Abstract:
An active thermography method for identifying at least one internal or subsurface parameter of at least one egg is disclosed. The method comprises thermally exciting at least a surface of the at least one egg with a means for excitation such that the egg is provided in a non-equilibrium thermal condition for a non-equilibrium period having duration t transient ; obtaining a thermogram at a plurality of time intervals (N) of the at least one egg in during the non-equilibrium period, resulting in N thermograms; determining at least one parameter in dependence upon the N thermograms; and identifying the at least one internal or subsurface quality parameter of the at least one egg based on the at least one parameter.
Abstract:
Installation de tri de pièces en défilement sur un tapis convoyeur comprenant un dispositif de transfert (3) comprenant un rouleau (31) mobile en rotation au-dessus dudit tapis et une pluralité d'outils de saisie (32) en périphérie dudit rouleau, aptes à prélever sélectivement chacun une pièce du tapis lorsqu'ils sont amenés dans une position de prélèvement, chaque outil comprenant une ventouse (321) fixée sur un manchon de support tubulaire (322) apte à créer une communication entre la ventouse et une chambre (312) interne du rouleau maintenue en dépression par rapport à l'air environnant, toutes les ventouses amenées en position de prélèvement étant mises en dépression, chaque manchon étant monté mobile en translation suivant son axe à travers une paroi (311) dudit rouleau, un actionneur (34) étant adapté à commander sélectivement, dans ladite position de prélèvement, le déplacement dudit manchon pour que ladite ventouse vienne en prise avec ladite pièce à prélever.
Abstract:
Zum Bearbeiten einer Kalkschale (3) eines Vogel eis mit darin enthaltenem Embryo wird eine Lage einer Luftkammer (7), die zwischen einer inneren Membran (6) und einer äußeren Membran (5) des Vogeleis im Bereich des stumpfen Pols (4) angeordnet ist, ermittelt. Dazu wird unter Verwendung einer Sensoreinrichtung (11), deren Ausgangssignal oder Ausgangsdaten im Wesentlichen unabhängig von einer Farbe der Kalkschale (3) sind, eine Abbildung des Vogeleis erfasst, und die Abbildung wird zum Ermitteln der Lage der Luftkammer (7) ausgewertet. Eine Bearbeitungseinrichtung (14) wird zum Bearbeiten der Kalkschale (3) im Bereich des stumpfen Pols (4) abhängig von der durch das Auswerten der Abbildung ermittelten Lage der Luftkammer (7) angesteuert.
Abstract:
The invention relates to processes of egg selection for the incubation and egg incubation itself. The objective of the invention is to accurately identify the egg's gender before setting and also to monitor the embryo development process during the entire incubation period. Identification of the state of eggs includes passive recording of the dynamic electromagnetic spectrum on an egg surface, wavelet spectrum transform and spectral-dynamic analysis of correspondence of the transformed spectrum to reference markers corresponding to male or female gender of the future animal. In addition, productivity and stages of development are compared to reference markers. It is extremely essential that the dynamic spectrum is recorded prior to incubation and compared to reference markers of the gender and/or productivity and then the eggs for incubation are selected.
Abstract:
A system, egg holding unit and methods are provided for non-invasively determining the fertility of an avian egg. The system comprises: an egg holding unit; at least one transmitter, operative for transmitting electromagnetic waves towards said at least one egg; at least one receiver for receiving a received signal, including at least a portion of said electromagnetic waves after passing through said at least one egg placed within said egg holding unit; a processor adapted to analyze said received signal according to a predetermined fertility determination procedure; and a communication interface for providing a fertility indication with respect to each one of said at least one egg. Preferably, the communication interface is coupled to a display device adapted to show fertilization data using a GUI, to one or more end users.
Abstract:
An apparatus to identify upside-down eggs of a batch of eggs includes a heating module configured to expose an air cell in each egg of the batch of eggs to a radiation flux. The apparatus also includes an imaging module with a thermal camera configured to capture thermal images of the batch of eggs when the eggs are not exposed to the radiation flux. The apparatus further includes an analyzer module configured to detect the presence of a heated zone in the air cell of each egg from the thermal images and identify upside-down eggs based on the presence of the heated zone. A method to identify upside-down eggs from a batch of eggs includes heating the batch of eggs with a radiation source, such as an infrared source, so as to generate a hot zone inside an air cell of each egg without significantly heating the rest of the eggs. Thermal images of the eggs are captured while the eggs are not exposed to the radiation source, analyzed to detect the presence of the hot zone and to identify the upside down eggs.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an apparatus for receiving and transporting a stream of eggs, comprising, - a conveyor for transporting eggs in a transport direction T, - a releasing device connected with the conveyor, for releasing predetermined eggs away from the conveyor, separately, downwardly out of the stream, - a guide for receiving and taking over such an egg from the releasing device and guiding it to an egg processing apparatus, and - two driven star wheels placed substantially close to each other, with shafts perpendicular to T, and with opposite directions of rotation of the shafts, while upon rotation their blades along a part of the rotation path are placed over each other and transport the eggs substantially cupwise downwardly. In a suitable manner, with this apparatus, for example intact but dirty eggs can be released from a sorting stream and be received for further handling or processing.
Abstract:
An egg orientation device is adapted to put eggs (10, 10') point down or point up in egg retainers (6). The egg orientation device comprises a stationary lane having a support plate (2) comprising a central zone (3) and two lateral zones (4). The device furthermore comprises a pusher (20) movable in a conveying direction along the lane and adapted to push an egg such that it rolls over the support plate around its longitudinal axis. An egg retainer is movable in the conveying direction beneath the support plate of the lane in a synchronised manner with the pusher. At least one drop opening (5, 7A, 7B) is provided in the support plate, which allows eggs to fall through and drop point down or point up in the egg retainer that is positioned underneath the drop opening. The drop opening is located in the central zone or in at least one of the lateral zones for dropping the eggs in the egg retainer point up and point down respectively.
Abstract:
An endless egg conveyor includes an endless element running around a set of rotational wheels and a drive unit defining a conveying direction of the conveyor. The conveyor has an upper run and a lower run and head sections where the direction of movement of the endless element between the upper run and the lower run is reversed. The conveyor furthermore includes at least one lane of egg retaining pockets coupled to the endless element, moving in the conveying direction. Each of the retaining pockets has a central axis and an upper receiving opening to receive an egg with a longitudinal axis of the egg generally aligned with said central axis. The retaining pockets are each coupled to the endless element by a bearing structure allowing rotation of the retaining pocket around a rotational axis extending parallel to the rotational axes of said rotational wheels, allowing the retaining pockets to remain in an upright position in every position in the lane. Adjacent retaining pockets of different lanes define a pocket row, wherein, the conveyor comprises carrying elements that carry the pockets of one row. The bearing structure of each pocket row comprises a support arm on either lateral side of the conveyor. The support arm is positioned upright with respect to the circulating endless element and rigidly connected thereto. The bearing structure of said pocket row comprises at least one spindle rigidly connected to the carrying element which pivotally connects the carrying element to the support arms.