(19)
(11) EP 0 922 639 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
25.08.1999 Bulletin 1999/34

(43) Date of publication A2:
16.06.1999 Bulletin 1999/24

(21) Application number: 98306686.1

(22) Date of filing: 20.08.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B65B 23/06
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 21.08.1997 GB 9717902

(71) Applicant: SMITH, Michael, John
Carmarthen, Dyfed SA32 8LX (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • SMITH, Michael, John
    Carmarthen, Dyfed SA32 8LX (GB)

(74) Representative: Harman, Michael Godfrey 
Holmwood 37 Upper Park Road
Camberley Surrey GU15 2EG
Camberley Surrey GU15 2EG (GB)

   


(54) Egg handling system


(57) An egg handling system comprising an inclined shaker tray 20 supplied with eggs and a row of delivery stations 28 at the bottom edge of the tray, each for receiving an egg from the tray and having release means 32,33 for releasing the egg. Delivery station control means (a timer, or an alignment sensor) ensure that the egg in the delivery station is aligned before the egg is released. The eggs roll down a slight incline to the bottom edge of the tray, which by the manner of its oscillation aligns the eggs. The exit of the eggs from the delivery station may be controlled to rotate the egg in a direction dependent on its orientation so as to orient the egg into a predetermined orientation, or the eggs can be directed to two different cassettes in dependence on their orientation.






Search report