Combined hatchery with multiple devices for handling, processing or inoculating eggs or chicks

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of poultry production. More specifically, the invention relates to the collection and analysis of data from poultry hatcheries.

[0002] A poultry production chain relies on managing hundreds of thousands of animals from their arrival at a hatchery as eggs until their departure as chicks, a process that can last up to three weeks. These operations are often influenced by a range of fluctuating variables and factors that can impact operational efficiency. Commercial animal husbandry, in particular, must consider and attempt to control dozens of variables to ensure animal welfare throughout its growth phases. In poultry farming, where a hatchery is responsible for proper embryonic development until hatching, effective control of various variables is essential for the health and well-being of the animals.

[0003] In order to improve animal welfare in this poultry production chain, while enabling large-scale production, modern production lines employ a battery of equipment implementing handling, processing or vaccination operations automatically.

[0004] Given the significant production volumes and the pace of the production line, deviations in the performance and therefore the parameters of the various equipment at each stage of the production chain can have a considerable impact on both the welfare of the poultry along the chain and the quality and yield of the hatchery. It is therefore essential to be able to monitor these parameters in real time in order to implement corrective actions on the production line if necessary.

[0005] To this end, some equipment is fitted with sensors or a programmable logic controller (PLC) capable of producing a data stream related to the operation or processes performed by this equipment, allowing for monitoring of this operation or these processes. However, given the number of pieces of equipment used in a poultry production line and the number of parameters that can impact this production line, this solution alone is insufficient. Furthermore, it may be necessary to track both the raw data produced by the equipment and the correlations between different types of data generated by the same piece of equipment or by different pieces of equipment.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution to monitor an entire poultry production chain, at the hatchery level. The present invention falls within this context and aims to meet this need. The documents "Smart poultry management: Smart sensors, big data, and the internet of things", JP2020 204570 and "The development of a quail egg smart incubator for hatching system based on microcontroller and Internet of Things (IoT)" are part of the prior art.

[0007] The invention is defined by the claims. For these purposes, the invention relates to a connected hatchery comprising a plurality of devices for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks distributed along a production line, each of the devices being an automated device equipped with a programmable logic controller capable of producing at least one data stream relating to the operation or operations of said automated device, characterized in that it comprises a data centralization and processing unit arranged to collect the data streams produced by the programmable logic controllers of said automated devices, to determine at least one performance indicator of said production line from one or more of said collected data streams and to transmit said performance indicator over a telecommunications network to a remote terminal.

[0008] Thanks to this invention, it is possible to collect, at a single centralized processing unit, all the data produced by the various pieces of equipment in the production line, and then determine in real time one or more performance indicators based on one or more of these data points. These indicators can consist of raw data or combinations of data that highlight certain correlations between them. These indicators can thus provide information on the welfare of the poultry at a specific point in the production line or on the quantity of viable poultry produced at the end of the production line.This indicator, or these indicators, can then be transmitted to a remote terminal, for example, by being sent from the central processing unit to a remote computer server, which can then relay these indicators to a computer application installed on a smartphone belonging to an operator responsible for monitoring the production line. This operator thus has real-time access to these indicators, enabling them to trigger corrective action in the event of a deviation from the expected values, adjusting one or more parameters of one or more pieces of equipment on the production line.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, each device for handling, processing, or vaccinating eggs or chicks is a device selected from: a. A device for arranging eggs from a tray onto a conveyor; b. A device for assessing the size and / or weight of one or more eggs, particularly while they are traveling on a conveyor; c. A device for detecting inverted eggs, particularly while they are traveling on a conveyor, and for marking said inverted eggs; d. A device for filling a tray with eggs traveling on a conveyor; e. A device for stacking trays onto a trolley; f. An egg incubator or hatcher; g. A device for detecting an unfertilized egg or an egg containing a dead embryo, particularly while they are traveling on a conveyor and, where applicable, including a means for removing the unfertilized egg or the egg containing a dead embryo from said conveyor; h. A device for detecting the sex of embryos in the egg (in ovo); i. An egg disinfection device, in particular one circulating on a conveyor; j.A device for vaccinating embryos in eggs (in ovo), in particular one circulating on a conveyor; k. A device for cleaning a tray; l. A device for arranging chicks from a tray onto a conveyor; m. A device for vaccinating chicks by injection, in particular one circulating on a conveyor; n. A device for sorting chicks by type, in particular one circulating on a conveyor; o. A chick counter, in particular one circulating on a conveyor; p. A device for vaccinating chicks by spraying, in particular one circulating on a conveyor.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the connected hatchery may include: a. An egg reception area for eggs from one or more farms, the reception area comprising one or more conveyors, a device for arranging eggs from a tray onto one of these conveyors, a device for assessing the size and / or weight of eggs circulating on one of these conveyors, a device for detecting upside-down eggs circulating on one of these conveyors and for marking said upside-down eggs, a device for filling a tray with eggs circulating on one of these conveyors, and a device for stacking trays onto a trolley; b. An incubator intended to receive eggs from the egg reception room and equipped with means for regulating temperature and humidity within the incubator; c.A transfer zone for incubated eggs to a hatcher, the transfer zone comprising one or more conveyors, a device for destacking trays filled with eggs from a trolley on one of these conveyors, a device for detecting unfertilized eggs or eggs containing a dead embryo circulating on one of these conveyors and for removing said unfertilized egg or egg containing a dead embryo from said conveyor, a device for disinfecting eggs circulating on one of these conveyors, a device for vaccinating by injection of one or more vaccines to eggs circulating on one of these conveyors, a device for filling a tray with eggs circulating on one of these conveyors, and a device for stacking trays on a trolley; d. A hatcher intended to receive eggs from the egg transfer zone and equipped with means for regulating temperature and humidity within the hatcher; e.A chick departure area from the hatchery, a transfer area comprising one or more conveyors, a device for unstacking crates filled with chicks from a trolley on one of these conveyors, a device for vaccinating chicks by injection circulating on one of these conveyors, a chick counter circulating on one of these conveyors and arranged to fill a basket with a predetermined number of chicks, a device for vaccinating chicks by spraying circulating on one of these conveyors; f. A crate washing area equipped with a device for disinfecting and cleaning a crate.

