Automatic Egg Inoculator with Punch & Needle Disinfection

Two infeed rails support the egg trays as they are pushed through the process by a conveyor chain equipped with pusher lugs.  The machine operates on an Electric Servo Drive system with all processing operations occuring during the stationary period.  The major stations of the inoculator are:

(1)  Tray Infeed Station: Trays are introduced into the inoculator manaully.  An optional infeed conveyor is available to automatically feed egg trays, eliminating the need for an infeed operator. 

(2) (Optional) Spray Station: Or UV Disinfecting Station is available and will disinfect a complete tray of eggs simultaneously prior to entering the inoculation station.

(3) Inoculation Station:  Perforates the eggshells and injects a measured amount of virus-laden seed material into 36 or 42 eggs simultaneously.  The inoculation head design permits doses as small as 0.1 ml to be delivered to each egg with an accuracy of +/- 0.5%.

(4)  Lift Station:  Eggs are lifted from the tray and positioned under a guide plate, allowing each egg to be inoculated precisely to a pre-determined depth.

(5) Unloading Station:  Trays containing inoculated eggs are manually removed from a supplied exit-feed cart.  An optional exit conveyor system is available. 

(6)  Controls: Primary machine controls are contained within the main control box located on the machine.  The control box is fabricated from stainless steel and has gasketed access doors.  Customers choose between Allen-Bradley, Seimens or Omron operator interface terminal with touch screen control system. 

(7)  (Optional) Punch and Needle Sanitization Station:  Punch and needle are submerged in the sanitizing fluid.  Prior to raising the punch and needle, a small amount of sanitizing fluid is drawn by vacuum between the punch and needle and then dried. 

PRODUCTION RATE:  (variable) 30,000 to 33,000 eggs per hour.