Device for reorientation of an egg in a cellular tray

Abstract

A device for reorientation of eggs deposited in the hollow open cells of a tray. The device is intended to reorientate at least one egg from the tray along a substantially vertical axis. The device includes at least one reorientation element capable of moving between a low position and a high position with respect to the cell containing the egg to be reorientated. The reorientation element includes a lower seat on which the upright rods are fixed, the upper ends of the rods being able to spread out with respect to each other on contact with the egg to be re-orientated, the upright rods being intended to interpose themselves between the cell and the egg, in the high position, so as to damp and guide a movement of the egg under the effect of its weight to a substantially vertical position.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A system for orienting an object along an axis of symmetry, the system comprising:
 a support cell configured to support the object;   a lower seat arranged below the support cell and configured to selectively move between a first position and a second position, the second position arranged above the first position closer to the support cell; and   three or more support members coupled at a first end to the lower seat and extending upwardly therefrom to a second end of the support members, wherein the support members are biased to be closed at the first position and are radially shiftable to be open at the second position, the gravitational force of the object effecting the support members to radially shift open, the resistive bias force of the support members effecting the axial alignment and at least partial support of the object.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the object is an ovoid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the ovoid is an egg. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the support members are elastically deformable such that in the first position the support members are undeformed and in the second position the support members are elastically deformed radially open. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the lower seat is elastically deformable such that in the first position the support members are undeformed and in the second position the lower seat is elastically deformable such that the support members shift radially open. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second end of the support members includes a loop. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second ends of the support members includes a ball. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the ball comprises a silicone material. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the lower seat is hollow. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the 3 or more support members are radially arranged, and equally spaced, around a periphery of the lower seat. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the 3 or more support members are equally spaced around the periphery of the lower seat. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the support cell is a cell of an incubation tray. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the support members couple to the lower seat at a top portion and a linking rod is coupled to the lower seat at a bottom portion. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the linking rod is a threaded member. 
     
     
         26 . A method for orienting an object along an axis of symmetry, the method comprising:
 supporting an object with a support cell;   raising a lower seat having three or more support members from a first position to a second position, the second position arranged above the first position closer to the support cell, the support members coupled at a first end to the lower seat and extending upwardly therefrom to a second end of the support members, wherein the support members are biased to be closed at the first position and are radially shiftable to be open at the second position;   shifting the support members radially open, the gravitational force of the object effecting the support members to shift radially open;   aligning, and at least partially supporting, the object along the axis of symmetry, the resistive bias force of the support members effecting the alignment and at least partial support of the object along the axis of symmetry;   lowering the lower seat and the three or more support members from the second position to the first position; and   supporting the axially aligned object, with the support cell.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the support members are elastically deformable such that in the first position the support members are undeformed and in the second position the support members are elastically deformed radially open. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the lower seat is elastically deformable such that in the first position the support members are undeformed and in the second position the lower seat is elastically deformable such that the support members shift radially open. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the object is an ovoid. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the 3 or more support members are radially arranged, and equally spaced, around a periphery of the lower seat. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the support members couple to the lower seat at a top portion and a linking rod is coupled to the lower seat at a bottom portion.