Biological vaccine manufacturers around the world that produce embryonic eggcultured vaccines for human and veterinary applications are currently using the ramé-hart Egg Inoculating and Harvesting Machines. These machines exhibit a proven record of reliable service even after many years of use. Their construction include 304 and 316 stainless steel and autoclavable machine components which are critical in a sterile environment. A servomotor powers the machine's conveyor system. All other mechanical motions are pneumatically controlled via solenoid controlled air cylinders. Control is handled by the computer and color touch screen. Egg-Handling Concept Readily available industry-standard Jamesway type egg flats are used to carry the eggs through the machine. These trays can contain 36 or 42 eggs per flat, and are arranged in either a 6 x 6 or 6 x 7 staggered configuration. The inoculator and harvester operations can process up to 42 eggs simultaneously. Automatic Egg Inoculator (pictured above) A continuous deck plate extends through the machine and supports the egg trays as they transported through the process by a conveyor chain equipped with pusher lugs. The machine operates on an index/dwell basis -- with all processing operations occurring during the dwell period. The major stations of the Inoculator are: Tray Infeed Station: Trays are introduced into the machine manually; an optional Automatic Infeed Unit is available to transfer the trays from a usersupplied belt-type conveyor into the Inoculator automatically, eliminating the need for an Infeed Operator. Optional Spray Station: Applies a disinfectant material to the entire tray of eggs.
Inoculation Station: Spring-loaded lifters lift the eggs out of the tray simultaneously and position them under a common template. The inoculating head then fires and perforates the eggshell and injects a precisely measured quantity of virus-laden seed substance into all 36 or 42 eggs. The proprietary inoculation head design permits doses as small as 0.1 ml to be delivered to each egg with an accuracy of +/- 0.5%. Unloading Station: Trays containing inoculated eggs are manually removed from the Inoculator. Control Box: The primary machine controls are contained in the main control box located on the machine. The control box is fabricated from 304 stainless steel and has a gasketed access door. All machine functions are controlled through an Operator Interface Terminal (OIT). The OIT features a color touch screen through which the user can operate the machine using various screens for the various machine functions. Each screen has controls and indicators to monitor and run the automatic and manual functions. In automatic mode, the machine will process flats of eggs through the automatic infeed, spray station, and inoculating station. In manual mode, the operator can setup the machine or individually operate the infeed, indexer, spray station, or the air cylinders. In case of power interruption or other event which causes the machine to cease its normal operation, a "fail safe" will activate and all moving parts will return to a position which, when normal operation is restored, cannot cause damage or an unsafe condition. The machine is also interlocked for safe and reliable operation. Production rates are up to 30,000 per hour. Automatic Egg Harvester (pictured above)
Two continuous guide rails extend through the machine and support the egg trays as they are manually loaded and pushed through the process by a conveyor chain equipped with pusher lugs. The major stations of the harvester are: Tray Infeed Station: Trays are introduced manually. Decapping Station: Spring-loaded lifters lift the eggs out of the trays 18 or 21 at a time and position them under the decap knife which automatically removes the upper section of the eggshell, creating an access hole for inspection and harvest needle entry. The decap knife blade is an inserted type. The insert holder is produced from 316 stainless steel and the inserts are manufactured from a heat-treated stainless steel, hardened to a 65Rc and coated with a highly-specialized plating to extend knife performance. Inspection Station: The operator can view the decapped eggs in the mirror. Reject Input Station: This station is located at the infeed end of the machine, immediately in front of the operator. A stainless steel enclosure contains the Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) and the reject pushbuttons as well as an emergency stop button. There are 18 to 21 pushbuttons which correspond to the eggs under inspection as seen in the inspection mirror. Activation of any pushbutton during the inspection process will cause the rejection of the corresponding egg. Harvesting Station: The harvesting station contains 18-21 harvesting air cylinder mechanisms that withdraw the allantoic fluid from the "accepted" eggs during the harvest cycle. The harvesting air cylinders located above "rejected" eggs do not fire and do not enter these eggs; also, the vacuum supply for these rejected eggs remains off during the harvest cycle. The machine is equipped with its own vacuum system. A user-supplied vacuum system can also be employed. Optional Dump Station: can be attached to the machine or implemented as a stand-alone unit. It takes the harvested egg trays and automatically turns the tray over emptying the eggs into a user-supplied receptacle or grinding device which can pump the egg waste away from the machine and to an appropriate disposal vessel or system. Unloading Station: Empty egg trays are manually removed from the machine at this location. Control Box: The primary machine controls are contained in the main control box located on the machine. The control box is fabricated from 304 stainless steel and has a gasketed access door. All machine functions are controlled through an Operator Interface Terminal (OIT). The OIT features a color touch screen through which the user can operate the machine using various screens for the different functions. Production rates of up to 12,000 eggs per hour can be achieved.
Automatic Egg Inoculating with Punch and Needle Sanitizing Option Automatic Egg Harvesting with Fluid Inspection and Rejection Option
Semi-Automatic Egg Machines A series of single station machines is available from ramé-hart to fill the need for small to medium-size manufacturers of embryonic egg-cultured vaccines. The semi-automatic egg machines incorporate the inoculating and harvesting components normally used in our fully-automated machines. Only the tray-handling and positioning mechanisms have been eliminated. In this way, although the trays must be loaded manually and the spent eggs manually unloaded, much of the cost of the automatic inoculating/harvesting system has been eliminated while still using the proven inoculating and harvesting methods. Another advantage of the semi-automatic machines is that they can be easily modified to work with different size egg trays and other special custom requirements. The semi-automatic machines are also available with the needle sanitizing option on the inoculator and fluid inspection and rejection on the harvester. Please see photographs in following 3 pages. For more information or a price quotation on any the egg inoculator or harvesting system, please contact: Rormac Packaging Systems: RormacPS@verizon.net, tel: 610 370-0861 (USA), www.rormac.com
Semi-Automatic Inoculator (picture) For more information or a price quotation on any the egg inoculator or harvesting system, please contact Rormac Packaging Systems: RormacPS@verizon.net, tel: 610 370-0861 (USA), www.rormac.com
Semi-Automatic Decapper (pictured below) For more information or a price quotation on any the egg inoculator or harvesting system, please contact: Rormac Packaging Systems: RormacPS@verizon.net, tel: 610 370-0861 (USA), www.rormac.com
Semi-Automatic Harvester (pictured below) For more information or a price quotation on the egg inoculator or harvesting system, please contact: Rormac Packaging Systems: RormacPS@verizon.net, tel: 610 370-0861 (USA), www.rormac.com