Separating Egg-white From Yolk Patents (Class 99/497)
  • Patent number: 11730317
    Abstract: A device is described for breaking an egg and separating an egg white from the yolk of the egg. The device includes a support base and a chute coupled to the support base. The chute has front end, a rear end, an enclosed section at the front end, and an open section at the rear end. The device includes a breaker that spans across the chute. The breaker is configured to crack a shell of the egg to release the yolk and the egg white onto the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Mao
  • Patent number: 10722076
    Abstract: A device is described for breaking an egg and separating an egg white from the yolk of the egg. The device includes a support base and a chute coupled to the support base. The chute has front end, a rear end, an enclosed section at the front end, and an open section at the rear end. The device includes a breaker that spans across the chute. The breaker is configured to crack a shell of the egg to release the yolk and the egg white onto the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventor: Richard Mao
  • Patent number: 10477884
    Abstract: An egg separating apparatus for use in separating an egg white and an egg yolk when cracking a raw egg. More particularly, a cooking and/or baking apparatus for use in being able to concurrently separate a plurality of egg whites and a plurality of egg yolks at a relatively fast pace, thus saving a user valuable time. More particularly still, a relatively light weight and manageable kitchen apparatus for use in efficiently and effectively separating multiple egg whites and multiple egg yolks at once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Bobby Dale Robertson
  • Patent number: 8955429
    Abstract: A support mechanism for preventing outward deflection of a cracker shaft in an egg breaker assembly, about which are supported in orbiting fashion a plurality of circumferentially spaced rows of egg breakers. A disk shaped portion is mounted in slaved rotatable fashion about an intermediate location of the cracker shaft and exhibits a plurality of exteriorly facing and circumferentially offset inwardly recessed scalloped surfaces. An outer fixed and guiding cam is secured to an aligning intermediate location of the breaker and exhibits an inner arcuate extending and guiding/support surface in outwardly spaced and aligning fashion relative to the scalloped locations of the rotating disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: FPS Food Processing Systems, B.V.
    Inventor: Steve Kwapich
  • Publication number: 20140230667
    Abstract: The device may include an egg yolk removing device that has a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion. The top portion may include a bellow, the middle portion may include a main tube, and the bottom portion may include a suction tube. A user may compress the bellow and place the suction tube over an egg yolk. The user may then release the bellow and the yolk may be pushed into the main tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Keraga
  • Patent number: 8739695
    Abstract: The invention relates to an egg breaking apparatus and a method of feeding eggs to an egg breaking apparatus, where eggs are fed to a plurality of egg breaking devices by means of a feed conveyor. Each egg breaking device receives one egg at a time and all egg breaking devices are mounted on a common drive conveyor, where the egg breaking devices are moved in relation to the feed conveyor in a first direction following a substantially vertical first axis at the area of the feed conveyor. The feed conveyor feeds eggs to the egg breaking devices along a substantially horizontal second axis. When near a position at the feed conveyor, the egg breaking devices are tilted about a third axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes, in a second direction substantially opposite to said first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sanovo Engineering A/S
    Inventors: Jens Kristian Kristensen, Jan Holm Holst, Martin Sørensen
  • Publication number: 20140144335
    Abstract: An exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) a yolk chamber component comprising a first opening and a second opening; and (b) a vacuum chamber component comprising an opening, wherein the second opening of the yolk chamber component is detachably connected to the opening of the vacuum chamber component. Another exemplary aspect comprises a method of separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) compressing a vacuum chamber component, wherein the vacuum chamber component is detachably connected to a yolk chamber component, and wherein the yolk chamber component is empty; (b) placing the first opening of the yolk chamber component against an egg yolk; and (c) releasing pressure on the vacuum chamber component until the egg yolk is drawn into the yolk chamber component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Quirky, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Fusco, Aaron Saxton, Nicholas Oxley
  • Patent number: 8733238
    Abstract: An egg separator includes a bowl sized to accommodate at least one egg. The bowl includes sidewalls extending upward in a vertical direction from a lower portion on the bowl. In some versions, a clip is provided to attach the egg separator to a mixing bowl or measuring cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
    Inventor: Sul Gi Myoung
  • Publication number: 20140072687
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for separating an egg yolk from a whole egg. Embodiments of the disclosure are described as having a vacuum-producing means coupled to a hollow cavity portion which has a yolk-entry aperture. After placing the yolk-entry aperture against a portion of the egg yolk, the vacuum-producing means may be operated to draw the egg yolk through the yolk-entry aperture thereby creating a shearing force between egg yolk and egg white that is effective for separating yolk from white. The separated yolk may be retained in the apparatus until expelled. Other described embodiments incorporate a yolk-retention aperture that is effective for both separating egg yolk from egg white and also retaining the separated egg yolk in the apparatus until expelled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Annelouise Hemingway, Mark Schwieg
  • Publication number: 20130319260
    Abstract: An egg white-yolk separator device has a plurality of yolk trays clustered in a symmetrical configuration centered around a cracking dome. Each yolk tray is surrounded by a dividing wall and ringed by a single annular straining channel for pouring off the egg white from the yolk except where a connecting arm extended from a center support member to the bottom side of the yolk tray. In one embodiment, the device has supporting legs on the outer sides of the yolk trays so that it can stand on a flat surface or be aligned on the rim of a bowl. In another embodiment, the device has ears or tabs on the outer sides of the yolk trays for alignment on the rim of a bowl while being self-standing on a flat pan by the bottoms of the yolk trays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey NASRALLAH
