Egg Tray for incubating and hatching eggs

Abstract

The invention relates to a tray for containing a number of eggs in an incubation chamber, the tray comprising a number of egg accommodation spaces in which space an egg is able to be hatched, and at least one passage for a chicken through which passage a chicken hatched from said egg may pass through the tray and enter a chicken accommodation space located below the tray.

Claims

1. A tray for containing a number of eggs in an incubation chamber, the tray comprising a number of egg accommodation spaces in which space an egg is able to be hatched, wherein a first egg accommodation space comprises, seen from the first egg accommodation space, an inwardly protruding member for supporting an egg in the first egg accommodation space and an outwardly protruding member for supporting an egg in an adjacent egg accommodation space, wherein the first egg accommodation space comprises a passage through which a newly hatched chicken may pass through the tray and enter a chicken accommodation space located below the tray, wherein the passage is at least delimited by the inwardly protruding member and the outwardly protruding member.

2. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly protruding member and the outwardly protruding member comprise a curved surface.

3. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly protruding member and the outwardly protruding member comprise a double curved surface.

4. The tray according to claim 3, wherein the double curved surface of the inwardly protruding member is convex as seen from the first egg accommodation space.

5. The tray according to claim 3, wherein the double curved surface of the outwardly protruding member is concave as seen from the first egg accommodation space.

6. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly protruding member and the outwardly protruding member have a configuration such that a cross sectional area of the passage is essentially constant along a central axis of the first egg accommodation space.

7. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the first egg accommodation space is delimited by a circumferential wall which extends in circumferential direction around the central axis and has wall sections wherein the inwardly protruding member and the outwardly protruding member are provided on different wall sections.

8. The tray according to claim 7, wherein the circumferential wall is provided with, as seen in the circumferential direction, alternately the inwardly protruding member and the outwardly protruding member.

9. The tray according to claim 7, wherein a wall section extends between the first accommodation space and the adjacent egg accommodation space and separates said first and adjacent egg accommodation space.

10. The tray according to claim 7, wherein the first egg accommodation space is delimited by six wall sections which are provided with, as seen in the circumferential direction, alternately the inwardly protruding member and the outwardly protruding member.

11. (canceled)

12. The tray according to claim 7, wherein each egg accommodation space is delimited by six wall sections.

13. The tray according to claim 1, wherein a number of egg accommodation spaces comprises a passage for chicken.

14. The tray according to claim 1, wherein each egg accommodation space comprises a passage for a chicken.

15. (canceled)

16. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the passage has an Y-shaped cross-section.

17. The tray according to claim 1, comprising a raised edge at the outline of the tray for keeping hatched chicken on the tray.

18. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the tray is configured such that the tray is stackable for providing a stack of a number of trays.

19. Assembly of a crate providing a chicken accommodation space for hatching and rearing chicken and a tray according to claim 1 arranged on top of the crate, the crate having an open top such that a chicken may enter the chicken accommodation space through the passage.

20. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the tray is arranged on top of the crate in a removable manner.

21. The assembly according to claim 20, wherein the crate comprises a tray receiving space which is suitable to receive the tray in a sliding manner.

22. The assembly according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the crate and the tray are integrally formed.

23. The assembly according to claim 19, the crate comprising a trough for containing feed for chicken and/or at least one transparent portion for observing the chicken and allowing light to enter the chicken accommodation space.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A method for hatching a number of eggs, the method comprising the steps of: placing the eggs in a tray according to claim 1, arranging the tray on top of a crate, which crate provides a chicken accommodation space, incubating the eggs for a required brooding period until hatching occurs, passing of hatched chicken from the tray, through the passage and into the chicken accommodations space of the crate.

27. The method according to claim 26, comprising providing feed and/or water for the hatched chicken in the chicken accommodation space of the crate.

28. The method according to claim 26, comprising the steps of: candling eggs in the tray for detecting non-hatchable eggs in the tray, removing detected non-hatchable eggs from their respective egg accommodation spaces, passing of a newly hatched chicken through a passage that results from the removing of the detected non-hatchable eggs from their respective egg accommodation spaces.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] The invention will be further elucidated referring to an preferred embodiment shown in the drawing wherein shown in:

[0050] FIG. 1 in perspective view a tray according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 2 the tray according to FIG. 1 in perspective view from the bottom;

[0052] FIG. 3 a top view of the tray of FIG. 1;

[0053] FIG. 4 a bottom view of the tray of fig;

[0054] FIG. 5 a detail of FIG. 1;

[0055] FIG. 6 a detail of FIG. 2; and

[0056] FIG. 7 a stack of assemblies of a crate and a tray according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0057] The invention will be described referring to all figures. The invention is described referring to a first egg accommodation space 3. It will be clear that this can be any accommodation space of the tray 1. In the figures an embodiment of a tray 1 according to the invention is shown. In use, the tray 1 contains a number of eggs 2. The tray is for use in an incubation chamber which is not shown. This is clear from e.g. the plurality of ventilation slits 13a, 13b that enable to impose a desired climate provided by the incubation chamber onto the interior of the tray 1. The tray 1 comprises a number of separate egg accommodation spaces 3. In this space 3 the eggs are firmly held such that the eggs may be hatched in a controlled manner. Here, the eggs are firmly held in a egg accommodation space between a number of inwardly protruding members 4, in this case three members 4 for each accommodation space 3. The inwardly protruding member 4 and the outwardly protruding member 5 comprise a double curved surface 6, 7. Therefore, eggs of different size can be accommodated in each egg accommodation space 3.

