Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention deals with the field of devices for cleaning fragile items such as eggs. Normally these items are conveyed and organized or accumulated into rows extending across the conveyor. They are then passed through various egg processing configurations including cleaning mechanisms. 
     In egg cleaning embodiments cleaning spray is dispensed upon the eggs and the eggs are brought into contact with one or more brushes for cleaning the exterior surface thereof when traveling between a hen house and the egg packing stations. Eggs are particularly dirty including blood, dirt, feces and other unwanted contaminants on the external surface thereof immediately after the eggs are laid in a hen house and this washing step is an important step prior to candling and/or packing of the eggs. These washing stations normally extend for long sections of as long as 18or more feet to achieve proper and thorough cleaning of the exterior surface of the eggs. The present invention provides a means for minimizing the footprint or floor space usage area of such egg washing apparatus designs. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous patents have been granted for the purpose of cleaning fragile or other articles similar to eggs such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,113,190 issued Oct. 13, 1914 to W. A. Brandt on an “Egg Washing And Rinsing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,205,117 issued Nov. 14, 1916 to G. T. Stamm on a “Machine For Washing Fruit”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,423,059 issued Jul. 18, 1922 to C. J. Williamson and assigned to Williamson Machine Company on an “Apparatus For Washing And Cleaning Eggs”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,542,347 issued Jun. 16, 1925 to C. McCullough on an “Egg-Washing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,723,441 issued Aug. 6, 1929 to J. H. Richards on a “Machine For Cleaning Fruit”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,777,039 issued Sep. 30, 1930 to H. B. Hatch and assigned to Florida Citrus Machinery Company on a “Rubbing Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,780,924 issued Nov. 11, 1930 to H. A. Ingraham on a “Fruit Cleaning Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,955,749 issued Apr. 24, 1934 to L. E. Jones and assigned to Food Machinery Corporation on a “Brushing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,964,275 issued Jun. 26, 1934 to P. Secondo on a “Fruit Washing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,035,587 issued Mar. 31, 1936 to H. J. Brandenburg on a “Transverse Fruit Brusher”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,179,474 issued Nov. 7, 1939 to F. Stebler and assigned to Food Machinery Corporation on a “Fruit Treating Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,183,033 issued Dec. 12, 1939 to O. E. Segrin on a “Candy Brushing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,199,831 issued May 7, 1940 to T. G. Cunning and assigned to Brogdex Company on an “Apparatus For Rubbing or Brushing Fruit And The Like”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,931 issued Nov. 17, 1942 to R. S. Davis on an “Egg Cleaning Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,371,867 patented Mar. 20, 1945 to J. R. Rayles and assigned to Industrial Patents Corporation on an “Egg Washing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,412,565 patented Dec. 17, 1946 to R. S. Davis on an “Egg Cleaning Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,442,475 issued Jun. 1, 1948 to O. W. Swanson on an “Egg Washing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,538,331 issued Jan. 16, 1951 to R. H. Ruzsicska on an “Egg Washing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,587,730 issued Mar. 4, 1952 to H. A. Hutchinson et al and assigned to Hutchinson on an “Egg Cleaning Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,787 issued Mar. 11, 1952 to F. B. Wright and assigned to Research Corporation on an “Egg Drier”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,901 issued to A. Markusen et al on Mar. 31, 1953 on an “Egg Washing Machine And Roller Therefor”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,209 issued Jun. 2, 1953 to G. W. Johnson and assigned to Gordon Johnson Company on an “Egg Washing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,673,361 issued Mar. 30, 1954 to E. E. McCutchan and assigned to Robert E. Mccutchan and Donald S. McCutchan on an “Egg Washer”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,746 issued Apr. 18, 1961 to C. H. Willsey and assigned to Seymour Foods, Inc. on an “Egg Washing Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,049,135 issued Aug. 14, 1962 to H. Y. Kuhl et al on an “Egg Cleaner”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,848 issued Aug. 6, 1963 to P. A. Mountz and assigned to Lathan Manufacturing Company on an “Article