SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING BIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN INCUBATED EGGS

• US 20170074464A1
• Filed: 09/14/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Once Innovations Inc. (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Grajcar, Zdenko, Payne, Kevin, Licko, Karol, Simko, Peter, Hoffmann, Josef
• Application Number:
  US15/265,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074464A1
• 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 lighting supporting device for emitting light on a plurality of eggs in a commercial hatchery comprising:

vertical support members;

horizontal support members secured to the vertical support members and of size and shape to align adjacent with at least one horizontal support member of a body of an incubating device;

a plurality of lighting devices secured to the lighting support device in parallel spaced relation and aligned with the vertical support members and the horizontal support members in a single plane.

2. The light supporting device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of lighting devices have tubular bodies that each receive a substrate with a plurality of lighting elements.

3. The light supporting device of claim 2 wherein the tubular bodies have reflective material therein.

4. The light supporting device of claim 2 wherein the lighting devices are light emitting diodes.

5. The light supporting device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of lighting devices are evenly spaced.

6. The light supporting device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of lighting devices are sealed to prevent the ingress of water within the lighting devices.

7. The light supporting device of claim 1 wherein the light supporting device is of one-piece construction.

8. The light supporting device of claim 1 wherein the lighting devices comprise a substrate having driving circuitry and lighting elements thereon in a single plane.

9. A lighting supporting device for emitting light on a plurality of eggs in a commercial hatchery comprising:

vertical support members;

horizontal support members secured to the vertical support members and of size and shape to align adjacent with at least one horizontal support member of a body of an incubating device;

a plurality lighting devices secured to the lighting support device in parallel spaced relation;

a bracket element secured to a horizontal member and having a c-shaped body of size and shape to receive a horizontal support member of a body of an incubating device to provide a removable connection between the lighting supporting device and the incubating device.

10. The light supporting device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of lighting devices have tubular bodies that each receive a substrate with a plurality of lighting elements.

11. The light supporting device of claim 10 wherein the tubular bodies have reflective material therein.

12. The light supporting device of claim 10 wherein the lighting devices are light emitting diodes.

13. The light supporting device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of lighting devices are evenly spaced.

14. The light supporting device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of lighting devices are sealed to prevent the ingress of water within the lighting devices.

15. A lighting supporting device for emitting light on a plurality of eggs in a commercial hatchery comprising:

vertical support members;

horizontal support members secured to the vertical support members and of size and shape to align adjacent with at least one horizontal support member of a body of an incubating device;

at least one lighting device secured to the lighting support device and having a substrate disposed therein with driving circuitry electrically connected to a plurality of lighting elements on the substrate;

said lighting elements and driving circuitry selected to provide a spectral output having a local peak of relative luminous power output within 15 nm of 640 nm.

16. The lighting supporting device of claim 15 wherein the lighting elements and driving circuitry are selected to further comprise a spectral output having a local peak of relative luminous power output within 15 nm of 450 nm.

17. The lighting supporting device of claim 16 wherein the local peak of relative luminous power within 15 nm of 640 nm is greater than the local peak of relative luminous power within 15 nm of 450 nm.

18. A light supporting device for emitting light on a plurality of eggs in a commercial hatchery comprising:

a first section having vertical and horizontal support members and at least one lighting device secured thereto;

said first section further having an interlocking mechanist thereon;

a second section having vertical and horizontal support members and at least one lighting device secured thereto;

said second section further having an interlocking mechanism thereon that interlocks with the interlocking mechanism of the first section to form the light supporting device;

an attachment system secured to the first section for securing the lighting supporting device within an incubation chamber.

19. The light supporting device of claim 18 wherein the attachment system comprises a bracket that removably secures the light supporting device onto an incubation device.

20. The light supporting device of claim 18 wherein the attachment assembly is a foot element that compresses the light supporting device between a floor and ceiling of an incubation chamber.

21. The light supporting device of claim 18 wherein the attachment assembly is a magnetic device that secures the light supporting device to an auxiliary device within an incubation chamber.

22. A hatching device comprising:

a body having an interior cavity that receives a plurality of eggs;

a plurality of basket elements disposed within the interior cavity positioned to receive chicks as they hatch from the plurality of eggs;

a light supporting device having a plurality of lighting devices emitting a narrow band wavelength on the plurality of eggs.

23. The incubating device of claim 22 wherein the lighting devices have reflective material to reflect light toward the interior cavity of the body to increase light within the interior cavity to promote hatchability of the plurality of eggs.

24. The incubating device of claim 22 wherein the light irradiates all exposed surfaces of the plurality of eggs.

25. The incubating device of claim 22 wherein the lighting devices emit a pre-determined spectrum on the plurality of eggs.

26. The incubating device of claim 22 wherein the pre-determined spectrum is a narrow band of wavelengths.

27. The incubating device of claim 26 wherein the narrow band of wavelengths are red wavelengths.

28. The incubating device of claim 26 wherein the narrow band of wavelengths is between 620 nm and 660 nm.

29. The incubating device of claim 26 wherein the narrow band of wavelengths is between 430 nm and 470 nm.

30. The incubating device of claim 22 wherein the lighting devices comprise a plurality of directional lighting elements.

31. The incubating device of claim 30 wherein the plurality of directional lighting elements are light emitting diodes.

32. The incubating device of claim 22 wherein the plurality of lighting devices have tubular bodies with reflective material thereon.

33. The incubating device of claim 22 wherein the light supporting device has a support member that aligns with a basket element of the plurality of basket elements to avoid blocking light from reaching the plurality of eggs.

34. The incubating device of claim 22 further comprising a tray rotatably secured within the body to receive the plurality of eggs.