Methods and apparatus for punching through egg shells with reduced force
First Claim
1. A method of in ovo injection, comprising hurling a projectile at the egg shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the projectile comprises a non-toxic, bio-degradable material.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for forming an opening in a shell of an avian egg such that the potential for cracking is greatly reduced are provided and comprise moving a punch through an egg shell at speeds equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second. Punches may be driven via various devices including gravity-assisted devices, spring-assisted devices, solenoid-assisted devices, and fluid-assisted (e.g., compressed air, compressed nitrogen, liquid, etc.) devices. The shell of an egg may be pierced without causing cracking by hurling one or more small projectiles at the egg shell at speeds in excess of 30 inches per second. A punch may be mounted on a piezoelectric actuator configured to vibrate at frequencies in a range of between about 1,000 Hz and about 100,000 Hz. These frequencies effectively cause a punch to move at speeds in excess of 30 inches per second.
132 Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A method of in ovo injection, comprising hurling a projectile at the egg shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the projectile comprises a non-toxic, bio-degradable material.
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6. A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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introducing an opening into a shell of an egg; and
hurling a non-toxic, bio-degradable projectile through the opening, wherein the projectile comprises a predetermined dosage of a substance. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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orienting an avian egg into a predetermined position;
introducing an opening into a shell of the egg, comprising hurling projectile through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the projectile comprises a non-toxic, biodegradable material;
extending a delivery device through the opening and into the egg a predetermined depth; and
releasing a predetermined dosage of a substance into the egg. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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- 12. An in ovo injection apparatus, comprising an actuator configured to hurl a projectile through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the projectile comprises a non-toxic, bio-degradable material.
- 20. A method of in ovo injection, comprising moving a punch through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the punch is attached to a piezoelectric actuator that vibrates within a frequency range of between about 1,000 Hz and about 100,000 Hz.
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23. A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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introducing an opening into a shell of the egg, comprising moving a punch through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the punch is attached to a piezoelectric actuator and wherein the piezoelectric actuator vibrates within a frequency range of between about 1,000 Hz and about 100,000 Hz; and
injecting a substance into the egg via the opening. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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- 26. A method of forming an opening in a shell of an avian egg such that the potential for cracking is reduced, wherein the egg is supported within a pocket of an egg flat, wherein the pocket comprises a plurality of compliant tabs that support the egg, the method comprising moving a punch through the shell at a speed that does not cause the compliant tabs supporting the egg to deflect.
- 28. A method of in ovo injection, comprising hurling a projectile at the egg shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the projectile comprises ice.
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31. A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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introducing an opening into a shell of an egg; and
hurling a projectile through the opening, wherein the projectile comprises ice and a predetermined dosage of a substance.
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32. A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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orienting an avian egg into a predetermined position;
introducing an opening into a shell of the egg, comprising hurling a projectile through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the projectile comprises ice;
extending a delivery device through the opening and into the egg a predetermined depth; and
releasing a predetermined dosage of a substance into the egg.
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- 33. An in ovo injection apparatus, comprising an actuator configured to hurl a projectile through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second, wherein the projectile comprises ice.
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40. An in ovo injection apparatus, comprising:
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an actuator configured to hurl a first projectile through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second; and
a delivery device configured to deliver a predetermined dosage of a substance into the egg via the opening, wherein the delivery device is configured to hurl a second projectile comprising a predetermined dosage of a substance into the egg via the opening, wherein the second projectile comprises a non-toxic, bio-degradable material.
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41. An in ovo injection apparatus, comprising:
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an actuator configured to hurl a first projectile through the shell at a speed equal to or greater than thirty (30) inches per second; and
a delivery device configured to deliver a predetermined dosage of a substance into the egg via the opening, wherein the delivery device is configured to hurl a second projectile comprising a predetermined dosage of a substance into the egg via the opening, and wherein the second projectile comprises ice.
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Specification