Abstract:
A system and method for separating membranes from eggshells including a supply conduit supplying eggshells and eggshell membranes, a pulsed energy separation unit receiving the eggshells and eggshell membranes in a liquid medium and applying pulsed energy thereto via the liquid medium, thereby causing separation between the membranes and the eggshells in the liquid medium and allowing the membranes to move relatively upwardly in the liquid medium and the eggshells to move relatively downwardly in the liquid medium and a separator for separating the membranes from the liquid medium.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/930,135, filed May 15, 2007 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING EGGSHELL&#39;S MEMBRANE FROM EGGSHELL, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a) (4) and (5)(i). 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to separation of membranes from eggshells. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following published patent documents, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, are believed to represent the current state of the art: 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,649,203 and 3,194,732; 
         [0005]    Published PCT Patent Application nos. WO 01/74491; WO 01/66270 and WO 98/41326. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention seeks to provide an improved system and methodology for separation of membranes from eggshells. 
         [0007]    There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for separating membranes from eggshells including a supply conduit supplying eggshells and eggshell membranes, a pulsed energy separation unit receiving the eggshells and eggshell membranes in a liquid medium and applying pulsed energy thereto via the liquid medium, thereby causing separation between the membranes and the eggshells in the liquid medium and allowing the membranes to move relatively upwardly in the liquid medium and the eggshells to move relatively downwardly in the liquid medium and a separator for separating the membranes from the liquid medium. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the system for separating membranes from eggshells also includes a dryer for removing liquid from the eggshells following separation of the membranes therefrom. Additionally or alternatively, the system for separating membranes from eggshells also includes a dryer for removing liquid from the membranes following separation of the eggshells therefrom. 
         [0009]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the supply conduit supplies the liquid medium. Preferably, the pulsed energy includes ultrasonic energy. 
         [0010]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the pulsed energy is provided by a pulsed energy source. Preferably, the pulsed energy source includes an ultrasonic wave generator coupled to a sonotrode. Alternatively, the pulsed energy source includes an electromagnetic shock wave generator. In another alternative embodiment, the pulsed energy source includes an electro-hydraulic shock wave generator. In yet another embodiment, the pulsed energy source includes a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer. 
         [0011]    There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for separating membranes from eggshells including supplying eggshells and eggshell membranes, receiving the eggshells and eggshell membranes in a liquid medium and applying pulsed energy thereto via the liquid medium, thereby causing separation between the membranes and the eggshells in the liquid medium and allowing the membranes to move relatively upwardly in the liquid medium and the eggshells to move relatively downwardly in the liquid medium and separating the membranes from the liquid medium. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the method for separating membranes from eggshells also includes removing liquid from the eggshells following separation of the membranes therefrom. Additionally or alternatively, the method for separating membranes from eggshells also includes removing liquid from the membranes following separation of the eggshells therefrom. 
         [0013]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the supplying eggshells and eggshell membranes includes supplying eggshells and eggshell membranes in the liquid medium. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the pulsed energy includes ultrasonic energy. 
         [0015]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the pulsed energy is provided by a pulsed energy source. Preferably, the pulsed energy source includes an ultrasonic wave generator coupled to a sonotrode. Alternatively, the pulsed energy source includes an electromagnetic shock wave generator. In another alternative embodiment, the pulsed energy source includes an electro-hydraulic shock wave generator. In yet another embodiment, the pulsed energy source includes a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0016]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a simplified illustration of a system and methodology for separation of membranes from eggshells in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a simplified illustration of a system and methodology for separation of membranes from eggshells in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified illustration of a system and methodology for separation of membranes from eggshells in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0020]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , eggshells including eggshell membranes  108  are supplied, as by a conveyor belt  110 , to a pulsed energy separation unit  120 , such as a bath containing any suitable liquid  122 , preferably water at 30-50 degrees Centigrade. Preferably, liquid  122  is circulated through the unit  120  via a supply conduit  124  and is caused to flow through the unit  120  from a receiving end thereof  126 , at which the eggshells and eggshell membranes  108  are supplied thereto, to a separating end thereof  128 , at which membranes  130  and eggshells  132  are separated. 
         [0021]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, separation of at least partially joined eggshells and eggshell membranes  108  into membranes  130  and eggshells  132  in liquid  122  takes place in unit  120  by means of operation of a pulsed energy source  150 , providing application of pulsed energy via the liquid  122  to the at least partially joined eggshells and eggshell membranes  108 , producing cavitation of the liquid  122  and creating bubbles which crush eggshells  132  and cause the eggshells  132  to separate from membranes  130 . 
         [0022]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source may comprise an ultrasonic wave generator, preferably an ultrasonic wave generator commercially available from Hielscher Ultrasonics GmbH, Teltow, Germany, which may be coupled to a sonotrode, preferably a sonotrode commercially available from Hielscher Ultrasonics GmbH, Teltow, Germany. 
