Systems and methods for processing eggs

ES 2 554 865 T3

DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods for processing eggs and other objects

RELATED REQUESTS

This application claims priority under USC € 119 to North American Provisional Application Serial Number 61 / 296,837, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING filed on January 20, 2010.

This application also claims the benefit under 35 USC 120 as a continuation, of the following North American non-provisional patent applications all filed on January 20, 2010:

<td>Serial No.</td><td>Qualification</td>

<td> 12/690.859</td><td>SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING</td>

<td> 12/690.872</td><td>SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING</td>

<td> 12/690.876</td><td>SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING</td>

<td> 12/690.886</td><td>SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING</td>

<td> 12/690.890</td><td>SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING</td>

<td> 12/690.896</td><td>SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING</td>

<td> 12/690.898</td><td>SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGG PROCESSING</td>

COUNTRYSIDE

The invention or inventions described herein generally relate to the fields of food safety assurance and the processing of food products. Some disclosed embodiments relate particularly to systems and techniques for laser marking, ink marking and / or other ways of processing eggs.

BACKGROUND

Food safety is a great public concern, in general. Eggs, in particular, represent a food product that is distributed and consumed in large quantities and, for many of the same reasons that make them desirable food products, they also present a unique safety risk. Eggs (most commonly chicken eggs) contain nutrients that can support the growth of dangerous bacteria, when contaminated.

Eggs are a perishable item susceptible to spoilage, too. To address concerns about spoilage - that is, whether the egg is fresh - egg packages typically (and often by law or regulation) have expiration dates marked on them. However, the eggs can be stored for days or even weeks before being sold in stores. Expiration dates, (a term that encompasses variations such as sold on and better if consumed on dates) thus cannot convey to a consumer or user how "old" an egg really is. Many consumers also move eggs from their containers to special receptacles in their refrigerators. In this way, additionally, the eggs from multiple cartons can become intermixed. When this is done, the consumer is no longer able to assess the expiration date of individual eggs before use.

To reduce the possibility of a bad egg being sold to a consumer, certain government agencies in the United States and elsewhere, for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the United States of America, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and various state governments, they currently do not allow retailers to “repack” eggs, for example, that is, to move eggs from one container to another. This restriction, unfortunately, can result in tremendous waste. For example, whenever the integrity of even a single egg in a package in the hands of a retailer is compromised (eg broken), the entire egg package should be discarded.

ES 2 554 865 T3

Eggs typically undergo a great deal of processing before they are ready to be sold to the consuming public. In many circumstances, for example, eggs pass through various processing stations where they are washed, candled, weighed, sorted, and packed in containers (e.g. cartons, egg boxes, or other commercially distributed containers. ). Examples of such processing stations and mechanisms for transporting eggs from station to station are described, for example, in the following US Patents assigned to Diamond Automations, Inc .: 4,189,898; 4,195,736; 4,505,373; 4,519,494; 4,519,505; 4,569 444; 4,750,316; 5,321,491; and 6,056,341. It is not uncommon for a facility in which these stalls operate to hatch approximately one million eggs in a single day. Therefore, to be commercially acceptable, stall throughput needs to be quite high, with some stalls typically processing on the order of 20,000 eggs per hour.

When contamination (and possibly spoilage) of eggs is discovered, therefore, not only is the number of people who have become ill - or worse - likely to be very large, but huge numbers of eggs must also be removed and destroyed. Many of those eggs will not have been contaminated and will have to be destroyed - at considerable financial loss - because there is no way to isolate bad eggs from the total egg population from a suspect source.

Various techniques have been proposed for marking individual eggs with expiration dates and the like. One such approach is to use vegetable dyes or other water soluble ink products to mark eggs. Such products, however, have a tendency to leak into the eggs and can result in undesirable ink stains within the eggs. The tendency of such products to wash away or fade also means that such marks are susceptible to tampering and even inadvertent loss of integrity (eg dripping and staining from condensation and handling), and has generally limited their acceptance.

It is also known to use lasers to make marks on perishable products for the purpose of tracking their pedigree and / or integrity (for example, using date codes and / or traceability codes), as well as to allow text or graphic advertising messages. to be disseminated by such products. An example of a system for laser marking such chicken egg information has been described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 11 / 725,099, Publication No. 2008/0223834 (the '834 Application), published on September 18, 2008.

RESUME

The approach described in the '834 application is to laser mark the information on the eggs as they are transported at high speed during the sorting process. This information can include, for example, a freshness date, a traceability code and / or advertising. Although this approach has proven effective for certain applications, the extremely high throughput of sorting machines, the lack of uniformity in the surface moisture content of individual eggs during the sorting process, and the significant amount of dust created during the laser marking process, among other things, has made it difficult to mark individual eggs with sufficient precision, reliability and consistency for certain purposes.

Among those purposes, providing a freshness date and / or a traceability code in relation to which an egg processing history can be kept in an online database obviously requires marking that is not only permanent and difficult to alter, but also make it clear and easily readable.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that egg producers have invested considerable sums of money in their hardware - sorting and packaging machines, conveyors, and the like. Getting them to replace such equipment with entirely new systems would be a substantial and slow-to-take challenge of seriously needed food safety improvement. Thus, there is a need for an equipment-based approach to egg marking that can be added to existing egg handling systems. Complicating this need, existing egg handling apparatus are of varied designs. Preferably, a marking system can be provided that is usable with a variety of egg handling apparatus, with little or no modification to that apparatus.

The above approaches may not satisfy the foregoing objectives or requirements.

This description presents new approaches to marking eggs, based on the apparatus and methods of the invention, various alternative embodiments of which are shown. Any single embodiment cannot, and generally cannot, perform all aspects of the invention that have been described. Document US 4 735 080 describes the technical characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

In summary, the following paragraphs now provide a non-exhaustive listing of the features of the embodiments described, in greater detail below, and shown in the drawings.

A method of laser marking an eggshell has been described which comprises controlling a laser beam directed onto the eggshell so as to discolor an outer layer of the eggshell without substantially etching on layers of the eggshell located below. the outer layer.

ES 2 554 865 T3

In addition, a method of laser marking an egg has been described which comprises directing a laser beam onto an egg at a power density of about 2000 W / square inch or less, at a suitable scan rate to produce discoloration suitable for printing a picture.

Furthermore, an egg having a laser marking on it has been described, in which a depth of an engraving of the egg caused by the laser marking process does not exceed about 25 microns.

A method for processing an egg package has been described which comprises adjusting a position of one or more of the eggs, after the eggs have been placed in a container (also referred to as a package or carton), so that each one of the eggs assumes a particular orientation within the package.

In some embodiments, the method may also comprise marking information on a surface of one or more of the eggs after the position of one or more of the eggs has been adjusted.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the position of one or more of the eggs can be adjusted using an egg orientator positioned on a conveyor of an egg packing station.

The position of the eggs in the package is adjusted so that a long axis of each egg in the package is inclined towards the rear of the package so that it is displaced at least slightly from the vertical. The long axes of all the eggs in each row of eggs in the package shape can be approximated to form right angles to a line intersecting the bottoms of the receptacles containing the eggs in that row.

