DEVICE FOR PRICKING THE WAX CAPS OF A HONEYCOMB FRAME

Abstract

Disclosed is a honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device including base frame, spike assemblies and a movement mechanism, wherein the pricking mechanism of the pricking device has a rotatable eccentric mechanism.

Claims

1. A honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) comprising base frame (27), spike assemblies (5) and a movement mechanism, wherein in the pricking mechanism of the pricking device (1) there is a rotatable eccentric mechanism.

2. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to the claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism of the honeycomb frame wax cap pricking mechanism has been connected to the same driving shaft (14) as the transfer chain (18) of the frame (17) of the pricking device (1).

3. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to the claim 2, wherein in the device (1), when the transfer chain (18) moving exactly by one frame cycle forwards, the eccentric mechanism rotates exactly one cycle around the shafts (3).

4. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rotating movement of the pricking mechanism has been transformed to a translation movement of the spike assemblies (5) by outside the base frame (32) located eccentric mechanism.

5. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the perforating spike (11) and a spring (12) are one and same part so that this part is compressible from the inside side of the spike assembly (5) and incompressible by the part penetrating into the honeycomb.

6. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spike assembly (5) is arranged to be heatable.

7. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) comprising base frame (27) or another base frame (32), a moving mechanism of spike assemblies (5) and two spike assemblies (5), which spike assemblies (5) comprise at least spikes (11), springs (12), inner base plate (10) and an outer base plate (13), wherein the spike assemblies (5) moving mechanism of the pricking device (1) is a rotatable eccentric mechanism, which eccentric mechanism comprises at least shafts (3), Sprocket wheels (7), driving sprocket wheel (9), transfer chain (8) of the spike assemblies (5) moving mechanism, adjusting sprocket wheel (15), grooved ball bearings (21), sliding sleeve joints (6) and connecting rods (20) at least one side of the base frame (27) so that the spike assemblies (5) are jointed by shafts (3), connecting rods (20) and sliding sleeve joints (6) rotatable in respect to the base frame (27) around shaft (3) on both sides of the honeycomb frame (17) moving inside the pricking device (1).

8. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the perforating spike (11) and the spring (12) are integrated into one part so that this part is compressible from the inside side of the spike assembly (5) and incompressible by the part penetrating into the honeycomb.

9. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rotating movement of the pricking mechanism has been transformed to a translation movement of the spike assemblies (5) by outside the base frame (32) located eccentric mechanism, the eccentric mechanism comprising at least connecting rods (26), supporting sleeves (38), guide rails, middle base frame plate (42), roller wheels (24), camshaft sprocket wheels (31), transfer chain (37) of the rotational movement transforming mechanism to reciprocating translational movement of the spike assemblies (5), driving shaft (33), sprocket wheel shafts (35), bearings (41) and pins (39) at least at one side of the base frame (32).

10. Honey handling hardware configuration to form a honey handling system, such as a honey extraction line for slinging honey from the honeycomb frames, and/or decapping line for handling honeycomb frames, wherein said honey handling system comprises a honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device according to claim 1.

11. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to a claim 2, wherein the rotating movement of the pricking mechanism has been transformed to a translation movement of the spike assemblies (5) by outside the base frame (32) located eccentric mechanism.

12. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to a claim 3, wherein the rotating movement of the pricking mechanism has been transformed to a translation movement of the spike assemblies (5) by outside the base frame (32) located eccentric mechanism.

13. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the perforating spike (11) and a spring (12) are one and same part so that this part is compressible from the inside side of the spike assembly (5) and incompressible by the part penetrating into the honeycomb.

14. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the perforating spike (11) and a spring (12) are one and same part so that this part is compressible from the inside side of the spike assembly (5) and incompressible by the part penetrating into the honeycomb.

15. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the perforating spike (11) and a spring (12) are one and same part so that this part is compressible from the inside side of the spike assembly (5) and incompressible by the part penetrating into the honeycomb.

16. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the spike assembly (5) is arranged to be heatable.

17. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the spike assembly (5) is arranged to be heatable.

18. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the spike assembly (5) is arranged to be heatable.

19. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the spike assembly (5) is arranged to be heatable.

