Patent Description:
Avian eggs may be processed for various reasons. Such processing may include, for example, injection of vaccines, sampling of material, removal or transfer, decapping, or harvesting of internal fluids, among other things. For processing, eggs are typically carried in an egg container having a plurality of individual compartments configured to receive an egg in an upright secure position. The egg container is transported to a processing apparatus where the eggs are subjected to a processing event. In some instances, the eggs may be lifted out of the egg container from below (supported) prior to undergoing the processing event. In other instances, the eggs may remain positioned within the egg container during the processing event. In either case, the eggs may be presented to the processing apparatus in a tilted manner, wherein the eggs may not be presented for processing in a completely vertical position. That is, one or more eggs may be off-axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the egg which extends through the ends thereof. It may be desirable in some instances to align or otherwise straighten the eggs such that the longitudinal axis of each egg is vertical prior to undergoing the processing. Still, in other instances, it may be desirable to orient the eggs off-axis or away from vertical orientation.

<CIT> discloses a device for the manipulation of eggs, particularly the removal of eggs, from an egg drawer, container or crate, the device comprising at least an egg gripper which prevents the eggs from falling out of the gripper. <CIT> discloses a device and system for processing of eggs using a vacuum suction or grabber based pick up where the grabber is retracted to release the egg.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an assembly and associated system capable of orienting eggs such that the longitudinal axis of each egg is oriented accordingly prior to undergoing the processing. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an associated method to facilitate orienting of eggs prior to undergoing a processing event. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide an assembly, system and method capable of accommodating various sized eggs for optimizing the processing thereof.

The above and other needs are met by aspects of the present disclosure which, according to one aspect, provides an egg processing system having a reference platform defining a plurality of reference openings therethrough, each reference opening being adapted for receiving at least a portion of an avian egg therein from an underside of the reference platform. A plurality of egg holders are provided for supporting eggs, each egg holder being configured to lift an egg toward a respective reference opening. A plurality of egg orienting accommodations extends from the underside of the reference platform. Each egg orienting accommodation is associated with a respective reference opening such that as an egg moves toward the reference platform it interacts with the egg orienting accommodation to orient the egg.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided an egg processing system (<NUM>), comprising:.

Another aspect provides a method for processing an avian egg. The method comprises positioning a plurality of avian eggs beneath a reference platform defining a plurality of reference openings therethrough, the reference platform having a plurality of egg orienting accommodations extending from the underside of the reference platform. The method further comprises lifting each avian egg to the reference platform with an egg holder such that each reference opening receives an avian egg therein from an underside of the reference platform. The method further comprises orienting the eggs to a predetermined orientation as the eggs interact with the egg orienting accommodations and contact the reference platform, and processing the avian eggs.

Thus, according to this aspect of the invention there is provided a method for processing an avian egg, the method comprising:.

The egg processing system has a frame. A reference platform defines a plurality of reference openings therethrough and is operably engaged with the frame. Each reference opening is adapted to receive at least a portion of an avian egg therein from an underside of the reference platform. A plurality of egg holders are operably engaged with the frame and have supports for supporting eggs. Each egg holder is configured to lift an egg to a respective reference opening, each egg holder being configured to self-adjust its height based on the size of the egg being lifted to the reference opening. Each egg holder has a locking assembly configured to lockingly secure the egg holder in position for processing once the holder has self-adjusted.

Thus, various aspects of the present disclosure provide advantages, as otherwise detailed herein.

Having thus described various embodiments of the present disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:.

Various aspects of the present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all aspects of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein; rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented on various egg processing systems. For example, such aspects may be implemented on an egg injection module (e.g., injection of a treatment substance), an egg sampling module (e.g., removal of material for diagnostic testing), and an egg decapping module (e.g., removal of egg cap to harvest internal fluids), among others. In this regard, aspects of the present disclosure may generally be used as an aid to present an egg in a vertical orientation for processing.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an egg processing system <NUM> may be particularly adapted for use in processing eggs positioned within an egg flat container <NUM>, which includes a plurality of open-ended receptacles for individually receiving the eggs. Examples of suitable commercial egg flat containers <NUM> include, but are not limited to, a "CHICKMASTER <NUM>" flat, a "JAMESWAY <NUM>" flat and a "JAMESWAY <NUM>" flat (in each case, the number indicates the number of eggs carried by the flat). Using the egg processing system <NUM>, the eggs may be processed when positioned below an egg processing head.