An apparatus for processing egg packages has been described comprising an egg orientator configured and arranged with respect to the conveyor so as to adjust a position of one or more of the eggs in each of the packages so that each of the eggs in a given container it assumes a particular orientation within that container.

In some embodiments, the egg orientator may be located between an egg loading section and a container closure section of an egg packer.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise a laser source and one or more optical targeting elements configured and arranged to direct laser power from the laser source so as to laser mark information on a surface of one or more of the eggs while the eggs are in a container arranged on the conveyor and in said particular orientation.

In some embodiments, The egg orientator may be configured and further arranged to adjust the position of one or more of the eggs in each of the packages such that a long axis of each egg in a given package is inclined towards the rear of the package so that that is at least slightly offset from the vertical and / or such that the long axis of all the eggs in each row of eggs in the package forms approximate right angles to a line that intersects the parts bottom of receptacles containing the eggs in such a row.

Additionally, an apparatus for processing packages of eggs on a conveyor has been described which comprises means for adjusting a position of one or more of the eggs in each package so that each of the eggs in a given package assumes a particular orientation, and one or more sensors configured and arranged to detect a position of each of the egg packages with respect to the means for adjusting.

A method for marking eggs has been described which comprises laser marking and / or ink marking of information on one or more eggs while the eggs are in a package arranged on a conveyor of a packing station.

Additionally, an apparatus for laser marking eggs on a packing station conveyor has been described comprising a laser source and one or more optical targeting elements configured and arranged to direct power from the laser source so as to mark information about one or more eggs in egg cartons arranged on the conveyor.

Furthermore, an apparatus for laser egg marking has been described which comprises a laser source and means for directing power from the laser source so as to mark information on one or more eggs on egg packages arranged on a conveyor of a stall. packing.

An egg package has been described comprising a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows. The eggs are arranged in the package such that a long axis of each egg in the package is inclined towards the rear of the package so that it is at least slightly offset from vertical.

In some embodiments, each of the eggs in the package may have information laser marked on it in substantially the same situation as the other eggs in the package, and the eggs may be oriented in the package such that such markings on all the eggs face substantially the same direction.

ES 2 554 865 T3

Additionally, in some embodiments, each of the eggs in the package may have particular information marked on it, and each of the eggs in the package may be positioned on the package such that at least the particular information is visible through from the opening of the container, without altering a position of the egg.

Also, in some embodiments, The eggs may be arranged in the package such that the long axes of all the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximately right angles to a line that intersects the bottom of the receptacles containing the eggs in such a row and / or such that the long axes of all the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximately right angles to a line that intersects the bottom of the receptacles containing the eggs in such a row.

An egg package has been described comprising a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows. The eggs are further arranged in the package such that a long axis of each egg in the package is offset by no more than a particular number of degrees. of a long axis from every other egg in the package.

Additionally, an egg package has been described comprising a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows, wherein the eggs are further arranged in the package such that the long axes of all the eggs in the package are substantially parallel.

Furthermore, an egg package comprising a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows has been described, wherein the eggs are arranged in the package such that the long axes of all the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximate right angles to a line intersecting the bottom of the receptacles containing the eggs in that row.

A method of laser marking information on an egg has been described which comprises laser marking information on the egg such that a central point of the information is located between the center and an extremity of the egg.

Furthermore, an egg has been described having laser-marked information on it, wherein a central point of the laser-marked information on the egg is located between the center and an end of the egg.

Furthermore, a method for the processing of one or more eggs has been described which comprises laser marking a first information on a first surface of an egg, and laser marking a second information on a second surface of the egg in such a way that the second information looks in a substantially different direction than the first information.

Thus it has been described that an egg has also been shown having laser marking on it in which the first information is laser marked on a first surface of the egg, and the second information is laser marked on a second surface of the egg as such. so that the second information looks in a substantially different direction than the first information.

Furthermore, an egg package has been described in which each of the eggs in the package has a first information laser marked on it in substantially the same situation as the other eggs in the package and the eggs are oriented in the package. such that the laser-marked information on each egg faces in substantially the same direction as the laser-marked information on the other eggs in the package. Furthermore, each of the eggs in the package has a second information laser marked on it in substantially the same situation as the other eggs in the package, and, for each of the eggs in the package, the second information looks at a address substantially different than the first information.

Furthermore, an egg package has been described in which at least two of the eggs in the package have different information laser marked on them.

In some embodiments, the information may be laser marked on at least one egg such that at least some of the information comprises text that is oriented horizontally with respect to a long axis of the egg and / or such that a central point of the laser-marked information on the egg is located between the center and an egg tip.

A method for laser marking eggs has been described which comprises using a machine vision system to monitor the laser marking of eggs by a laser marking system, and adjusting one or more laser marking system parameters (e.g. , spot size intensity, and / or exposure time) based on the determinations made by the artificial vision system.

Additionally, a system for marking eggs with a laser has been described comprising an artificial vision system and one or more control elements. The machine vision system is configured and arranged to monitor the laser marking of the eggs by a laser marking system, and one or more control elements are configured and arranged to adjust one or more parameters of the laser marking system based in the determination made by the artificial vision system.

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Furthermore, a system for laser marking eggs has been described comprising multiple laser marking apparatuses and a central server. The laser marking apparatuses are configured and arranged to perform the laser marking jobs queued by local computers to laser mark eggs that are packed by egg packing stations. The central server is configured to distribute laser marking jobs to local computers.

Furthermore, a method of controlling laser marking jobs has been described which comprises distributing the laser marking jobs from a central computer to local computers responsible for queuing the laser marking jobs to one or more laser marking apparatus. lasers configured and arranged to laser mark information on eggs.

Methods and apparatus for combining laser marking and egg ink marking, using any of the foregoing laser marking methods or apparatus, have also been shown. When laser and ink marking are combined, laser marking can be used to engrave information on eggs which, for product warranty reasons, preferably comprises permanent marking, such as a traceability code and / or date. freshness or similar, only the least critical information being marked with ink. However, if permanent ink is employed, it is also contemplated that ink marking may make laser marking unnecessary.

Combining laser marking and ink marking in the same environment may require safety precautions to be taken, unless the inks are water soluble. Combining laser marking of eggs with inkjet printing using permanent inks is tricky. It is not simply a matter of substituting water soluble inks for those that have a different chemical composition, as those different compositions usually involve a volatile component that creates a flammable or explosive atmosphere when the ink is applied and dries. The power from a laser beam can ignite volatile vapors. Approaches have been shown to reduce the risk of fire from volatile vapors. For example, in some embodiments, the laser emission station or stations may be enclosed by a housing in which a positive pressure from a clean air (or inert gas) environment is maintained, so that the level of volatile vapors is maintained. below that which is combustible. Or the laser emitting station (s) and the ink printing station (s) may be several feet apart (for example, 15-20 or more) and an evacuation system can extract the volatile vapors to a degree sufficient to reduce the level. of volatile vapors exposed to the laser beams to one that is well below a combustible mixture. Alternatively, an inert gas can be pumped into the laser emission station so as to keep the oxygen level low and avoid a combustible mixture.

