Split Infeed Configuration

In today’s modern egg industry, hygiene, product integrity, and operational efficiency are critical to meeting ever stricter food safety demands. For years, Moba has embedded these principles into its premium grading systems through the split infeed configuration, a well-established and field proven design approach. Supported by the highly effective Multi Outlet functionality, this configuration ensures the correct separation of dirty and clean egg flows, minimizing contamination risks while maximizing yield and uptime.

Technical background: a mature and trusted configuration

The split infeed configuration is a structural and hygienic design concept that has long been part of Moba’s FT, PX, and PX+ graders. It is engineered to physically and functionally divide the machine’s infeed into distinct dirty and clean zones, reducing the chance of cross-contamination and improving hygienic control. This is particularly important in washer-equipped systems, where proper zoning ensures that dirty, potentially contaminated eggs never enter downstream clean areas.

Washer and dryer positioned in separate zones

In FT and PX machines, the washer and dryer are deliberately placed on opposite sides of the Multidrum orientator: the washer is positioned before the orientator, while the dryer is positioned after it, creating a natural split in the infeed.

This architectural split intentionally creates a clean break between the “dirty” and “clean” sections of the infeed and provides two advantages:

• It isolates wet and potentially contaminated eggs from the downstream dry section.
• It prevents moisture and bacteria from traveling with eggs toward clean areas.

The Multi Outlet: enhancing an established concept

While the Multidrum orientator has long provided early leaker removal, the Multi Outlet expands the system’s capability by incorporating a second outlet to remove dirty eggs early in the process. This addition reinforces the split infeed’s hygienic zoning and strengthens its effectiveness.

The concept is shown in the above image, where eggs travel from left to right on a dedicated roller section (1) from the washer into the inspection area, where the EggInspector checks for leakers and dirt. Based on the detection results:

• Leakers drop immediately through a dedicated destructive outlet (2).
• Dirty eggs are guided via smooth, hygienic flaps (3) into a second non-destructive outlet (4) that returns them to the rewash loop. This mechanism shortens the dirty egg loop dramatically, preventing contamination of the infeed’s clean zone and downstream components.
• The rest of the eggs are then oriented (correct point setting) and transferred to a dry roller section (5) that carries only clean eggs into the further grading process.

After production the whole infeed section can be cleaned with high-pressure water sprays where (2), (3) and (4) can be retracted for easy access. An automated CIP system can also be used to clean and disinfect the two roller sections .

Key benefits of the split infeed configuration

Maximum food safety
By removing both leakers and dirty eggs before they can contaminate downstream components, the system dramatically reduces bacterial risks.

• No long roller loops carrying dirty eggs
• Clean eggs enter the dry zone immediately
• UV disinfection and CIP systems maintain cleanliness further downstream

Reduced cross-contamination
The clearly defined zones stop contamination from traveling with eggs, tools, or machine parts. This aligns with modern hygienic design principles for egg-handling facilities and responds to industry concerns about salmonella and other pathogens.

Improved machine cleanability
The split infeed and Multi Outlet module are engineered for easy, high-pressure cleaning:

• Retractable Multi Outlet components
• High pressure cleanability
• CIP systems for infeed rollers and other egg-touching machine parts

Higher yield and efficiency
Cleaner process flows lead to less downtime for washing and maintenance. Grade A yield is improved due to early removal of potentially contaminated eggs. And thanks to the state-of-the-art Vision Technology you will have ultimate control over egg quality, reduced labor and maintenance since there are no egg-touching parts and a minimal number of false rejects; all leading to a higher grade A% and an improved efficiency.

A stable foundation for today’s and tomorrow’s packing stations

Moba’s split infeed configuration is a proven and trusted equipment standard, deployed worldwide across Omnia FT, PX, and the PX+. By combining mechanical innovation, smart routing logic, and advanced Vision technology, this configuration is one of the most effective hygienic engineering solutions in today’s egg grading industry and a necessity for future egg grading and packing facilities.