WO2014031000A1 - Method and system for processing egg liquid streams - Google Patents

Description

Title: Method and system for processing egg liquid streams

The present invention is related to a method and a system for obtaining egg liquid in accordance with the preambles of the claims 1 and 10.

Such method and system are known and applied since many years. For example such technology is disclosed in EP1850721. In this document in particular the process of monitoring and controlling of breaking eggs has been described wherein supply of eggs and transfer of said eggs to breaking units is explained.

After breaking the egg liquid components or egg liquid products, i.e. egg white and egg yolk, are received in corresponding cups. From said cups said products are collected in corresponding receptacles. In EP 1850721 such receptacles collect said product in the sequence of firstly egg white or albumen, secondly egg yolk, thirdly mixtures of yolk and albumen, whereas contamination and unacceptable egg product is collected in a fourth receptacle.

Monitoring of the content of the cups and thus control of release of their content into the respective receptacles is elucidated in detail. In said set-up only Y/N (yes/no) decisions are comprised, which means Y/N accepting such egg in the stream of eggs as a whole.

Moreover, said release and collecting determine the composition of food technology additives as obtained after the liquids having been processed like pasteurizing and/ or powdering.

It is generally known that such collected product is processed to liquid end product or powdery material for further use, for example in the field of food technology of bakery, dairy products, and dinner additives like salad dressings. Such food supply products all have their own requirements as to concentrations of yolk and albumen. In view of recent developments, mainly because of having advanced monitoring and sensing, product or liquid can be collected in concentrations higher than before. As known to those skilled in the art, characteristics of such product are measured and determined for example with vision technology for scanning the yolk, white, and possible further contaminants and deviations, and e.g. with refractometer devices for getting information on dry matter content.

As referred to above the technology of collecting liquid in receptacles such processing is rather old fashioned and provides in no way closely controlling characteristics of such liquids when collected in such receptacles. Consequently far more effort has to be done to arrive at the right concentrations as soon as use of such liquid end product or powdery material is occurring.

In order to provide a more easy way of processing and manufacturing egg liquids or egg product, the method in accordance with the present invention is characterized by,

- measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said receptacle liquids Lk in said corresponding liquid receptacle Rk thereby obtaining a parameter value,

- processing said parameter value by comparing said value with a

predetermined parameter characteristic thereby obtaining a parameter comparison value, and

- admixing at least one other said egg liquid to receptacle Rk dependent on said parameter comparison value. Having such method has appeared to have great advantages,

- in case of interruptions of the operation no liquids will be lost; and - all kind of concentrations of liquids can be obtained, thus having starting material for the following industrial food processing technology with optimal compositions.

The economic, hygienic, and ecological advantages are accordingly substantial since no egg material has to be removed.

With great advantage in a controlled way egg liquids or egg liquid products can be obtained and composed for further use in industrial food technology applications and operations.

Advantageously, the method includes one ore more of the following preferred features:

said measuring is carried out at an outlet side of said receptacle;

said measuring is carried out in an outlet duct connected to said outlet side; said measuring is carried out at a measuring position in said outlet duct downstream of a flow control unit, said duct being connected to said outlet side; said admixing comprises discharging said one other liquid from at least one such carrier for said one other liquid to liquid receptacle Rk;

measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said liquids in at least on such corresponding carrier thereby obtaining a corresponding parameter value; processing the said parameter values for controlling said admixing;

said admixing comprises discharging said one other liquid from the receptacle

Rm to receptacle Rk (with m≠ k, with k, m = 1, 2, 3, ...); and

said admixing is obtained by overflow of receptacle liquids dependent on corresponding receptacle liquid levels, wherein raising receptacle liquid level of

Lm results in overflow from receptacle Rm to receptacle Rk.

According to an aspect of the invention, a system according to the preamble of claim 10 is characterized in that

the system further comprises,

- a detector for measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said receptacle liquids Lk in said corresponding liquid receptacle Rk thereby obtaining a parameter value,

- a control unit for processing said parameter value by comparing said value with a predetermined parameter characteristic thereby obtaining a parameter comparison value, and

- a liquid supply unit, for admixing at least one other said egg liquid to receptacle Rk dependent on said parameter comparison value, and controlled by said control unit. With great advantage the method as explained above can be carried out.

