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Method and apparatus for candling eggs and filling trays with fertile eggs

  • US 5,898,488 A
  • Filed: 01/21/1997
  • Issued: 04/27/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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:

  • 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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