  • Publication number: 20120125210
    Abstract: An egg separator includes a bowl sized to accommodate at least one egg. The bowl includes sidewalls extending upward in a vertical direction from a lower portion on the bowl. In some versions, a clip is provided to attach the egg separator to a mixing bowl or measuring cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sul Gi Myoung
  • Patent number: 7472647
    Abstract: Egg separators having an upper elongated slit to prevent the yolk of an egg from entering a collection device for egg whites. The device provides for a method that will allow multiple separations of egg whites from egg yolks upon cracking individual eggs. The presence of an upper elongated slit in the concave compartments of the device allows the egg white of the eggs to separate from the egg yolks without the egg yolk entering a collection device and/or mixing, merging or flowing into the collected egg whites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Inventor: Claudia M. Patterson
  • Patent number: 6915735
    Abstract: An egg yolk separator includes a strainer having a portion for retaining an egg yolk and apertures for straining egg white. A pair of arms extends in opposite directions from the strainer for resting on opposite sides of an opening of a vessel, locating the separator on the vessel. One of the arms is extendable and retractable in length such that overall length of the separator is adjustable to suit the width of the opening of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Kwok Kuen So
  • Patent number: 6234070
    Abstract: An egg breaking knife used in an egg breaking device which increases the yield of the egg breaking device. The upper edge of the egg breaking knife is in a “V” shape. The “V” shape creates a lower drainage point to eliminate any “damming” of egg shell contents which may occur in the egg shell halves. The knife edge of the egg breaking knife of the present invention may also include a vertical slot or opening, preferably at the vertex or intersection point of the “V” shape, which assists in preventing “damming” of egg contents and enhances the drainage of egg contents from the egg shell halves. The lower edge of the egg breaking knife of the present invention may include a drip point, preferably located below the vertical slot, which serves to collect all egg content drippage at a single location, to ensure that a minimal amount of egg content drippage remain adhered to the egg breaking knife during egg content dumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Diamond Automations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Hutchison, Vladimir Mazur
  • Patent number: 6135017
    Abstract: An egg separator made from a length of wire which has been bent and twisted to form a cup-shaped portion in which the white of the egg is separated from the yolk of the egg. The separator also includes a handle having two wire arms with bends therein defining slots which together define a clip which allows the egg separator to be rested to the rim of a bowl. The bends include arms which may be inclined at an angle relative to the handle corresponding generally to the angle at which the wall of the bowl is inclined so that the cup-shaped portion remains level in the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The Pampered Chef, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nigel Wang, Kathy Kari
  • Patent number: 6095038
    Abstract: An egg white and yolk separator for separating the egg yolk from the egg white of a broken egg shell of a whole egg. The egg white and yolk separator includes an egg yolk collector for collecting and holding a plurality of egg yolks therein, the collector having an upper surface with a plurality of spaced-apart, concave-shaped compartments formed in the upper surface for holding the yolks and egg whites of a whole egg, wherein each of the compartments includes a slit opening located at the bottom of each of the compartments for draining of egg whites through the slit openings. The egg white and yolk separator also includes an egg white receiving container under the collector for collecting egg whites drained from the slit openings in each of the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Matt Cerro
  • Patent number: 5784953
    Abstract: An unitary egg separator is provided which includes a cup with a handle. The cup has a pair of symmetrically located elongated slots positioned adjacent to the bottom apex of the cup. The handle is transversely broadened and longitudinally relatively short, and has transversely spaced, downwardly extending ears on its opposite sides that cooperate with the cup for attaching the egg separator to the rim of a mixing bowl or the like. Also, the handle includes an upwardly extending flange adjacent to the cup, the flange having an edge that is adapted for cracking the shell of an egg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: The Pampered Chef, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nigel Wang
  • Patent number: 5628246
    Abstract: An egg processing machine comprises egg breaking units positioned above egg collecting units and an albumen recovery device. The units are moved in pairs with a vertical distance between the two units through an egg breaking section where the egg breaking unit breaks the egg shell and albumen and yolk fall down in the egg collecting unit. An albumen recovery device comprises a rotating body catching albumen drippings with possible stringers before the egg shell is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Sanovo Engineering A/S
    Inventor: Jens K. S. Kristensen
  • Patent number: 5617782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple-row egg breaking and separating machine in which the egg contents and egg shells are passed adjacent one another through an inspection station at which the contents of the egg can be rejected because the shell or contents are contaminated, defective or abnormal. The present invention is particularly useful for high-speed breaking operations, yet still allows the inspector to view all the parts of the eggs for possible rejection of the egg contents. The present invention is particularly suited for automatic scanning of egg shells and contents, and eliminates possible U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) objections to prior art multiple-row egg breaking machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Diamond Automations, Inc.
