An insect larvae rearing device
By designing an insect larvae breeding device with a flip-over bottom plate and screen, combined with a conveyor and spray head, the problems of low breeding efficiency and difficult cleaning in traditional devices are solved. This achieves efficient separation of insects and insect excrement and self-cleaning, reducing costs and improving automation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHEJIANG FORESTRY UNIVERSITY
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Traditional insect larvae breeding equipment suffers from problems such as low efficiency, high labor costs, high degree of automation but large investment costs, complex structure, difficult maintenance and inconvenient cleaning, making it difficult to achieve efficient separation of insects and insect excrement and self-cleaning.
Design an insect larvae breeding device that uses a flip-up bottom plate and screen structure, combined with a conveyor and spray head to achieve in-situ separation and self-cleaning of insects and insect excrement. The device is operated by a robot to automate the processes of "harvesting finished insects", "removing insect excrement" and "cleaning insect boxes".
It achieves efficient separation and cleaning of insect larvae and excrement, reduces labor costs, increases automation, simplifies equipment structure, and saves investment and maintenance costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN224572075U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of insect breeding technology, and more specifically, to a three-dimensional multi-layer flip-plate type insect larvae and excrement separation and cleaning device. Background Technology
[0002] Traditional methods of organic waste treatment suffer from low efficiency and high risks of secondary pollution. Utilizing environmental insects (such as white-spotted flower beetle larvae, mealworms, and black soldier flies) to treat organic waste is a highly efficient biotransformation technology. Originating in the 1970s exploration of organic waste resource utilization, this technology has gradually become a research and application hotspot due to its high efficiency and environmental friendliness. Its advantages are significant: insect larvae can consume large quantities of straw, kitchen waste, and livestock manure, transforming them into high-value insect protein and insect excrement organic fertilizer through their metabolism, thus achieving resource utilization of waste; this process produces almost no secondary pollution and reduces carbon emissions, promoting agricultural ecological cycles.
[0003] In the process of treating organic waste with insects in the environment, the breeding device (box) is the core equipment, and its rational design directly affects the insect's growth efficiency, reproductive success rate, and conversion efficiency. Currently, there are various models of insect breeding devices. Traditional pond breeding has a large footprint, is difficult to clean and maintain, and has high labor costs. Trough breeding has limited mechanization and is difficult to transport breeding materials. The widely used three-dimensional box breeding has become the mainstream application due to its advantages of small footprint and high degree of automation.
[0004] In box-type aquaculture technology, breeding boxes or containers are used for manual or automated breeding. The processing of larvae, larvae excrement, and leftover materials, as well as cleaning of the breeding boxes, is done manually or through automated, cyclical movements. The breeding process during larval growth mainly involves steps such as "feeding," "inoculation (young larvae)," "separation of larvae excrement," and "harvesting of adult larvae (cleaning the box)." The following technical problems exist: First, the traditional method of insect farming relies heavily on manual labor to separate finished insects from their excrement and harvest them. This method is inefficient and has high labor costs, making insect farming economically unfeasible in areas with high labor costs and severely limiting the promotion of the technology.
[0005] Second, a process characterized by "move the insects (boxes) while the feed remains stationary," featuring assembly line conveying, simplifies these operations to "harvesting (cleaning the boxes)" and "removing insect excrement." The breeding boxes are centrally and detachably placed on a movable shelf. The shelf is moved to the breeding box transfer station, where the boxes are pushed sequentially onto a conveyor belt. A robot feeds each box sequentially from above the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt then transports the boxes to the loading station, where they are loaded onto the shelf, which is then transferred to the breeding room. This device has a high degree of automation, but automated breeding equipment has high investment costs, high energy consumption, complex structure, difficult maintenance, and a long payback period, making it difficult to promote and apply.
[0006] Third, most existing breeding boxes lack efficient manure cleaning mechanisms, and cleaning often requires temporarily removing the insects, which is cumbersome. In recent years, a small number of breeding devices with self-cleaning functions have emerged, but these devices are complex in structure and expensive, and have not yet become the mainstream in the market.
