Automation in Animal Housing and Production - Agricultural Automation - page 214

gravity immediately after lay, and rest on a conveyor belt that runs alongside each row
of cages (Figure 8.10). These conveyors are operated periodically to send the eggs to
one end of the building, where they are lowered via an automated elevator (Figure 8.10)
onto a lateral conveyor that runs across the end of multiple buildings and transports
eggs into the refrigerated processing room. Eggs are inspected for shell flaws, blood
specks, and other defects by online camera systems, with automated rejection of flaws.
Eggs are washed, dried, sorted, and packaged automatically (Figure 8.11). Operators
on each line work to stack packaged eggs onto pallets, which when full are moved to
refrigerated storage for later shipment to retail outlets (Figure 8.12). Automation for

FIGURE 8.10 Vertical conveyor to collect eggs from multiple lines to a lateral transfer.
(Photo from http://ctbworld.com/products.php?product_id=1028.)

FIGURE 8.11 Automated egg handling system (http://www.bergmeier.com/engl/home.htm).