20. The honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the perforating spike (11) and the spring (12) are integrated into one part so that this part is compressible from the inside side of the spike assembly (5) and incompressible by the part penetrating into the honeycomb.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Next the invention is explained more in detail with the help of some profitable embodiment examples of the invention by referring to accompanied drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1: In the drawing is presented one embodiment example of the pricking device. This example is presented as a view from the side and slightly in an angle,

[0030] FIG. 2: In the drawing is presented as an example a view from the side of the movement mechanism of the pricking mechanism of the device according to the invention. The movement mechanism is implemented by using a transfer chain,

[0031] FIG. 3, FIG. 3B: In these drawings is presented a sectioned view example (FIG. 3) of a detail according to the invention and a front view (FIG. 3B) of a device according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 4: In the drawing is presented a sectioned view of one profitable embodiment example of a device according to the invention. The view of this drawing is directly from the side of the device. In this drawing the spike assemblies are not sectioned and in addition the spikes are not set inside the honeycombs of the honeycomb frame,

[0033] FIG. 5: In this drawing is presented a section view, viewed from the side, of one profitable embodiment example of a device according to the invention, in which drawing the spike assemblies are sectioned and the spikes are set inside the honeycombs of the honeycomb frame,

[0034] FIG. 6: In the drawing is presented one example of a spike of a spike assembly viewed from the side in slight angle,

[0035] FIG. 7: In the drawing is presented a direct side view of one example of a spike of a spike assembly,

[0036] FIG. 8: In the drawing is presented a side view of a sectioned view of one other profitable embodiment example of the invention,

[0037] FIG. 9: In the drawing is presented a partially sectioned side view of the profitable embodiment example of the invention shown in FIG. 8,

[0038] FIG. 10: In the drawing is presented a sectioned front view of the profitable embodiment example of the invention shown in FIG. 8, and

[0039] FIG. 11: In the drawing is presented an example of a spike assembly with guiding rails attached, which spike assembly moves in horizontal direction in translational way. This example spike assembly is included in the example shown in FIG. 8.

[0040] It is mentioned in addition that in the accompanied and above referred drawings all the transfer chains have been presented by using a simplified appearance in order to maintain a good readability of each drawing. The dimensions and proportions of the shown embodiment examples of the invention are not restricted only to be similar as shown in the shown embodiment examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0041] One embodiment example of the device 1 according to the invention, which embodiment example is shown in drawings FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, comprises essentially a base frame 27 of the pricking device 1 and a camshaft type and rotating pricker mechanism, which is symmetrical in respect to the direction of movement of the honeycomb frame, and a frame 17 transfer mechanism inside the device 1.

[0042] In the drawings FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 is shown one profitable embodiment example, in which into to the same device 1 is integrated also the traditional honeycomb frame uncapping blades. According to one embodiment example the cappings pricker mechanism comprises essentially two spike assemblies 5, eight axes 3, eight connecting rods 20, eight slide bearing pivots 6, eight sprocket wheels 7, two transfer chains 8 and also two driving sprocket wheels 9, which sprocket wheels 9 are fastened on to a drive shaft 14. In addition, in the embodiment example of the drawing FIG. 1 the camshaft type pricker mechanism also includes an adjusting sprocket wheel 15 on both sides of the device 1 for tightening the transfer chains 8.

[0043] According to one embodiment example of the invention the cappings pricker mechanism comprises essentially two spike assemblies 5, eight axes 3, eight connecting rods 20, eight slide bearing pivots 6, eight sprocket wheels 7, two transfer chains 8, which transfer chains 8 move the spike assemblies 5, and in addition, two driving sprocket wheels 9, which driving sprocket wheels 9 are fastened on to a drive shaft 14. The drive shaft 14 can be also the main shaft according to one embodiment example of the invention. In addition, in the embodiment example shown in drawing FIG. 1, the camshaft type movement mechanism of the honeycomb frame 17 cappings pricker mechanism includes also an adjusting sprocket wheel 15 on both sides of the device 1 for tightening the transfer chains 8, which transfer chains 8 provide motion for the spike assemblies 5.

[0044] The adjusting sprocket wheel 15 is positioned symmetrically in respect to the both sides of the pricker mechanism to the center between two lower axes 3 of the two halves of the pricker mechanism. The device 1 according to the invention can be implemented also without the need for adjusting sprocket wheels 15 on both sides of the device 1 or the adjusting sprocket wheel 15 can be positioned to a location where it is suitable for providing the same function as in the accompanied embodiment examples.

