DEVICE FOR BREEDING AND FATTING INSECTS

Abstract

Device and method for the preferably high-bay-free rearing and / or fattening of insects, characterized in that an area is divided into grid squares on which the boxes containing the insects, insect brood or insect larvae are placed, possibly also stacked on top of each other, that a computer is available which controls a preferably autonomously moving handling device (preferably broadly defined, e.g. self-driving robot but also self-driving forklift, ideally with box gripper) and sends the handling device preferably according to urgency to the grid squares on which boxes are placed in order to service the boxes themselves (to restock and / or provide with insect food and / or moisture and / or remove insect feed and / or harvest) or to transport them to a corresponding maintenance station and then transport them back to a specific grid square.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for raising and fattening insects according to the preamble of claim 1. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] Insect breeding facilities are facilities for breeding and raising insects. Insect breeding (also known as insect farming) is the artificial propagation of insects, usually to satisfy human needs (beneficial insects). Insects are used, for example, as food (edible insects), as animal feed (feeder insects), for pollinating crops, or for biological pest control.

[0003] Insects are typically kept and bred on special nutrient substrates. These substrates, and therefore the insects, are usually housed in a container that is at least partially enclosed.

[0004] Storing and supplying these containers with the necessary nutrients and processes is sometimes very complex and space-intensive. Currently, sophisticated rack storage technology is often used to accomplish these tasks. This technology is sometimes extensively automated or organized using stacker cranes, shuttles, and continuous conveyor systems. Depending on the insect species (especially the black soldier fly, *Hermetia illucens*), this technology is operated in demanding climatic environments (climate chambers with high temperatures and high humidity). UNDERLYING TASK

[0005] The invention therefore aims to provide a simple and cost-effective way to store and care for insects. The inventive method and the corresponding device require minimal equipment and can therefore be used as a seasonal, temporary setup on areas (use claim) that are actually agricultural land. PREFERRED EXAMPLE OF EXECUTION

[0006] The Fig. Figure 1 shows the interior view of a device 1 for breeding and fattening insects, showing a hall in which various boxes 2 containing insects are stored, preferably on or in a nutrient medium, stacked one above the other and next to each other. The vertical storage area preferably does not require any further storage logistics equipment such as racks, with boxes 2 containing insects preferably being stacked on pallets and being moved in and out using autonomous transport vehicles 3.

[0007] Individual boxes 2, or preferably even pallets of stacked boxes 2 containing insects, can be stored in a space-optimized manner without additional racking. During the growth phase, the boxes 2 or the pallets of stacked boxes 2 can be transported to a feeding station as needed. Finally, the boxes 2 or the pallets of stacked boxes 2 can be transported to a harvesting station. A robot unloads the boxes 2, preferably over a sieve to separate the live larvae from the insect prey.

[0008] The task is preferably solved using autonomous pallet transport vehicles (AGVs with or without lifting devices).

[0009] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a scaled-up device 1, consisting of two halls and a large number of pallets and stacked boxes 2 housed within these halls. The two halls are connected by at least one walkway, and preferably several transport vehicles 3 automatically handle the loading and unloading of the boxes 2 or the pallets of stacked boxes 2 and automatically transport the boxes 2 or the pallets of stacked boxes 2 to the respective supply stations. It is preferred that a background control system automatically calculates the respective storage time under the prevailing conditions and thus automatically determines the optimal times for harvesting, nutrient supply, etc., and implements these times automatically by transporting the boxes 2 to the respective station.

[0010] This generally avoids complex and costly storage technology, as the boxes 2 can simply be stacked on top of each other and / or on pallets, and no expensive mechanism for delivery or transport of the boxes is required. Furthermore, this device 1 is easily scalable, as only an increase in height or, preferably, surface area is necessary; preferably by increasing the number of transport vehicles 3.

[0011] The Fig. 3 finally shows analogous to Fig. 2 the scaled-up device 1 with two connected halls in another view. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 Device 2 boxes 3 Transport vehicles

Claims

[1] Methods for the preferably high-bay-free rearing and / or fattening of insects, characterized by that an area is divided into grid squares on which the boxes containing insects, insect brood or insect larvae are placed, possibly stacked on top of each other; that a computer is available which controls a preferably autonomous handling device (preferably broadly defined, e.g. self-driving robot but also self-driving forklift, ideally with box gripper) and sends the handling device preferably according to urgency to the grid squares on which boxes are placed in order to service the boxes themselves (restock and / or provide insect food and / or moisture and / or remove insect damage and / or harvest) or to transport them to a corresponding maintenance station and then transport them back to a specific grid square. [2] Device (1) for raising and / or fattening insects and preferably for carrying out the method according to claim 1, comprising a vertical storage area, preferably without storage logistics facilities such as shelves, characterized by , that the insects with their nutrient medium are housed in boxes (2) which can be stacked on top of each other, wherein the boxes (2) are stacked on top of each other in such a way that individual boxes (2) or whole pallets with boxes (2) stacked on top of each other can be moved in and out using a transport vehicle (3). [3] Device (1) for raising and / or fattening insects, and preferably for carrying out the method according to claim 1, preferably according to claim 2, characterized by , that the transport vehicles (3) are autonomous transport vehicles. [4] Device (1) preferably for carrying out the method according to claim 1 and preferably according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized by, that the boxes (2) or the pallets with boxes (2) are automatically moved in and out as required by the insects. [5] Device (1) preferably for carrying out the method according to claim 1 and preferably according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized by , that individual boxes (2) or pallets with boxes (2) are automatically transported from the transport vehicles (3) to feeding stations during growth as required and preferably also automatically removed from there. [6] Device (1) preferably for carrying out the method according to claim 1 and preferably according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized by , that individual boxes (2) or pallets of boxes (2) are automatically transported by transport vehicles (3) to harvesting stations after the growth of the insects is completed as required. [7] Device (1) preferably for carrying out the method according to claim 1, preferably according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized by , that at the harvesting station a robot unloads the boxes (2) and a sieving machine separates the live larvae from the insect damage. [8] Device (1) preferably for carrying out the method according to claim 1 and preferably according to one of the preceding device claims, characterized by , that the transport vehicles (3) are autonomous pallet transport vehicles (AGVs with or without lifting devices).

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