HIGH SPEED AUTOMATED INJECTION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AVIAN EMBRYOS

Abstract: A high speed automated injection system for avian embryos is disclosed which can inject eggs with fluid substances. The device includes suction devices (37) which lift eggs out of engagement with surfaces, rather than pushing them, before injecting them. By providing punches (43) for first forming an opening in the egg shell and separate needles (42) which then inject the avian embryo or the surrounding environment with a fluid substance, the device avoids the undesirable mechanical compromise of using a single needle or punch to both puncture the shell of an egg and deliver fluid substances to the interior of the egg.

Description: The present invention relates to the injection of eggs with fluid substances. A number of reasons now exist in the fields of both medicine and poultry husbandry, among others, which call for the injection of various types of avian eggs with various substances for particular reasons. In the field of medicine, eggs have typically been used to incubate certain vaccines which have medical applications. More recently, as the field of poultry embryology has become more advanced, it has been discovered that the addition of various substances to the embryo or to the environment around the embryo within an avian egg can have beneficial effects on the growth of the subsequently hatched chick, the prevention of disease in hatched chicks, the percentage hatch of large numbers of incubated eggs, and the physical characteristics of hatched poultry. Additionally, more recent studies indicate that certain types of vaccination which could heretofore only be carried out upon either recently hatched or fully mature poultry, can now be successfully accomplished while the chick is still embryonated. Several automatic devices have been disclosed for injecting eggs. These include U.S. patents issued to Sandhage, No. 3,377,989, to Miller, Nos. 4,040,388, 4,469,047, and 4,593,646, and to Merck, No. 3,616,262. The present invention is directed to a device for injecting an egg, basically of the type disclosed in US-A-3,616,262, wihch includes a plurality of injection needles with means for delivering a fluid therethrough, and a plurality of tubular punches each operable to form an opening in the shell of an egg, each injection needle being positioned within one of said tubular punches for movement therethrough and through an opening formed in the egg shell by the tubular punch. The devices disclosed in the aforesaid patents either push the eggs towards an injection device during an injection cycle, or fail to move the eggs at all. Given the relative fragile nature of eggs, pushing them from one direction or end while puncturing them from the opposite direction or end can cause an economically significant increase in breakage rates. It is an object of the present invention to provide an injection device and method for lifting a plurality of eggs from their upwardly facing ends, rather than pushing them from the portions which rest on a tray or other holding device. It is another object of the invention to provide an injection device and method which is capable of being employed to automatically inoculate eggs with fluid substances while concurrently transferring the eggs from one position to another, such as from an incubation setting tray to a hatching tray. The present invention is characterised in that the device includes means for simultaneously engaging and lifting a plurality of individual eggs, which are at rest on a surface, from their respective upwardly facing shell portions and until the eggs are no longer in contact with the surface, and for cooperating with respective tubular punches and injection needles for forming openings in the shells, and for injecting the eggs, while the eggs are engaged by the engaging and lifting means and out of contact with the surface. The invention also provides a method for injecting an egg with a fluid substance as defined in claim 7. In one embodiment, there is provided an inoculating device in which suction means simultaneously engage and lift a plurality of individual eggs from their respective upwardly facing portions, and inject the eggs with the fluid substance while the eggs are engaged and supported by the suction means. At the same time, the inoculating device automatically transfers the eggs from an incubation setting tray to a hatching tray. The device precisely and accurately positions the delivery ends of its injection needles at consistent locations within each individual egg regardless of the size of the egg. Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and wherein: Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the suction and injection assembly of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of the suction and injection assembly; Figure 4 is an enlarged, detailed partial cross-sectional view of one of the injectors of the assembly; Figure 5 is another partial sectional view of a portion of the assembly; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the portion of the tubular punch which punctures an egg; and Figure 7 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 6, but showing a second embodiment of the suction subassembly and an injection needle extended into the amniotic fluid of an egg. As illustrated in Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention is broadly designated at 10. As will be described herein, the device 10 broadly comprises suction means for simultaneously engaging and lifting a plurality of individual eggs from their respective upwardly facing portions and injection means which cooperate with the suction means to inject the eggs while they are engaged by the suction means. As further shown by Figure 1, the device also transfers eggs from incubation setting trays to hatching trays while the injection of the eggs is taking place. As is known to those familiar with the incubation and hatching of eggs, incubated eggs are kept in an upright position in large trays which are slowly rocked back and forth in order to mimic the natural setting motion of a hen, which keeps the embryo floating freely in the amniotic fluid and prevents it from becoming attached to any one portion of the shell. When eggs are ready to hatch, they must be allowed to rest in a position lying on their side, in which position the poultry chick can break the egg and emerge. Additionally, newly hatched chicks require a flat surface to walk on in order to avoid later problems with their legs. Accordingly, incubated eggs always must be transferred from setting trays which orient them in an upright position to hatching trays where they may rest freely in a generally horizontal orientation on a flat surface. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the illustrated device accomplishes this transfer automatically and in combination with injection. It will be understood by those familiar with this art that the transfer of eggs from setting trays to hatching trays during the injection process is not a necessary feature or limitation of the present invention, but is an advantageous feature that can be incorporated in the invention. As seen broadly in Figure 1, the illustrated embodiment of the device 10 includes a first rack 11 for receiving an incubation setting tray 12 containing eggs and a second rack 13 spaced apart from the first rack for receiving a hatching tray 14 thereon. In the embodiment illustrated, the suction and injection assembly is carried in a housing and broadly designated at 15. The housing and the assembly it carries is positioned between the first and second rack and mounted for movement between them. In the manner described earlier, the suction and injection assembly can simultaneously engage the upwardly facing portions of a plurality of individual eggs 20 at the first rack 11 and then hold the eggs by suction while carrying eggs to the second rack 13. As illustrated, the suction and injection assembly 15 can carry thirty-six eggs. The egg injection means described earlier inject the eggs with fluid substances while they are engaged and held by the suction so that incubated eggs in the setting tray 12 can be automatically removed from the setting tray, injected with a fluid substance, and then placed in the hatching tray 14, all without manual operation. As used herein, the term "fluid" refers to any material which will flow, and is not limited to pure liquids. The term "fluid" can also refer to solutions, liquid-liquid suspensions, liquid-solid suspensions, gases, gaseous suspensions, emulsions, certain solid materials, and any other material or mixture of materials which exhibits fluid properties. In the embodiment shown, the eggs 20 can be transferred from the setting tray 12 to a hatching tray 14 which carries a larger amount of eggs, typically 144. A conveyor belt 16 runs across the first rack 11, moves the setting trays under the suction and injection assembly 15, and stops them there while the eggs are being engaged. A similar conveyor belt 17 runs across the second rack 13 and moves the hatching trays under the assembly 15 and stops them there while the eggs are being released. In order to provide the necessary movement of the suction and injection assembly 15 between the first and second racks, there are provided injection assembly support arms 21, leveling sprockets 22, chain 23, a support plate 24, and an unbilical cord 25. The cord 25 can include the supply route for the fluid substance to be injected and the control means for the injection needles, and can also supply the vacuum suction to the suctions means of the assembly. The base cabinet 26 can include the source of fluid substances, air and vacuum, shown schematically at 27, and a hydraulic cylinder 30 for moving the suction and injection assembly 15 by means of the arms 21 and the sprocket and chain 22 and 23, respectively. These are operatively connected to the cylinder 30 by the reciprocal arms 31, the weighted chain 32, sprocket 33, the shaft 34, and rack drive 35. In the device illustrated, portions of the racks 11 and 13 are foldable, and the entire device is mounted on wheels 36, making it portable. As best shown in the singular view of Figure 4, the suction means comprise a plurality of flexible cups 37, each of which is adapted for being received in seated, sealing relation against portions of the shell of an egg 20. A tube 40 is in communication with each of the flexible cups 37, preferably at upper portions thereof. Means are provided in communication with each of the tubes 40 for providing suction through the tube 40 to the cup 