Apparatus for sorting insects to allow the separation of crawling insects from the remainder of the mixture

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for sorting insects, the device having a belt conveyor (2) having an upper surface (5) and a lower surface (6) formed by a belt (3) of the conveyor (2). When the belt (3) is turned over to travel to the lower surface (6) of the conveyor (2), all or some of the insects in a mixture placed thereon remain attached to the belt (3), while the remainder of the mixture falls under the force of gravity. While the upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2) is substantially flat and horizontal along most of its length between a first end (7) and a second end (8), the conveyor has an end portion (14) adjacent the second end (8) having a downward inclination of between 20° and 90° relative to the remainder of the upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2). This improves the efficiency of sorting by causing the insects to grasp the belt. The invention also relates to related machines and uses.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sorting insects, for example in particular in the context of rearing insects.

[0002] The insects concerned by the present invention are crawling insects, or insects that are mainly crawling, such as Coleoptera, Isoptera, Blattaria, Hemiptera and Heteroptera.

[0003] The sorting is preferentially applied to Tenebrio molitor, also known as mealworms.

[0004] Unless otherwise specified, the term "insect" is used to designate any development stage, from the egg or egg case to the adult. As detailed hereafter, the present invention relates to the sorting of a mixture containing adults or legged larvae, in order to separate them from the rest of the mixture.

[0005] Mass production of insects has many advantages, in particular in the agro-industry. Some edible insect species are indeed rich in proteins and can in particular be used to feed animals, fish, crustaceans and some poultry. Mass insect rearing also has advantages in other industrial fields. For example, the exoskeleton of insects is mostly composed of chitin, a known derivative of which is chitosan. Chitin and / or chitosan have many applications: cosmetics (cosmetic compositions), medical and pharmaceutical (pharmaceutical compositions, burn treatments, biomaterials, corneal ointments, surgical threads), diet and food, technology (filters, tissue formers, flocculants or adsorbents, for example in particular for filtering and purifying water), etc.

[0006] The document FR 3034622 proposes a farm configured for mass, i.e. industrial, rearing of insects. The rearing therein uses rearing containers, typically buckets, which are stacked to form a basic rearing unit. The basic rearing units are stored in a first zone, and when a rearing operation is to be carried out, the containers are brought to a station configured for carrying out the operation, grouped into basic rearing units or individually, not grouped.

[0007] The rearing operations, without this list being exhaustive, involve feeding, water supply, insect grading, addition of insects to the rearing containers, and a plurality of various sorting operations which separate or classify the insects according to their development stage, or which separate the live insects from the dead insects and / or from their rearing medium, etc.

[0008] In this context, it proves to be particularly complex to sort the live insects from the dead insects or to sort the adults from the insects in an immature stage. The sorting methods generally envisaged are manual methods which do not make it possible to achieve a mass, efficient and rapid sorting.

[0009] An imperfect solution to this problem is proposed in document WO 2019084554. This document discloses an apparatus for sorting insects, based on the principle that crawling insects have the ability to grab onto the surface they move on with their legs. However, the apparatus item proposed in this document is complex to implement industrially and / or proves to be imperfect in terms of its sorting efficiency.

[0010] Documents KR 101464734 and EP 3415002 also disclose sorting apparatuses based on this principle, which also prove to be inefficient in terms of sorting apparatus efficiency.

[0011] The invention developed aims to provide an insect sorting device, in particular for separating adult insects or larvae from other growth stages and / or inert components (dead insects, excrements, rearing medium), which is industrially applicable and efficient.

[0012] The invention thus relates to an insect sorting device comprising a belt conveyor having an upper surface and a lower surface formed by the belt of the conveyor. The device comprises drive means configured to drive the belt of the conveyor so that, when the conveyor is in operation, the belt runs on the upper surface at a first end towards a second end of the conveyor, at which the belt is turned over to travel onto the lower surface of the conveyor, on which the belt runs from the second end towards the first end, at which the belt is turned over to travel onto the upper surface again. The device further comprises means capable of placing a mixture comprising insects on the upper surface of the belt conveyor so that, when the belt is turned over at the location of the second end, all or some of the insects remain attached to the belt, while the remainder of the mixture falls by gravity. The device comprises means for separating the insects so that the insects attached to the lower surface of the conveyor can be removed.