The methods and systems having succeeded in marking the eggs while they are in the carton, and presented in a uniform orientation, it has also been realized that objects other than eggs can be processed using similar methods and apparatus. Accordingly, we also describe a method for processing a container of objects, which comprises an operation of, after the objects have been placed in the container, mechanically adjusting a position of one or more of the objects so that each of the objects objects assume a particular orientation within the container. Optionally, one or more of the objects may then receive information marked on its surface. Such marking may, but need not, comprise laser marking information on a surface of one or more of the objects.

The orienting operation can be performed using an object orientator positioned above the container comprising a plurality of elastic members configured and arranged to be moved relative to the objects in the container so as to push them into predetermined orientations. Orienting objects may further comprise adjusting the position of one or more of the objects in the container such that a long axis of each object in the container is inclined towards the rear of the container so that it is at least slightly offset from vertical.

We also describe an apparatus for processing packages of objects on a conveyor, comprising an object orientator configured and arranged with respect to the conveyor so as to adjust a position of one or more of the objects in each of the packages so that each of the objects in a given container assume a particular orientation within that container. The object orientator may be further configured and arranged to adjust the position of one or more objects in each of the containers so that a long axis of each object in a given container is inclined towards the rear of the container so that it is at least slightly offset from the vertical.

In some embodiments, the orientator may comprise a plurality of elastic members configured and arranged to be moved relative to the objects in each container so as to push them into predetermined orientations.

In some embodiments, the objects are eggs and each container has a bottom part for receiving eggs and a hinged lid, and the apparatus further comprises a mechanism for inverting the container upstream of the orienting device, which receives the containers with the caps open and facing away. an upstream direction and then reverses the direction of the container so that the open lid is disposed towards the orienting and drives the container; and downstream of the orientator, one or more print stations for printing the information about the eggs. Printing Stations

ES 2 554 865 T3 may include laser and / or ink marking apparatus. If both laser and ink printing are incorporated, care must be taken to ensure safety and compatibility. The conveyor is preferably inclined in an upward direction relative to the movement of the packages relative to the orientator and to one or more print stations, such that gravity helps to keep the eggs inclined in the package, as they are positioned by the orientator. , when the conveyor moves the containers along.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a side view of an illustrative example of a laser marking system embodying various features of the invention, configured to be operative with a conventional egg packaging apparatus;

Figs. 2-4 are partially cutaway perspective views of various components of the system shown in FIG. 1;

Figs. 5A and 5B are partial block diagram of top and side views, respectively, of a portion of the conveyor used by the system shown in FIGS. 1-4 and different components that can work in conjunction with it;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of an egg orientator that can be used in a system such as illustrated in FIG. 5,

Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate side and front views, respectively, of an egg package that contains eggs as it may appear after they have been processed by an egg orientator as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is an illustration of a front view of an egg as it may appear when marked using one or more of the techniques described herein;

Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing components of a computer network that can be used to allow centralized control of laser marking devices located in different facilities;

Figs. 10A and 10B show perspective views of the two sides of a drive mechanism that can be used to move the egg orientator of FIG. 6 in a desired way;

Figs. 11A and 11B are, respectively, top and side schematic diagrams of an alternative egg marking system illustrating both laser power and ink marking, in an embodiment that can be added to most conventional egg grading systems. eggs and packaging; Y

Fig. 12 is a simplified side section diagrammatic illustration of a portion of the system of FIGS. 11A and 11B used to reverse the direction of an egg carton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Laser-marked eggs on the go at high speeds, for example, while eggs are moving through a sorting station at speeds typically around 100 to 300 feet per minute (fpm), is problematic for a number of reasons. For example, it may produce a less than ideal result in some circumstances, in terms of marking quality and reliability. Reliability, in this context, refers to the percentage of eggs processed by the system that have clear, legible and consistent markings on them (either objectively or subjectively evaluated). For example, we have recognized that in order for an egg marking medium with suitable markings for the purpose of repackaging proposed to be both commercially viable in many locations and economically feasible, it is important that a large percentage of processed eggs have markings clear, legible, consistent. One reason for this is that, in many circumstances, eggs that are incorrectly marked with such distinctive markings must be discarded, for one reason or another.

Additionally, we have observed, for example, that the limited time window and finite space available to access and laser mark an egg using on-the-fly techniques typically allow only a limited amount of information to be laser marked on the egg. in a direction that runs along the long axis of the egg. The inherent lack of precision in tracking a target moving at high speed, as well as orientation, unavoidable vibrations, and other movements within such a moving mechanical system, can further compromise the quality of the resulting image and make it insufficient for certain purposes.

Additionally, our experience has shown that attempting to laser mark eggs during the grading process can be problematic for some applications because a typical process involves washing the eggs shortly before attempting to laser mark distinctive marks on them. The resulting unevenness in the surface dryness of the eggs can result in inaccurate or uneven markings. Laser marking codes on small type fonts and complex information, for example a complex company logo, during the classification process can be particularly troublesome for the foregoing reasons.

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Additionally, dust generated during the laser marking process can cause problems both locally (ie at the laser marking station) and downstream components. Although vacuum aspiration of excess dust can be accomplished, it has proven difficult in practice to do so effectively.

Furthermore, when the eggs are marked in a particular location, for example on their sides, before they reach the packer, there is a risk that the packer will place the eggs in the pack in an orientation that makes visibility impossible or obstructing. Accordingly, eggs marked by components upstream of the packer are often packaged in such a way that the distinctive markings on the egg will be hidden unless and until the egg is repositioned so that it is properly oriented for clear visibility of the marking.

Additionally, when eggs are marked before reaching a packer, the ability to redirect the eggs to a necessary location after they have been marked is limited. That is, once an egg has been marked in a particular way, it can only be directed to a packer that is processing eggs consistent with the marks that were marked on it. For example, once an egg has been marked with a manufacturer logo, that egg cannot thereafter be directed to a responsible packer to pack eggs for a different manufacturer.

We have further observed that, if it is desired to employ a uniform apparatus that can be modernized or added to existing egg handling systems of different designs, the portion that such systems share in common is the egg packer conveyor, where the eggs are delivered. to pack them in cartons, or in the cartons themselves.

Significantly, we have found that integrating a laser marking process into an egg packaging apparatus, rather than an upstream component such as a sorting station, involves a different set of constraints and can yield substantial benefits. In particular, we have determined that laser marking eggs on a packaging apparatus, after they have been placed in the packages, can alleviate at least some, and perhaps even all, of the various drawbacks of the laser-based marking process. classifier described above, as well as providing an approach adaptable to all or most of the existing egg production systems. In fact, we have observed in practice that an embodiment of the system described herein can result in a vast improvement in the quality and reliability of laser marking over a classifier-based system. In addition, it allows laser marking on much more surface area of ​​the eggs and can be done without slowing down the egg processing speed. In some embodiments, it also facilitates the integration of laser marking with ink marking, ultimately allowing (if desired) multi-color printing.

