JP7634286B2 - Egg measuring device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an egg measuring device, and in particular to an egg measuring device that measures the condition of eggs contained in an incubator.

Unhatched eggs to be used for chick production or vaccine production, etc., are incubated in an environment of specified temperature, humidity, etc. Before incubation, the eggs are inspected to determine the activity of the embryo inside them, i.e., whether the egg is alive or dead. One such inspection device is a device proposed in JP2005-532046 (Patent Document 1) for identifying live eggs. With this device, unhatched eggs placed on a tray are removed from the incubator, and then placed on a conveyor where the specified measurements are made.

Special Publication No. 2005-532046 JP 2013-255431 A

Inside the incubator, the temperature, humidity, and airflow are kept at an appropriate level for incubation. For this reason, it is not advisable to expose unhatched eggs to the outside of the incubator for a long period of time in order to check whether the eggs are alive or dead. For this reason, the inventors came up with the idea of measuring the condition of unhatched eggs without removing them from the incubator.

In incubators, an operation called egg turning is carried out to prevent the embryos inside the eggs from adhering to the eggshell (for example, see JP 2013-255431 A (Patent Document 2)). Specifically, at regular intervals, the tray on which the eggs are placed inside the incubator is swung from a tilted state to a tilted state to the other. Up until now, no egg measuring device has been thought of that can respond to this type of movement of eggs before they hatch.

The present invention aims to provide an egg measuring device that can measure the condition of eggs over time before they hatch, even inside an incubator where egg turning operations are performed.

The egg measuring device of the present invention is an egg measuring device that measures the condition of eggs stored in a tray in an incubator that turns eggs at regular intervals over time while the eggs are stored in the tray , and includes a sensor and a fixing part. The sensor measures the condition of the eggs stored in the tray . The fixing part is attached to the egg together with the sensor, and has either an elastic force or a gripping force that keeps the sensor in contact with the egg even when the tray is tilted . The fixing part keeps one of the sensor and the egg biased toward the other, while the sensor measures the condition of the eggs stored in the tray over time.

With the egg measuring device of the present invention, the sensor measures the condition of the eggs contained in the incubator over time while the fixing part keeps one of the sensor and the eggs biased toward the other. This allows eggs to be properly measured even in an incubator that is turning eggs.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing, in outline, an egg measuring device for measuring the condition of eggs contained in an incubator over time, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the egg measuring device according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an egg measuring device according to a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the egg measuring device illustrated in FIG. 3 in the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating an egg measuring device according to a second modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating an egg measuring device according to a third modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating an egg measuring device according to a fourth modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an egg measuring device according to a fifth modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the egg measuring device illustrated in FIG. 8 in the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an egg measuring device according to a sixth modified example of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
An egg measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment that measures the condition of eggs E contained in an incubator over time will be described. In the egg measuring device 1, the condition of eggs E before hatching that are placed on a tray T (receiving seat TS) is measured while they are placed on the tray T (receiving seat TS). Here, as an example, the eggshell temperature of the eggs E is measured by a sensor 2 (temperature sensor). In the egg measuring device 1, the condition of the eggs E placed on the trays T arranged in multiple layers is individually measured within a casing (not shown) that maintains an atmosphere suitable for incubation.

The tray T is provided with a number of storage seats TS arranged two-dimensionally. Each storage seat TS is formed with a frame portion S1 for supporting the egg from the side in accordance with the shape of the egg E, and a number of protrusions S2 for supporting the egg E from below, so that the egg E is supported (held) from the side and below (see FIG. 6). In the incubator, the egg E is stored in a given storage seat TS so that the long axis of the egg E is approximately vertical.

The egg measuring device 1 includes a sensor 2, a fixing part 3, and a support part 4. Here, the sensor 2 is a temperature sensor that measures the eggshell temperature of the egg E. The sensor 2 is attached in a manner that makes contact with the egg E. The sensor 2 is arranged so that the temperature measuring part (not shown) that measures the temperature faces the eggshell. The sensor 2 makes contact with the egg E via an inclusion (not shown) made of a resin such as silicon. The inclusion may have high thermal conductivity and be deformable along the shape of the outer surface of the eggshell. One sensor 2 is arranged for each egg E. Multiple sensors 2 may be arranged for each egg E. The sensor 2 is arranged around the girth of the egg E. For example, a signal related to the temperature of the egg E is sent from the wiring 5 connected to the sensor 2.