[0007] Therefore, an insect breeding box that can separate insects and insect excrement in situ to complete insect harvesting and self-cleaning has become the key to solving the above-mentioned technical problems. Utility Model Content
[0008] This utility model provides an insect larvae breeding device for realizing operations such as "separating insect excrement", "harvesting finished insects (cleaning the box)" and "cleaning the insect box".
[0009] The technical solution of this utility model is: an insect larvae breeding device, comprising: The box has a rectangular frame and a bottom plate that can be flipped down. The first side of the rectangular frame is connected to the bottom plate by a hinge. A screen is provided inside the rectangular frame above the bottom plate. The screen is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the rectangular frame by a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is parallel to the first side of the rectangular frame and away from the third side of the rectangular frame. The first side of the rectangular frame is parallel to its third side and perpendicular to its second and fourth sides. The actuator is detachably mounted on the second or fourth side of the rectangular frame and is used to drive the base plate to flip downward relative to the rectangular frame to open or flip upward relative to the rectangular frame to close. The servo-driven pivoting mechanism is detachably mounted on the second or fourth side of the rectangular frame. It is used to drive the screen to rotate around the pivot axis by a set angle in the same direction of rotation as when the base plate is open, and to rotate back to its original position in the same direction of rotation as when the base plate is closed. A pair of baffles are configured to be relatively spaced apart, forming a channel that runs through the upper and lower sides between the pair of baffles. The box body is detachably supported horizontally by a bracket above at least one baffle of the channel on the side facing away from the other baffle. The third side of the box body is parallel to the baffle and close to the channel. The bracket does not obstruct the bottom plate of the box from rotating from the closed relative rectangular frame to the open relative rectangular frame. When the bottom plate of the box body is open relative to the rectangular frame, the side of the bottom plate away from the hinge contacts the upper side of the baffle of the channel below that is close to the box body. The support supports at least one layer of the box body, and a channel is provided between adjacent layers of the box body. Each channel is located directly below or above each other. A conveyor is provided diagonally below the bottom channel, and an inclined plate is provided below the bottom channel to guide the material discharged from the bottom channel to the conveyor.
[0010] Advantageously, the box has a bottom plate that can be flipped down and opened, and a screen is installed inside the box. After the robot puts larvae and feed into the insect breeding box, the insect feces are discharged during the breeding process by flipping the bottom plate but not the screen. After the insects reach the target size, the bottom plate and the screen are flipped at the same time to discharge the insects. The conveyor is used to continuously discharge insect feces and insects in stages to the designated location.
[0011] Furthermore, the lower edge of the baffle on the side of each channel closest to the box extends to the third side of the corresponding box on the next layer, and a spray head is installed on the baffle on the side of each channel closest to the box.
[0012] Furthermore, each of the two ends of a pair of baffles in the channel of each layer is provided with an end cap.
[0013] Furthermore, a drainage trough is provided on the other side of the lowest channel, and the inclined plate can be rotated around the central axis parallel to the rotating shaft to guide the material discharged from the lowest channel to the drainage trough.
[0014] Furthermore, at least one side of the baffle of each layer of the channel is provided with multiple boxes of equal height. The first and third sides and the pivot of the boxes of equal height located on the same upper side of each layer of the channel are aligned in sequence. The second side of the adjacent boxes of equal height and the fourth side of another box of equal height are close to each other. The pivot ends of the adjacent boxes of equal height are detachably pivotally connected by concentric connecting keys. The bottom plates of the adjacent boxes of equal height are detachably connected by connectors. The actuator and the servo motor drive pivot mechanism are installed on the outer box of the adjacent boxes of equal height in each layer.
[0015] Furthermore, adjacent equal-height boxes are symmetrically arranged diagonally above one side of each layer of the passage, opposite to each other, with a pair of baffles.