In some embodiments, a continuous conveyor carrying packages full of eggs may slow down or stop periodically as each new row of each new package of eggs is loaded. Advantageously, the eggs in a loaded package can be laser marked during one or more of the periods (after the loading period) during which the package is held stationary when the rows of eggs are loaded into another upstream package. One or more sensors (for example photoelectric cells) and / or conveyor movement monitors (for example, a monitor that counts the ticks of a conveyor) can be used to determine precisely when an egg-laden package has moved into a position. to be laser marked. If ink printing is being combined with laser printing they can be done when the eggs are in the same position or each can be done when the eggs are in different positions. For example, one row of eggs can be laser marked while another row is being marked with ink. The precision of both laser marking and ink marking can therefore be considerably improved simply because the eggs remain stationary during printing operation (s). In other embodiments, the conveyor may carry packages of packaged eggs at a somewhat constant rate (subject to start and stop motion) in front of the laser pointing mirrors (aka "galvos"). In such embodiments, a combination of the conveyor motion sensors and monitors can be used to precisely track the position of the respective eggs during the printing process.

In some embodiments, multiple galvos can be used to laser mark the eggs in each package that passes a laser marking station. In addition, the egg packages typically advance on a packer conveyor but at a fraction of the rate at which individual eggs move through an upstream sorter. As such, using the implementations described herein, a significantly longer time window may be available for each galvo to laser mark each individual egg and for the ink jet apparatus to ink the eggs. (Note that prior ink printing of eggs is typically limited to stamping, not ink jet printing. Ink-printed material therefore tends not to be very feature-complex, and tends to be monochrome.) This additional available marking time can allow the galvo to make multiple passes over each egg and thus increase the quality of the laser marking (eg, contrast) significantly, while similarly allowing for greatly improved ink marking, as well.

Another potential benefit of laser-marked eggs on packages is that the eggs can be handled so that they are oriented in the packages in a particular (uniform) way prior to the printing process. For example, in some embodiments, the eggs in the packages on the conveyor of a packer may be

ES 2 554 865 T3 manipulated so that all the eggs are centered and tilted slightly backwards, evenly. As such, a relatively large area of ​​the egg will be immediately visible to a consumer (or an inspector, trader, or other person) opening the package. By thus orienting the eggs in the package prior to the printing process, the amount of visible area made available to the laser (and the ink head, if used), for marking, can be increased. In addition, the information that is actually marked on the eggs (expiration date, tracking codes, advertising, etc.) will be easily communicated to the consumer (or an inspector, trader, or any other person who could later open the container) immediately. when opening the package. As an example, a consumer opening an egg carton may be immediately presented with neatly arranged, uniformly oriented rows of eggs, each information such as the company logo and / or an expiration date prominently displayed in the same location and directly in front of the customer.

In addition to the above, laser marking of eggs after they have been placed in packages can also be advantageous because of the limited number of components located downstream of the laser marking station and the reduced likelihood that dust created during laser marking process interferes with the operation of any mechanical or optical components. In some embodiments, for example, the only operation performed by the packager after the laser marking process described herein is the closure of the package. Any dust generated by the laser marking process that escapes the evacuation process described below (if used) is unlikely to have a significant adverse effect on the operation of the container closure station.

Furthermore, printing on the eggs after they have been placed in the packages minimizes the risk that the marked section of the egg will end up hidden from view to a consumer who opens the package. That is, when an egg is printed before being placed in the package, there is a good chance that the egg will be placed in the package by the packer in such a way that the image marked on the egg is obscured or not visible at all unless rotate, flip end to end, or otherwise reorient the egg. Marking eggs after they have been placed in containers can minimize the risk of an egg being so oriented when a consumer (or anyone else) opens a given container.

Additionally, marking eggs after they have reached a particular packer ensures that only the eggs that are processed by the packer will be marked with the desired information. Accordingly, marking eggs after they have been placed in packages allows unmarked eggs to be directed to any of the numerous packagers, or perhaps redirected to a different packager, at any time, without the concern that a given packager will receive. an egg with inappropriate or unintended markings.

It has been illustrated in figs. 1-4 an example of a laser marking apparatus embodying various features of the invention described herein. In the example shown, a laser marking apparatus 100 is configured to be retrofitted over an existing egg packaging apparatus 200, for example, of a type manufactured by Diamond Automations, Inc. It should be appreciated, however, that one or more , or perhaps even all the components of the apparatus

100 Laser marking devices may additionally or alternatively be integrated into an egg packaging apparatus, as shown, at the time of manufacture. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the egg packaging apparatus shown is only one example of an apparatus.

As shown in figs. 2 and 3, the egg packaging apparatus 200 may comprise a set of two identical egg packers 200a, 200b, each of which includes a conveyor 202a, 202b (e.g., a conveyor belt, a roller conveyor, a chain conveyor, etc.). Each conveyor 202a, 202b moves empty containers 204 through a respective egg loading section 206a, 206b in which eggs are loaded into them from above, and then moves the filled containers to a respective container closure section 208a, 208b which is responsible for closing the lids of the containers 204. As shown in FIG. 1 and in fig. 2, the eggs can be supplied to the egg packers 200a, 200b by a sorter 300. Although only a cross section of sorter 300 has been shown, it should be appreciated that sorter 300 will typically be a fairly large piece of equipment, commonly on the order of 50 or 60 feet long in a direction perpendicular to the packer conveyors.

In the embodiment shown, the laser marking apparatus 100 comprises a pair of identical laser marking systems, one to service each of the two portions 200a, 200b of the egg packer 200. The frame

101 in the illustrated example it can, for example, be used to support both portions of the laser marking apparatus 100. Alternatively, separate racks could be used. Because the configuration and operation of the two laser marking systems are essentially the same, only one of the two systems will be described. It should be understood, however, that the following description applies equally to both portions of the laser marking apparatus 100. It should also be appreciated that the existence of two side-by-side laser marking systems is not a requirement of the invention, and that different embodiments may employ fewer or larger numbers of such systems.

In the illustrated embodiment, a main housing 102 of one of the laser marking systems (shown in FIG. 1) contains a group of three laser sources 104a, 104b, 104c. Each laser source 104 may, for example, comprise a 70-100 W carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, or another laser having a wavelength of the order of 10,640 nanometers, operated at 70-90% of nominal power. and that gives the eggshell a power density

ES 2 554 865 T3 (in an appropriate spot size) up to about 2000 W / square inch. As shown, two-to-one beam splitters 106a, 106b, 106c can be used to divide the laser power from the laser sources 104 into multiple beams and mirrors can be used to direct the resulting six laser beams through one channel. of a lower housing 108 (shown in FIG. 1) to a set of six two-dimensional (galvo) laser pointing mirrors 110. In other embodiments, instead of employing beam splitters, a separate laser source may be employed for each galvo 110. Each galvo 110 can thus, for example, being responsible for laser marking two eggs in a package of twelve, or three eggs in a package of eighteen, or more eggs in a larger package, or just a single egg. The spot size of the laser beams striking the eggs may, for example, be on the order of 4 millimeters (mm) in diameter. This spot size can be generated, for example, by starting with a 2-2.5mm coherent spot at the laser exit and expanding it to approximately 3.75mm by a collimating lens set followed by a focusing lens of 10 inches. Any other arrangement (e.g. different laser output, collimating and focusing lenses can be used to provide a suitably small spot size of the indicated power density and corresponding scan rate (thus delivering the equivalent power density) . With the settings for the scan rate and spot size, more or less laser output power can be employed, while the power density is kept within a range that produces adequate eggshell engraving at a depth of down to about 25 microns. Thus, the systems and methods of the invention are not limited to a specific combination of parameters but to a combination that produces good results in terms of legible markings on the eggs.