Washer”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,435 issued Aug. 31, 1965 to J. S. Kurtz and assigned to Automatic Poultry Feeder Company on an “Egg Washing Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,607 issued May 24, 1966 to B. W. Rose et al and assigned to FMC Corporation on a “Machine For Handling Eggs”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,419 issued Oct. 31, 1967 to H. Y. Kuhl et al on “Egg Washing Equipment”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,360,817 issued Jan. 2, 1968 to J. E. Halverson on an “Egg Cleaning Machine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,414 issued Jul. 16, 1968 to J. C. Cathcart on an “Egg Cleaning Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,290 issued Sep. 30, 1975 to W. S. Peppler and assigned to Diamond International Corporation on a “Method And Means For Washing Eggs, Including Tilted Brushes”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,667 issued Aug. 10, 1976 to A. Jellema et al and assigned to Staalkat B.V. on an “Apparatus For Vertically Transporting Eggs Or Like Articles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,977 issued Jul. 7, 1981 to H. J. van Kattenbrock and assigned to Moba Holding Barneveld B.V. on a “Distribution And Conveyor Apparatus For Eggs”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,623 issued Feb. 19, 1985 to J. B. Kuhl and assigned to Henry Y. Kuhl on an “Egg Cleaning Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,867 issued Oct. 13, 1987 to H. Kuhl on an “Egg Washing Means Using Staggered Sized Flat Brushes”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,868 issued Oct. 13, 1987 to H. Y. Kuhl on an “Egg Washing Conveyor Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,755 issued Nov. 10, 1987 to J. B. Kuhl on an “Apparatus For Cleaning Eggs”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,015 issued Dec. 27, 1988 to J. van der Schoot et l and assigned to Staalkat B.V. on an “Apparatus For Cleaning Eggs And Like Articles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,956 issued Jan. 22, 1991 to J. van der Schoot and assigned to Staalkat B.V. on a “Washing Machine Vapor Exhaust”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,100 issued Aug. 31, 1993 to H. Elferink et al and assigned to FPS Food Processing Systems B.V. on an “Apparatus For Receiving Or Transferring, Vertically Transporting And Delivering Articles Such As Eggs”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,493 issued May 19, 1998 to J. G. Wiersma and assigned to Nouveau Technologies, Inc. on an “Egg Washing Decontamination Process”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,139 issued May 26, 1998 to A. J. Harvey et al and assigned to Solvay Interox Limited on an “Egg Washing And Disinfection Process”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,378 issued Jun. 2, 1998 to J. Kristensen and assigned to Sanovo Engineering A/S on a “Machine For Washing Eggs”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,424 issued Feb. 29, 2000 to J. McEvoy et al and assigned to Diamond Automations, Inc. on a “High-speed Egg Processing System And Method”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,311 issued Mar. 7, 2000 to K. Nambu and assigned to Nambu Electric Co., Ltd. on an “Egg Washing Apparatus”; and European Patent EP0328222 B1 issued May 22, 1991 to J. Derksen on an “Egg-Washer”; and European Patent EP0388071 A1 issued Sep. 19, 1990 to R. Palmer on an “Egg-Cleaning Apparatus And Method”; and Japanese Patent JP07016033 A issued Jan. 20, 1995 to K. Kiyoshi et al on a “Method For Washing Egg, Egg Washer And System For Treating Shell Egg”; and Japanese Patent JPZ10117626 A issued May 12, 1998 to T. Masao on an “Egg Washing And Drying Device”; and Japanese Patent JP11146741 A issued Jun. 2, 1999 to W. Daisuke on a “Washer For Egg”; and Japanese Patent JP11155413 A issued Jun. 15, 1999 to Y. Takeshi et al on an “Egg Treating Machine”; and Japanese Patent JP200100070892 A issued Mar. 21, 2001 to H. Shinichi on a “Washing Method By Combination Of Spiral Rotary Brush And Cylindrical Rotary Brush”; and Japanese Patent JP11235135 A issued Aug. 31, 1999 to S. Hisahide on an “Egg Shell Washing And Sterilizing Apparatus”; and Japanese Patent JP2001045904 A issued Feb. 20, 2001 to A. Nobuo et al on a “Method For Washing Egg And Device For Washing Egg”. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a multi-tiered egg washing apparatus which is vertically oriented with the individual washing stations positioned vertically above one another. The device includes preferably a housing means defining an inlet wall and an outlet wall separated from one another in such a manner as to define a washing chamber therebetween within the housing. The inlet wall further defines an inlet opening to allow entry of eggs into the washing chamber for cleaning. The outlet wall defines an outlet opening to allow exiting of eggs from the washing chamber after cleaning. 