[0016] Advantageously, multiple layers of boxes can be arranged on one or both sides of all channels. Each layer includes multiple boxes, and the pivots and base plates of these boxes are detachably connected. This allows for the synchronized opening and closing of the base plates of each layer, as well as the synchronized flipping of the screens in each layer. The detachable design provides scalability to the insect larvae rearing device, and the multi-layer arrangement saves rearing space. During rearing, each layer of boxes uses vertically aligned channels to discharge insect excrement and bodies. Materials discharged from the upper layer do not fall into the lower layer, avoiding cross-contamination of pollutants. The boxes within the same layer are separated from each other by rectangular frames.
[0017] Furthermore, partitions are provided between a pair of baffles in each layer of the channel, with each partition located between the second and fourth sides of adjacent equal-height boxes. The partitions of each layer of the channel are aligned with each other and the aligned partitions are connected as one unit.
[0018] Advantageously, the bottom plate of each box is larger than the bottom plate area of the rectangular frame. When the bottom plates of the boxes symmetrically arranged on both sides of the channel are closed, the bottom end of the channel on the upper side of the box can be sealed. Therefore, in use, the insect droppings or insects in the bottom box can be discharged first. After discharge, the bottom plate of the bottom box is closed. Then the insect droppings or insects in the upper box are discharged, and the bottom plate of the upper box is closed again. Then the bottom plate of the lower box is closed. Repeat the operation to discharge the insect droppings or insects in each layer of boxes from bottom to top. This ensures that the insect droppings and insects discharged from each layer of boxes are separated and do not mix, which is convenient for testing the discharge and finding feeding problems.
[0019] Furthermore, the conveyor is selected as a belt conveyor, and the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor is equipped with a grid. The conveying direction of the belt conveyor is parallel to the lateral extension direction of any layer of channel.
[0020] Furthermore, a limiting block located above the screen is provided on the inner side of the third side of the rectangular frame of the box.
[0021] Furthermore, the mesh size of the sieve is smaller than the size of the insect.
[0022] This invention facilitates the in-situ separation, harvesting, and transportation of finished insects and insect excrement, as well as the self-cleaning of breeding boxes. It has a simple structure and is easy to operate. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the rectangular frame of this utility model when it is in a closed state. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the rectangular frame of this utility model in the open state; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the box body of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a front view of the present invention with one outer column hidden. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of the insect larvae breeding device of this utility model. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025] like Figure 1-2 As shown, the insect larvae rearing device includes multiple upright columns 6 (also referred to as supports 6 in this text) erected at equal intervals along the T direction on a base. The multiple columns 6 are arranged into a column row. Multiple layers of boxes are symmetrically arranged horizontally from bottom to top on both sides of the column row. Any row of boxes on the left or right side of the column row consists of multiple boxes 1 arranged side-by-side at equal height along the T direction. Each box 1 has a rectangular frame 12 and a bottom plate 11 that can be flipped downwards. The side of the rectangular frame 12 of each row of boxes 1 furthest from the column row is called the first side 121. The side of frame 12 closest to the 6th row of columns is called the third side 123. The first side 121 of the rectangular frame 12 is perpendicular to its second side 122 and fourth side 124. The first side 121 of the rectangular frame 12 is connected to the base plate 11 by a hinge. A screen 2 is provided inside the rectangular frame 12 above the base plate 11. The screen 2 is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the rectangular frame 12 by a pivot 3. The pivot 3 is parallel to the first side 121 of the rectangular frame 12 and is far away from the third side 123 of the rectangular frame 12. Preferably, the pivot 3 is set along the center line of the rectangular frame 12, and the center line is in the same direction as T.
