Animal husbandry – Method of incubation or brooding
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-16
2001-03-06
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Method of incubation or brooding
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196159
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention, in general relates to a method and apparatus for incubating poultry eggs, and, more particularly, to the incubation of eggs placed in a predetermined disposition within a tray.
2. The State of the Art
It is generally known that for incubation, eggs are placed onto trays which are then inserted into single or multi-tier shelves or caddies. Several methods and apparatus aiming at providing efficient incubation processes have become known.
Thus, German Patent DE 4,407,407 discloses a method and an apparatus for the incubation of eggs, the method being practiced by placing, transporting, storing and incubating the eggs on an egg support. Until the hatched chicks are removed from the supports, the eggs are not manipulated in any way outside of the incubation container or machine.
The necessary turning of the eggs to simulate natural brooding is realized by a device acting from the exterior on the tray caddies and egg supports within the incubation machine. To this end, during incubation the egg supports are placed on the bottom of the incubation tray such that the eggs touch the tray without having any circumferential contact free with the egg receptacles. While the configuration of the egg receptacles generally resembles the shape of the eggs, the receptacles nevertheless cannot fully prevent independent rolling and tumbling of the eggs.
The primary purpose of the known structure is to avoid repeated manipulations of the eggs between the time they are placed on the egg supports and the time they are hatched in order to yield positive incubation results by this manner of storage, transport and incubation.
An essential drawback of the apparatus is that during incubation the eggs are not placed in an exact position and, as mentioned above, they may to some extent move and roll away from their incubation position, thereby adversely affecting the result of the incubation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide an incubation apparatus in which eggs are prevented from moving out of their assigned orientation.
Another object of the invention is the provision of an incubation apparatus in which eggs assume a stable incubation position once they have been placed on their tray.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an incubation apparatus in which eggs remain in their assigned orientations from the time they are placed on the bottom of a tray until they are hatched.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a method of incubating eggs by placing them in a predetermined orientation and ensuring that they remain in this orientation during the entire incubation cycle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a currently preferred method of incubation includes the steps of placing eggs in random orientation into egg receptacles provided in an egg support, reciprocally moving the egg support to impart to the eggs an optimum orientation for incubation with the air chamber of the eggs facing upwardly, and turning or rotating the eggs at predetermined intervals thereby ensuring, by simulating natural conditions, that incubation is carried out in at least two different incubation positions.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment the apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a substantially planar egg support provided in its surface with egg receiving apertures of substantially elliptical planar section provided with a recess at each pole and an eggs tray having an undulating surface configuration adapted to receive the egg support at a predetermined spacing therefrom.
In accordance with the invention, a novel incubation method is being proposed which progresses in continuous steps of loading eggs onto an egg support, storing and transporting the eggs as well as incubating and brooding.
An important element of the invention is that the eggs are deposited on the egg support in random orientation without any precisely defined position, that by definable movements they are thereafter moved into their stable and optimum incubation orientation in which the eggs are disposed at an angle of inclination of about 20° relative to the plane of the egg support. Another important element of the invention is that the eggs are always oriented such that their air chamber faces upwardly during the entire incubation cycle.
Turning of the eggs as an essential element of the incubation cycle is carried out at predetermined intervals by relative movement of the bottom of the egg tray relative to the egg support so that all eggs are incubated in at least two different orientations in a manner simulating natural conditions in a nest.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention the eggs are placed in random orientation into the receptacles provided in the egg support into contact with the surface of the egg tray, that the support and the tray are reciprocally moved relative to each other thereby to move the eggs into an optimum orientation for incubation. They then remain in this orientation until the end of the incubation cycle. The reciprocal movement is such that the eggs are tilted about their major axis.
The apparatus in accordance with the invention consists of an egg support provided in its surface with substantially elliptical egg receiving openings approximating the contour of an egg and cooperating with an egg tray having an undulating or corrugated surface structure comprising alternating elevations and depressions. Preferably, the elevations are spaced such that they substantially coincide with the longitudinal center of the openings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3003463 (1961-10-01), Rijcke
patent: 3132735 (1964-05-01), Nilsen
patent: 3489124 (1970-01-01), Cannon
patent: 4398499 (1983-08-01), Blakely
patent: 4558661 (1985-12-01), Theilig et al.
patent: 5046454 (1991-09-01), Jensen
patent: 5568791 (1996-10-01), Dratt
Hormann Karl
Price Thomas
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