     The inlet opening and the outlet opening and the washing chamber are preferably all in fluid flow communication with respect to one another to allow eggs to enter, be washed and exit from the housing while at the same time allowing cleaning fluids to contact the eggs at all washing stations therein. 
     The washing chamber preferably includes an upper section, an intermediate section and a lower section with the upper section being at the highest elevation and the lower section being at the lowest elevation. The inlet opening is positioned within the upper section of the washing chamber and the outlet opening is positioned within the lower section of the washing chamber in order to allow the eggs to enter and use gravity to facilitate flow and movement from one conveyor to the next and from one washing station to the next. 
     A first conveyor is preferably positioned within the upper section of the housing chamber. This conveyor is adapted to receive eggs after passing thereof through the inlet for conveying them generally away from the inlet wall toward the outlet wall. This first conveying means preferably comprises a open mesh belt configuration that can be of a plastic or other material. It has been found to facilitate supporting and movement of eggs during this initial conveying step. Other belts could be used but this is the preferred type of belt for this first conveyor. 
     An intermediate egg washing device may also be positioned within the intermediate section to facilitate cleaning of eggs being conveyed therethrough. This intermediate egg washing device can include preferably spraying nozzles for dispensing cleaning solution upon the eggs conveyed thereadjacent and preferably will also include some type of a brush for cleaning the external surface of the eggs. Such brush can comprise a cylindrical brush, or a flat brush, or end brushes for specifically cleaning the ends of the eggs. 
     A second conveyor is preferably included for receiving eggs from the first conveyor and conveying thereof generally away from the outlet wall toward the inlet wall through the intermediate section to allow washing thereof by the intermediate egg washing means. The second conveyor is preferably oriented such as to move in a direction generally opposite relative to the first conveyor thereabove in order to facilitate washing of eggs traveling thereon. To facilitate this transition, the second conveyor can include an intermediate angular transition conveyor which is adapted to receive eggs after traveling through the upper section to facilitate movement thereof onto the second conveyor. This intermediate angular transition conveyor is preferably angled downwardly from the upper section toward the intermediate section in order to facilitate downward movement of eggs from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. 
     A lower washing station is positioned within the lower section for facilitating cleaning of eggs being conveyed therethrough. A third conveyor is adapted to receive eggs from the intermediate conveyor for conveying thereof generally away from the inlet wall toward the outlet wall through the lower section to allow washing thereof by the lower egg washing station. The third conveyor is preferably oriented to move in a direction generally opposite relative to the second conveyor thereabove to facilitate washing of eggs traveling thereon and minimize the footprint of the apparatus. The third conveyor preferably includes a lower angular transition conveyor which is adapted to receive eggs after being conveyed through the intermediate section for urging movement thereof onto the third conveyor. The third angular transition conveyor is preferably oriented such as to be angled downwardly from the intermediate section toward the lower section in order to facilitate downward movement of eggs from the intermediate conveyor to the third conveying means. 
     In the present invention it is preferred but not required to include a pre-washing apparatus. Preferably this apparatus will be positioned within the upper section of the washing chamber for pre-washing of eggs traveling therethrough upon the first conveyor. This pre-washer, if included, will preferably have a plurality of pre-washing nozzles positioned above the first conveyor for wetting of eggs being conveyed through the upper section in order to facilitate washing. 
     The apparatus of the present invention can further include an accumulator positioned between the first and second conveyors. The accumulator is adapted to receive eggs from the first conveyor for dividing thereof into rows of separately positioned eggs for conveying thereof to facilitate egg washing. The inclusion of this accumulator is optional. 
     The accumulator will preferably be for the purpose of delivering eggs onto the second conveyor and for this purpose will include a separate accumulator conveyor means. This accumulator conveyor is adapted to receive eggs from the first conveyor for unstacking thereof and organizing thereof within the accumulator. Preferably the accumulator conveying means will be operated at a surface movement speed which is greater than the speed of the movement surface of the first conveyor in order to facilitate organizing of eggs arranged separately, individually and in rows by the accumulator. The accumulator can also include an accumulator head for dividing of the eggs into individual rows. 
