Abstract: Disclosed is a cradle for the incubation process of eggs in hatcheries, for the incubation of eggs in a cradleroora and optionally the hatching of the chicks, the cradle including an outer edge and an inner structure with a. number of positions to receive eggs, whereby the cradle includes a tiltable inner structure and a stackable outer edge. Also disclosed is a stacking of the, cradles, a cradleroom, incubation process, and method for the incubation of eggs.

Abstract: An incubation tray is disclosed, including an enclosure with a plurality of egg placements for carrying eggs for incubation within an egg incubator. The incubation tray includes a tester unit including plurality of inspection modules in the enclosure associated with the plurality of egg placements. The inspection modules, each includes radiation emitter(s) and sensor(s), and are configured and operable for respectively inspecting the plurality of eggs located in the egg placements, by irradiating the eggs with radiation from a lateral side of the eggs and measuring a radiation response coming in response to the irradiation from a lateral side of the eggs, giving rise to measured data indicative of conditions of the eggs. The measured data may be processed to determine dynamic and static parameters of the radiation response from which a physiological development stage, and growth of the embryos within the eggs can be estimated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a robotic system for culturing and conducting experiments on C. elegans comprising a nutating tower, a well plate positioner, a reagent assembly, a liquid dispensing assembly, a wash and camera assembly, a housing assembly, a tip tray, and a three axes positioner wherein the nutating tower stores and nutates well plates. The present invention further provides a method of using the above-described system to culture C. elegans.

Abstract: A climate chamber and method for treating products, such as eggs to be hatched, with a conditioned gas stream. The climate chamber includes a substantially closed compartment having two opposing lateral walls provided with one or more passages, and a substantially closed channel which extends around the outside of the compartment and connects one of said lateral walls to the other of said lateral walls in order to form together with the compartment a substantially closed circuit. The product is placed in the climate chamber, and then the conditioned gas is circulating through the circuit. The direction in which the conditioned gas stream is circulated through the circuit is reversed repeatedly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the incubation of eggs and to a device for the incubation of eggs. The incubation device includes a cabinet provided with a climate control for regulating the atmospheric humidity and temperature of the air that is to be passed through the cabinet, and at least one frame. At least one stack of trays positioned vertically above one another is arranged in the frame, each tray having a multiplicity of egg positions for receiving an egg. To turn the eggs, the trays of the stack can pivot to and fro through a defined pivot angle about a horizontal axis with respect to the frame. The vertical distance between the trays positioned above one another thereby changes. In the method, the trays are periodically pivoted through the defined pivot angle and the magnitude of the defined pivot angle is variable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the incubation of eggs and to a device for. the incubation of eggs. The incubation device includes a cabinet provided with a climate control for regulating the atmospheric humidity and temperature of the air that is to be passed through the cabinet, and at least one frame. At least one stack of trays positioned vertically above one another is arranged in the frame, each tray having a multiplicity of egg positions for receiving an egg. To turn the eggs, the trays of the stack can pivot to and fro through a defined pivot angle about a horizontal axis with respect to the frame. The vertical distance between the trays positioned above one another thereby changes. In the method, the trays are periodically pivoted through the defined pivot angle and the magnitude of the defined pivot angle is variable.