Patent ID: 8607960

Claim:
An egg orientation mechanism for orienting eggs within a machine for handling eggs, the egg orientation mechanism comprising: a plurality of eggs randomly arranged on a first egg conveying mechanism; a lifter mechanism located at an end of the first egg conveying mechanism, wherein the lifter mechanism raises a portion of each egg away from the egg conveying mechanism to off balance and rotate the egg about an axis of the egg so that the egg is oriented to have a larger end of the egg leading as the egg is released into a second egg conveying mechanism; wherein the second egg conveying mechanism includes a clamshell receiver having: a front wall with an upper end and a lower end, and the front wall has a predetermined height; and a rear wall having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the rear wall has a predetermined height and an egg receiving space is formed between the front wall and the rear wall and either one of the front wall or rear wall is pivotal about a pivot point that is located below a centerline of the egg receiving space to increase the egg receiving space when catching the egg and decreasing the egg receiving space when holding the egg.