         [0023]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source may comprise an electromagnetic shock wave generator, such as a Dornier Doli S commercially available from Dornier MedTech of Wessling, Germany, Siemens Lithostar commercially available from Siemens AG of Munich, Germany, or a Storz Modulith commercially available from Storz Medical AG of Tagerwilen, Switzerland. 
         [0024]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source may comprise an electro-hydraulic shock wave generator, such as a Dornier HM-3, Medstone STS-T commercially available from Medstone International inc. of Aliso Viejo, Calif., USA, Direx Tripter Compact commercially available from Direx Systems Corp., Canton, Mass., USA and Medispec Econolith commercially available from Medispec LTD., Germantown, Md., USA. 
         [0025]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source may comprise a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer, such as a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound transducer, preferably but not limited to an InSightec Exhablate commercially available from Insightec Ltd., Tirat Carmel, Israel. 
         [0026]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, once the membranes  130  are separated from the eggshells  132 , the membranes  130  tend to rise in the liquid  122 , while the eggshells  132  tend to fall in the liquid  122 . Thus by use of a separation element  160 , an upper portion  162  of the liquid  122 , containing the membranes  130 , may be separated from a lower portion  164  of the liquid  122 , containing the eggshells  132 . 
         [0027]    The upper portion  162  of the liquid containing the membranes  130  may be supplied to a draining conveyor  166  which allows the liquid  122  to drain therefrom and be recycled to the unit  120  via a conduit  168 . The membranes  130  may then be dried and used, for example for cosmetics, therapeutics and nutraceuticals. 
         [0028]    The eggshells  132  may be strained from the lower portion  164  of the liquid and may be crushed and used for any suitable purpose. 
         [0029]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified illustration of a system and methodology for separation of membranes from eggshells in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0030]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , eggshells including eggshell membranes  208  are supplied, together with a liquid  210 , preferably water at 30-50 degrees Centigrade, as by an input conduit  212 , to a pulsed energy separation unit  220 . Pulsed energy is supplied to pulsed energy separation unit  220  by a pulsed energy source  226 . 
         [0031]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, separation of at least partially joined eggshells and eggshell membranes  208  into membranes  230  and eggshells  232  in liquid  210  takes place in pulsed energy separation unit  220  by means of operation of pulsed energy source  226 , providing application of pulsed energy via the liquid  210  to the at least partially joined eggshells and eggshell membranes  208 , producing cavitation of the liquid  210  and creating bubbles which crush eggshells  232  and cause the eggshells  232  to separate from membranes  230 . 
         [0032]    The system of  FIG. 2  also preferably includes a cooling liquid circulation subsystem  240  to ensure that pulsed energy separation unit  220  does not overheat. Cooling liquid circulation subsystem preferably includes an input conduit  242  providing a cooling liquid  244 , preferably water, to an outer container  246  encasing pulsed energy separation unit  220 , and an output conduit  248 . 
         [0033]    In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source  226  comprises an ultrasonic wave generator  252 , preferably an ultrasonic wave generator commercially available from Hielscher Ultrasonics GmbH, Teltow, Germany, coupled to a sonotrode  254 , preferably a sonotrode commercially available from Hielscher Ultrasonics GmbH, Teltow, Germany. 
         [0034]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source may comprise an electromagnetic shock wave generator, such as a Dornier Doli S commercially available from Dornier MedTech of Wessling, Germany, Siemens Lithostar commercially available from Siemens AG of Munich, Germany, or a Storz Modulith commercially available from Storz Medical AG of Tagerwilen, Switzerland. 
         [0035]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source may comprise an electro-hydraulic shock wave generator, such as a Dornier HM-3, Medstone STS-T commercially available from Medstone International inc. of Aliso Viejo, Calif., USA, Direx Tripter Compact commercially available from Direx Systems Corp., Canton, Mass., USA and Medispec Econolith commercially available from Medispec LTD., Germantown, Md., USA. 
         [0036]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, the pulsed energy source may comprise a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer, such as a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound transducer, preferably but not limited to an InSightec Exhablate, commercially available from Insightec Ltd., Tirat Carmel, Israel. 
         [0037]    In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, once the membranes  230  are separated from the eggshells  232 , the eggshells  232  tend to fall in liquid  210  to the bottom portion of pulsed energy separation unit  220  and exit via first outflow conduit  260 , while the membranes  230  tend to rise in the liquid  210  and exit via second outflow conduit  262 . 
         [0038]    The outflow from second outflow conduit  262  containing the membranes  230  is preferably supplied to a draining conveyor (not shown) which allows the liquid  210  to drain therefrom. The membranes  230  may then be dried and used, for example for cosmetics, therapeutics and nutraceuticals. 
         [0039]    The eggshells  232  exiting via first outflow conduit  260  may be used for any suitable purpose. 
         [0040]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described and shown hereinabove and modifications thereof which will occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.