Even more, by having such method and system room for egg liquid processing can be reduced substantially because of having processing and control in one and the same apparatus. Further preferred embodiments of the system are characterized one or more of the following features:

said detector is arranged at an outlet side of said receptacle;

said detector is arranged in an outlet duct at said outlet side;

said detector is arranged downstream of a flow control unit in said outlet duct; said flow control unit is a valve;

said liquid supply unit comprises at least one such carrier for discharging said one other liquid to liquid receptacle Rk;

said detector is measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said liquids in at least on such corresponding carrier thereby obtaining a corresponding parameter value;

said control unit is processing the said parameter values for controlling said admixing;

said liquid supply unit comprises at least one such receptacle Rm for

discharging said one other liquid to receptacle Rk (with m≠ k, with k, m = 1, 2, 3,..);

said supply unit further comprises an overflow duct connected to said receptacle Rm for supplying said liquid Lm to receptacle Rk, wherein said supplying is dependent on corresponding receptacle liquid levels;

said overflow duct is provided with a valve controlled by said control unit;

said detectors comprise at least a refractometer for measuring dry matter content;

said detectors comprise at least a pressure unit for measuring pressures wherein at least the height of liquid in said receptacle up to the opening is determined. Because of processing such products at the very beginning of the chain of use of such material, every kind of further effort, in mechanical devices, in energy consumption, and more in particular in for example packaging and transport of material, will be avoided. Further details on this invention will be explained with reference to the drawing , with,

FIGURE 1 highly schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 highly schematically presenting a second embodiment of the present invention, and

FIGURE 3 schematically a further elaboration of the embodiment of FIGURE 3.

Figures depicts a method and system for obtaining egg liquid, the method comprising the following steps,

- breaking eggs,

- after said breaking catching said liquids, i.e. albumen and yolk, and egg shell parts, substantially separately into respectively carriers for said liquids, i.e. carriers for albumen and carriers for yolk, and carriers for egg shell parts, and - collecting all egg liquid by releasing all said liquids from said carriers into corresponding egg liquid receptacles (31-34) for corresponding receptacle liquids Lk (with k =1, 2, 3,..), said receptacle liquids comprising albumen, yolk and whole egg;

- measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said receptacle liquids Lk for said corresponding liquid receptacle Rk thereby obtaining a parameter value,

- processing said parameter value by comparing said value with a

predetermined parameter characteristic thereby obtaining a parameter comparison value, and

- admixing at least one other said egg liquid to receptacle Rk dependent on said parameter comparison value.

The measuring of a parameter of a said liquid Lk can e.g. be carried out on the contents (liquid) present in the particular receptacle (31-34) during operation, or on receptacle liquid Lk that is discharged from that receptacle, e.g.

downstream of that receptacle (31-34) such as in a respective outflow/discharge duct (not shown).

In a further example, one receptacle is used to receive yolk only, another receptacle is used to receive albumen only, and yet another receptacle is used to receive "whole egg" (i.e. a yolk/ albumen mixture).

The admiximg of at least one other said egg liquid to a receptacle Rk may for example include: admixing yolk or albumen to the "whole egg" receptacle, or another type of admixing, as will be appreciated by the skilled person. Particularly, in FIGURE 1 highly schematically a side view of a first

embodiment of the present invention is presented. The system of this

embodiment comprises a conveyor system 10 having three conveyors 11, 12, 13. Following the flow of eggs from upstream to downstream, with a first endless conveyor 11 eggs are supplied for being processed. As usual such first conveyor or supply conveyor can be a roller conveyor with rollers 110, for example as described in detail in US5617782, incorporated by reference in the present application in its entirety, and referred to therein as 'spool conveyor 3'. The said downstream direction can be recognized from arrow Rl l giving the direction of movement of an endless chain of such a conveyor.