[0011] Advantageously, the egg-handling device for transferring eggs from a tray onto a conveyor can be equipped with handling means, for example, comprising a plurality of actuators and suction cups, automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) to handle and transfer each egg stored in a tray to the conveyor. Optionally, said PLC can be configured to produce one or more data streams relating to the number of trays handled since the device was put into operation or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to the total number of eggs or the number of eggs per tray transferred by the device to the conveyor since the device was put into operation or since a reset of the device's operations, and relating to the total number of empty trays or the number of empty trays since the device was put into operation or since a reset of the device's operations.

[0012] Advantageously, the device for assessing the size and / or weight of one or more eggs moving along a conveyor can be equipped with means, including mechanical and / or optical means, for measuring the dimensions and / or weight of the egg, automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller. Where appropriate, said programmable logic controller can be configured to produce one or more data streams relating to the weight or dimensions of each egg measured since the device was put into operation or since a reset of the device's operations.

[0013] Advantageously, the device for detecting upside-down eggs circulating on a conveyor, and for marking said upside-down eggs, can be equipped with means, including mechanical and / or optical means, for detecting the orientation of the eggs on the conveyor and means for marking upside-down eggs, for example by means of ink, said detection means and said marking means being automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller.Where appropriate, said programmable logic controller may be arranged to produce one or more data streams relating to the number of eggs analyzed by the device, total or per tray, since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to the number of upside-down eggs, total or per tray, since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to the analysis speed of the device since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to an active or inactive state of an operating alarm of all or part of the device.

[0014] Advantageously, the egg incubator and / or hatcher may be equipped with means for measuring and controlling temperature, light, humidity, and the concentration of a gas, for example, carbon dioxide or oxygen, within the incubator and / or hatcher. These measuring and control means are automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC). Where appropriate, the PLC may be configured to generate one or more data streams relating to temperature, humidity, and gas concentration within the incubator and / or hatcher from the moment the incubator and / or hatcher is put into operation or from a reset of the incubator and / or hatcher's operations.

[0015] Advantageously, the device for detecting an unfertilized egg or a dead embryo in an egg traveling on a conveyor and for removing said unfertilized egg from said conveyor is equipped with means, for example optical means, notably including a laser emitter, for detecting the physiological state of the egg, and mechanical means for removing an unfertilized egg or one containing a dead embryo from the conveyor, for example including a plurality of suction cups and actuators. These detection means and mechanical removal means are automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller. Where appropriate, said programmable logic controller may be configured to produce one or more data streams relating to the number of eggs analyzed by the device, total or per tray, since the device was put into operation or since a reset of the device's operations, and relating to the number of fertilized and / or unfertilized eggs detected by the device, total or per tray.Since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to the number of eggs containing a live and / or dead embryo detected by the device, total or per tray; since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to the number of eggs removed from the conveyor by the device, total or per tray; since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to the device's analysis speed since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations; relating to the active or inactive state of an alarm for the operation of all or part of the device.

