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US 6,601,534 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for punching through egg shells with reduced force
AssigneeEmbrex, Inc.
InventorJohn H. Hebrank
Life of this patent
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AssigneeEmbrex, Inc.
InventorJohn H. Hebrank
Estimating the term…
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.
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.
A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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.
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.
A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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.
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.
A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
A method of in ovo injection, comprising:
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.
An in ovo injection apparatus, comprising:
An in ovo injection apparatus, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.