Method and apparatus for distinguishing live from infertile poultry eggs

• US 5,745,228 A
• Filed: 01/17/1997
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Embrex Incorporated (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hebrank, John, De Pauw, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERLINO, AMANDA H
• Application Number:
  US08/785,689
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 250/341.1, 250/350, 250/358.1, 250/340, 356/52-53
• US Class Current: 356/53
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/007 Injecting or otherwise treating hatching eggs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/085 by candling

Abstract

A method for distinguishing live from dead poultry eggs comprises: (a) providing a light source (preferably an infrared light source) and a light detector in opposite facing relation to one another; (b) passing an egg between the light source and light detector; (c) switching the light source at a frequency greater than 100 cycles per second while passing the egg between the light source and the light detector; and (d) detecting light that passes through the egg from the light source with the light detector. Preferably, the egg is passed between the light source and the light detector without making contact therewith. And the method preferably further comprises the step of electronically filtering the signal detected by the light detector to distinguish light emitted from the light source from ambient light. Steps (b) through (d) may be repeated at a rate of at least one egg per second. Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distinguishing live from infertile poultry eggs, comprising:

an egg carrier;

a light measuring system having a light source positioned on one side of said egg carrier and a light detector positioned on the other side of said egg carrier opposite said light source; and

a switching circuit operatively associated with said light source for cycling the intensity of said light source at a frequency greater than 100 cycles per second.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source is an infrared light source.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said egg carrier is configured to carry said eggs between said light source and said light detector in non-contacting relationship therewith.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an aperature positioned in front of said light source.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lens system positioned in front of said light source.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an aperature positioned in front of said light detector.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lens system positioned in front of said light detector.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic filter operatively associated with said light detector for distinguishing light emitted from said light source from ambient light.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an optical filter positioned in front of said light detector for filtering ambient light.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive system operatively associated with said egg carrier, said drive system configured to pass eggs between said light source and said light detector at a rate of at least 1 egg per second.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said egg carrier is configured to carry at least two rows of eggs in side-by-side relationship to one another;

and wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of said light measuring systems positioned in operative association with each of said rows of eggs.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said switching circuit cycles adjacent ones of said light sources at a time or frequency different from one another.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising data collection means operatively associated with said light detectors for storing data associated with said eggs,

and wherein said switching circuit is operatively associated with said data collection means so that data is collected from each of said light detectors in a cycle corresponding to the cycle of the corresponding light source.

14. A method for distinguishing live from infertile poultry eggs, said method comprising:

(a) providing a light source and a light detector in opposite facing relation to one another;

(b) passing an egg between said light source and light detector; and

(c) switching said light source at a frequency greater than 100 cycles per second while passing said egg between said light source and said light detector; and

(d) detecting light that passes through said egg from said light source with said light detector.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said light source is an infrared light source.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said egg is passed between said light source and said light detector without making contact therewith.

17. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of electronically filtering the signal detected by said light detector to distinguish light emitted from said light source from ambient light.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein said steps (b) through (d) are repeated at a rate of at least one egg per second.

19. A method for distinguishing live from infertile poultry eggs in a flat of poultry eggs, said flat containing a plurality of rows of eggs, said method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of pairs of light sources and corresponding light detectors in opposite facing relation to one another;

(b) passing said flat between said light sources and light detectors so that each row in said flat is positioned between a corresponding one pair of said plurality of light sources and light detectors;

(c) activating each of said pairs of light sources and light detectors only when adjacent pairs are inactive;

(d) switching each of said light sources at a frequency greater than 100 cycles per second while said light source is active; and

(e) detecting light that passes through each egg in each row of eggs from said corresponding light source with said light detector.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein each of said light sources is an infrared light source.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein said eggs are passed between said light sources and said light detectors without making contact therewith.

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of electronically filtering the signal detected by each of said light detectors to distinguish light emitted from said light source from ambient light.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein said steps (b) through (e) are repeated at a rate of at least one egg per second.