Egg Injection Head with Segmented Penetration Force Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing egg injection methods face challenges in effectively piercing the shell and shell membrane with adjustable penetration force, leading to potential trauma to the embryo and difficulties in disinfection, especially when injecting substances that do not withstand pressure.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a two-step needle movement with a first penetration force to pierce the shell and a second, lower force to pierce the shell membrane, allowing for effective injection and easier cleaning of the needle, utilizing a combination of pneumatic actuators and a guiding tube to control the needle's position and force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If high pressure is applied to pierce the shell, then the needle can effectively pierce the shell, but the needle may break the eggshell and/or pierce the shell membrane or the embryo too violently, causing irreversible trauma to the embryo
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing action is segmented into two distinct phases: a first movement with high penetration force to pierce the shell, and a second movement with low penetration force to pierce the shell membrane. This segmentation allows the system to apply appropriate force levels for each specific barrier, avoiding excessive force on the embryo while ensuring effective piercing of the shell.
Solution Approach 2:
The penetration force is made dynamic and adjustable during the injection process. The system transitions from high force during the first piercing movement to low force during the second piercing movement, allowing adaptive force control that prevents embryo trauma while maintaining effective piercing capability.
2Length of moving object
If the travel of the actuator is relatively long to pierce the shell and then the shell membrane, then the needle can reach the amniotic fluid, but the rod of the actuator has a tendency to twist
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator travel is segmented into two distinct movements: a first movement to pierce the shell and a second movement to pierce the shell membrane. By dividing the total travel into controlled segments with specific force levels, the system maintains actuator rod stability while achieving the necessary penetration depth to reach the amniotic fluid.
3Ease of manufacture
If the needle serves both to pierce the shell and to inject the substance, then the injector can be easily and effectively disinfected, but the pressure of the pneumatic actuator is difficult to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic actuator pressure is made dynamically adjustable to match the different requirements of the two piercing movements. The system can apply high pressure during the first movement to pierce the shell and low pressure during the second movement to pierce the shell membrane, making the actuator easier to control while maintaining effective piercing 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
This approach ensures safe and effective piercing and injection while allowing for precise control of penetration force, reducing the risk of embryo trauma and facilitating easy disinfection between cycles.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure of the pneumatic actuator, which defines the penetration force of the needle
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The present invention concerns an injection method for injecting a substance into eggs, and an injection head for implementing said method. The method comprises a step of piercing the shell and at least the shell membrane of an egg by moving a needle, and then a step of injecting the treatment substance via said needle, said piercing step comprising a first movement of the needle (22) to pierce the shell (91) with a first penetration force and then a second movement of the needle to pierce at least the shell membrane (92) with a second penetration force lower than the first penetration force.