Method and apparatus for candling eggs and filling trays with fertile eggs
First Claim
1. An apparatus for candling eggs and for filling trays having an array of egg receiving tray recesses therein with fertile eggs comprising:
- A. a main conveying means for moving trays, said main conveying means defining an infeed station means and an outfeed station means longitudinally spatially disposed from one another, said infeed station means operative to receive trays of eggs for candling thereof, said outfeed station means operative to provide trays filled with fertile eggs for movement outwardly therefrom, said main conveying means being operable to selectively move trays longitudinally from said infeed station means toward said outfeed station means;
B. a control means operatively connected to said main conveying means to selectively control operation thereof and the movement of trays therealong from said infeed station means to said outfeed station means;
C. a first station means positioned adjacent said main conveying means for candling trays of eggs transferred thereon from said infeed station means responsive to operation of said main conveying means, said first station means including;
(1) a primary lighting means positioned below said main conveying means within said first station means and adapted to transmit light upwardly therefrom through each egg located upon a tray on said main conveying means within said first station means to facilitate candling of eggs therein;
(2) a candling camera means positioned above said main conveying means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of a tray of eggs traveling within said first station means on said main conveying means therebelow for candling thereof, said candling camera means being operatively connected to said control means to communicate photographically recorded images thereto for analysis thereof;
D. a second station means located laterally adjacent said first station means and including;
(1) a transfer head means movably mounted within said second station means, said transfer head means being movable between a first transfer head position within said first station means and a second transfer head position within said second station means, said transfer head means including a plurality of egg gripping means extendable downwardly therefrom and adapted to grasp an egg therebelow while located within said first transfer head position to facilitate lifting and removal of eggs selectively from trays located within said first station means for movement thereof along with said transfer head means from said first transfer head position to said second transfer head position, said transfer head means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said first transfer head position and said second transfer head position and gripping of eggs by said egg gripping means;
(2) an exit hopper means positioned below said second transfer head position within said second station means, said exit hopper means adapted to receive and accumulate infertile eggs released from said egg gripping means of said transfer head means while in said second transfer head position within said second station means;
E. a third station means positioned longitudinally adjacent said second station means and adjacent said main conveying means, said third station means including;
(1) a buffer container means movably positioned therein, said buffer container means defining a plurality of egg receiving buffer recesses therein for holding of fertile eggs therewithin to facilitate placement thereof into trays upon said main conveying means prior to movement thereof to said outfeed station means, said buffer container means being movable between a buffer rest position within said third station means ready to supply fertile eggs therefrom and a buffer receiving position within said second station means, said buffer receiving position being located within said second station means below said first transfer head position of said transfer head means and above said exit hopper means therebelow to facilitate placement of fertile eggs from said transfer head means into said egg receiving buffer recesses of said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer container means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said buffer rest position and said buffer receiving position;
(2) a buffer camera means located above said buffer rest position of said buffer container means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of the positions of fertile eggs located within said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer camera means operatively connected to said control means to provide recorded images thereto of positions of fertile eggs within said buffer container means;
F. a fourth station means positioned longitudinally along said main conveying means adjacent said outfeed station means and laterally adjacent said third station means, said fourth station means adapted to receive trays moved by said main conveying means from said first station means thereto; and
G. a pick and place device positioned adjacent said third station means and said fourth station means and being operatively secured to said control means for controlling operation thereof, said control means operative responsive to any of the egg receiving tray recesses being empty as indicated by analysis of the recorded photographic image from said candling camera means to urge said pick and place device to move to said third station means above said buffer container means to selectively remove at least one fertile egg therefrom and to thereafter move to said fourth station means above a tray on said main conveying means therein in order to place a fertile egg into any empty egg receiving tray recess therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus of the present invention provides a means for candling eggs and providing trays of eggs filled with candled eggs and includes a provision wherein infertile eggs are removed from trays of fertile eggs and are replaced with fertile eggs in order to supply a complete array of fertile eggs within the tray. The apparatus includes a conveying means removing trays of eggs from an infeed station to an outfeed station. The trays of eggs supplied at the outfeed station preferably are completely filled with fertile eggs only and usually will be supplied to a processing station such as for inoculation. The apparatus includes four stations with candling performed at the first station by a video camera with infertile eggs moved to an exit hopper at a second station thereadjacent. Initially fertile eggs are also transferred to the second station where they are placed into a buffer tray which is then moved to the third station and provides a source of fertile eggs for replacing of removed infertile eggs from future candled trays. Once the buffer contains eggs a tray will pass in the infeed through the first station, will be candled, and the infertile eggs will be removed and the conveyor will then move this tray of all fertile eggs with a few open egg receiving recesses to the fourth station.
