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.

The present invention relates to a method for non-destructively identifying a characteristic of a Gallus Gallus domesticus embryo in ovo, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a sample of material associated with an egg comprising the embryo, and (b) measuring a score value for the presence of, and concentration of at least a first biomarker in the sample indicative of the characteristic of the embryo, and (c) applying a threshold to the score value and concentration obtained in (b) to identify the characteristic for the embryo associated with the presence and concentration of the biomarker, wherein an at least first biomarker comprises an amino compound having a molecular weight in the range of from 140 to 190 g/mole, wherein step (c) further comprises: (i) correlating each relevant biomarker signal with a reference biomarker by matching the spectrum of each correlating signal with the expected spectrum of the correlating reference biomarker using a similarity measure, to define at least one positively correlating signal; (ii) measuring the intensity of each positively correlating signal and scoring its absolute and/or relative signal intensity; and (iii) applying a threshold to the score value obtained from a similarity function to determine the correlated embryo characteristic.

The present invention relates to a method for non-destructively identifying a characteristic of a Gallus Gallus domesticus embryo in ovo, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a sample of material associated with an egg comprising the embryo, and (b) measuring a score value for the presence of, and concentration of at least a first biomarker in the sample indicative of the characteristic of the embryo, and (c) applying a threshold to the score value and concentration obtained in (b) to identify the characteristic for the embryo associated with the presence and concentration of the biomarker, wherein an at least first biomarker comprises an amino compound having a molecular weight in the range of from 140 to 190 g/mole, wherein step (c) further comprises: (i) correlating each relevant biomarker signal with a reference biomarker by matching the spectrum of each correlating signal with the expected spectrum of the correlating reference biomarker using a similarity measure, to define at least one positively correlating signal; (ii) measuring the intensity of each positively correlating signal and scoring its absolute and/or relative signal intensity; and (iii) applying a threshold to the score value obtained from a similarity function to determine the correlated embryo characteristic.

An egg placing machine cassette for receiving eggs to be laid upon a surface. The eggs being received in a two-dimensional array and wherein the cassette comprises a base portion, side walls extending from a first end of the base portion and a lid portion that is connected to a second end of the side walls, that second end being distal from the base portion. The cassette is provided with a first opening mechanism, by which a setter tray is able to be placed inside the cassette. The cassette is further provided with a second opening mechanism, in which the lid portion can be partially and/or progressively opened to allow a predetermined number of eggs to be removed therefrom.

An egg placing machine cassette for receiving eggs to be laid upon a surface. The eggs being received in a two-dimensional array and wherein the cassette comprises a base portion, side walls extending from a first end of the base portion and a lid portion that is connected to a second end of the side walls, that second end being distal from the base portion. The cassette is provided with a first opening mechanism, by which a setter tray is able to be placed inside the cassette. The cassette is further provided with a second opening mechanism, in which the lid portion can be partially and/or progressively opened to allow a predetermined number of eggs to be removed therefrom.

The present invention relates to a device, for example a machine part, comprising:—a body with a cylinder shape of substantially carbon fibers with the fibers in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder shape, the body functioning as carrier body with a carrier surface, and—at least a single circumferential body of a plastic provided through injection molding on the body, the circumferential body being provided on at least a part of the carrier surface. Further, the present invention concerns a method for manufacturing the device, comprising:—manufacturing with pultrusion the cylinder shape of substantially carbon reinforced fiber material with carbon fibers substantially in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder shape, and—injection molding of a plastic on the cylinder shape for obtaining the circumferential body on at least a part of the carrier surface.

The present invention relates to a device, for example a machine part, comprising:—a body with a cylinder shape of substantially carbon fibers with the fibers in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder shape, the body functioning as carrier body with a carrier surface, and—at least a single circumferential body of a plastic provided through injection molding on the body, the circumferential body being provided on at least a part of the carrier surface. Further, the present invention concerns a method for manufacturing the device, comprising:—manufacturing with pultrusion the cylinder shape of substantially carbon reinforced fiber material with carbon fibers substantially in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder shape, and—injection molding of a plastic on the cylinder shape for obtaining the circumferential body on at least a part of the carrier surface.

An apparatus for washing shell eggs includes a washing unit and an egg conveyor extending in a longitudinal direction, and having a transverse direction. The longitudinal and transverse directions define a conveyor plane. Spray nozzles are arranged in the washing unit above the conveyor plane so that in a first step the eggs can be subjected to a liquid jet from a first liquid spray nozzle spraying in a first spray direction, and in a second step the eggs can be subjected to a liquid jet from a second liquid spray nozzle spraying in a second spray direction. The first and second spray nozzles are arranged on opposite sides of the egg when seen in the transverse direction and at a distance above the conveyor plane so that the liquid sprayed in the first and second spray directions hits the egg from opposite sides in a downwards angle.

A part-processing machine having, in series, consecutive parts on a belt (2) moving same along a main conveying line. Selectively identified non-compliant parts are removed from the conveying line, into a transfer device (1) by pickup tools (8) supported on the periphery of a rotating drum (6) mounted transversely to the conveying line and arranged to rotate about itself so as to pass over the belt, enabling the non-compliant parts to be picked up by the pickup tools and released once the parts have been transported away from the conveying line. The pickup tools have pneumatic gripping heads, more particularly for example suction cups. The pneumatic gripping heads are depressurized relative to the surrounding air by a low-pressure chamber provided inside the drum, to which each head is connected by a tube inside a tool support arm.

A part-processing machine having, in series, consecutive parts on a belt (2) moving same along a main conveying line. Selectively identified non-compliant parts are removed from the conveying line, into a transfer device (1) by pickup tools (8) supported on the periphery of a rotating drum (6) mounted transversely to the conveying line and arranged to rotate about itself so as to pass over the belt, enabling the non-compliant parts to be picked up by the pickup tools and released once the parts have been transported away from the conveying line. The pickup tools have pneumatic gripping heads, more particularly for example suction cups. The pneumatic gripping heads are depressurized relative to the surrounding air by a low-pressure chamber provided inside the drum, to which each head is connected by a tube inside a tool support arm.