Systems and methods for processing eggs and other objects

Abstract

A method for marking an egg shell wherein a laser beam is directed onto the egg shell so as to discolor an outer layer of the egg shell without etching substantially into layers of the egg shell underneath the outer layer. The laser delivers a spot with a power density below about 2000 watts/sq. in. and a depth of an etching of the egg caused by the laser marking process does not exceed about 25 microns. InkJet printing may be added to the laser marking process or used instead of laser marking. Eggs may be marked in-carton, on a packer conveyor or on an apparatus fed by a packer conveyor, with eggs uniformly oriented in the package prior to (and after) printing. Marking is done in-carton, on-conveyor whether the marking is by laser, by ink, or both.

1 - 141 . (canceled) 
     
     
         142 . A package of eggs comprising a plurality of eggs arranged in one or more rows, wherein the eggs are further arranged in the package so that a long axis of each egg in the package is offset no more than 20 degrees from a long axis of each other egg in the package;
 each of the eggs in the package has information 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 the information marked on each egg faces substantially the same direction as the information marked on the other eggs in the package, wherein at least one portion of at least one egg of the plurality of eggs is marked by ink.   
     
     
         143 . The package of eggs of  claim 142 , wherein the eggs are further arranged in the package so that the long axis of each egg in the package is offset no more than 10 degrees from the long axis of each other egg in the package. 
     
     
         144 . The package of eggs of  claim 142 , wherein the at least one portion of at least one egg is at least one first portion and, wherein at least one second portion of the at least one egg is marked by laser. 
     
     
         145 . The package of eggs of  claim 144 , wherein the at least one first portion overlaps with the at least one second portion so that at least some portion of the at least one egg is marked with both laser and ink. 
     
     
         146 . The package of eggs of any of  claims 142 , wherein, for at least one egg that is marked, a center point of the information marked onto the egg is located between the middle and an end of the egg. 
     
     
         147 . The package of eggs of  claim 142 , wherein:
 each of the eggs in the package has particular information marked on it; and   each of the eggs in the package is positioned in the package such that at least the particular information is visible upon opening the package, without altering a position of the egg.   
     
     
         148 . The package of eggs of  claim 147 , wherein the particular information marked on at least some of the eggs is marked by laser. 
     
     
         149 . The package of eggs of  claim 148 , wherein the particular information marked with laser is marked on a colored background marked with ink. 
     
     
         150 . An apparatus for processing packages of eggs on a conveyor, comprising:
 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;   the orienter comprising a plurality of resilient members configured and arranged to be moved relative to the eggs in each package so as to urge them to predetermined orientations;   each package having a bottom portion for receiving eggs and a hinged lid, comprising:   (a) a package reversing mechanism upstream of the orienter, which receives packages with lids open and oriented toward an upstream direction and then reverses the package direction so that the open lid is disposed toward the orienter and leading the package; and   (b) downstream of the orienter, one or more printing stations for printing information on the eggs.   
     
     
         151 . The apparatus of  claim 150 , wherein the conveyor is slanted in an upward direction relative to movement of the packages with respect to the orienter and the one or more printing stations. 
     
     
         152 . The apparatus of  claim 150 , wherein the one or more printing stations include a laser printing station and an ink printing station.