65 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An apparatus for candling eggs and for filling trays having an array of egg receiving tray recesses therein with fertile eggs comprising:
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A. a main conveying means for moving trays, said main conveying means defining an infeed station means and an outfeed station means longitudinally spatially disposed from one another, said infeed station means operative to receive trays of eggs for candling thereof, said outfeed station means operative to provide trays filled with fertile eggs for movement outwardly therefrom, said main conveying means being operable to selectively move trays longitudinally from said infeed station means toward said outfeed station means; B. a control means operatively connected to said main conveying means to selectively control operation thereof and the movement of trays therealong from said infeed station means to said outfeed station means; C. a first station means positioned adjacent said main conveying means for candling trays of eggs transferred thereon from said infeed station means responsive to operation of said main conveying means, said first station means including; (1) a primary lighting means positioned below said main conveying means within said first station means and adapted to transmit light upwardly therefrom through each egg located upon a tray on said main conveying means within said first station means to facilitate candling of eggs therein; (2) a candling camera means positioned above said main conveying means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of a tray of eggs traveling within said first station means on said main conveying means therebelow for candling thereof, said candling camera means being operatively connected to said control means to communicate photographically recorded images thereto for analysis thereof; D. a second station means located laterally adjacent said first station means and including; (1) a transfer head means movably mounted within said second station means, said transfer head means being movable between a first transfer head position within said first station means and a second transfer head position within said second station means, said transfer head means including a plurality of egg gripping means extendable downwardly therefrom and adapted to grasp an egg therebelow while located within said first transfer head position to facilitate lifting and removal of eggs selectively from trays located within said first station means for movement thereof along with said transfer head means from said first transfer head position to said second transfer head position, said transfer head means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said first transfer head position and said second transfer head position and gripping of eggs by said egg gripping means; (2) an exit hopper means positioned below said second transfer head position within said second station means, said exit hopper means adapted to receive and accumulate infertile eggs released from said egg gripping means of said transfer head means while in said second transfer head position within said second station means; E. a third station means positioned longitudinally adjacent said second station means and adjacent said main conveying means, said third station means including; (1) a buffer container means movably positioned therein, said buffer container means defining a plurality of egg receiving buffer recesses therein for holding of fertile eggs therewithin to facilitate placement thereof into trays upon said main conveying means prior to movement thereof to said outfeed station means, said buffer container means being movable between a buffer rest position within said third station means ready to supply fertile eggs therefrom and a buffer receiving position within said second station means, said buffer receiving position being located within said second station means below said first transfer head position of said transfer head means and above said exit hopper means therebelow to facilitate placement of fertile eggs from said transfer head means into said egg receiving buffer recesses of said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer container means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said buffer rest position and said buffer receiving position; (2) a buffer camera means located above said buffer rest position of said buffer container means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of the positions of fertile eggs located within said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer camera means operatively connected to said control means to provide recorded images thereto of positions of fertile eggs within said buffer container means; F. a fourth station means positioned longitudinally along said main conveying means adjacent said outfeed station means and laterally adjacent said third station means, said fourth station means adapted to receive trays moved by said main conveying means from said first station means thereto; and G. a pick and place device positioned adjacent said third station means and said fourth station means and being operatively secured to said control means for controlling operation thereof, said control means operative responsive to any of the egg receiving tray recesses being empty as indicated by analysis of the recorded photographic image from said candling camera means to urge said pick and place device to move to said third station means above said buffer container means to selectively remove at least one fertile egg therefrom and to thereafter move to said fourth station means above a tray on said main conveying means therein in order to place a fertile egg into any empty egg receiving tray recess therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for candling eggs and for filling trays having an array of egg receiving tray recesses therein with fertile eggs comprising:
