CN1089079A - Methods and equipment for incubating eggs - Google Patents

Abstract

The egg-holding tray holds the eggs such that the longitudinal axis of the eggs forms an angle of about 35 ° with respect to the horizontal bottom surface of the tray and the air cell ends of the eggs are raised. Vents on the tray side walls allow fresh air to flow from directly above the eggs during incubation. The hatchery includes a rack that supports a plurality of trays containing eggs. The tray-loaded rack is moved through a first set of doors into the incubation chamber, which doors connect the incubation chamber to a first aisle filled with fresh air. After incubation, the rack and air conditioning system in each incubation chamber are moved through a second set of doors into a second aisle filled with exhaust air from the incubation chamber. The pressure in the first aisle is higher than the pressure in the second aisle to reduce the risk of contamination.

Description

The method and apparatus of incubation

The present invention relates to the method and apparatus of incubation, particularly relate to a kind of like this method and apparatus, wherein keep the pallet of egg to be contained in the controlled environment, to impel hatching.

For many years, in hatching process, adopt pallet to adorn egg always.In general, earlier bright egg is placed on the pallet, then a plurality of pallets that egg is housed is put on the support.Support is arranged in the hatching house, and the environment that this is indoor, particularly temperature and humidity are controlled to young bird as much as possible is pipped from egg.Under great majority (but being not) situation at all, first pallet is designed to have desirable incubation condition, before young bird just will go out shell, the egg in first pallet to be transferred in second pallet, second tray design becomes to satisfy the requirement of the young bird behind the shell.Having method to comprise earlier is placed on egg on the surface of substantially flat in the pallet.

During incubation, pallet is tilted with respect to trunnion axis, in nest, make the motion of egg generation with the simulation female bird with mouth and pin.This motion in the hatching process is very important because in 14 days hatching process, the young bird embryo is floating, if egg is rotated, the young bird embryo will be bonded at egg upper surface and can be dead.Through about 14 days hatching, the young bird embryo is oriented such that its head is positioned at the acclivitous end of egg, and this end of egg should be the big end (butt end) that contains air bag.

During young bird goes out shell (this 21st day of approximately starting from hatching), young bird is pecked out eggshell with mouth, young bird be along balloon side near an annulus peck out, this annulus is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of egg basically.Therefore the balloon side of egg is pecked, and young bird is then by in the egg and go out.

If the small end of egg is inclined upwardly when young bird is determined self-position, then young bird can be misplaced its head in the small end of egg.Like this, when young bird had just been pecked eggshell and begun to breathe, it will be drowned.Even be positioned at the head of young bird under the situation of balloon side of egg, if that part of eggshell that has other object (as the end of pallet or adjacent egg) that young bird will be pipped blocks, young bird can not pip eggshell so, thereby also can die.

Sometimes, the inclination of pallet (this is must to carry out between the incubation period) can cause egg to roll mutually hitting or egg and pallet collision, and this situation also can resemble and hinder young bird to go out shell above-mentioned.The small end of egg may ride against on the adjacent egg or on the part of pallet, and the longitudinal axis of egg is tilted, and causes the balloon side of egg to lean against the bottom of pallet.If the small end of egg is higher than balloon side, then the problems referred to above will take place.

Therefore, the pallet of prior art and hatching m exist low, the ropy shortcoming of hatching rate of young bird.

Except the problems referred to above, the pollution of hatching eggs chamber also is a reason that causes young bird to yield poorly.The typical factory of hatching has a plurality of hatching eggs chambers usually, and each indoor removable support that is used to hatch that all is equipped with is placed with the pallet of adorning egg on the support.

In some method, the egg that is in the various different hatching stages is housed in the hatching eggs chamber.The support of supporting tray will move past hatching eggs chamber successively continuously, fresh egg is housed on the support of hatching eggs chamber one end, and the support of its other end is equipped with the egg of preparing out shell.In this method, the door that leads to hatching eggs chamber during incubation wants switch repeatedly, and this just impels the pollution that is caused by young bird fine hair and ight soil to propagate into the hatching eggs chamber from other places of hatching factory.