[0013] In the insect sorting device, the upper surface of the conveyor is substantially flat and horizontal over most of its length between the first end and the second end, said upper surface of the conveyor comprising an end portion adjacent to the second end, the end portion having a downward inclination between 20° and 90° with respect to the remainder of the upper surface of the conveyor.

[0014] This invention therefore provides an efficient sorting system for separating legged insects from the remainder of a mixture. This device is based on the ability of legged insects to attach themselves to a surface they move on. This surface can be formed from an outer surface with suitable characteristics of a belt conveyor. When the conveyor belt reverses, i.e., as it passes from the upper surface of the conveyor to the lower surface, the insects remain gripped on the surface of the belt, i.e., on the outer surface, while the remainder of the mixture being sorted falls off due to gravity. This sorting principle known in the art, based on belt conveyors on which insects grip, is significantly improved by the presence of inclined end portions. This inclination has several beneficial effects on sorting quality, specifically on the proportion of adult insects still gripping the belt when it reverses. Primarily, it induces the insects to begin to fall or slide on the belt, thus prompting them to grip, so that when the belt reverses, the insects do not have to grip the belt so quickly. Generally, this slope or inclination limits the abruptness of the belt reversal, which, for example, gives the insects more time to grip. Even when using a slope of 90° or close to 90°, this limits the acceleration experienced by the insects due to changes in the direction of the belt and allows the insects to attach better. In addition, the slope causes some insects (which are transported on the conveyor via their backs and do not have the opportunity to grab onto the belt) to flip onto their legs.

[0015] When operating in this way, sorting is improved and / or the belt speed can be increased.

[0016] The inclination angle can be more specifically between 30° and 70°, preferably between 45° and 60°. The inclined end portion of the conveyor can, for example, have a length between twenty centimeters and one meter measured along its upper surface. The device may include tools for adjusting the inclination angle.

[0017] The slope can therefore be adapted to the sorting being performed and optimized based on several parameters: the insect species being sorted, their developmental stage, the contents of the mixture to be sorted, the type of belt used on the conveyor, the belt's running speed, etc.

[0018] The band may include an outer surface having a structure configured for attaching the legs of an insect.

[0019] The band can include two distinct layers: an outer layer that forms the surface for the insect's legs to attach to, and an inner layer that reinforces the band.

[0020] The outer layer of the belt can be formed of a woven material. This woven material can have regular, basically square mesh elements with openings, the side dimensions of which range from 110 micrometers to 1000 micrometers.

[0021] The belt used on a belt conveyor is crucial for sorting quality. In fact, the outer surface of the belt (i.e., the visible surface, whether above or below the conveyor) serves as the attachment surface for insects. This attachment must be achieved through roughness and / or a properly configured surface texture. Using fabrics (e.g., polyester or polyamide (PA) fabrics) yields good results. The thickness and quantity of the yarn (which defines the net size) are important. More specifically, the net elements should be configured to correspond to the size of the hooks present at the ends of the legs of the insects to be sorted. For example, the hooks on the legs of adult mealworms are on the order of 0.3 mm. Larvae have smaller hooks.

[0022] The separating device can be a blade or brush that extends laterally adjacent to the surface of the belt.

[0023] Mechanical tools used to separate insects caught on a conveyor belt can achieve effective separation without harming the insects or damaging the conveyor belt.

[0024] The device may include a system for cleaning the belt, which generates compressed air blades that strike the belt between the separating device and the first end of the conveyor, at a location on the lower surface of the conveyor belt.

[0025] Maintaining belt cleanliness is crucial for preserving its surface condition, which is essential for sorting quality. In fact, since the outer surface of the belt serves as an attachment surface for insects, it is important that its roughness or surface texture does not change over time. This is achieved through regular belt cleaning operations, also known as unblocking operations. However, this cleaning must also prevent alteration of the belt's properties due to mechanical wear, particularly abrasion. Choosing compressed air cleaning technology can address this issue.

[0026] The device may also include an exhaust fan configured to draw away air present above the upper surface of the conveyor. The presence of the exhaust fan allows for the collection of the lightest dust and particles present in the mixture for sorting. To some extent, it enables the removal of fine particles that insects can easily carry.