     The apparatus of the present invention can be used for various methods of washing eggs but will preferably initially convey a plurality of eggs to be washed upon a plastic opened mesh conveyor belt through the upper section of an egg washing chamber in a primary direction. The eggs will then optionally be pre-washed during this first conveying by the spraying of a cleaning solution by a plurality of nozzles from above onto the eggs as they are first conveyed through the upper section of the egg washing chamber. The eggs are then transported from the first conveyor to an accumulating conveyor. These eggs are then accumulated into rows of individual eggs stacked singly prior to movement to the second conveyor. The eggs are then moved from the accumulating conveyor to the second conveyor when so organized. This second conveyor is positioned therebelow in the intermediate section of the washing chamber below the upper section. An intermediate angular transition conveying of the eggs can be included oriented on a downward incline after the first conveyor to facilitate movement of eggs from the upper section of the egg washing chamber to the intermediate section thereof to facilitate second conveying. 
     This second conveying of the so moved eggs will be conducted in a secondary direction which is oriented generally oppositely relative to the primary direction to facilitate egg washing. The eggs are washed at an intermediate egg washing station during this second conveying movement to remove unwanted contaminants from the exterior thereof. The eggs so conveyed are then relocated from the second conveyor onto the third conveyor positioned therebelow in the lower section of the washing chamber. This relocation can be enhanced by the lower angular transition conveying of the eggs on a downwardly oriented incline after the second conveying is completed to facilitate gradual movement of the eggs from the intermediate section of the egg washing chamber to the lower section of the egg washing chamber. 
     In the lower section of the egg washing chamber third conveying of the relocated eggs is conducted in the primary direction at an elevation immediately below the intermediate section for facilitating further egg washing. The eggs are then washed in the lower washing station during third conveying thereof through the lower section of the egg washing chamber to facilitate removal of unwanted contaminants on the exterior surface of the eggs. Thereafter the washing of the eggs is completed and the eggs will exit from the washing chamber at a location below the height when they first entered immediately prior to first conveying thereof. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered wherein the use of floor space is minimized by providing multiple vertically stacked washing stations. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered wherein cleaning solution can be recycled. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered wherein the same cleaning solution can be used for various different stations vertically oriented within the egg washing chamber. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered wherein eggs are carried upon multiple conveyors stacked vertically above one another in generally oppositely oriented directions. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered wherein as much as 18 or more feet of linear egg washing can be achieved within a six foot long or shorter floor space footprint. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered wherein pre-washing can be optionally included to minimize adherence of dirt and retention problems of contaminants resulting from drying thereof on the external surfaces of eggshells. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing eggs by conveying thereof upon multiple conveyors through washers which are vertically tiered wherein many different types of egg washing brushes can be utilized at the various stations within the vertically tiered washing stations of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portions herein, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus and method of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the conveyor used in the primary washing sections of the present invention showing the eggs arranged in rows singly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a unique apparatus for practicing of a method for the washing of eggs wherein they are conveyed through multiple conveyors which are vertically stacked or tiered upon one another to minimize usage of floor space and to maximize usage of washing solutions. 
     In the present invention eggs  10  are initially conveyed into an egg housing  12 . The egg housing  12  preferably defines an inlet wall  14  wherein eggs are admitted as shown by egg entry arrow  24  through an inlet opening  20  defined therein. Similarly the outlet wall  16  will define an outlet opening  22  therein through which eggs may exit as shown by arrow  26 . 
     The egg housing  12  will define a washing chamber  18  positioned generally between the inlet wall  14  and the outlet  16  thereof. This washing chamber  18  is preferably divided into three sections. An upper section  30  extends throughout the upper area thereof and a lower section  34  extends throughout the lower area thereof and an intermediate section  32  extends throughout the portion of the washing chamber  18  which is below the upper section  30  and above the lower section  34 . 
     With this invention eggs are initially passed through the inlet opening  20  to be positioned upon a first conveyor  36 . First conveyor  36  is the delivery conveyor which delivers eggs to the first washing station. This delivery or first conveyor  36  can include a pre-washing station thereabove. This pre-washing means  37  preferably will include a plurality of pre-washing nozzles  64  for spraying of pre-washing solution  66  downwardly therefrom onto the eggs  10  traveling upon the first conveyor  36 . First conveyor  36  is preferably positioned within the upper section  30  of egg housing  12 . 