    Inventor: Leslie P. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5613429
    Abstract: An automatic egg shelling machine has a plurality of operative lines that are arranged to be side-by-side and driven by a common drive motor. Each of the operative lines extends in a substantially vertical plane. The operative lines receive eggs from an egg feeding station, and are moved in conveyor fashion along a closed loop. A number of hinged compact groups are distributed along each one of the lines for receiving the eggs from the egg feeding station and breaking the shells of the eggs. The compact groups collect the yolk and the albumen thereof separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: FPS Food Processing Systems, B.V.
    Inventor: Gianluigi Pettazzi
  • Patent number: 5483872
    Abstract: The present invention is a device for weighing and breaking eggs, and a method for weighing and breaking eggs. The eggs are conveyed on a conveyor to an egg-weighing station, at which each egg is individually weighed. The weight of each egg is sent to a storage and processing device, where the weight values are summed to arrive at a total value for all eggs passing through the egg-weighing station. The eggs are then conveyed to an egg-breaking machine, which may also separate the contents of the eggs broken in the egg-breaking machine. The data in the processor can be used to accurately calculate the weight of eggs processed by the egg-breaking machine. In addition, this data can be used to calculate the yield of the machine, by comparing it with data regarding the weight of the shells of the broken eggs and the weight of the egg contents from the broken eggs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Diamond Automations, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Nield
  • Patent number: 5415084
    Abstract: A yolk cup is provided for use in an egg breaking apparatus. The yolk cup is pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position. In the horizontal position, the yolk cup receives an egg content including a yolk and an albumen, the yolk cup being provided with a discharge cutout for selectively discharging the albumen while retaining the yolk when the yolk cup is held in the horizontal position. The discharge cutout comprises an upper yolk discharge portion extending up to an upper brim of the yolk cup for discharging the yolk when the yolk cup is pivoted to the inclined position, and a pair of lower albumen discharge portions continuous with the yolk discharge portion at both sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Kyowa Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeo Tomosue
  • Patent number: 5377583
    Abstract: A yolk cup is provided for use in an egg breaking apparatus. The yolk cup is pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position. In the horizontal position, the yolk cup receives an egg content including a yolk and an albumen, the yolk cup being provided with a discharge device for selectively discharging the albumen while retaining the yolk when the yolk cup is held in the horizontal position. The discharge device comprises a yolk discharge opening elongated horizontally for discharging the yolk when the yolk cup is pivoted to the inclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Kyowa Machinery Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeo Tomosue
  • Patent number: 5325768
    Abstract: An apparatus for breaking and opening eggs and for removing and catching the yolks and whites thereof. A first conveyor is adapted to travel in a first direction of travel. Supply belts supply eggs to the first conveyor. Egg carriers are operably connected to the first conveyor for carrying eggs supplied from the supply belts. Egg receiving members are operably connected to each egg carrier for receiving eggs carried by each carrier. An egg opening element is operably associated with each egg carrier for breaking and opening eggs received by the egg receiving members. A second conveyor is adapted to travel underneath and in alignment with at least a portion of travel of the first conveyor. Egg holders are operably connected to the second conveyor. Cup members are operably connected to each egg holder for catching the yolk and white of the eggs openable by the opening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: FPS Food Processing Systems B.V.