[0027] The device may include a housing that surrounds the conveyor to limit dust from being conveyed from the conveyor to the outside of the housing. This is particularly advantageous when using compressed air to clean the belt.

[0028] The present invention also relates to a machine for sorting insects, the machine comprising a first sorting device as described above and a second device as described above, wherein the remainder of the mixture falling from the conveyor of the first sorting device due to gravity falls directly onto or is carried to the upper surface of the conveyor of the second device.

[0029] Several consecutive belt conveyors for sorting can increase the proportion of insects recovered from the sorted mixture. With appropriate optimization, the applicant achieved an insect recovery rate of approximately 85% by mass from the mixture using a single belt conveyor, and an insect recovery rate of approximately 95% by mass using two consecutive conveyors. This rate is satisfactory for large-scale rearing. Of course, more than two consecutive conveyors can be used to further improve the insect recovery rate.

[0030] The present invention also relates to the use of the apparatus described above or the machine described above for recovering adult insects from a mixture comprising adult insects and insect larvae.

[0031] The present invention also relates to the apparatus or machine described above for recovering live insects from a mixture comprising live and dead insects.

[0032] The insects to be sorted can be, for example, mealworms.

[0033] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following description.

[0034] The accompanying drawings are provided by way of non-limiting example:

[0035] Figure 1 A sorting apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in a three-dimensional schematic view;

[0036] Figure 2 The process in a sorting machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated based on a schematic diagram.

[0037] Figure 3 The main components of the machine according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown in a three-dimensional schematic view;

[0038] Figure 4 A simplified plan view is shown with Figure 3 The machine corresponding to the machine;

[0039] Figure 5 Shown in a simplified side view Figure 3 and Figure 4 The machine.

[0040] Figure 1 A sorting device 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The sorting device includes a belt conveyor 2, which includes a belt 3, which is driven by a drive device to enable the belt 3 to move. The drive device typically includes a motor that rotates a shaft or roller to drive the belt 3.

[0041] Belt 3 forms a closed loop. For conveyor 2, the belt constitutes an upper surface 5 and a lower surface 6. The upper surface 5 is the surface located at the top of the conveyor, which allows products on conveyor 2 to be transported between the first end 7 and the second end 8 of the conveyor. The lower surface 6 constitutes the return zone of belt 3 located between the second end 8 and the first end of the conveyor 2. Each end of the conveyor constitutes a turning zone for belt 3. At the first end 7, belt 3 travels from the lower surface 6 to the upper surface 5 of the conveyor. At the second end 8, belt 3 travels from the upper surface 5 to the lower surface 6 of the conveyor.

[0042] Figure 1 The illustrated device includes tools that facilitate placing the product (particularly a mixture containing adult insects or legged larvae) onto the upper surface 5 of the conveyor 2. Here, an open hopper (or more generally, a placement bin 9) that facilitates placing the product onto the belt 3 of the conveyor 2 is located near the first end 7 of the conveyor 2. Automatic or manual feeding devices may also be provided.

[0043] Due to the operation of belt 3, the product (i.e., the mixture including crawling insects (adults or legged larvae)) placed on the upper surface 5 of the belt conveyor will thus be transported on the upper surface of conveyor 2 to the second end 8. As this transport occurs, depending on the length of the conveyor, the mixture spreads out on the surface of the conveyor, and the insects present in the mixture tend to crawl on it by their legs if the insects are not yet further prepared for the mixture to be placed on belt 3. These phenomena can be facilitated by optional vibrating devices.

[0044] The transport time on conveyor 2 can also be used to use an exhaust fan to remove dust from the air and eliminate some of the finest particles present in the mixture. The exhaust fan was not in... Figure 1 It is shown in full, but Figure 1 The implementation has two fan holes 10, through which suction is performed.

[0045] This suction method can also remove some dust from insects present in the mixture.

[0046] When the mixture placed on belt 3 reaches the second end 8 of conveyor 2, the insects attached to belt 3 travel to the lower surface 6 of conveyor 2, while the remainder of the mixture falls off due to gravity. The remainder of the mixture that falls off due to gravity can be collected in the first recycling bin 11.