[0045] So, the driving sprocket wheels 9 of the camshaft type and rotating pricker mechanism of device 1 according to a profitable embodiment example of this invention are located outside the device 1 on both sides of the base frame 27 of the device 1 and are fastened to the main shaft 14 according to one example. The camshaft type pricker mechanism outside the base frame 27 of the device 1 is implemented as follows: The Axes 3 are pivoted symmetrically on both sides of the base frame 27 of the device 1 four axes 3 on each side. Each axis 3 is rotatably mounted in the case according to this embodiment example with the help of two groove ball bearings 21 to the base frame 27. Retaining rings hold the axes 3 in place so that the axes 3 cannot move in the direction of the mounting center hole of the groove ball bearing 21. This mounting could be implemented of course in some other way, for instance according to one variant of an embodiment example by notching that part of the surface of the axis 3 into which the groove ball bearing is mounted, in which case possibly the retaining rings would not be needed necessarily at all. The structure of the portion of the pricker mechanism, which is located inside the base frame 27 of the device 1, is symmetric in respect to the direction of motion of the frame 17 moving through the pricker mechanism. One such symmetric half of the portion of the pricker mechanism, which is located inside the base frame 27, comprises four axes 3, four connecting rods 20, four slide bearing sleeves 6 and one spike assembly 5. One spike assembly 5 is in the case pivoted from both sides to the base frame 27 with the help of two axes 3, two slide bearing sleeves 6 and two connecting rods 20. These two axes 3 are aligned vertically. The axes 3 extend from inside the base frame 27 to outside of the base frame 27 so that to each end of each axis 3, which end is located outside the base frame 27, one sprocket wheel 7 is mounted. To the sprocket wheels 7 is connected a transfer chain 8 in a special manner specified by a variant of an embodiment example. Due to this special manner all the sprocket wheels 7, which are connected to the same spike assembly 5, rotate the same direction. According to one embodiment example of the invention, to the sprocket wheels 7 is connected the transfer chain, which moves the spike assemblies 5. Due to this movement direction, a spike assembly is in the same angular position in respect to the movement direction of the honey frame 17 all the time during the rotational movement of the spike assembly, which movement occurs inside the base frame 27. This particular angular position is vertical in the accompanied embodiment examples meaning that the angular position is the same direction as the direction of motion of the honey frame 17. This means that the spikes 11 are always horizontal according to one embodiment example. According to one embodiment example, a spike assembly 5 and its mounting to device 1 is easy to implement also so that the angular position of the spikes 11 is for example in slight 5 to 25-degree sharp angle in respect to the direction of motion of the frame 17.

[0046] According to one embodiment example of the invention the transfer chain of the movement mechanism which moves the spike assemblies is transfer chain 8. According to this embodiment example of the device according to the invention, the before mentioned chain 8 is connected to sprocket wheels 7 and to driving sprocket wheel 9 on the left side and outside of the base frame 27 of the device 1 as follows: Chain 8 is connected to pass outside the pair of sprocket wheels 7 of first spike assembly 5 and to pass between the pair of sprocket wheels 7 of the second spike assembly 5, in which case the pair of sprocket wheels mounted on the first spike assembly 5 both rotate anti clockwise according to direction shown by arrow 22 and the pair of sprocket wheels mounted to the second spike assembly both rotate clockwise according to direction shown by arrow 45, while the drive shaft 14 rotates anti clockwise according to direction shown by arrow 47. The arrangement of chain 8 on the right side of the base frame is mirrored in respect to the centerline of base frame and compared to the before mentioned arrangement of chain 8 on the left side. In drawing FIG. 2 there is an axis 23 presented for the adjusting sprocket wheel 15 to be rotatably mounted on.

[0047] According to one embodiment example of the invention the transfer chain 8 is a first transfer chain of the mechanism which moves the spike assemblies 5. According to one embodiment example of the invention the device may be equipped also with a second transfer chain for moving a spike assembly.

[0048] It is also profitable for this profitable embodiment example of the device 1 according to the invention that the length of the frame space in a transfer chain 18, which frame space is the distance between two adjacent frame pusher bars 19, which are on connected to the transfer chain 18, and into which space a frame 17 is inserted in the device 1, is the same as the distance travelled by a slide bearing sleeve 6, which is pivoted to the connecting rod 20, when a connecting rod 20 rotates one full cycle around axis 3. According to one other embodiment example the distance travelled by a slide bearing sleeve 6 when axis 3 rotates one full cycle can be of course different. According to one embodiment example of the invention, a transmission and/or a gear can be used to produce the motion required by the described function.

