Ways of opening the egg

Traditional wayTraditional way Using egg crackerUsing egg cracker

Aim

• To provide an alternative way for users to open the egg

• To open eggs with no fragments of eggshells fallen into the egg content (egg white+yolk)

• Designed for those who are unable to open eggs

• Designed for those who don’t want egg yolk to be contaminated by their hands

For examples, people with wounds or cuts on their hands thus prevents avian flu and salmonella

• To standardize the steps of egg opening which can simplify the process of programming in the domestic robot in the future

Composition of the egg cracker

-Connection barConnection bar

(To connect the upper part and the lower (To connect the upper part and the lower part)part)

-Inter-crossing sides-Inter-crossing sides

(To provide a vertical way for screws to (To provide a vertical way for screws to put in)put in)

Composition of the egg cracker

-PVC PipePVC Pipe

(Tough shell against mechanical damage)(Tough shell against mechanical damage)

-FoamFoam

(Soft cushion to protect the egg)(Soft cushion to protect the egg)

Composition of the egg cracker

Performance TimePerformance Time

Photos

-50 participants-33 eggs are successfully opened

Photos

-11 out of 15 eggs are opened successfully in one experiment

How it works

Vertical MotionVertical Motion

- Contact of the sharp screws and the eggshell- Contact of the sharp screws and the eggshell

- Pressure radioactively distributed- Pressure radioactively distributed

-Initiate cracks on the eggshell Initiate cracks on the eggshell when the pressure reaches to when the pressure reaches to a certain levela certain level

How it works

Horizontal motionHorizontal motion

-Moment provided by hands enlarges-Moment provided by hands enlarges the cracks on the eggshellthe cracks on the eggshell

Action of releasingAction of releasing

-Egg content flows out into a Egg content flows out into a desirable placedesirable place

Evolution

First Version:

- Made of cake making apparatus

- Triangular aluminum plate pasted at the bottom

Disadvantages:

- Toughness lacking shell

- Aluminum plate lacks firmness

Evolution

Second Version:

- Made of PVC water pipe

- Triangular aluminum plate assembled at the bottom

Disadvantage:Disadvantage:

- Cracks cannot be made and the egg is not - Cracks cannot be made and the egg is not opened.opened.

-Inappropriate choice of position on opening the egg-

Improvement:

First and second version:First and second version:

Blue spot – harder Blue spot – harder

Third and Final version:Third and Final version:

Red spot – weakerRed spot – weaker

Improvement:

- We need to find materials to replace the aluminum blade. The material should provide strong and concise force acting on the egg

- We have tried stainless steel and plastic

-Using electroplated screws

-Unsuitable use of materials in cracking the egg-

Improvement:

Using flat headed screwUsing flat headed screw Using sharp headed screwUsing sharp headed screw

A more concise and sharp crack by using sharp headed crewA more concise and sharp crack by using sharp headed crewthan using flat headed screwthan using flat headed screw

-Choices of screws in cracking the egg-

Improvement:

Thin screw

-The screws make small holes on the egg shell -The egg can not be opened

-Choices of thickness of the screws in cracking the egg-

Thick screw

-The egg yolk smashes out and -The egg yolk smashes out and makes contact with the hand once makes contact with the hand once the vertical motion is completedthe vertical motion is completed

Appropriate thickness :2.5mm

Improvement:

-No consideration of the variable egg sizes-

Method:Method:We bought two kinds of egg with the most contrasting size in a super marketWe bought two kinds of egg with the most contrasting size in a super market

Result:Result:

Jumbo size-- Jumbo size-- Length: 62.2mm Width: 51.9mmLength: 62.2mm Width: 51.9mm

Small size-- Small size-- Length: 53.9mm Width: 44.6mmLength: 53.9mm Width: 44.6mm

Improvement:

-No consideration of the variable egg sizes-

Egg Size Length Width

Jumbo Size 62.2mm 51.9mm

Small Size 53.9mm 44.6mm

-Invention of the connection barInvention of the connection bar

-Adjust the size of the egg cracker-Adjust the size of the egg cracker

Another way of adapting to eggs with different sizesis using adjustable screws.

The disadvantage of this method :

- It is rather complicated to adjust the length from time to time

Evolution

Third Version:

- 8 Metal screws is used

- A round side board with no hole on it is used

Disadvantage:

- The egg shell cannot be pushed out

- Too many cracks are made

Final Product

- 4 Metal Screws are introduced

- Two boards with holes at two ends are used

Features

- Light in weightLight in weight ( 65 g)( 65 g)

- Comparable size with the egg- Comparable size with the egg

- Water insulating materialWater insulating material (PVC Shell, Foam inside)(PVC Shell, Foam inside)

- Specialized Connection BarSpecialized Connection Bar

- Large aperture at two endsLarge aperture at two ends

- Standardized steps in processStandardized steps in process

- No contact between egg content and handsNo contact between egg content and hands

- Separating the egg content from eggshellSeparating the egg content from eggshell

Features

- The egg cracker can The egg cracker can open salted egg and preserved egg open salted egg and preserved egg

Features

Thank you for your attention

This is the end of the presentation