Egg inspection device

Abstract

An egg-examining device, comprising a sampling device, by which a liquid sample to be taken can be taken from an egg of a rack loaded with eggs, a feeding device for feeding the rack loaded with eggs to the sampling device, and a control unit, by which the feeding device and the sampling device can be controlled. The feeding device feeds the rack to the sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20° and 80° to a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity. A lifting-out device is provided, by which the egg can be lifted out of the rack and by which the egg can be put into a sampling position, in which the liquid amount to be taken can be taken from the egg by the sampling device.

Claims

1. An egg inspection device, comprising: a sampling device by which a liquid sample to be taken is extracted from a respective egg of a rack of the sampling device that is loaded with eggs; a feeding device for feeding the rack loaded with eggs to the sampling device; a control unit by which the feeding device and the sampling device is controlled, wherein the feeding device is configured such that it feeds the rack to the sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20° and 80° to a plane perpendicular to a direction of gravity; and a lifting-out device by which the respective egg is lifted out of the rack and by which the respective egg is brought into a sampling position in which the respective egg is pierced oblique to its axis of rotation and an amount of liquid is extracted from the respective egg for the liquid sample by the sampling device, wherein the lifting-out device is controlled by the control unit.

2. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the lifting-out device is configured such that it can rotate the respective egg lifted with it into a predetermined piercing position.

3. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the lifting-out device is a mechanical lifting-out device, or a lifting-out device operated by an air stream, in which the respective egg is lifted by the air stream.

4. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the sampling device has a cannula which is connected to a vacuum generating device, wherein the amount of liquid to be extracted from the respective egg is controlled by the control unit via a pressure generated in the vacuum generating device.

5. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the sampling device comprises a cannula revolver with several cannulas.

6. The egg inspection device according to claim 4, wherein the cannula contains at least two openings by which the amount of liquid to be taken from the respective egg is extracted.

7. The egg inspection device according to claim 4, wherein a protruding length of the cannula, with which it protrudes from a contact surface provided on the sampling device and which comes into contact with the respective egg during sampling, is adjustable.

8. The egg inspection device according to claim 4, wherein a protruding length of the cannula is adjustable by the control unit.

9. The egg inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the sampling device has a light barrier via which it is determined by the control unit whether the amount of liquid extracted from the respective egg corresponds to a predetermined amount of liquid to be taken.

10. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein at least two sampling devices are provided, which are combined in a sampling unit so that each sampling device of the at least two sampling devices simultaneously extract the liquid sample to be taken from one egg of each rack, and in that at least two lifting-out devices are provided, wherein, by a respective lifting-out device of the at least two lifting-out devices, the one egg of each rack associated with a respective sampling device lifted out of the rack and brought into the sampling position.

11. The egg inspection device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured such that it adjusts the amount of liquid extracted from the respective egg individually for each of the at least two sampling devices as a function of egg parameters of the respective egg assigned to the sampling device.

12. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the sampling device is movable in the direction of gravity; and parallel to a surface within the rack, the sampling device is translationally movable by the feeding device in a first direction and is movable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction of translation of the rack prescribed by the feeding device.

13. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a sample collection device is provided which collects the amount of liquid extracted from the respective egg by the sampling device and discharged from the sampling device.

14. The egg inspection device according to claim 10, wherein at least two sample collection devices are provided which are combined in one unit and from which the amount of liquid extracted from the respective egg by the at least two sampling devices is delivered.

15. The egg inspection device according to claim 11, wherein the at least two sample collection devices combined in the unit are configured by a nonwoven or a titer plate.

16. The egg inspection device according to claim 10, wherein the sampling device is positioned in a delivery position after sampling and extracting the same from the respective egg, and wherein the sample collection device, when the sampling device is positioned in the delivery position, is moved from a sample collection device rest position to a reception position in which the sample is delivered from the sampling device to the sample collection device.

17. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a rinsing device is provided which, after sample delivery into the sample collection device, is movable from a rinsing device rest position into a rinsing position in which the sampling device is rinsed by a pressure profile of a pressure generated in a vacuum generating device.