[0016] Advantageously, at least one or each of the egg or chick vaccination devices moving on a conveyor can be equipped with one or more vaccine containers, and means for injecting or spraying the vaccine, for example comprising a plurality of needles and mechanical actuators each capable of introducing one of the needles into an egg or chick and injecting the vaccine contained in the container into the egg or chick via the needle, the containers and the means for injecting or spraying being automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller.Where appropriate, said programmable logic controller may be arranged to produce one or more data streams relating to the number of eggs or chicks vaccinated by the device, total or per tray, since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to the vaccination rate of the device since the device was put into service or since a reset of the device's operations, relating to an active or inactive state of an operating alarm of all or part of the device, relating to the quantity of vaccine remaining in the container or each container.

[0017] Furthermore, the programmable logic controller (PLC) of a vaccination device can generate a data stream specific to the vaccination method used by that device. For example, for an injection vaccination device, the PLC can generate a data stream including the number of cycles between maintenance, the pressure, the volume or weight of vaccine administered, the vaccine temperature, and the total usage time of a vaccine container. For example, for a spray vaccination device, the PLC can generate a data stream including the total number of cycles per session, the cycles before maintenance, the percentage of successful cycles, and the volume of vaccine administered.

[0018] Advantageously, the chick counter includes one or more chick conveyors, one or more basket conveyors and means for distributing a predetermined number of chicks circulating on the chick conveyor(s) into a basket circulating on the basket conveyor(s), the conveyors and the distribution means being automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller.Where appropriate, said programmable logic controller may be arranged to produce one or more data streams relating to the number of baskets filled with chicks by the counter since the meter was put into service or since a reset of the meter operations, relating to the number of chicks distributed by the counter, total or per tray, since the meter was put into service or since a reset of the meter operations, relating to the rate of filling of the meter since the meter was put into service or since a reset of the meter operations, relating to an active or inactive state of an alarm of operation of all or part of the meter.

[0019] Advantageously, the logic programmable controller of each automated device will be able to generate a data stream including timestamp information such as the start and end of operations carried out by that device for a flock of eggs or chicks, identification information such as the name of the operator in charge of the device, or an identifier of the flock and / or the tray and / or the basket containing eggs or chicks processed by said device and / or information relating to the environment or the operation of the device.

[0020] Preferably, each device for handling, processing, or vaccinating eggs or chicks may include a communication unit capable of transmitting the data stream produced by the device's programmable logic controller to the central processing unit. For each automated device, this communication unit may be a wired unit connected by one or more cables to the central processing unit. Alternatively, this communication unit may be a wireless unit capable of transmitting data frames according to a given communication protocol over a telecommunications network. For example, this could be a Wi-Fi, LTE (4G or 5G), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or LoRaWAN protocol.

[0021] Advantageously, at least two communication units of two separate devices are capable of transmitting data frames according to two distinct communication protocols. Where applicable, the central processing unit is configured to determine the communication protocol used for transmitting a data frame it receives and to extract data from said data frame based on said determined communication protocol. For example, each automated device can be pre-associated, for example during the installation of said automated device in the production line, with the central processing unit by identifying, in a memory of the central processing unit, the communication protocol used by the communication unit of that automated device and by associating this protocol with an identifier of said communication unit.During the transmission of a data frame by said communication unit, the communication unit can be arranged to emit its identifier in the data frame so that the centralization and processing unit can identify the communication unit that emitted a data frame that it receives and select in its memory said communication protocol associated with this identifier in order to then extract the data from this data frame.

[0022] Advantageously, the centralization and processing unit is arranged to transmit said or each performance indicator over the telecommunications network according to a single communication protocol, for example according to an MQTT protocol (from the English "Message Queuing Telemetry Transport").

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the communication unit of at least one of the egg or chick handling, processing, or vaccination devices is integrated into the logic controller of said device. In another embodiment, the communication unit of at least one of the egg or chick handling, processing, or vaccination devices is connected to the logic controller of said device to read said data stream produced by this logic controller.

[0024] Advantageously, the programmable logic controller of each automated device is arranged to automatically produce at least one data stream related to the operation or functioning of said automated device, each data item in said data stream being automatically generated by the controller during the operation or functioning of said automated device. For example, said programmable logic controller of a device may produce data from a data stream periodically.Alternatively, said logic programmable controller of a device may automatically produce data from a data stream in response to the detection by the device of a specific event, for example in response to the processing of a new egg, a new chick, a new basket or a new cage or a new flock, or in response to the detection of a malfunction of the device, an error in an operation performed or to be performed by the device.

