Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1896
4.007 Accented
24h Anr
1507
We, JAMES LYONS, ALFRED LYONS, and GEORGE LYONS, trading as
Lyons Brothers, cf 18 and 20, Oak Street, Shudehill, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Provision Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
o be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for testing and selecting
eggs.
The egg business as at present carried on is most unsatisfactory, the testing of
the eggs being effected in a very laborious and slow manner, each egg having to
be held separately before a gas or candle light whilst the selecting of the various
sizes, besides being slow and laborious is unreliable and the unequal value
resulting therefrom may be readily understood, when the maximum weight of
120 eggs may be 20 pounds and the minimum 12 pounds per 120 eggs. Thus
disputes and law proceedings often arise between consignor and consignee respecting
the size of eggs being below the average weight quoted. Weight being the only
means by which the seller can give the buyer an idea of the size of his eggs, to
cover himself the shipper follows the custom of the trade by quoting about such
and such an average. Cases have frequently arisen where shippers have sold eggs
representing them about 15 pounds per 120, but on arrival they have only weighed
13 pounds to the 120, which is a loss per 120 eggs, of the equivalent to 12 eggs,
wbich may represent at the cheap season 6 pence and the dear season 1/- per
120 eggs.
At present eggs are sorted into various sizes and weights by passing them through
various sized rings or placing into perforated trays, holding certain sized eggs in
the perforation on the surface of the tray, thus large perforations holding the
largest eggs and as the size of the perforations are reduced the weight of the
eggs are reduced also, for instance there is the 18 pound tray per 120 down to
the minimum 12 pounds per 120.
All these means necessitate the handling of each egg separately, and considering
that many shippers pack and export 100,000 eggs weekly some idea may be obtained
of the tedious manner by which they are sorted into the different sizes.
The object of our invention is to overcome the said defects and provide an
apparatus whereby the eggs can be both tested and selected in a thoroughly
reliable and most expeditious manner with little labour.
In carrying out our invention, we form an incline plain having sides and ends.
The higher end of this inclined plain is formed of glass or other transparent
material upon which the eggs to be tested as to freshness are placed, a suitable
light or reflector being employed below and above the same a long bood which the
operator places over him when examining the eggs to exclude the light. Upon
the said transparent part we employ a frame which prevents the eggs to be tested
from rolling down the incline plain and by means of which the operator can turn
the eggs over. Above the said incline plain we fix, at suitable distances apart
from each other a number of standards or bars arranged at different distances from
the surface of the said incline plain, which standards or bars serve to impede the
rolling progress of the eggs, from the tester described, down the said incline plain,
according to their size, thus sorting the same automatically into different sizes.

page_text: The said incline plain and standards or bars may be faced with green baize or
other material providing a smooth soft surface.
If deemed necessary the said incline plain may be laterally reciprocated to
ensure the rolling progress of the eggs.
Dated this 1st day of June 1906
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Testing and Selecting Eggs.
We, JAMES LYONS, ALFRED LYONS, and GEORGE LYONS, trading as
Lyons Brothers, of 18 and 20, Oak Street, Shudehill, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Provision Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for testing and selecting
eggs.
The egg business, as at present carried on, is most unsatisfactory, the testing of
the eggs being effected in a very laborious and slow manner, each egg having to
be held separately before a gas or candle light whilst the selecting of the various
sizes, besides being slow and laborious, is unreliable and the unequal value
resulting therefrom may be readily understood, when the maximum weight of
120 eggs may be 20 pounds and the minimum 12 pounds per 120 eggs. Thus
disputes and law proceedings often arise between consignor and consignee respecting
the size of eggs being below the average weight quoted. Weight being the only
means by which the seller can give the buyer an idea of the size of his eggs, to
cover himself the shipper follows the custom of the trade by quoting about such
and such an average. Cases have frequently arisen where shippers have sold eggs
representing them about 15 pounds per 120, but on arrival they have only weighed
13 pounds to the 120, which is a loss per 120 eggs, of the equivalent to 12 eggs,
which may represent at the cheap season 6 pence and the dear season 1/- per
120 eggs.
At present eggs are sorted into various sizes and weights by passing them
through various sized rings or placing them into perforated trays, holding certain
sized eggs in the perforation on the surface of the tray, thus large perforations
holding the largest eggs and as the size of the perforations are reduced the weight
of the eggs are reduced also; for instance there is the 18 pound tray per 120 down
to the minimum 12 pounds per 120.
All these means necessitate the handling of each egg separately, and considering
that many shippers pack and export 100,000 eggs weekly some idea may be
obtained of the tedious manner by which they are sorted into the different sizes.
The object of our inveution is to overcome the said defects and provide an
apparatus whereby the eggs can be both tested and selected in a thoroughly
reliable and most expedious manner with little labour.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood we have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures,
Fig. 1 being a side elevation, Fig. 2 a cross section of Fig. 1 at line A-A.
Fig. 3 a longitudinal section and Fig. 4 a plan partly in section of our improved
apparatus for testing and selecting eggs.
Figs. 5 & 6 are sectional elevatious at an enlarged scale of some details of our
invention.