In other hatching ms, when beginning to hatch, what adorn on the support in the hatching eggs chamber all is fresh-laid egg, so during incubation just need not open the door that leads to hatching eggs chamber, unless this equipment requires before young bird goes out shell egg to be transferred to out the shell pallet from hatching tray.But, when the support that fresh-laid egg will be housed at first is placed in the hatching eggs chamber, also have young bird fine hair and the fecal pollution thing enters in this chamber.

In one aspect, the present invention includes an incubation pallet, its bottom is formed with the curved surface of a plurality of maintenance eggs, egg is held in allow the longitudinal axis of egg form an acute angle with respect to the tray bottom, and the balloon side that makes egg than its other end away from the tray bottom.

In another aspect of this invention, provide a kind of hatching factory, it has first inflatable region that is full of fresh air (or zone of positive pressure, down with).A hatching eggs chamber receives the support that carries egg from first inflatable region.During incubation, the fresh air in first inflatable region is passed to hatching eggs chamber.After hatching, support can move into one second inflatable region from hatching eggs chamber.During incubation, the air in the hatching eggs chamber enters second inflatable region.

General purpose of the present invention provides a kind of incubation method and apparatus that can overcome the above-mentioned defective that exists in the incubation method and apparatus that has earlier.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of improved pallet, and egg can once be finished therein from hatching the process to broken shell.

Purpose more specifically of the present invention provides a kind of pallet that improves the yield and quality of young bird.

A further object of the present invention provides a kind of like this method and apparatus, and it can reduce between the incubation period pollution to egg, thereby improves the yield and quality of young bird.

By below in conjunction with the detailed description of accompanying drawing, will be more readily understood above-mentioned purpose of the present invention, feature and advantage to most preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is the top plan view with incubation pallet of structure of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the amplification profile along the intercepting of the 2-2 line among Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is the part amplification view of the pallet tray stack identical with another among Fig. 1 when being nested together;

Fig. 4 is the profile along the intercepting of the 4-4 line among Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is the part flat sheet of the bottom view of the top tray among Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is the part schematic plan view according to the hatching factory of the present invention's structure;

Fig. 7 is the part enlarged drawing of the hatching factory among Fig. 6.

Now referring to Fig. 1 and 2, the pallet that is used for incubation is totally represented by label 10.Pallet 10 is according to the present invention's structure, and it has a bottom 12 and sidewall 14,16,18,20.

12 holder egg surfaces 22, bottom with level.Holder egg surface is limited and is had 5 row 12 by sidewall 14-20 and equips egg nest (or pit), shown in label 24,26.Dress egg nest also can be described as holding device or curved surface at this.Clearly visible from Fig. 4, the shape on surface 24,26 is not symmetrical, its shape makes can take up an egg, as egg 28(shown in chain-dotted line), and the thin end (small end) that makes egg is downward-sloping with respect to surface 22, and its butt end or balloon side are inclined upwardly as shown in Figure 3.

As Fig. 2, shown in 4 and 5, the downside of bottom 12 has strengthening web 30,32.The downside of other all webs on the downside of every block of web and the bottom 12 is located substantially on the same plane.This structure can provide a flat lower surface for pallet when pallet 10 being placed on the plane surface.

Each sidewall all has downward outer shoulder, for example lays respectively at the shoulder 34 and 36 on sidewall 18 and 20.As shown in Figure 2, shoulder is made and can be combined with the bar 38,40 on the support (not shown) of routine, and this support is used to support a plurality of pallets 10.

Each sidewall also has interior shoulder upwards, for example lays respectively at sidewall 18,14, the interior shoulder 42,43,44 on 20.The vertical support web as 46,48,50, extends to from the rear surface 22 of each web and to make its upper end be positioned at the plane of shoulder upwards as 42,43 places.Like this, each web as 46,48 upper end have respectively one with the shoulder that makes progress as 42,43 graft union that are connected.