Electronic control cards 111 contained within lower housing 108 may include conventional circuitry (analog, digital, etc.) to control the operation of laser sources 104 and galvos 110. One or more sensors (not shown in FIGS. 1-4) can also detect the position of the egg packages on the conveyor relative to the galvo 110 and allow the controller cards 111 to determine when a given package filled with eggs is in position for laser marking. In other embodiments, one or more control boards 111 may be additionally or alternatively located anywhere in the system for easier accessibility, to allow better ventilation, etc.

Figs. 5A and 5B are block diagrams showing, respectively, top and side views of a portion of the conveyor and related components that may be disposed between an egg loading section 206 and a container closure section 208 of one of the two portions of the egg packaging apparatus 200, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B is not covered by independent claim 13. In the illustrative example shown, the conveyor is controlled to move containers 204 sequentially to each of the five primary locations AE. At each of such primary locations, furthermore, the conveyor belt causes the container 204 to move sequentially through a series of sub-positions equal to the number of rows of eggs 205 (reference 205 being the eggs themselves) in the containers 204 that are loaded. This occurs because the egg loading section 206 typically loads a row of six eggs 205 at a time, thus requiring the conveyor 202 to move the package slightly forward before loading each new row of eggs. A typical egg packer will process approximately 35 cases of eggs per hour, each case including 30 dozen eggs. At this rate, the packages may, for example, spend approximately 5 seconds at each of the primary locations AE before being moved by conveyor 202 to the next primary location. The packages may thus, for example, spend about 1-2 seconds at each of the sub-locations within each of the AE locations.

In the example shown, the conveyor 202 first moves the container 204 to a primary location A within the egg loading section 206 of the egg packaging apparatus 200. As shown, when package 204 stops in this section, a number of eggs 205 corresponding to the number of receptacles in package 204 (eg, twelve, eighteen, or more) are disposed in package 204. As noted above, the eggs can be loaded in a row (eg, six eggs) at a time, with the conveyor 202 advancing the container 204 slightly to allow subsequent rows to be loaded.

The conveyor belt then moves the package 204 to a location B where an operation is performed to orient the eggs to a desired position for laser marking as well as to present a consumer who opens the package 204 last, or perhaps to an inspector or a store or dealer employee who will examine the eggs last for inspection and / or repackaging purposes. As shown, eggs 205 can be oriented in a somewhat random manner within the package by the time they reach location B. Once they reach location B, however, an egg orienting device 112 can be actuated. so that it reorients the eggs to the desired position. Egg orienting 112 can be any of a number of devices capable of reorienting eggs within the package, and the invention is not limited to any particular device or structure to perform such a function. It has been shown in fig. 6 an illustrative example of an egg orientator 112 suitable for this purpose. It should be appreciated that the egg orientator 112 can be located at any of a number of locations along the conveyor 202 and need not be located at the particular location shown. In some embodiments, for example, the equipment at positions B and C in FIGS. 5A and 5B can be combined to operate on egg cartons located in the same position. Additionally, in some embodiments, the egg orientator 112 may be positioned to the right of the galvos 110 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B instead of to the left of them.

ES 2 554 865 T3

As illustrated by arrows 113 adjacent to egg orientator 112 in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the egg orientator 112 may first be moved (eg, using a pneumatic piston or other suitable actuator or motor - not shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B) down behind the egg container 204 and can then be swept forward (in the direction of normal belt movement) through the rows of eggs 205 (typically two or three rows of six eggs each ).

As illustrated by arrows 115 in FIG. 5A, when moved forward, the egg orientator 112 may also be oscillated (eg, using a rotary pneumatic actuator or other suitable actuator or motor - not shown in Figs. 5A and 5B) in a side-by-side manner. in a manner that helps to overcome friction between the eggs 205 and the receptacles of the container 204; or another mechanism may be employed for this purpose. Alternatively, other function reduction approaches may be substituted. Finally, the egg orientator 112 can be raised and then moved back to its starting position until another row of eggs is moved to location B for processing. In some embodiments, the egg orientator 112 can be swept through the entire egg package in a single pass. Alternatively, it can be swept through a row of eggs 205 at a time each time package 204 is moved to a new sub-location within location B.

As shown in figs. 5A and 5B, one or more sensors (for example, photoelectric cells 214a-b) may be used, either alone or in conjunction with a belt brand monitor or the like, to track the precise position of the egg carton 204 with relative to the 112 egg orientator.

It has been shown in figs. 10A and 10B show an example of a drive mechanism 122 that can be used to move the egg orientator 112 in a desired manner (eg, as indicated by arrows 113, 115 in Figures 5A and 5B). The drive mechanism 122 may, for example, position the conveyor belt 202 on both sides at location B (see figs. 5A and 5B) such that the egg packages pass under the egg orientator 112 in a direction indicated by arrow 124 in FIGS. 10A-B. As shown, the drive mechanism 122 may comprise a frame 126 that supports a number of double-acting pneumatic cylinders 128, 130a, 130b as well as a rotary pneumatic actuator 136. In the example shown, pneumatic cylinder 128 and associated pistons 142 are responsible for moving egg orientator 112 up and down (i.e., perpendicular to the plane of conveyor 202) as indicated by arrow 132 in fig. 10A. Similarly, in the embodiment shown, the pair of pneumatic cylinders 130a, 130b and associated pistons 144 are responsible for moving the egg orientator 112 back and forth over an egg container 204 (i.e. parallel to the direction of the movement of the conveyor (see arrow 124)), as indicated by arrow 134 in FIG. 10B. Also, in the embodiment shown, the rotary pneumatic actuator 136 is responsible for causing the egg orientator 112 to rock slightly from side to side when the egg orientator 112 is swept over the egg container 204 205, as indicated by the arrow. 138 in fig. 10A.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the pneumatic components of the drive mechanism 122 can be connected to a compressor unit 140 (or other source of compressed air) that can be controlled to regulate the flow of air to such components and thereby appropriately control their operation. Of course, embodiments employing other types of actuators or motors (eg, electric or hydraulic motors or actuators) may employ different types of control units to regulate the movement of the egg orienting device 112 in the desired manner.

As shown in FIG. 6, the egg orientator may comprise a frame 114 made of a suitable strong, lightweight material (e.g. aluminum) and a brush element 116 for sweeping across the tops of the eggs 205 in the container 204 to reorient them in the desired position. Brush element 116 may, for example, comprise a set of flexible but elastic fingers made of a food grade plastic, rubber, or other material. In the example shown, brush element 116 is attached to frame 114 using a scalloped aluminum member 118 to impart a corresponding scalloped shape to brush element 116. Forming the brush element 116 in this manner allows corners of the scallop to properly position the eggs 205 in the desired left-to-right position within the container 204.

