Abstract: A conveyor system is configured to transport the electronic substrates through cleaning modules of a cleaning apparatus. The conveyor system includes a first outer frame member, a second outer frame member, a bottom belt assembly disposed between the first outer frame member and the second outer frame member, and a top belt assembly spaced from the bottom belt assembly. The bottom belt assembly and the top belt assembly are configured to an electronic substrate therebetween to transport the electronic substrate along the conveyor system and through the at least one cleaning module. The bottom belt assembly or the top belt assembly includes a mesh material belt fabricated from heat resistant synthetic fibers. The conveyor system further includes a plurality of pins secured to the bottom belt assembly or the top belt assembly to create at least one lane along a length of the conveyor system.

Abstract: This invention relates to laying nest having a rack drive expulsion system. As disclosed herein, the invention preferably comprises a laying nest for hens comprising a box and a rack drive floor expulsion system. The floor pivotably moves between first and second positions by virtue of a gear rack that is fixedly connected to and disposed within the box, and a gear wheel that is rotatably connected to the floor. Accordingly, the expulsion system provides for the selected removal of hens from the laying nests as desired.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a floor, a roof, and at least one wall having a plenum to draw air adjacent the roof down the plenum toward the floor. At least one cage tower is disposed on the floor. At least one walkway is disposed adjacent the at least one cage tower and is configured to facilitate bird access to the at least one cage tower. A fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum to circulate air in the aviary.

Abstract: A transporting element for accommodating and for transporting spherical, cylindrical or egg-shaped articles, in particular foodstuffs, in particular eggs, along a conveying route, has a plurality of mounts arranged one beside the other along the longitudinal extent. The transporting element is designed in the form of a channel-like body with an accommodating space curved in the form of part of a circle, as seen in cross section, and encloses an angle of at least 180°. The mounts are designed in the form of slot-form apertures in that region of the channel-like body that is curved in the form of part of a circle. The apertures extending parallel to one another, and transversely to the longitudinal extent of the channel-like body, as far as longitudinal crosspieces on either side, these forming a respective longitudinal periphery.

Abstract: A roll out and conveyance unit of an egg collector includes endless conveyors which have orbit in the vertical direction on at least portions and are rotationally driven, rotary support portions which support rotation of the endless conveyors, a plurality of egg receiving portions which are attached to the endless conveyors at an equal interval and receive and hold eggs, and a roll out machinery portion which includes an initiation side roll out support portion and a termination side roll out support portion, and discharge plates which are provided so as to project from a termination side rotational shaft of the termination side roll out support portion, make contact with the egg which has been received by the egg receiving portion and has not been rolled out in the vicinity of the termination position to press the egg toward the cumulative egg collection conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor for shock-sensitive products includes a conveyor member with at least one intermediate storage region adapted to receive a predetermined number of the products placed thereon when the conveyor is a static condition for temporary intermediate storage. A force measuring member determines the weight force of the products in the intermediate storage region. A control member, adapted to increase and decrease the rate of feed of the shock-sensitive products in the conveyor member, processes the weight force detected by the force measuring member as an input parameter, and increases or reduces the rate of feed of the products toward and away from the intermediate storage region as a function of the weight force.

Abstract: A conveyor and associated method for shock-sensitive products and the like, includes a conveyor member having at least one individual compartment for receiving a product therein, as well as upward and downward conveyor sections. An upper conveyor deflector deflects the conveyor member from the upward to the downward section. The compartment includes a first support surface configured for supporting the product in the upwardly directed conveyor section, as well as a second support surface configured for supporting the product in a downwardly directed conveyor section. The compartment also includes a bottom surface that supports the product during movement of the conveyor member over the upper conveyor deflector.

Abstract: The invention relates to an egg collection conveyor and a vertical feeding device for egg collection, and particularly relates to an egg roll out mechanism for an egg collector. The egg collection conveyor collects eggs produced at each cage of a multiple-stage chicken cage and conveys the eggs to horizontally one end side of the conveyor. The vertical feeding device for egg collection is provided on one end side of the multiple-stage chicken cage, conveys the eggs in the vertical direction, and discharges the eggs, collected by the egg collection conveyor, at a previously set position. The vertical feeding device has egg placement means on which eggs are placed and that discharges the eggs at a desired position. The egg placement means has a space section directly under the position where an egg is placed and the space can be in contact with the bottom surface of the egg. The vertical feeding device is connected to an endless conveyor for conveying the collected eggs to a desired position.

Abstract: Among the components of a vertical feeding device for egg collection, particularly egg placement means has a problem of holding an egg for an unnecessarily long time period. In such a case, the egg held drops at a position outside an expected place to sometimes contaminate the egg placement means again, further contributing the egg placement means to hold an unnecessary number of eggs and putting the device in unsanitary conditions by scattered eggs. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] The invention relates to an egg collection conveyor and a vertical feeding device for egg collection, and particularly relates to an a egg roll out mechanism for an egg collector. The egg collection conveyor collects eggs produced at each cage of a multiple-stage chicken cage and conveys the eggs to horizontally one end side of the conveyor.