According to some aspects, the egg processing system <NUM> may include a frame <NUM> and a conveyor assembly provided to move the egg flat containers <NUM> in an automated manner through the egg processing system <NUM> to a processing position. The conveyor assembly may include a guide rail system <NUM> configured to receive and guide the egg flat containers <NUM> to the processing position. The conveyor assembly may further include appropriate stop elements, sensors, belts, endless loops, motors, etc. for proper indexing and positioning of the egg flat containers <NUM> within the egg processing system <NUM>. In some instances, the egg flat containers <NUM> may be manually advanced through the egg processing system <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the egg processing system <NUM> may include an egg orienting assembly <NUM>. In some instances, the egg orienting assembly <NUM> may have an egg support assembly <NUM> provided to lift and support each egg out of the egg flat container <NUM> once positioned under the egg processing head and prior to processing. In this regard, it may be preferable to support the egg during processing so as to limit cracking of the eggs, which may occur if the eggs are maintained within the egg flat container <NUM>. The egg support assembly <NUM> may capable of moving between an operative position (supporting the eggs as lifted from the egg flat container <NUM>), as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, and a retracted position (non-supporting position that allows vertical clearance between the egg support assembly <NUM> and the egg flat container <NUM>), as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In the operative position, eggs may be appropriately positioned for processing.

In some instances, the egg support assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of egg holders <NUM> for lifting the eggs from the egg flat container <NUM>. Each egg holder <NUM> may have a support member <NUM> that contacts and engages one end of the egg so as to provide support thereto during processing. The egg holders <NUM> may be individually actuatable such that the eggs may be selectively presented for processing. In other instances, the egg holders <NUM> may be commonly raised by, for example, a support plate <NUM> connected therewith such that all eggs within the egg flat container <NUM> are lifted therefrom together.

According to some aspects, the egg support assembly <NUM> may be self-adjusting to accommodate eggs of various sizes, as shown in <FIG>. In this regard, as shown in <FIG>, the egg support assembly <NUM> may include a biasing member <NUM> that allows for self-adjustment of the support member <NUM> depending on the size and weight of the egg being supported thereby. After the individual egg holder <NUM> has self-adjusted, the egg holder <NUM> may be locked into position using a locking assembly <NUM> configured to lockingly secure the egg holder in position for processing. The locking assembly <NUM> may be electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically operated or actuated. As shown in <FIG>, the egg holder <NUM> may include a cylindrical sleeve <NUM> that moves vertically to accommodate various sizes of eggs. In one aspect, an inflatable member or bladder <NUM> may be inflated or expanded pneumatically such that the inflatable bladder <NUM> contacts the interior walls of the cylindrical sleeve <NUM> to lock the support member <NUM> in position.

In one aspect, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the egg holder <NUM> may include the support member <NUM>, the biasing member <NUM>, a collet vise <NUM>, a guide rod <NUM>, and a clamping collet <NUM>. The collet vise <NUM> defines an internal tapering wall <NUM> configured to receive a cooperatively tapering section <NUM> of the clamping collet <NUM>. In this regard, when the collet vise <NUM> and the clamping collet <NUM> interact, the tapering section <NUM> of the clamping collet <NUM> tightens about the guide rod <NUM> to lock the egg holder <NUM> in position.

