Fish Egg Sorting Apparatus

Abstract

Fish egg sorting apparatus comprising a rotated disc provided with a series of holes extending through the disc adjacent its peripheral surface, each hole capable of containing two fish eggs, photoelectrical means for scanning two eggs at the same time, one of the two eggs being carried in the front end of a hole and the other of the two eggs being carried in the rear end of another hole, and means activated when a dead egg is scanned for ejecting the dead egg from its hole. A glass shield is located closely adjacent the periphery of the disc, between the rotating disc and scanning means, for preventing water from spattering on the scanning means and for holding a water bead between the disc and scanning means providing a clear path through which a light beam from the electrical means passes to eggs in the disc, said water bead preventing formation of film on either the shield or disc which might interfere with passage of the light beam.

Description

This invention relates to fish egg sorting apparatus for separating dead fish eggs from live eggs. Dead fish eggs are white in color and opaque, whereas live fish eggs are light orange in color and transparent. Dead fish eggs must be separated from the live eggs to avoid fungus from dead eggs attaching to the live ones and thereby killing the live eggs.

The main object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is exceptionally speedy in operation, capable of sorting the fish eggs at a speed in excess of 100 eggs per second. This high speed, coupled with accuracy in making the separation, is achieved by utilizing a rotated disc provided with egg holes each of which holds two eggs, one egg being automatically removed from a hole without simultaneously removing the other egg in that hole.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sorting operation takes place at a single-sorting station adjacent the rotating disc which includes means for successively scanning the two eggs in one hole, and means for automatically rejecting the dead eggs, if any, at the site of the sorting station, permitting the good eggs to be moved with the disc to a live egg removal station. In a modified embodiment of the invention, two sorting stations are employed, the first one for scanning one of the two eggs in a hole and for automatically rejecting the egg, if dead, into a bad egg container, and a second sorting station for scanning the other of the two eggs in that hole and for automatically rejecting the second egg, if dead, into a second bad egg container. In this modified embodiment, each of the two sorting stations includes also a good egg container for receiving the live eggs.

In either embodiment of the invention, similar electrical systems are used for operating the scanners which preferably are the reflective-type photo electric units in which a light beam is directed to a fish egg which, if opaque to light, reflects the light beam back into the photoelectric unit. The latter instantly actuates an air jet to blow the dead egg out of its hole. Air pressure is supplied by air compressors which may be separate from the sorting apparatus.

An electrical counter may be connected in parallel with the compressed air valves to provide an accurate count of the dead egg pickoff. The construction of the containers in which the separated good and bad eggs are deposited is such that live eggs can be transferred directly into hatching trays without interrupting the operation of the sorting apparatus.

Another important advantage of the invention is the accuracy with which the scanners or sensors detect the dead eggs which are opaque to light. Heretofore the efficiency of photoelectric units used for this purpose has been adversely affected by water spray falling on the sensor lens from the peripheral edge of the rotating egg holding disc or from the air jets adjacent the disc. In the apparatus of this invention, I employ a small glass shield mounted about 5/1000 inch from the edge of the rotating disc, directly between the sensors and the peripheral edge surface of the disc. The water carried by the rotating disc as well as water spatter from the air jets forms an oblong water bead that fuses itself between the peripheral surface of the disc and the shield. The light beam from the sensor shines through the shield, the water bead and the transparent peripheral edge of the rotating disc for the purpose of testing each egg as it passes the sensor. The 5/1000 inch space between the shield and disc is exactly right to maintain a refreshed water bead and to prevent drying of the water into a film on the shield which would interfere with the passage of the light beam from the sensor through the shield, while at the same time the shield efficiently serves to prevent water spray from contaminating the sensor lens. Thus the light beam from the photoelectric unit passes efficiently through its lens, shield, water bead and peripheral edge surface of the disc to an egg in the disc, and the beam reflected by an opaque egg likewise passes efficiently through the disc edge, water bead, shield and photocell lens to activate an air jet to effect removal of the dead egg.

