Abstract: A portable egg candling and containment transfer apparatus including a movable base, a frame extending up from the base, a movable elevator deck movable between an elevated position and a lowered position, and a mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator deck. The apparatus further includes an inverting candling table pivotally mounted to the frame and having a pan with sidewalls and a floor. The pan is adapted for receiving and supporting incubator trays thereon. The pan houses at least one electric light fixture with at least one lamp for producing light for candling eggs positioned over the inverting candling table. The apparatus further includes at least one clamp for securing a hatchery basket over the pan and at least one latch for securing the inverting candling table in faceup/facedown positions.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for detecting an electric arc in an electrical switchboard, the sensor being in an enclosed case containing a conical opening, the case being placed in the switchboard. A pressure switch in the sensor is attached to the interior of the case and is electrically connected to a circuit board for transmitting a signal when a contact in the pressure switch is closed. When a pressure wave created by the electric arc enters the case through the conical opening it forces a contact on the pressure switch to close thereby completing a circuit with the circuit board which transmits the signal to, for example, a central processor, to turn off the source of electricity thereby quenching the electric arc.

Abstract: A portable egg candling and containment transfer apparatus including a movable base, a frame extending up from the base, a movable elevator deck movable between an elevated position and a lowered position, and a mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator deck. The apparatus further includes an inverting candling table pivotally mounted to the frame and having a pan with sidewalls and a floor. The pan is adapted for receiving and supporting incubator trays thereon. The pan houses at least one electric light fixture with at least one lamp for producing light for candling eggs positioned over the inverting candling table. The apparatus further includes at least one clamp for securing a hatchery basket over the pan and at least one latch for securing the inverting candling table in faceup/facedown positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a configurable integrated circuit (IC). Aspects of the invention include an IC die; a plurality of input/outputs (I/Os) coupled to the IC die; and a plurality power planes coupled to the IC die for providing power to the plurality of I/Os at different voltages. The plurality of power planes are configured concentrically around the IC die so that any one or more of the I/Os at any location on the IC die can be individually configured to connect to any of the power planes. As a result, any number of I/Os available on the IC die can operate at a given voltage.

Abstract: The invention provides an electro-adhesion device (10) including a base (12) and first (14) and second (16) banks of thin electrically conductive electrodes (18) located apart from each other on a side of the base (12). The electro-adhesion device (10) also includes an insulating cover (20) over the first (14) and second (16) banks so that the outer side of the insulating cover (20) defines an electro-adhesion surface so that, in use, when the electrodes (18) are energized and an object to be attracted is placed adjacent the insulating cover (20), the object is attracted to the insulating cover (20) by a suitably high adhesion force. An outer surface (24) of each of the electrodes (18) has a linear border on one side and a sinusoidal border on an opposite side so that the width of each electrode (18) varies sinusoidally lengthwise along the electrode (18).

Abstract: In the grading of shell eggs passing in a stream through a candling bed, images of the eggs are compared with image data characteristic of eggs of known grade so as to assign a grade to each egg in the stream. Positional information representative of the movement of the eggs is combined with the assigned grade to control a mechanical egg routing device. Images of multiple egg streams may be multiplexed and processed together. The images may be Fourier transformed before comparison.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the automatic examination of eggs for cracks or fractured surface areas in their shells. The process includes the steps of directing light from at least one light source onto the egg, and detecting and measuring the intensity of the light emanating from the egg. Cracks or fractured surface areas in the egg shell will allow a greater intensity of light to emanate from the egg. Such relatively higher intensity is measured to determine if a crack or fracture exists. The apparatus consists of at least one light source, a device for rotating the egg, apparatus for moving the light beam over the surface of the egg shell, and a device for detecting the intensity level of the light emanating from the egg.