The invention relates to a device for inspecting eggs for the presence of blood. The device comprises a light source in order to pass light at a first wavelength which is not selectively absorbed by blood and light at a second wavelength which is selectively absorbed by blood through an egg to be inspected. Furthermore, the device comprises detection means for converting the light transmission through the egg to be inspected for each of the two wavelengths into corresponding signals, each of the said signals being representative of the light transmission at the relevant wavelength. The device also comprises signal-processing means which are transmission associated with the first wavelength and the light transmission associated with the second wavelength based on the signals emanating from the detection means and to emit a decision signal which is representative of the decision whether or not an egg contains blood on the basis of this ratio. According to the invention, the light source comprises one or more identical LED's (Light Emitting Diode) for generating light which passes through the egg. In use the one or more LED's emit light within a certain narrow spectrum, which spectrum comprises both the first and the second wavelength.

An egg inspecting apparatus (1) of the present invention includes an optical path switching and projecting assembly (30) for automatically selecting one of a plurality of optical paths through which a white source light (11) emitted from a light source (2) is guided and also for sequentially projecting the white source light (11) from the associated optical paths onto eggs held at respective positions, a spectrum converting assembly for spectrally analyzing light which has been transmitted through each of the eggs and converting it into a spectrum, and a determining circuit (5) for determining whether the egg is a normal egg or a bloody egg by using the spectrum so converted. By way of example, a spectrum of an egg is measured and a secondary differential curve is formulated for classification of the eggs according to egg shell colors. By comparing a spectral pattern of the transmitted light of the egg with that of a normal egg for each of the shell colors, and assaying a pattern similarity by means of a correlational assay method, whether the egg is a normal egg or a bloody egg can be determined.

Methods and apparatus for producing vaccine within a plurality of eggs are provided. Each of a plurality of eggs is illuminated with light from one or more LEDs. A detector is positioned adjacent each egg and detects light passing therethrough. Each egg is then identified as containing a live embryo or as being a non-live egg. Each egg that is determined not to contain a live embryo may be removed, either automatically or by hand. A seed virus is injected into each egg identified as containing a live embryo. After a predetermined period of incubation each live embryo is euthanized and amniotic fluid containing a vaccine produced as a result of the presence of a seed virus is harvested from each euthanized egg.

Methods and apparatus for identifying live eggs utilize a cup having a photodetector therewithin that overlies a portion of an egg. The egg is illuminated via a light source positioned adjacent the egg. Variations in the intensity of light passing through the egg is detected via the photodetector which generates an output signal corresponding to detected light intensity. The output signal is processed to identify cyclical and non-cyclical variations in light intensity. The egg is designated as a live egg in response to identifying cyclical and/or non-cyclical variations in light intensity.