Egg Flat Identification via Infertile Egg Opacity Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current egg processing systems face challenges in accurately identifying egg flats among a collection, particularly when bioassay results for characteristics like gender are delayed, as traditional tracking methods like barcodes, paint, and RFID tags are unreliable or costly, leading to difficulties in associating information with the correct egg flat downstream.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising first and second measurement devices, connected to a processor, that measure egg opacity using candling devices to create a data pattern for identification, allowing for accurate matching of egg flats by comparing measurements taken before and after processing, without marking or attaching foreign materials, ensuring correct association of bioassay results with the respective egg flat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tracking methods like barcodes, paint, or RFID tags are used to identify egg flats, then identification capability is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to peeling, removal by washing, or cost prohibitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The egg flat itself serves as the identifier through its unique pattern of infertile eggs, eliminating the need for external tags or marks. The natural variation in infertile egg distribution creates a unique fingerprint for each egg flat that persists through washing and handling, providing reliable self-identification without additional components that could fail or be removed
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using physical tags that can be lost or damaged, the system creates a digital copy or representation of the egg flat's unique infertile egg pattern. This digital pattern serves as a reliable identifier that can be stored and matched without being affected by physical conditions like washing or peeling
2Measurement precision
If bioassay testing is performed to determine egg characteristics like gender, then accurate characteristic determination is achieved, but time delay increases due to the several minutes to hours required for assay results
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of egg flats based on their infertile egg patterns before bioassay results are available. This allows egg flats to be tracked and organized in advance, so that when assay results become available, they can be quickly and accurately associated with the correct egg flat without time-consuming manual matching or re-identification
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the unique infertile egg pattern of each egg flat is captured, stored, and then used to match assay results back to the correct egg flat. This feedback mechanism ensures that even with time delays, the correct association is maintained through continuous tracking and pattern matching
3Loss of information
If RFID tags are used for egg flat identification, then tracking capability is provided, but cost increases due to the substantial quantity of tags required
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive RFID tags with a free, naturally occurring identifier - the pattern of infertile eggs on each flat. This 'disposable' identifier requires no manufacturing or purchase, as it is inherent to the egg population on each flat, eliminating the substantial cost of procuring and attaching thousands of RFID tags while maintaining full tracking capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables reliable and cost-effective identification of egg flats, reducing errors and maintaining egg health, by using existing hardware for non-contact opacity measurements, confirming orientation, and accurately associating bioassay results with the correct egg flat, even in high-fertility flocks with few infertile eggs.
Implementation Method 1
A first measurement device (e.g., an egg candling device) determines a first measurement of a plurality of eggs carried by an egg flat in a collection of egg flats.
Data Source
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AI summary
An egg flat identification system for identifying an egg flat among a collection of egg flats is provided. Such a system includes a first measurement device configured to determine a first measurement of a plurality of eggs carried by an egg flat. A processor is in communication with the first measurement device. The processor is configured to receive the first measurements from the first measurement device. A second measurement device is configured to determine a second measurement of the eggs in the collection of egg flats. The second measurement device is in communication with the processor such that the processor is capable of receiving the second measurements. The processor compares the second measurements with the first measurements so as to identify a respective egg flat among the collection of egg flats.