Methods and apparatus for removing eggs from a moving egg flat

A method of removing poultry eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting an egg to be removed;
• and
• ejecting the selected egg from the egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat comprising the steps of:
• applying an upwardly-directed first stream of air to the first end of the selected egg for a first predetermined period of time;
• and
• applying a second stream of air to the selected egg after the first stream of air has been applied to the selected egg first end, and wherein the second stream of air is applied to the selected egg along a direction substantially transverse to the first stream of air for a second predetermined period of time.

A method of removing clear poultry eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a clear egg to be removed, comprising the steps of:
• providing a plurality of pairs of light sources and corresponding light detectors in opposite facing relation to one another;
• passing the egg flat between the light sources and light detectors such that each row in the egg flat is positioned between a corresponding pair of the plurality of light sources and light detectors;
• and
• detecting light that passes through each egg in each row of eggs from a light source with a corresponding light detector;
• and
• ejecting the selected clear egg from the egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat by applying an upwardly-directed first stream of air to the first end of the selected clear egg for a first predetermined period of time, and by applying a second stream of air to the selected egg along a direction substantially transverse to the first stream of air for a second predetermined period of time.

A method of removing eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting at least one egg to be removed from the egg flat;
• releasing the selected at least one egg from a stuck condition within the egg flat prior to the step of ejecting the selected at least one egg from the egg flat;
• and
• ejecting the selected at least one egg from the egg flat into a receptacle positioned adjacent the egg flat via at least one duct positioned above the selected at least one egg.

An apparatus for removing eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, comprising:

• means for selecting an egg to be removed;
• means for releasing the selected egg from a stuck condition within the egg flat prior to the step of ejecting the selected egg from the egg flat;
• and
• means for ejecting the selected egg from the egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat.

An apparatus for removing clear poultry eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, comprising:

• a clear egg identification system, comprising:
• a plurality of light sources positioned on one side of the egg flat;
• and
• a corresponding plurality of light detectors positioned on a side of the egg flat opposite the light source, wherein the light detectors are configured to identify clear eggs based upon an amount of light from a respective light source that passes through an egg;
• an egg flat transport system for transporting the egg flat between the light sources and light detectors such that each egg within a row is positioned between a light source and a corresponding light detector;
• means for releasing an egg from a stuck condition within the egg flat;
• and
• a clear egg ejection system, responsive to the clear egg identification system, for ejecting identified clear eggs from the egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat.

An apparatus for removing selected eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, comprising:

• an egg identification system for identifying eggs to be removed from the egg flat;
• means for releasing an egg from a stuck condition within the egg flat;
• and
• an egg ejection system, responsive to the egg identification system, for ejecting identified eggs from the egg flat into a receptacle positioned adjacent the egg flat via at least one duct, wherein the at least one duct includes an inlet positioned above the identified eggs and an opposite outlet in communication with the receptacle.

A method of removing clear poultry eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a clear egg to be removed, comprising the steps of:
• providing a plurality of pairs of light sources and corresponding light detectors in opposite facing relation to one another;
• passing the egg flat between the light sources and light detectors such that each row in the egg flat is positioned between a corresponding pair of the plurality of light sources and light detectors;
• and
• detecting light that passes through each egg in each row of eggs from a light source with a corresponding light detector;
• releasing the selected egg from a stuck condition within the egg flat;
• and
• ejecting the selected clear egg from the egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat by applying an upwardly-directed first stream of air to the first end of the selected clear egg for a first predetermined period of time.

An apparatus for removing eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, comprising:

• means for selecting an egg to be removed;
• and
• means for ejecting the selected egg from the egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat, comprising:
• means for applying a first stream of air to the first end of the selected egg for a first predetermined period of time;
• and
• means for applying a second stream of air to the selected egg after the first stream of air has been applied to the selected egg first end, and wherein the second stream of air is applied to the selected egg along a direction substantially transverse to the first stream of air for a second predetermined period of time.

An apparatus for removing clear poultry eggs from an egg flat that is moving along a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the egg flat comprises a plurality of rows of apertures, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a first end of a respective egg so as to support the respective egg in a substantially vertical position, comprising:

• a clear egg identification system, comprising:
• a plurality of light sources positioned on one side of the egg flat;
• and
• a corresponding plurality of light detectors positioned on a side of the egg flat opposite the light source, wherein the light detectors are configured to identify clear eggs based upon an amount of light from a respective light source that passes through an egg;
• an egg flat transport system for transporting the egg flat between the light sources and light detectors such that each egg within a row is positioned between a light source and a corresponding light detector;
• and
• a clear egg ejection system, responsive to the clear egg identification system, for ejecting identified clear eggs from the egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat, comprising:
• a supply of pressurized air;
• a first plurality of air lines in fluid communication with the pressurized air supply, wherein each of the first plurality of air lines includes a first nozzle positioned adjacent a first end of a respective egg within a respective row of the egg flat;
• means for providing a first stream of air from the pressurized air supply through each of the first nozzles for a first predetermined period of time;
• a second plurality of air lines in fluid communication with the pressurized air supply, wherein each of the second plurality of air lines includes a second nozzle positioned above the moving egg flat;
• and
• means for providing a second stream of air from the pressurized air supply through each of the second nozzles for a second predetermined period of time after the first stream of air has been applied to the selected egg first end, and wherein the second stream of air is applied to an ejected clear egg along a direction substantially transverse to the first stream of air for a second predetermined period of time.