What link to each other with each supporting web is guider or guiding web, and the web 52,54 that for example leads links to each other with supporting web 46,48 respectively.Each guiding web all has a upper surface, and as the upper surface on the web 52 56, this upper surface extends to inboard lower position (this guiding web just is formed on this sidewall) from the upper position of guiding web and adjacent sidewalls.As following will know as described in, when the top of another pallet 10 is inserted in the bottom of pallet 10, the guiding web is used to make upper and lower pallet to align, thereby makes the lower surface of top tray sidewall be imported into down the upper surface of tray supporting web, and this situation is illustrated by Fig. 4.

A plurality of ventilating openings as ventilating opening 58,60, are arranged in each sidewall, and extend upward from shoulder 43, as shown in the figure.Each sidewall has a pair of such ventilating opening, and they align with the dress egg nest of adorning in egg nest and the each row and column 24,26.This shows that air can be directly over the egg in the egg nest of packing into, along freely circulating with the perpendicular direction of above-mentioned direction between the first direction of 14,16 of sidewalls and the sidewall 18,20.

Now referring to Fig. 6 and 7,, wherein in hatching process, adorn egg with pallet 10 in Fig. 6, describing by the structure and the operation of the hatching factories of label 62 overall expressions.This hatching factory is limited by outer wall 64.A unloading platform 66 is used for being convenient to egg is uncarted, and egg is preferably loaded and stacked as shown in Figure 4 by pallet 10.A young bird loading stage 68 allows to come from the young bird of hatching factory 64 and installs on the vehicle, to be transported to feed lot.

Hatching factory has passageway 70,72,74,76, and they constitute first inflatable region.Passageway 70-76 provides fresh air stream by the air-conditioning system (not shown) of routine.The passageway by the hatching factory 64 with traditional gas check (not shown) be isolated from the outside.72,74,76 are provided with a plurality of hatching eggs chambers along the passageway, and wherein 3 hatching eggs chambers are by label 78,80, and 82 represent.Fig. 7 schematically amplifies the thin portion that represented chamber 80 and the part of chamber 78 and 82.

Each hatching eggs chamber as 80, is according to the U.S. common pending application application No.07/324 basically, 943(1989 submission in March 16, denomination of invention is the method and apparatus of incubation, hereinafter to be referred as ' 943 applications) structure, at this as a reference with this patent application.Generally speaking, hatching eggs chamber 80 comprises a pair of holder incubator tray support 84,86, and as shown in phantom in Figure 7, support has conventional structure.Support 84,86 is installed on the wheel (not shown), so that be movable to the different location in the hatching factory 64.Each support 84,86 is by the cramp bar on it, and cramp bar 38,40 as shown in Figure 2 supports a plurality of pallets 10.

Air-conditioning system 88 hatching eggs chamber 80 also has in ' 943 applications.Article one, flexible pipe 90 is contained in an end of air-conditioning system, and the other end of flexible pipe is releasably linked on the wall 92, and wall 92 constitutes the sidewall in passageway 74.On wall 92, have a blow vent (not shown), so that the air in the passageway 74 is communicated with air-conditioning system 88 by flexible pipe 90.

Hot and cold water supply pipe (not shown) and hot and cold water return pipe are also linked on the air-conditioning system, so that the temperature of regulating hatching eggs chamber 80 as ' 943 applications.Water pipe is releasably received on the return piping in water source and each hatching eggs chamber, will do more detailed description to this below.For simplicity, water pipe is not shown among the figure.

Shown in ' 943 applications, the fan that is contained on the air-conditioning system 88 circulates air in hatching eggs chamber 80.

See Fig. 6 constituting passageway 98() the wall 96 of a sidewall on have blast pipe 94.Passageway 98 and passageway 100,102,104 have constituted second inflatable region.

The same with during ' 943 apply for of the structure of blast pipe 94 and operation, but be installed on the top of hatching eggs chamber at this.

Hatching eggs chamber 80 also comprises the first cover door, the 106 and second cover door 108.Door 106,108 is as sealable opening.As will be explained below like that door 106 allows supports 84,86 and air-conditioning system 88 74 to enter hatching eggs chamber 80 from the passageway, and door 108 then permission support and air-conditioning system enters passageway 98 by hatching eggs chamber.