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A. a main conveying means for moving trays, said main conveying means defining an infeed station means and an outfeed station means longitudinally spatially disposed from one another, said infeed station means operative to receive trays of eggs for candling thereof, said outfeed station means operative to provide trays filled with fertile eggs for movement outwardly therefrom, said main conveying means being operable to selectively move trays longitudinally from said infeed station means toward said outfeed station means; B. a control means operatively connected to said main conveying means to selectively control operation thereof and the movement of trays therealong from said infeed station means to said outfeed station means; C. a first station means positioned adjacent said main conveying means for candling of eggs in trays transferred thereon from said infeed station means responsive to operation of said main conveying means, said first station means including; (1) a primary lighting means positioned below said main conveying means within said first station means and adapted to transmit light upwardly therefrom through each egg located upon a tray on said main conveying means within said first station means to facilitate candling of eggs therein; (2) a candling camera means comprising a digital video camera positioned above said main conveying means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of trays of eggs traveling within said first station means on said main conveying means therebelow for candling thereof, said candling camera means being operatively connected to said control means to communicate photographically recorded images thereto for analysis thereof; (3) a camera housing means positioned extending around said candling camera means to enhance images recorded therewith to facilitate candling of egg therebelow; D. a second station means located laterally adjacent said first station means and including; (1) a transfer head means movably mounted within said second station means, said transfer head means being movable between a first transfer head position within said first station means and a second transfer head position within said second station means, said transfer head means including a plurality of egg gripping means extendable downwardly therefrom and adapted to grasp an egg therebelow while located within said first transfer head position to facilitate lifting and removal of eggs selectively from trays located within said first station means for movement thereof along with said transfer head means from said first transfer head position to said second transfer head position, said egg gripping means comprising vacuum gripping cups which are operative to grip eggs by the applying of a vacuum thereinto, said transfer head means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said first transfer head position and said second transfer head position and gripping of eggs by said egg gripping means, said first transfer head position of said first transfer head being located within said first station means below said candling camera means therein and above said main conveying means and a tray of eggs being transferred thereon; (2) an exit hopper means positioned below said second transfer head position within said second station means, said exit hopper means adapted to receive and accumulate infertile eggs released from said egg gripping means of said transfer head means while in said second transfer head position within said second station means, said transfer head means being operable responsive to said control means determining the presence of at least one infertile egg located within an tray in said first station means to move to said first transfer head position above the tray and actuate said egg gripping means in abutment with any infertile egg and to remove any infertile egg from the tray for movement to said second transfer head position for release into said exit hopper means therebelow; E. a third station means positioned longitudinally adjacent said second station means and adjacent said main conveying means, said third station means including; (1) a buffer container means movably positioned therein, said buffer container means defining a plurality of egg receiving buffer recesses therein for holding of fertile eggs therewithin to facilitate placement thereof into trays upon said main conveying means prior to movement thereof to said outfeed station means, said buffer container means being movable between a buffer rest position within said third station means ready to supply fertile eggs therefrom and a buffer receiving position within said second station means, said buffer receiving position being located within said second station means below said first transfer head position of said transfer head means and above said exit hopper means therebelow to facilitate placement of fertile eggs from said transfer head means into said egg receiving buffer recesses of said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer container means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said buffer rest position and said buffer receiving position; (2) a buffer camera means located above said buffer rest position of said buffer container means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of the positions of fertile eggs located within said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer camera means operatively connected to said control means to provide recorded images thereto of positions of fertile eggs within said buffer container means; F. a fourth station means positioned longitudinally along said main conveying means adjacent said outfeed station means and laterally adjacent said third station means, said fourth station means adapted to receive trays moved by said main conveying means from said first station means thereto; G. an empty tray removal means positioned adjacent said fourth station means and operative to remove trays which are empty therefrom prior to movement thereof to said outfeed station means; H. a verification camera means positioned above said main conveying means and being directed downwardly to be operative to determine whenever an tray positioned upon said main conveying means within said fourth station means is empty in order to initiate operation of said empty tray removal means to prevent an tray empty of eggs from moving to said outfeed station means; and I. a pick and place device positioned adjacent said third station means and said fourth station means and being operatively secured to said control means for controlling operation thereof, said control means operative responsive to any of the egg receiving tray recesses being empty as indicated by analysis of the recorded photographic image from said candling camera means to urge said pick and place device to move to said third station means above said buffer container means to selectively remove at least one fertile egg therefrom and to thereafter move to said fourth station means above an tray on said main conveying means therein in order to place a fertile egg into any empty egg receiving tray recess therein.
