Method for breaking, separating, and inspecting eggs
AssigneeDiamond Automations, Inc.
InventorLeslie Philip Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a multiple-row egg breaking and separating machine in which the egg contents and egg shells are passed adjacent one another through an inspection station at which the contents of the egg can be rejected because the shell or contents are contaminated, defective or abnormal. The present invention is particularly useful for high-speed breaking operations, yet still allows the inspector to view all the parts of the eggs for possible rejection of the egg contents. The present invention is particularly suited for automatic scanning of egg shells and contents, and eliminates possible U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) objections to prior art multiple-row egg breaking machines.
Claims6
A method of breaking, separating and inspecting eggs comprising the steps of:
- conveying eggs along a first conveyor in a plurality of rows of eggs;
- transferring eggs on the eggs to a second conveyor;
- conveying eggs on the second conveyor in a plurality of rows of equal number to the plurality of rows of eggs on the first conveyor;
- breaking shells of the eggs conveyed on the second conveyor;
- separating contents of the eggs from the broken shells;
- conveying the contents and the broken shells adjacent to one another through an inspection station;
- dispensing the contents from the second conveyor;
- and
- dispensing the broken shells from the second conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.