Embodiments of a compact and modular egg cracking mechanism driven by an actuator are described. An egg cracking mechanism comprises a main body, upper clamp, a plurality of arms, and one or more piercing members attached to the plurality of arms. An egg is placed between the upper clamp and plurality of arms. An actuator drives the upper clamp towards the egg, causing the egg shell to be pierced by one or more piercing members. The upper clamp is then actuated further, engaging the plurality of arms, causing one or more arms to move away from the main body and separate the egg shell to release its contents. The mechanism can handle eggs of various sizes and may include optional features such as removable arms and a yolk separator. In some embodiments, the mechanism is integrated into a cooking appliance for automatic egg preparation in various applications.

An apparatus and method for breaking eggs and separating egg liquids thus obtained. A first supply unit supplies a plurality of first rows of eggs to a second unit having a first endless conveyor and a plurality of corresponding second rows of egg breaker units. Eggs are transferred one by one from the first conveyor to a second conveyor which has a plurality of corresponding third rows of egg liquid containing cups with a part underneath the first conveyor for liquids transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. A row of egg part receptacles are under the cups for collecting liquids. A cleaning section for the cups has a liquid washing head to clean and wash the cups and receptacles with a substantially downward cleaning flow. A liquid receiver gutter between the rows of receptacles and the second conveyor moves between a first position to clean at least the cups wherein the receiving gutter protects the flow of receptacles from leaking cleaning liquid during breaking and separating, and a second position for cleaning at least the cups and at least one of the receptacles wherein the receiver gutter protects the remaining receptacles from leaking and cleaning liquid during breaking and separating.

Provided are kitchen devices for cooking eggs using various cooking methods. For example, kitchen devices provided herein comprise a storage component configured to store a plurality of raw eggs, a cracking component configured receive a raw egg of the plurality of raw eggs from the storage component and crack the raw egg, forming a cracked egg, a cooking component configured to receive the cracked egg from the cracking component and cook the cracked egg, forming a cooked egg, and a warming component configured to receive the cooked egg from the cooking component and warm the cooked egg.

The present invention relates to a food processing device, for example but not exclusively, a gripper, a conveying hook, or a collection cup (1), having at least one processing surface portion of matt stainless steel having the following roughness characteristics: a roughness value Ra, 0.2Ra1.2 (m), and a peak density value Rpc, 40<Rpc<140 (1/cm). It has been found that with devices treated in this manner, the application of vision technology is appreciably improved, so that much more reliable images are obtained. An example of this concerns observing yolk in albumen upon the breaking of eggs in egg breakers. Further, a particularly advantageous combination of usefulness is obtained, in this case for vision and cleanability.

An egg cooking device, having an egg mold having: a lower portion having: a first tray having a first top surface and a first bottom surface; a lower bowl extending downwards from the first bottom surface and having a rim located at the first top surface; lower ridges along the rim; and an upper portion having: a second tray having a second top surface and a second bottom surface; upper ridges on the second bottom surface and being configured to be associated with the set of lower ridges; wherein the lower portion is sealed with the upper portion when the lower ridges are associated with the upper ridges; and wherein the lower portion and the upper portion sealed together form the egg mold defining a hollow inner space configured to receive and cook a food item created in a shape defined by the hollow inner space.

An egg cooking device, having an egg mold having: a lower portion having: a first tray having a first top surface and a first bottom surface; a lower bowl extending downwards from the first bottom surface and having a rim located at the first top surface; lower ridges along the rim; and an upper portion having: a second tray having a second top surface and a second bottom surface; upper ridges on the second bottom surface and being configured to be associated with the set of lower ridges; wherein the lower portion is sealed with the upper portion when the lower ridges are associated with the upper ridges; and wherein the lower portion and the upper portion sealed together form the egg mold defining a hollow inner space configured to receive and cook a food item created in a shape defined by the hollow inner space.

A kitchen appliance made of metal which can be aluminum, stainless steel or copper. The diameter is between 3.5-5.5 inches with a height between 2-3 inches. The base has a plurality of holes, each hole measuring between 1/32- inches in diameter. The appliance has a dull and simple finish, is small, lightweight and easy to store. It is useable for the following functions: a container for holding food, particularly cut fruits, grains and the like; a steamer; a strainer (grains lentils, pasta and the like); a food server; a separator for egg yoks from egg whites; a spoon rest; ad a cup base or cup holder.

The present disclosure relates to an egg preparation apparatus. Exemplary implementations may facilitate preparing eggs by using one or more of a platform, a first container, a first container mount, a second container, a second container mount, an egg scorer, an egg scorer mount, a scoring edge, a storage compartment, a slide-out drawer, an egg separator, one or more platform attachment mounts, and/or other components. The platform may be configured to removably couple with one or more of a first container, a second container, and/or an egg scorer. The first container may be configured to receive one or more of egg whites, egg yolks, and/or other ingredients. The second container may be configured to receive one or more egg shells and/or other waste. The egg scorer may be configured to facilitate one or more of cutting, scoring, cracking, and/or other methods of opening egg shells.

The present disclosure relates to an egg preparation apparatus. Exemplary implementations may facilitate preparing eggs by using one or more of a platform, a first container, a first container mount, a second container, a second container mount, an egg scorer, an egg scorer mount, a scoring edge, a storage compartment, a slide-out drawer, an egg separator, one or more platform attachment mounts, and/or other components. The platform may be configured to removably couple with one or more of a first container, a second container, and/or an egg scorer. The first container may be configured to receive one or more of egg whites, egg yolks, and/or other ingredients. The second container may be configured to receive one or more egg shells and/or other waste. The egg scorer may be configured to facilitate one or more of cutting, scoring, cracking, and/or other methods of opening egg shells.

An egg-breaking system is provided that includes a plurality of nodes arranged in which one or more cracker assemblies are disposed. The nodes are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns within the egg-breaking system. The egg-breaking system can be used in an egg processing line in which eggs are subjected to a variety of processing steps.