     The use of such a pre-washing station  37  is optional. It is not required. However, it has been found to be advantageous for minimizing the retention of dirt and other contaminants upon the external surface of the shell of the eggs  10 . The first conveyor  36  preferably comprises a plastic opened mesh belt  38  made from a material such as polypropylene. This material to be chosen for the first conveyor  36  has been found to have significant advantages including conveyor movement, easy washability and full and effective support of the eggs while being first conveyed. 
     The eggs will move from the first conveyor  36  to the second conveyor  42 . This second conveyor  42  is preferably positioned in the intermediate section  32  of housing  12  and will include an intermediate egg washing means or station  40  thereadjacent. Intermediate washing means  40  can include a plurality of intermediate nozzles  70  spraying intermediate washing solution  68  downwardly onto eggs being conveyed thereunder. As eggs move upon the second conveyor  42  they will be washed by the intermediate egg washing means  40 . Preferably second conveyor  42  will move in a direction oppositely and below relative to the first conveyor  36  in such a manner as to maximize the use of floor space and to receive any pre-washing solution  66  which may move downwardly from eggs pre-washed thereabove if such a pre-washing station is utilized in the specific embodiment. Each washing level will include cleaning liquid dispensing means particular to that level which can be supplemented by washing or pre-washing solution draining downwardly from washing or pre-washing stations thereabove for enhancing the overall washing operation. 
     It should be noted that the direction of movement of the second conveyor  42  is preferably directly opposite and immediately below the first conveyor  36 . 
     Transition of movement of the eggs  10  from the first conveyor  36  to the second conveyor  42  can be significantly enhanced by the inclusion of an intermediate angular transition conveyor  44 . Such a conveyor will receive eggs at a level close to the level of conveyance by the first conveyor  36  and will move the eggs downwardly at the angle of the conveyor  44  until the eggs are at the proper height within the egg housing  12  to be moved onto the second conveyor  42 . In this manner this intermediate angular transition conveyor  44  will allow smooth transition of eggs from the higher elevation of the first conveyor  36  to the lower height of the second conveyor  42 . 
     The present invention will also include a third conveyor  48  positioned in the lower section  34  of egg housing  12  immediately below the second conveyor  42 . This third conveyor  48  will move in the primary direction which is the same direction as the first conveyor  36  which is opposite to the direction of movement of the second conveyor  42 . The third conveyor  48  will receive eggs  10  after movement through the intermediate egg washing station  40  by the second conveyor  42  for further washing thereof by conveying of the eggs through the lower egg washing means  46 . Lower egg washing means  46  will be positioned preferably immediately below the intermediate egg washing means  40  such as to receive cleaning solution used in that station and also to re-use pre-wash cleaning solution  66  which may be received if a pre-wash station is included in the upper section  30  thereabove. 
     The third conveyor  48  will move the eggs toward the outlet wall  16  such that after they complete their movement through the lower egg washing station  46  they will be positioned adjacent to the outlet opening  22  to facilitate exiting of the eggs  10  from the egg housing  12 . 
     Movement of eggs from the second conveyor  42  to the third conveyor  48  is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of a lower angular transition conveyor  50 . This transition conveyor  50  is preferably oriented angularly to move from an elevation approximately equal to the second conveyor  42  to a lower elevation approximately equal to that of the third conveyor  48 . In this manner the lower angular transition conveyor  50  will receive eggs in the intermediate section  32  and will transport these eggs to the lower section  34  thereby facilitating the change in vertical position of the eggs as they move more gently from the second conveyor  42  to the third conveyor  48 . 
     Another optional configuration of the present invention is an accumulator  52 . Such an accumulator  52  can be positioned between the first conveyor  36  and the second conveyor  42  for the purpose of dividing the eggs into rows and organizing them singly in an unstacked manner upon an accumulating conveyor  56 . The accumulator head  54  will preferably include dividers  72  which will separate the eggs into rows. Also the accumulator conveyor  56  will preferably be operated at a speed somewhat greater than the speed of operation of the first conveyor  36  in order to prevent stacking of the eggs at the point of transition where they move from the first conveyor  36  to the accumulating conveyor  56 . 