[0047] Insects attached to belt 3 are collected in the second collection bin 12. For this purpose, a device 13 for separating insects is configured to overlap and align with the second collection bin 12. The separation device 13 can take various forms. The separation device is a tool used to remove insects from belt 3 so that the insects fall off, but without harming them and without them attaching to the separation tool. The best result is achieved with a blade (i.e., a thin, rigid member) that is substantially transversely positioned relative to belt 3 and its direction of travel and extends close to belt 3, but preferably does not contact the belt. Other separation devices, such as brushes or compressed air jets, can also be used. Avoiding contact with belt 3 prevents mechanical wear. However, the gap between the belt and the separation device should not allow insects to pass through or get stuck. This gap must therefore be small, for example, on the order of millimeters. It is also conceivable to separate insects from belt 3 using compressed air.

[0048] When the device is in operation, the upper surface 5 of the conveyor is substantially horizontal for most of its length, i.e., for most of the distance between the first end 7 and the second end of the conveyor. This substantially horizontal orientation of the upper surface 5 can be achieved by arranging the supports for the device on a substantially level ground. However, according to the invention, the end portion of the conveyor is inclined. In particular, the end portion of the conveyor located at the second end 8 of the conveyor 2 has a downward inclination, i.e., the second end 8 of the conveyor is lower than most of the upper surface 5, or the mixture reaching this portion of the conveyor will descend before reaching the second end 8.

[0049] The inclination α of the end portion 14 ( Figure 2 (As shown) it significantly improved the quality of sorting.

[0050] This inclination induces insects to grip the belt through a biological reflex, preventing them from falling off. Compared to a flat surface, this creates a less abrupt belt flip, giving insects more time to attach and reducing the acceleration they experience during the belt flip, at least at the beginning of the flip. Due to the discontinuous mixing motion created by the inclination, this inclination can ultimately help some insects (those transported on the conveyor via their backs without a chance to grip the belt) flip onto their legs.

[0051] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the inclination α is adjustable. For this purpose, the tilt axis 15 tilts the end portion 14 within a certain angle range. To adjust the slope without increasing or decreasing the mechanical tension of the belt 3, and also to adjust this tension, the end roller of the conveyor 2 located at the second end 8 can be moved translationally between two adjusting arms 16, which are tilted about the tilt axis 15. This device also allows the tension of the belt 3 to be relaxed, enabling quick belt changes.

[0052] The tilt angle α (whether adjustable or not) can be between 20° and 90°, for example between 30° and 70°. The best sorting results are obtained for tilt angles between 45° and 60° relative to the horizontal plane (i.e., for example, relative to most of the upper surface 5 of the conveyor 2). In either case, the upper surface 5 of the conveyor can generally define a horizontal plane when using the device.

[0053] The length of the end portion 14, measured along the upper surface of the conveyor, can be, for example, between 20 cm and 1 m, on the order of 30 cm, which makes it possible to obtain the aforementioned advantages.

[0054] at last, Figure 1 The device is mounted on a rigid support structure. The support structure shown in the example is a simple, movable structure, and the device itself is relatively simple and lightweight. Any other suitable type of support structure can be used.

[0055] In the example shown, the support structure can also support the device's control and adjustment tools 17.

[0056] In such a device, operating parameters are important to ensure sufficient sorting speed for very large-scale feeding, combined with the desired sorting efficiency.

[0057] The operating speed is therefore configured to function as an insect sorter. The operating speed is configured to give insects placed on the belt conveyor sufficient time to attach to the outer surface of the conveyor belt.

[0058] In particular, belt speeds in the range of 10 m / min to 30 m / min (e.g., 15 m / min or 20 m / min) yielded good results.

[0059] The composition of the tape is also important. More specifically, the tape must have a surface condition on its outer surface configured for insect attachment. Suitable surface conditions can be obtained using various industrial fabrics, such as polyester (PES) or polyamide fabrics. However, the tape 3 must also be abrasion-resistant so that it does not need to be replaced too frequently. This is why it may be advantageous to combine two layers to form the tape: one layer forming the outer surface configured for insect attachment, and another layer forming the inner surface of the tape 3, which is abrasion-resistant, and in particular, abrasion-resistant.