37, so that the suction seats the shell of an egg against the cup. In the illustrated embodiment, a vacuum channel 41 in communication with a suction source provides the suction to the tube 40. The suction cups 37 also compress to a solid height so that when suction is applied from the vacuum channel 41 and through the tube 40 to the flexible cup 37, the cup engages the egg, and compresses to its solid height, and thereby fixes the position of the top of the egg with respect to the cup 37 and base plate 44. An alternative form of flexible cup 38 is illustrated in Figure 7, along with a narrower needle 42 and punch 43. This cup 38 includes an inner cup 39 concentric with the outer cup 38. Outer cup 38 is in communication with the suction tube 40 through horizontal passages 49. A seal such as O-ring 48 isolates inner cup 39, injection needle 42, and punch 43 from the suction means. This structure allows the egg to be engaged by suction applied over the area between cups 38 and 39 while preventing any potential suction interference with the injection means over the area defined inside of cup 39. As set forth earlier herein, because the injection device 10 lifts the eggs from their top portions, rather than pushing them from the bottom portions, the device 10 can lift eggs out of one type of tray and place them in a second type of tray. Such action is impossible when using the previous devices because each of these devices either could not move eggs at all or always pushed the eggs from the bottom, usually by lifting the trays in which they were already positioned. Accordingly, because it lifts rather than pushes, the present device can transfer eggs from place to place in addition to injecting them. The injection operation of the device is best illustrated in Figures 4, 6 and 7, which show a detailed view of the injection means. These include a plurality of needles 42 which have delivery ends for supplying fluid substances therefrom. Adjacent each of the needles 42 are the punches 43 each of which forms an opening in the upwardly facing shell portions of each respective egg 20 while the device 10 holds the egg by suction. As seen in the drawings, each of the punches 43 surrounds one of the needles 42 so that after the punch 43 makes an opening in the shell of an egg, each respective injection needle can move through the respective punch and respective opening of an egg shell to an injecting position. In this manner, the punch 43 can be selected to best form the required opening in the shell while the needle 42 can be selected to maximize the accuracy and precision of fluid delivery. Furthermore, a sharp needle--typically bevelled--is a prerequisite for penetrating the egg's membrane. Therefore, the provision of a separate punch and its consequent prevention of the needle's engagement with the egg shell preserves both the sharpness of the needle and its overall structural integrity and results in longer use of, and more consistent results from, each needle. Additionally, a smaller and more delicate needle can meter and deliver small amounts of fluid in a more precise manner. As further shown in Figure 4, the injection needles 42 have their delivery ends respectively disposed within each tube 40. The needles 42 are movable between a retracted inoperative position (Figure 6) and an extended injecting position (Figure 7) with respect to the tube 40, and therefore with respect to the cup 37 or 38 and the egg 20. As a result, the relationship defined by the seated position of the shell of an egg 20 against the cup 37 or 38 and the injecting position of the needle 42 reproducibly positions the needle at a predetermined location within the egg 20, regardless of its size. As shown in some detail in Figures 3 and 4, in the illustrated embodiment the injection assembly is driven by a plurality of movable plates. A base plate 44 carries the suction channel 41, the tubes 40 and the cups 37. A punch drive plate 45 carries the punches 43 and moves them into perforating engagement with the eggs 20. The needles 42 are in turn driven by an injection drive plate 46. In the embodiment shown, the substance which is to be injected into the egg 20 enters the system through the substance tube 47 and then moves into the valve portion 50 of a fluid pump 51. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the fluid pump 51 is a syringe-type pump operated by the pump drive plate 52 which drives the syringe plunger 53. The pump 51 includes a plunger return spring 54 which recyles the plunger after the drive plate 52 returns. The somewhat larger view of Figure 3 shows all of these elements as well as the linear bearings 55 which support each of the respective drive plates during their respective up and down movement on support shafts 56, one of which is shown. Figure 5 shows air cylinders 57, 60 and 61 which drive the punch drive plate 45, the injection drive plate 46 and the pump drive plate 52, respectively. It will be understood, however, that the relative movement of the eggs and injection needles is not limited to being carried out by the particular assembly illustrated and described herein. Any assembly which provides appropriate relative movement between the engaged eggs and the needles and punches will be satisfactory. For example, there may exist circumstances under which the engaged eggs