Patent GB-1022549-A (GB)
Title: Egg handling apparatus
Inventor: KURTZ JOHN S
Filed: 1964-09-21
Abstract: 1,022,549. Endless conveyers. BIG DUTCHMAN Inc. Sept. 21, 1964, No. 38450/64. Heading B8A. An egg handling apparatus comprises a horizontal conveyer 14 from transferring eggs from nesting houses 16, 16<SP>1</SP> to an elevator 12 having egg conveying flights 212, and an egg transfer control device 250, 252 which normally obstructs the path of eggs being transferred from the conveyer to the elevator but which is moved out of the path as each elevator flight approaches the level of the conveyer so that the eggs can only be transferred when a flight is at substantially the same level as the conveyer. The horizontal conveyer 14 comprises two vertically spaced endless belts 32, 33 having their upper runs running in metallic supports 30, 31. The belts conveying eggs from between the pair of nest houses 16, 16<SP>1</SP> to the elevator 12 have resilient guides to align the eggs and oblique egg deflecting members spaced above the belts adjacent the elevator. The deflected eggs are prevented from passing on to the elevators until a flight 212 is in position by the devices 250, 252 which each comprise a pair of parallel arms pivoted to a panel 208 at one end and connected by an egg engaging bar 252, Fig. 4 (not shown) at the other end. The panel 208 and the adjacent end of each belt 32, 33 are vertically adjustable on the elevator side support members. Rollers 18 at the remote ends of the belts and a plate 20 supporting the nesting houses and with portion of the conveyer 14 are also vertically adjustable. The elevator comprises two endless chains 172, each having end plates extending therefrom at intervals and supporting therebetween the flights 212 formed by a pair of rods. The elevator receives the eggs as it moves upwardly and a member 50 at the top of the elevator transfers the eggs from one flight to the opposite face of the preceding flight. The member 50, rotating with the top chain sprockets comprises end discs 300 supporting therebetween a .plurality of rods 302 arranged in star formation with concave surfaces between the points of the star, over which surfaces the eggs roll. On the elevators downward run, the chains 170, 172 pass over idlers 304, 306 which tilt the flights to discharge the eggs on to a table 54, a conveyer or a machine. A spider drum 52 arranged between the elevator and table 54 controls the egg motion as they move over a concave guide 312 in the same area. The drum 52 comprises oval discs spaced apart by rods 310 forming the spider arms. The elevator and two belt conveyers are all driven in synchronism by a common motor. A tensioning device, as shown in Fig. 7 is associated with each belt 32 and comprises two pairs of spring loaded plates 102, 104, 106 between each pair of which the belt is pulled, one pair maintaining a steady belt tension as the belt joint is pulled jerkily through the other pair. The belt is allowed to heap up in a slack bin 70. A pivotally mounted lever 116 is pivoted by an extreme heaping up of the belt and operates a micro-switch 122 to de-energize the mechanism drive motor. Any number of belts may feed eggs to the elevator and the egg deflection plates are positioned along the length of each conveyer belt such that eggs are deposited on a particular part of the width of each elevator flight.