Laminar conditioned egg drying device

Abstract

An egg dryer incorporating a rotating spool bar conveyor extending between an inlet end and an outlet end and upon which are supported a plurality of eggs conveyed through the body. An airflow exhibiting a humidity less than that associated with an environment outside the body is directed from the outlet end in a normal and opposing flowing direction relative to a direction of travel of the eggs. Subset flows of heated / desiccated air are also redirected to one or more intermediate header tubes arranged at internal locations of the body in communication with the conveyor and, in combination with impinging baffle plates mounted in proximity to the header tubes, provide additional and targeting drying of such as the ends of the eggs in combination with the overall heated / desiccated airflow.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 253,937, filed October 22, 2009, and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12 / 906,365, filed October 18, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention generally relates to an egg drying device, such as incorporated into an egg handling / transfer assembly. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved egg drying apparatus in which a reduced humidity (drying) airflow is introduced by passing the airflow through a plenum in approximately parallel and opposite directions associated with the dryer. The laminar state of the travel path of the previously washed eggs conveyed by the internal piping of the chain is introduced. The direction of the dry / heated air flow typically creates a laminar flow over the upper and lower surfaces of the eggs and the continuously rot...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] Problems associated with egg drying according to this prior art include: uneven drying of the upper and lower surfaces of the egg; and inability to adequately dry the roller bars, which are constantly wet from the introduction of previously washed eggs

It has been found that failure to dry the roller bar surfaces collectively within the dryer will result in a continuous transfer of moisture to newly admitted eggs and reduce the effect of the orthogonal / angled airflow in an antagonistic manner

An associated disadvantage is the inability of existing egg dryer (blower) assemblies to adequately dry the eggs as they emerge from the dryer in the inability to apply the various marking patterns or identifying markings on the outer egg shells that would otherwise be required Pattern or identifying mark to identify type and grade

Images