Embrex, Inc.

Zoetis Services LLC

Thomas E Bryan

John Hilbert Hebrank

Ann K Gore

Patricia V Phelps

Paul Brandford

Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein black rot eggs can be identified and removed. A method of identifying live eggs includes illuminating eggs in a carrier with light from a light source; receiving light passing through each egg at a light detector; generating an output signal that corresponds to light received at a light detector for each respective egg; analyzing the output signal for each egg to determine opacity of each egg; removing eggs having an opacity less than a first opacity value; and removing eggs having an opacity greater than a second opacity value that is different from the first opacity value.

Methods and apparatus for identifying live eggs

Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein the optical path between a light source and light detector is monitored for obscuring debris and/or malfunctions. A method of candling eggs includes illuminating an egg with light from a light source; receiving light passing through the egg at a light detector; generating an output signal that corresponds to light received at the light detector for the egg; and analyzing the output signal to determine whether the optical path between the light source and light detector has been altered. In response to determining that a respective optical path has been altered, the light source and/or light detector is cleaned and/or inspected for malfunctions. Cleaning the light source and/or light detector may include wiping a surface of the light source and/or light detector and/or spraying a surface of the light source and/or light detector with a fluid.

Methods and apparatus for maintaining effective operation of apparatus for candling avian eggs

Systems and methods for rapidly identifying live eggs within a stream of eggs with high accuracy, are provided. A stream of eggs are candled via a candling apparatus and each candled egg is designated as being either live, non-live, or &ldquo;uncertain&rdquo;. Eggs designated as non-live and uncertain are removed from the stream. Each egg designated as uncertain is &ldquo;recandled&rdquo; at a separate station via an additional candling procedure in order to definitively determine if the &ldquo;uncertain&rdquo; egg is live or non-live. Uncertain eggs identified as being live via recandling are returned to the egg stream such that the stream contains only live eggs. The uncertain eggs determined to be non-live via recandling are removed and are either discarded or used for other purposes.

Systems and methods for rapidly and accurately indentifying live eggs within a stream of eggs

Methods of pooling or localizing the allantoic fluid present in avian shell eggs, so that the fluid may be sampled, assessed or injected, are described. The methods involve tilting the avian shell egg so that the major axis of the egg is from about 10 to 180 degrees from the vertically upright position, so that the allantois pools under the uppermost portion of the egg shell. The allantoic fluid may then be sampled, or a substance injected into the allantois, by a vertical needle or probe traveling in a downward direction.

Method for localizing allantoic fluid of avian eggs

A method of introducing a beneficial material into the allantois of an avian egg through the shell thereof comprises the steps of orienting the egg to maximize a target area of the allantoic sac and directing the injection device through the shell and into the target area. The egg may be oriented with a major axis at an angle from about 10 to 45 degrees from vertical thereby causing the allantois to pool and the allantoic sac to expand immediately below the air sac on the downward side of the egg with injection occurring vertically downward through the air sac or from an angle below the air sac. Alternatively, the egg may be vertically inverted with the large end of the egg in the bottom position thereby causing the allantois to pool immediately above the air sac with injection occurring upwardly through the air sac or laterally between the air sac and the amnion. The beneficial material may be an anti-bacteria, anti-viral, anti-microbial, vaccine, growth hormone or the like.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Thomas E Bryan