The egg-holding holes in the rotated disc extend through the disc from one major surface to the other and are designed to contain two eggs, side by side, between the two major surfaces. Since the disc rotates about a horizontal axis, one major surface may be called the front of the disc and the opposite surface may be referred to as the back of the disc. One of two eggs located in one of the holes may be described as being in an annular row or "track 1" adjacent the front of the disc and the other of the two eggs may be described as being in a similar annular row or "track 2" adjacent the back of the disc.

When a single-sorting station is employed, two scanners or sensors are used in that station, one having its light beam directed to an egg in track 1 and the other having its light beam directed to an egg in the same hole but in track 2. A stop member is located adjacent the front surface of the disc in position to close a moving hole opening to the front, and another stop member is located adjacent the rear surface of the disc in position to close the same moving hole opening to the back when the disc has rotated the circumferential distance between two holes. Air jets communicate with a source of compressed air leading to each hole through air openings in the backface of the disc to blow dead eggs out of the holes. When sensor for track 1 has detected a dead egg in track 1 of a hole, the air jet is activated to blow that egg out of the forward opening of the hole, but the egg in track 2 of the same hole (whether dead or alive) is not affected because the stop which closes the rear opening of that hole prevents movement of the egg rearwardly out of the hole. When the rotating disc has moved the same hole into position for the egg in track 2 to be scanned by the sensor, the air jet will be activated if that egg is a dead egg, and will blow it out of the hole rearwardly due to the stop closing the forward opening. If it is a good egg, it will be carried by the disc until it reaches the live egg station in which a continuously blowing air jet removes good eggs from the holes and permits them to fall into a suitable container for live eggs.

Another object of the invention is to support the rotating disc in such manner that the eggs in the water and egg compartment are drawn into the holes in the disc and prevented from passing through or out of the holes prematurely. For this purpose, a combination backplate with a rib for closing the rear opening of holes, together with a cradle for the rotating disc are provided in the water and egg compartment. The cradle engages the lower portion of the peripheral edge of the disc immersed in the water, and the rib covers the annular row of holes in that portion of the disc in the water. The rib is mounted on the backplate in such position as to contact the rear side surface of the disc opposite the egg holes. The backplate is provided with annular slots which permit sufficient flow of water through the backplate to draw the eggs into the holes in the disc. The cradle fits snugly against the periphery of the rotating disc and prevents eggs from passing across that part of the peripheral edge which is submerged in the water. The eggs are drawn into the holes in the disc and are carried by the disc upwardly above the water level into the egg scanning zone, as heretofore described.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for washing the walls of the sorted egg receiving compartments to carry the eggs through their respective compartments and out through holes in the bottom of the sorter, the live eggs being carried to hatching trays without interrupting the operation of the sorter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of fish egg sorting apparatus embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the front face of the rotating egg carrying disc and the cradle located beneath the disc, together with other parts of the apparatus as viewed in the plane of the line 3--3 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary view of a detail of the disc and a shield adjacent the periphery of the disc.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the electrical control cabinet omitted.

FIG. 5 is an elevational front view on an enlarged scale, of the backplate which is located adjacent the rear side of the egg-carrying disc.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the backplate of FIG. 5, together with an annular rib which is attached to the front face of the backplate, and the cradle located closely adjacent the front face of the rib beneath the rotating disc.

FIG. 7 is an edge view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the peripheral edge of the egg carrying disc, showing two of the egg-containing holes which are equidistantly spaced circumferentially of the disc adjacent the disc periphery, and showing also a pair of stop members located adjacent opposite sides of the disc to close one of the holes at its rear opening and to close the other of the holes at its front opening.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing air jets communicating with the egg-containing holes and illustrating how one of two eggs in each hole is blown out of the hole by the air jet.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a reflective-type photoelectric unit, showing diagrammatically how the light beam passes from the lamp of the unit to an opaque egg and is reflected back to the photoelectric cell in the unit through the same lens.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modification of the apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of part of the construction shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an edge view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the peripheral edge of the egg-carrying disc used in the modified apparatus of FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of the electrical circuits housed in the control cabinet of the sorting apparatus.

