TRANSPORT DEVICE AND METHODS IN INSECT BREEDING

Description

[0001] Meeting the protein needs of humans and / or animals can be achieved by providing insects that can be bred and produced industrially. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a suitable insect for industrial breeding, as it combines the desired characteristics of an insect. The larvae of the black soldier fly gain weight rapidly, and biological waste can be used to feed the larvae.

[0002] In the field of insect rearing and production, it is generally necessary to move insects from one place to another in order to provide different environments with different, particularly optimized, living conditions, i.e. adapted to the respective development stage, depending on the development stage or production step. The transport of insects as known in the state of the art is complex. To date, in insect rearing, the insect larvae in particular have usually been carried by the user in a container from one place to another, or containers with the insects have been moved with the aid of mechanical transport equipment. Known, more complex transport equipment for piece goods or animal feed is not used for the transport of live animals and, above all, does not promise sufficiently gentle transport of the insects.

[0003] The transport of lumpy and / or liquid goods, especially insects (in different developmental phases, especially as insect larvae), feed and / or water to a breeding station in insect breeding therefore represents a challenge.

[0004] The prior art according to US 2017 / 0360014 A1 relates to an autonomous feed delivery platform configured to navigate through a facility and deliver insect feed to multiple insect habitats located within the facility. CN 1 244 341 A relates to a maggot breeding machine with a feed cart running on rails. CN 1 135 281 A relates to an automated device for collecting and cultivating maggots. CN 104 604 811 A1 relates to a multi-layer intermittent mobile fly larvae breeding facility. The fly larvae breeding facility comprises a fly larvae separator, a batch feeder, a breeding device, an auxiliary loader, a collection conveyor, and a control device.

[0005] The object of the invention is to create a way to transport insects, food and / or water to several different locations in a targeted manner, which is as efficient and / or resource-saving as possible.

[0006] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0008] According to a core concept of the invention, a storage and retrieval machine is used to supply insects or insect larvae, food, and / or water to multiple rooms during insect breeding. Using the storage and retrieval machine, discharge can be performed at or in a single room for different rooms. Discharge or supply is performed by means of a discharge head located at the head of the storage and retrieval machine, which, in the prior art, typically features a gripper.

[0009] Different rooms, which the discharge head of the storage and retrieval machine accesses or controls, can be loaded with different "goods" or substances. In particular, different "goods" can be supplied at different times during the development phase of an insect larva.

[0010] The term "storage and retrieval machine" as used herein refers to a vehicle that can be moved along the length and height of a shelf. Typically, a storage and retrieval machine has a load-handling device that can be moved by the vehicle, by means of which a product or load can be moved into or out of the shelf, particularly with the aid of a gripper. The load-handling device of the storage and retrieval machine, as defined by the invention, has or carries the discharge head. Connected to the discharge head is a feed system, by means of which the discharge head can be loaded with the respective product, in the form of insect larvae, feed, and / or water.

[0011] If a supply of insects / insect larvae, feed, and / or water is described here, this also includes a combination of the aforementioned substances, in particular a feed and insect / insect larvae mixture. However, the invention not only relates to the supply of the aforementioned "goods," but also to the transport of any lumpy or liquid goods, so that in one embodiment of the invention, the transport of lumpy and / or liquid goods by means of a storage and retrieval system can also be covered by the invention.

[0012] A breeding station for insects, particularly in different developmental phases, in which the storage and retrieval machine can be used, can comprise shelf-like devices with a preferably climate-controlled environment. Insects can be reared in compartments, shafts, tubs, or the like of the shelf-like device, which is referred to simply as a shelf. For this purpose, the insects, particularly insect larvae, food, and / or water can be fed to the shelves. The shelves can be stationary. The shelves can be part of a bioreactor.

[0013] In particular, the insects can be transported or moved without moving the containers in which the insects are housed. In one aspect, the invention has moved away from the fundamental idea that transport must be accomplished by means of moving containers containing insects, especially larvae, from one location to another.

[0014] This allows for efficient, space-saving and / or automated feeding of insect larvae, feed and / or water during insect breeding.

[0015] According to a second core concept of the invention, a discharge head is provided that has a plurality of outlets provided for the selective supply of insect larvae, feed, water, or other material to a shelf compartment. The discharge head is movable to target a specific shelf compartment. Preferably, a plurality of discharge heads are provided side by side or one above the other.

