An egg flat identification system for identifying an egg flat among a collection of egg flats is provided. Such a system includes a first measurement device configured to determine a first measurement of a plurality of eggs carried by an egg flat. A processor is in communication with the first measurement device. The processor is configured to receive the first measurements from the first measurement device. A second measurement device is configured to determine a second measurement of the eggs in the collection of egg flats. The second measurement device is in communication with the processor such that the processor is capable of receiving the second measurements. The processor compares the second measurements with the first measurements so as to identify a respective egg flat among the collection of egg flats.

An egg analysis system and methods are provided. The system comprises a light source for illuminating an egg, a hyperspectral imaging camera, a processor, and a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to actuate the light source to illuminate the egg, receive images of the egg from the hyperspectral imaging camera, and analyze the images. The light source may emit light at one of approximately 860 nm, 1050 nm or 1250 nm.

A device for determining the presence of a characteristic of a sample includes a light source for emitting pulsed excitation radiation, a detection device for detecting an autofluorescence radiation emitted by the sample, and a computer-based evaluation device. The detection device is configured to detect the autofluorescence radiation of the sample in a time-resolved manner at different wavelengths by means of time-correlated single photon counting and to provide the evaluation device with two-dimensional data with a wavelength dimension and a time dimenion. The evaluation device is configured to classify the provided data into classes by means of a classifier. The evaluation device is configured to identify specific wavelengths to be prioritized during the classification on the basis of features formed in the time dimension of the data.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inspecting, as they pass, eggs placed in containers. According to the invention, during the movement of these containers (1) along a conveyor line, the following steps are carried out: triggering a data acquisition cycle on each passage of a downstream end of a container (1) through a first position, which is determined by a first position sensor (6) placed along said conveyor line, upstream and downstream positions being considered with reference to the direction of movement of the containers; then for a data acquisition cycle of a container (1), detecting the passage of said downstream end of said container (1) through at least a second position determined by a second position sensor (7-8) placed along said conveyor line, a signal triggering thermal image acquisition being sent to a thermal camera (5) each time said downstream end of said container (1) is detected at at least a second position in order to trigger capture of one or more thermal images by said thermal camera (5) of the portion of the container (1) then placed in its field of view, said second position sensors (7-8) being arranged with respect to one other to ensure an inspection of all of the eggs of the container (1) considered by said thermal camera (5) when a plurality of second sensors are employed. Furthermore, the data acquisition cycle of said container comprises performing, in a third position separate from said first and second positions, a step of candling the eggs placed in said container, in which step a light flux is emitted in the direction of at least one egg to be candled and the light flux passed through each corresponding egg is then analysed depending on the level of light flux absorbed by the egg, and said data thus acquired on the eggs of a container (1) are associated with a unique identifier of this container (1).

A device for the in-ovo determination of the sex of a fertilized bird egg, having a light source for emitting excitation radiation for exciting fluorescence in a region inside the bird egg, a spectroscopic apparatus for analyzing, in a temporally and/or spectrally-resolved manner, fluorescence radiation emitted from the region inside the bird egg, an evaluation unit for determining the sex from the data determined by means of the spectro-scopic apparatus and a measuring head for jointly transmitting the excitation radiation into the bird egg and receiving the fluorescence radiation from the bird egg. The measuring head has an optical fibre system with a head end for transmitting the excitation radiation and receiving the fluorescence radiation.