| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20110174223 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING EGGS - A method for laser marking eggs is disclosed which comprises laser marking information onto one or more eggs while the eggs are in a package disposed on a conveyor of a packing station. Additionally, an apparatus for laser marking eggs on a conveyor of a packing station is disclosed which comprises a laser source and one or more optical steering elements configured and arranged to direct energy from the laser source so as to mark information onto one or more eggs in packages of eggs disposed on the conveyor. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110175974 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING EGGS - A method for laser marking eggs is disclosed which comprises using a machine vision system to monitor laser marking of eggs by a laser marking system, and adjusting one or more parameters of the laser marking system based upon determinations made by the machine vision system. Additionally, a system for laser marking eggs is disclosed which comprise a machine vision system and one or more control elements. The machine vision system is configured and arranged to monitor laser marking of eggs by a laser marking system, and the one or more control elements are configured and arranged to adjust one or more parameters of the laser marking system based upon determinations made by the machine vision system. Further, a system for laser marking eggs is disclosed comprising multiple laser marking apparatuses and a central server. The laser marking apparatuses are configured and arranged to perform laser marking jobs queued by local computers for laser marking eggs being packed by egg packing stations. The central server is configured to distribute the laser marking jobs to the local computers. In addition, a method is disclosed for controlling laser marking jobs which comprises distributing the laser marking jobs from a central computer to local computers responsible for queuing laser marking jobs to one or more laser marking apparatuses configured and arranged to laser mark information on eggs. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110176901 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING EGGS - An apparatus for processing packages of eggs on a conveyor is disclosed which comprises an egg orienter configured and arranged with respect to the conveyor so as to adjust a position of one or more of the eggs in each of the packages so that each of the eggs in a given package assumes a particular orientation within that package. In some embodiments, the egg orienter may be located between an egg loading section and a package closing section of an egg packer. In addition, in some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise a laser source and one or more optical steering elements configured and arranged to direct laser energy from the laser source so as to laser mark information on a surface of one or more of the eggs while the eggs are in a package disposed on the conveyor and in said particular orientation. Further, in some embodiments, the egg orienter may be further configured and arranged to adjust the position of the one or more eggs in each of the packages so that a long axis of each egg in a given package is tilted toward the back of the package so as to be at least slightly offset from vertical and/or so that so that long axes of all of the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximate right angles with respect to a line intercepting bottoms of receptacles holding the eggs in such a row. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110177206 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING EGGS - A package of eggs is disclosed which comprises a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows. The eggs are arranged in the package so that a long axis of each egg in the package is tilted toward the back of the package so as to be at least slightly offset from vertical. In some embodiments, each of the eggs in the package may have information laser marked on it in substantially the same location as the other eggs in the package, and the eggs may be oriented in the package such that information marked on each egg faces substantially the same direction as the information marked on the other eggs in the package. Additionally, in some embodiments, each of the eggs in the package may have particular information marked on it, and each of the eggs in the package may be positioned in the package such that at least the particular information is visible upon opening the package, without altering a position of the egg. Further, in some embodiments, the eggs may be arranged in the package such that the long axes of all of the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximate right angles with respect to a line intercepting bottoms of receptacles holding the eggs in such a row and/or such that the long axes of all of the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximate right angles with respect to a line intercepting bottoms of receptacles holding the eggs in such a row. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110177207 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING EGGS - A package of eggs is disclosed which comprises a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows. The eggs are further arranged in the package so that a long axis of each egg in the package is offset no more than a particular number degrees from a long axis of each other egg in the package. Additionally, a package of eggs is disclosed which comprises a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows, wherein the eggs are further arranged in the package so that the long axes of all of the eggs in the package are substantially parallel. Further, a package of eggs is disclosed which comprises a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows, wherein eggs are arranged in the package such that long axes of all of the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximate right angles with respect to a line intercepting bottoms of receptacles holding the eggs in such a row. In some embodiments, each of the eggs in a package may have particular information marked on it, and each of the eggs in the package may be positioned in the package such that at least the particular information is visible upon opening the package, without altering a position of the egg. Moreover, in some embodiments, each of the eggs in a package may have particular information marked on it, and each of the eggs in the package may be positioned in the package such that at least the particular information is visible upon opening the package, without altering a position of the egg. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110177208 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING EGGS - As disclosed herein, an egg may be laser marked such that a center point of particular information laser marked on the egg is located between the middle and an end of the egg and/or so that first information is laser marked on a first surface of the egg, and second information is laser marked on a second surface of the egg such that the second information faces a substantially different direction than the first information. Further, a package of eggs is disclosed wherein each of the eggs in the package has first information laser marked on it in substantially the same location as the other eggs in the package and the eggs are oriented in the package such that information laser marked on each egg faces substantially the same direction as the information laser marked on the other eggs in the package. In addition, each of the eggs in the package has second information laser marked on it in substantially the same location as the other eggs in the package, and, for each of the eggs in the package, the second information faces a substantially different direction than the first information. Further, a package of eggs is disclosed wherein at least two of the eggs in the package have different information laser marked on them. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110177217 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING EGGS - A method for processing a package of eggs is disclosed which comprises adjusting a position of one or more of the eggs, after the eggs have been placed in the package, so that each of the eggs assumes a particular orientation within the package. In some embodiments, the method may also comprise marking information on a surface of one or more of the eggs after the position of the one or more of the eggs has been adjusted. Additionally, in some embodiments, the position of the one or more eggs may be adjusted using an egg orienter positioned above a conveyor of an egg packing station. Further, in some embodiments, the position of the one or more eggs in the package may be adjusted so that a long axis of each egg in the package is tilted toward the back of the package so as to be at least slightly offset from vertical and/or so that long axes of all of the eggs in each row of eggs in the package form approximate right angles with respect to a line intercepting bottoms of receptacles holding the eggs in such a row. | 07-21-2011 |
