] Int.Cl. ..B65b 57/10 are aligned and placed in a predetermined number and finally contained in an egg container, sothat the egg packaging operation can be performed both positiyely and efiiciently.

6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures INVENTOR BY 5% Mi ATTORNEYS PATENTEDF4AR27197; 3,722,173

swan 20F 7 INVENTOR BY %w Z/M% AZ ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHARZYIQIS SHEET 3 BF 7 fin 4a INVENTOR BYW PATEHTFBHARZHSB 3,722

l SHEET

5 or 7 will I I I! O O Q INVENTOR M/UM/ BY wa/la ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHARZYIBTS SHEET 6 OF 7 33 lNVEN"l"OR 77 /64 1 BY a 11% ATTORNEYS P-ATENTEDHARNIQY; 3,722,173

I sum 7 OF 7 fiMq/f #90006 I ATTORNEYS INVENTOR v and'sequentially into an alignment device.

, 1 ALIGNMENT AND PACKAGING UNIT FOR EGGS This invention relates to an egg alignment and packaging unit so designed and arranged that a number of eggs supplied at random are aligned andplaced in a predetermined number and finally contained in 'an egg container, so that the egg packaging operation can be performed both positively and efficiently; More particularly, this unit is so devised that the eggs supplied at random, that is, with their blunt and acute ends directed arbitrarily, can be sequentially aligned in the correct orientation when they are placed in a predetermined number, and the eggs so aligned can then be contained in the container accurately and positively.

It is well known in the art that the storage life of the eggs can be prolonged by containing and packaging eggs, with their acute ends directed downwards,'in a container having ten or twelve or more recesses. Placing of a number of accurately aligned eggs in a container with high degree of efficiency is hardly attainable by manual operation, and an automatic unit for pervide a machine whereby the eggs supplied at random,

that is, with their blunt and acute ends directed in an arbitrary manner, are aligned in their orientation and contained at a time into a container in a predetermined I number in a positive and efficient way.

I Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine whereby the eggs can be supplied'positively A further object of the pres'ent'invention is to pro- I vide a machine so designed that the eggs'in excess of vide a machine so designed that the egg containers are moved to a position beneath the saucers adapted to receive eggs and the eggs arecontained in said container positively and sequentially.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine so designed that the container contain-,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a certain portion thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a saucer;

F IG. 9 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the drive mechanism for transfer blades;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of part of the packaging device; r

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of substantial part thereof;

FIG-13 is an explanatory view of the operation of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view showing part of the packaging process; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the egg container.

FIG. 2 shows in plan view an overall device A for alignment of eggs being transferred. This device A has an inlet opening a at one end for receiving eggs 1 from a delivery device and an outlet opening a at the other for discharging eggs 1 therefrom. A passage b extending from inlet opening a and another passage b' extending towards the outlet opening a is interposed by a passage of alignment B. A reversing plane 2 is formed at the end of said passage b extending from inlet opening a at a certain angle with respect to the passage b. A

' guide plane 3 is provided away from the position of said reversing plane 2 and extending towards the inlet opening. a predetermined number of eggs is moved further FIG. 1 is a 'plan view of an eggaligmnent and packaging plant comprising five processing lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the alignment device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of some portion of the same device;

FIG..4 is an enlarged perspective view of other tions of the same device;

F IG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line VV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a device for placing a predetermined number of eggs in a row;

ing a. Said guide plane 3 extends from the mid position of said passage b at a moderate angle of inclination.

The numeral 4 denotes support rolls of circular cross section rotatably mounted at either ends by

chains

5, 5

which in turn are movably mounted in the inside of the alignment device A. Said support rolls 4 are axially mounted by said chains 3 5, 5' at fixed intervals therebe'tween so as to support eggs 1 in a nipping way from the underside. Said

support rolls

4, 4 are movable through the alignment passage B and a recessed seat 40 is formed on one end of each support roll 4, for carrying the curved peripheral part of the eggs 1 being transferred. Each support roll 4 is formed as a roll part of equal diameter 4b except for said recessed seat 4a. In operation, said roll part 4b is moved through said passage ['9 while said seat 4a is moved through said passage b'-. A fixed plate F is. mounted beneathsaid passage b so as to be extended from said inlet opening a to a position just ahead of the reversing plane 2. Roll parts 4b of support rolls 4 are kept in abutting contact with the upper side of said fixed plate F and are rotatable about their axes when the support rolls 4 are kept in abutting contact with stationary plate F. I

The numeral 6 denotes a transfer member with two parallel edges 6a, 6b. Said transfer member 6 is positioned so that one end part thereof is maintained in proximity to the recessed seat 4a of the last roll 4 positioned at the outlet opening a of the alignment device A. Said edges are inclined downwards starting from the end close to the alignment device.