The fixing part 3 fixes the sensor 2 to the egg E. The fixing part 3 is formed from a deformable material. The fixing part 3 is mainly composed of an elastic material. The fixing part 3 is preferably, for example, a strip-shaped member in the form of a stretchable rubber band. The fixing part 3 formed from the strip-shaped member has one end and the other end. The fixing part 3 is positioned so as to hold the egg E.

The fixed part 3 is wrapped around the egg E together with the sensor 2, with one end of the fixed part 3 attached to the support part 4 that will be placed in the adjacent storage seat TS, and the other end of the fixed part 3 attached to the support part 4, thereby maintaining the sensor 2 positioned between the egg E held in the support part 4 and the fixed part 3. The sensor 2 is biased by the fixed part 3 with a certain pressure (biasing force) toward the egg shell of the egg E to be measured, so that it comes into contact with the egg shell. In addition, a biasing force is applied by the fixed part 3 toward the support part 4, so that the egg E comes into contact with the support part 4 with a certain pressure (biasing force). The fixed part 3 is positioned without directly engaging with the tray T.

The support part 4 is arranged on a storage seat TS located next to the storage seat TS in which the egg E is stored. The support part 4 holds the egg E. The support part 4 may, for example, be in the form of a block. One end and the other end of the fixing part 3 are attached to the support part 4. The support part 4 has the function of maintaining the position of the egg E in a constant position. The egg measuring device 1 is configured as described above.

Next, we will explain an example of a measurement method using the above-mentioned egg measuring device 1 to measure the condition of eggs E contained in an incubator over time (continuously or intermittently) while they are contained in the incubator.

First, when incubation begins, one end and the other end of the fixed part 3 are attached to the support part 4 outside the incubator in such a way that the fixed part 3 is wrapped around the egg E together with the sensor 2. The sensor 2 is sandwiched between the egg E and the fixed part 3. Next, the egg E with the sensor 2 placed thereon is placed on a specified tray T (see Figure 1) inside the incubator. At this time, the support part 4 is placed in a storage seat TS next to the storage seat TS in which the egg E is stored. Next, the condition of the egg E stored in the incubator is measured over time (continuously or intermittently) by the sensor 2 inside the incubator.

In the incubator, the positional relationship between the sensor 2 and the egg E is kept constant even if the tray T is rocked together with the egg E with the egg turning operation inside the casing, which maintains an atmosphere suitable for incubation. That is, when incubation begins, the egg turning operation is performed at regular intervals, and even if the tray T is tilted, the elastic force of the fixing part 3 keeps the sensor 2 in contact with the egg shell of the egg E with a constant pressure (biasing force). In this embodiment, by providing the fixing part 3 for the egg turning operation of the incubator, the temperature measuring part of the sensor 2 is kept in contact with the egg shell of the egg E even if the egg E contained in the container seat TS moves with the egg turning operation.

The information obtained by sensor 2 is used to control the environment within the incubator or to understand the condition of eggs E.

In the above-mentioned egg measuring device 1, the condition of the egg E is measured over time (continuously or intermittently) while maintaining the sensor 2 in contact with the egg E, which is placed in a designated placement seat on a tray in an incubator with the long axis of the egg E approximately vertical.

For example, a temperature sensor that measures eggshell temperature is used as the sensor 2. For example, a fixing part 3 formed from a belt-shaped member having elasticity is used as the fixing part 3. The fixing part 3 is wrapped around the egg E together with the sensor 2, and one end and the other end of the fixing part 3 are attached to the support part 4, so that the sensor 2 is held sandwiched between the egg E and the fixing part 3. This keeps the positional relationship between the sensor 2 and the egg E constant even if the tray T is rocked together with the egg E due to the egg turning operation in the incubator. As a result, the sensor 2 can appropriately measure the condition of the egg E over time (continuously or intermittently).

