Improvements in or relating to the Storing of Eggs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 15th June 1895
UTIDI
Improvements in or relating to the Storing of Eggs.
I, THEODORE RUDOLPH CESAR CHRISTIANSON, of Quality Lane, Leith, in
the County of Midlothian, North Britain, Produce Merchant, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to the storing of eggs and
has for its object to cuable eggs to be kept longer and fresher than hitherto.
I provide a framing, of wood or any other material, which holds a number of
trays each of which holds a number of eggs. The supports of the trays
are pivotted so that the trays can be tilted to any desired angle, the arrange-
ment being that once a week or as often as it is desired, tho trays can
be tilted to the opposite angle to which they were last set. This mechanical
arrangement effects the turning of the eggs which is at present done by hand.
When the trays are level, the egg will be in an upright position with the yolk in
the middle of the egg. When the tray is inclined to the front, the yolk will be
brought towards the side of the egg. When the trays are tilted in the opposite
direction, the yolk is brought towards the other side of the egg. By this keeping
the volk in different positions, the egg can be kept fresh for a long time. I may
incline the trays to the required angle by any suitablo mechanical arrangement
such as by a fixed pinion which operates an upright rack which rack may extend
from the top to the bottom of the egg case, the back of each tray being hinged. or
connected to the said rack.
The trays may be balanced upon an axle and they may be mounted thereon by
providing a slot in the framing of the underside of the trays into which the axle is
received, so that the trays may be lifted readily off the axle to remove the tray
when required.
LOA
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Storing of Eggs.
1, THEODORE RUDOLPH CESAR CHRISTIANSON, of Quality Lane, Leith, in the
County of Mid-Lothian, North Britain, Produce Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to bu
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to the storing of eggs, and
to apparatus for turning them or changing their position, in order to keep them
fresh.
It is well known that eggs will keep fresh for a long period if their position in
the storehouse is altered from time to time so as to keep the yolk from becoming

page_text: attached to the side of the egg. This turning or changing the position of the eggs
has hitherto been done by hand and consequently has been done imperfectly and
with considerable trouble.
My invention consists in effecting the said turning or changing of the position of
the eggs by mechanical means.
I provide an upright framing of wood, or other material, which holds a number
of trays upon which a number of eggs are packed. The arrangement is such that
once a week, or as often as it is desired, the whole of the trays can be tilted to
the opposite angle to which they were last set, by a simple mechanical
contrivance.
When the trays are level, the eggs will be in an upright position with the yolk
in the middle of the egg. When the trays are inclined to the front the yolk will
be brought towards the upper side of the egg. When the trays are tilted in the
opposite direction, the yolk is brought towards the other side of the egg. By thus
keeping tho yolk in different positions, the eggs can be kept fresh for a long time.
Figure is a front elevation, Figure 2 a side elevation and Figure 3 a sectional
plan of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Figures to 11 inclusive are detail views hereinafter referred to.
I construct of wood or other material an upright frame-work A, which holds a
number of tray supports B and trays C, each of the trays holding a number of eggs,
say one hundred and twenty. The tray supports Bare pivotted or supported at
their centres by means of stationary pius or pivots D, as shewn more particularly
in Figures 9 and 11: said pins or pivots D being provided with removable head
plates and nuts d, shewn more particularly in Figures 9 and 11, and the supports B
are proferably provided with metal sockets b in which the pins or pivots D work.
The said supports B are cach provided at their front ends with one or more
catches E, preferably two, as shewn more particularly in Figures 9 and 10, so as to
retain the trays C in position, so that they can be tilted to any desired angle either
to the front or back and so change the position of the yolk Fin the albumen of the
egg, as shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8: that is to say, each of the supports B
is provided with a rear projecting pin or stud G which passes through holes or
slots formed in a movable rack and guided rack bar H having a spur or other
rack Hattached, there being preferably two of such racks I placed so as to face
each other and so permit of the one rack being raised and the other lowered at the
same time by means of the cross-shaft J, which is geared with the operating handle
or handles by means of the tooth wheel j and pinion j; said shaft J being
provided with rack actunting pinions as shown.
The foregoing apparatus though shewn with four series of trays C, may ho
composed of two, four, six, or more, series of trays, as desired, and is intended
to be kept in a cool place, the temperature of which is maintained about 38 to
40 degrees Fahrenheit, so as to ensure of the eggs being kept cool and fresh.
The action of the apparatus is such that on the eggs being placed in the holes c
of the trays C with their points downwards, or in the position shewn in Figure 6,
and the gearing operated so as to actuate the racks H' in the direction of the
arrows Figure 2, the trays C and eggs would be tilted into the position as shewn in
Figures 4 and 7, and if actuated in the reverse direction the trays C and eggs
would be tilted to the position as shewn in Figures 5 and 8, thus enabling the
position of the yolk F in the albumen of the egg to be changed when desired so as
to ensure that the yolk is always embedded in the albumen.
The trays C and supports B may be tilted to any desired angle, though I prefer
to employ limiting stops or studs K on the racks H' so as to prevent the trays
being tilted too far. Also if desired I may provide the tray C with netting, or
other covers L Figure 9, so as to prevent the eggs from falling should the apparatus
be jerked, but the movement in tilting the trays, being so uniform, gentle and slow,
it is nearly impossible for any sudden jerk to take place: the whole thus forming
an apparatus in which eggs may be stored, and in which the eggs are mechanically
turned from time to time as desired, so as to alter the position of their yolks, and

page_text: at the same time the air being pe:mitted to pass freely through the apparatus and
around the eggs, whereby the eggs are kept fresh for a long time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
ciaim is:
--
1. In the storing of eggs for the purpose of keeping them fresh for a long
period, the means for turning them or altering their position, substantially as
described.
2. In the storing of eggs for the purpose of keeping them fresh for a long
period, carrying the eggs upon trays or equivalent receptacles, the said trays or
receptacles being so mounted that they can be mechanically tilted to any desired
angle and at any desirad periods, substantially as described.
3. In the storing of eggs for the purpose of keeping them fresh for a long
period, the apparatus consisting of the upright framing A carrying the tray
supports B, and the method of mounting the said supports, as described.
4. In the storing of eggs for the purpose of keeping them fresh for a long
period, the means for tilting the egg trays, consisting of the rack-rods H, racks Hi
projecting pius G, the said racks being operated by the handle J' through the
medium of the cross shaft J, pinion j, tooth wheel j¹ and the rack pinions or the
mechanical equivalent of the said parts, substantially as described and shewn in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of March 1895.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.