[0016] The term "space" here encompasses a spatial arrangement that may be defined by a structure. The structure may be in the form of a shelf-like device. The space is a shelf compartment within the shelf-like device, which may be bounded laterally by side walls. The bottom boundary of the shelf compartment may be defined by the floor of the shelf. The front boundary of the shelf compartment may be formed by a fixed closure, which may have a flap. The rear boundary of the shelf compartment may have a pivoting closure.

[0017] The term "room" can refer to an at least partially enclosed space on a shelf. In this respect, a shelf offers the possibility of using rooms arranged in columns and rows for the rearing of larvae. A regular or uniform arrangement of rooms is preferred to facilitate easy handling when filling the rooms. Several rooms can be essentially the same size. It can be provided that several essentially equal-sized rooms are arranged one above the other on a shelf.

[0018] The storage and retrieval machine and the discharge head can also be easily combined to achieve an advantageous embodiment of the invention. A synergistic effect can be achieved by means of a discharge head for a storage and retrieval machine adapted to a shelf arrangement.

[0019] With the discharge head, multiple outlets can be directed (at least partially simultaneously) into a single shelf compartment. It is also possible to direct different outlets to different shelf compartments.

[0020] The outlets can have individually controllable valves. The outlets can be provided at the end of a tubular channel. Thus, the discharge head can be fed with the conveyed material via a feeder that can receive insect larvae, food, and / or water from a supply. A distributor for the outlets or tubular ends can be provided on the discharge head, so that the feeder is "split" into several feeders to feed the conveyed material to the individual shelf compartments. Several outlets can be fed via one feeder. In particular, groups of outlets can be formed. A group can, for example, have outlets arranged one above the other, so that the outlets arranged one above the other can be fed from one feeder. The feeder to the discharge head can, in particular, be designed in the form of a hose or pipe.

[0021] The feeder can have a rotary distributor, which can include a round distributor housing with a plurality of openings. The plurality of openings can be arranged in a ring on the underside. A rotating pipe can be arranged in the distributor housing, the outlet opening of which can move over the openings during use. Materials subjected to compressed air or insect larvae, feed and / or water can be provided at the openings. A mixture can be created using the rotary distributor and this mixture can be fed to the discharge head. A rotary distributor offers the advantage that there are no tight radii that the insects can collide with, which can make transport gentler for the insects and increase the yield. A further advantage is that no feed or insect residue remains in the rotating pipe.

[0022] The discharge head can have two or more outlets arranged next to one another, which can be controlled individually. The outlets can be provided at the ends, in particular at metal, tubular ends, each of which can have a control valve. The outlets can be movable relative to the discharge head. The outlet can be movable in particular along the axis of the tubular end, in order to be able to move it into a room. The travelability of the end or outlet can range from one meter to a few centimeters. In one embodiment, an end or outlet can be moved by 10 cm to 30 cm, in particular 15 cm to 25 cm, very preferably 20 cm.

[0023] The discharge head can be moved entirely along the longitudinal extension of a shelf and vertically. Furthermore, the discharge head can be moved entirely toward a shelf compartment in order to move one or more outlets into the shelf compartment. It can also be provided that one or more outlets on the discharge head can be controlled independently of one another in order to be moved toward one or more shelf compartments.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the discharge head can have 12 individually controllable outlets. The 12 outlets can be arranged one above the other in two groups of six outlets each, resulting in a row-and-column arrangement, which can have two columns and six rows.

[0025] By using multiple columns of outlets, in particular more than one shelf compartment per row can be supplied. In a preferred embodiment, two, three, four, five or more adjacent shelf compartments can be supplied at least partially simultaneously. A design with a compromise between the size of the discharge head (together with the outlets) and the time required to supply all of the shelf compartments in the rack is also possible. The more outlets are provided, the less the discharge head has to be moved to access additional shelf compartments. The size or extent of the discharge head increases with the number of shelf compartments to be supplied or supplied. In a particularly preferred embodiment, two or three, in particular two adjacent shelf compartments, can be supplied.It is possible for the two shelves to be located directly next to each other; however, it can also be designed to load two shelves that are not directly adjacent to each other. By moving the discharge head along the shelves, the individual shelves can be loaded one after the other.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the shelf compartments are arranged in a shelf. The shelf compartments can be arranged in a matrix. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the number of outlets on the discharge head corresponds to the number of shelf compartments in the shelf in height, so that the shelf compartments in a column of the shelf can be at least partially loaded simultaneously by the discharge head. It is also possible for the number of shelf compartments in height to correspond to a multiple of the number of outlets arranged one above the other on the discharge head, so that the discharge head must be moved a number of positions in height that corresponds to this multiple in order to load all shelf compartments. If the discharge head is moved along the shelf, the shelf compartments in other columns can be filled in addition to the "filled" column.