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20. An apparatus for candling eggs and for filling trays having an array of egg receiving tray recesses therein with fertile eggs comprising:
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A. a main conveying means for moving trays, said main conveying means defining an infeed station means and an outfeed station means longitudinally spatially disposed from one another, said infeed station means operative to receive trays of eggs for candling thereof, said outfeed station means operative to provide trays filled with fertile eggs for movement outwardly therefrom, said main conveying means being operable to selectively move trays longitudinally from said infeed station means toward said outfeed station means; B. a control means operatively connected to said main conveying means to selectively control operation thereof and the movement of trays therealong from said infeed station means to said outfeed station means, said control means including a video frame grabber to facilitate candling; C. a first station means positioned adjacent said main conveying means for candling trays of eggs transferred thereon from said infeed station means responsive to operation of said main conveying means, said first station means including; (1) a primary lighting means positioned below said main conveying means within said first station means and adapted to transmit light upwardly therefrom through each egg located upon a tray on said main conveying means within said first station means to facilitate candling of eggs therein, each tray and said main conveying means being at least partially translucent to allow light from said primary lighting means to pass therethrough to eggs positioned within said egg receiving tray recesses in said first station means, said primary lighting means including a plurality of individual lighting modules therein operatively connected to said control means to facilitate control of lighting therewith; (2) a candling camera means comprising a digital video camera positioned above said main conveying means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of trays of eggs traveling within said first station means on said main conveying means therebelow for candling thereof, said candling camera means being operatively connected to said control means to communicate photographically recorded images thereto for analysis thereof; (3) a camera housing means positioned extending around said candling camera means to enhance images recorded therewith to facilitate candling of egg therebelow; D. a second station means located laterally adjacent said first station means and including; (1) a transfer head means movably mounted within said second station means, said transfer head means being movable between a first transfer head position within said first station means and a second transfer head position within said second station means, said transfer head means including a plurality of egg gripping means extendable downwardly therefrom and adapted to grasp an egg therebelow while located within said first transfer head position to facilitate lifting and removal of eggs selectively from trays located within said first station means for movement thereof along with said transfer head means from said first transfer head position to said second transfer head position, said egg gripping means comprising vacuum gripping cups which are operative to grip eggs by the applying of a vacuum thereinto, said transfer head means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said first transfer head position and said second transfer head position and gripping of eggs by said egg gripping means, said first transfer head position of said first transfer head being located within said first station means below said candling camera means therein and above said main conveying means and a tray of eggs being transferred thereon; (2) an exit hopper means positioned below said second transfer head position within said second station means, said exit hopper means adapted to receive and accumulate infertile eggs released from said egg gripping means of said transfer head means while in said second transfer head position within said second station means, said transfer head means being operable responsive to said control means determining the presence of at least one infertile egg located within a tray in said first station means to move to said first transfer head position above the tray and actuate said egg gripping means in abutment with any infertile egg and to remove same from the tray for movement to said second transfer head position for release into said exit hopper means therebelow, said control means being operative to indicate an infertile egg responsive to an egg within an tray in said first station means whenever an egg has a translucence greater than a predetermined threshold value resulting in movement thereof by said transfer head means to said exit hopper means, said exit hopper means comprising a disposal receptacle; E. a third station means positioned longitudinally adjacent said second station means and adjacent said main conveying means, said third station means including; (1) a buffer container means movably positioned therein, said buffer container means defining a plurality of egg receiving buffer recesses therein for holding of fertile eggs therewithin to facilitate placement thereof into trays upon said main conveying means prior to movement thereof to said outfeed station means, said buffer container means being movable between a buffer rest position within said third station means ready to supply fertile eggs therefrom and a buffer receiving position within said second station means, said buffer receiving position being located within said second station means below said first transfer head position of said transfer head means and above said exit hopper means therebelow to facilitate placement of fertile eggs from said transfer head means into said egg receiving buffer recesses of said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer container means being operatively connected to said control means to control movement thereof between said buffer rest position and said buffer receiving position, said transfer head means being operable responsive to said control means determining that said buffer container means