The state of the egg can be measured, for example, as the internal state of the egg (the state of the embryo or the state of the embryo whether it is alive or dead, etc.). Information from sensor 2 is converted into an electrical signal and sent, for example, to an identification unit. In the identification unit, the electrical signal sent from sensor 2 is analyzed to determine the internal state of the egg, for example, the activity status of the embryo or the state of the embryo whether it is alive or dead, etc.

The identification unit compares the eggshell temperature measured by sensor 2 with a threshold value for that temperature. The threshold value may be, for example, the set temperature (37.8°C) inside the incubator. If the measured eggshell temperature is higher than the threshold value, the identification unit determines that the embryo is alive. It is known that from the 12th or 13th day after the start of incubation, the embryo generates heat, causing the eggshell temperature to rise.

On the other hand, in the case of unfertilized eggs, rotten eggs, and aborted embryos, the eggs are heated to a temperature similar to that inside the incubator, but when the unfertilized eggs are taken out of the incubator, their temperature drops to the outside air temperature.

In an egg incubator, the positional relationship between the egg storage seat and the eggs E changes in response to the shaking of the storage seat (tray) as the eggs are turned. For this reason, the idea of measuring the condition of eggs as described above has not previously been considered within an egg incubator. In contrast, with the egg measuring device described above, the fixing part 3 keeps the sensor 2 in contact with the eggs E, making it possible to appropriately measure the condition of the eggs E over time (continuously or intermittently).

As described above, the fixing part 3 is formed, for example, from a band-shaped member having elasticity like a rubber band, so that the sensor 2 is sandwiched between the egg E and the fixing part 3 and maintained in contact with the egg E. This makes it possible to maintain the sensor 2 in contact with a predetermined position on the shell of the egg E in accordance with eggs E of various shapes and sizes.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. A modified example of an egg measuring device will be described. The same members as those in the egg measuring device 1 shown in FIG. 1 etc. are given the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated unless necessary.

(Variation 1)
3 and 4, the egg measuring device 1 according to the first modification differs from the egg measuring device 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in that the sensor 2 is disposed between the egg E and the support part 4. The sensor 2 is sandwiched between the egg E and the support part 4, and one end and the other end of the fixing part 3 are attached to the support part 4 in a manner that the fixing part 3 is wrapped around the egg. Therefore, the egg E is biased with a certain pressure (biasing force) toward the sensor 2 disposed between the support part 4 and the egg E, so that the sensor 2 comes into contact with the egg E, and the state in which the sensor 2 is in contact with the egg E is maintained.

That is, whereas in the embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2), the sensor 2 is biased toward the egg E, in the first modification, the egg E is biased toward the sensor 2. This allows the sensor 2 to measure the condition of the egg E over time (continuously or intermittently) while in contact with the shell of the egg E.

(Variation 2)
As shown in Figure 5, the egg measuring device 1 according to the modified example 2 differs from the egg measuring device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that, in this case, four eggs E are held by the fixing part 3 together with the sensor 2 for one support part 4. Here, the support part 4 is set to a size that can be accommodated in one accommodation seat TS.

On one support part 4, the fixing part 3 holds the sensor 2 in contact with each of the four eggs E. In this state, the sensor 2 can measure the condition of each egg E over time (continuously or intermittently).

(Variation 3)
As shown in Figure 6, egg measuring device 1 according to modified example 3 differs from egg measuring device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that it does not include a support part, and fixing part 3 is attached to a holding seat TS (tray T) instead of the support part. The holding seat TS is provided with a frame part S1 that supports an egg E from the side, and a protrusion part S2 that supports the egg E from below.

One end and the other end of the fixing part 3 are attached to the storage seat TS in such a manner that the fixing part 3 is wrapped around the egg E together with the sensor 2. The fixing part 3 urges the egg E together with the sensor 2 towards the tray T with a constant pressure (urging force). This keeps the sensor 2 sandwiched between the egg E and the fixing part 3. In this state, the sensor 2 can measure the condition of the egg E over time (continuously or intermittently).

(Variation 4)
As shown in Figure 7, the egg measuring device 1 of variant example 4 differs from the egg measuring device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that it does not have a support part, the fixing part 3 is attached to the receiving seat TS (tray T) instead of the support part, and the sensor 2 is positioned on the receiving seat TS.