The numeral 7 denotes a feed device rotatable by means of a ring member and the like and arranged on top of said transfer member 6 and in proximity to the outlet opening a of the alignment device A. Said feed device 7 is formed by a number of outwardly projecting rods 7a, 7b maintained at fixed intervals and coupled together by

links

8, 8. The distance between said rods 7a, 7b selected to be smaller than the axial length of theegg l.

The numeral 9 denotes a microswitch having a depending operating piece 9a, which is disposed on top of the end part of said transfer member 6. When the eggs 1 rollingly moved on said transfer member 6 acts on said piece 9a in excess of a predetermined number of times, a retarding lever 10 mounted in proximity to said microswitch 9 is set in rotation through relay operation of the latter and energization of a solenoid, notshown.

Chains

12, 12 are mounted on dual sprockets 11 11' so 'as to be extended in the direction of said transfer member 6. Saucers 13 mounted on both said chains 12,

12 at fixed intervals therebetween are bent upwards on both of its

edges

13a, 13a" in a trough-like configuration. Said saucers 13 are so designed that they will come to a stop at a position beneath the end part of said transfer member 6. Each actuation of the piece 9a of microswitch 9 energizes an electromagnetic clutch through relay operation of the microswitch 9 and the chains 12, 12' are set into intermittent motion so that the next saucer 13 will come to a halt at a position beneath the end part of the transfer member 6. The

, device C for placing a predetermined number of eggs in position is constructed in the above-mentioned way.

FIG. 11 shows, in perspective, a device D for placing said predetermined number of eggs in an egg contained. Transfer blades 16 secured to a rotable shaft mounted axially to two

frames

14, 14 are positioned so that their end parts are kept in proximity to a predetermined number of, for example five, saucers 13when rotated. To both lateral ends of the shaft 15, on either sides of the transfer blades 6,

cams

17, 17 are secured in the identical relative orientations. Two

parallel operating levers

19, 19 are rotatably mounted axially to said frames 14 by pins 18, so that said

cams

17, 17

will come in abutment with the upper sides of said operating levers 19, 19. Curved guide plates 21 facing to the front side of said saucers 13 are secured to the support rodssecured at either ends to the foremost parts of said operating levers 19, 19'. A tension spring 22 is interposed between the center part of the support rod 20 and an upper frame 14".

A bevel gear 23 secured to the end part of the sh 15 meshes with a bevel gear loosely fitted on a rotatable shaft 24 mounted at right angles with the shaft 15 and set in perpetual rotation. A clutch member 25 engageable with the rotatable shaft 24 is formed integrally with bevel gear 25 in a way so that when the operating lever 25a of the clutch member 25 is held in stationary position the mutual engagement between clutch member25 and rotatable shaft 24 is unlocked, and when the operating lever 25a. is set free, the clutch member 25' is brought into locking engagement with the rotatable shaft 24. A solenoid 26 is energized when five eggs 1 are placed in juxtaposition on the upper surfaces of the five saucers 13. An operating lever 26' of the solenoid 26 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the operating lever 25a of said clutch member 25. A projectingpiece 28 is secured to said rotatable shaft 15, so as to act on microswitch 27.

. The

numerals

29, 29 denote chains mounted on drive rings 30', 30' and extending beneath and at right angles with the said chains l2, 12. Support bases 30 are mounted at fixed intervals on said

chains

29, 29. Said support base 30 is rectangular in its configuration and opened towards the upperside. The arrangement is such that said

chains

29, 29 are moved intermittently by operation of said microswitch 27.

The numeral 31 denotes an egg container or package comprising a base 33 and a cover 33' interposed by a folding edge 32 and two rows of five recesses 34 are formed on both said base 33 and cover 33. Said base 33 is insertable remoyably in said support base 30.

The numeral 35 denotes a welding device having a curved guide rod 36 for folding said cover 3 3'- of the container 31 onto said base 33,- and a vertically movable welding rod 37 towards the back. i

The numeral 38 denotes a guide plate, and the numeral 39 a belt conveyor.