In some instances, as shown in <FIG>, the egg support assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of rotation devices <NUM> movable with respect to the egg holders <NUM>. In this regard, the eggs may be rotated as they are lifted from the egg flat. Such rotation may assist in the orienting function described herein and assist in guiding the eggs into the orienting accommodations described below. In some instances, the rotation devices <NUM> may travel along tracks <NUM> about the egg holders <NUM>, sometimes in a helical manner and along a helical path. Each rotation device <NUM> may include a plurality of support extensions <NUM> extending from a base <NUM>. The support extensions <NUM> may physically contact the egg so as to provide lateral support thereto. In some instances, the support extensions <NUM> may lift the egg out of engagement with the support member <NUM> such that the rotation device is lifting and rotating the egg simultaneously.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the egg orienting assembly <NUM> may generally include a reference platform <NUM>, which may in some instances be a plate <NUM>. The reference platform <NUM> may be configured to remain stationary or may otherwise be movable. The referencing of each egg <NUM> to a reference position may be carried out with a circular reference opening <NUM> formed in the reference plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an egg <NUM> may be lifted upwardly out of the egg flat container <NUM> into the reference opening <NUM> until the egg <NUM> contacts the opening <NUM>, the opening <NUM> acting as a stop. The reference plate <NUM> may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel or a polymer or ceramic material. The reference plate <NUM> may be an integral single piece or may otherwise be separated into a plurality of individual plates collectively forming the reference plate <NUM>.

Prior to reaching the reference platform <NUM>, each egg lifted from the egg flat container <NUM> may engage, interact, or otherwise come into contact with an egg orienting accommodation, generally designated as <NUM>. The egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may extend from the reference platform <NUM> so as to be positioned between the egg support assembly <NUM> and the reference platform <NUM>. Each egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be associated with a respective reference opening <NUM> such that as an egg moves toward the reference platform <NUM> it interacts with the egg orienting accommodation <NUM>. In some instances, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be configured to straighten and orient the egg vertically along a longitudinal axis <NUM> (<FIG>) of the egg as defined by the ends of the egg. In this manner, any eggs positioned at an angle or tilted within the egg flat container <NUM> may be straightened or vertically aligned for processing. The egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be directly or indirectly connected, attached, or coupled to the reference platform <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be directly attached or otherwise integrated into the reference platform <NUM>.

The egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be capable of deflecting about the egg as the egg is received therein. In this regard, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be formed of deflecting means or deflective members capable of deflecting about the egg and along the contours thereof in order to straighten the egg vertically.

The egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be of unitary construction, while in some instances it may be formed of discrete components cooperating to form the egg orienting accommodation <NUM>. According to some aspects, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be formed of a pliant, flexible or resilient material so as to allow the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> to deflect about the egg when coming into contact therewith. The egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be constructed from various materials that exhibit such deflective, elastic, or resilient qualities, such as, for example, resilient materials, elastic materials, super-elastic materials, pseudo-elastic materials, and shape memory materials. In some instances, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be constructed of a shape-memory material (e.g., shape memory alloy or shape memory polymer) that have the ability to return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to their original (permanent) shape induced by an external stimulus such as temperature change. In other instances, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be constructed of a super-elastic alloy (e.g., nickel titanium (nitinol)) that when deformed returns to its pre-deformed shape without external stimulus. When mechanically loaded, a super-elastic alloy deforms reversibly to very high strains (up to <NUM>%) by the creation of a stress-induced phase. When the load is removed, the new phase becomes unstable and the material regains its original shape. Such super-elastic materials, pseudo-elastic materials, and shape memory materials provide the benefit of resisting fatigue, an important factor when considering the quantity of eggs processed through the system <NUM>. In some instances, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be constructed of metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel) or polymer components, or combinations thereof.

The egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may have various shapes, forms, or structures that permit the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> to straighten an egg vertically using physical contact. According to one particular aspect, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be formed from a plurality of resilient members <NUM> extending from a body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The body <NUM> may then be attached, connected or coupled to the reference platform <NUM>, and the body may define a hole <NUM> that allows the end of the egg to be accessed for processing. The resilient members <NUM> may cooperate to form an open-ended arrangement that allows an end of the egg to be easily received within the egg orienting accommodation <NUM>. In some instances, the resilient members <NUM> may be in the form of wire loops forming a pliant wire structure in which the egg is received. In some instances, the various resilient members <NUM> may be integrally formed, while in other instances the resilient members <NUM> may be discrete components. The resilient members <NUM> may be capable of bending elastically to accommodate eggs of varying size. The resilient members <NUM> may follow the contour of the egg to straighten the egg as the egg is advanced into the egg orienting accommodation <NUM>.