[0060] For example, belt 3 may include a PES 120 / 34 fabric strip (i.e., having 120 micrometers of mesh element openings and 34% of the total surface area of ​​the openings) for the outer side of belt 3, and a PES 1000 / 35 fabric strip (1 mm of mesh elements and 35% of the opening surface area) for the inner side of belt 3.

[0061] The material (e.g., fabric) constituting the outer surface of band 3 can be configured according to the sorting operation performed using the device, the species of the insects being sorted, and / or the growth stage of the insects being sorted. The material, and particularly its surface condition, must be configured to allow the insects to attach via hooks on their legs. For adult mealworms of the species preferentially sorted using this invention, these hooks are approximately 0.3 mm in size. Mealworm larvae have significantly smaller hooks.

[0062] Other fabrics have been successfully tested. Fabrics made from yarns with diameters of 250 to 500 micrometers have been successfully tested for sorting adult mealworms. Fabrics with web elements having openings of 650 to 1 mm and opening surface areas on the order of 50% to 65% of their total surface area have proven particularly suitable. Of course, other fabrics can be envisioned.

[0063] For sorting mixtures containing mealworm larvae, fabrics made of finer yarns in the range of 35 to 80 micrometers have proven suitable. Fabrics with web elements having openings of 85 to 150 micrometers, particularly 110 to 150 micrometers, and with an opening surface area in the range of 30% to 50% of their total surface area, have proven particularly suitable. Of course, other fabrics can be envisioned.

[0064] More generally, for sorting larvae or adults, fabrics with the following characteristics have proven suitable: web element openings of 110 μm to 1000 μm, constitutive yarn diameters of 80 μm to 500 μm, and opening surface area of ​​31% to 64% of the total surface area.

[0065] Metal strips with a similar mesh structure have also been successfully tested. Finally, the surface condition configured for insect attachment may be due to the presence of micro-spiky barbs, teeth, bristles, or other forms of roughness on the surface of band 3.

[0066] By optimizing the aforementioned apparatus, a separation rate of approximately 85% by insect mass was achieved (i.e., the efficiency obtained for separating live insects from dead insects in an initial mixture comprising on the order of 95% by mass of live and dead insects, and less than 5% by mass of excrement, feeding substrate, and other similar components). This means that 85% of the mass of insects initially present in the mixture and placed on the conveyor to be separated from the mixture (adults and legged nymphs) is properly separated from the mixture by the apparatus.

[0067] A slightly higher separation rate can be achieved by manipulating certain parameters (such as the belt's operating speed), but this separation rate (on the order of 90%) is not entirely satisfactory for large-scale rearing that provides good performance.

[0068] This is why a sorting machine is provided according to a second aspect developed in this invention, the sorting machine comprising, according to reference... Figure 1 Several devices that operate according to the described principles.

[0069] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram designed to illustrate the processes within this type of machine.

[0070] The mixture M, including reptiles, is placed on the upper surface 5 of the belt conveyor near the first end 7 of the belt conveyor 2.

[0071] In addition to the insects that are expected to be separated from the rest of the mixture, the mixture M may include, in a non-exhaustive manner, insects at other developmental stages (eggs, larvae, nymphs, when sorting involves separating adults; eggs and nymphs, when sorting involves separating larvae), dead insects, insect excrement, and feeding substrate (i.e., products for feeding insects, which may contain food needed for insect growth).

[0072] The mixture M is transported toward the second end 8 of the conveyor. Before reaching the second end 8, the mixture reaches the inclined end 14 of the conveyor 2, which helps the insects to catch on the belt of the conveyor 2.

[0073] As the conveyor belt flips to travel to the second end 8 of the lower surface 6, most of the insects I remain attached to the conveyor belt, while the remainder of the mixture (i.e., the insect-depleted mixture MA) falls off due to gravity.

[0074] Insect I is removed from the belt by the separation device 13 and falls onto the receiving surface 18 (the receiving surface may be, for example, a...). Figure 1 The second recycling bin 12). As previously mentioned, this allows for the recovery of approximately 85% of the insects initially present in mixture M.

[0075] The depleted mixture MA falls onto the upper surface 5' near the first end 7' of the second conveyor 2' on the belt 3' of the second conveyor.