[0027] The adjacent outlets can be configured to supply different substances / materials. For example, after the feed has been added through one of the adjacent outlets, the discharge head can change position and, using one or the other of the adjacent outlets, can fill the shelf compartment into which feed was previously added with insect larvae or a feed / insect larvae mixture.

[0028] The shelves can have one or more flaps into which the ends with the outlets can be inserted. The flaps can be designed to be self-closing. For example, one end can be inserted into the flap and thus into the shelf compartment, and the flap closes again when the end is pulled out. This allows a closed shelf compartment to be provided at least at the inlet, preventing the insect larvae from falling out of the shelf compartment or migrating.

[0029] An automatic supply of insects / insect larvae, feed, and / or water to the shelf compartments can be achieved, whereby the desired quantities of insects / insect larvae and feed can be introduced into the shelf compartments. For example, a flow rate can be calculated or specified, based on which the quantity of insect larvae, feed, and / or water can be determined as a function of time. In a preferred embodiment, it is possible to arrange a predetermined quantity of insect larvae in the shelf compartment with a predetermined quantity of feed in the same shelf compartment.

[0030] Adding water to the shelf compartment is particularly desirable after the insect larvae have finished fattening, to remove the insect larvae from the compartment and allow them to undergo further processing. For this purpose, water can be added to the compartments via the same outlets previously used for feeding. To do this, the ends can be inserted through the flap into the compartments, and the insect larvae-faeces-feed mixture in the compartment can be flushed out of the compartment using the water through a flap, preferably one attached to the rear.

[0031] If the discharge head is equipped with outlets on two opposite sides, two opposing shelves and their compartments can be filled with insect larvae, feed, and / or water using the discharge head. This allows for high filling and handling efficiency in insect breeding.

[0032] The discharge head can be part of a storage and retrieval machine or attached to a storage and retrieval machine.

[0033] By moving the discharge head, multiple shelves can be accessed and loaded simultaneously. This allows for block-wise loading of, for example, two bioreactors. Feeding into the individual shelves can be simplified by requiring the feed to be distributed or split into multiple feeds for the shelves at the discharge head.

[0034] Automation of the loading of the shelves is possible.

[0035] A compressed air source can be provided that can be connected to the discharge head. The discharge head can be pressurized with compressed air using the compressed air source to blow out the contents inside the discharge head. This allows the discharge head to be completely emptied if, for example, the supply of insects, feed, and / or water is interrupted and the discharge head is pressurized with compressed air while the outlet(s) are open. This can prevent insects or feed residues from remaining in the discharge head and flowing out uncontrollably. Hygiene can be improved, and contamination of the discharge head can be prevented.

[0036] The term "compressed air source" encompasses a device for generating compressed air, i.e., compressed air. The air can be tempered or heated to improve residual emptying or cleaning of the discharge head. It is also possible to add a fluid mist, particularly a water mist, to the compressed air to enhance residual emptying or cleaning.

[0037] The compressed air source can be directly connected to the discharge head by arranging the compressed air source directly at the discharge head. However, it can also be provided that the compressed air source is spaced apart from the discharge head, and a supply line is provided between the compressed air source and the discharge head in the form of a channel, passage, pipe, or the like.

[0038] Furthermore, the compressed air can be connected to the discharge head via a compressed air nozzle, which can be flexibly or fixedly aligned with respect to its arrangement in or on the discharge head. Such an arrangement enables the targeted supply of compressed air to a desired location and therefore efficient residual emptying of the discharge head. For example, when pressurised with compressed air, the compressed air nozzle can supply compressed air to a predetermined location, whereby the compressed air nozzle can in particular be fixedly arranged in or on the discharge head. With a flexible arrangement of a compressed air nozzle, a larger area can be covered by moving the compressed air nozzle relative to the discharge head; the movement of the compressed air nozzle can be induced by the application of compressed air to the compressed air nozzle.