The numeral 40 denotes a delivery device having a delivery end 40 placed in juxtaposition with inlet opening a of said alignment device A. An inclined transport plate 41' is positioned between its discharge opening 40"and inlet opening a. A number of rolls 41 are mounted movably between supply opening 40" and delivery opening 40' so as to support eggs 1 from the underside in a nipping way. A resilient guide rod 42 is positioned so as to be inclined from the inside of the delivery device towards said delivery opening 40.

FIG. 1 shows a five lane plant with juxtaposed five alignment and packaging systems each comprising said devices a A, C, D and 35. The supply opening 40 of the delivery device 40 of each series is provided with a weighing device 43. Five weighing devices are arranged in position through an egg feed device 44, the incipient side of which is connected to an egg inspection unit 45, which in turn is connected on its supply side to a washing unit, not shown. Said weighing devices 43 are intended for weighing eggs of different weights. The eggs transferred through a feed unit 44 through these weighing devices 43 are sorted into extralarge, large, medium,- small, and extra small,- according to their weights.

The terminal parts of the

chains

29, 29 of the five alignment and packaging units are positioned at a point P. The terminal ends of the respective belt conveyors 39 are connected to a common belt conveyor 46, the end part of which is connected to a final collecting station or turntable 47.

The operation of aligning and packaging of eggs by use of the above-mentioned alignment and packaging units will now be explained.

The eggs 11 are supplied continuously from the supply opening 40" of the delivery unit 40, eggs 1 are supported by

rolls

41, 41 from the underside and delivered in the direction of the arrow mark (T They are fed in this way one by one by guide rod 42 and deliveredon the transfer plate 41 from the delivery opening 40'. Eggs vl are dropped one by one into the inlet opening a of the alignment device A and carried by

roll parts

4b, 4b of support rolls 4, 4.

Support rolls 4 are keptinabutment with the upper surface of the stationary plate F, as they are moved in the direction of the arrow mark (U), so that-the rolls 4 are rotated axially as indicated by the arrow marks of FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the eggs are rotated, in the c arrow mark (U), .will be given such a movement that the blunt end B is subjected to a considerable axial rotation compared to the acute end e. Thus, the blunt end E will be turned round and slide lengthwise from the peripheral side of the roll part 4b towards the recessed seat 4a. The egg 1 will be received by recessed

seats

4a, 4a, with its acute end e sliding laterally along and in abutment with the guide plane 3. Thus, the egg 1 is positioned in the passage b and transfered in the same posture in the direction of the arrow mark (U).

Supposing that the egg I delivered to the inlet opening a and carried by support rolls 4, 4 should be supported with the blunt end E towards the recessed seat 44, it is transferred in the same posture, as its blunt end e will abut on the side of the passage b and it will be hindered from sliding laterally, although it'is turned axially by

roll parts

4b, 4b when transferred in the direction of the arrow mark (U). Ahead of the reversing face 2, support rolls 4 come clear of the stationary plate F and is hindered from axial rotation. When the egg is transferred in such posture, the blunt end a will first abut on the reversing plane 2, on account of the inclined arrangement of the latter. Since the acute end e of the egg 1 is lighter in weight and more inclined to float upwards, the acute end e will be compelled to float, as shownby the arrow mark (W) of FIG. 4. Thus, the .egg 1 is reversed in its position with the blunt end B as its axis and along said reversing plane 2, as shown by the arrow mark (X), and dropped into the seats 4a, The egg 1 is now received into the passage b and the direction of its acute end e-will be reversed. In this way, the' eggs 1 supported in the passage b and by recessed seats'4a, 4a of the support rolls 4, 4 are transferred without any'vibrations and aligned in their orientation, as they are transferred to the outlet opening a.

The eggs 1 transferred towards the outlet opening a" are engaged by rods 70, 7b of the feed device 7 movable in the direction of the arrow mark (Y), as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and are placed on the upper edges 6a, 6b of the transfer member 6. Simultaneously, they are transferred in the direction shown by the arrow mark (Y) by rods 7a, 7b, with their orientations unchanged.

' Eggs 1 are then set free from rods 7a, 7b and allowed to roll on the upper surface of the transfer member 6. They will then act on the operating piece 9a and drop on the saucer 13 from the end part of the transfer member 6. By actuation of the operating piece 9a, microswitch 9 is energized, thus setting the chains 12,

12- into intermittent movement. These chains will come to a halt when the next blank saucer 13 is fed to a Base 33 of the container 31 is inserted-in advance into the support base 30, which is kept in a position beneath said saucer l3 ready for receiving eg I.