[0049] It is also profitable for this profitable embodiment example of the invention that the driving sprocket wheel 9 of the camshaft type pricker mechanism and the driving sprocket wheel 28, which driving sprocket wheel 28 drives the honeycomb frame 17 transfer mechanism, are dimensioned relative to each other so that the honeycomb frame 17 transfer chain 18 moves forwards exactly a distance of one frame space while the pricker mechanism rotates one full cycle. This way while the transfer chain 18 of the frame 17 transfer mechanism moves forward exactly a distance of one frame space, the connecting rod rotates exactly one full cycle around the axis 3, in other words meaning that the pricker mechanism rotates one full cycle. Due to this fact, by connecting the transfer chain 18 to a certain position in respect to the position of transfer chain 8, it can be made sure that pricker mechanism perforates the cappings of the honey frame in the same area for all the honey frames, which honey frames travel through the device 1. According to one embodiment example of the invention, the transfer chain is a transfer chain for transfer mechanism for certain frames. According to one embodiment example, a transmission and/or a gear can be used for producing the movements for described functions.

[0050] According to one embodiment example of the invention the sprocket wheel 28 is the driving sprocket wheel 28 for certain frames transferring mechanism. The location of this sprocket wheel when mounted on the drive shaft, is demonstrated also with the help of one embodiment example shown, for instance, in drawing FIG. 1.

[0051] In the accompanied profitable embodiment examples, the honeycomb frame 17 moves in the device 1, which device 1 being according to the invention, in a direction from up to down through the uncapping mechanism and pricker mechanism, but it is clear that a device equipped with this present invention can be made to function also for example in a direction from down to up or for example in a side-to-side direction of a honey frame or in a forward facing direction when the frame is tilted horizontal and is moving forwards.

[0052] In one example of a spike assembly 5, it comprises essentially the inner base frame plate 10, spikes 11, springs 12 and an outer base frame plate 13. In the inner base frame plate 10, there is a hole for each spike 11. In the accompanied examples, also the outer base frame plate 13 is equipped with a hole for each spike 11. In this example a suitable size for the hole diameter is couple of tenths of a millimeter larger than the diameter of the spike 11. This way the spike 11 does not get stuck in either of the two holes while sliding inside these holes. As mentioned, in the accompanied embodiment examples the spikes 11 are positioned inside the circular holes of the base frame plates 10 and 13. According to one variant of one embodiment example the spikes 11 can be of course positioned for example to oval shaped holes to both or to one of the base frame plates 10 and 13, in which case the device 1 would allow that a frame 17 moves in a slight angle through the pricker mechanism.

[0053] In the accompanied embodiment examples, the spikes 11 of the spike assembly 5 are round shaped and they are equipped with a shoulder 16 in a precisely defined position, which shoulder 16 prevents the spike 11 from sliding out from an assembled spike assembly 5. In addition, in the accompanied examples the edges of both ends of the spike 11 are rounded. According to one variant of an embodiment, the edges in the ends of the spike 11 could be for example sharp, or they could be equipped with a small extra shoulder, which would agitate the honey more. In one variant of embodiment, a spring 12 is pressed against the shoulder 16 of the spike 11, which spring 12 is compression spring type in the accompanied embodiment examples. The spring 12 is dimensioned so that there is play between the spring 12 and the partially inside the spring 12 located spike 11, which play allows the spike 11 to slide against the spring 12, while the spring 12 is compressing, without spike 11 and the spring 12 getting stuck to each other. Occasionally there is a need for this sliding of the spike 11 towards inside of the inner base frame plate 10. This possibility is there just in case something hard comes in the way of the spike 11 while it perforates inside the honeycomb frame 17 and, if the spike 11 could not move backwards, it could possibly suffer breakage. The sliding of the spike 11 back towards the inside of the spike assembly can be initiated only by a force greater than the force generated by the spring 12, in which case normally the spike 11 would not move in respect to the base frame plates of the spike assembly 5.

[0054] In the cases of the accompanied profitable embodiment examples the spike assemblies 5 are not necessarily heated separately to be warmer than the environment. Still, it is clear based on the embodiment examples of the invention that, if necessary, a spike assembly 5 can be for instance equipped with a water heating piping installed either outside or inside the spike assembly 5 or it can be equipped for instance with an infrared heater system to enhance the perforation effect when perforating the wax cappings, which is based on the softening of beeswax due to warming up.