See Fig. 6 again, a traditional heat exchanger 110 is connected to (only schematically illustrated) on the pipeline 112, is used for the cold water feed pipe is guided to each hatching eggs chamber, as hatching eggs chamber 80.Equally, the cold-water return pipe that comes out from each hatching eggs chamber turns back to heat exchanger 110, emits heat at this, and this heat is discharged in the hatching factory 64, regulate the temperature (as ' 943 applications are described) of hatching eggs chamber thus, and add the remainder of hot incubation factory 64.

Hatching factory 64 also comprise one scrub between 114, it is communicated with passageways 104 by door 116.Broom closet 118 through door 120 with scrub between 114 link to each other, and lead to passageway 76 by door 122.124 are used for receiving the young bird of hatching between a young bird before young bird is delivered to loading stage 68.Other room of hatching factory 64 is used to provide operation workshop, placement plant equipment and office to use the place.

The pallet 10 that is used for hatching factory 64 is described below.At first, fresh fertile egg is put in a plurality of pallets that stack 10 (as shown in Figure 4).From Fig. 4 as seen, the longitudinal axis of each egg such as egg 28 is with respect to 22 one-tenth about 35 ° of angles, surface, and the big end of egg 28 is that balloon side is inclined upwardly.Above-mentioned angle preferably is about 35 °.But, 20 ° angle also is enough to obtain advantageous effects of the present invention.

In case many tray stack have been put well, just they are delivered to unloading platform 66, from then on unload and send into hatching factory 64.In the unloading platform, pallet is installed into support as on 84,86.When pallet places cramp bar, as 38,40(sees Fig. 2, and cramp bar is used for the pallet of supporting bracket) time, the support of each support below it separates certain distance, and this distance is enough to allow the straight body of young bird to stand on the surface 22.Like this, between the foot of the topmost of a pallet and the pallet above it, form a gap, thereby allow fresh air standing in above young bird head on the surface 22 tight and circulation on every side.58,60 of ventilating openings allow air to flow directly over egg before the hatching broken shell.

After support so loads, they are moved along the dotted line among Fig. 6 basically, the door 106 through opening enters hatching eggs chamber 80, closes to the doorstep subsequently.

After this, begin 21 days hatching process, in the meantime, air-conditioning system 88 is regulated temperature and humidity (as described in ' 943 applications).In hatching process, necessary tilt tray is in case the embryo in each egg is bonded on the upper surface of egg.For this reason, have traditional mechanism that pallet is tilted on the support 84,86.The angle that tilts should be enough to prevent embryo's adhesion, again can not be too big, in order to avoid egg rolls out as 24 from the egg nest.After pallet tilted, the position of each egg remained unchanged fully, still kept each other separating.

After the hatching, resemble ' 943 applications regulate the environmental condition of hatching eggs chamber 80 described, and utilize support that pallet is tilted, be beneficial to the young bird broken shell.Young bird can be represented by the eggshell of breaking egg 28 among Fig. 4 by the mode that eggshell pips.As can be seen, young bird is to pip by the coaxial border circular areas of a cardinal principle and the longitudinal axis of egg basically.

During incubation, fresh air through flexible pipe 90 from the passageway 76 the input hatching eggs chambers 80.Air as ' 943 the application described by air-conditioning system 88 humidifications, heating or cooling.Also described as ' 943 applications simultaneously, air is discharged from hatching eggs chamber 80 through blast pipe 94.

It should be noted passageway 76 and form air pressure in other zone of first inflatable region and be kept above passageway 102 and form pressure in the relevant range of second inflatable region.If opening occurs between two inflatable regions, then air-flow from first or the fresh air inflatable region flow to second or the waste gas inflatable region.These characteristics and very important are because air enters passageway 102 through exhaust outlet 94.In addition, after broken shell, young bird is sent to passageway 102 through door 108.Like this, the passageway 102 that forms second inflatable region can be polluted by the fine hair of young bird, ight soil and the bacterium that grows in pallet between the incubation period with the relevant range.If this moment first or the fresh air inflatable region and second inflatable region between have opening, then air always flows into second inflatable region from first inflatable region, can prevent that thus fresh air is contaminated.