In the embodiment shown, the egg orientator 112 further includes a set of tubes 120 disposed between the corners of the scalloped aluminum member 118 and the frame 114. As shown, the tubes 120 can be arranged such that a pair of them are placed on either side of each egg 205 when the egg orient 112 is rapidly passed through the tops of the eggs 205 in the container 204. Advantageously, a high speed air source (not shown) can be connected to the tubes 120 such that air can be blown over and around the eggs 205 when the egg orientator 112 is rapidly passed over the eggs 205. to reposition them. Blowing air over and around the eggs in such a way can help dry the surface of the 205 eggs evenly before laser marking and can also help overcome friction between the bottoms of the 205 eggs and the receptacles of the container. creating a slight cushion of air between them.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, after the egg orientator 112 has repositioned the eggs 205 within the container 204, the conveyor 202 moves the container 204 to a location C where a laser marking operation can be performed. Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate how a group of eggs 205 can be oriented within a container

ES 2 554 865 T3

204 when package 204 reaches location C (as well as when the eggs last reach a warehouse, a final consumer, or some other location after packaging). Fig. 7A is a side view and FIG. 7B is a front view of a container 204 in which the eggs have been thus oriented.

As shown, as a result of processing by the egg orientator 112, the eggs 205 can be uniformly arranged within the container 204, each egg 205 being tilted slightly toward the rear 228 of the container 204 (see FIG. 7A) of so a large portion 230 of your area is exposed to the galvo 110 responsible for marking you. In some embodiments, for example, the egg orientator 112 can manipulate the eggs 205 such that a long axis 232 of each egg is inclined at least slightly toward the rear 228 of the package. For example, in certain embodiments, the egg orientator 112 may manipulate the eggs in such a way that a long axis of each egg is displaced from the vertical (the vertical being defined as a line 233 normal to a plane coincident with a lower portion 236 of the container (which, in FIGS. 7A and 7B, is parallel to the surface of the conveyor 202)) at an angle Θ that is a minimum of 3 degrees. In other embodiments, each of the eggs 205 in each carton 204 can be offset from vertical by a minimum angle Θ, typically from 1 to about 22 degrees, or greater. In some embodiments, the egg orientator 112 may manipulate the eggs 205 such that such angle Θ for each egg is approximately 10 degrees, or some other suitable angle that maximizes the area that is made available for the marking apparatus to write. To be.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the egg orientator 112 may further orient the eggs 205 so that the long axis 232 of all the eggs in each row of six eggs forms approximately right angles with respect to a line that intersects the bottoms of the receptacles containing the eggs. eggs in such a row. In some implementations, the long axes 232 of all the eggs in a given package may be oriented such that each long axis 232 is no more than about 20 degrees (or, in some embodiments, no more than about 25 degrees, or no more than about 24 degrees, or no more than about 23 degrees, or no more than about 22 degrees, or no more than about 21 degrees, or no more than about 19 degrees, or no more than about 18 degrees, or no more than about 17 degrees, or no more than about 16 degrees, or no more than about 15 degrees, or no more than about 14 degrees, or no more than about 13 degrees, or no more than about 12 degrees, or no more than about 11 degrees, or no more than about 10 degrees, or no more than about 9 degrees, or no more than about 8 degrees, or no more than about 7 degrees, or no more than about 6 degrees, or no more than about 5 degrees, or no more than about 4 degrees, or no more than about 3 degrees, or no more than about 2 degrees, or no more than about 1 degrees) offset from any other long axis.

When the eggs 205 are oriented within the container 204 in such a way, the surface of the egg 205 that is immediately apparent to anyone opening the container is neither a tip nor the center of egg 205, but rather a section of the egg in some part between those two locations. Fig. 8 shows an example of egg 205 that has been laser marked. As shown, a point 234 in the center of the marking (also shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B) can be located between a tip 210 and the center 212 (that is, the area located midway between the two egg tips) of the egg 205. In some embodiments, the information marked on the egg can extend from the tip 210 of the egg (or beyond) to center 212 of the egg (or beyond). As shown in FIG. 8, the information can be marked on the egg so that it extends horizontally with respect to the long axis of the egg. In some embodiments, the information may be additionally or alternatively marked so that it extends vertically generally in a direction of the long axis of the egg. In some embodiments, the laser-marked information on each egg may comprise one or more of a traceability code (which uniquely identifies a specific egg or a relatively small group of eggs - for example, a carton), a logo of the company and / or other advertising, an expiration date, classification information, and packaging codes (for example, a state code, a country code, a packer code, and / or a Julian calendar date). Eggs in a carton can be marked with little or as much information in common as desired. Thus, a message can, in fact, be printed in chunks across multiple eggs.

In some embodiments, the eggs can be oriented in each package and the information can be marked on the eggs in such a way that the information marked on all the eggs in each package can be seen immediately upon opening the package, without the need for a person to manipulate. none of the eggs to allow such information to be seen.

It is known that a significant percentage of the eggs that are produced have the salmonella virus in them. For this and other reasons, there are different government rules and regulations for when and how eggs can be handled. Allowing inspection of laser marked information on all eggs in a given package without the need to manipulate any of the eggs in the package can provide significant benefits.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, during each interval of approximately 1-2 seconds that the container is in a sub-location within the primary location C, each of the six galves 110 can be controlled to mark on one of the six eggs of a given row. Consequently, in some implementations, each galvo 110 may take approximately 1-2 seconds to complete marking of every 12

ES 2 554 865 T3 egg 205 for which it is responsible. As shown in figs. 5A and 5B, one or more sensors (for example, photoelectric cells 216a-b) can be used, either alone or in conjunction with a monitor of the tape brand or the like, to track the precise position of the egg carton. 204 with respect to galvos 110.

In some embodiments, a vector-based process can be used to laser mark the eggs 205. In other embodiments, however, a dot matrix, grid, or other laser marking process can be additionally or alternatively employed.

In some embodiments, each egg 205 can be marked in multiple steps (eg, two, three, or four times) during the available marking interval of about 1-2 seconds. We have found that the quality of marking on egg shells can be significantly improved by using a relatively low power (density) laser beam and marking in multiple passes. In some embodiments, this can be accomplished by using a combination of laser power and output beamwidth, optics, and one or more beam splitters to divide the power of one or more laser sources so that laser beams having the level power density and the desired spot size. We believe that it is the discoloration of the outer layer of the egg, rather than deep etching of the eggshell (which is typically on the order of 300 microns thick) that allows good marking quality to be achieved. In fact, when exposed to a laser beam at a very high power or a very long duration of time, the outer protein layer of an eggshell can be completely etched, thereby compromising the quality of the marking. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the power, the beam sweep speed, and / or the number of passes can be adjusted to achieve good bleaching without etching the surface of the eggs too deeply. In some embodiments, a laser power of less than about 80 W is applied to the eggs with the indicated optics and spot size (or, in some embodiments, less than about 75 W, or less than about 70 W, or less than about 65 W, or less than about 60 W, or less than about 55 W, or less than about 50 W, or less than about 45 W, or less than about 40 W, or less). In some embodiments, for example, such variables are controlled such that the resulting etch on the eggs is no greater than about 25 microns deep.