[0039] The claims and the description state features relating to various aspects of the invention, which relate to a device / equipment, in particular a discharge head and a breeding station, a use, and a method. The individual aspects, with their stated features, complement one another with regard to the design of the features for each of the other aspects, so that, in particular, features of one method also apply to the description of the other aspect by means of device features or use features. If features are described with regard to one aspect, this description is to be understood as also a description for a feature of another aspect.

Claims

1. Device for rearing insects, the device comprising a shelving unit which has a plurality of shelf compartments and comprising a storage and retrieval machine, a discharge head being arranged on the storage and retrieval machine, the discharge head having a plurality of outlets which are arranged next to one another and / or one above the other and which, for selectively supplying insect larvae, feed or water, can be moved into a shelf compartment, in particular a trough, in order to dispense insect larvae, feed or water into a shelf compartment, the discharge head being connected to a supply, by means of which the discharge head can be supplied with the relevant material in the form of insect larvae, feed and / or water; the shelving unit and the discharge head which has the outlets being designed to supply insect larvae, feed or water at least partially simultaneously to a plurality of shelf compartments arranged one above the other and / or next to one another, characterized in that the storage and retrieval machine is designed to move along the longitudinal extent and the height of the shelving unit, the storage and retrieval machine having a load handling means which can be moved by means of the storage and retrieval machine and which has the discharge head, so that the discharge head can be moved along the longitudinal extent and the height of the shelving unit.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein a compressed air source is provided which can be connected to the discharge head and is designed to supply the discharge head with compressed air in order to blow contents located in the discharge head out of the discharge head.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a rotary distributor for mixing insect larvae, feed and / or water is provided in the supply to the discharge head, wherein the rotary distributor comprises a round distributor housing having a plurality of openings, wherein a rotating tube having an outlet opening is arranged in the distributor housing, wherein the outlet opening can move over the openings during use of the device, so that materials, more specifically insect larvae, feed and / or water, under compressed air can be provided at the openings.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the discharge head has outlets arranged in columns and rows.

5. Device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the discharge head has outlets pointing in opposite directions in order to dispense insect larvae, feed or water at least partially simultaneously, in particular into two opposite shelf compartments.

6. Device according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein an outlet can be moved relative to the discharge head.

7. Device according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein an outlet is provided at a tube or tube-like end, and tubes or ends extend away from the discharge head in parallel with one another.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the tube or end can be moved by the discharge head in the direction of a shelf compartment.

9. Device according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein a plurality of outlets, in particular the outlets arranged one below the other, are connected to the same supply leading to the discharge head.

10. Device according to any of claims 3 to 9, wherein a plurality of outlets, in particular the outlets arranged next to one another, are connected to different supplies for supplying different materials.

11. Method for supplying insect larvae, feed and / or water into a shelf compartment of an insect rearing station, wherein a shelving unit having shelf compartments is provided, wherein a storage and retrieval machine is provided, wherein the storage and retrieval machine is designed to move along the longitudinal extent and the height of the shelving unit; wherein a discharge head is provided on the storage and retrieval machine, wherein the discharge head has a plurality of outlets which are arranged next to one another and / or one above the other and which, for selectively supplying insect larvae, feed or water, can be moved into a shelf compartment, in particular a trough, in order to dispense insect larvae, feed or water into a shelf compartment, wherein the discharge head is connected to a supply, by means of which the discharge head can be supplied with the relevant material in the form of insect larvae, feed and / or water, wherein the shelving unit and the discharge head which has the outlets are designed to supply insect larvae, feed or water at least partially simultaneously to a plurality of shelf compartments arranged one above the other and / or next to one another; wherein the storage and retrieval machine has a load handling means which can be moved by means of the storage and retrieval machine and which has the discharge head, so that the discharge head can be moved along the longitudinal extent and the height of the shelving unit; and wherein insect larvae, feed or water are selectively supplied to the shelf compartments by means of the discharge head.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the outlets are provided for supplying different substances.