18. The egg inspection device according to claim 12, wherein a sample collection device and a rinsing device for rinsing the sampling device are formed in one unit.

19. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the lifting-out device comprises an egg stamp which can be moved through a mesh of the rack in order to lift the respective egg stored in this mesh out of the rack, and a stop element is provided against which the respective egg can be pressed by the egg stamp and which determines the sampling position.

20. The egg inspection device according to claim 16, wherein an egg stamp and a stop element are each assigned to at least one actuator which is controlled via the control unit.

21. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a position determining device is provided by which a position of the respective egg is determined, wherein the control unit controls a positioning of the respective egg on the basis of the data of the position determining device.

22. The egg inspection device according to claim 16, wherein a lighting unit is provided to illuminate the respective egg in order to carry out a position determination and/or a correction of a position of the respective egg.

23. The egg inspection device according to claim 19, wherein the egg stamp is provided with a lighting unit.

24. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a UV lamp unit is provided by which at least one of the following devices is illuminated in order to kill bacteria and/or germs: the eggs, the sampling device, a rinsing device, a sample collection device, the lifting-out device.

25. The egg inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured such that sampling of the eggs in the rack takes place automatically after insertion of the rack with the eggs into the egg inspection device, and after all the eggs of the rack have been sampled all corresponding information is output.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further preferred further aspects of the invention result from the following described embodiment in connection with the drawing.

(2) Therein:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an egg inspection device;

(4) FIG. 2A shows a top view on an egg inspection device which is similar to that of FIG. 1, wherein the rack is positioned in a starting position; and

(5) FIG. 2B shows a top view of the egg inspection device of FIG. 2A, wherein the rack is positioned in an end position after having sampled all eggs;

(6) FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the method for sampling an egg as is carried out in the egg inspection devices of FIG. 1 or 2;

(7) FIG. 4A shows a section of the egg inspection device of FIG. 2 in which a sampling device with sampling units is shown;

(8) FIG. 4B und FIG. 4C shows an individual sampling device of the sampling unit of FIG. 4;

(9) FIG. 5A shows a unit consisting of delivery unit and rinsing unit;

(10) FIG. 5B shows the unit of FIG. 5A, wherein a protective covering is removed;

(11) FIG. 6 shows a detail view of an egg stamp of the embodiment of FIG. 2; and

(12) FIG. 7 shows an example of a user interface of the software by means of which the device is controlled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an egg inspection device.

(14) The egg inspection device includes a feeding device 1, a lifting-out device 2, a sampling device 3, a sample collection device 4, a rinsing device 5, and a control unit 6. The lifting-out device 2 includes an egg stamp 7 and a stop element 8. The control unit 6 controls, according to actuators A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, in order to position or move the aforementioned elements or units.

(15) Alternatively to the fact that the lifting-out device is a mechanical lifting-out device with the egg stamp 7 as well as the stop element 8, a lifting-out device operated by means of an air stream can also be provided in which the egg is lifted by means of an air stream. In this way, the egg can be lifted out by means of an air stream and pressed against a stop element in order to be brought into the correct position. In this case, a hose with an opening below the egg is positioned in the rack and compressed air is used to lift the egg in the air stream.

(16) In order to enable the positioning and alignment of the egg to be sampled, a guided lifting of the egg is advantageous. This can be done via the egg stamp, preferably via rotatably mounted egg stamps, and/or via an air stream. The egg is then held in position from the other side, e.g. with a soft suction cup. This fixation can also be done mechanically and/or by air stream. In addition, the egg position can be guided ventrally.

(17) The feeding device 1 comprises a first actuator A1, the lifting-out device 2 from the egg stamp 7 and the stop element 8, a second actuator A2 which sets the stop element 8, and a third actuator A3 which sets the egg stamp 7. The syringe 9 shown in this Figure is drawn over a fourth actuator A4 shown in FIG. 1. A base plate 10 with the attached syringe 9 forms a sampling unit, whereby the syringe 9 forms the sampling device. The sampling unit as a whole is placed over a fifth actuator A5. A sixth actuator A6 is assigned to the sample collection device 4 and a seventh actuator is assigned to the rinsing device 5.