Young bird is sent between young bird 124 from hatching eggs chamber 80, and young bird will leave in here temporarily, till the vehicle of packing into through loading stage 68 transports hatching factory.The dotted line that is extended to loading stage 68 by unloading platform 66 has been represented egg and has been passed through the route of hatching factory from the young bird that hatching eggs chamber 80 is hatched.

After young bird is sent hatching eggs chamber 80, water pipe (not shown) and flexible pipe 90 are unloaded from air-conditioning system 88, then with air-conditioning system 88 through door 108 send hatching eggs chamber 80 and send into scrub between 114, with thorough cleaning.After this cleaning device is sent into broom closet 118 through door 120, when needed, cleaning device can enter a hatching eggs chamber as 80.

Simultaneously, after tray supporter and air-conditioning system are seen off from hatching eggs chamber 80, bring cleaning device into passageway 98, and make it enter hatching eggs chamber, hatching eggs chamber is cleaned completely and cleans through door 108.In the meantime, door 106 remains closes, and thus hatching house and fresh air inflatable region is isolated.After cleaning, door 108 is closed, and door 106 is opened, to receive clean aircondition and two other pallet.

It should be noted that in whole hatching process, door 106 and 108 remains closes, thus the danger that reduces to pollute hatching eggs chamber.Owing to do not need egg is transferred to out the shell pallet from hatching tray, so the danger of polluting has reduced, the danger by unnecessary caused by operations egg breakage has simultaneously also reduced.Because all eggs all begin to hatch simultaneously, therefore needn't resemble some has earlier the equipment for taking out the young bird that has pipped and add new egg open and close door from some egg.

Owing to after each hatching circulation, all will clean completely, so the danger of polluting has further been reduced to hatching eggs chamber and air-conditioning system.In addition, if necessary, can one day be that all surface of passageway 98-104 is cleaned several times completely to second inflatable region, to reduce contamination of heavy further.Owing to do not utilize pipeline that each hatching eggs chamber is carried fresh air and therefrom exhaust, thus easier carrying out when the cleaning ratio has pipeline because can the gathering dust on the pipeline, bacterium etc., and these can increase contamination of heavy.

Therefore, adopt pallet of the present invention and hatching factory can improve the amount of hatching and the quality of young bird.

After in conjunction with most preferred embodiment the principle of the invention being illustrated and illustrates, those of ordinary skill in the art is readily understood that, under the situation that does not exceed this principle, can make amendment to its structure and details.But this all falls within the desired protection domain of the application undoubtedly.

Claims (35)