[0025] Alternatively or cumulatively, at least one of the automated devices may include an interface intended to be manipulated by an operator, such as a keyboard or a button, the programmable logic controller of a device being arranged to produce data from a data stream in response to the operator's manipulation of the interface. Advantageously, the programmable logic controller of a device may be arranged to produce or reset a data stream, including a counter, in response to the operator's manipulation of the interface.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, the hatchery includes at least one sensor capable of measuring an environmental parameter of the hatchery, the data processing and centralization unit being arranged to collect the measurements of said environmental parameter acquired by said sensor. For example, each zone of the production line may include one or more sensors for a local environmental parameter specific to that zone. These sensors may include, in particular, one or more of the following: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a gas concentration sensor, and in particular a sensor for carbon dioxide or hydrogen. Alternatively or cumulatively, the hatchery includes at least one sensor capable of identifying an operator or controlling an operator's access to a zone of the hatchery.

[0027] Preferably, the centralization and processing unit is arranged to update said performance indicator of said production line upon receipt of new data and to transmit said updated performance indicator over said telecommunications network to said remote terminal.

[0028] Advantageously, the centralization and processing unit is arranged to determine at least one performance indicator of the production chain by means of a combination of at least two data points from one or more collected data streams, and in particular by means of a combination of at least two data points from the same data stream or from at least two distinct data streams. A data combination is understood to mean, in particular, one of the following operations or a combination of at least two of the following: a ratio between two data points; a difference between two data points, and in particular a difference between a current value and an initial value; a sum of several data points, and in particular a sum of all the data points in a data stream generated during a given period, the average of several data points, or the multiplication of two data points.Alternatively, the performance indicator can be determined by the result of a logical operation performed on one or more data points, or by selecting a data point from among a plurality of data points, such as selecting a maximum or minimum value, or selecting the first or last data point in a data stream. Alternatively, the performance indicator can be generated directly from the raw data of a data stream. If necessary, the determination of more complex performance indicators, such as those described above, can be performed by a remote computer server receiving this raw data, with these more complex performance indicators then being transmitted from the remote server to the terminal.

[0029] For example, the performance indicator could be one of the following time-based indicators: the number of eggs or chicks handled, treated, or vaccinated by a piece of equipment in the production line; the percentage of inverted eggs detected; the percentage of fertilized eggs vaccinated; the number of chicks produced in the production line; the average handling, treatment, or vaccination rate of a piece of equipment in the production line; the minimum, maximum, or average temperature in an area or room of the production line; or the minimum, maximum, or average humidity in an area or room of the production line. Where applicable, the performance indicator could be determined for a given period, for a given flock, or for a complete production cycle including several flocks.

[0030] As an example, the performance indicator could be one of the following time indicators: an operating temperature of a motor of a device in the production line, a current consumption of a device in the production line, an air pressure of a pneumatic actuator of a device in the production line, the number of manipulations performed by an actuator of a device in the production line.

[0031] The invention also relates to a method of producing a plurality of data streams by a plurality of devices for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks distributed along a production line of a hatchery, of collecting said data streams by a centralization and processing unit, of determining at least one performance indicator of said production line from one or more of said collected data streams and of transmitting said performance indicator over a telecommunications network to a remote terminal.

[0032] The present invention is now described by means of purely illustrative and in no way limiting examples of the scope of the invention, and from the accompanying drawings, in which the various figures represent: [ Fig. 1 ] represents, schematically and partially, a connected hatchery according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] represents, schematically and partially, an example of an interface for a software application connected to the connected hatchery of the [ Fig. 1 ].

[0033] In the description that follows, identical elements, by structure or by function, appearing on different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references.

[0034] We have represented in [ Fig. 1 ] a connected hatchery 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. We will first describe the operation of the hatchery 1 through the production chain.

[0035] The hatchery 1 includes a receiving area 2 for eggs 10 from one or more farms. This receiving area 2 defines the first part of the production chain and includes two conveyors 21a and 21b on which the eggs 10 circulate. Various automated devices are arranged along the first conveyor 21a of area 2, namely a device 22 for arranging eggs from a tray, a device 23 for detecting upside-down eggs and marking said upside-down eggs, a device 24 for transferring eggs from the first conveyor 21a to a tray arranged on the second conveyor 21b and a device 25 for stacking trays on a trolley.

[0036] A flock of eggs is thus taken from a farm to the reception area 1 and the eggs from this flock circulate in batches on the first conveyor to be measured before being transferred to trays on the second conveyor, which are then stacked on a trolley.

[0037] The trolley is then transferred to a second zone consisting of an incubator 3, defining the second part of the production line. Incubator 3 is equipped with temperature and humidity control devices 31 and 32 within incubator 21. The eggs are thus stored in the incubator for a period of approximately 20 days, after which the trolley is transferred to a transfer zone 4.