is empty of fertile eggs to move to said first transfer head position above the tray and to actuate said egg gripping means in abutment with all eggs located within the tray therebelow and to carry same to said second transfer head position within said second station means, said control means being responsive to cause deactivation of any of those of said egg gripping means holding an infertile egg therein for movement into said exit hopper means therebelow, said buffer container means being operable responsive to said control means determining that said buffer container means is empty of fertile eggs to move to said buffer receiving position within said second station means below said transfer head means and responsive to said control means deactivating said egg gripping means thereof to allow placement of fertile eggs therefrom into the egg receiving buffer recesses thereof for reloading of said buffer container means with fertile eggs, said control means being operative responsive to said buffer container means being reloaded with fertile eggs to move same to said buffer rest position within said third station means to supply fertile eggs for facilitating placement of fertile eggs into empty egg receiving tray recesses within trays located in said fourth station means; (2) a buffer camera means located above said buffer rest position of said buffer container means and directed downwardly to provide photographically recorded images of the positions of fertile eggs located within said buffer container means therebelow, said buffer camera means operatively connected to said control means to provide recorded images thereto of positions of fertile eggs within said buffer container means; F. a fourth station means positioned longitudinally along said main conveying means downstream of said first station means adjacent said outfeed station means and laterally adjacent said third station means, said fourth station means adapted to receive egg trays moved by said main conveying means from said first station means thereto; G. an empty tray removal means positioned adjacent said fourth station means and operative to remove a tray empty of eggs therefrom prior to movement thereof to said outfeed station means; H. a verification camera means positioned above said main conveying means and being directed downwardly to be operative to determine whenever an tray positioned upon said main conveying means within said fourth station means is empty in order to initiate operation of said empty tray removal means to prevent a tray which is empty from moving to said outfeed station means; and I. a pick and place device positioned adjacent said third station means and said fourth station means and being operatively secured to said control means for controlling operation thereof, said control means operative responsive to any of the egg receiving tray recesses being empty as indicated by analysis of the recorded photographic image from said candling camera means to urge said pick and place device to move to said third station means above said buffer container means to selectively remove at least one fertile egg therefrom and to thereafter move to said fourth station means above an tray on said main conveying means therein in order to place a fertile egg into any empty egg receiving tray recess therein, said pick and place device having three dimensional controlled movement vertically, laterally and longitudinally to facilitate movement of fertile eggs from said egg receiving buffer recesses within said third station means into said egg receiving tray recesses of trays located in said fourth station means.
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21. A method for candling eggs and for filling trays having an array of egg receiving tray recesses therein with fertile eggs which comprises:
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A. initial loading of a buffer container located at a third station with fertile eggs; B. providing a tray of eggs at an input station with a plurality of egg receiving tray recesses defined therewithin; C. first conveying of a tray of eggs from the input station to a first station; D. candling of eggs located in the egg receiving recesses of a tray in the first station to identify which eggs therein are fertile and which eggs therein are infertile; E. moving of a transfer head laterally from a second station into the first station; F. gripping by the transfer head of only the infertile eggs identified by said candling of eggs in the first station; G. transferring of the gripped infertile eggs by the transfer head from the first station to the second station for accumulation thereof within an exit hopper; H. second conveying of a tray containing fertile eggs from the first station to a fourth station; I. transporting fertile eggs from a buffer container within the third station to fill any empty egg receiving tray recesses within an tray at the fourth station; and J. third conveying of a tray filled with fertile eggs from the fourth station to the outfeed station. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for candling eggs and for filling trays having an array of egg receiving tray recesses therein with fertile eggs which comprises:
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A. preliminary placing of a tray of eggs at the input station; B. preliminary conveying of a tray of eggs to the first station from the input station; C. preliminary candling of the tray within the first station to identify which eggs therein are fertile and which eggs therein are infertile; D. preliminary moving of a transfer head from the second station to the first station; E. preliminary gripping by the transfer head of all eggs from a tray therebelow; F. preliminary relocating of the transfer head with eggs retained thereto from a first station to a second station; G. preliminary releasing by the transfer head of any infertile eggs into an exit hopper therebelow; H. relocating of a buffer container from a third station to a second station at a position below the transfer head; I. loading of fertile eggs into the egg receiving buffer recesses of the buffer container therebelow by releasing of eggs retained by the transfer head; J. returning of the buffer container from a second station to a third station; K. providing a tray of eggs at an input station