Method and apparatus for detecting blood in shell eggs

An egg inspecting method which comprises the steps of:

• automatically selecting one of a plurality of optical paths through which a white source light emitted from a light source is guided to thereby project sequentially the white source light from the associated optical paths onto eggs held at respective positions;
• spectrally analyzing light which has passed through each of the eggs to thereby convert it into a spectrum;
• and
• determining whether the egg is a normal egg or a bloody egg by using the spectrum so converted.

An egg inspecting apparatus which comprises:

• a projecting assembly for projecting a white light, emitted from a light source, onto eggs;
• a spectrum converting assembly including a light receiver for receiving light transmitted through each of the eggs and a spectral analyzing and light receiving unit for spectrally analyzing the transmitted light and converting a light signal into an electric signal to provide a spectrum;
• and
• a determining circuit for measuring the spectrum of the transmitted light having passed through the egg, after a spectrum of light transmitted through a normal egg having no blood contained therein has been measured and recorded for each of egg shell colors, and for determining, after the egg shell colors have been classified according to an light absorbancy exhibited by a pigment of an egg shell, if the egg being inspected is a bloody egg in dependence on a similarity to a spectral pattern exhibited by the normal egg.

An egg inspecting method which comprises the steps of:

• projecting a white light, emitted from a light source, onto eggs;
• receiving light transmitted through each of the eggs and spectrally analyzing the transmitted light and converting a light signal into an electric signal to provide a spectrum;
• and
• measuring a spectrum of the transmitted light having passed through the egg, after a spectrum of light transmitted through a normal egg having no blood contained therein has been measured and recorded for each of egg shell colors and, subsequently, determining, after the egg shell colors have been classified according to an light absorbency exhibited by a pigment of an egg shell, if the egg being inspected is a bloody egg in dependence on a similarity to a spectral pattern exhibited by the normal egg.