Abstract:
An in-ovo egg injection machine generates and transmits vibration to an incubating egg tray to align the egg axes prior to injection. The mechanism can be used independently of the in-ovo egg injection machine and is suitable for use with an egg candling machine. With the eggs positioned on the incubating tray and held by egg tray posts with their large ends facing upward for the purposes of incubation, vibration is applied to the tray. The vibration allows the eggs to ‘float’ in their restricted locations in the egg tray. Since the eggs are naturally bottom-heavy, the heaviest portion of each egg moves down as the tray is vibrated. The eggs therefore self-align their axes into an orientation corresponding with the established vertical axes of the injectors, respectively, with no contact with the eggs being required.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to the field of in-ovo egg vaccination and, more particularly, to a device for orienting the axis of eggs to be injected so as to be in alignment with the vertical axis of injectors in an in-ovo egg injection machine during injection. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Egg incubation trays include a plurality of egg tray posts that define individual locations for receiving a single egg and keeping it in a spaced relationship with respect to the other eggs in the tray. These egg tray posts allow for variations in egg size, shape and orientation as these variations do not impact the incubation process. Because these egg incubation trays hold and present the eggs in a set pattern, they are also used in the in-ovo vaccination process which typically uses a machine having egg injectors arranged in the same pattern as that provided for the eggs by the trays. 
         [0005]    Difficulties arise because the egg tray posts, in accommodating the egg size, shape and orientation variations, do not ensure that the axes of the eggs are respectively aligned with the typical vertical axes of the injectors. When correctly aligned, the egg, which has an air cell located in the large end thereof, presents this air cell in line with the vertical axis of the injector. The injection needle is then placed in the air cell and deposited in the amniotic fluid, with no injury to the embryo positioned below the air cell. When misaligned, however, the injection needle can strike the embryo in the body, resulting in an intramuscular vaccine delivery. The embryo has very limited muscular development at 18 to 19 days of incubation and because the vaccine delivery needle must be of sufficient size in diameter to have the strength to repeatedly perforate the egg shell, this body injection can cause significant trauma. When the chick hatches on the 21 st  day, the resulting trauma such as an open wound can easily be contaminated through contact with unclean used bedding in the field. 
         [0006]    A solution to the problem of variance in egg axis alignment from the perspective of ensuring the needle successfully penetrates the egg shell is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,635 (“the &#39;635 patent”), which uses translational movement to orient the injector so that the needle will not glance off the egg during injection. This approach only compounds the problem of embryo intramuscular and body injection of vaccine, however, due to the fact that the &#39;635 patent fixes or secures the upper portion of the injector furthest from the egg resulting in the egg axis and the injector axis meeting at intersecting angles. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method of in-ovo injection that ensures that the axis of the egg is in alignment with the vertical axis of the injector prior to injection. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to prevent chick embryo trauma resulting from body or intramuscular contact with the needle during in-ovo injection. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an aligning mechanism for use with an in-ovo injection machine that brings the center axis of each of a plurality of eggs into alignment with the vertical center axis of a plurality of injectors, respectively, while the eggs are still resting on the incubator tray. 
         [0010]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an aligning mechanism in accordance with the previous object that allows the eggs to automatically orient themselves vertically with no requirement for direct egg contact and, therefore, without any risk of cross-contamination. 
         [0011]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an aligning mechanism in accordance with the previous objects that can be used in line independently of the in-ovo injection machine or incorporated in the in-ovo injection machine just prior to in-ovo injection. 
         [0012]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an aligning mechanism in accordance with the previous objects that improves the likelihood that a vaccine dosage delivered by the in-ovo injection machine will be deposited in the amniotic fluid as intended. 
         [0013]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an aligning mechanism in accordance with the previous objects that reduces the instances of clogged needles caused by muscle and cartilage plugs following unintended intramuscular and body injection. 
         [0014]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide an in-ovo injection process that improves hatchability by reducing the number of head traumas caused by the injection needles and reduces first week mortality among newly hatched chicks. 
         [0015]    Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of injecting eggs in an egg tray using an in-ovo injection machine that includes applying vibration to the egg tray prior to injection in order to allow the eggs to self-align in response to gravity and the eggs&#39; own weight differential between the two ends thereof. 