Because of necessity to have a suitable transfer system it might be clear that any kind of transfer system can be used. Thus, for example, a robot with suitable egg gripper can be applied for such function. Even more such grippers may be presented in very advanced internal functions, more in particular for sensing and monitoring egg features well in advance, i.e. before transferring those to breaker units as explained hereinafter for a conveyor 12.

From supply conveyor 10 the eggs are transferred one by one from said rollers 110 to a second endless conveyor 12 with breaker units 120, also described in US5617782 as referred to above. For this conveyor 12 said downstream direction is given by an arrow R12.

From said conveyor 12 immediately after breaking egg liquids, mainly albumen and yolk, are received from their downward flow out of the breaker units into receiving carriers or cups 130 of an endless cup conveyor 13 for collecting said liquid from said broken eggs, said breaking units 120 being positioned one by one just above such cups 130. Also such conveyor is well known, for example from the same description as mentioned above. The direction of movement for this conveyor 13 is given by an arrow R13.

From said carriers or cups 130 all liquid is collected in receptacles 30

underneath. As well known in this field of technology different sequences of collecting said fluids are applied.

For example in the above-mentioned US5617782, in the downstream direction, four subsequent receptacles are applied, the first (numbered 12 in US'782) for so-called 'rejected egg', the second (numbered 13 in US'782) for so-called 'whole egg', the third (numbered (14 in US'782) for white, and the fourth or latter one (numbered 14 in US'782) for yolk. Such 'whole egg' and 'rejected egg' typifications are well known to those skilled in the art. In the set-up of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 four receptacles 30 have been shown, with in the downstream sequence the particular ones 31, 32, 33, and 34. More in particular the downstream sequence as applied, corresponds with, receptacle 31 for albumen, receptacle 32 for 'whole egg', receptacle 33 for yolk, and receptacle 34 for water. Such water originates from a washing treatment which in most cases is applied as well in such system and is also well known to those skilled in the art. Clearly in this field of technology the way of application of such receptacles may differ. It follows that in the present non-limiting example, the receptacle for receiving "whole egg" 32 is located between the "yolk" receptacle 33 and the albumen receptacle 31.

As explained above a method and system of the present invention provide the possibility for admixing such liquids, especially the yolk, the albumen, and the 'whole egg'.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 a control unit 20 is applied in order to control discharging such liquid from a corresponding cup. Therefore this way of admixing is similar to what is called 'batching' of liquids. Such control unit 20, more in particular the electromechanical aspects at the one side and the computer processing aspects at the other side are well known in this field of technology, for example from the field of grading eggs.

In order to carry out such control (i.e. controlling discharging liquid into one or more of the receptacles 31-34 by the control unit 20), parameters of such liquids have to be determined. Therefore in the present embodiment as shown in FIGURE 1 detectors 40, for example one detector 41-44 above every receptacle, have been applied The skilled person will appreciated that the detectors 41-44 can be positioned in various ways, in order to detect/measure the egg liquids, and e.g. depending on the parameter that is to be measured. A further detector 50 above the cups 130, just coming from receiving such fluids and not yet discharged, can be applied as well.

The parameters which might be monitored, determined, and which can be applied for further processing, decisions, and control, can comprise color (albumen, yolk, yolk spots in the albumen), specific weight, and refraction index (solid content). For the skilled person however further parameters can be chosen, e.g. electrical conductivity and viscosity. Further ways of control may choose between combinations of the above, or even following only restricted use of only said detectors 40. In the present example, the detectors 40 (41-44) can be configured to detect one or more of these parameters of liquid that is present in respective receptacles 30 (31-34), during operation. Alternatively or in addition, for example, such detectors can be configured to to detect one or more of these parameters of liquid emanating from the respective receptacles 30 (31- 34), during operation

In FIGURE 2 highly schematically a side view of a receptacle part of a second embodiment of the present invention is presented. In this second embodiment, liquid can be controlled/manipulated such, that a receptacle liquid from at least one of the receptacles can be fed from that receptacle into one of the other receptacles, for example using overflow F or a controlled valve system. In this manner, an afore-mentioned admixing can be achieved in an efficient manner.