[0026] The first side 121 and the third side 123 of each row of boxes 1 and the pivot 3 are aligned sequentially. The second side 122 of adjacent boxes 1 and the fourth side 124 of another box 1 in each row are close together. The ends of the pivots 3 of adjacent boxes 1 in each row are detachably pivotally connected by concentric connecting keys. The bottom plates 11 of adjacent boxes 1 in each row are detachably connected by connectors. The connecting key is a polygonal shaft, and the two ends of the pivot 3 are provided with polygonal holes that match the outline of the connecting key. The connector can be made of ordinary flat iron, which is fastened to the bottom plate by fasteners.
[0027] An actuator and a servo-driven pivoting mechanism (not shown in the figure) are installed on the outer box 1 of each row of boxes in each layer of box 1. The actuator is detachably installed on the second side 122 or the fourth side 124 of the rectangular frame 12 of the outer box 1, and is used to drive the bottom plate 11 to flip downward to open relative to the rectangular frame 12 or flip upward to close relative to the rectangular frame 12. The actuator can be a pneumatic or hydraulically driven telescopic cylinder with a piston rod. The servo-driven pivoting mechanism is detachably installed on the second side 122 or the fourth side 124 of the rectangular frame 12 of the outer box 1, and is used to drive the screen 2 to rotate around the rotating shaft 3 in the same direction of rotation as when the bottom plate 11 is open, and to rotate back in the same direction of rotation as when the bottom plate 11 is closed.
[0028] Each adjacent column 6 between adjacent upper and lower box layers is provided with a channel 5 formed between two baffles 4. The baffles 4 are arranged vertically, and the channels 5 are continuous at their upper and lower ends. The height of the baffles 4 is less than the distance between the upper and lower adjacent box layers. The upper edges of the baffles 4 on both sides of the channel 5 are separated from the box layer on the upper side, and the lower edges of the baffles 4 on both sides of the channel 5 are in contact with the third side 123 of the corresponding box 1. Each layer of channels 5 is located directly below or above each other. The bottommost channel 5 is provided with a conveyor 7 that transports material along the T direction at an angle below it, and the bottommost channel 5 is provided with an inclined plate 8 to guide the material discharged from the bottommost channel 5 to the conveyor 7. A spray head 14 is installed on the baffle 4 on the side of each channel 5 closest to the box 1.
[0029] Each layer of passage 5 has a pair of baffles 4 with end caps at both ends. Figures 1-2 In this embodiment, the end plate is a pair of baffles 4 with columns 6 at the front and rear ends. The columns 6 do not obstruct the bottom plate 11 of the box 1 from closing to opening relative to the rectangular frame 12. When the bottom plate 11 of the box 1 is open relative to the rectangular frame 12, the side of the bottom plate 11 away from the hinge contacts the upper side of the baffle 4 of the lower channel 5 near the box 1. This avoids gaps between the bottom plate 11 and the baffle 4 of the channel 5 near the box 1 when the bottom plate 11 is open, which would cause material leakage.
[0030] Each layer of passageway 5 has a pair of baffles 4 with equidistant partitions between them. Each partition is located between the second side 122 and the fourth side 124 of adjacent boxes 1 of the same height in each row of boxes 1. The partitions of each layer of passageway 5 are aligned with each other and the aligned partitions are connected as a whole. Figures 1-2 In this embodiment, the partition is a column 6 between a pair of baffles 4.
[0031] The conveyor 7 is a belt conveyor with a grid on the conveyor belt. A limiting block 9, located above the screen 2, is provided on the inner side of the third side 123 of the rectangular frame 12 of the box body 1 to prevent the screening shaft 3 from rotating in the opposite direction relative to the opening direction of the bottom plate 11 after it reaches a horizontal position. The mesh size of the screen 2 is smaller than the size of the insect. A drainage trough 13 is provided diagonally below the other side of the bottom channel 5. The inclined plate 8 can rotate around a central axis parallel to the rotating shaft 3 to guide the material discharged from the bottom channel 5 to the drainage trough 13.
