초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for automatically loading eggs directly from stacks of alternately rotatably oriented flats includes a conveyor for supplying stacks of eggs to an egg loading station which includes a device for removing of the eggs from the uppermost flat and for removing the uppermost now e

An apparatus and method for automatically loading eggs directly from stacks of alternately rotatably oriented flats includes a conveyor for supplying stacks of eggs to an egg loading station which includes a device for removing of the eggs from the uppermost flat and for removing the uppermost now empty flat. The device includes a device for rotating and lifting the stack after the flat is removed to orient the stack for the removing of the next layer of eggs. Such a configuration is made necessary since such stacks of eggs are normally arranged with each layer of eggs being rotated 90°with respect to the next layer of eggs and since the array of eggs is normally not square it is necessary to reorient the stack each time a layer of eggs and the associated flat is removed therefrom. For this reason the present invention includes a stack rotation device in addition to a flat removal device, an egg removal device and a stack supply means.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for automatically loading eggs directly from stacks of alternately rotatably oriented flats of eggs comprising: (a) a stack supply means for conveying stacks of egg-filled flats to a loading station; (b) an egg removal means located adjacent the loading station and adapted to remove egg

An apparatus for automatically loading eggs directly from stacks of alternately rotatably oriented flats of eggs comprising: (a) a stack supply means for conveying stacks of egg-filled flats to a loading station; (b) an egg removal means located adjacent the loading station and adapted to remove eggs from the uppermost flat of each stack of flats; (c) a flat removal means positioned adjacent the loading station and adapted to remove from each stack of flats an uppermost empty flat after the eggs have been removed therefrom by said egg removal means; and (d) a stack rotation means located adjacent the loading station and adapted to rotate each stack of flats approximately 90°after each empty uppermost flat has been removed to orient the resulting uppermost egg-filled flat with respect to said egg removal means to facilitate removal of eggs therefrom and with respect to said flat removal means to facilitate removal of flats therefrom.