US3589419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Egg-cracking head and separating means
Assignee: Henningsen Foods Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-03
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1989-07-03
Abstract
Abstract An improved separating means for use on automatic egg-breaking machines of the type which receive whole eggs and fed them to cracking heads and separating means. The cracking heads crack or open the eggs and drain the egg yolks and the egg whites into separating pans for draining the yolks and the whites into separate storage containers. The improved separating means of this invention includes an egg-cracking unit having egg-gripping jaws and attached egg-cracking knives. A related separating pan is mounted below the cracking unit. A yolk spoon in the pan receives the yolk and contains it while the white is drained through a draining hole in the separating pan into an egg-white container. The draining action of the white while the yolk spoon is held above the draining hole in the pan is used to cleanly tear or separate the white from the yolk.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin T Classen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:19
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J43/00; A47J43/14; A47J43/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An improved egg-separating means for an egg-breaking machine comprising the combination of a support member having a portion adapted for connection to the links of an endless chain for movement therewith, an egg-cracking head having a pair of egggripping members pivotally connected together and to said support member, an egg-separating pan positioned beneath said eggcracking head and being pivotally connected to said support member for movement between a generally horizontal egg-liquiddumping position, a yolk-separating means comprising an aperture in the bottom of said separating pan, a yolk cup movably mounted on said pan and positioned to removably seal said aperture, said yolk cup being proportioned to accommodate one liquid egg yolk, an elongated lifting cam positioned for directly engaging said yolk cup and for lifting it clear of said pan aperture to permit the draining of egg white, and said cam length being proportioned whereby the egg white is pulled clear of the yolk prior to the lowering of said yolk cup to reseal said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An improved egg-separating means for an egg-breaking machine comprising the combination of a support member having a portion adapted for connection to the links of an endless chain for movement therewith, an egg-cracking head having a pair of egggripping members pivotally connected together and to said support member, an egg-separating pan positioned beneath said eggcracking head and being pivotally connected to said support member for movement between a generally horizontal egg-liquiddumping position, a yolk-separating means comprising an aperture in the bottom of said separating pan, a yolk cup movably mounted on said pan and positioned to removably seal said aperture, said yolk cup being proportioned to accommodate one liquid egg yolk, an elongated lifting cam positioned for directly engaging said yolk cup and for lifting it clear of said pan aperture to permit the draining of egg white, and said cam length being proportioned whereby the egg white is pulled clear of the yolk prior to the lowering of said yolk cup to reseal said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The means as claimed in claim 1 in which said egg-gripping members comprise opposed egg-gripping portions, each of said gripping portions including a flat egg-engaging surface positioned whereby opposed flat portions engage opposite surfaces of an egg and are generally parallel to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
The means as claimed in claim 1 in which said egg-gripping members comprise opposed egg-gripping portions, each of said gripping portions including a flat egg-engaging surface positioned whereby opposed flat portions engage opposite surfaces of an egg and are generally parallel to one another, a knife pivotally mounted on each gripping member, and the pivotal connection for said knife on one member having a fixed position with respect to one flat surface on that member, and the pivotal connection for said other knife on said other member having a fixed position with respect to the flat surface on said member corresponding to said one flat surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The means as claimed in claim 1 in which said egg-cracking head and said separator pan are removably mounted on the chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
An improved egg-separating means for an egg-breaking machine comprising the combination of a support member having a portion adapted for connection to the lInks of an endless chain for movement therewith, an egg-cracking head having egg-gripping members pivotally connected to said support member, an egg-separating pan positioned beneath said egg-cracking head and being pivotally connected to said support member for movement between a generally horizontal egg-liquid-receiving position and an inclined liquid-dumping position, a yolk-separating means comprising an aperture in the bottom of said separating pan, a yolk cup movably mounted on said pan and positioned to removably seal said aperture, an elongated cup lifting cam positioned for directly engaging said yolk cup and for lifting it clear of said pan aperture to permit the draining of egg white, and said cam length being proportioned whereby the egg white is pulled clear of the yolk prior to the lowering of said yolk cup to reseal said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
156 words
An improved egg-separating means for an egg-breaking machine comprising the combination of a support member having a portion adapted for connection to the lInks of an endless chain for movement therewith, an egg-cracking head having egg-gripping members pivotally connected to said support member, an egg-separating pan positioned beneath said egg-cracking head and being pivotally connected to said support member for movement between a generally horizontal egg-liquid-receiving position and an inclined liquid-dumping position, a yolk-separating means comprising an aperture in the bottom of said separating pan, a yolk cup movably mounted on said pan and positioned to removably seal said aperture, an elongated cup lifting cam positioned for directly engaging said yolk cup and for lifting it clear of said pan aperture to permit the draining of egg white, and said cam length being proportioned whereby the egg white is pulled clear of the yolk prior to the lowering of said yolk cup to reseal said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The means as claimed in claim 5 in which said yolk cup has a rounded bottom, and said cam is positioned below the moving pan aperture for engaging said rounded cup bottom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |