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US 9,522,808 B2Granted
Egg lifting device, and associated systems and methods
AssigneeZoetis Services LLC
InventorWilliam Dongwook Suh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An egg lifting device is provided. Such a device includes a body and a securing arrangement extending from the body. The securing arrangement is configured to engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the securing arrangement for lifting thereof. A plurality of egg lifting devices are arranged on an egg removal system such that multiple eggs are capable of being removed from an egg flat. Associated systems and methods are also provided.
Claims15
An egg lifting device, comprising:
- a body;
- a securing arrangement extending from the body, the securing arrangement being configured to engage and deflect about an egg carried by an egg container such that the egg is seated within the securing arrangement for removal thereof from the egg container, the securing arrangement being formed of a flexible material and being resiliently deflectable to secure an egg oriented off-axis from vertical and bring the egg towards a vertical orientation;
- and
- a release device configured to release an egg secured within the securing arrangement, the release device being configured to directly contact the egg at an end thereof to vertically displace and force the egg out of engagement with the securing arrangement.
1 more element
An egg removal system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a head operably engaged with the frame and configured to ascend and descend for interacting with a plurality of eggs carried by an egg container;
- a plurality of egg lifting devices operably engaged with the head, each egg lifting device having a securing arrangement configured to engage and deflect about an egg carried by the egg container such that an egg is seated within the respective lifting device for removal thereof from the egg container, the securing arrangement being formed of a flexible material and being resiliently deflectable to secure an egg oriented off-axis from vertical and bring the egg towards a vertical orientation;
- and
- wherein each egg lifting device has a release device associated therewith, each release device being configured to release an egg secured within the securing arrangement, the release device being configured to directly contact the egg at an end thereof to vertically displace and force the egg out of engagement with the securing arrangement.
2 more elements
A method of transporting eggs from an egg container, the method comprising:
- descending an egg lifting device to interact with an egg carried by an egg container;
- contacting a securing arrangement of the egg lifting device with the egg, the securing arrangement being formed of a flexible material and being resiliently deflectable to secure an egg oriented off-axis from vertical and bring the egg towards a vertical orientation;
- seating the egg within the securing arrangement by deflecting the securing arrangement about the egg;
- ascending the lifting device so as to lift the egg from the egg container;
- and
- directly contacting the egg at an end thereof with a release device to vertically displace and force the egg out of engagement with the securing arrangement.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.