1. A method for hatching eggs, comprising the following steps: placing multiple eggs on a horizontal support surface, each egg is positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the egg forms an acute angle with respect to the egg support surface and that the air cell end of the egg is higher than its other end, immobilizing each egg relative to the egg support surface, The eggs are incubated until they hatch. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of positioning each egg includes positioning each egg such that the longitudinal axis of the egg is at an angle of at least 20° relative to the egg support surface. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of positioning each egg includes positioning each egg such that the longitudinal axis of the egg is at an angle of approximately 35° relative to the egg support surface. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of preventing the eggs from contacting each other. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of tilting the egg support surface during incubation. 6. An egg hatching device, comprising: support means for supporting a plurality of eggs on a substantially flat support surface, Retaining means for retaining each egg such that the longitudinal axis of the egg forms an acute angle with respect to the egg support surface and the air cell end of the egg is further from the egg support surface than the other end. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said retaining means comprises means for placing the longitudinal axis of the egg at an angle of at least 20 DEG relative to the egg support surface. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said retaining means includes means for angling the longitudinal axis of the egg at approximately 35° relative to the egg support surface. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for preventing the eggs from contacting each other. 10. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for tilting the egg support surface. 11. A tray for holding eggs during incubation, comprising: a bottom with a surface to support the egg, a plurality of curved surfaces formed on said bottom, each curved surface shaped to hold the egg such that the longitudinal axis of the egg forms an acute angle with respect to said bottom surface and with the air cell end of the egg farther from the bottom than its other end surface. 12. A pallet according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes a side wall with an upwardly facing inner shoulder for supporting the bottom of another pallet which is nested together. 13. The tray of claim 12 wherein said side walls have ventilation holes above the shoulders to allow air to circulate directly over the eggs held by said curved surface. 14. The tray of claim 12, wherein said shoulders are constructed and arranged to space the top surface of an egg placed in a first tray at a distance from the surface of the bottom of a second tray nested within the first tray. . 15. The pallet of claim 14, further comprising guide means for guiding the first pallet into nested relationship with the second pallet when said first pallet is lowered onto the second pallet. 16. The pallet of claim 11 including a side wall having a downwardly directed outer shoulder for contacting a support in a pallet support. 17. A hatchery for incubating eggs, comprising: a hatchery in which the eggs hatch, a first plenum in fluid communication with said hatch for providing fresh air to the hatch, a second plenum in fluid communication with said hatcher for receiving spent air exhausted from the hatcher, a first sealable opening between the first aerated area and the hatching chamber which, when open, allows eggs to be passed from the first aerated area into the hatching chamber, A second sealable opening between the second aeration chamber and the hatching chamber which, when open, allows eggs to pass from the hatching chamber into the second aeration chamber. 18. The hatchery of claim 17 including a plurality of said hatching chambers, each hatching chamber being in fluid communication with said aeration zone and having said first and second sealable openings . 19. A hatchery according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure in said first aeration zone is kept higher than the pressure in said second aeration zone. 20. The hatchery of claim 17, further comprising a movable frame for feeding eggs into and out of said hatching chamber through said first and second openings, respectively. 21. The hatchery of claim 18 wherein said first and second aeration zones comprise first and second zones. 22. A method for incubating eggs, comprising the following steps: Introduce fresh air into the first plenum zone, Put the eggs on a stand, moving the frame through the first plenum to an incubation chamber in fluid communication with the first plenum, Send the bracket from the first inflatable area into the hatching room, Eggs are incubated in a hatchery until their shells break, During incubation, the air in the hatch chamber is exhausted into the second aeration zone, After the eggs have been shelled, the racks are fed from the hatching chamber to the second aeration zone. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising maintaining the first plenum at a higher pressure than the second plenum. 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising periodically cleaning the second aeration zone. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein delivering the racks from the first aeration zone into the incubation chamber comprises the steps of: Open the first door to the hatchery, Feed the racks into the hatching room through the first open door, Close the first door. 26. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that sending the rack from the hatching chamber to the second aeration zone after the eggs have been shelled comprises the steps of: Open the second door to the hatchery, Feed the rack through the open second door into the second plenum. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of: Transport the cleaning equipment through the second aeration zone and into the hatching room through the second door, Clean the hatchery. 28. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of regulating the temperature of the incubation chamber by circulating hot and cold water through the hatching chamber during incubation. 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of using the circulating water to heat the building in which the hatching houses are located. 30. A hatchery for incubating eggs, comprising: The first inflatable zone filled with fresh air, a stand for holding eggs, an incubator, means to allow the carriage to move from the first aeration zone into the hatching chamber, means for the flow of fresh air from the first aeration zone into the hatching chamber during incubation, second inflatable zone, means for exhausting the air in the hatchery into the second aeration zone during incubation, A device that allows the racks to move from the hatching chamber into the second aerated area after hatching. 31. A hatchery as claimed in claim 30 wherein the means for permitting movement of the racks from the first plenum into the hatching chamber comprises a door. 32. A hatchery as claimed in claim 30 wherein the means for allowing movement of the racks from the hatching chamber into the second aeration zone after hatching comprises a door. 33. The hatchery of claim 30, further comprising means for maintaining the pressure in the first aeration zone higher than the pressure in the second aeration zone. 34. The hatchery of claim 30, further comprising means for circulating hot and cold water through the incubation chamber for regulating the temperature of the incubation chamber. 35. A hatchery according to claim 34, further comprising a heat exchanger for extracting heat from water which has been circulated through the hatching chamber during incubation.

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