[0055] The rotational motion of the camshaft mechanism of the pricker mechanism shown in a profitable embodiment example of the invention, which embodiment example is shown in drawings FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, occurs outside the device according to the invention and this rotational motion has been conducted to the spike assemblies 5 with the help of rigid support rails 25, which support rails 25 are supported with roller wheels 24, and, which support rails 25 allow only horizontally directioned movement back and forth for the spike assemblies 5. In the case of this structure a honeycomb frame 17 is stationary during the perforation motion and thus also the pricker motion mechanism requires its own power source, for instance a second electric motor. Due to this fact, the pricker mechanism for frames 17 takes less space inside the pricker device 1, because the camshaft type motion occurs outside the pricker device 1 and thus it is not needed to reserve space for that camshaft type motion inside the device 1. Also, due to this structure, if necessary, the cappings surface of the same honeycomb frame 17 can be perforated/pricked multiple times during one processing event of the frame 17. Also, due to this structure the base frame 32 can be built to be lower (than in the case of another different structure), because the path of motion of the spike assemblies 5 is smaller, and also the spike assemblies 5 can be built to be more lower and thus containing less spikes 11 and springs 12 due to the fact that rather easily the pricking can be done for different portions of the honeycombs of the honeycomb frames 17 multiple times. This on the other hand requires a simple software with which the two electric motors are controlled according to the procedure.

[0056] In the embodiment example of the invention shown in drawings FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the spike assembly 5 and the guide rails 25, which are attached to the spike assembly 5, are presented in drawing FIG. 11. The rotatable mounting of this spike assembly 5 to a base frame 32 of the device 1, which base frame 32 being one other base frame 32, is implemented in this example as follows: To the outer base frame plate 13 of the spike assembly 5 is attached three supporting sleeves 38 on both sides symmetrically, which sleeves 38 extend from inside of the other base frame 32 to outside of the other base frame 32 symmetrically on both sides of the other base frame 32. To the ends of the sleeves 38, which are located outside of the other base frame 32, guide rails 25 are mounted with the help of a stiffening middle base frame plate 42. There are two guide rails 25 for one spike assembly 5, one on each side of the device 1. In the accompanied example, the middle base frame plates 42 are mounted on the ends of the sleeves 38, which ends are located outside the other base frame 32, with the help of bolts 43 and the guide rails 25 are mounted with the help of bolts 44 and an intermediate sleeve 46 to the middle base frame plate 42. The purpose of the intermediate sleeve 46 is to make space between the guiderail 25 and middle base frame plate 42. Roller wheels 24, which are located outside the device 1 and mounted to the other base frame 32 with the help of bolts 39, intermediate sleeves 46 and groove ball bearings 41, allow only horizontal translational motion for guide rails 25 and thus also for the spike assemblies 5. This translational motion is implemented as follows: Outside one other base frame 32 is located also the motion mechanism of the pricker mechanism, which comprises essentially connecting rods 26, transfer chains 37 of a motion mechanism, which motion mechanism transforms rotational motion to translational motion of the spike assemblies 5, sprocket wheel shafts 35, camshaft sprocket wheels 31, drive shaft 33 and an electric motor 34, which is equipped with a reduction gearbox. Also in this example, the drive shaft 33 extends through the whole other base frame 32 of the device 1 so that on both ends of the drive shaft 33, which ends are located outside the other base frame 32, a driving sprocket wheel is mounted. Underneath the drive shaft 33 is located two sprocket wheel shafts 35, which are located aligned vertically. The sprocket wheel shafts extend, as the drive shaft 33 does, through the other base frame 32 and on the both ends of the sprocket wheel shafts 35, which ends are located outside the other base frame 32, camshaft sprocket wheels 31 are mounted. This camshaft sprocket wheel 31 is an ordinary sprocket wheel, into which a plate is mounted concentric in respect to a center bore of the ordinary sprocket wheel and there is a hole in the plate, which hole is not concentric in respect to the center bore of the ordinary sprocket wheel. Into this hole one end of a connecting rod 26 is mounted with the help of a slide bearing bushing. The other end of the connecting rod 26 is mounted to a guide rail 25 of a spike assembly 5 with the help of a slide bearing bushing. So, when in operation, an electric motor 34 drives the drive shaft 33 and at the same time it drives two sprocket wheel shafts 35, which are located underneath the driveshaft 33, with the help of a transfer chain 37 of the motion mechanism, which transforms rotational motion to translational motion of the spike assemblies 5. This means that the spike assemblies 5 move back and forth in horizontal direction inside the device 1 with the help of connecting rods 26. This motion mechanism is symmetrical in the accompanying embodiment example on both sides of the device 1, but it could be of course positioned on only one side of the device 1.

