The present invention relates to a method for sampling an egg, the method comprising;

a) fluid coupling an interior of the egg to a source of pressure,
b) controlling the pressure in the interior of the egg by the source of pressure,
c) expelling an amount of fluid, in particular allantoic fluid, from the interior of the egg to the exterior of the egg as a result of the pressure in the interior of the egg, and
d) collecting at least a portion of the amount of fluid at the exterior surface of the egg.

The present invention relates to a method for sampling an egg, the method comprising;

a) fluid coupling an interior of the egg to a source of pressure,
b) controlling the pressure in the interior of the egg by the source of pressure,
c) expelling an amount of fluid, in particular allantoic fluid, from the interior of the egg to the exterior of the egg as a result of the pressure in the interior of the egg, and
d) collecting at least a portion of the amount of fluid at the exterior surface of the egg.

The present invention relates to an egg carrier for holding an egg in an egg handling system, wherein the egg carrier comprises; an egg accommodation, an egg clamping system to secure an egg in the egg accommodation space, wherein the egg clamping system is moveable between an egg securing position and an egg release position, an operating system coupled with the egg clamping system to move the clamping system between the egg securing position and the egg release position, wherein the operating system comprises an operating member that is operable externally from the egg carrier.

The present invention relates to an egg carrier for holding an egg in an egg handling system, wherein the egg carrier comprises; an egg accommodation, an egg clamping system to secure an egg in the egg accommodation space, wherein the egg clamping system is moveable between an egg securing position and an egg release position, an operating system coupled with the egg clamping system to move the clamping system between the egg securing position and the egg release position, wherein the operating system comprises an operating member that is operable externally from the egg carrier.

A system for filtering and recirculating a wash fluid associated with a piece of equipment. An outlet line extends from a drain location of the piece of equipment for communicating the wash fluid from the equipment to a first stage particulate removal filter. A further conduit extends from an outlet of the first stage filter for communicating the wash fluid to a first tank. A second stage filter is in communication with a first outlet extending from the first tank for continuously redirecting a subset portion of the fluid through the second stage filter. A return conduit extends from an outlet side of the second stage filter which is communicated with a second outlet extending from the first tank at a rejoining location for redirecting a recombined fluid back to an intake line for redelivery to the piece of equipment.

A pathogen reduction tool implementing a method of processing eggs at a poultry hatchery is provided. Such a method includes setting a production quantity of avian eggs in a setter incubator, the eggs being maintained in a plurality of egg flats. The avian eggs are removed from the setter incubator on a predetermined day of incubation, such predetermined day being during about day nine to day twelve of incubation. Subsequent to removal of the avian eggs from the setter incubator, the avian eggs are subjected to an egg detection system on the predetermined day to determine which of the avian eggs are viable and non-viable. The non-viable avian eggs are removed from the egg flats on the predetermined day. The viable avian eggs remaining in the egg flats post-inspection by the egg detection system are incubated through hatch.

A pathogen reduction tool implementing a method of processing eggs at a poultry hatchery is provided. Such a method includes setting a production quantity of avian eggs in a setter incubator, the eggs being maintained in a plurality of egg flats. The avian eggs are removed from the setter incubator on a predetermined day of incubation, such predetermined day being during about day nine to day twelve of incubation. Subsequent to removal of the avian eggs from the setter incubator, the avian eggs are subjected to an egg detection system on the predetermined day to determine which of the avian eggs are viable and non-viable. The non-viable avian eggs are removed from the egg flats on the predetermined day. The viable avian eggs remaining in the egg flats post-inspection by the egg detection system are incubated through hatch.

The invention relates to an individual egg transport device, characterized in that it includes: an upper cup provided to receive an egg, a base provided to ensure a stable position of the egg when the individual device is placed on a conveyor belt, a gripping element allowing a gripping member to grasp the individual device in order to transport it from a first location to a second location. The invention also proposes a gripping member, a filling facility and a filling method using the individual egg transport device.

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for detecting characteristics of an unhatched egg. A set of images of an unhatched egg are obtained, where each of the spectral images is obtained in a particular wavelength range. The set of images is processed to extract image features, where the image features includes an image texture feature. The extracted image features are processed to classify the unhatched egg according to at least one characteristic. The at least one characteristic may include fertility and/or gender.

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for detecting characteristics of an unhatched egg. A set of images of an unhatched egg are obtained, where each of the spectral images is obtained in a particular wavelength range. The set of images is processed to extract image features, where the image features includes an image texture feature. The extracted image features are processed to classify the unhatched egg according to at least one characteristic. The at least one characteristic may include fertility and/or gender.