More in particular, in FIGURE 2, three receptacles Rk (with k = 1, 2, 3, ..), having indications Rl, R2, and R3, are shown, whereas each receptacle is at least filled with a corresponding egg liquid Lk (with k = 1, 2, 3, ...), having indications LI, L2, and L3. Moreover in this FIGURE 2 levels or heights hO, hi, h2, h3, and h4 are presented for having references for both said receptacles and said liquids. In case of determination of geometrical parameters of such specific egg liquid Lk such references are applied suitably. Of course, more receptacles Lk can be comprised, having such liquids with for example different concentrations and/or compositions. Thus further combinations of such liquids can be obtained.

In the non-limiting FIGURE 2 embodiment specifically receptacles Rk are shown having different heights. The receptacles Rk can be configured such that overflow F can be obtained after having suitably controlled filling of the receptacles. The skilled person will understand that, also, heights of

receptacles can be controlled by corresponding lowering or heightening such receptacle itself. As a further detail such overflow F can be controlled by means of valves, for example discharge flow controlhng valves 51 schematically shown in FIGURE 3.

Because of FIGURE 2 is highly schematically representing a row of receptacles Rk, also widths of such Rk underneath such conveyor 13 are only schematical. In general the 'whole egg' receptacle and the albumen receptacle will have larger widths than those for the yolk receptacle because of having to collect the greater parts of the egg liquids.

In order to have the right overflow F and thus the right admixing, parameters must be measured for corresponding control. In FIGURE 2 detectors D l, D2 are presented, for example for measuring a refraction index (of liquid L2, L3 present in the respective receptacles R2, R3). Such refractomers are well known in this field of technology, for example from www kp;s l orn . com , more in particular the K-Patents refractometer of the PR-23 type. As can be seen in said FIGURES said detectors D l, D2, can be arranged at receptacle walls. Such positioning not only allows measuring a refraction index but also a height parameter in a suitable way. It will be appreciated that the detectors D l, D2 can also be positioned differently, in order to monitor or detect the contents of the respective receptacles.

However, often such liquids have bad homogeneity, consequently giving refraction index values which may differ as well. Using, e.g., aforementioned values for control said admixing may result in corresponding mixed liquid characteristics. In order to further improve measuring, such measuring detectors D l', D2' can be positioned at an outlet side of such receptacle R2, R3 (see detectors D l', D2', indicated FIGURE 3). Liquids flowing at such positions give better

homogeneity values. As a preferred embodiment of this positioning, such detector D 1', D2' is arranged in an outlet duct 52 at said outlet side, and even more preferably downstream of a flow control unit 51 in said outlet duct 52 (such as the optional detectors detector D l", D2" shown with dashed lines in FIGURE 3). Said flow control units 51 are well known in this field of

technology, such as there are valves or duct flow blades.

It might be clear that combinations of the detectors as mentioned may be preferred.

Furthermore, having the heights, pressures can be measured, and thus further derivatives containing the pressure parameter can be determined. Having described an embodiment presenting overflow, also subsurface liquid transfer or liquid communication will be comprised. Such way of transfer is well known in the field of liquid mixing and will be controlled by means of corresponding valve systems. The above set-up, together with advanced monitoring and detection gives all advantages of arriving at the right concentrations in mainly albumen and yolk. Accordingly economic profit will result.

In a yet more advanced set-up parallel processing lines can be interlinked. For example different color yolk liquid can be mixed. In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word 'comprising' does not exclude the presence of other features or steps then those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words 'a' and 'an' shall not be construed as limited to 'only one', but instead are used to mean 'at least one', and do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

Claims 1. Method for obtaining egg liquid, the method comprising the following steps,

- breaking eggs,

- after said breaking catching said liquids, i.e. albumen and yolk, and egg shell parts, substantially separately into respectively carriers for said liquids, i.e. carriers for albumen and carriers for yolk, and carriers for egg shell parts, and - collecting all egg liquid by releasing all said liquids from said carriers into corresponding egg liquid receptacles Rk (with k = 1, 2, 3,..) for corresponding receptacle liquids Lk (with k =1, 2, 3,..), said receptacle liquids Lk comprising albumen, yolk and whole egg,

characterized by,

- measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said receptacle hquids Lk for said corresponding liquid receptacle Rk thereby obtaining a parameter value,

- processing said parameter value by comparing said value with a

predetermined parameter characteristic thereby obtaining a parameter comparison value, and

- admixing at least one other said egg liquid to receptacle Rk dependent on said parameter comparison value.

2. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized by,

said measuring is carried out at an outlet side of said receptacle.

3. Method in accordance with claim 2, characterized by,

said measuring is carried out in an outlet duct connected to said outlet side.

4. Method in accordance with claim 3, characterized by, said measuring is carried out at a measuring position in said outlet duct downstream of a flow control unit, said duct being connected to said outlet side.

5. Method in accordance with one of the claims 1 - 4, characterized by, said admixing comprises discharging said one other liquid from at least one such carrier for said one other liquid to liquid receptacle Rk.

6. Method in accordance with one of the claims 1 - 5, characterized by, measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said liquids in at least on such corresponding carrier thereby obtaining a corresponding parameter value.

7. Method in accordance with one of the foregoing claims, characterized by, processing the said parameter values for controlling said admixing.

8. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized by,

said admixing comprises discharging said one other liquid from the receptacle Rm to receptacle Rk (with m≠ k, with k, m = 1, 2, 3,..).

9. Method in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that,

said admixing is obtained by overflow of receptacle liquids dependent on corresponding receptacle liquid levels, wherein raising receptacle liquid level of Lm results in overflow from receptacle Rm to receptacle Rk.

10. System for obtaining egg liquids, the system comprising,

- a transfer system comprising at least a first conveyor comprising a plurality of rows of egg breaking units and a second conveyor comprising a plurality of rows of egg liquid collecting cups,

- egg parts receptacles underneath said breaker units and said cups for collecting all egg liquid released from said cups therein, with egg liquid receptacles Rk (with k = 1, 2, 3,..) for corresponding receptacle liquids Lk (with k = 1, 2, 3,..), said receptacle liquids Lk comprising albumen, yolk and whole egg,

characterized in that,

the system further comprises,

- a detector for measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said receptacle liquids Lk for said corresponding liquid receptacle Rk thereby obtaining a parameter value,

- a control unit for processing said parameter value by comparing said value with a predetermined parameter characteristic thereby obtaining a parameter comparison value, and

- a liquid supply unit, for admixing at least one other said egg liquid to receptacle Rk dependent on said parameter comparison value, and controlled by said control unit.

11. System of claim 10, characterized in that,

said detector is arranged at an outlet side of said receptacle.

12. System of claim 11, characterized in that,

said detector is arranged in an outlet duct at said outlet side.

13. System of claim 12, characterized in that,

said detector is arranged downstream of a flow control unit in said outlet duct.

14. System of claim 13, characterized in that,

said flow control unit is a valve.

15. System of one of the claims 10 - 14 , characterized in that,

said liquid supply unit comprises at least one such carrier for discharging said one other liquid to liquid receptacle Rk.

16. System of one of the claims 10 - 15, characterized in that, said detector is measuring at least one parameter of at least one of said liquids in at least on such corresponding carrier thereby obtaining a corresponding parameter value.

17. System of one of the claims 10 - 16, characterized in that,

said control unit is processing the said parameter values for controlling said admixing.

18. System of claim 10, characterized in that,

said liquid supply unit comprises at least one such receptacle Rm for

discharging said one other liquid to receptacle Rk (with m≠ k, with k, m = 1, 2, 3,.).

19. System of claim 18, characterized in that,

said supply unit further comprises an overflow duct connected to said receptacle Rm for supplying said liquid Lm to receptacle Rk, wherein said supplying is dependent on corresponding receptacle liquid levels.

20. System of claim 19, characterized in that,

said overflow duct is provided with a valve controlled by said control unit.

21. System of one of the claims 18 - 20, characterized in that,

said detectors comprise at least a refractometer for measuring dry matter content.

22. System of one of the claims 18 - 20, characterized in that,

said detectors comprise at least a pressure unit for measuring pressures wherein at least the height of liquid in said receptacle up to the opening is determined.