[0057] According to one embodiment example of the invention the transfer chain 37 is transfer chain for the motion mechanism, which transforms the rotational motion of the drive shaft to translational motion of the spike assemblies.

[0058] In the example shown in drawings FIG. 8 to FIG. 11, the spike assemblies 5 on different sides of through passing honeycomb frame 17 are assembled using the same components, although they differ from each other so that the other spike assembly 5 is turned 180 degrees upside down in the case of mounting of that spike assembly 5 and the guide rails 35 on both ends are turned 180 degrees facing the other direction while being mounted to the same spot in both cases. As an end result the spikes 11 hit the same area of the frame 17 height wise during the pricking due to the dimensioning of these parts.

[0059] Also, the embodiment example shown in drawings FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 is positioned under a set of uncapping blades. Surely this embodiment example also functions without the uncapping blades or on the other hand the pricking mechanism could be positioned underneath, over, in front, in the backside of, or on the side of some other type of uncapping mechanisms depending on in which direction the honeycomb frame 17 transfer mechanism of a device 1, which is according to any embodiment example of the invention, is implemented to function.

Example 1

[0060] According to one embodiment example of the invention, in a device 1, there is a group of spike assemblies, in which case one such group is equipped with two spike assemblies, a first spike assembly and a second spike assembly. According to one embodiment example of the invention, the pricker device has at least two transfer chains mounted on same drive shaft.

Example 2

[0061] A pricking device according to one embodiment example of the invention is equipped with a first base frame 27. A pricking device according to one other embodiment example of the invention is equipped with a second base frame 32. The base frames are similar 5 to each other when suitable. According to one embodiment example of the invention a first base frame 27 is a base frame 27 of a variant of embodiment of a first pricker device 1. According to one embodiment example of the invention a second base frame 32 is a base frame 32 of a variant of embodiment of a second pricker device 1. According to one embodiment example of the invention in the same device both a first base frame 27 and a second base frame 32 are used in suitable part.

Example 3

[0062] In addition, in this embodiment example, for the wax cap pricking mechanism, the movement providing mechanism has been implemented by jointing spike assemblies by sliding sleeves and via connecting rods to rotating shafts, which shafts are connected rotatably by to the shafts connected sprocket wheels to form an eccentric mechanism. A transfer chain, that moves the eccentric mechanism, has been connected to the sprocket wheels as follows: Main shaft is extending throughout the pricking device acting as a drive shaft, to which the driving sprocket wheels are connected for the movement to both sides of the device, outside the device's base frame, and, in addition, for moving the transfer mechanism of the honeycomb frames, driving sprocket wheels are connected to said main shaft, inside side of the base frame, symmetrically on both sides of the device. This way only one electric motor is moving both mechanisms, when one main shaft operating drive shaft being rotated.

Example 4

[0063] A honeycomb frame wax cap pricking device according to an embodiment of the invention is suitable for use in a hardware configuration, which provides a honey handling system, for example 5 such as a honey extraction line to sling honey from the honeycomb frames and/or a pricking line for handling honeycomb frames. In the device configuration according to an embodiment of the invention, there is at least one honeycomb wax cap pricking device according to an embodiment of the invention. An embodied honeycomb frame 10 wax cap pricking device is naturally combinable to be used as a part of the honey handling line and as a part of a decapping line for example.

Example 5

[0064] In an embodiment example according to a preferred embodiment embodied in FIGS. 8-11, it is indeed possible to connect the frame transfer chain and the pricking mechanism transfer chain to same driving shaft, but in this case, if the frame is pricked by one handling/processing course in many times, this can be implemented 20 so that there is a sliding mechanism assembled in connection to the frame transfer mechanism that when being activated, only the frame pricking mechanism transfer chain moves the frame pricking mechanism, but simultaneously the movement of the transfer mechanism of the frame transfer mechanism does not lead to the frame transfer mechanism movement.

[0065] According to an embodiment the frame transfer mechanism has then a slipping facility, so that a frame can be pricked many times in one processing event of the frame.