page_text: In carrying out our invention and referring to the figures generally we form
a plain or table a, preferably faced with glass al and having sides a² and ends a³.
By preference we hinge the lower end of this plain or table a to a frame b and
its upper end we support by means of two screw threaded spindles c adapted to be
raised and lowered by means of a hand wheel c' and suitable intermediate gearing,
so as to permit of setting the said plain or table at any desired degree of inclination.
Above the said plain or table we employ, at suitable distances apart from each
other a number of standards or bars d fixed at different predetermined distances.
above the said glass surface.
The eggs to be sorted into the different sizes are placed onto the higher end and
allowed to roll down the said inclined plain or table, their rolling progress being
impeded according to their size by the said standards or bars, i.e. the largest of the
eggs will be caught by the uppermost standard or bar d and the smallest are
allowed to roll to the end a³ of the inclined plain or table a, thus sorting same
automatically into different sizes. The standards or bars d may be made adjustable
in height, for instance as shown in Fig. 5, and faced with green baize or other soft
material, whilst the said inclined plain or table may laterally reciprocate if deemed
necessary to ensure the rolling progress of the eggs.
In lieu of using the said plain or table furnished with standards or bars as
described inclined, it may be used horizontally, which however would necessitate
the eggs being passed along the plain or table by hand.
When it is desired to also test the eggs as to freshness immediately before
sorting the same, we form at the upper end below the glass surface a¹ an opening e
in the said plain or table so as to allow the light of striking through the said part
of the glass surface upon which the eggs to be tested are placed.
The necessary light below the opening e and respective glass surface is provided
by one or more lamps g, or other lights, or a reflector may be used in place thereof
as will be readily understood. In order to confine the rays of the light to the said
testing glass, a hood or chamber h is employed around the respective part of the
apparatus and the frame formed with a partition h' and bottom 2. The hood or
chamber is formed at the inner end with a door i which gives access thereto und.
one or both sides may be formed with an opening furnished with a slide k through
which the eggs to be tested and selected can be handed into the hood or chamber h.
The front of the hood or chamber his formed with an opening h³ through which
the eggs pass on their way to the standards or bars d but which can be closed by
means of the slide in order to confine the light during the testing of the eggs.
To ensure a perfect fit between the surface of the plain or table a and said slide l,
if deemed necessary a strip of wood or the like may be let into the glass surface a
for the slide to rest on. The bottom of the inclined plain or table a is furnished
with a strip m adapted to slide against the partition when the plain or table a is
lowered or raised and thus also exclude the light from the hood or chamber h.
During the testing the eggs may be turned over on the said portion of the
glass surface a' by hand or by means of a frame hinged to two slides fand
adapted to be reciprocated by hand. This frame f when upon the slides f¹
prevents the eggs from rolling down the inclined plain or table a and when lifted
as shown in Fig. 5 allows the eggs tested to roll or be moved down the plain or
table a.
By closing up the front of the said hood or chamber and employing a glass or
other transparent table inside thereof separate from the said plain or table a, the
apparatus for testing eggs may be used independently of the latter and vice versu
as will be easily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim, is-
1st. In apparatus for testing and selecting eggs, a plain or table a furnished

page_text: with standards or bars d which impede the rolling progress of the eggs according
to their sizes, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In an apparatus as specified in the preceding claim a glass or other
transparent table surrounded by a hood or chamber the under side of which
table is exposed to the rays of a light or lights or reflector, all substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In combination with the testing device specified in the preceding claims,
the frame fadapted to slide upon the plain or table a, all substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4th. The general construction and arrangement of parts constituting our
improvements operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 1st day of March 1897.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicants.