Abstract: An egg decapping apparatus is provided. Such an apparatus includes a reference plate defining a plurality of reference openings therethrough. Each reference opening is adapted to receive an avian egg therein from a lower side of the reference plate and to stop further upward movement of the avian egg within the reference opening when an upper egg section to be cut extends from the reference opening above the reference plate. A cutter member is positioned above the reference plate. The cutter member is moveable across the reference plate and the reference openings from a precut position to a post cut position for creating an opening in the upper egg section. A cleaning member is moveable with the cutter member across the reference plate. The cleaning member is actuatable at the post cut position so as to remove debris from the upper egg section accumulated on the cutter member. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food processing device, for example but not exclusively, a gripper, a conveying hook, or a collection cup (1), having at least one processing surface portion of matt stainless steel having the following roughness characteristics:—a roughness value Ra, 0.2?Ra?1.2 (?m), and—a peak density value Rpc, 40<Rpc<140 (1/cm). It has been found that with devices treated in this manner, the application of vision technology is appreciably improved, so that much more reliable images are obtained. An example of this concerns observing yolk in albumen upon the breaking of eggs in egg breakers. Further, a particularly advantageous combination of usefulness is obtained, in this case for vision and cleanability.

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.

Abstract: The vegetable peeler for separating the peel from fruits and vegetables includes a handle, a tool head or blade mount, and a blade. The handle is configured to be able to receive and store at least one spare cutting blade such that the blade can be removed from the tool head and replaced with a different blade stored in the handle.

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.

Abstract: A method for processing unseparated egg shells includes placing unseparated egg shells in a separation tank containing fluid, applying cavitation to the unseparated egg shells in the fluid to thereby separate the egg shell membranes from the egg shells, and recovering the egg shell membranes. An apparatus for processing unseparated egg shells includes a separation tank for holding a fluid, a recirculating loop operatively connected to the separation tank, and at least one submersible mixer in the recirculating loop to recirculate the fluid and egg shell membranes and egg shells within the fluid. The apparatus further includes a membrane collection conveyor for conveying egg shell membranes from the separation tank and a shell conveyor positioned beneath the separation tank for conveying egg shells away from the separation tank.

Abstract: A centrifugal egg separator that has a plurality of user-selectable discrete rotational speeds for performing a corresponding plurality of egg separation operations. Up to two speeds may correspond to centrifugal egg breaking: one for separating yolk and albumin from shell and chalazae and one for separating yolk, albumin, and chalazae from shell. Up to three speeds may correspond to separating components of broken eggs: one for separating out only albumin, one for separating out the yolk and albumin, and one for separating out the yolk, albumin, and chalazae. May be used with a customized food processor base. Various lid designs are included.

Abstract: An improved container is provided for cooking eggs and the like in a microwave oven. The container includes a bottom cup having a top opening and a top cap configured to fit over the top opening. The container can also include a unique separator fitted within the bottom cup. The separator can include a cracker plate for cracking egg shells and/or at least one depending leg extending along an inside surface of the bottom cup to facilitate separation of cooked eggs. The container can also include a unique scrambler fitted within the top cap. Preferably, the scrambler is formed as a grid through which egg contents can pass when the container is shaken. In addition, a novel cradle can be provided to facilitate carrying and handling of a plurality of like containers. The preferred embodiments of the present invention enable a variety of egg dishes—e.g., poached eggs, scrambled eggs, omelets, etc.—to be easily and conveniently cooked in microwave and the like ovens with added health benefits, e.g.

Abstract: An egg poker device is disclosed for piercing a hole in a shell of an egg to be boiled to facilitate removal of the shell. The device includes a first member having a base and a wall extending away from the base such that the base and the wall define therebetween a cavity. A disc shaped spring is disposed within the cavity and adjacent to the base, the spring having a central portion. The spring also defines a peripheral edge. The first end of a rod is secured to the central portion of the spring and a second end of the rod defines a point for piercing the hole in the shell of the egg. A second member slidably cooperates with the first member. The second member includes a support for supporting the egg, the support defining a hole for the slidable passage therethrough of the point of the rod. A skirt portion extends from the support such that the skirt portion slidably cooperates with the wall. The skirt portion defines a distal end which cooperates with the peripheral edge of the spring.

Abstract: An improved egg washing, breaking and separating system is constructed of two side-by-side washers feeding a corresponding pair of candlers. From the candlers, a respective pair of conveyor transition ramps lead to corresponding ones of a pair of stacked upper and lower egg breaker/separator units. Each egg breaker/separator unit includes an endless chain of a plurality of individual egg cracker/separator cup assemblies with the upper chain independently driven about a four sided frame, preferably in opposition to the lower chain. Eggs are shuttled into the cup assemblies from each of the conveyor transition ramps. The chains of cracker/separator cup assemblies ride via slides operating within tracks extending about the frame. Each washer allows rows of eggs to advance along an egg conveyor which travels beneath a plurality of endless chains of brushes as well as a cleaning water distribution manifold.

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.

Abstract: An improved egg washing, breaking and separating system is constructed of two side-by-side washers feeding a corresponding pair of candlers. From the candlers, a respective pair of conveyor transition ramps lead to corresponding ones of a pair of stacked upper and lower egg breaker/separator units. Each egg breaker/separator unit includes an endless chain of a plurality of individual egg cracker/separator cup assemblies with the upper chain independently driven about a four sided frame in a direction opposite to the lower chain. Eggs are shuttled into the cup assemblies from each of the conveyor transition ramps. The chains of cracker/separator cup assemblies ride via slides operating within tracks extending about the frame. Each washer allows rows of eggs to advance along an egg conveyor which travels beneath a plurality of endless chains of brushes as well as a cleaning water distribution manifold.

Abstract: A device for separating the yolk and albumen of an egg is provided. A housing includes an inner chamber and an outer chamber. A lid member is detachably coupled to an upper edge of the housing. The lid includes an annular member positioned above the inner chamber and a plurality of slots disposed adjacent to the annular member communicating with the outer chamber. The annular member is sized for retaining the yolk and for causing the albumen to overflow the annular member with the slots allowing the albumen to flow downwardly into the outer chamber. A lever is pivotally coupled to the annular member. The lever has a bottom portion abutting a bottom edge of the annular member for enabling dispensing of whole yolk retained in the annular member into the inner chamber without breaking the yolk. A funnel is detachably mounted on the lid. The funnel has a bottom opening positioned above the annular member for directing the egg to the annular member.

Abstract: A track apparatus for egg breaking mechanisms is provided which comprises a pair of endless chains extending along an endless moving path and carrying the egg breaking mechanisms, a pair of drive sprockets held in driving engagement with the chains, a pair of idle sprockets held in engagement with the chains, and a chain tensioning mechanism for slidably guiding the chains.

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.

Abstract: An egg breaking mechanism is provided which comprises an egg receiver for receiving an egg thereof, an egg presser arranged above the egg receiver for pressing the egg against the egg receiver, a knife assembly for making a cut in the egg shell, and a cup assembly arranged below the egg receiver for receiving the discharged content of the egg. The egg receiver includes a pair of receiver members movable toward and away from each other, and each of the receiver members has a knife mount which is integrally formed with a lateral pin support tube. The knife assembly includes a pair of knife members each pivotally connected to the knife mount by means of a connecting pin inserted into the pin support tube.

Abstract: A device for separating the yolk and albumen of eggs, after removal from the shell, includes a cup-shaped member in an upper portion of a unitary housing for receiving an egg, retaining the yolk and allowing the albumen to overflow the cup-shaped member through surrounding slots into a first chamber in the housing, a lever being operable thereafter to break the yolk and form an opening in the cup-shaped member for allowing the yoke to flow through a tube extending downwardly through the first chamber into a second chamber. The chambers each have inclined floors and chutes for allowing their respective contents to flow into separate containers. A funnel is preferably mounted above the cup-shaped member together with an anvil so that the shell of the egg can be broken on the anvil and the combined yolk and albumen directed into the cup-shaped member by the funnel.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting albumen drippings or stringers from conveyor-mounted egg breaking and separating units. The apparatus includes a collection container with an exhaust opening connected to a vacuum pump, an albumen discharge opening and an albumen and air intake opening. A vacuum pickup head includes an opening positioned in the travel path of the egg breaking and separating units. The albumen drippings or stringers are drawn through the pickup head inlet opening and into the collection container. An exhaust valve assembly in the collection container closes the exhaust opening when the albumen reaches a predetermined full level, which releases the partial vacuum for discharging the albumen contents.

Abstract: A multiplicity of shell eggs to be broken are first transported in transverse rows on an infeed conveyor, from which they are loaded onto a transfer conveyor. This transfer conveyor extends at a right angle to the infeed conveyor, so that the successive transverse rows of shell eggs on the infeed conveyor are rearranged into a longitudinal row on the transfer conveyor. The shell eggs are subsequently transferred from the transfer conveyor onto respective egg breaker assemblies mounted at longitudinal spacings on an endless breaker conveyor, while the breaker assemblies are traveling side by side with the transfer conveyor. The breaker assemblies break the shell eggs, and the white and yolk recovered therefrom are separated by recovery cup assemblies also carried by the breaker conveyor under the respective breaker assemblies. As an incidental feature, an air nozzle assembly is mounted on the breaker conveyor in the vicinity of each breaker assembly.

Abstract: An improved breaker head is disclosed for use on automatic egg breaking machines. These machines receive whole eggs from a conveyor or other egg feeder and crack, open and drain the eggs. This improved head has a cracking knife arrangement which engages the inner side portions of the egg shells. This facilitates egg drainage by permitting a more complete and a more rapid draining of the egg white, facilitates the yolk removal, and adjusts knife penetration in accordance with the egg size to protect yolks from knife damage in smaller eggs.

Abstract: A method and means are described for transferring rows of articles having one alignment on a first support to a second support where the rows have a differing alignment. Preferred method and means are described for transferring straight rows of articles, such as eggs, from a row conveyor to a processing machine having a turret or other curved article supporting arrangement. The transfer means includes slidable mountings for the article supports on the turret and a cooperating camming means which temporarily moves the supports into a straight line when they are adjacent to the row conveyor for receiving the straight row of articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering embryos from embryonated eggs wherein the egg is cracked open the shell discarded and the contents dropped onto a continuously vibrating screen which separates the embryo from the yolk sac and accompanying fluid. This associated material, which is less cohesive than the embryo, passes through the screen. The screen itself is tilted at a compound angle from the horizontal and its vibrating action causes the embryos to move along the upper surface of the screen toward a discharge chute located at the lower corner of the screen.

Abstract: An egg cracking machine is provided wherein a first conveyor moves a plurality of eggs past a stationary blade which severs the top portion of the egg. The top portions of the eggs are carried away by a second conveyor. The egg bottoms are emptied as the egg bottoms are inverted. The egg shells are prevented from intermixing with the emptied contents by guide rails. The egg contents are collected for use in collector means beneath the first conveyor.