Automatic sorting ovoscope

• US 5,017,003 A
• Filed: 09/20/1989
• Issued: 05/21/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precision Automation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Breuil Sa
• Inventors: Breuil, Jean-Pierre, Keromnes, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): McGraw, Vincent P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEESEE, LACHARLES
• Application Number:
  US07/415,329
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 356/52, 356/53, 356/60, 356/66, 356/69, 356/57, 209/510, 209/511, 209/643
• US Class Current: 356/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/085 by candling

Abstract

The automatic sorter ovoscope of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a light box (6) arranged under a candling head (1) which is provided with at least one suction cup (9) intended to take by suction eggs, one by one, and which is provided with vacuum means and with light sensitive means, while a device for controlling the vacuum means allows to apply by suction each suction cup to an egg to be candled and to appreciate its transparency as a function of the light intensity coming from the light box (6) and reaching the light sensitive means, the control device being servo-controlled by the signal from said light sensitive means so that the suction cup may retain by suction the egg when the signal from the light sensitive means indicates that a predetermined transparency of the egg is exceeded.

Claims

1. An automatic sorting candler, comprising:

(a) a light box;

(b) a candling head above said light box, said candling head comprising at least one suction cup to hold an egg by suction, each said at least one suction cup including means for holding an egg by vacuum, and light sensitive means for detecting transmitted light and providing a signal; and

(c) control means for evaluating the transparency of eggs with respect to output of light emanating from said light box, said control means being associated with said light sensitive means and said means for holding an egg by vacuum to permit each said at least one suction cup to hold an egg by suction when the signal of the light sensitive means indicates that a predetermined transparency of the egg has been exceeded.

2. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 1, further comprising an evacuation conveyor for removing defective eggs after detection by said control means.

3. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 2, further comprising a routing conveyor for routing eggs held by suction after the signal is transmitted by said light sensitive means, and for transporting a new batch of eggs to be candled.

4. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 3, wherein said candling head is mounted for vertical movement above said routing conveyor and said evacuation conveyor.

5. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 3, further comprising a transfer conveyor for receiving eggs from said routing conveyor.

6. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding an egg by vacuum includes a suction conduit having one end opening of a respective suction cup and another end connected to a vacuum pump.

7. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 6, further including an electrovalve in the said suction conduit.

8. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 1, wherein said light sensitive means includes an infrared phototransistor.

9. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 1, wherein the light box includes a means for emitting infrared light.

10. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for testing each said at least one suction cup to detect presence of light when said light box is switched off and the suction cup is holding an egg by vacuum.

11. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 10, wherein said means for testing include means for display and isolation of a malfunctioning suction cup.

12. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 1, wherein said control means include a comparator and a threshold signal generator, said comparator being capable of comparing the signal of a corresponding light sensitive means with at least one predetermined signal generated by the threshold signal generator, with said comparator being capable of creating a detection signal which is a function of the comparison of the signals.

13. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 12, wherein said at least one predetermined signal corresponds to a selected transparency threshold, and the detection signal is a function of whether said selected transparency threshold is exceeded.

14. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 12, wherein said threshold signal generator is capable of generating a predetermined signal for comparison corresponding to an absence of light threshold, and a black test detection signal is capable of being created which is a function of whether said absence of light threshold is exceeded.

15. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 12, wherein said control means further include means for storing said detection signal, and means for transmitting the stored detection signal to means for maintaining the vacuum of a corresponding suction cup when the detection signal indicates that a preselected threshold has been exceeded.

16. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 14, wherein said control means further include a control robot for controlling selection of said predetermined comparison signal, storage of said detection signal and stopage of operation when said absence of light threshold detects a defective suction cup.

17. The automatic sorting candler according to claim 12, further comprising a calculator and means for measuring electrical current used by at least one part of said control means to determine numerical ratios between the number of eggs held by the suction cups and the number of eggs released by the suction cups.