Abstract: A nest box system (10) having a plurality of nest boxes (12) for egg-laying birds, including a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls (14, 14) forming sides of the nest boxes (12), and divider walls (16) mounted to the sidewalls (14, 14) at spaced intervals for forming dividers between adjacent nest boxes (12), the nest box system (10) being adapted for use with a floor (18) separable from the nest box system (10), wherein the sidewalls (14, 14) are deformable upwardly/downwardly so as to adapt to changes in profile of the floor (18) for preventing litter escaping the nest boxes (12) through unwanted self-lifting of the sidewalls (14, 14) above the floor (18).

Abstract: An egg harvester (100) has a shuttle (101) where a top run (32) of a conveyor (30) defines horizontal slots (40, 90) to receive eggs from a mat (10) on which eggs are laid. Damaged eggs and litter are separated on a transfer conveyor (60), and the sound eggs are transferred to an egg belt by a transverse conveyor (68). Fresh litter can be laid on the mat (10) as the shuttle (101) advances under the birds (50) in the nests (51).

Abstract: An egg harvester (100) has a shuttle (101) where a top run (32) of a conveyor (30) defines horizontal slots (40, 90) to receive eggs from a mat (10) on which eggs are laid. Damaged eggs and litter are separated on a transfer conveyor (60), and the sound eggs are transferred to an egg belt by a transverse conveyor (68). Fresh litter can be laid on the mat (10) as the shuttle (101) advances under the birds (50) in the nests (51).

Abstract: A laying nest arrangement for poultry comprises at least one housing with housing walls having at least one passage opening for the poultry, and at least one housing floor. A transporting device for laid eggs is guided along an edge of the housing floor. The housing floor has a downward inclination in the direction of the transporting device. The housing floor is formed by at least two floor plates that can be swiveled in relation to each other about a swiveling axis aligned in parallel with the longitudinal expanse of the transporting device, and which extends in the plane of the housing floor. There is a swiveling element by which each floor plate can be swiveled separately.

Abstract: A conveyor and escalator for transporting objects having a substantially uniform size and length such as eggs horizontally, vertically and helically vertically comprising at least one flexible endless support means; a drive means operably engaging said flexible endless support means for driving said flexible endless support means in a direction of advance; and a plurality of equispaced elongated paddles attached substantially perpendicular to said flexible endless support means, said paddles being adapted to support an object during linear travel and to open for receiving or releasing said object therebetween during arcuate travel. The endless flexible support means comprises an endless chain, an endless belt or an endless cable.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for preventing a second egg from directly contacting a first egg when the second egg exits a cage travelling in a first direction through a cage opening onto a conveyor belt travelling in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction from an upstream side to a downstream side of the cage opening. The apparatus comprises a contact strip, the contact strip having a proximal end and a distal end and being made of a flexible material, and means for attaching the proximal end to the cage near the cage opening on the upstream side thereof such that the distal end of the contact strip is disposed on the conveyor belt opposite the downstream side of the cage opening whereby the contact strip extends across the cage opening to prevent the second egg from directly contacting the first egg.

Abstract: Nesting apparatus (2) for hens includes a line of nesting cages (2), and an ejector member (4) in each cage (2), individually actuatable independently of the ejector members (4) in the other cages (2) to eject a hen from the respective cage (2) upon the existence of one or more specified conditions, such as the laying of an egg in the cage (2), the occupation of the cage (2) by the respective hen a predetermined length of time, etc. The hens carry transponders (15) which may be interrogated by a reader (18) movable along the line of cages (2) to identify the hens and to keep track of their activities.

Abstract: An egg escalator (23) of the present invention transfers eggs from one level (L1) to another level (L2) and it comprises a first conveyor (25) having an upper reach (27) inclined at an angle and extending between the one level (L1) to the other level (L2). Eggs (E) rest on the upper reach of the first conveyor as they are conveyed from the one level to the other level. A second belt (29) is spaced generally above the upper reach of the first belt, and the second belt has a lower reach (31) spaced from the upper reach (27) of the first belt disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the upper reach of the first belt. The second belt has a multiplicity of elongate, flexible fingers (33) extending perpendicularly therefrom. The fingers are spaced at substantially equal intervals from one another along the second belt for accommodating an egg (E) between adjacent fingers.

Abstract: An egg harvester has hingedly connecting nesting boxes resting on an elongate belt fixed at each end and along which a shuttle is pulled by a drive cable. The belt and a second conveyor define two slots which pass under the nesting boxes. The eggs and litter fall through slot and the eggs are removed from the litter by an egg separator and are transferred to an egg conveyor for transport to one end of the shed. Soiled litter and any manure is removed from the litter by a litter cleaner and fresh litter, supplied by a hopper on the shuttle is spaced across the belt which is brought back under the nesting boxes through the slot. The harvester enables collection of the eggs while hens remain in the nesting boxes as the shuttle passes underneath.