[0076] The depleted mixture MA is transported to the second end 8' of the second conveyor 2'. Before reaching this second end 8', the mixture reaches the inclined end 14' of the second conveyor 2', which helps the insects to catch on the belt of the second conveyor 2'.

[0077] As the belt of the second conveyor 2' flips to travel to the position of the second end 8' of the lower surface 6', a large portion of the insects I present in the depleted mixture remain hooked on the belt of the second conveyor 2', while the rest of the mixture (i.e. the remaining portion R of the depleted mixture MA) falls off due to gravity.

[0078] Insect I is removed from the belt by the second separation device 13' and falls onto the second receiving surface 18' (e.g., the second recycling bin).

[0079] When operated in this way, the total proportion of insects separated from the initial mixture M reaches 95% or more by mass.

[0080] Figure 3 Implementation shown Figure 2 The presented view is a three-dimensional diagram of the main components of the sorting machine.

[0081] Figure 3 The machine therefore includes a conveyor 2, which has a placement bin 9 on a belt 3, allowing a mixture to be placed for sorting on the upper surface of the conveyor 2. Sorting (i.e., separating insects present in the mixture) is as described in reference... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The process is described above. It is worth noting that the receiving surface 18 used by the sorting device for separating insects is itself formed by the first belt conveyor 19 for receiving insects.

[0082] The remainder of the mixture (i.e., the insect depletion mixture) falls onto the second conveyor 2'. Sorting of the depletion mixture (i.e., separating the insects present in the depletion mixture) is as described in reference [reference needed]. Figure 2 The process is described above. It is worth noting that the second receiving surface 18' used by this second sorting device to separate insects is itself formed by a second belt conveyor 19' for receiving insects.

[0083] The remainder of the depleted mixture (in which the live insects are almost or completely depleted) falls onto a belt conveyor 20 for collecting the residue, which transports the residue to the first recycling bin 11 in the example shown.

[0084] A first belt conveyor 19 and a second belt conveyor 19' for receiving insects transport insects so that they are collected on a belt conveyor 21 for collecting insects. At the end of this belt conveyor 21 for collecting insects, the insects, in the example shown, fall into a second recycling bin 12.

[0085] Figure 4 A simplified plan view is shown with Figure 3 The machine that corresponds to the machine. Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 China Machine Figure 4 The side view of direction D mentioned in the text.

[0086] Figure 4 and Figure 5 You can view specific examples of machine configurations that include two continuous sorting units.

[0087] Therefore, conveyor 2 and conveyor 2' are stacked at a distance from each other and have a slight longitudinal offset relative to each other, so that the remainder of the mixture (i.e., the insect-depleted mixture) falls from conveyor 2 onto conveyor 2' due to gravity. Conveyor 2 and conveyor 2' are configured such that the belts of conveyor 2 and conveyor 2' are driven in opposite directions. This provides better compactness to the machine.

[0088] Belt conveyor 2 and second belt conveyor 2' can have a width, for example, on the order of 30 cm to 1.5 m, or, for example, on the order of 1 m. Belt conveyor 2 and second belt conveyor 2' can have a total length, for example, between 1 m and 10 m, or, for example, on the order of 3 m. These dimensions also apply to... Figure 1 The implementation method shown.

[0089] A first belt conveyor 19 for receiving insects and a second belt conveyor 19' for receiving insects extend substantially at right angles to the conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 2' in planes at different heights, the planes being configured to recover insects from the height of the conveyors. At the ends of the first belt conveyor 19 and the second belt conveyor 19' for receiving insects, descent chutes 22 are provided for guiding the insects onto a belt 21 for collecting them as they descend.

[0090] In the sorting machine example shown here, each of the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 2' includes an adjusting rod 23, which enables the inclination of the end portion of the belt conveyor to be changed.

[0091] The machine shown is equipped with an exhaust fan connected to the fan port 10. To prevent dust from entering the machine, the machine, as in the example shown, may be equipped with a housing 24 around each belt conveyor (or some of them). The housing 24 is advantageously provided with quick-release or opening tools to facilitate belt replacement and reduce the time required for such operations.

[0092] Alternatively or additionally, a universal housing can be formed around the entire sorting machine.