(18) FIG. 2A shows a top view of the egg inspection device shown in FIG. 1, wherein a rack 13 is shown positioned in a starting position. A difference between the egg inspection device shown in FIG. 2 and the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that no simple syringe is provided on the sampling unit as sampling device 9, but sampling takes place via cannulas 12 connected to vacuum hoses 11, each cannula with vacuum hose 11 connected thereto forming a sampling unit 9, and thus five sampling devices are provided in the sampling unit. Any number of sampling units, in particular 5, 10, 15, sampling devices 9, can be combined into one unit between one and a large number of sampling units.

(19) FIG. 2A shows a starting position after the rack 13 has been inserted into the feeding device 1 as presently, for example, half filled with eggs 18. In the present case, the feeding device 1 is designed as a kind of frame 14 in which the rack 13 can be inserted in such a way that its side walls are essentially flush with the frame 14.

(20) Said frame has a carriage 15 on two sides opposite each other in the transverse direction of the device, which carriage is movably mounted on corresponding rails 16 and can thus be moved from the starting position shown in FIG. 2A to an end position shown in FIG. 2B via the control unit 6 by means of the first actuator A1 not shown in FIG. 2A.

(21) In order to subsequently facilitate the identification of the individual directions, the direction of gravity, i.e. the direction in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B is to be referred to from top to bottom as the y-axis, the axis perpendicular to this vertical, i.e. to the y-axis and transverse to the rack 13 as the z-axis, and the axis in which the inclination of the rack 13 extends is to be referred to as the x-axis. A corresponding coordinate system is shown in FIG. 2A. A corresponding coordinate system is also shown in FIG. 1. The first actuator A1 ensures a translational movement of the feeding device 1 in the y-x plane. The second actuator A2 and the third actuator A3, ensure a translational movement of the individual elements of the lifting-out device within the y-x plane and perpendicular to the movement of the first actuator A1. The fourth or fifth actuator A4, A5 ensures a translational movement of the corresponding elements (sampling device or sampling unit) in the y-direction. The seventh or eighth actuator A7, A8 ensures a translational movement of the corresponding elements in the x-direction.

(22) The rack 13 is configured as a kind of grid 17 with equally large meshes, wherein one single egg 18 can be held in each mesh. Since the meshes are limited only by strip-like walls standing upright, each egg 18 lies with its tip downwards in the respective mesh. That is, FIG. 2A shows a base side of the eggs 18. The eggs 18 lie in a matrix, wherein in the present example five eggs 18 lie in transverse direction (z-axis) next to each other and 17 eggs in longitudinal direction or diagonal direction (x-axis) behind each other. In the following, the direction of the z-axis is always referred to as next to each other for the eggs and the direction of translation (x-axis) of the feeding device 1 is always referred to behind each other for the eggs.

(23) In the present embodiment, five sampling devices 3 are provided on the base plate 10 to form the sampling unit. Each of the sampling devices 3 has a modular structure and is described in more detail below in relation to FIGS. 4A to 4C. As shown in FIGS. 4B and C, each sampling device 3 is configured as a module which, for example, can be attached to the base plate 10 via screw connections. A contact surface 19, from which the cannula 12 protrudes, is provided on a side of the module which is directed towards the egg when mounted on the base plate 10 (hereinafter referred to as the bottom side of the module). The cannula 12 is held by a kind of clamp connection between the plate elements 21, 22 of the module by pressing the plate element 22 together by means of the two fastening elements 20 shown in FIG. 4B, which in this case are hexagon socket screws. As shown in FIG. 4A, a vacuum hose 11 is connected to the rear of each cannula 12, which is preferably a thin metal cannula with a sharp tip. The vacuum hoses 11 are connected to a pneumatic system which is not shown in detail in the Figures. With the negative pressure generated in the pneumatic system, a predetermined quantity of liquid can be taken from the egg 18 with the cannula 12 after the respective egg has been inserted.

(24) The sampling procedure is described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 3.