The fish egg sorting apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-9 and the modified construction of FIGS. 10-12 comprises a water reservoir 20 located in the front end of the apparatus provided with water input means 21 to maintain a water level indicated at 22 in FIG. 2. The water reservoir 20 extends downwardly to the bottom 23 of the apparatus and has openings in its inner wall 24 for passage of water into the egg and water compartment 25. An electrical control cabinet 26 is located on a support 27 rearwardly of the egg and water compartment 25. The electrical control means in the cabinet 26 will be described hereinafter in connection with the diagram of FIG. 13. The water level in the egg and water compartment is indicated by the broken line 28 in FIG. 2. Also within the egg and water compartment 25 is an assembly extending transversely of the compartment, consisting of a backplate 30, attached annular rib 31, and cradle 32, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 and in detail in FIGS. 3-6. The backplate 30 is as high as the depth of the compartment 25 and is provided with a plurality of arcuate slots 33 which permit passage of water therethrough as shown in FIG. 5. The flat faced arcuate rib 31 is fastened to the front face of the backplate 30 in the arcuate space between the slots 33. The cradle 32 also is arcuate in shape and has an upper arcuate surface 34 which fits closely below the peripheral edge of a rotated egg-carrying disc 35. Spacers between the backplate 30 and cradle 32 are designated 29.

An egg-carrying disc 35 is made of transparent material, circular in shape, having parallel front and rear major surfaces and a peripheral edge surface 36. The disc is mounted on a horizontal shaft 37 driven by a motor (not shown) in the cabinet 26. The disc is provided adjacent its peripheral edge 36 with a plurality of holes 38 equidistantly spaced apart around the entire circumference of the disc. In a disc 12 inches in diameter, approximately 100 holes 38 may be provided. The holes 38 extend through the disc from one major surface to the other and thus have both front and rear open ends. Each hole is large enough to contain two fish eggs located side by side, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, where they are designated 40 and 41, respectively. The spaces in the holes 38 adjacent the front openings 42 form an annular row or "track 1" and the spaces in the holes 38 adjacent the rear openings 43 form an annular row or "track 2." The function of this arrangement will be explained in detail hereinafter. One of the holes 38 in the disc 25 has a stop 44 located to close the front opening 42 in that hole, and the adjacent hole 38 in the disc 25 has a stop 45 located to close the rear opening 43 in that hole. An air duct 46 extends inwardly from the rear face of the disc 35 into each of the holes 38. Two air jets 47 directed toward the rear face of the disc adjacent its peripheral edge 36 supply air under pressure when activated by photoelectrical units about to be described.

A sorting station located at the left of the compartment 25 comprises two photoelectrical units 50 and 51, of the reflective type, (one shown in FIG. 9), located adjacent the peripheral surface 36 of the rotated disc 35, one above the other, the spacing being such that the lower sensor 50 has its light beam directed to egg 40 in "track 1" in the forward opening side of the holes 38, while the upper sensor 51 has its light beam directed to egg 41 in "track 2" in the rearwardly opening side of the holes 38. The sensors are spaced apart vertically to conform to the spacing of two adjacent holes 38 in the disc 35. Thus two eggs in one hole 38 will not be scanned simultaneously, but the egg 40 in "track 1" of that hole will be scanned by the lower sensor 50 and the egg 41 in "track 2" of that hole will be scanned by the upper sensor 51, when that hole has been moved with the rotating disc in clockwise rotation.

