Patent Application
20230286760
The present disclosure relates to low-vacuum transfer assemblies for transferring eggs, for example, between an incubation tray and a hatching tray.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The production of poultry commonly includes placing fertile eggs in an incubating tray and placing the incubating tray in an incubator (or setter machine) having a selected temperature for a period of time (for example, to mimic natural cycles). After the period of time, the eggs are subjected to selection processes and in-ovo processes, which have become effective means for disease prevention in avian flocks, and includes introducing antimicrobials (e.g., antibiotics, bactericides, and sulfonamides), vitamins, enzymes, nutrients, organic salts, hormones, adjuvants, immune stimulators, probiotics, vaccines. In-ovo processes often include passing a needle through the eggshell. The injected eggs are eventually transferred to a hatching tray or basket, which are placed in hatches (or hatching machines). Common transferring assemblies use vacuum or suction cups to transfer eggs from the incubating tray to the hatching tray. In the instance of injected eggs, however, the applied vacuum or suction is often a source of contamination, for example, by causing small particles to move near the needle perforations. Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop transferring assemblies that reduce and limit contamination risks, as well as, cracks and fissures.
The above and other needs are met by aspects of the present disclosure which, according to one aspect, provides a transfer assembly including a distribution plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface has at least one projection extending therefrom. At least one egg picking pad is coupled to the at least one projection, wherein a throughhole extends through the distribution plate, the at least one projection and the at least one egg picking pad. A flexible bellows is coupled to the second surface of the distribution plate.
Another aspect provides a method of transporting eggs. The method includes descending a transfer assembly to interact with an egg, the transfer assembly having at least one egg pick pad. The method further includes contacting the egg picking pad with the egg and applying a vacuum at the egg picking pad such that the transfer assembly is capable of ascending with the egg for transporting thereof.
Thus, various aspects of the present disclosure provide advantages, as otherwise detailed herein.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The present disclosure provides transfer assemblies that are configured to transfer eggs, for example, between an incubation tray and a hatching tray, and more particularly, to transfer eggs having one or more needle perforations. In particular, transfer assemblies prepared in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure are configured such that the transfer assembly contacts the egg at one or more locations that are separate (or away) from the one or more needle perforations. Further still, in various aspects, transfer assemblies prepared in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure may be low-vacuum transfer assemblies.
As best illustrated in
Each projection 114 is configured to hold (or be coupled to) an egg picking pad 150. As illustrated, the distribution plate 110 may include three projections 114, and the transfer assembly 100 may include three corresponding egg picking pads 150. The skilled artisan will recognize, however, that in various aspects, the distribution plate 110 may include three or fewer projections 114, and the transfer assembly 100 may include three or fewer egg picking pads 150. Likewise, the skilled artisan will understand that in still other variations, the distribution plate 110 may include three or more projections 114, and the transfer assembly 100 may include three or more egg picking pads 150. Further still, although distinct egg picking pads 150 are illustrated, the skilled artisan will understand that in certain variations, the one or more egg picking pads 150 may be connected. Moreover, the skilled artisan will recognize that the projections 114 and the egg picking pads 150 may be distributed in a variety of patterns, for example, so as to readily accommodate different egg types, shapes, or sizes.
In each variation, each of the projections 114 include one or more ridges or tabs or the like 116 configured to hold the egg picking pad 150 and, as best illustrated in
In each variation, the bellows 130 has a second end 136 configured to be coupled to a vacuum source (not shown). As illustrated in
As best illustrated in
The sleeve 152 of each egg picking pad 150 is coupled to (for example, at an angle) an egg contact pad 158 that is configured to contact an egg 200 (for example, as illustrated in
As best illustrated in
In each variation, the vacuum conduit 162 is configured to be in communication with the vacuum port 118 of the projection 114 and distribution plate 110, which in turn is in communication with the bellows 130 and the vacuum source that may be connected thereto. In this manner, vacuum suction may be used to grab and hold the egg 200. For example, when the transfer assembly 100 contacts an egg, the bellows 130 may collapse (or compress) adjusting height 139 (for example, as illustrated in
In various aspects, the peripheral surface 160 of the egg contact pad 158 includes a plurality of section grooves 164. In certain variations, the section grooves 164 may be imprints in the peripheral surface 160. The section grooves 164 may have a variety of configurations. For example, as illustrated, the section grooves 164 may have a concentric design. In each variation, the section grooves 164 help to improve the grip of the routing vacuum on the peripheral surface 160. That is, the section groves 164 may provide a vacuum path to areas away from the vacuum conduit 162, increasing the vacuum force available to hold the egg 200 in predetermined and isolated areas. For example, the section grooves 164 may originate at the vacuum conduit 162 and extend towards a peripheral of the egg contact pad 158, including branching laterally, but without connection to adjacent grooves. In this manner, each section groove 164 defines an isolated sub-system and a unique vacuum path. The placement of the one or more egg contact pads 158, and notably, the vacuum conduits 162 and section grooves 164 defined therein, isolates applied vacuum or suction power to predetermined (or designated) areas, thereby limiting movement near or around needle perforations 202 in the egg 200, as illustrated in
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/317,731, filed Mar. 8, 2022, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63317731 | Mar 2022 | US |