(25) After an operator has inserted the rack 13 loaded with the eggs 18 into the feeding device 1 (step a) in FIG. 3), the egg 18 is positioned. For this purpose, the feeding device 1 is moved via the control unit 6 in such a way that the first row of eggs, seen in the translation direction of the rack (x-axis), stops at the level of the sampling device 3 (see FIG. 2A) (step b) in FIG. 3). In this position, for example, five eggs are arranged below the respective 5 sampling devices 3 of the sampling unit. With the egg stamps 7 shown in FIG. 6, the five eggs are simultaneously pressed out through the meshes of the rack 13 substantially perpendicular to the rack 13, that is, perpendicular to the surface formed by the frame 14 of the rack 13 or perpendicular to the inclined feeding plane, in order to be lifted out of the rack 13 and pressed against the stop element 8 schematically shown in FIG. 1.

(26) The eggs with their thicker rear side are lifted out of the rack at an oblique angle between 20 and 80°. The angle φ (see FIG. 1) between the rotation axis (longitudinal direction) of the egg 18 and the vertical direction (y-axis), i.e. the direction in which the cannula 12 is pierced into the egg 18 (in the present case the direction in which the sampling unit can be moved in its vertical direction), corresponds due to trigonometry to the angle χ, at which the feeding device 1 feeds the rack 13 obliquely (see FIG. 1). The angle φ between the rotation axis (longitudinal direction) of the egg 18 and the cannula 12 corresponds to the angle χ between the x-axis (in the present case the bottom surface) and the translation direction of the feeding device 1, since its legs are perpendicular to each other in pairs. The lifting direction of the eggs is perpendicular to the rack plane, which corresponds to the translational plane.

(27) After lifting out the egg 18, this is now held between the egg stamp 7 and the stop element 8.

(28) In the present example, the complete base plate 10 with the sampling devices 3 attached to it that is the sampling unit is then lowered on the y-axis so that the five cannulas 12 simultaneously pierce the five eggs 18 lifted up next to each other.

(29) As soon as the contact surface 19 of the respective sampling unit 3 hits the shell of the respective egg 18, this is detected by the control unit 6 and the sampling is started.

(30) For this purpose, after the hole in the egg 18 has been created by piercing with the respective cannula 12, a vacuum is created in the vacuum hoses 11 so that a corresponding amount of liquid is sucked out of the egg.

(31) The predetermined target quantity of the liquid extracted from the egg is detected by a light barrier 25 shown schematically in FIG. 4B. This means that as soon as the liquid meniscus in the vacuum hose 11 reaches the light barrier 25, the pressure is kept constant.

(32) The sampling unit is then retracted again (in vertical direction; y-axis) and the cannulas 12 are pulled out of the eggs. The tips of the cannulas 12 should preferably be held at such a height that the sample collection device 4 or the rinsing device 5 can be moved translationally below the tip of the cannula by means of the sixth or seventh actuator A6, A7 shown in FIG. 1, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, out of the sample delivery and cleaning assembly provided with reference sign 26.

(33) In the present example, this is a so-called titer plate in which individual sample collection devices 4, i.e. for example cavities, are arranged side by side and one behind the other, resulting in a matrix of sample collection devices 4.

(34) After translational movement of the titer plate (in x-axis) under the cannula ends (step e) in FIG. 3), the corresponding pressure is now applied to the vacuum hoses 11 by means of the control unit 6 so that the amount of liquid extracted from the eggs 18 is discharged from the sampling devices 3 into the corresponding sample collection device 27 provided below. This is done essentially simultaneously so that after five amounts of liquid have been taken from five eggs 18 at the same time in the present example, also from five liquid samples, one of each is delivered to the corresponding sample collection device. The corresponding titer plate (step d) in FIG. 3) is inserted into the egg inspection device beforehand by the operator, as is the rack with the eggs.

