| 摘要 |
<p>An egg harvester (20) has hingedly connecting nesting boxes (arranged in groups in back-to-back pairs) resting on an elongate belt (22) fixed at each end and along which a shuttle (21) is pulled by a drive cable (25). The belt (22) and a second conveyor (67) define two slots (70, 71) which pass under the nesting boxes (30). The eggs (72) and litter (73) fall through slot (70) and the eggs (72) are removed from the litter (73) by an egg separator (74) and are transferred to an egg conveyor (56) for transport to one end of the shed (10). Soiled litter and any manure is removed from the litter (73) by a litter cleaner (90) and fresh litter, supplied by a hopper (105) on the shuttle (21) is spaced across the belt (22) which is brought back under the nesting boxes (30) through slot (71). The harvester enables collection of the eggs (72) while hens remain in the nesting boxes (30) as the shuttle (21) passes underneath.</p> |