[0093] This housing is important when a belt conveyor or conveyor is equipped with a compressed air blade cleaning device. This cleaning device cleans the conveyor belt by projecting a high-pressure airflow onto the belt on a very small surface transverse to the belt. The use of this cleaning device has proven particularly advantageous in devices or machines according to the invention because it can clean the belt, and in particular, for example, clear the outer surfaces of the belt, thereby enabling insect attachment without damaging the belt and even without altering the surface condition of the belt, which is crucial for ensuring attachment performance and therefore the desired sorting.

[0094] The device 25 that cleans using compressed air blades Figure 1 The diagram is schematically shown to illustrate its preferred location within the apparatus. The compressed air blade cleaning device 25 is therefore positioned below the conveyor, downstream of the separation unit 13.

[0095] Therefore, the invention enables various sorting operations to be carried out on large farms that raise reptiles. It can effectively separate the reptiles (adults or legged larvae) present in the mixture from the rest of the mixture.

[0096] Compared to existing machines based on the same sorting principle (where insects tend to attach themselves to the moving surface on which they move), this invention significantly improves sorting efficiency.

[0097] This invention is therefore particularly suitable for recovering adult insects from mixtures comprising adult insects and insect larvae, and for recovering live adult insects from mixtures comprising live adult insects and dead insects (whether by the same sorting process or by a different sorting process). While applicable to many species, it is preferred for the rearing of mealworms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sorting crawling insects or insects that are primarily crawling insects, the apparatus comprising a support structure and: - A belt conveyor (2) having an upper surface (5) and a lower surface (6) formed by a belt (3) of the conveyor (2), the belt (3) of the conveyor (2) including an outer side having a structure configured for attachment of the insect's legs. - A drive device configured to drive the belt (3) of the conveyor (2) such that, during operation of the conveyor (2), the belt (3) runs on the upper surface of the first end (7) toward the second end (8) of the conveyor, at the second end, the belt (3) flips to travel to the lower surface (6) of the conveyor (2), on the lower surface, the belt runs from the second end (8) toward the first end (7), at the first end, the belt (3) flips to travel again to the upper surface (5), the device being capable of placing a mixture including insects on the upper surface (5) of the belt conveyor (2) such that, when the belt (3) flips at the position of the second end (8), all or some of the insects remain attached to the belt (3), while the remainder of the mixture falls off due to gravity. - A device for separating the insects, which enables the removal of insects attached to the lower surface (6) of the conveyor (2). Its features are, The upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2) is substantially flat and horizontal over most of its length between the first end (7) and the second end (8), and the upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2) includes an end portion (14) adjacent to the second end (8), the end portion having a downward inclination (α) between 20° and 90° relative to the rest of the upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The tilt (α) is between 30° and 70°.

3. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, The end portion (14) of the conveyor (2) with an inclination (α) has a length between twenty centimeters and one meter, measured along its upper surface.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the apparatus comprising a tool for adjusting the tilt (α).

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, The outer surface of the band (3) is formed of woven material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, The woven material has regular, basically square mesh elements with openings, the side dimensions of which are between 110 micrometers and 1000 micrometers.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, The drive unit is configured to drive the belt (3) of the conveyor (2) at an operating speed between 10 m / s and 30 m / s.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, The device (13) for separating the insect is a blade or brush that extends laterally adjacent to the surface of the band (3).

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the apparatus comprising a system for cleaning the belt (3), the system generating compressed air blades that impact the belt at a position on the lower surface (6) of the belt (3) of the conveyor (2) between the device for separating the insects and the first end (7) of the conveyor (2).

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the apparatus further comprising an exhaust fan configured to draw away air present above the upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2).

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the apparatus comprising a housing surrounding the conveyor (2) to restrict dust from being conveyed from the conveyor (2) to the outside of the housing.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The tilt (α) is between 45° and 60°.

13. A machine for sorting insects, said machine comprising two means according to any one of the preceding claims, namely a first means and a second means, wherein, The remainder of the mixture that falls from the conveyor (2) of the first device due to gravity falls directly onto or is carried onto the upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2) of the second device.

14. The use of the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or the machine according to claim 13 for recovering said adult insects from a mixture comprising adult insects and insect larvae.

15. The use of the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or the machine according to claim 13 for recovering said live insects from a mixture comprising live insects and dead insects.

16. The use according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein, The insect in question is a mealworm.

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