[0038] Transfer zone 4 defines a third part of the production chain. It comprises two conveyors 41a and 41b. Various automated devices are arranged along the first conveyor 41a of zone 4, namely a device 42 for destacking trays filled with eggs from the trolley on this conveyor 41a, a device 43 for detecting unfertilized eggs or eggs containing a dead embryo and removing said unfertilized eggs or eggs containing a dead embryo from said conveyor 41a, a device 44 for disinfecting eggs, a device 45 for vaccinating by injecting one or more vaccines into the eggs, a device 46 for transferring eggs from the first conveyor 41a to a tray arranged on the second conveyor 41b, and a device 47 for stacking trays on a trolley.

[0039] The eggs thus circulate on the first conveyor to be sorted, disinfected and vaccinated before being transferred to trays on the second conveyor, which are then stacked on a trolley.

[0040] The cart is then transferred to a fourth zone consisting of a hatcher 5, defining a fourth part of the production line. The hatcher 5 is equipped with temperature and humidity control devices 51 and 52. The eggs are thus stored until the chicks hatch, for a period of a few days, after which the cart is transferred to a departure zone 6.

[0041] The starting zone 6 defines a fifth part of the production chain. It includes a conveyor 61, along which are arranged various automated devices, namely a device 62 for unstacking crates filled with chicks from the trolley on the conveyor 61, a device 63 for vaccinating chicks by injecting vaccine, a counter 64 for chicks circulating on one of these conveyors and arranged to fill a basket with a predetermined number of chicks and a device 65 for vaccinating chicks arranged in the baskets by spraying vaccine.

[0042] The chicks circulate on the conveyor to be vaccinated, counted, and revaccinated before leaving the hatchery.

[0043] The hatchery example described above is not limiting, it being understood that other arrangements, other areas and other types of machines may be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0044] We will now describe the data streams produced by some of the devices mentioned above. For the sake of simplicity, only a portion of these devices will be described, it being understood that the remaining devices can also produce data streams.

[0045] The inverted egg detection device 23 is equipped with means for detecting the orientation of eggs on conveyor 21a and means for marking inverted eggs, said detection means and said marking means being automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller 231. In the example described, the detection means comprise: a. a heating module comprising an infrared light source configured to expose a batch of eggs to infrared light and create a hot zone in an air cell of each egg, b. an imaging module with a thermal camera configured to capture thermal images of the batch of eggs, c. an analysis module configured to detect the presence of the hot zone in the air cell of each egg from the thermal images and identify the orientation of each egg in the batch of eggs.

[0046] The marking means comprise a plurality of pads, each pad being vertically mobile and movable by means of an actuator to mark an egg from a batch of eggs, the 231 logic programmable controller being arranged to control each pad according to the detections made by the analysis module.

[0047] The programmable logic controller 231 is configured to produce several data streams: a data stream F23a relating to the number of eggs in the flock analyzed by the detection means, and a data stream F23b relating to the number of inverted eggs detected by the detection means. Each counter used to generate these data streams is manually reset by an operator when the last batch of eggs in the flock has been analyzed or when a new flock is to be analyzed. Each counter is incremented by the number of eggs analyzed or detected when a batch has been analyzed by the detection means, thus producing new data in the F23a and F23b streams, in the form of a numerical value, at the end of the batch analysis.The programmable logic controller 231 is also configured to produce a data stream F23c relating to the analysis speed of the device 23, measured in the number of eggs analyzed per hour, and determined from the number of eggs in the flock analyzed by the detection means during a sliding time window, for example, during the last 10 minutes. A new data point in the F23c stream is thus produced periodically, in the form of a numerical value.

[0048] The programmable logic controller 231 is further arranged to produce a data stream F23d relating to an active or inactive state of an operating alarm of all or part of the device 23. A new data stream F23d is thus produced periodically in the form of a logic value, the logic value of this data being determined according to the state of the alarm or each alarm.

[0049] The device 43 for detecting unfertilized eggs or eggs containing a dead embryo and for removing said unfertilized eggs or eggs containing a dead embryo from conveyor 41a, also called a candling device, is equipped with means for detecting the physiological state of the eggs and means for removing unfertilized eggs or eggs containing a dead embryo from this conveyor, said detection means and said mechanical removal means being automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller 431. In the example described, the detection means comprise: a. at least one row of coherent laser sources arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the conveyor to emit at least one laser beam towards each of the eggs in the same row of a batch of eggs, b. at least one row of photodiodes to receive light fluxes from the eggs in a row of a batch of eggs; c. a computer processing module of the light flux received by each photodiode to determine the fertilized or unfertilized state of the egg from which this light flux originates or to determine whether the egg contains a live or dead embryo.