Therefore, the eggs 1, pushed by the blades 16 forwardly, are dropped with their acute ends first. At this time,

cams

17, 17 are rotated partiallywith revolution 7 of the rotary shaft and act to depress operating

rods

19, 19. Thus, the spring 22 will be expanded, thus lowering the guide plate 21. The acute ends e of the eggs I pushed from the saucers13 will be so guided that they will abut against the face of the guide plate 21 and thus directed downwards. In this way, five eggs 1 are accommodated at a time into a row of five recesses 34 on the base 33 of the container, with their acute ends e downwards.

Simultaneously with the droppingof the five eggs 1, the downward pressure exerted by the rotating

cams

17, 17 on the operating

rods

19, 19 is reduced to null. Thus, the guide plate 21 is elevated to its initial position under the tensile force exerted by the spring 22. Simultaneously therewith, the blades 16 are rotatedpartially,

to their initial positions. The projecting piece 28 acts at this time on the microswitch 27, thus the chains 29, 29 i being set into motion so that the support base'30 is dis-.

movement alternately.

position beneath the end part of the transfer member 6.

In this way, five eggs I are placed on five saucers 13 arranged in juxtaposition to each other, with the acute ends e of the eggs directed unanimously towards guide 7 plate 21.

The operating rod 26 of solenoid 26, which has once been retracted, is' returned immediately to its projected" position. Thus, the operating rod' 25a. of the clutch member 25, which has made one complete revolution, abuts on the rod 26', so as to interrupt the connection between clutch member 25 and rotatable shaft 24.

Thus, the bevel gear 25 and the blades 16 will come to a stop.

In this way, eggs 1 are contained within ten recesses 34 of the base 33 of the egg container 31 with their acute ends e downwards. Then, the cover 33' of the container 31 moved in the direction shownby the arrow mark (Z) in FIG. 14 with movement of

chains

29, 29 is folded over the upper surface of the base 33 under the action of the guide rod 36. Then, the welding rod 37 is moved downwards for welding the peripheral parts of the base 33 and cover 33 both of which are prepared from synthetic material. The egg container 31' is further moved downwards through the aid of a guide plate 38, then disengaged from support base 30 and transferred to'a collecting station by means of a belt conveyor 39.

In this way, eggs 1 are aligned in their orientation and arranged in a group of five and finally contained in the container 31.

Next, the operation of the processing plant shown in FIG. 1 will now be explained. Eggs 1 supplied from inspection unit 45 by means of a feed device 44 are weighed and sorted by weighing device 43 into five weight groups, namely extra large, large, medium,

small and extra small. Then, the eggs .1 of the same I weight groups are supplied into their respective transport devices 40 and aligned in their orientations and packed in their respective units.

alignment and packaging number of eggs can be maintained in position beneath egg receiving saucers.

and efficient packaging of eggs in such a way that the eggs delivered at random are aligned in their orientation and placed in a group .of a predetermined number I of eggs and then contained at a time in an egg container with their acute ends downwards.

At this time, operators can perform at point P an operation of placing containers 31 on the respective support bases 30 belonging to the five different units. The containers 31 delivered by five belt conveyors 39 are finally supplied to belt conveyor 46 and collected I on the turntable 47. The containers for five different grades .of eggs should preferably be marked with different colors.

According to the present device, even when the eggs In addition, eggs can be delivered to said alignment device most positively by a transfer device comprising a number of axially rotatable rolls.

The number of eggs to be delivered to the saucers can be controlled to a predetermined'nurnber by provision of a retarding bar actuatable from a microswitch.

The egg container receiving 21' predetermined A cover can be applied to the container and welded thereto so that the packaging operation can be per formed fully automatically.

Furthermore, several grades of eggs with different weights. can be packaged separately by placing several aligning and packaging units in juxtaposition.