(35) An analysis is then carried out in each of the sample collection devices 3 and in the present case, for example, the concentration of oestrone sulfate in the allantoic liquid taken from the eggs 18 is determined in order to conclude the sex of the embryonic chicks. Such a method for the biological determination of the oestrone sulfate concentration for the identification of female and male chicken embryos is described in the German patent application number 10 2015 226 490.4, the disclosure of which is included in this respect by this reference. The concentration of oestrone sulfate can be indirectly determined by means of a colorimetric measurement.

(36) After the individual amounts of liquid removed from the eggs have been transferred to the sample collection devices 4, the five eggs 18 held by the lifting-out device are returned to the position of the rack (step c) in FIG. 3). Alternatively, this can be done immediately after liquid extraction and before sample delivery.

(37) The titer plate, i.e. the matrix of sample collection devices 4, is moved back to the basic position shown in FIG. 2B or 1 in the sample delivery and cleaning group.

(38) For cleaning the cannulas 12, the rinsing device 5 which in the present example consists of a trough 28 filled with alcohol and a collecting vessel 29, is now moved by means of the seventh actuator A7 (see FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. 7, from the basic position within the sample delivery and cleaning group into a rinsing position not shown in the Figure, in which the rinsing device 7 comes to a standstill substantially below the cannulas 12, i.e. below the respective sampling device 3. The cannulas can be cleaned after each piercing operation (step f) in FIG. 3).

(39) In a first step, the sampling unit is moved downwards in the vertical direction, i.e. on the y-axis, in order to immerse the cannulas 12 with their tips in the trough 28 filled with alcohol.

(40) Via the control unit 6, a small amount of alcohol is now sucked from the trough 28 into the cannula in order to denature the biological residues. After this, the sampling unit is retracted upwards in the vertical direction (along the y-axis) via the fifth actuator A5 and the collecting vessel 29 is moved from the rinsing position to a rinsing solution discharge position so that the collecting vessel 29 is arranged below the sampling device 3. After this, demineralized water which is stored in a container of the device not shown in the Figures is introduced into the cannulas 12 via the vacuum hoses and the cannulas 12 are rinsed with this water which is collected in the collecting vessel 29.

(41) After rinsing, drying of the cannulas and/or vacuum hoses preferably takes place. This can be done, for example, by means of separate air nozzles which are provided in the inspection device and blow the cannulas 12 from the outside. In the present example, air is blown through the vacuum hoses 11 and thus the cannulas 12 are blown by means of the pneumatic system.

(42) After the sampling devices have been cleaned, the rinsing device 5 is pulled back into the basic position as shown in FIG. 1.

(43) Subsequently, the feeding device 1 is positioned via the control unit 6 in such a way that the rack 13 is shifted obliquely forward one row in the direction of translation in order to sample the next row of five eggs 18 simultaneously.

(44) This prescribed method shall be repeated until all consecutive eggs of the rack have been sampled in the longitudinal direction.

(45) The position in the matrix of sample collection devices 4 in which the amount of liquid extracted is placed on the titer plate corresponds to the position of the eggs in the racks. In this way, each egg in the rack can be clearly assigned to a single sample collection device.

(46) The entire egg inspection device may be operated via a touch-sensitive computer screen connected to the control unit 6. The computer screen in FIGS. 2A and B is provided with reference sign 30.

(47) An example of a software user interface that controls the device displayed on the computer screen 30 is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a state of the user interface in which the sampling method was completed once. Therefore, in the schematic arrangement of the eggs in the racks shown on the right side, the squares are shown filled out.

(48) If a particular egg has not yet been sampled, these squares are not filled out, but merely drawn by a circumferential line.

(49) In addition, FIG. 7 shows that each rack and the corresponding titer plate, into which the samples are delivered, can be clearly assigned to each other. In the present example, this is ensured by an RFID tag, which is provided on a rack and on the titer plate. A tray number stored in the RFID tag can be assigned to a titer plate number.

(50) Once all eggs of the rack have been sampled as desired, characterization is usually not performed within the device according to the invention but in a separate device. This means that the titer plates filled with samples are removed from the device and fed to an appropriate device to determine the oestrone sulfate concentration. The fact that the arrangement of the eggs in racks is known and the position in which the corresponding liquid is discharged from an egg in the racks means that it is possible to determine later which egg in the racks corresponds to which result on the titer plate.