[0050] The removal means comprise a plurality of suction cups, each suction cup being vertically mobile and movable as well as actuable by means of an actuator to remove an egg from a batch of eggs on conveyor 41a, the programmable logic controller 431 being arranged to control each suction cup according to the detections of unfertilized eggs or containing a dead embryo operated by the processing module.

[0051] The programmable logic controller 431 is configured to produce several data streams: a data stream F43a relating to the number of eggs in the flock analyzed by the detection means, a data stream F43b relating to the number of fertilized eggs and / or eggs containing a dead embryo detected by the detection means, a data stream F43c relating to the number of unfertilized eggs and / or eggs containing a dead embryo detected by the detection means, and a data stream F43d relating to the number of eggs removed from conveyor 41a by the removal means. Each counter used to generate these data streams is manually reset by an operator when the last batch of eggs from the flock has been analyzed or when a new flock is to be analyzed.Each counter is incremented by the number of eggs analyzed, fertilized, unfertilized, containing a live embryo, containing a dead embryo, or removed, as a batch of eggs exits device 43. A new data point in the F43a to F43d streams is thus generated, in the form of a numerical value, at the output of the batch. The programmable logic controller 431 is also configured to generate a data stream F43e relating to the analysis rate of device 43, measured in the number of eggs analyzed per hour, and determined from the number of eggs in the flock analyzed by the detection means during a sliding time window, for example, during the last 10 minutes. A new data point in the F43e stream is thus generated periodically, in the form of a numerical value.

[0052] The programmable logic controller 431 is further arranged to produce a data stream F43f relating to an active or inactive state of an operating alarm of all or part of the device 43. A new data stream F43f is thus produced periodically in the form of a logic value, the logic value of this data being determined according to the state of the alarm or each alarm.

[0053] The device 45 for injecting a vaccine into eggs is equipped with a vaccine container fitted with a container fill sensor and means for injecting the vaccine into the container into eggs on conveyor 41a, said sensor and injection means being automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller 451. In the example described, the vaccine injection means comprise: a. a plurality of injectors mounted on a support, each equipped with a suction cup and a needle, b. a main actuator configured to move the main support in a longitudinal direction, c. a plurality of individual actuators each coupled to an injector and configured to move the injector in the longitudinal direction independently of the other actuators.

[0054] The programmable logic controller 451 is configured to produce several data streams: a data stream F45a relating to the number of eggs in the flock vaccinated by the vaccine injection device, and a data stream F45b relating to the number of eggs vaccinated since a complete reset of the device. Each counter used to generate these data streams is manually reset by an operator when the last batch of eggs from the flock has been analyzed, when a new flock is to be analyzed, or when the device 45 is reset. Each counter is incremented by the number of eggs in a batch that have been vaccinated. When a batch of eggs exits the device 45, a new data entry for the F45a and F45b streams is generated, in the form of a numerical value, at the time the batch exits.The programmable logic controller 451 is also configured to produce a data stream F45c relating to the vaccination rate of device 45, measured in the number of eggs analyzed per hour, and determined from the number of eggs in the flock vaccinated by injection means during a sliding time window, for example, during the last 10 minutes. A new data point in the F45c stream is thus produced periodically, in the form of a numerical value.

[0055] The programmable logic controller 451 is further configured to produce a data stream F45d relating to the active or inactive state of an alarm for the operation of all or part of the device 45, and a data stream F45e relating to the fill level of the vaccine container. A new data point in the F45d stream is thus periodically generated in the form of a logic value, the logic value of this data point being determined based on the state of the alarm(s). A new data point in the F45e stream is also periodically generated in the form of a logic value, the logic value of this data point being determined based on the detection of a "low" fill level of the container or based on the detection of the installation of a new container.

[0056] The chick counter 64 includes a basket conveyor and means for distributing a predetermined number of chicks circulating on the conveyor 64 into a basket circulating on the basket conveyor, the distribution means being equipped with a camera and means for processing images acquired by the camera arranged to count the number of chicks passing a virtual line in this image, the conveyors and the distribution means being automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller 641.