,In sum, the present packaging unit enables positive What is claimed is:

. 4O 1. An alignment and packaging unit for eggs comprising:

i. an alignment device for aligning the eggs in their orientations, said deviceincluding a first passage extending from an inlet opening and a second passage extending towards an outlet opening, an alignment passage interposed between said first and second passages and having a reversing plane situated at the end of said first passage and towards the end of said second passage, movable support vrolls mounted in said three passages for supporting said eggs in a nipping way from the underside, said support rolls performing axial revolution from the inlet side to ahead of said reversing plane, said support rolls being formed with recessed seats at the one end part of their periphery, said seats being positioned in said second passage and alignment passage; a device for placing a predetermined number of eggs in a row, comprising an operating rod of a 60 microswitch for counting the number of eggs aligned in their orientation by the alignment device and delivered from the outlet end thereof, a number of saucers arranged in a line at fixed intervals and movable intermittently by the distance between adjacent saucers by operation of the microswitch, said saucers receiving eggs one one so that a predetermined number of eggs are placed in the correct orientation on the predetermined number of saucers; and I iii. a packaging device for the predetermined number of eggs comprising movable blades mounted on top of said saucers and adapted for electrical actuation upon placement of a predetermined number of eggs on said saucers, vertically movable guide plates operable in gear with the movement front side of said saucers and having a number of recesses.

2.. An alignment and packaging unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a delivery device connected to. the inlet opening of said alignment device and connected at the other end to the egg delivery side, said delivery device including a number of rolls mounted at fixed intervals between each other, said rolls supporting the eggs in a nipping way.

3. An alignment and packaging unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a retarding bar is movably mounted in proximity to the operating piece of the microswitch provided to said device for placing a predetermined number of eggs, said retarding bar being operable by operation of the microswitch upon placement of a predetermined number of eggs on the same predetermined number of saucers.

4. An alignment and packaging unit as'claimed in claim '1, further comprising chains mounted beneath said saucers and mounting support bases at fixed intervals, said support bases receiving egg containers removably, said chains being movable intermittently by the relay operation in gear with the movement of said blades.

5. An alignment and packaging unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is formed from synthetic material and comprises a base connected integrally with a cover weldable to said base by means of a welding device.

' 6. A processing unit comprising a plurality of said alignment and packaging units inwaccordance with I claim 1 arranged in juxtaposition, wherein the respective delivery devices connected to the alignment and packaging units are connected to the weighing units annexed to the egg feed device extending from inspection unit provided on the egg delivery side, the terminal parts of the welding and packaging units in each alignment and packaging unit being connected torespective transfer units which in tum are connected to. a single collecting station.

Claims

1. An alignment and packaging unit for eggs comprising: i. an alignment device for aligning the eggs in their orientations, said device including a first passage extending from an inlet opening and a second passage extending towards an outlet opening, an alignment passage interposed between said first and second passages and having a reversing plane situated at the end of said firSt passage and towards the end of said second passage, movable support rolls mounted in said three passages for supporting said eggs in a nipping way from the underside, said support rolls performing axial revolution from the inlet side to ahead of said reversing plane, said support rolls being formed with recessed seats at the one end part of their periphery, said seats being positioned in said second passage and alignment passage; ii. a device for placing a predetermined number of eggs in a row, comprising an operating rod of a microswitch for counting the number of eggs aligned in their orientation by the alignment device and delivered from the outlet end thereof, a number of saucers arranged in a line at fixed intervals and movable intermittently by the distance between adjacent saucers by operation of the microswitch, said saucers receiving eggs one by one so that a predetermined number of eggs are placed in the correct orientation on the predetermined number of saucers; and iii. a packaging device for the predetermined number of eggs comprising movable blades mounted on top of said saucers and adapted for electrical actuation upon placement of a predetermined number of eggs on said saucers, vertically movable guide plates operable in gear with the movement of said blades adapted for pushing eggs forwards from the saucers for guiding the acute ends of the eggs, and an egg container placed to the lower front side of said saucers and having a number of recesses.

2. An alignment and packaging unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a delivery device connected to the inlet opening of said alignment device and connected at the other end to the egg delivery side, said delivery device including a number of rolls mounted at fixed intervals between each other, said rolls supporting the eggs in a nipping way.

4. An alignment and packaging unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising chains mounted beneath said saucers and mounting support bases at fixed intervals, said support bases receiving egg containers removably, said chains being movable intermittently by the relay operation in gear with the movement of said blades.

6. A processing unit comprising a plurality of said alignment and packaging units in accordance with claim 1 arranged in juxtaposition, wherein the respective delivery devices connected to the alignment and packaging units are connected to the weighing units annexed to the egg feed device extending from inspection unit provided on the egg delivery side, the terminal parts of the welding and packaging units in each alignment and packaging unit being connected to respective transfer units which in turn are connected to a single collecting station.