Abrégé

Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein the optical path between a light source and light detector is monitored for obscuring debris and/or malfunctions. A method of candling eggs includes illuminating an egg with light from a light source; receiving light passing through the egg at a light detector; generating an output signal that corresponds to light received at the light detector for the egg; and analyzing the output signal to determine whether the optical path between the light source and light detector has been altered. In response to determining that a respective optical path has been altered, the light source and/or light detector is cleaned and/or inspected for malfunctions. Cleaning the light source and/or light detector may include wiping a surface of the light source and/or light detector and/or spraying a surface of the light source and/or light detector with a fluid.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01N 43/00 - Biocides, produits repoussant ou attirant les animaux nuisibles, ou régulateurs de croissance des végétaux, contenant des composés hétérocycliques
• G01N 33/08 - Œufs, p. ex. par mirage

Abrégé

An apparatus for candling eggs includes a waterproof housing having a free end, a light source configured to emit visible light from the housing free end and illuminate an egg positioned adjacent to the housing free end, and a photodetector that generates an output signal corresponding to intensity of light from the light source leaving the egg. The photodetector is shielded from external light and from direct light from the light source. The light source and photodetector are disposed within the waterproof housing, and a replaceable bumper is removably secured to the housing free end. The bumper is configured to engage an egg in contacting relation therewith, and to shield the photodetector from external light and from direct light from the light source. A processor processes output signals from the photodetector to identify cyclical variations in light intensity and/or non-cyclical variations in light intensity.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 43/00 - Test, triage ou nettoyage des œufs
• G01N 33/08 - Œufs, p. ex. par mirage

Abrégé

Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein non-live eggs, inverted egg, and side air cell eggs can be quickly identified. A method of candling eggs includes exposing a plurality of incubated eggs to an environment having a temperature different from a temperature at which the eggs were incubated; obtaining a thermal image of the eggs; and analyzing the thermal image to obtain surface temperature information for each egg. The surface temperature information is utilized to designate each egg as live/non-live, inverted, or having a side air cell.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 33/08 - Œufs, p. ex. par mirage
• G01N 25/00 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de moyens thermiques
• G01J 5/00 - Pyrométrie des radiations, p. ex. thermométrie infrarouge ou optique
• G01K 13/00 - Thermomètres spécialement adaptés à des fins spécifiques
• A01K 43/00 - Test, triage ou nettoyage des œufs

Abrégé

Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein black rot eggs can be identified and removed. A method of identifying live eggs includes illuminating eggs in a carrier with light from a light source; receiving light passing through each egg at a light detector; generating an output signal that corresponds to light received at a light detector for each respective egg; analyzing the output signal for each egg to determine opacity of each egg; removing eggs having an opacity less than a first opacity value; and removing eggs having an opacity greater than a second opacity value that is different from the first opacity value.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 45/00 - Autres appareils ou dispositifs pour l'aviculture, p. ex. dispositifs pour déterminer si un oiseau est prêt à pondre

Abrégé

Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein the optical path between a light source and light detector is monitored for obscuring debris and/or malfunctions. A method of candling eggs includes illuminating an egg with light from a light source; receiving light passing through the egg at a light detector; generating an output signal that corresponds to light received at the light detector for the egg; and analyzing the output signal to determine whether the optical path between the light source and light detector has been altered. In response to determining that a respective optical path has been altered, the light source and/or light detector is cleaned and/or inspected for malfunctions. Cleaning the light source and/or light detector may include wiping a surface of the light source and/or light detector and/or spraying a surface of the light source and/or light detector with a fluid.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 43/00 - Test, triage ou nettoyage des œufs
• G01N 33/08 - Œufs, p. ex. par mirage

Abrégé

Identifying live eggs includes: a) illuminating eggs with light; b) receiving light passing through each egg at a light detector; c) generating an output signal that corresponds to light received at a light detector for each respective egg; d) analyzing the output signals to identify an indication of an external disturbance; e) analyzing the output signal for each egg to identify the existence of an embryo heart rate and/or embryo movement; and f) designating an egg as a live egg in response to identifying embryo heart rate and/or embryo movement. Steps a) through d) are repeated if output signals from a predetermined number of eggs contain an indication of an external disturbance to the eggs. Steps a) through f) are repeated if the number of eggs designated as live exceeds an expected number, or if embryo movement occurs at about the same time in a predetermined number of eggs.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 43/00 - Test, triage ou nettoyage des œufs
• A01K 43/04 - Triage des œufs
• A01K 45/00 - Autres appareils ou dispositifs pour l'aviculture, p. ex. dispositifs pour déterminer si un oiseau est prêt à pondre
• G01N 33/08 - Œufs, p. ex. par mirage