SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN INCUBATED EGGS

• US 20170071166A1
• Filed: 09/14/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Once Innovations Inc. (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Payne, Kevin, Grajcar, Zdenko, Licko, Karol, Simko, Peter, Hoffmann, Josef
• Granted Patent: US 11,051,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 41/00 Incubators for poultry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 41/02 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 41/023 Devices for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 41/06 Egg-turning appliances for incubators
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/007 Injecting or otherwise treating hatching eggs
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.

Claims

1. A method of promoting a biological response within a plurality of eggs in a commercial hatchery steps comprising:

providing an incubation chamber for incubating a plurality of eggs within a controlled environment;

providing an incubation device within the chamber having a body with an interior cavity that houses the plurality of eggs;

providing an auxiliary environmental device within the chamber;

attaching a light supporting device having a lighting device to the auxiliary environmental device in spaced relation to the interior of the body;

emitting a predetermined wavelength of light on the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the plurality of eggs.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of conveying heat from the lighting device directly to the auxiliary environmental device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the light irradiates all exposed surfaces of the plurality of eggs.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lighting devices emit a pre-determined spectrum on the plurality of eggs.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the pre-determined spectrum is a narrow band of wavelengths.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the narrow band of wavelengths are red wavelengths.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the narrow band of wavelengths is between 620 nm and 660 nm.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the narrow band of wavelengths is between 430 nm and 470 nm.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the lighting devices comprise a plurality of directional lighting elements.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of directional lighting elements are light emitting diodes.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the lighting device includes a tubular body with reflective material thereon.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing adjustable foot member to align the body with the auxiliary environmental device.

13. A method of promoting a biological response within a plurality of eggs in a commercial hatchery steps comprising:

providing an incubation chamber for incubating a plurality of eggs within a controlled environment;

positioning a light supporting device having a lighting device at a predetermined position within the incubation chamber;

inserting an incubation device having with an interior cavity that houses eggs into the chamber into an incubation position that is adjacent the light supporting device;

emitting a predetermined wavelength of light with the lighting device on the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the plurality of eggs.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the incubation chamber has a fan element and a rail element therein and the light supporting device is positioned between the fan element and rail element.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of inserting the light supporting device into a foot member secured within the incubation chamber at the predetermined location to position the light supporting device within the incubation chamber.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the foot member is adjustable to position dig supporting device.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of attaching the light supporting device to an auxiliary device within the chamber at the predetermined location to position the light supporting device within the incubation chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the auxiliary device is a fan element.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the auxiliary device is a temperature control member.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the auxiliary device is a rail element.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the light supporting device is of one piece construction with the incubation chamber.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the light irradiates all exposed surfaces of the plurality of eggs.

23. A method of installing a light supporting device within an incubation chamber for promoting a biological response within a plurality of eggs within an incubation chamber steps comprising:

providing an incubation chamber having a ceiling and floor for incubating a plurality of eggs within a controlled environment;

securing a foot member within the incubation chamber as a predetermined position;

sliding a light supporting device having a lighting device into the foot member at the predetermined position within the incubation chamber;

compressing the light supporting device between the ceiling and floor of the incubation chamber at the predetermined position such that when an incubation device is inserted into the incubation chamber the lighting device is adjacent the incubation device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the foot member is adjustable to compress the light supporting device between the ceiling and the floor of the incubation chamber.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the foot member has a spring element therein that compresses the light support device between the ceiling and floor of the incubation chamber.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the foot member has a screw member such that when rotated the foot member compresses the light supporting device between the ceiling and the floor.

27. A method of installing a light supporting device within an incubation chamber for promoting a biological response within a plurality of eggs within an incubation chamber steps comprising:

providing an incubation chamber for incubating a plurality of eggs within a controlled environment;

providing an incubation device for holding the plurality of eggs;

removably securing a first section of a light supporting device having at least on lighting device to the incubation device;

removably interlocking a second section of a light supporting device to the first section;

moving the incubation device into the incubation chamber and actuating the at least one lighting device.