Patent ID: 9434556
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: B65B,B65G

Claim Text:
1. An egg chain gripper actuating device for use with an egg transfer device comprising: an egg conveyor with two or more parallel egg chains movable in a transport direction, each egg chain supporting a plurality of egg grippers each adapted to support an egg, which grippers can individually be actuated from a closed position, for supporting an egg, into an open position, for releasing an egg, the egg conveyor further comprising an egg chain conveyor drive for driving the egg chains at a transport speed; an egg receiving unit with a receiving area for receiving eggs released by the egg grippers which receiving area is defined by at least one brush wheel rotatable about an axle parallel to the transport direction of the egg chains and which is located below the egg conveyor such that the vertical distance between one egg chain and the receiving area is larger than the vertical distance between another egg chain and the receiving area; wherein the egg chain gripper actuating device comprises: one group of one or more actuators for each egg chain, which actuators are designed for selectively actuating passing egg grippers into an open position to release an egg such that the released egg follows a parabolic trajectory from a release spot at which it is released by the gripper to a contact spot at which it contacts the receiving area; and multiple support frames, each supporting one or more groups of actuators, of which at least one frame is adjustable parallel to the transport direction and relative to another frame, such that the position of the actuators of the one or more groups supported by the frame can be adjusted relative to the position of the one or more actuators of the one or more groups supported by the other frame.