    Inventor: Brand van den Hazel
  • Patent number: 5105724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of pasteurizing a liquid whole egg product in a continuous stream. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an egg yolk product stream and an egg white product stream; (b) heating the egg yolk product stream to a predetermined temperature greater than the highest temperature of the egg white product stream; and then (c) recombining the egg yolk product stream and the egg white product stream to form a whole egg product stream, the whole egg product stream having (e.g., equilibrating to) a second predetermined temperature; wherein the total thermal treatment received by the liquid whole egg product during the process is at least sufficient to pasteurize the product. An apparatus useful for carrying out the method of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Swartzel, Hershell R. Ball, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5085139
    Abstract: Automatic egg shelling machine (10) comprising two or more continuous production lines (A, B, C, D, E, F) to permit cyclic circulation of the various egg shelling devices (61) and the yolk and white collecting devices (62) on vertical parallel planes, each production line (A, B, C, D, E, F) being in turn composed of two half-circuits one above the other on the same vertical plane, the first to carry and move along the selling devices (61) and the second, below the first, to carry and move along the collecting devices (62), a shelling device (61) and a collecting device (62) meeting each other cyclically on the front (33) of the machine (10) on each production line (A, B, C, D, E, F) timed to meet at the moment when each egg is placed on the shelling device (61) by an external egg feeding machine, means being provided to break the shell, separate the two halves of the shell, discharge the broken shells, the egg white and the yolk into special containers (181) (182), and hand operated means to allow any waste t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Pelbo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giorgio Pellegrinelli
  • Patent number: 5054384
    Abstract: A cooking pan filling system for an automated egg cooking process is disclosed wherein whole eggs are removed from their shells and transferred to a plurality of conveyed cooking pans intact without yolk breakage or separation of the egg yolks from the egg whites. A microprocessor based control unit causes the system to sequentially add a release agent and additional egg white to the cooking pans before the whole eggs are dispensed from a reservoir into the pans. A nondestructive valve mechanism insures that the whole eggs will not be damaged as they are dispensed from the reservoir into the pans. Alternatively, the whole eggs are mixed before they are dispensed into the pans to make scrambled eggs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Louis D. Dunckel
    Inventor: Richard M. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4919042
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the breaking of eggs and separation of yolk and albumen, and of the kind comprising a supply conveyor, a washing and flushing system and a breaking mechanism positioned at one end of the conveyor and having a considerable number of egg stations each capable of receiving and holding one egg at the time, and with separate containers of yolk and albumen, the eggs stations are arranged for successively passing the conveyor to receive eggs and continue through a closed path along which working stations are provided for control of the separation of yolk and albumen, their collection in separate ducts or containers and removal of empty egg shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Sanovo Engineering A/S
    Inventor: Hans Kristian L. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4799423
    Abstract: A mechanism for separating the yolk and albumen contents of eggs comprises a frame mounting a yolk cup assembly for receiving the yolk and albumen contents of a cracked egg and an albumen pan positioned below the yolk cup assembly for receiving the albumen egg contents therefrom. The yolk cup assembly includes a funnel ring with a downwardly-converging, tapered side wall and upper and lower openings. A retaining bowl is mounted on the funnel ring side wall and forms a receptacle therewith. The retaining bowl is partly spaced from the yolk cup assembly side wall to provide an opening therebetween through which albumen can flow into the albumen pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Seymour Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles H. Willsey
  • Patent number: 4773322
    Abstract: A device for recovering albumen from an egg processing machine includes a vacuum system with a motor-driven pump and a container system with a primary container connected to the pump. A pickup system includes eggshell and yolk cup pickup assemblies for recovering albumen drippings or stringers from the eggshells and the yolk cups of the egg breaking and separating units. The pickup assemblies are connected to the primary container, in which a partial vacuum is drawn to retain the recovered albumen. The pump motor is on an electric timer which periodically interrupts the vacuum pump operation to allow accumulated albumen to drain from the primary container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Seymour Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles H. Willsey
  • Patent number: 4554866
    Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly breaking and separating eggs is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an egg holder for holding a plurality of eggs stationary in a select number of rows. A pair of contiguous knife blades are positioned below each row of eggs. The knife blades are movable from a lower position below the eggs to an upper position wherein the knife blades break the shells of the eggs. The knife blades are movable horizontally to a spaced-apart position to allow the egg contents to drain between the knife blades. A receptacle is provided for receiving the egg contents. A hollow cone with a depressible collar is preferably positioned below each egg to receive the egg contents. The collar can be depressed to allow the egg whites to overflow the cones into the receptacle and only the egg yolks are retained within the cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Inventor: Ernestine Hampton
  • Patent number: 4541330
    Abstract: An egg processing unit is supported by a conveyor and has an egg breaking assembly for breaking the egg-shell of an egg and a separating cup for separating the white of the egg from the yolk thereof. The separating cup is supported by a supporting arm held by the conveyor. The separating cup has a V-shaped escape opening causing the white to overflow and is swingable, in accordance with the natures of the egg to be processed, about a pivot axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the separating cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Kewpie Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Gen Fujimura
  • Patent number: 4463666
    Abstract: An egg separator has a receptacle with a bottom wall which slopes towards the center where there is a tubular hollow upright provided with circumferentially spaced openings leading to a center discharge hole for the egg whites, the yolks being held back at the openings. The separator is especially well suited for separating several eggs at one and the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Inventor: Julius F. Papp