[0057] The 641 programmable logic controller is configured to produce several data streams: a data stream F64a relating to the number of baskets filled with chicks from the flock by the distribution means, and a data stream F64b relating to the number of chicks from the flock counted by the distribution means. Each counter used to generate these data streams is manually reset by an operator when the last batch of the flock has been analyzed or when a new flock is to be analyzed. The counter used for stream F64a is incremented each time a basket is filled, while the counter used for stream F64b is incremented each time a chick is counted. New data from both streams F64a and F64b is thus generated, in the form of a numerical value, at each of these events.The 641 logic programmable controller is also configured to produce a data stream F64c relating to the filling rate of device 64, measured in the number of chicks counted per hour, and re-evaluated each time a new chick is counted. A new data point in the F45c stream is thus produced, in the form of a numerical value, each time a new chick is counted.

[0058] The 641 logic programmable controller is further arranged to produce a data stream F64d relating to an active or inactive state of an operating alarm of all or part of the device 64. A new data stream F64d is thus produced periodically in the form of a logic value, the logic value of this data being determined according to the state of the alarm or each alarm.

[0059] The programmable logic controller of each automated device may also generate a data stream including information other than that described above, and in particular time-stamping information including for example the start and end of operations carried out by this device for a flock of eggs or chicks, identification information including for example the name of the operator in charge of the device, or an identifier of the flock and / or the tray and / or the basket containing eggs or chicks processed by said device and / or information relating to the environment or the operation of the device.

[0060] Hatchery 1 also includes a set of sensors 26, 48 and 66, distributed in zones 2, 4 and 6 and each capable of measuring the ambient temperature and ambient humidity in the zone in which it is placed.

[0061] In order to be able to monitor the entire production chain of hatchery 1, hatchery 1 includes a unit 7 for centralizing and processing data.

[0062] Each of the devices 23, 43, 45, and 64 includes a communication unit capable of transmitting to unit 7 each of the data streams F23a to F23d, F43a to F43f, F45a to F45e, and F64a to F64d, produced by the logic controllers 231, 431, 451, and 641 of said device. By way of non-limiting example, the communication unit of devices 23, 43, and 45 is integrated into the logic controllers 231, 431, and 451 of said device, while the communication unit of device 64 is connected to the logic controller 641 to read the data streams produced by this logic controller.

[0063] In the example described, each communication unit is a wireless communication unit capable of transmitting, according to a given communication protocol to Unit 7, the data streams produced by the programmable logic controllers 231, 431, 451, and 641. Unit 7 is configured to determine the communication protocol used for transmitting a data frame it receives and to extract data from said data frame based on the determined communication protocol. More specifically, Unit 7 converts a received data frame into a standard format so that it can consolidate all the data received from the different devices and facilitate the processing and combination of this data.

[0064] The centralization and processing unit 7 thus collects the data streams produced by the devices 23, 43, 45 and 64 of hatchery 1 as well as the parameters measured by the sensors 26, 48 and 66. It is arranged to determine, from the data of these data streams that it collects, performance indicators of hatchery 1.

[0065] In the following description, only three indicators will be described, it being understood that other indicators may be considered without going out of scope of the present invention.

[0066] As shown in [ Fig. 2 Unit 7 will first determine an initial indicator, I1, from the data streams F23b and F23a. Specifically, indicator I1 will be equal to the ratio of the last data point in stream F23b to the last data point in stream F23a, indicating the current percentage of upside-down eggs in the production chain. This indicator, I1, will be updated by Unit 7 upon receiving new data from streams F23a and / or F23b.

[0067] Unit 7 also determines a second indicator, I2, from the F43a and F45a data streams. Specifically, indicator I2 will be equal to the ratio between the sum of all the latest F45a data streams produced for different flocks over a given production period and the sum of all the latest F43a data streams produced for different flocks over a given production period, in order to indicate the percentage of vaccinated fertilized eggs during that production period. This indicator, I2, will be updated by Unit 7 when a new flock is integrated into the production chain.

[0068] Unit 7 also determines a third indicator, I3, from the F64b data stream. Specifically, indicator I3 will be equal to the sum of all the latest F64b data streams produced for different flocks over a given production period, indicating the number of chicks produced in the production chain during that period. This indicator, I3, will be updated by Unit 7 when a new flock transitions to the production chain.

[0069] Each of the indicators I1, I2, and I3, once determined or updated, is integrated into a data frame defined according to the MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) protocol and transmitted by a communication unit of unit 7, via a telecommunications network, to a remote server 8. These indicators I1, I2, and I3 can then be downloaded by a software application installed on a smartphone 9, from which a production line supervisor can then monitor these indicators and trigger corrective action if necessary. [ Fig. 3 ] an example of the interface of this software application on which indicators I1, I2 and 13 are represented.

[0070] In an unrepresented variant of the invention, each new data from the data streams F23a to F23d, F43a to F43f, F45a to F45e and F64a to F64d can be transmitted, without transformation, to the remote server, to be combined with other data so as to define more complex performance indicators or to be directly accessible to the smartphone 9, the supervisor then being able to define, according to his own choice, indicators.