[0032] Each layer of the box 1 includes multiple boxes 1, and the rotating shafts 3 and bottom plates 11 of the multiple boxes 1 are detachably connected, which facilitates the synchronous opening and closing of the bottom plates 11 of each layer of box 1, and the synchronous rotation of the screens 2 of each layer of box 1. The detachable design gives the insect larvae breeding device expandability, and the multi-layer arrangement saves breeding space. During breeding, each layer of box 1 uses the vertically aligned channels 5 to discharge insect excrement and insect bodies. The material discharged from the upper layer of box 1 will not fall into the lower layer of box 1, avoiding cross-contamination of pollutants. The boxes 1 in the same layer are separated from each other by rectangular frames 12.
[0033] The base plate 11 of each box 1 is larger than the base plate 11 of the rectangular frame 12. When the base plates 11 of the boxes 1 arranged symmetrically on both sides of the channel 5 are closed, the bottom end of the channel 5 on the upper side of the box 1 can be sealed.
[0034] In use, at least two insect larvae rearing devices are arranged in parallel on both sides of the vehicle passage. Robots or workers walk within the vehicle passage to facilitate the initial introduction of insect larvae into each box 1, and during the rearing period, they move back and forth within the vehicle passage to add feed to the boxes 1. During the rearing process, the insect larvae rearing devices complete the tasks of "removing insect excrement," "harvesting (cleaning boxes)," and "washing insect boxes."
[0035] Each time insect feces are discharged, first open the bottom plate 11 of the lowest box 1 to discharge the insect feces inside the lowest box 1. After discharge, close the bottom plate 11 of the lowest box 1, then discharge the insect feces of the upper box 1, then close the bottom plate 11 of the upper box 1, and then open the bottom plate 11 of the lower box 1. Repeat the above operation to discharge the insect feces of each box 1 from bottom to top, so that the insect feces discharged from each box 1 can be separated and not mixed, which facilitates the inspection of the discharge and the identification of feeding problems.
[0036] Each time the worms are discharged, first open the bottom plate 11 of the lowest box 1 and rotate the open screen 2 to discharge the worms in the lowest box 1. After discharge, reset the screen 2 of the lowest box 1 and close the bottom plate 11. Then discharge the worms from the upper box 1, close the bottom plate 11 of the upper box 1 and reset the screen 2, and then open the bottom plate 11 of the lower box 1. Repeat the above operation to discharge the worms from each box 1 from bottom to top, so that the worms discharged from each box 1 can be separated and not mixed, which is convenient for worm detection and finding breeding problems.
[0037] Since each box in this invention is independent of the others, the boxes in different layers can discharge insects separately when the boxes in other layers do not discharge insects. Furthermore, since the belt conveyor is equipped with a grid, the insects discharged from the boxes in the same layer can fall into the independent grid. Therefore, each box in this invention can raise different kinds of insect larvae and realize the operations of "removing insect excrement", "harvesting (cleaning the box)" and "washing the insect box".
[0038] When raising insects with long growth cycles, the boxes and screens need to be cleaned regularly during the breeding process. In this invention, belt conveyors and drainage troughs 13 are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the base relative to the channel 5, and the inclined plate 8 is designed to be flipped to the water trough side. At the same time, spray heads 14 are installed on the baffle 4 on the side of each channel 5 closest to the box 1. Therefore, after the insects are discharged from each box according to the above operation, the robot picks up the insects sequentially at the end of the belt conveyor 7 and transfers them to different temporary holding boxes. Then, water is sprayed by the spray heads 14 and the inclined plate is flipped to guide the material discharged from the bottom channel 5 to the drainage trough 13, thus cleaning each box. After cleaning the boxes, the robot puts the insects from the different temporary holding boxes back into the cleaned boxes.