     Sensing means can also be included in the present invention for the purpose of sensing an unwanted buildup of eggs at the transition between the first conveyor  36  and the accumulating conveyor  56  which may stop movement of the first conveyor  36  temporarily until the accumulator has had a chance to orient the excess accumulated number of eggs in rows and in an unstacked manner. The brushes used for cleaning in the various washing stations of the present invention can comprise flat washer brushes  58  of various configurations which may or may not include scallop designs therein. These brushes can also comprise cylindrical washers  60  such as shown in FIG.  1 . These cylindrical washers are often positioned to be rotatable and yet are not driven to allow the eggs when moving thereby to contact the cylindrical brushes for gentle scrubbing thereof. Also egg end brushes can be included. These egg end brushes can be positioned in one, two, all or none of the washing stations of the present invention. These end brushes are best shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,868 issued Oct. 13, 1987 on an Egg Washer conveying Apparatus which has been cited hereabove. Normally the eggs will be spaced apart from one another in orderly rows while traveling upon the conveyors of the present invention. Normally the eggs will be spaced apart form one another in orderly rows while traveling upon hte onveyors of the present invention such as shown in the top plan view thereof illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     In operation the apparatus of the present invention will first convey a plurality of eggs  10  to be washed preferably upon a plastic open mesh first conveyor belt  36  through the upper section  30  of an egg washing chamber  18  in a primary direction shown extending to the right in FIG.  1 . The eggs  10  can optionally can be pre-washed during this first conveying by the inclusion of pre-washed nozzle  64  which sprays a pre-washed solution  66  downwardly on the eggs being conveyed by the first conveyor. The eggs  10  are then transported from the first conveyor onto an accumulating conveyor  56 . 
     The eggs  10  are then divided by the accumulator  52  and, in particular, the accumulator head  54  while traveling upon the accumulator conveyor  56 . Preferably this conveyor  56  is operated at a speed faster than the speed of operation of the first conveyor  36  in order to facilitate the dividing of eggs  10  into spatially disposed rows as required. 
     The eggs  10  will then be moved from the accumulating conveyor  56  to the second conveyor  42  which is located therebelow in the intermediate section  32  of the washing chamber  18  which is located below the upper section  30  thereof. This movement is greatly facilitated by the inclusion of an intermediate angular transition conveyor  44  which moves the eggs  10  on a downward incline from the upper section  30  to the intermediate section  32  onto the second conveyor  42 . The eggs  10  will then be moved by the second conveyor  42  in a secondary direction generally extending to the left as shown in FIG.  1 . This secondary direction will be approximately opposite to the primary direction and immediately therebelow. This second conveyor will be positioned within the intermediate section of the egg washing chamber. Eggs will be washed during this second conveying to facilitate removal of unwanted contaminants from the exterior thereof. At the end of this second conveyance the eggs will be relocated to the third conveyor  48  preferably by the inclusion of a lower angular transition conveyor  50  which moves the eggs  10  on a gradually downward incline to ease the change in vertical elevation of the eggs during movement from the second conveyor  42  to the third conveyor  48 . The so relocated eggs positioned on the third conveyor  48  will then be moved in the primary direction in the lower section of the washing chamber which is immediately below the intermediate section for facilitating washing of the eggs therewithin. After the lower washing of the eggs is completed the eggs will be moved by the third conveyor  48  to a position immediately adjacent to the outlet wall  16  such that they can exit through the outlet opening  22  as shown by exit arrow  26 . 
     It is important to appreciate that with this process the footprint of the overall washing station is between 25% and 50% of the required footprint for conventional linear non-tiered washing configurations. Also the present invention has a unique advantage of allowing the re-use of cleaning solutions from previous washing steps which occur above the current ongoing washing step without requiring the use of any recirculating pump or accumulation tank. The present invention does include a reservoir or tank  74  along with a pump  76  and return lines  78  for continuously recycling of cleaning fluids after they pass through all of the washers. Once these solutions are re-introduced in one of the washers at a higher elevation they will then be utilized in each successive washing station prior to re-entry into the recirculation tank  74 . This is another important distinct advantage of the present invention. 
     While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, it will be apparent, that many changes may be made in the form, arrangement and positioning of the various elements of the combination. In consideration thereof it should be understood that preferred embodiments of this invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: a