By attaching one end and the other end of the fixing part 3 to the storage seat TS in a manner that wraps the fixing part 3 around the egg E, the egg E is urged with a constant pressure (urging force) towards the sensor 2 placed on the storage seat TS. This keeps the egg E in contact with the sensor 2 via the intervening object. In this state, the condition of the egg E can be measured over time (continuously or intermittently) by the sensor 2.

(Variation 5)
As shown in Figures 8 and 9 , the egg measuring device 1 of variant example 5 differs from the egg measuring device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that it does not have a support part, and an elastic annular member 3a is used as the fixing part 3.

By attaching the annular member 3a together with the sensor 2 around the egg E, the sensor 2 is biased with a certain pressure (biasing force) and is held sandwiched between the egg E and the fixed part 3. In this state, the condition of the egg E can be measured over time (continuously or intermittently) by the sensor 2.

(Variation 6)
As shown in Figure 10, the egg measuring device 1 of variant example 6 differs from the egg measuring device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that it does not have a support part, and instead uses a clamping member 3b having a gripping force for gripping an egg E as the fixing part 3.

The clamping member 3b may be capable of clamping the eggs E from two or more directions. For example, an openable and closable tong-like or clip-like member may be used as the clamping member 3b. The gripping force may be, for example, the elastic force of a spring or the like. The clamping member 3b is positioned without directly engaging with the tray T.

By clamping the egg E together with the sensor 2 with the clamping member 3b, the sensor 2 is biased with a constant pressure (biasing force) toward the egg E, and the sensor 2 is maintained in contact with the shell of the egg E. In this state, the condition of the egg E can be measured over time (continuously or intermittently) by the sensor 2.

(Other Modifications)
As the fixing part 3, a spring may be used instead of a rubber band as long as it is a member having elasticity. For example, a coil spring having a relatively small diameter may be used. Furthermore, as the fixing part 3, the fixing part 3 may be entirely made of a member having elasticity, or only a part of the fixing part 3 may be made of a member having elasticity. Furthermore, the fixing part 3 may be made of various materials such as resin, metal, and the like.

The one end and the other end of the fixing part 3 may be both attachable, or only one of them may be attachable. In addition, both the one end and the other end may be fixed to the support part 4 or the storage seat TS, and the sensor 2 may be attached together with the egg E by deforming the fixing part 3 itself.

As the sensor 2, in addition to a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the egg E, for example, a sound sensor that measures the sound of the eggshell, a vibration sensor that measures eggshell vibration, or an acceleration sensor that measures eggshell vibration can be applied. A cushioning material may be provided between the sensor 2 and the egg E. As long as the sensor 2 can be brought into contact with the eggshell of the egg E to be measured with a certain pressure, the sensor 2 does not need to be sandwiched between the egg E and another member (fixing part 3, support part 4, tray T, etc.).

The support part 4 may house wiring 5 extending from the sensor 2 inside the support part 4. Also, an electronic circuit or a battery may be housed inside the support part 4. Furthermore, the data acquired by the sensor 2 (information about the eggs E) may be wirelessly transmitted outside the incubator and received externally.

The egg measuring device described in the embodiment can be combined in various ways as needed.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. The present invention is defined by the scope of the claims, not the scope described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

The embodiment includes the following aspects.
(Appendix 1)
An egg measuring device that measures eggs contained in an incubator over time while the eggs are contained in the incubator,
A sensor for measuring the egg;
A support member is disposed on another storage seat adjacent to the one storage seat for storing the eggs, and supports the eggs stored in the one storage seat;
An egg measuring device having one end and the other end, having elasticity, and a band-shaped fixing part that holds the sensor and the egg to the support member by attaching the one end to the support member and the other end to the support member in a manner that wraps around the egg.

(Appendix 2)
2. The egg measuring device according to claim 1,
The sensor is disposed between the fixed part and the egg.

(Appendix 3)
2. The egg measuring device according to claim 1,
The sensor is disposed between the egg and the support member.

(Appendix 4)
An egg measuring device that measures eggs contained in an incubator over time while the eggs are contained in the incubator,
A sensor for measuring the egg;
An egg measuring device having one end and the other end, having elasticity, and a band-shaped fixing part that holds the sensor and the egg in the first storage seat by attaching the one end to the first storage seat and attaching the other end to the first storage seat in a manner that wraps around the egg.

