An object pick-up, transfer and placement apparatus which does not employ a source of negative pressure. A flexible bellow defines a collapsible interior chamber and a top through-bore in communication with atmospheric or greater pressure via a valve. The bellow collapses when contacting an object, and the valve is closed, preventing air from entering the interior chamber. When the apparatus is used to lift the object, the bellow expands, causing reduced pressure in the interior chamber, securing the object to the apparatus. To release the object, the valve is opened, allowing entry of air to the interior chamber, and release of the object. This invention prevents contamination on egg shell surfaces to become air-born and cross-contaminate the entire egg pack, equipment surfaces, floors and other facility surfaces which in turn creates a hazardous working environment.

A packaging device (1) for packaging substantially round articles into a dimpled package (100) having an array of pockets to receive the round articles. The packaging device comprising a supply conveyor (2) for the articles and a package conveyor (15) located below the supply conveyor for conveying the packages. A filling buffer (4) is located between the supply conveyor and the package conveyor having multiple sub-buffers (5). The device furthermore comprises a collector (8) for receiving articles from the buffer, and a setter (12) wherein, in use, the setter reciprocates between an upper position to a lower position, wherein in the upper position the articles can be received from the collector and in the lower position the articles can be discharged into the pockets of the package. The collector comprises a plurality of collector rows, wherein the collector is configured and arranged to move each one of the plurality of collector rows back and forth underneath the filling buffer to a position under any one of the sub-buffers for receiving articles from the lowest row thereof, and to move back and forth with filled pockets to a position above the setter to discharge the articles into the setter.

A packaging device (1) for packaging substantially round articles into a dimpled package (100) having an array of pockets to receive the round articles. The packaging device comprising a supply conveyor (2) for the articles and a package conveyor (15) located below the supply conveyor for conveying the packages. A filling buffer (4) is located between the supply conveyor and the package conveyor having multiple sub-buffers (5). The device furthermore comprises a collector (8) for receiving articles from the buffer, and a setter (12) wherein, in use, the setter reciprocates between an upper position to a lower position, wherein in the upper position the articles can be received from the collector and in the lower position the articles can be discharged into the pockets of the package. The collector comprises a plurality of collector rows, wherein the collector is configured and arranged to move each one of the plurality of collector rows back and forth underneath the filling buffer to a position under any one of the sub-buffers for receiving articles from the lowest row thereof, and to move back and forth with filled pockets to a position above the setter to discharge the articles into the setter.

The present invention provides an apparatus for transferring products, for example eggs, from an endless conveyor to carrier units, comprising—the conveyor with at least a single row of transport carriers, and—a transfer unit positioned near the conveyor, which further comprises an arm pivotable around a shaft and having at its end a transfer carrier, wherein the relative velocities upon takeover from the conveyor and upon transfer to such a carrier unit are virtually 0 m/s, and wherein the shaft is driven by a motor with independently controllable speed. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for, from an endless conveyor having transport carriers for carrying along products, transferring therefrom the products, for example eggs, to carrier units.

The present invention provides an apparatus for transferring products, for example eggs, from an endless conveyor to carrier units, comprising—the conveyor with at least a single row of transport carriers, and—a transfer unit positioned near the conveyor, which further comprises an arm pivotable around a shaft and having at its end a transfer carrier, wherein the relative velocities upon takeover from the conveyor and upon transfer to such a carrier unit are virtually 0 m/s, and wherein the shaft is driven by a motor with independently controllable speed. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for, from an endless conveyor having transport carriers for carrying along products, transferring therefrom the products, for example eggs, to carrier units.

The invention relates to a so-called stabilization method, consisting of completing the filling of traveling egg trays. In each of the successive trays, eggs taken from an available egg reservoir are deposited in empty locations. This reservoir is made up of egg receiving cells that are movable along rows of cells in series. Depending on a filling state of the tray being treated identifying the distribution of the empty locations relative to the full locations, the reservoir is automatically configured in a configuration of egg-bearing cells complementary to said filling state of the tray in progress, so as to next transfer eggs between the reservoir and the tray in progress by correspondence between empty locations and full locations in the tray and the presence or absence of an egg-bearing cell in the reservoir.

The invention relates to a so-called stabilization method, consisting of completing the filling of traveling egg trays. In each of the successive trays, eggs taken from an available egg reservoir are deposited in empty locations. This reservoir is made up of egg receiving cells that are movable along rows of cells in series. Depending on a filling state of the tray being treated identifying the distribution of the empty locations relative to the full locations, the reservoir is automatically configured in a configuration of egg-bearing cells complementary to said filling state of the tray in progress, so as to next transfer eggs between the reservoir and the tray in progress by correspondence between empty locations and full locations in the tray and the presence or absence of an egg-bearing cell in the reservoir.

A method is provided, wherein the eggs which are pre-incubated in setter trays are transferred to the poultry house in these setter trays. In the poultry house, a layer of insulating covering material is provided on the floor of the poultry house, in one or more strips. The covering material comprises, in particular, litter which is applied in a layer thickness of at least 2 cm. By a set of egg pickup members of a transfer machine, the pre-incubated eggs are removed in the poultry house from the setter trays, after which they are positioned on the covering material by the transfer machine. In this way, the eggs can be placed in the poultry house efficiently, with a minimal risk of damage to the eggs a high hatching rate being ensured.

A method is provided, wherein the eggs which are pre-incubated in setter trays are transferred to the poultry house in these setter trays. In the poultry house, a layer of insulating covering material is provided on the floor of the poultry house, in one or more strips. The covering material comprises, in particular, litter which is applied in a layer thickness of at least 2 cm. By a set of egg pickup members of a transfer machine, the pre-incubated eggs are removed in the poultry house from the setter trays, after which they are positioned on the covering material by the transfer machine. In this way, the eggs can be placed in the poultry house efficiently, with a minimal risk of damage to the eggs a high hatching rate being ensured.

A transfer device for transferring eggs from a conveyor belt to egg packaging, the transfer device includes a frame with at least one mounting plate of a mounting element, on which mounting plate a plurality of suction lifting elements that can be connected to a suction apparatus are mounted. The suction lifting elements are mounted on the mounting plate so as to be movable in the plane of the mounting plate by motorized or hydraulic means between a suction position and a release position.