Abstract: An egg identification system for determining viability of an avian egg is provided. Such a system includes an emitter assembly configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward an egg. A detector assembly is axially aligned with the emitter assembly to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg. The detector assembly is spaced-apart from the egg during operation thereof such that the detector assembly does not contact the egg. The detected electromagnetic radiation is processed using transmission spectroscopy analysis to determine whether the egg is viable. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: An egg candling method for determining a state of eggs between the 13th and the 17th day of incubation, particularly for identifying with certainty the living or dead state of that egg. The egg is illuminated with a green or blue light to visually show on the shell a shadow of the blood network supplying the embryo of the egg if it is present in the egg. At least one image of the egg is acquired then processed in order to determine a vitality level of the egg, based on the presence or not of this blood network and the size of the veins of said blood network. The method also determines the presence or absence of air cell in the upper portion of the egg and to thus define the inverted or uninverted position of the egg. Finally, the method also makes it possible to detect lesions on an egg shell and particularly cracked shells.

Abstract: An egg candling method for determining a state of eggs between the 13th and the 17th day of incubation, particularly for identifying with certainty the living or dead state of that egg. The egg is illuminated with a green or blue light to visually show on the shell a shadow of the blood network supplying the embryo of the egg if it is present in the egg. At least one image of the egg is acquired then processed in order to determine a vitality level of the egg, based on the presence or not of this blood network and the size of the veins of said blood network. The method also determines the presence or absence of air cell in the upper portion of the egg and to thus define the inverted or uninverted position of the egg. Finally, the method also makes it possible to detect lesions on an egg shell and particularly cracked shells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic egg examining device for differentiating between fertilized eggs and unfertilized eggs, comprising emission means (3), which comprise, for each egg to be examined, at least one coherent laser source forming a coherent optical beam (31) directed at an egg (9) to be examined, reception means (4), which receive the light flux passing through the egg, and data processing means (7), which process the light flux received by said reception means in order to determine the state—fertilized or unfertilized—of the egg.

Abstract: A device (1) for inspecting objects with a substantially spherical surface, such as for example eggs or fruit, comprises optical observation means (8) for observing the objects. The device has a supporting surface (10) for supporting the objects. There is a light source for illuminating the objects. The device also comprises a box (2) with reflective walls (3a, 4b and 4a shown) which is positioned above the supporting surface (11). The light source and the observation means (8) are accommodated in the box (2). A plurality of objects can be placed next to one another on the supporting surface (10) and can be illuminated equally well.

Abstract: Egg candling methods and apparatus are provided wherein non-live eggs, inverted egg, and side air cell eggs can be quickly identified. A method of candling eggs includes exposing a plurality of incubated eggs to an environment having a temperature different from a temperature at which the eggs were incubated; obtaining a thermal image of the eggs; and analyzing the thermal image to obtain surface temperature information for each egg. The surface temperature information is utilized to designate each egg as live/non-live, inverted, or having a side air cell.

Abstract: A method for regulating the attitude of a motor vehicle by measuring the characteristic angles of the wheels, includes the following operations: obtaining at least one pair of images of each moving wheel while the vehicle is being positioned on the measuring site; calculating for each image the ellipse resulting from the interpolation of a discrete number of points lying on the image; establishing a correspondence between the points identified in each pair of images, to uniquely determine the edge of the wheel rim and its spatial position; calculating the value of the characteristic attitude angles relative to the spatial position of the wheel rim.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-invasive method and apparatus (44) for sexing members of the avian species in the egg (26). Further, the present invention when in combination with an egg sorter (28) provides an automated method for sexing and sorting members of the avian species in the egg which is rapid and reliable. In particular, the method uses nuclear magnetic resonance to determine whether the live embryo within an egg contains male or female sex organs. The invention further provides an apparatus for sexing members of the avian species in the egg which comprises a conveyor (24) that transports a plurality of eggs through the apparatus (44) wherein the sex of the embryo is determined. Then the egg is transferred to the egg sorter which sorts the eggs into a first group comprising eggs containing male embryos and a second group comprising eggs containing female embryos. The present invention can further sort eggs into a third group comprising eggs which are unusable.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides a means for candling eggs and providing trays of eggs filled with candled eggs and includes a provision wherein infertile eggs are removed from trays of fertile eggs and are replaced with fertile eggs in order to supply a complete array of fertile eggs within the tray. The apparatus includes a conveying means removing trays of eggs from an infeed station to an outfeed station. The trays of eggs supplied at the outfeed station preferably are completely filled with fertile eggs only and usually will be supplied to a processing station such as for inoculation. The apparatus includes four stations with candling performed at the first station by a video camera with infertile eggs moved to an exit hopper at a second station thereadjacent.