[0071] The preceding description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve its objectives, namely to enable the monitoring of the entire poultry production chain, on the scale of a hatchery, both through raw data produced by the equipment and through correlations between different types of data generated by the same equipment or by different equipment.

Claims

1. A connected hatchery (1) comprising a plurality of devices (22, 23, 24, 25, 3, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 5, 62, 63, 64) for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks distributed along a production line, each of the devices being an automated device fitted with a programmable logic controller (231, 431, 451, 641) able to produce at least one data stream (F23a, F23b, F23c, F23d, F43a, F43b, F43c, F43d, F43e, F43f, F45a, F45b, F45c, F45d, F45e, F64a, F64b, F64c, F64d) relating to the functioning or to the operations of said automated device, comprising a data centralizing and processing unit (7) arranged to collect the data streams produced by the programmable logic controllers of said automated devices in order to determine at least one performance indicator (I1, I2, I3) of said production line, in real time, by means of a combination (a relationship between two items of data, a difference, a sum, an average or a product) of at least two items of data from one or more of said collected data streams (F23a, F23b, F43a, F45a, F64b) and in order to transmit said performance indicator over a telecommunication network to a remote terminal.

2. The connected hatchery (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each device for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks is a device selected from: a. A device (22, 42) for arranging eggs from a rack on a conveyor (21a, 41a); b. A device for assessing the size and / or weight of one or more eggs; c. A device (23) for detecting upside-down eggs, and marking said upside-down eggs; d. A device (24, 46) for filling a rack with eggs moving on a conveyor; e. A device (25, 47) for stacking racks on a carriage; f. An egg incubator (3) or a hatching chamber (5); g. A device (43) for detecting eggs that are unfertilized or contain a dead embryo; h. A device for detecting the gender of the embryos in the egg; i. A device (44) for disinfecting eggs; j. A device (45) for vaccinating embryos in the eggs; k. A device for cleaning a rack; l. A device (62) for arranging chicks from a rack on a conveyor (61); m. A device (63) for vaccinating chicks by injection; n. A device for sorting chicks by gender; o. A counter (64) to count chicks moving on a conveyor; p. A device (65) for vaccinating chicks by spraying.

3. The connected hatchery (1) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein each device (22, 23, 24, 25, 3, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 5, 62, 63, 64) for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks comprises a communication unit able to transmit to the centralizing and processing unit (7) said data stream (F23a, F23b, F23c, F23d, F43a, F43b, F43c, F43d, F43e, F43f, F45a, F45b, F45c, F45d, F45e, F64a, F64b, F64c, F64d) produced by the programmable logic controller (231, 431, 451, 641) of said device.

4. The connected hatchery (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least two communication units of two distinct devices (23, 43, 45, 64) are able to transmit data frames according to two distinct communications protocols and wherein the centralizing and processing unit (7) is arranged to determine the communication protocol used for the transmission of a data frame that it receives and to extract data from said data frame that it receives from said determined communication protocol.

5. The connected hatchery (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the communication unit of at least one of the devices (23, 43, 45, 64) for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks is integrated into the programmable logic controller (231, 431, 451, 641) of said device.

6. The connected hatchery (1) according to one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the communication unit of at least one of the devices (23, 43, 45, 64) for handling, processing or vaccinating eggs or chicks is connected to the programmable logic controller (231, 431, 451, 641) of said device to read said data stream (F23a, F23b, F23c, F23d, F43a, F43b, F43c, F43d, F43e, F43f, F45a, F45b, F45c, F45d, F45e, F64a, F64b, F64c, F64d) produced by that programmable logic controller.

7. The connected hatchery (1) according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the programmable logic controller (231, 431, 451, 641) of each automated device (23, 43, 45, 64) is arranged to automatically produce at least one data stream (F23a, F23b, F23c, F23d, F43a, F43b, F43c, F43d, F43e, F43f, F45a, F45b, F45c, F45d, F45e, F64a, F64b, F64c, F64d) relating to the functioning or to the operations of said automated device, each item of data of said data stream being generated automatically by the controller during the functioning or operations of said automated device.

8. The connected hatchery (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one sensor (26, 46, 66) able to measure an environmental parameter of the hatchery, the data centralizing and processing unit (7) being arranged to collect the measurements of said environmental parameter acquired by said sensor.

9. The connected hatchery (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the centralizing and processing unit (7) is arranged to update said performance indicator (11, 12, 13) of said production line upon receipt of a new item of data and to transmit said updated performance indicator over said telecommunication network to said remote terminal.