[0058] As can be best seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the double curved surface 6 of the inwardly protruding member 4 is convex as seen from the first egg accommodation space 3. The double curved surface 7 of the outwardly protruding member 5 is concave as seen from the first egg accommodation space 3. The inwardly protruding member 4 and the outwardly protruding member 5 have an identical configuration. In view of the thin-walled structure of both the inwardly protruding member 4 and the outwardly protruding member 5 this provides a cross sectional area of the passage that is essentially constant along the central axis 8 of the first egg accommodation space 3. The inwardly protruding member 4 and the outwardly protruding member 5 are hollow as seen from the bottom, see FIG. 4, such that no dirt can accumulate during use.

[0059] The first egg accommodation space 3 is delimited by a circumferential wall 9. The wall 9 extends in circumferential direction around the central axis 8 of the first egg accommodation space 3. The wall 9 has wall sections 10, 11, in this case 6 wall sections. Each egg accommodation space 3 has a hexagonal shape and therefore individual egg accommodation spaces 3 connect seamlessly and provide a tray with a honeycomb pattern which is illustrated by a virtual grid 15 shown in FIG. 3. Each wall section 10, 11 extends between the first accommodation space 3 and the adjacent egg accommodation space and separates said first and adjacent egg accommodation space. The wall sections 10, 11 of the wall 9 of the first egg accommodation space 3 blend seamlessly into a lower edge 16 as shown in FIG. 6. The lower edges 16 of individual accommodation spaces 3 build a regular pattern as can be seen in FIG. 4.

[0060] In this case, each wall section 10, 11 is provided with a protruding member 4, 5. The “inwardly” or “outwardly” is from perspective of an individual egg accommodation space 3. In fact, adjacent egg accommodation spaces 3 share a common protrusion 4, 5. The circumferential wall 9 is provided with, as seen in the circumferential direction, alternately the inwardly protruding member 4 and the outwardly protruding member 5.

[0061] The inwardly protruding member 4 and the outwardly protruding member 5 are integral with the circumferential wall 9. Here, the inwardly protruding member 4 and the outwardly protruding member 5 blend seamlessly into a lower edge 16.

[0062] Each egg accommodation space 3 of the tray 1 has a passage 12 for a chicken through which passage 12 a chicken hatched from an egg may pass through the tray 1 and enter a chicken accommodation space (not shown) located below the tray 1. The passage 12 is defined by inwardly protruding members 4 and outwardly protruding members 5. The passage 12 is configured such that a chicken may pass the passage 4 and an egg is not passable through the passage 12. When the first egg accommodation space 3 is occupied by an egg, the passage 12 is closed off to such an extent that a chicken is not able to pass through the passage 12 of the first egg accommodation space 3. When no egg is present in the first egg accommodation space 3, a chicken is able to pass through the passage 12 of the first egg accommodation space 3.

[0063] The tray comprises a raised edge 14 at the outline of the tray 1 for keeping hatched chicken on the tray 1. As the egg accommodation space 3 comprises a passage 12 for a chicken, a left open, that is not filled with an egg, egg accommodation space functions, in use, as a passage. The inwardly protruding members 4 and outwardly protruding members 5 are configured such that a chicken may safely pass said support member without damage.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a stack of assemblies of a crate 17 and a tray 1 according to the invention. The tray 1 is schematically shown here, without any details. The crate 17 provides a chicken accommodation space for hatching and rearing chicken. The tray 1 is arranged on top of the crate 17. Therefore, the crate has an open top such that a chicken may enter the chicken accommodation space through the passage. The crate 17 is suitable to be placed in a conditioned space like a hatcher and takes advantage of the forced air flow in such a hatcher because of the open structure of the crate. In this case, the crate has a series of ventilation slits. Such a crate or hatcher basket has a bottom face and sidewalls for keeping chicken in the crate. The bottom face and sidewall provide the chicken accommodation space.

[0065] Here, the tray 1 is arranged on top of the crate 17 in a removable manner.

[0066] During use of the tray 1 in assembly with a crate 17, the following steps are taken for hatching a number of eggs: [0067] placing the eggs in a tray 1 which tray comprises at least one passage 12 for a chicken through which passage 12 a chicken may pass through the tray 1 and enter a chicken accommodation space located below the tray 1, [0068] arranging the tray 1 on top of a crate, which crate provides a chicken accommodation space, [0069] brooding the eggs for a required brooding period until hatching occurs, [0070] passing of hatched chicken from the tray 1, through the passage 12 and into the chicken accommodations space of the crate.

[0071] It will also be obvious after the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person which are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and which are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.