(51) Since the egg size can vary depending on the age of the laying hen, it is often difficult to sample all eggs with the same cannula length (projection of the cannula from the contact surface 19). This is because the protruding cannula length determines the depth from which the corresponding amount of liquid is taken from egg 18. For example, to extract allantoic liquid, a predetermined depth must always be reached at a previously described angle.

(52) The protruding length of the cannula can be adjusted by means of the control unit. For example, the control unit can set and vary the length of the cannula depending on the information about the respective egg, and thus selectively set a depth for each corresponding egg depending on its characteristics, e.g. its thickness, from which the amount of liquid is taken.

(53) Alternatively or additionally, or also if the protruding cannula length cannot be changed, the control unit can move the sampling device forward until the cannula is immersed in the liquid in the egg (allantois). The control unit can, for example, detect the cannula being immersed in a liquid (allantois) and stop the forward movement of the sampling unit when the desired depth is reached. The suction process is then started, for example.

(54) The length adjustment of the cannulas can also be an invention in itself, independent of the egg inspection device.

(55) FIGS. 5A and 5B show a detailed view of the sample delivery and cleaning assembly 26. This has a cover 35 for protection against environmental influences such as dust, a first storage surface 36 on which the rinsing device 5 rests, and a second storage surface 37 on which the sample collection devices 4 combined in the titer plate are placed. As shown in FIG. 5B, two titer plates are provided. Instead of the titer plate, a nonwoven can also be provided in which the extracted sample is discharged at various points.

(56) Each of the two storage surfaces is fixed separately to a translationally movable arm. The two arms can be moved independently of each other via the seventh actuator A7, the rinsing device 5 or the titer plate/nonwoven from the basic position to the corresponding delivery position for the sample unit or for rinsing or blowing out position for the rinsing unit.

(57) The cleaning assembly 26 can also be an invention in itself independently of the egg inspection device.

(58) As shown in FIG. 6, the egg stamps 24 are designed as slightly conical plastic sleeves 39 which have in their center an element 38 of regulating and balancing material, e.g. compressible material. The egg stamps 24 are moved translationally by the third actuator A3 shown in FIG. 1 via the pistons attached to them on the bottom side. Here, the tip of the eggs is brought into contact with the element 38 of regulating and balancing material and the eggs are held by the conical plastic sleeves 39 which are designed as egg heads and which are supported on their circumferential direction by suction cups.

(59) In order to better determine the position of the eggs, instead of the element 38 made of regulating and balancing material, lighting elements such as an LED unit can also be used to perform so-called shearing. By means of this illumination of the eggs, positions of different groups within the egg can be better determined. For example, the egg can be readjusted in order to better hit the allantois during piercing. In addition, it is conceivable that instead of the cannulas 12 which are mechanically height-adjustable by means of the fastening elements, further actuators are provided on the sampling devices 3 which enable automatic adjustment of the cannula length via the control device 6.

(60) It is advantageous, for example, to determine the size and shape of each egg 18 by means of an observation device, such as a camera, in order to obtain information about the characteristics or position of each egg by means of image processing methods. This information can be passed on to the control unit 6 which then adjusts the length accordingly via the actuators of the sampling devices for the respective cannula 12 of the respective sampling device 3. A connection with camera and light source for the alignment of the egg is conceivable.

(61) In the present embodiment, five eggs are sampled at the same time. Sampling is not limited to five eggs. A single sampling unit is sufficient for this invention. Preferably, however, at least two eggs, in particular up to ten eggs, can be sampled simultaneously.

(62) Even if in the second embodiment a vacuum control of the sampling is carried out, alternatively, as in the first embodiment, a simple syringe can be provided which can be operated via a mechanical piston.

(63) The present configuration of the egg inspection device makes it particularly effective to puncture the eggs in an automated manner at an oblique angle, preferably by puncturing the sampling device, i.e. the cannula attached to it, in a vertical direction, i.e. in the direction of gravity, each egg being individually aligned slightly obliquely at an angle of 20° to 800°.