Before describing the operation of the sorting apparatus more fully, reference will be made to other structural parts which include a dead egg compartment 55 located adjacent the periphery of the disc at the left side of compartment 25 to receive dead eggs from the holes 38 in the disc 35, and a live egg compartment 56 located adjacent the periphery of the disc at the right side of compartment 25 to receive live eggs from the holes 38 in the disc, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The compartment 55 extends rearwardly and is provided with a dead egg outlet 57 in its bottom. The backplate 30 and cradle 32 are provided with openings 58 which permit passage of dead eggs from compartment 55 to the outlet 57. Compartment 56 also extends rearwardly to a bottom opening 59 which permits transfer of good eggs directly to hatch trays (not shown).

At each side of the reservoir 20 and egg and water compartment 25 are spray pipes 60 which communicate with the reservoir 20 and the egg compartments 55, 56, respectively, for the purpose of flushing the walls of the compartments and facilitating removal of the contents of the compartments. The higher water level 21 in reservoir 20 as compared with the water level 28 in the egg and water compartment 25 provides a small degree of pressure in the spray lines 60.

Between the periphery 36 of the disc 35 and the sensors 50 and 51 is a glass shield 61 curved to conform to the arc of the peripheral surface 36 and mounted 5/1000 of an inch from said surface. This shield prevents water from the rotating disc 35 and water spatter caused by the air jets 47 from falling on the sensor lenses. Water carried by the rotating disc as well as the water spray from the air jets forms an oblong water bead 62 that fuses itself between the peripheral surface of the rotating disc 35 and shield 61, the spacing of 5/1000 inch between disc and shield being sufficient to maintain a refreshed water bead and to prevent drying of the water into a film on the shield which would interfere with the passage of the light beam from and to the sensors through the shield.

The operation of the sorting apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-9 is as follows:

Water and eggs to be sorted are placed in compartment 25 and water is supplied by pipes 21 to maintain the levels indicated at 22 and 28 in compartments 20 and 25 respectively. The disc 35 is rotated by a motor (not shown). The flow of water through the holes 38 in disc 35 and through the slots 33 in backplate 30 is sufficient to draw eggs into the holes 38 in the portion of the disc submerged in the water in compartment 25. The rib 31 closes the rearward open ends of the holes 38 sufficiently to prevent eggs drawn into the holes from passing out through the rearward open ends of the holes. Thus the eggs, usually two in a hole, are carried to and beyond the water level in the clockwise rotation of the disc.

When a hole 38 with eggs therein passes the sorting station located to the left of the disc 35 in FIG. 1, the lower sensor 50 will scan the egg 40 adjacent the forward opening 42, in "track 1," and if the egg is opaque, the sensor's light beam will be reflected back to the sensor which instantly activates the air jet 47 opposite the conduit 46 leading into that hole 38, and blows egg 40 out of its hole, as indicated in FIG. 8. The egg 41 in the hole cannot be blown out simultaneously because the rearward opening of that hole is closed by the stop 45. As the disc continues its rotary movement, the aforementioned hole 38 is moved in the direction indicated in FIG. 8, and egg 41 remaining in that hole is scanned by the upper sensor 51. If it is opaque, the sensor and air jet function as described, and blow egg 41 out of the rearward open end 43, the other end being closed by stop 44. If both eggs 40, 41, in a hole are live eggs, neither will be ejected from the hole, but will be carried a distance of about 180.degree. with the disc to a continuously functioning air jet 63 which blows all remaining eggs into the good egg compartment 56.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 10-12 differs in some respects from that of FIGS. 1-8, particularly in that two sorting stations are employed instead of one. In this modification, one sensor 66 is located at the left of the disc 65 and a second sensor 67 is located at the right of the disc 65 as shown in FIG. 10. The disc 65 is similar to the disc 35 heretofore described except that the holes 68 are restricted at one end as indicated at 69. Air ducts 70 communicate with the egg holes 68. Because the holes 68 are restricted at that end adjacent the rear of the disc 65, eggs in the holes cannot pass through the holes and therefore the rib 31 heretofore described for preventing passage of eggs through holes 38, can be dispensed with. The backplate 30 and cradle 32, with spacer 29 between them, are shown in FIG. 11. Two shields 61 are used, one between the periphery of disc 65 and sensor 66, and the other between disc 65 and sensor 67.

