Technologies are described herein for an automated chicken sorting conveyor belt system. Conveyor belts that move chicks from a loading area into bins move laterally (or horizontally) as the chicks fill up the bins. This reduces various impact, acceleration, and other forces imparted on the chicks.
B65G 15/26 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising a series of co-operating units extensible, e.g. telescopic
B65G 21/20 - Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces
B65G 23/44 - Belt- or chain-tensioning arrangements
B65G 47/44 - Arrangements or applications of hoppers or chutes
2.
SEPARATOR DEVICE FOR SEPARATING DEBRIS FROM NEWLY HATCHED CHICKS
A separator device includes conveyor loop (300) extending in a conveyance direction (310), and including interlocking conveyor sections (320) each extending perpendicularly to the conveyance direction (310) and defining a width of the conveyor loop (300). The conveyor sections (320) interlock to form a substantially continuous planar surface (330), at least through a conveyance zone (340), and each conveyor section (320) defines perforations (350) extending therethrough. A suction hood (400) opposite the conveyance zone (340) and spaced apart from the planar surface (330), is arranged to impart a suction to the conveyance zone (340). A plenum (600) is disposed within the conveyor loop (300) and has a plenum outlet (610) disposed adjacent to the inner surface (360) of the conveyor loop (300) within the conveyance zone (340). The plenum (600) is arranged to cooperate with the conveyor loop (300) to direct air drawn by the suction through the perforations (350) of the conveyor sections (320) from the plenum outlet (610) to be substantially evenly distributed across the width of the conveyor loop (300).
A01K 45/00 - Other aviculture appliances, e.g. devices for determining whether a bird is about to lay
B07B 4/00 - Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents
B07B 4/08 - Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents while the mixtures are supported by sieves, screens, or like mechanical elements
B08B 5/02 - Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities
B08B 15/02 - Preventing escape of dirt or fumes from the area where they are producedCollecting or removing dirt or fumes from that area using chambers or hoods covering the area
Technologies are described herein for an automated chicken sorting conveyor belt system. Conveyor belts that move chicks from a loading area into bins move laterally (or horizontally) as the chicks fill up the bins. This reduces various impact, acceleration, and other forces imparted on the chicks.
A01K 45/00 - Other aviculture appliances, e.g. devices for determining whether a bird is about to lay
B65G 23/44 - Belt- or chain-tensioning arrangements
B65G 47/44 - Arrangements or applications of hoppers or chutes
B65G 21/20 - Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces
B65G 15/26 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration comprising a series of co-operating units extensible, e.g. telescopic
4.
Destacking and restacking of containers using a robot in poultry hatchery operations
Methods and apparatus for processing eggs based upon a characteristic such as gender are provided. Material is extracted from each of a plurality of live eggs, the extracted material is assayed to identify eggs having the characteristic, and then eggs identified as having the characteristic are processed accordingly.
A method of destacking or restacking standardized containers used in poultry hatchery operations using robotic means involves the step of moving a container from a conveyor onto a box transport dolly or vice versa. The box transport dolly is dimensionally secured within a dolly docking station adjacent a robot. A quantity of eggs may be transferred into the destacked container.
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