(64) For this purpose, the eggs stored in the racks are fed obliquely to the direction of gravity together with the racks via the feeding device and then lifted out of the respective mesh of the racks by means of the lifting-out device perpendicular to this oblique surface.

(65) The eggs are held in the lifting-out device, presently by means of plastic sleeves 39 which are formed as suction devices comprising the egg head, and the stop element individually at the side, front and rear and independently of the rack, in order to ensure a selective exact piercing under a predefined angle and to sample eggs.

(66) By piercing the cannula 12 in a vertical direction (gravity direction), the angle at which the feeding device 1 feeds the eggs substantially corresponds to the inclination of the eggs with respect to the cannula 12.

(67) Particularly advantageous angle ranges are between 30° and 60°, preferably between 40° and 50°, in particular 45°. In particular, it is advantageous to define the angle in such a way that the angle between the cannula and the axis of rotation of the egg is seen from the base of the egg and not from the tip.

(68) If the egg is twisted by exactly the angle described above in relation to its base, it has been shown that the allantoic liquid accumulates to a suitable extent at a well-defined position in the egg so that a well-defined amount of allantoic liquid can be extracted through the cannula.

(69) In order to make this procedure even more reproducible, it is advantageous that the tip of the cannula used has at least two openings. It has been shown that if only one opening is used, an ideal sample cannot be taken under all conditions. More than two openings in the cannula are also possible. In some circumstances, a single opening in the cannula may also be advantageous.

(70) It is advantageous to provide a UV lamp unit 41 (see FIG. 1) for the inspection device so that UV light is emitted from this UV lamp unit 41 to the region where the eggs are sampled.

(71) In particular, a UV tube can be used which extends along the z-axis, i.e. along the direction of the eggs lying next to each other. In particular, it has been shown that placing the UV lamp unit 41 between the sampling device 3 and the sample delivery and cleaning assembly 26 is advantageous.

(72) In addition, the inclination with which the feeding device 1 feeds the rack can also be changed selectively depending on egg characteristics. The settings of the entire device can be made via the control unit 6.

(73) In particular, insofar as the egg inspection device is equipped with a system for determining the position of the eggs, for example an optical camera system, this image information can be processed in order to selectively determine the position of the individual eggs for extracting the amount of liquid and/or the length of the cannula as a function of the egg thickness, the egg size and/or the amount of liquid to be extracted.

(74) The vacuum hoses can be configured such that their pressure can be variably adjusted independently of each other for selective removal of liquid amounts adapted to the egg condition.

(75) In addition, instead of the individual sampling devices being attached to a base plate, it may also be advantageous that the individual sampling devices can be moved relative to each other.

(76) Insofar as the invention is based on the lifting-out device, this can also be omitted completely and any combination or design of sampling device, rinsing device, sample collection device, rack, control device, position determining device, or even a single one of these elements can form an invention in itself. The aforementioned devices or elements can also each form their own invention independently of the other components of the overall device.

(77) The disclosure of the German patent application no. 10 2015 226 490.4 on the method and details for determining the oestrone sulfate concentration in allantoic liquid by means of the double antibody technique is made part of the disclosure of the present application by means of this reference.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(78) Feeding device 1 Lifting-out device 2 Sampling device 3 Sample collection device 4 Rinsing device 5 Control unit 6 Egg stamp 7 Stop element 8 Syringe 9 Base plate 10 Vacuum hose 11 Cannula 12 Rack 13 Frame 14 Rail 16 Grid 17 Egg 18 Contact surface 19 Cannula 12 Fastening element 20 Plate element 21, 22 Light barrier 25 Sample delivery and cleaning assembly 26 Trough for alcohol 28 Collecting vessel 29 Computer screen 30 Gauge 31 Step 32 Counter surface 33 Cover 35 First storage surface 36 Second storage surface 37 Element of regulating and balancing 38 Conical plastic sleeve 39 UV lamp unit 41 First actuator A1 Second actuator A2 Third actuator A3 Fourth actuator A4 Fifth actuator A5 Sixth actuator A6 Seventh actuator A7