         [0016]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an egg aligning mechanism that is not complex in structure and which can be integrated with existing in-ovo injection machines to efficiently and reliably increase the rate of successful in-ovo injection into the amniotic fluid. 
         [0017]    In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention is directed to a vibration mechanism for generating and transmitting vibration to an incubating egg tray, either independently of the in-ovo injection machine or incorporated within such a machine at a point prior to injection. The eggs, previously positioned on the incubating tray with their air cells facing up for the purposes of incubation, are bottom-heavy due to the positioning of the yolk fluids in the bottom portion of the egg. It has now been surprisingly found that when vibration is applied to the tray using a vibration mechanism, gravity works in conjunction with the egg shape and the egg weight differential between the air cell and the yolk fluid ends of the egg to reorientate the heaviest portion of the egg downwardly. This reorientation of the heaviest portion is facilitated by the fact that the vibration reduces the friction caused by the egg tray posts that locate and hold each egg such that the egg is made to “float” in its restricted location by the vibration. In “floating”, the egg is able to self-align its axis into a vertical orientation corresponding with the vertical axis of its corresponding injector. The vibration can be transmitted to the egg tray from any angle, whether from the top, bottom or side of the tray, to create the desired effect. Vibration intensity is preferably adjustable to correspond with the egg tray and its total mass and weight. The vibration mechanism may be of any known design, including for example, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic and ultrasonic. 
         [0018]    These advantages and capabilities, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a prior art in-ovo injection machine. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the in-ovo injection machine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front end view of an in-ovo injection machine modified to include a vibration mechanism in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top side perspective view of the vibration mechanism of  FIG. 3  as mounted on the linear actuator cover of an in-ovo injection machine. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a bottom side perspective view of the vibration mechanism of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a front end view of the vibration mechanism of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , supporting an egg tray loaded with eggs. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top side perspective view of the vibration mechanism of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a conceptual illustration of the components of a vibration unit in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiment is given by way of illustration only. It is not intended that the invention be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, in describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0028]    Shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is an INTELLIJECT® in-ovo injection machine loaded with eggs for injection and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The INTELLIJECT® in-ovo injection machine  10  is manufactured by the present assignee, and its basic structure and operation are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,820 (“the &#39;820 patent”); the &#39;820 patent is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0029]    In use of the INTELLIJECT® in-ovo injection machine  10 , eggs  12  supported in egg trays  14  are moved longitudinally along tracks  16  from an injection section, generally designated by the reference numeral  18 , at the front of the machine to an egg transfer section, generally designated by the reference numeral  20 , at the back thereof. The front and back of the machine  10  are generally designated by the reference numerals  22  and  24 , respectively. 
         [0030]    In the injection section  18 , an injector assembly  19  supports a plurality of injectors  26  arranged in a pattern corresponding to that of the eggs in the egg tray  14 . When the injector assembly  19  is lowered, the injectors each come into contact with their respective eggs  12 . The eggs are then injected with a vaccine or other desired substance, after which the injector assembly  19  raises the injectors  26  and the egg tray  14  is moved rearwardly along the tracks  16  to the egg transfer section  20  by pusher fingers  36  that move in response to force generated by a linear actuator  38  (see  FIG. 3 ). The linear actuator  38  is nested under an actuator cover  40  and supported at each end by a holding bracket  42  (see  FIG. 3 ). A complete description of the steps by which the egg tray is moved longitudinally through the in-ovo egg injection machine is set forth in the &#39;820 patent. The egg injection and egg transfer sections are also fully described in the &#39;820 patent and therefore will not be discussed further herein as pertaining to their basic operation. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front end view of the in-ovo injection machine of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as modified to include a vibration mechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral  28 , in accordance with the present invention. In the modified machine, generally designated by the reference numeral  30 , the egg tray  14  is supported on the vibration mechanism  28 . 