Two eggs 40 and 41, respectively, are drawn into holes 68, the eggs 40 adjacent the front side of the disc 68 being in an annular row or "track 1" and the eggs 41 adjacent the rear side of the disc being in an annular row or "track 2."" Each sorting station includes two egg receiving compartments, designated live egg compartment 71, dead egg compartment 72, at the left, and live egg compartment 73, dead compartment 74, at the right of the apparatus. Exit holes are provided in the cradle and backplate for passage of live and dead eggs from the compartments, designated 75, 76, 77, 78, respectively.

The operation of the modified apparatus shown in FIGS. 10-12 is as follows: Eggs are picked up by the rotating disc 65 from the egg and water compartment 25 and carried past the first sensor 66 which scans eggs in the row or "track 1" adjacent the front of the disc. If a dead egg is sensed, the air jet 80 is activated to blow compressed air into the air duct 70 and eject the dead egg into compartment 72. If the egg in that hole is a live egg, it will be ejected by constantly blowing air jet 81 into compartment 71 when the rotated disc has moved the distance between two adjacent holes 68. Eggs in the row or "track 2" adjacent the rear side of the disc 68 will be scanned by the sensor 67 at the right of the apparatus, as viewed in FIG. 10. If the scanned egg is a dead egg, it will be ejected into the dead egg compartment 74 by the air jet 82 communicating with air duct 70 and hole 68. If the scanned egg is a live egg, it will remain in the hole until ejected by constantly functioning air jet 83 into live egg compartment 73 at the right of the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 shows a diagram of the electrical circuits employed for controlling the apparatus of FIGS. 1-9 as well as the modified arrangement of FIGS. 10-12. FIG. 1 shows the manually operated control buttons on cabinet 26: off and on switch 85 for photoelectric amplifiers, off and on switch 86 for motor (not shown), sensitivity control 87 for amplifier for air valve "track 2, " sensitivity control 88 for amplifier for air valve "track 1," indicator light 89 for egg "track 2" and indicator light 90 for egg "track 1." In the diagram of FIG. 13, the AC motor is designated 91, source of AC power 92, constant voltage transformer 93 for photoelectric system, air valve 94 for "track 1," photoelectric amplifier 95 for egg "track 1," air valve 96 for "track 2," photoelectric amplifier 97 for egg "track 2," motor switch 86, sensor 50 (or 66) and sensor 51 (or 67).

The sorter uses air valves that are normally closed when no voltage is applied. Air valves that are normally open when no voltage is applied could be used. In other words, the egg removal procedure described could be reversed, that is, the sensor could close the valve to shut off the air when a dead egg was encountered, allowing the dead egg to continue in its disc hole until removed by the air jet heretofore described for ejecting a good egg, and the constantly functioning air jet could eject all the bad eggs remaining in the disc holes.

The construction shown in FIGS. 1-8 and the modified apparatus of FIGS. 10-13, achieve the exceptionally high sorting speed by subjecting two eggs to scanning means at the same time, one of the two eggs being carried in one end or track of a disc hole while the other of the two eggs is carried in the other end or second track of another hole. The accuracy of the scanning procedure is obtained by the provision of a shield 61 between the sensors 50, 51 and disc 35 (FIGS. 1-8) or of two shields 61, one each between the sensor 66 and disc 65 and sensor 67 and disc 65 (FIGS. 10-12), which hold the water bead 62 between shield and disc periphery and thus provide a clear path for the light beam passing from and to the photoelectric cell of the sensor. The shield or shields also prevent water spatter on the sensor lens or lenses.