Claims
1. An insect larvae rearing device, characterized in that, include: Box (1), the box (1) has a rectangular frame (12) and a bottom plate (11) that can be flipped down. The first side (121) of the rectangular frame (12) is connected to the bottom plate (11) by a hinge. A screen (2) is provided inside the rectangular frame (12) above the bottom plate (11). The screen (2) is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the rectangular frame (12) by a pivot (3). The pivot (3) is parallel to the first side (121) of the rectangular frame (12) and is far away from the third side (123) of the rectangular frame (12). The first side (121) of the rectangular frame (12) is parallel to its third side (123) and perpendicular to its second side (122) and fourth side (124). The actuator is detachably mounted on the second side (122) or the fourth side (124) of the rectangular frame (12) for driving the base plate (11) to flip downward relative to the rectangular frame (12) to open or flip upward relative to the rectangular frame (12) to close. The servo-driven pivot mechanism is detachably installed on the second side (122) or the fourth side (124) of the rectangular frame (12) to drive the screen (2) to rotate around the pivot (3) by a set angle in the same direction of rotation as when the base plate (11) is open, and to rotate back in the same direction of rotation as when the base plate (11) is closed. A pair of baffles (4) are configured to be relatively spaced apart, forming a passage (5) between the pair of baffles (4) that runs through the upper and lower sides. The box body (1) is detachably supported by a bracket (6) on the upper side of at least one baffle (4) of the passage (5) facing away from the other baffle (4). The third side (123) of the box body (1) is parallel to the baffle (4) and close to the passage (5). The bracket (6) does not obstruct the bottom plate (11) of the box body (1) from being closed to being open relative to the rectangular frame (12). When the bottom plate (11) of the box body (1) is open relative to the rectangular frame (12), the side of the bottom plate (11) away from the hinge contacts the upper side of the baffle (4) of the passage (5) below that is close to the box body (1). The support (6) supports at least one layer of the box (1), and there is a channel (5) between adjacent layers of box (1). Each channel (5) is located directly below or above each other. A conveyor (7) is provided diagonally below the bottom channel (5), and an inclined plate (8) is provided below the bottom channel (5) to guide the material discharged from the bottom channel (5) to the conveyor (7).
2. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower edge of the side baffle (4) of each channel (5) near the box (1) extends to the third side (123) of the corresponding box (1) of the next layer, and a spray head (14) is installed on the side baffle (4) of each channel (5) near the box (1).
3. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each layer of the channel (5) has a pair of baffles (4) with end caps at both ends.
4. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A drainage trough (13) is provided on the other side of the bottommost channel (5). The inclined plate (8) can be rotated around the central axis parallel to the rotating shaft (3) to guide the material discharged from the bottommost channel (5) to the drainage trough (13).
5. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, Multiple boxes (1) of equal height are arranged diagonally above at least one side baffle (4) of each layer channel (5). The first side (121) and the third side (123) and the pivot (3) of the equal height boxes (1) located on the same diagonal upper side of each layer channel (5) are aligned in sequence. The second side (122) of the adjacent equal height box (1) and the fourth side (124) of another equal height box (1) are close to each other. The ends of the pivot (3) of the adjacent equal height box (1) are detachably pivotally connected by a connecting key set in concentricity. The bottom plate (11) of the adjacent equal height box (1) is detachably connected by a connector. The actuator and the servo drive pivot mechanism are installed on the outer box (1) of each layer of adjacent equal height box (1).
6. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each layer of passage (5) has a pair of baffles (4) symmetrically arranged on the opposite side of the adjacent equal-height boxes (1) at an angle above.
7. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, Equally spaced partitions are provided between a pair of baffles (4) of each layer of the channel (5). Each partition is located between the second side (122) and the fourth side (124) of the adjacent equal-height box (1). The partitions of each layer of the channel (5) are aligned with each other and the aligned partitions are connected as one unit.
8. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The conveyor (7) is a belt conveyor with a grid on the conveyor belt. The conveying direction of the belt conveyor is parallel to the lateral extension direction of any layer channel (5).
9. The insect larvae rearing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inner side of the third side (123) of the rectangular frame (12) of the box body (1) is provided with a limiting block (9) located above the screen (2), and the mesh size of the screen (2) is smaller than the size of the insect body.