         [0032]    As shown in the top side perspective view of  FIG. 4 , the vibration mechanism  28  includes two spaced rails  32  that are joined by a track plate  34 . The track plate  34  of the vibration mechanism  28  is provided with a plurality of vibration units, generally designated by the reference numeral  50 , that extend between the rails  32  and are longitudinally spaced from one other along the track plate  34 . Each vibration unit  50  generates a vibratory force which is transferred to the track plate  34  and the rails  32 . The vibration mechanism further includes a plurality of dampener clamps  52  and a plurality of vibration dampeners  54 . The track plate  34  is coupled to the actuator cover  40  by the plurality of dampener clamps  52  which are held in a spaced relationship with respect to the track plate by the plurality of vibration dampeners  54 . The vibration dampeners  54 , which are preferably made of an elastomeric material, allow for vibratory movement of the track plate  34  and rails  32  relative to the actuator cover  40 . Another side perspective view of the structure of  FIG. 4 , this time looking upwardly from underneath the linear actuator  38  and track plate  34 , is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0033]    A front view of the actuator  38 , actuator cover  40 , supporting bracket  42 , and vibration mechanism  28  including dampener clamps  52 , vibration dampeners  54 , track plate  34 , rails  32  and vibration unit  50 , as loaded with eggs  12  on an egg flat  14 , is shown in  FIG. 6 . A side perspective view of the same components is provided in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0034]    The vibration generated by the vibration units  50  is preferably in the range of about 30 pounds force to about 100 pounds force and is applied to the track plate and side rails for about 1-4 seconds. According to one preferred embodiment, the vibratory force is applied for about 2.5 seconds. During this time, friction between the eggs  12  and the posts (not shown) of the tray  14  is reduced by the vibrating movement such that the eggs are made to “float” within their restricted positions in the tray. Due to the natural bottom-heaviness of the eggs caused by positioning of the yolk fluid in the lower portion of the egg, and due to the egg shape (larger at the top than the bottom), the eggs in this lightened or “floating” state are able to self-align their axes into a vertical orientation in response to the force of gravity. 
         [0035]    The elastomeric material of the vibration dampeners  54  is preferably polyurethane with a durometer of about 30-60 and a deflection of about 0.020″ to about 0.125″. This degree of elasticity allows a sufficient magnitude of track plate vibration while ensuring that excessive vibration does not occur. Vibration intensity is also preferably adjustable to correspond with the egg tray and its total mass and weight. 
         [0036]    According to one preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the vibration unit includes an outer housing  60  having a plurality of walls  62  that define an enclosed inner area, generally designated by the reference numeral  64 . The inner area has a circular track  65  that restricts movement to one plane. A ball  66  is placed in the inner area  64  and is free to move about the track  65  in a circular fashion. The housing  60  is further provided with an inlet  68  and an outlet  70  which are preferably located on opposite ends of the housing. Forced air is injected into the inlet  68  and allowed to escape through the outlet  70 . The air passing through the inner area  64  within the housing  60  contacts the ball  66  and causes it to roll about the track where, once in motion, it continues to move in a circular fashion through the forces of inertia, momentum and centrifugal force. 
         [0037]    The ball  66  is preferably made of metal such as steel, but can be made of other materials of sufficient hardness and weight to result in vibration by the movement thereof as described. The vibrator housing  60  preferably has a hardened material insert so that the desired vibration through contact of the ball therewith is achieved. 
         [0038]    The present invention is not limited, however, to this specific mechanical design for generating vibration. On the contrary, the vibration may be generated using a wide variety of mechanisms which may be mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic, electrical or ultrasonic in design, or some combination thereof, or other vibration-creating mechanisms. In addition, the vibration units can be positioned to transmit vibration to the egg tray from any angle, whether from the top, bottom or side of the tray, to create the desired egg “floating” movement. 
         [0039]    The present invention is also directed to a method of injecting eggs using an in-ovo injection machine and a vibration mechanism to bring the axes of the eggs into vertical self-alignment with the established vertical axes of the injectors. The direction of the force generated by the vibrator can be parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the egg tray (or at any angle in between). According to the method, vibration force is applied to an egg tray prior to injection using a vibration mechanism. The vibration mechanism can be used in line independently of the in-ovo injection machine or a candling machine or can be incorporated within the in-ovo injection machine or candling machine to apply the vibratory force to the egg tray just prior to in-ovo injection. Vibration on the order of about 30-100 pounds force, and preferably on the order of about 30-60 pounds force, is applied to the egg tray for about 1-4 seconds, allowing the eggs to vertically self-align with respect to the established vertical axes of the injectors. The eggs are then injected with less likelihood of muscular or body injections and the trauma resulting therefrom. 
         [0040]    The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.