Claims

I claim:

1. Fish egg sorting apparatus for separating dead and live eggs, comprising

a. a rotated disc provided with a series of holes which extend through the disc from its front to rear faces adjacent the peripheral surface, each hole being capable of holding two eggs, one in the front end of the hole and the other in the rear end of the hole,

b. photoelectric sensors located adjacent the disc periphery, one in position to scan an egg in the front end of a disc hole and the other in position to scan an egg in the rear end of a disc hole,

c. egg-ejection means activated by a sensor when the sensor scans a dead egg, and

d. means for ejecting good eggs from the holes.

2. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 1, which includes a water and egg compartment open at its top in which the disc is partially submerged, an arcuate surfaced cradle closely beneath the disc, and a slotted backplate which permits flow of water through the holes in the disc and slots in the backplate whereby eggs are drawn into the disc holes.

3. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 1, which includes a water and egg compartment open at its top in which the disc is partially submerged, an arcuate surfaced cradle closely beneath the disc, and a backplate with attached arcuate rib located rearwardly of the disc in the water and egg compartment in a position wherein the rib substantially registers with the holes in the submerged part of the disc.

4. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 1, which includes separate compartments for receiving live eggs and dead eggs, and bottom openings in the egg compartments for discharge of separated eggs.

5. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the sensors are located in different horizontal planes adjacent the peripheral surface of the disc.

6. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the sensors are of the reflective type producing a light beam which is reflected by an opaque fish egg and the reflected beam passes back into the sensor to activate means which eject the dead egg from a disc hole.

7. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the sensors are located to direct their beams through the peripheral surface of the disc.

8. Fish egg sorting apparatus for separating dead and live eggs, comprising

a. a rotated disc provided with a series of holes which extend through the disc from its front to rear faces adjacent the peripheral surface of the disc, each hole being capable of holding two eggs, one in the front end of the hole and the other in the rear end of the hole whereby the eggs form an annular front row and an annular rear row,

b. photoelectric sensors located adjacent the disc periphery in different horizontal planes, one in position to scan an egg located in the annular front row and the other in position to scan an egg in the annular rear row,

c. an air duct extending through the disc into communication with each hole,

d. two compressed air jets communicating with air ducts each activated by a sensor when the sensor scans a dead egg in a disc hole, and

e. means for ejecting good eggs from the holes.

9. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 8, which includes a water and egg compartment open at its top in which the disc is partially submerged, an arcuate surfaced cradle closely beneath the disc, and a slotted backplate which permits flow of water through the holes in the disc and slots in the backplate whereby eggs are drawn into the disc holes.

10. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 8, which includes a water and egg compartment open at its top in which the disc is partially submerged, an arcuate surfaced cradle closely beneath the disc, and a backplate with attached arcuate rib located rearwardly of the disc in the water and egg compartment in a position wherein the rib substantially registers with the holes in the submerged part of the disc.

11. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 8, which includes separate compartments for receiving live eggs and dead eggs, and bottom openings in the egg compartments for discharge of separated eggs.

12. Fish egg sorting apparatus for separating dead and live eggs, comprising

a. a rotated disc provided with a series of holes which extend through the disc and into which are drawn eggs to be sorted,

b. a photoelectric sensor located adjacent the disc periphery in position to direct its light beam through the disc to an egg in a hole in the disc,

c. and a transparent shield between the disc periphery and the sensor, the shield being located closely adjacent the peripheral surface of the disc but slightly spaced therefrom to hold a water bead between the disc and shield for providing a clear path for passage of the sensor beam through the shield and water bead.

13. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 12 which includes egg-ejecting means, and in which the sensor is of the reflective type including a light beam reflected by an opaque fish egg and the reflected beam passes back into the sensor to activate egg-ejecting means, said water bead providing a clear path for passage of the sensor beam through the sensor lens, shield, water bead, and disc periphery, and return passage of the sensor beam through the disc periphery.

14. Fish egg sorting apparatus defined by claim 12, in which the shield conforms generally to the arcuate peripheral surface of the disc and is spaced approximately 5/1000 inch from the disc periphery.