Back to results
US 2002/0157613 A1Published application
Methods and apparatus for selectively processing eggs having identified characteristics
AssigneeEmbrex, Inc.
InventorsPatricia V. Phelps, B. Alan Chalker II, William Hayes Ferrell III, John H. Hebrank, Benjamin Charles McDow, Edward Atkinson Pomeroy III, Jonathan Robertson, Johnny Mark Townsend
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for processing eggs based upon a characteristic such as gender are provided. Material is extracted from each of a plurality of live eggs, the extracted material is assayed to identify eggs having the characteristic, and then eggs identified as having the characteristic are processed accordingly.
Claims180
A method of processing eggs having an identified characteristic, comprising:
- extracting material from each of a plurality of eggs;
- assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify eggs having a characteristic;
- and
- selectively processing eggs identified as having the characteristic.
1 more element
A method of processing eggs based on gender, comprising:
- identifying live eggs among a plurality of eggs;
- extracting material from the eggs identified as live eggs;
- assaying the material extracted from each live egg to identify gender of each live egg;
- and
- selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs according to gender.
2 more elements
A method of processing eggs according to gender, comprising:
- identifying live eggs among a plurality of eggs;
- extracting allantoic fluid from the eggs identified as live eggs, comprising:
- positioning each of the live eggs in a generally horizontal orientation whereby an allantois of each egg is caused to pool and enlarge an allantoic sac under an upper portion of each egg shell;
- inserting a probe into each egg through the shell of the egg and directly into the enlarged allantoic sac;
- and
- withdrawing a sample of allantoic fluid from the allantois of each egg via each probe;
- detecting a presence of an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid extracted from each live egg to identify a gender of each live egg, comprising:
- dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the live eggs into respective receptacles;
- dispensing a biosensor into the receptacles, wherein the biosensor is configured to chemically react with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change a color of the allantoic fluid;
- and
- detecting a color change of the allantoic fluid within the receptacles;
- and
- selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs according to gender.
10 more elements
An apparatus for extracting material from a plurality of eggs, comprising:
- a table comprising a plurality of cradles arranged in an array, wherein each cradle is configured to receive an egg in a generally vertical orientation and to cause the egg to move to a generally horizontal orientation;
- an egg transfer device operably associated with the table, wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift a plurality of generally vertically oriented eggs from an egg flat and place the plurality of eggs within respective cradles, and wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift and remove the plurality of eggs from the plurality of cradles;
- and
- a plurality of sample heads operably associated with the table, each of which is configured to extract material from a respective egg within a respective cradle and to deposit the extracted material within a respective sample receptacle in a sample template.
1 more element
An apparatus for extracting material from a plurality of eggs, comprising:
- a table comprising a plurality of cradles arranged in an array, wherein each cradle is configured to receive an egg in a generally vertical orientation and to cause the egg to move to a generally horizontal orientation;
- an egg transfer device operably associated with the table, comprising:
- a frame;
- an array of manifold blocks movably supported by the frame, wherein each manifold block comprises an end portion and an internal passageway that terminates at a nozzle extending from the end portion, and wherein the array is expandable and contractible such that eggs can be lifted from and placed within egg flats of different sizes and/or array configurations;
- and
- a plurality of flexible cups, each secured to a respective manifold block nozzle and each in fluid communication with an internal passageway of a respective manifold block, wherein each flexible cup is configured to engage and retain an egg in seated relation therewith when vacuum is provided within the flexible cup via a respective internal passageway and wherein each flexible cup is configured to release a respective egg when vacuum within the respective internal passageway is destroyed;
- wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift a plurality of generally vertically oriented eggs from an egg flat and place the plurality of eggs within respective cradles, and wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift and remove the plurality of eggs from the plurality of cradles;
- and
- a plurality of sample heads operably associated with the table, wherein each sample head is configured to extract material from a respective egg within a respective cradle and to deposit the extracted material within a respective sample receptacle in a sample template, wherein each sample head comprises:
- an elongated housing having opposite first and second ends and an elongated passageway extending therebetween;
- and
- an elongated needle disposed within the elongated passageway and movable between a retracted position and first and second extended positions, wherein the needle comprises a tip, wherein the tip of the needle is contained within the passageway when the needle is in the retracted position, wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing first end a first distance when the needle is in the first extended position, wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing first end a second distance greater than the first distance when the needle is in the second extended position, wherein the needle is configured to extract material from an egg when in the first extended position, and wherein the needle is configured to dispense material extracted from an egg into a sample receptacle when in the second extended position.
9 more elements
An apparatus for extracting material from an egg, comprising:
- an elongated housing having opposite first and second ends and an elongated passageway extending therebetween, wherein the elongated housing first end is configured to contact a portion of a shell of an egg;
- and
- an elongated needle movably disposed within the elongated passageway and movable between a retracted position and first and second extended positions, wherein the needle comprises a fluid passageway and a tip, wherein the tip of the needle is contained within the passageway when the needle is in the retracted position, wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing first end a first distance when the needle is in the first extended position, and wherein the tip of the needle extends from the housing first end a second distance greater than the first distance when the needle is in the second extended position;
- wherein the elongated needle is configured to punch through the shell of an egg when the elongated housing first end is in contact with the egg shell and the elongated needle is moved to the first extended position, wherein the elongated needle is configured to extract material from the egg into the fluid passageway when in the first extended position, and wherein the needle is configured to dispense extracted material in the fluid passageway into a sample receptacle when in the second extended position.
