Automated Wax Sprayer System for Clean, Washed or Pasteurized Shell Eggs

摘要

An automated wax sprayer system for clean, washed or pasteurized shell eggs sprays a heated solution containing water and wax emulsion onto the eggs as they rotate and pass through a conveyer. The temperature of the wax coating on the surface of the egg shells is heated at or above a sanitizing temperature and sprayed on the surface of the egg shells where Salmonella contamination may be present. Salmonella contamination present on the surface of the egg shells is eliminated substantially immediately. Separate flow pumps provide a consistent flow of wax solution to individual nozzles for consistent application of the wax on the entire surface of the eggs.

主权项

1. A method of coating a chicken shell egg comprising the steps of:
providing a wax emulsion coating spray station having a heated mixing tank, multiple spray nozzles, a conveyor for moving eggs through the spray station, a solution manifold through which heated solution from the heated tank flows to the multiple spray nozzles, and at least one pump for controlling flow through the spray nozzles; placing shell eggs on the conveyor; using the conveyor to move the eggs through the spray station and rotating the eggs as they progress through the spray station; heating a solution containing water and wax emulsion in the heated tank above a sanitizing temperature sufficient to reduce an active Salmonella count that may be on the shell of the chicken eggs being coated substantially immediately; pumping the solution of water and wax emulsion to the spray nozzles; spraying the heated solution containing water and wax emulsion onto the eggs as they rotate and pass through the conveyer, and maintaining the temperature of the coating of wax emulsion on the surface of the shells at or above the sanitizing temperature sufficiently long to reduce Salmonella contamination that may be present on the surface of the egg shells.