It may be possible to achieve better marking quality by varying the power, spot size, and / or beam sweep speed that is employed during each of the respective multiple passes so as to ensure at least one pass is made at a power and / or speed that will achieve a good discoloration. In some embodiments, the laser beam can be modulated during the laser marking process to improve the quality of the mark. For example, the power can be reduced or the rate can be increased at points where one line intersects another (for example, when the letter X is written) so as to avoid delivering an excessive amount of power at the point. overlap.

In some embodiments, the image to be marked on the eggs may be digitally processed (eg, pre-distorted) prior to laser marking the eggs 205 to account for the actual or expected curvature of the eggs in question. Taking such an operation can result in an image that does not appear distorted despite being marked on a non-flat surface.

In some implementations, one or more additional laser sources and / or galvos may also be arranged and configured to mark on one or more different portions of the eggs, eg, a back side, in addition to the front location described above. In some embodiments, for example, it may be desirable to mark certain information of immediate importance to a consumer, for example, an expiration date and / or brand identification, on a front portion of the eggs so that such information is immediately visible. to a consumer when opening the box, and marking other information of immediate minor importance, for example tracking codes or the like, on the back side of the eggs.

As shown in figs. 5A and 5B, after the laser marking process for a given container 204 is completed, the conveyor 202 can move the container 204 to a location D where a vacuum nozzle 218 connected to a vacuum source can be used. (not shown), along with a blowing nozzle 220 connected to an air source (not shown) to remove dust generated by the laser marking process and any other unwanted particles from the egg packages before they are closed by section 208 of the container closure of the egg packer 200. In some embodiments the vacuum source and / or the air source can be located apart from the laser marking apparatus 100 (for example, on a roof of a building where the apparatus 100 is located) and connected to the nozzles 218 , 220 using appropriate tubes or conduits (not shown).

In some embodiments, an artificial vision system 146, 148 (shown in FIG. 1) may be configured and arranged to examine the position and / or characteristics of the eggs to be marked and / or the quality and integrity. of the information that is marked on the eggs. As shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, one or more machine vision observation units 146 may, for example, be disposed adjacent one or more galvo beam projectors 148. In other embodiments, one or more of the observation units 146 may be located elsewhere to allow for proper observation. One or more observation units 146 may be connected to one or more machine vision inspection system computers 148 using any suitable technique. Each one or more machine vision inspection computers 148 can 13

ES 2 554 865 T3 be local to system 100 or may be at a remote location.

The egg processing system in question could, for example, be stopped if the machine vision system determines that the quality of the brand has fallen below a certain threshold. Such a system can be closed-loop in some embodiments, such that feedback from the machine vision system can be used to control the galvos 110 and / or laser sources 104 so as to improve the quality and reliability of the process. For example, feedback from a machine vision system could adjust the number of passes made by the galvos, the speed at which the galvos scan, the power level of the laser, etc., in order to ensure that a desired contrast level during the laser marking process. Additionally or alternatively, a machine vision system may examine the size, color, or other perceptible properties of the eggs to be marked and make appropriate adjustments to the laser marking components and / or the process to account for such variables. and thereby ensuring that the image quality remains constant despite such variations.

In some embodiments, it may be useful to allow centralized control and monitoring of the operation of multiple different laser marking apparatus 100 distributed across one or more facilities. Fig. 9 illustrates an example of a system that would allow such centralized control. As shown, respective groups of laser marking apparatus 100 may be coupled to corresponding facility computers 222 so as to allow facility computers to control queuing of laser marking jobs to control boards. 111 of the various laser marking devices 100 as well as monitoring the health and condition of such devices. The laser marking apparatus 100 can thus essentially behave as network printers for the facility computers 222. Each facility computer 222 may, for example, be located in a respective egg processing facility.

The central server 224 can, in turn, be coupled via a network cloud 226 to the group of computers 222 of the facilities to allow the central server 224 to distribute the laser marking jobs to the different computers 222 of the facilities and monitor the status of those jobs. Network cloud 226 can comprise any number of network types, and can be distributed over either a local area or a wide area. In some embodiments, the network cloud 226 may, for example, understand the Internet. When facilities are located in different geographic regions, different laser marking jobs can be distributed, for example, to facility computers 222 at different facilities depending on the region. If, for example, Major League Baseball decided to hire to have the team logos marked on the eggs, Instructions could be sent to egg distributing facilities in the New England area to mark the Boston Red Sox logo on a given number of eggs at those facilities while instructions could be sent to egg distributing facilities in the state of Florida to mark the Florida Marlins logo on a number of eggs at those facilities.

In some embodiments, the galvos 110 can be independently controlled such that different images can be marked on different eggs in the same package. For example, the 110 galvo could be controlled such that two such eggs in a first row of a container have the letters G and O marked on them and six eggs in the second row of the container have the letters R, E, D, S, O, YX marked on them. In some embodiments, each egg 205 can even be marked with a unique identifier that allows it to be differentiated from every other egg that is laser marked using the system.

Ink printing

Ink printing has so far not been successful in marking eggs with distinctive markings that are desired to be permanent and (for practical purposes) unalterable in the distribution chain. Such distinctive marks may include, for example, a traceability code and / or a freshness date, or a source code - information used to provide assurance of food safety and / or track the trajectory of the eggs when they were manipulated. Although suitable ink compositions may be available from time to time that can substitute for laser marking, laser marking is currently the preferred way of applying such distinctive markings. The integrity of other distinctive marks, such as advertising, for example, is not subject to the same rigorous requirements. For example, food safety is not adversely impacted if an ad in a water-soluble ink is washed from an egg or rubbed off. Thus, such distinctive markings which need not be permanent could be applied by non-permanent means without seriously detracting from the characteristics of the egg, including an egg bearing permanent markings. Thus, advertising, for example, could be applied by ink printing in addition to some laser-applied marks.

When laser printing and ink printing are used together, it is important to note that the laser marking (engraving) of the egg reduces the thickness of the shell where the laser beam performs its writing. Thus, care may be taken to ensure that the ink will not be applied to those thinned spots on the eggshell, if there is concern that the ink would more easily pass through the shell at those locations and contaminate the yolk or eggshell. the white of the egg. Such a precaution may turn out to be unnecessary, however, as natural cracks in the eggshell can be 90 microns deep and laser marking as taught here only removes about 25 microns or less. This result can be obtained either by doing ink printing before laser printing or by taking care to ensure that the ink is not

ES 2 554 865 T3 applied to areas that were previously laser printed. When ink printing is done first, if the ink composition is not volatile, the laser beam can erase or erode the ink from the locations where laser marking is to be provided; Taking this as a logical conclusion, the ink can be applied to provide a colored background field and the egg can then be laser marked by eroding the ink to allow the eggshell to appear in contrast to the surrounding ink. This type of reverse printing can reduce some of the restrictions on the ink application apparatus.

By applying ink marking to eggs at high speed, commercial egg production has previously been done using special ink jet printers such as the EJP On-Line Multi-Head Eff Jet Printer from Advanced Industrial Micro Systems of Mumbai. , India, while the eggs are moving down a conveyor, to the carton. This printer uses water soluble inks.