1 more element
An apparatus for assaying material extracted from a plurality of eggs to identify ones of the eggs having a characteristic, wherein material extracted from each egg is contained within a respective sample receptacle of a template, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a reagent dispenser that is configured to dispense a reagent into each of the receptacles of a template, wherein the reagent is configured to chemically react with the egg material in each receptacle to produce an indication of a characteristic of a respective egg;
- and
- a detector that is configured to detect an indication of an egg characteristic in each of the receptacles.
An apparatus for assaying material extracted from a plurality of eggs to identify ones of the eggs having a characteristic, wherein material extracted from each egg is contained within a respective sample receptacle of a template, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- an environmentally-controlled chamber that maintains temperature and/or humidity within one or more respective predetermined ranges;
- a conveyor system that is configured to convey a plurality of sample receptacle templates through the chamber;
- a biosensor dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein the biosensor dispenser is configured to dispense a biosensor into each of the receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system;
- a color substrate dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein the color substrate dispenser is configured to dispense a color substrate into each of the receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system, wherein the biosensor and color substrate are configured to chemically react with egg material in each respective receptacle so as to produce an indication of a presence of a characteristic of a respective egg;
- and
- a detector operably associated with the conveyor system that is configured to scan each sample receptacle in a template conveyed via the conveyor system and to detect an indication of the presence of a characteristic.
3 more elements
An apparatus for assaying material extracted from a plurality of eggs to identify gender of the eggs, wherein material extracted from each egg is contained within a respective sample receptacle of a template, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- an environmentally-controlled chamber that maintains temperature and/or humidity within one or more respective predetermined ranges;
- a conveyor system that is configured to convey a plurality of sample receptacle templates through the chamber;
- a yeast dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein the yeast dispenser is configured to dispense a yeast into each of the receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system;
- a color substrate dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein the color substrate dispenser is configured to dispense a color substrate into each of the receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system, wherein the yeast and color substrate are configured to chemically react with egg material in each respective receptacle so as to produce a color that indicates gender of a respective egg;
- and
- a CCD camera operably associated with the conveyor system that is configured to scan each sample receptacle in a template conveyed via the conveyor system and to detect a color.
3 more elements
An apparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprising:
- a conveyor configured to convey egg carriers;
- a plurality of injection delivery devices operably associated with the conveyor, wherein the injection delivery devices are configured to inject a substance into eggs identified among a plurality of eggs in an egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor as having a characteristic;
- and
- an egg removal device operably associated with the conveyor, wherein the egg removal device is configured to remove eggs identified as having a characteristic from an egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor.
1 more element
An apparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprising:
- a conveyor configured to convey egg carriers;
- a first set of injection delivery devices operably associated with the conveyor, wherein the injection delivery devices in the first set are configured to inject a substance into eggs identified as having a first gender in an egg carrier conveyed by the conveyor;
- a second set of injection delivery devices operably associated with the conveyor and adjacent the first set of injection delivery devices, wherein the injection delivery devices in the second set are configured to inject a substance into eggs identified as having a second gender in the egg carrier;
- and
- an egg removal device operably associated with the conveyor, wherein the egg removal device is configured to remove eggs identified as having a first gender from the egg carrier into a first receptacle, and to remove eggs identified as having a second gender from the egg carrier into a second receptacle.
2 more elements
An apparatus for selectively processing eggs, comprising:
- a conveyor configured to convey egg carriers containing a plurality of eggs;
- an egg removal device operably associated with the conveyor that segregates male eggs from female eggs;
- a first set of injection delivery devices that are configured to inject a substance into male eggs;
- and
- a second set of injection delivery devices that are configured to inject a substance into female eggs.
2 more elements
An egg processing system, comprising:
- an apparatus for extracting material from a plurality of eggs;
- an apparatus for assaying material extracted from the eggs to identify eggs having a characteristic;
- and
- an apparatus for selectively processing eggs identified as having the characteristic.
1 more element
An egg processing system, comprising:
- an apparatus for extracting allantoic fluid from a plurality of eggs;
- an apparatus for assaying allantoic fluid extracted from the eggs to identify gender of the eggs;
- and
- an apparatus for selectively processing the eggs based on identified gender.
1 more element
An egg processing system, comprising:
- an apparatus for extracting allantoic fluid from a plurality of eggs, comprising:
- a table comprising a plurality of cradles arranged in an array, wherein each cradle is configured to receive an egg in a generally vertical orientation and to cause the egg to move to a generally horizontal orientation;
- an egg transfer device operably associated with the table, wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift a plurality of generally vertically oriented eggs from an egg flat and place the plurality of eggs within respective cradles, and wherein the egg transfer device is configured to simultaneously lift and remove the plurality of eggs from the plurality of cradles;
- and
- a plurality of sample heads operably associated with the table, each of which is configured to extract allantoic fluid from a respective egg within a respective cradle and to deposit the extracted allantoic fluid within a respective sample receptacle in a sample template;
- an apparatus for assaying allantoic fluid extracted from the eggs to identify gender of the eggs, comprising:
- a chamber;
- a conveyor system that is configured to convey a plurality of sample receptacle templates through the chamber;
- a biosensor dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein the biosensor dispenser is configured to dispense a biosensor into each of the receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system;
- a color substrate dispenser disposed within the chamber and operably associated with the conveyor system, wherein the color substrate dispenser is configured to dispense a color substrate into each of the receptacles of a template conveyed via the conveyor system, wherein the biosensor and color substrate are configured to chemically react with allantoic fluid in each respective receptacle so as to produce an indication of gender of a respective egg;
- and
- a detector operably associated with the conveyor system that is configured to scan each sample receptacle in a template conveyed via the conveyor system and to detect an indication of gender;
- and
- an apparatus for selectively processing the eggs based on identified gender.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.