Automatic machine for classifying eggs into weight categories

Claim 2

In a system for automatically classifying eggs according to the weight thereof, including apparatus comprising: feed conveyer means for transporting eggs to be classified; weighing means disposed to receive eggs from said feed conveyor means for individually weighing the eggs and determining the weight category of each egg with respect to a plurality of predetermined possible weight categories, said weighing means being provided with a separate output line and means for generating a pneumatic signal for each said weight category, a pneumatic signal being generated on one of said output lines upon each weighing; distributor conveyor means for receiving the eggs from said weighing means, said distribution conveyor means including a plurality of spaced apart egg-discharge gate means disposed along said conveyor means in the direction of travel thereof, each said gate means including means actuable by a control means therefor in response to a pneumatic signal for releasing an egg from the gate; stroke pulse generator means for generating a train of pneumatic timing pulses in which the interpulse spacing of said pulse train is integrally related to the distance between each discharge gate means of said distribution conveyor means at a given rate of feed of the conveyor means; a plurality of delay lined each comprising a pneumatic counter means for counting a respectively different number of timing pulses from said stroke pulses generator means, each delay line delaying the transfer of a pneumatic signal applied thereto for a time interval defined by said respective number of timing pulses, each delay line being operatively connected between a respective output line of said weighing means and a respective control means for an egg-discharge gate means.

Claim 3

In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said weighing means for determining the appropriate weight category comprises a plurality of pneumatic comparison units equal in number to the number of the specified weight categories; means for selecting pneumatic reference signals determined by the limits of the weight categories and which are operative connected to each of the said respective comparison units; comparison elements operatively connected to each of the said respective comparison units which compare the pneumatic signal arriving from the said weighing means with the pneumatic signaLs coming from the said means for selecting the reference signals pneumatic relays operatively connected to each of the said respective comparison units; the said comparison units including means having different actuation thresholds, a first comparison unit having the highest actuation threshold and each subsequent unit having a lower actuation threshold than the preceding one; means for combining the inputs of the said comparison units in a common fluid channel said common fluid channel being connected to an output of the said weighing means; output channels of the weighing means equal in number to the number of the specified weight categories; pneumatic negation elements; the output of the said comparison unit with the highest actuation threshold being directly connected to a corresponding output channel of the said weighing means, said pneumatic negation elements being operatively connected to the outputs of the remaining said comparison units, said negation elements each operatively connected to and being controlled by an output signal of the preceding comparison unit, the outputs of the said negation elements being operatively connected to the output channel of the said weighing means.

Claim 4

In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the said delay lines comprises pneumatic relays equal in number to the number of pulses of delaying signals emenating from the said weighing means; pneumatic reservoirs each operatively connected to the input of the said pneumatic relays for communicating it with the output of a preceding pneumatic relay, and the first of the said pneumatic relays of the said delay lines with a relevant output channel of the said weighing means; pneumatic valves operatively connected to and controlled by the said pulse generator stroke means, the valves being connected to the input and output of each of the said pneumatic reservoirs; and change-over switch operatively connected to and controlled by said stroke generator pulse means and connected to the output of the last pneumatic relay of the said delay lines, and output channel connected to the said change-over switch and communicating through the change-over switch with the atmosphere in the absence of a pulse signal.

Claim 5

In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said distribution conveyer means comprises, series, connected cells each including means to receive eggs, each of the cells including a respective control means for receiving a pneumatic signal from the delay line and means to dislodge an egg to the appropriate egg-discharging means of the distribution conveyer means.

Claim 6

In a system as set forth in claim 1 including a discharging conveyer means disposed transversely to the distribution conveyer means for ensuring that the classified eggs are side-tracked from the flow of eggs being fed to the said weighing means.

Claim 7

In a system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said weighing means comprises a pivoted lever, a nozzle over which one end of the said swivel lever is located and a power compensation element; said power compensation element consisting of two membranes having different effective areas, and a rigid rod interconnecting the said membranes and operatively connected with the pivoted lever; and fluid channel connecting a chamber formed by said membranes to the said nozzle and the output of the said weighing means.

Claim 8

In a system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the said comparison elements includes a membrane which divides in inner cavity into two chambers; a nozzle installed in one of the said chambers and which interacts with the said membrane; the said nozzle being operatively connected to the pneumatic relay cooperating with the comparison unit and its cooperating comparison element; an orifice communicating the nozzle with the atmosphere; the one chamber which accommodates the said nozzle and which is being connected to the output of the said weighing means; the other chamber being connected to the said means for selecting the reference signal, the means For selecting a reference signal being operatively connected to the comparison unit and its comparison element.

Claim 9

In a system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the said comparison elements includes two similar membranes forming three chambers; a rigid rod connecting the said membranes; a nozzle operatively connected to a first chamber defined between the said membranes, the nozzle interacting with one of the said membranes; the said nozzle being operatively connected to a pneumatic relay and its corresponding comparison unit and its comparison element; an orifice connecting the said nozzle to a pneumatic power supply source; and second chamber formed by the membranes interacting with the said nozzle being operatively connected to the output of the said weighing means; the first chamber communicating with the atmosphere; the third chamber being operatively connected to the means for selecting a reference signal and its corresponding comparison unit and comparison element.