Apparatus for cleaning eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered

A multi-tiered vertically oriented egg washing apparatus comprising:

• A. a housing means including an inlet wall means and an outlet wall means spatially disposed from one another and defining a washing chamber means therebetween, said inlet wall means further defining an inlet opening means therein for facilitating entry of eggs into said washing chamber means for cleaning thereof, said outlet wall means defining an outlet opening means therein for facilitating exiting of eggs from said washing chamber means after cleaning thereof, said inlet opening means and said outlet opening means and said washing chamber means being in fluid flow communication with respect to one another to facilitate movement of eggs therethrough for cleaning, said washing chamber means defining an upper section and an intermediate section positioned therebelow, said washing chamber means further including a lower section positioned below said intermediate section;
• B. a first conveying means positioned within said upper section of said washing chamber means, said first conveying means being adapted to receive eggs after passing thereof through said inlet means for conveying thereof away from said inlet wall means toward said outlet wall means;
• C. an intermediate egg washing means positioned within said intermediate section for cleaning of eggs being conveyed therethrough;
• D. a second conveying means adapted to receive eggs from said first conveying means for conveying thereof generally away from said outlet wall means toward said inlet wall means through said intermediate section to allow washing thereof by said intermediate egg washing means, said second conveying means being oriented to move in a direction opposite relative to said first conveying means thereabove to facilitate washing of eggs traveling thereon;
• E. a lower egg washing means positioned within said lower section for cleaning of eggs being conveyed therethrough;
• F. a third conveying means adapted to receive eggs from said intermediate conveying means for conveying thereof away from said inlet wall means toward said outlet wall means through said lower section to allow washing thereof by said lower egg washing means, said third conveying means being oriented to move in a direction opposite relative to said second conveying means thereabove to facilitate washing of eggs traveling thereon;
• G. a pre-washing means positioned within said upper section of said washing chamber means for prewashing of eggs traveling therethrough upon said first conveying means, said pre-washing means including a plurality of pre-washing nozzles positioned above said first conveying means for wetting of eggs being conveyed thereon through said upper section to facilitate washing thereof;
• and
• H. an accumulator means positioned between said first conveying means and said second conveying means, said accumulator means adapted to receive eggs from said first conveying means for dividing thereof into rows of separately positioned eggs for conveying thereof to facilitate egg washing, said accumulator means adapted to deliver eggs onto said second conveying means for washing thereof, said accumulator means including an accumulator conveying means adapted to receive eggs from said first conveying means for unstacking thereof and organizing thereof within said accumulator wherein said accumulator conveying means is operated at a speed of surface movement faster than the speed of surface movement of said first conveying means to facilitate organizing of eggs arranged separately in rows by said accumulator means.

A multi-tiered vertically oriented egg washing apparatus comprising:

• A. a housing means including an inlet wall means and an outlet wall means spatially disposed from one another and defining a washing chamber means therebetween, said inlet wall means further defining an inlet opening means therein for facilitating entry of eggs into said washing chamber means for cleaning thereof, said outlet wall means defining an outlet opening means therein for facilitating exiting of eggs from said washing chamber means after cleaning thereof, said inlet opening means and said outlet opening means and said washing chamber means being in fluid flow communication with respect to one another to facilitate movement of eggs therethrough for cleaning, said washing chamber means defining an upper section and an intermediate section positioned therebelow, said washing chamber means further including a lower section positioned below said intermediate section, said inlet opening means being positioned within said upper section of said washing chamber means and said outlet opening means being positioned therebelow within said lower section of said washing chamber means;
• B. a first conveying means positioned within said upper section of said washing chamber means, said first conveying means being adapted to receive eggs after passing thereof through said inlet means for conveying thereof away from said inlet wall means toward said outlet wall means, said first conveying means including a plastic open mesh belt for facilitating supporting and movement of eggs being conveyed thereupon;
• C. an intermediate egg washing means positioned within said intermediate section for cleaning of eggs being conveyed therethrough;
• D. a second conveying means adapted to receive eggs from said first conveying means for conveying thereof away from said outlet wall means toward said inlet wall means through said intermediate section to allow washing thereof by said intermediate egg washing means, said second conveying means being oriented to move in a direction opposite relative to said first conveying means thereabove to facilitate washing of eggs traveling thereon, said second conveying means including an intermediate angular transition conveyor adapted to receive eggs after traveling through said upper section for movement thereof onto said second conveying means, said intermediate angular transition conveyor being angled downwardly from said upper section toward said intermediate section to facilitate downward movement of eggs from said first conveying means to said second conveying means;
• E. a lower egg washing means positioned within said lower section for cleaning of eggs being conveyed therethrough;
• F. a third conveying means adapted to receive eggs from said intermediate conveying means for conveying thereof generally away from said inlet wall means toward said outlet wall means through said lower section to allow washing thereof by said lower egg washing means, said third conveying means being oriented to move in a direction opposite relative to said second conveying means thereabove to facilitate washing of eggs traveling thereon, said third conveying means including a lower angular transition conveyor adapted to receive eggs after being conveyed through said intermediate section for urging movement thereof onto said third conveying means, said third angular transition conveyor being angled downwardly from said intermediate section toward said lower section to facilitate downward movement of eggs from said intermediate conveying means to said third conveying means;
• G. a pre-washing means positioned within said upper section of said washing chamber means for prewashing of eggs traveling therethrough upon said first conveying means, said pre-washing means including a plurality of pre-washing nozzles positioned above said first conveying means for wetting of eggs being conveyed thereon through said upper section to facilitate washing thereof;
• and
• H. an accumulator means positioned between said first conveying means and said second conveying means, said accumulator means adapted to receive eggs from said first conveying means for dividing thereof into rows of separately positioned eggs for conveying thereof to facilitate egg washing, said accumulator means adapted to deliver eggs onto said second conveying means for washing thereof, said accumulator means including an accumulator conveying means adapted to receive eggs from said first conveying means for unstacking thereof and organizing thereof within said accumulator means wherein said accumulator conveying means is operated at a speed of surface movement faster than the speed of surface movement of said first conveying means to facilitate organizing of eggs arranged separately in rows by said accumulator means.