Patent ID: 9395346
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: A01K,A61B,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An egg identification system for determining viability of an avian egg, comprising: a conveyor system configured to convey an egg flat containing a plurality of egg; an emitter assembly configured to emit collimated electromagnetic radiation toward one of the eggs conveyed in the egg flat; a non-contact detector assembly axially aligned with the emitter assembly, the non-contact detector assembly being configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg, the non-contact detector assembly being disposed in a non-contact position such that an egg positioned for identification is spaced-apart from the non-contact detector assembly during operation thereof; a processor configured to process an output signal of the non-contact detector assembly to determine whether there exists at least one of a periodic and aperiodic variation in an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through a respective egg corresponding to action of a heart or embryo movement, the existence of one of the periodic and aperiodic variations indicating that the egg is viable; and an opacity identification assembly configured to determine viability of the eggs based upon an opacity associated with a respective egg, the opacity identification assembly being disposed upstream of the emitter assembly and the non-contact detector assembly, the opacity identification assembly being in communication with a controller configured to disable operation of the emitter assembly and the non-contact detector assembly when a non-viable egg, as identified by the opacity identification assembly, is disposed therebetween for viability determination.