with a plurality of egg receiving tray recesses defined therewithin; L. first conveying of a tray of eggs from the input station to a first station; M. candling of eggs located in the egg receiving recesses of a tray in the first station to identify which eggs therein are fertile and which eggs therein are infertile, said candling including passing light through eggs located in the egg receiving tray recesses within the first station and digitally photographing by video taping of a pattern of light passing through the eggs within the first station, said candling of eggs further including digitally scanning photographs of the light pattern passing through eggs within the first station to determine fertility thereof; N. moving of a transfer head laterally from a second station into the first station; O. gripping by the transfer head of only the infertile eggs identified by said candling of eggs in the first station said gripping of eggs by the transfer head by placing of vacuum cup in abutment with infertile eggs and the applying of a vacuum thereto; P. transferring of the gripped infertile eggs by the transfer head from the first station to the second station for accumulation thereof within an exit hopper; Q. second conveying of a tray containing fertile eggs from the first station to a fourth station; R. final monitoring of trays at the third station by a verification video camera to indicate if any tray at the third station is empty; S. actuating of a tray removal device responsive to said final monitoring indicating a tray which is empty at the third station to remove a tray which is empty therefrom; T. transporting fertile eggs from a buffer container within the third station to fill any empty egg receiving tray recesses within an tray at the fourth station; U. third conveying of a tray filled with fertile eggs from the fourth station to the outfeed station; V. buffer monitoring of the buffer container within the third station to indicate if the buffer container becomes empty; W. moving to the step of preliminary placing if the buffer container is empty; and X. moving to the step of providing a tray of eggs at an input station with a plurality of egg receiving tray recesses defined therewithin if the buffer container is not empty.
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40. A method for candling eggs and for filling trays having an array of egg receiving tray recesses therein with fertile eggs which comprises:
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A. preliminary placing of a tray of eggs at the input station; B. preliminary conveying of a tray of eggs to the first station from the input station; C. preliminary candling of the tray within the first station to identify which eggs therein are fertile and which eggs therein are infertile; D. preliminary moving of a transfer head from the second station to the first station; E. preliminary gripping by the transfer head of all eggs from a tray therebelow; F. preliminary relocating of the transfer head with eggs retained thereto from a first station to a second station; G. preliminary releasing by the transfer head of any infertile eggs into an exit hopper therebelow; H. relocating of a buffer container from a third station to a second station at a position below the transfer head; I. loading of fertile eggs into the egg receiving buffer recesses of the buffer container therebelow by releasing of eggs retained by the transfer head; J. returning of the buffer container from a second station to a third station; K. providing a tray of eggs at an input station with a plurality of egg receiving tray recesses defined therewithin; L. first conveying in a longitudinal direction of a tray of eggs from the input station to a first station; M. candling of eggs located in the egg receiving recesses of a tray in the first station to identify which eggs therein are fertile and which eggs therein are infertile, said candling including passing light through eggs located in the egg receiving tray recesses within the first station and digitally photographing by video taping of a pattern of light passing through the eggs within the first station, said candling of eggs further including digitally scanning photographs of the light pattern passing through eggs within the first station to determine fertility thereof; N. moving of a transfer head laterally from a second station into the first station; O. gripping by the transfer head of only the infertile eggs identified by said candling of eggs in the first station; P. transferring of the gripped infertile eggs by the transfer head from the first station to the second station for accumulation thereof within an exit hopper for disposal; Q. second conveying in a longitudinal direction of a tray containing fertile eggs from the first station to a fourth station; R. final monitoring of trays at the third station by a verification video camera to indicate if any tray at the third station is empty; S. actuating of a tray removal device responsive to said final monitoring indicating a tray which is empty at the third station to remove a tray which is empty therefrom; T. transporting fertile eggs from a buffer container within the third station to fill any empty egg receiving tray recesses within an tray at the fourth station by providing a three-dimensionally movable pick and place device movably positionable within the third station for fertile egg picking from the buffer container and within the fourth station for fertile egg placing in an tray therebelow; U. third conveying in a longitudinal direction of a tray filled with fertile eggs from the fourth station to the outfeed station; V. buffer monitoring of the buffer container within the third station to indicate if the buffer container becomes empty; W. moving to the step of preliminary placing if the buffer container is empty; X. moving to the step of providing a tray of eggs at an input station with a plurality of egg receiving tray recesses defined therewithin if the buffer container is not empty; Y. final conveying in a longitudinal direction of a tray of fertile eggs from the outfeed station to a vaccination station; and Z. vaccinating of trays filled with fertile eggs to enhance resistance to disease and infection of the fertile embryos developing therein.
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Specification