Returning to figs. 11A and 11B show an example of an egg marking system 300 employing the concepts described herein in connection with both laser marking station 302 and ink marking station 304. One can either arrange an ink jet printing station 304 upstream of (ie before) a laser printing station 302 as in FIG. 11A or downstream of a laser printing station (not illustrated). It is contemplated that when ink jet printing is employed, one or more ink jets will be provided per egg to be marked, and that all eggs in a row in a carton will be marked at once. Thus, while fig. 11A shows only one ink head 306, more typically a group of print heads will be coupled together to mark a row of eggs. The required ink reservoir (s) can supply ink to the ink heads via conduits 308.

An orient 310 as described herein can be used to position the eggs in the package prior to printing, so that the eggs do not move too far between the two printing stations. In this embodiment of an orienting, a series of elastic or sweep members 311, depending on a support structure, push the eggs into a rearward sloping orientation. Thus, the desired relative printing positions for the two stations can be achieved without requiring complicated registration mechanisms.

Combining laser marking of eggs with inkjet printing using permanent inks is tricky for safety reasons. It is not simply a matter of substituting water soluble inks for those that have a different chemical composition, as these different compositions typically involve a volatile component that creates a flammable or explosive atmosphere when the ink is applied and dries. Energy from a laser beam can ignite volatile vapors, potentially causing fire and even an explosion. In addition to using ink compositions that do not emit dangerous volatile vapors, the fire hazard of volatile vapors can be reduced in many ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the laser marking station or stations 302 (i.e. the area where the eggs are actually marked by the laser beams) may contain one or more lasers 303a or at least the laser beams 303b enclosed by a housing 312 in which is maintained a positive pressure of a clean air environment (or inert gas), so that the level of volatile vapors is kept below that of fuel. Either the laser marking station (s) and the ink printing station (s) may be several feet apart (for example, 15-20 or more) and an evacuation system (not shown) can extract the volatile vapors at a degree sufficient to reduce the level of volatile vapors exposed to the laser beams to one that is well below a combustible mixture. Or, alternatively, an inert gas can be pumped into the laser marking station so that the oxygen level is kept low and a combustible mixture is avoided.

Additional Accomplishments

The egg printing and container transport arrangements described above can be modified in various respects. Between them is an arrangement, shown schematically in fig. 11A (leaving out as much detail as possible), where gravity can be used to help orient the eggs as desired and to maintain orientation thereafter. A sorting and packaging system 320 drops eggs 322 into cartons or egg cartons 324 as they pass over a conveyor 326, with hinged carton lids 328 disposed toward the downstream end (in this drawing, to the left) of conveyor 326. When each carton reaches the end of conveyor 326, the conveyor deposits the carton on a turntable 330. Tray 330 is then rotated 180 degrees, moving carton 324 from position A to position B, where the hinged lid is now disposed toward the upstream end of conveyor 326. The carton is then transferred to an upwardly inclined conveyor 334. Various mechanisms can be employed to transfer the carton from the turntable to the downstream conveyor 334. For example, a portion of the tray may include a small conveyor mechanism 336, as indicated diagrammatically in the simplified cross section of a tray mechanism in FIG. 12. Alternatively, supplemental mechanism may be used to effect the transfer, such as a pivoted pusher blade 338 and an appropriate actuation apparatus (eg, a hydraulic cylinder or solenoid 340), or any other desired mechanism. Similarly, a mechanism other than a turntable can be used to reverse the directions of the containers and if the sorter / packer supplying the eggs in cartons delivers containers with the lids open and upstream of the bottom of the container containing eggs, a mechanism is unnecessary.

ES 2 554 865 T3

An orientation station 310 can then operate on the eggs in the carton to achieve the above-described orientation. From the orientator, the conveyor 334 takes the egg carton to an ink jet printing station 304, if used, and thereafter to a laser marking station 302. (Or to a laser marking station first and then to an ink printing station There are advantages and disadvantages to both sequences. Furthermore, each of the printing stations may be considered optional as printing may be limited to laser printing only or ink printing only, in some embodiments). Upon exiting the laser marking station, a closure mechanism 344 pivots the lid 328 to close the carton. The conveyor 334 can unload the closed egg cartons onto a flat surface that is stationary, or onto another conveyor, from which the cartons can be removed and packed into boxes or crates.

The laser marking station may include a housing 312 in which a non-volatile environment is maintained by appropriate apparatus, not shown. The laser devices can be contained within the housing 312 or external to that housing, with the laser beams conducted to the housing 312 via an enclosed path in which volatile inks are excluded.

Once the eggs are tipped back into the cartons by the orient, the upward tip of the conveyor 334 provides additional force that urges the eggs to remain tipped back even as the conveyor pushes the packages. This approach is particularly useful with respect to small eggs, and when the stop and start of the conveyor impart enough force to overcome the onset of friction between the egg and the carton. On a horizontal surface, such an egg could fall forward into the carton, out of aligned orientation.

The type of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B can be used with most existing egg grading systems as it is simply added to the grading output. It's substantially a one-size-fits-all approach.

The egg orienting operation is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can also be performed by alternative apparatus. It can also be seen that it may be desirable to break the operation into two stages: (1) orienting, loosening and tilting the eggs and (2) straightening the eggs from side to side. One apparatus may perform both operations or separate apparatus may be used for each.

If the eggs are on the small side, which is common, and the conveyor is horizontal or only tilted a small amount, then when the carton is moved from one location to the next location (which can be the next station or just the next row or next carton printing position) can push or even fall forward when the conveyor chain stops unexpectedly. Optionally, therefore, two semi-flexible rollers may be included as part of the orienting machine which can be brought down on each side of the egg and rotated so as to tend to straighten the eggs from side to side and also to push an egg towards back when the rollers are moved back over the carton. These rollers can be made small enough in diameter not to get in the way of the printing process and flexible enough not to damage the egg.

In another type of embodiment, the suspended elastic members of the guide can comprise a plurality of suspended brushes or, flat, heavy textile strips - hanging from a frame - that drag them against the eggs in a movement similar to that used in the previously described embodiment, to push the eggs to the desired inclined, parallel positioning.

The orienting mechanism and process have been shown as applied to eggs, but it should be appreciated although not covered by the claims that it may be desirable to perform a similar operation on other objects, with or without printing on them. For example, you might want to orient other food items in a similar way for packaging and / or labeling. These food objects can include products such as apples and pears or bell peppers or any of a number of other fruits or vegetables. They could also include manufactured food products such as chocolates and candies that the manufacturer wishes to place uniformly in packages, or non-food products such as Christmas tree decorations.

Having thus described certain embodiments of systems and methods for practicing aspects of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, in embodiments where open egg packages are fed in the opposite direction onto the conveyor 202 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, that is, such that the receptacle section drives the lid section, the looping motion of the egg orientator 112 may be unnecessary, as proper orientation of the eggs within the container 204 could This is accomplished simply by allowing the open egg packages to pass under the egg orienting 112 (causing or not causing it to rock slightly from side to side to help overcome friction). In such embodiments, because the tops of the eggs 205 would be forced to be tilted slightly to the right (as depicted in FIG. 5B), it would also be desirable to orient the galvos 110 so that they face slightly toward the right. rear of the conveyor 202, thus allowing them to mark over the large exposed area 230 of the eggs 205 obtained using this alternative technique. Accordingly, the above description and drawings are by way of example only.