are moved a predetermined distance towards needles which remain stationary until the eggs and needles are at a relative injection position with respect to one another and at which the delivery ends of the needles extend through the openings formed in the eggs to position the delivery ends of the needles at a consistent location within each egg regardless of the size of the egg. As will be understood by those familiar with the handling of eggs, the device is compatible with a number of other procedures which are part of incubation and hatching of live poultry. For example, eggs may be examined prior to inoculation in order to detect infertile or broken ones. Possible techniques include light ("candling"), sound, or other diagnostic tools. The nature of the device provides for the incorporation of such techniques, especially given the conveying, lifting and transferring functions of the invention. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims: A device for injecting a plurality of eggs with a fluid substance, including a plurality of injection needles (42) with means (47,50) for delivering a fluid therethrough, and a plurality of tubular punches (43) each operable to form an opening in the shell (20) of an egg, each injection needle (42) being positioned within one of said tubular punches (43) for movement therethrough and through an opening formed in the egg shell by the tubular punch, characterised in that the device includes means for simultaneously engaging and lifting a plurality of individual eggs, which are at rest on a surface (12), from their respective upwardly facing shell portions and until the eggs are no longer in contact with the surface, and for cooperating with respective tubular punches and injection needles for forming openings in the shells, and for injecting the eggs, while the eggs are engaged by the engaging and lifting means and out of contact with the surface (12). A device according to claim 1, wherein said egg-engaging and lifting means comprises suction means (37). A device according to claim 2, wherein each tubular punch (43) is operable for forming an opening in an upwardly facing shell portion of the egg while the upwardly facing portion is engaged by said suction means (37). A device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising means for providing relative movement between said needles and said egg-engaging and lifting means when operatively engaging associated eggs, to position said needles at an injection position at which delivery ends of said needles extend from, and are at a consistent location with respect to, said engaging and lifting means. A device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said suction means includes: a plurality of flexible cups (37), each of which is adapted for being received in seated sealing relation against portions of the shell of an egg; a tube (40) in communication with each of said flexible cups (37); and means (41) in communication with each of said tubes for providing suction through said tube and to said cup, so that the suction will seat the shell of an egg against said cup. A device according to claim 5, wherein: said means (41) in communication with said tubes further comprises means for seating the upwardly facing shell portions of eggs against said cup and for lifting the eggs until the respective top portions of the upwardly facing shell portions of the eggs are at one defined horizontal position with respect to one another, regardless of the size of the individual eggs; an injection needle (42) having a delivery end for supplying fluid substances therefrom, is disposed with its delivery end within each of said tubes (40); said means for providing relative movement between said flexible cups and said injection needles defines a respective inoperative position in which said needles are retracted relative to said egg-engaging and lifting means, and a respective injection position; and a tubular punch (43) is positioned within each of said tubes (40) and surrounds one of said needles, for puncturing the upwardly facing shell portion of an egg positioned by said suction means. A method for injecting a plurality of eggs with a fluid substance, comprising: forming an opening in the shell (20) of each egg with one of a plurality of tubular punches (43); moving an associated injection needle (42) through each tubular punch (43) and then through the opening formed by the associated tubular punch in the shell of each egg; and injecting a fluid substance through each needle (42) and into each egg, characterised by: engaging the upwardly facing shell portions of a plurality of eggs which are at rest on a surface (12); lifting the engaged eggs until the eggs are no longer in contact with the surface; and forming openings in the shells, and injecting the eggs with a fluid substance, by means of the associated punches and injection needles, while the engaged and lifted eggs are out of contact with the surface. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of engaging the eggs comprises applying suction to the upwardly facing shell portions of a plurality of individual eggs to engage and hold the eggs.

Inventors: HEBRANK, JOHN H.
Applicants: EMBREX INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01K45
IPC codes: A61D7, A01K43, A01K45, A61K39, B65G47, C12N5, A01K67