Patent ID: 7207609

Claim:
A method of removing eggs from a carrier containing a plurality of eggs, the method comprising: selecting one or more eggs to be removed from the carrier; and removing the selected one or more eggs from the carrier via an egg removal apparatus, wherein the egg removal apparatus comprises a pressurized air source, and an array of egg lifting devices, wherein each egg lifting device in the array is configured to remove a respective egg from the carrier, and wherein a respective one of the egg lifting devices lifts a respective one of the selected one or more eggs from the carrier upon selectively receiving air from the pressurized air source; wherein each egg lifting device comprises: a vacuum housing comprising first and second passageways; a venturi assembly in fluid communication with the first and second passageways, wherein the venturi assembly produces subatmospheric pressure within the second passageway upon the flow of air through the first passageway; and a flexible cup secured to the vacuum housing, wherein the flexible cup comprises an interior that is in fluid communication with the vacuum housing second passageway, wherein the flexible cup is configured to engage and retain an egg in seated relation therewith when subatmospheric pressure is provided within the flexible cup interior via the vacuum housing second passageway; moving the array of egg lifting devices from a position overlying the egg carrier to a position adjacent the egg carrier; stopping the selective flow of pressurized air from the pressurized air source to the respective egg lifting devices such that the one or more eggs are released from the egg lifting devices; immersing one or more of the flexible cups of the array of egg lifting devices in a bath of cleaning solution; and inducing vacuum within the interior of each immersed vacuum cup by forcing air flow through the vacuum housing first passageway, wherein contaminants are pulled upwardly through the second passageway and out the venturi assembly.