(Appendix 5)
5. An egg measuring device according to claim 4, comprising:
The sensor is disposed between the egg and the stationary part.

(Appendix 6)
5. An egg measuring device according to claim 4, comprising:
The sensor is disposed in the one of the receiving seats.

(Appendix 7)
An egg measuring device that measures eggs contained in an incubator over time while the eggs are contained in the incubator,
A sensor for measuring the egg;
an elastic annular member that is attached to the egg together with the sensor and maintains the sensor in contact with the egg.

(Appendix 8)
An egg measuring device that measures eggs contained in an incubator over time while the eggs are contained in the incubator,
A sensor for measuring the egg;
An egg measuring device comprising: a clamping member having a gripping force that is positioned to clamp the egg together with the sensor and maintains the sensor in contact with the egg.

(Appendix 9)
A method for measuring a state of eggs contained in an incubator, the method comprising: measuring the state of the eggs contained in the incubator over time using a sensor;
A method for measuring an egg, in which, with the egg contained in a storage seat for containing the egg, one of the sensor and the egg is biased toward the other by a fixing part, while the condition of the egg is measured over time by the sensor.

(Appendix 10)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 9,
The fixing portion is a band-shaped member having one end and the other end and having elasticity.

(Appendix 11)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 10,
A support member for supporting the eggs accommodated in the first accommodation seat is arranged in another accommodation seat located adjacent to the first accommodation seat;
The measurement is performed by wrapping the belt-shaped member together with the sensor around the egg, attaching one end of the belt-shaped member to the support member, and attaching the other end of the belt-shaped member to the support member, with the sensor and the egg held by the support member.

(Appendix 12)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 10 or 11,
The measurement is taken with the sensor positioned between the strip and the egg.

(Appendix 13)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 11,
The measurements are taken with the sensor positioned between the support member and the egg.

(Appendix 14)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 10,
The measurement is performed by wrapping the belt-shaped member together with the sensor around the egg, supporting one end of the belt-shaped member on the first storage seat, and supporting the other end of the belt-shaped member on the first storage seat, thereby biasing the sensor, which is positioned between the belt-shaped member and the egg, and the egg toward the first storage seat.

(Appendix 15)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 10,
The measurement is performed by attaching one end of the belt-shaped member to the first storage seat and the other end of the belt-shaped member to the first storage seat in a manner that the belt-shaped member is wrapped around the egg, thereby biasing the egg toward the sensor positioned on the first storage seat.

(Appendix 16)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 9,
As the fixing portion, an annular member having elasticity is used,
The measurement is performed with the annular member attached around the egg together with the sensor, with the sensor sandwiched between the annular member and the egg.

(Appendix 17)
The method for measuring eggs according to claim 9,
As the fixing part, a clamping member having a gripping force for clamping the egg is used,
The measurement is performed with the egg and the sensor sandwiched between the sandwiching member.

(Appendix 18)
The method for measuring eggs according to any one of claims 9 to 17,
The sensors measure at least one of the temperature of the egg, the sound of the egg, the vibration of the eggshell, and the acceleration associated with the vibration of the eggshell.

The present invention is effectively used in an egg measuring device that uses a sensor to measure the condition of eggs contained in an incubator over time while the eggs are contained in the incubator.

1 Egg measuring device, 2 Sensor, 3 Fixing part, 3a Annular member, 3b Clamping member, 4 Support part, 5 Wiring, T Tray, TS Storage seat, S1 Frame part, S2 Protrusion part, E Egg.

Claims (1)

An egg measuring device that measures the condition of eggs stored in a tray in an incubator that turns eggs at regular intervals over time while the eggs are stored in the tray ,
a sensor for measuring a state of the eggs contained in the tray ;
a fixing part having either an elastic force or a gripping force, the fixing part being attached to the egg together with the sensor and configured to keep the sensor in contact with the egg even when the tray is tilted ;
An egg measuring device that measures the condition of the eggs contained in the tray over time using the sensor while maintaining one of the sensor and the eggs in a biased state toward the other using the fixing part.

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