Method and device for treating poultry eggs using electron beams to sterilise the calcareous shell

Method according to claim

• wherein
• the following method steps for the treatment are carried out:
• sensing A the height of the egg (42, 43),
• moving B into the shielded area through a gate (45),
• treatment C with corresponding height correction unit (9) in the case of eggs (42, 43) of differing size (42, 43),
• moving D out of the shielded area through a gate (46) and
• optional recontamination E of the eggs (42, 43) and transfer of the egg (42, 43) for subsequent process steps.

Device (20) for treatment of eggs (42) with electron beams (14) for a sterilization of the calcareous shell (22) of the eggs (42),

• whereby the device (20) comprises at least:
• a transport system (5) with at least one egg (42),
• an electron beam source (2) for emission of an electron beam bundle (14), through whose path the eggs (42) are led in a way treated with electrons (31),
• wherein
• for setting the dose (21) of the electrons (31) hitting the calcareous shell (22) in a target dose range (18) an element (4) is disposed between the electron beam source (2) and the supported egg/eggs so that in a predefined target dose range (18) a reduced distribution, encompassing the egg (42), of the dose (21) of the electrons (31) is achieved for irradiation of the calcareous shell (22) of the eggs (42).

Device (30) for treatment of eggs (43) with electron beams (31) for a sterilization of the calcareous shell (22) of the eggs (43),

• whereby the device (30) comprises at least:
• a transport system (5) with at least one egg (43),
• an electron beam source (2) for emission of an electron beam bundle (14), through whose path the eggs (43) are led in a way treated with electrons (31),
• wherein
• the transport system (5) has rollers (47, 48) with defined spacing or pairs of rollers (47, 48), on which the eggs (43) are moved, whereby the eggs (43) held by means of rollers (47, 48) are rolled through the path (14) of the electron beam bundle in such a way that, with respect to the egg circumference, the irradiation with electrons (31) takes place on all sides.

Device (50) for treatment of eggs (42) with electron beams (31) for a sterilization of the calcareous shell (22),

• whereby the device 50) at least comprises:
• at least one transport system (5) with at least one egg (42),
• at least one electron beam source (2) for emission of an electron beam bundle (14), through whose path the eggs (42) are led in a way treated with electrons (31),
• wherein
• provided is a combined device (50), containing two first devices (20, 201), constructed in the same way, arranged upstream from a turning device (49), whereby disposed between the two first devices (20, 201) is a turning device (49), which is connected together by means of the connecting transport system (5), whereby in the turning device (49) the eggs (42) held in a zero degree position in the upstream-arranged device (20) are turned at an angular degree position so that in each case the other reached side of the egg (42) receives, after the first irradiation with electrons (31) and after passage through the turning device (49), while turned in the angular degree position, a second irradiation with electrons (31) by means of the first device (201) arranged downstream.