Automated egg cracking and separating machine prototype

• Main Authors: Dy, Mark Lawrence, Lim, Don Ronald, Ponce, Michelle, Sy, Norvin, Uy, Wesley Clark
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2004
• Subjects: Separation (Technology); Egg processing > Technological innovations
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/14615
• Institution: De La Salle University

Local baking industries make use of eggs as a main ingredient in their products. Egg whites and egg yolks are used separately. Egg whites are used for icings, meringues, chiffon cakes and the like. Egg yolks are used for flans. Most of these companies still make use of inconsistent manual cracking and separation methods. A few of these baking companies have acquired imported egg processing machines. These machines are not only very costly, but the output is also more than what local companies need. These setbacks paved the way for the design of a more suitable automated egg cracking and separating machine prototype. The objective of this project is to design and build a working prototype of an egg cracking and separating machine to conform to the needs of local baking industries. This prototype is designed to crack the shell of an egg and separate its contents, the egg yolks from the egg whites. The prototype is also able to dispose off the egg shells into a separate container. All the required processes of the prototype are controlled by means of a programmable logic controller. Pneumatic application was used since it is the preferred choice for food processing machines. The prototype can be operated without difficulty and consumes only a little amount of energy. It is designed to easily fit existing egg processing lines and be a stable platform for possible improvement to its current capabilities. Enhancements such as egg washers/sanitizers, yolk/shell detections systems, and shell pulverizers can be added to further streamline the processing of eggs.