The configuration and elasticity of the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be such that the egg is not retained within the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> when the egg support assembly <NUM> is moved to its retracted position post-processing. In this manner, the egg should slide out of the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> as the egg holder <NUM> descends such that the egg is lowered back into its respective receptacle of the egg flat container <NUM>. The egg flat container <NUM> may then be advanced from beneath the egg processing head and downstream of the egg processing system <NUM>. In this regard, for minimizing fatigue failure, a shape memory or superelastic material of appropriate elasticity may be preferred since the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> will encounter a substantial quantity of processing events in any given commercial setting. The resiliency or elasticity of the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be such that the weight of the egg overcomes any urge for the egg to be retained within the egg orienting accommodation <NUM>, thereby eliminating the need for a device capable of actively pushing the egg out of engagement with the egg orienting accommodation <NUM>. In this regard, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be configured as non-retaining in that the egg is not retained therewithin without assistance from the egg holder <NUM>. The resilient members <NUM> of the egg orienting accommodation may be of any length needed in order to properly straighten the egg to a vertical orientation.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in some instances, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be attached to, integral with, otherwise connected to an egg processing device such as an invasive egg processing device <NUM> as shown. In this particular example, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may be used in conjunction with the egg processing device <NUM> such that the eggs are oriented in a predetermined orientation prior to processing via an invasive procedure. For example, the invasive egg processing device <NUM> may include a body <NUM> generally having a distal end <NUM> and proximal end <NUM>, with a needle capable of being extended and retracted at the distal end <NUM>. The egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may also be positioned at the distal end <NUM> of the body <NUM> such that the egg is oriented (e.g., straightened) prior to the needle being inserted into the egg for delivery of a treatment substance (e.g., vaccine) thereinto or withdrawal of a sample therefrom.

In some instances, as illustrated in <FIG>, it may be desirable for processing purposes to orient the eggs off-axis with respect to vertical. That is, it may be desired to tilt the eggs from a vertical orientation. As such, the egg orienting accommodation may be appropriately configured to carry out such function. According to one aspect, the egg orienting accommodation <NUM> may include an orienting body <NUM> defining a concave or irregular recess <NUM> in which the egg may be received. The recess <NUM> may extend through the orienting body <NUM> such that an egg processing device (e.g., injection or sampling device) can access the egg <NUM> opposite the opening through which the egg <NUM> entered the orienting body <NUM>. In some instances, the egg holder <NUM> may be off-center with respect to a central axis <NUM> defined by the egg orienting accommodation <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. As the egg is lifted into the recess <NUM>, the egg contacts an internal wall <NUM> of the orienting body <NUM> and re-orients itself according to the contours of the internal wall <NUM>. Such off-axis orienting may be advantageous for targeting an entry point or zone into the egg. In other instances, the tilting of the egg may cause an air cell within the egg to become positioned at a desirable location for processing.

Claim 1:
An egg processing system (<NUM>), comprising:
a reference platform (<NUM>) defining a plurality of reference openings (<NUM>) therethrough, each reference opening (<NUM>) being adapted for receiving at least a portion of an avian egg therein from an underside of the reference platform (<NUM>);
a plurality of egg holders (<NUM>) for supporting eggs, each egg holder (<NUM>) being configured to lift an egg toward a respective reference opening (<NUM>); and
a plurality of egg orienting accommodations (<NUM>) extending from the underside of the reference platform (<NUM>), each egg orienting accommodation (<NUM>) being associated with a respective reference opening (<NUM>) such that as an egg moves toward the reference platform (<NUM>) it interacts with the egg orienting accommodation (<NUM>) to orient the egg, characterized in that each egg orienting accommodation (<NUM>) comprises
a plurality of resilient members (<NUM>) cooperating to form an open-ended arrangement through which the egg is capable of being received for straightening the egg vertically,
wherein the resilient members (<NUM>) do not retain the egg without the assistance of the egg holder (<NUM>).