INSECT PRODUCTION TRAY HANDLING SYSTEM

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for handling insect production bins, for an insect production facility, in particular for animal feed. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Various approaches exist for implementing large-scale insect farming. The first methods were entirely manual, tedious, and had low productivity rates. Gradually, the technical sophistication of the equipment used made it possible to reduce human intervention in the process and increase productivity. Today, numerous systems with various technological equipment exist.

[0003] Industrial-scale insect production generally involves two complementary cycles or phases: the first to produce eggs, and the second to allow the resulting larvae to grow. These two cycles, each with their own specificities, are now carried out completely independently, using specific means for each.

[0004] For example, WO2016153340 describes a system and method for breeding insects using egg-producing breeders. The system is particularly suited to breeding cycles and is not suitable for producing insects from eggs. To carry out both cycles, an industrial facility must therefore provide two different types of systems, one for producing eggs, and one for producing larvae and / or insects. Such a facility requires a large surface area, presents a double complexity, and causes a significant additional cost.

[0005] Document FR3034622 describes an insect breeding workshop, comprising a first zone in which the insects being reared are stored during their growth in containers and a second zone comprising at least one station configured for carrying out a breeding operation on the insects in a container or on said container. The containers are grouped in the first zone in sets of palletized containers called elementary units. The first zone comprises pallet racks in which the elementary units are arranged. The first zone is further equipped with an automated device configured for moving the elementary units between the first zone and an interface with the second zone. The workshop provides, in the second zone, a plurality of specialized stations each designed to carry out a specific operation. This results in a complex, expensive installation requiring a very large surface area.

[0006] Document FR3106252 describes a bin handling system arranged in the form of a production island, the different elements being arranged next to each other. The arrangement described comprises a manipulator arm which grips the bins and moves them to different locations in the island depending on the operation to be carried out. The movements to be carried out are sometimes complex. Such an arm is very expensive and operates relatively slowly with only one bin at a time. Furthermore, the emptying means and the filling means are separate and the emptying and filling steps are disjointed. This results in a long overall cycle and installation over a large surface area.

[0007] Document US2019 / 0387704 describes a bin handling system for recovering end-of-production cycle materials.

[0008] Document CN113519463 describes a system according to the preamble of claim 1 and an insect breeding system in which breeding tanks are filled with food and eggs or larvae and are then stacked and stored in several piles arranged on a support, one next to the other. The stacked tanks are kept on the support for a few days, corresponding to the breeding period. The tanks are then retrieved one by one, emptied, and the contents of the tanks are sorted in a sorter in order to separate the insects from the other materials. To handle the tanks, carry out the filling and positioning for storage as well as to empty the tanks, the system comprises a manipulator, a filling element, a platform for lifting the tanks, an element for turning and emptying the tanks and a sorter.All these elements of the breeding system are arranged in height, with the filler in the upper position, the sorter in the lower position, and the manipulator and turning element in the intermediate position. Furthermore, the stacked bins are always stored in the storage area, placed on one side of the breeding system, which also serves as a breeding area. The elements for handling the bins are arranged on the other side of the breeding system.

[0009] To overcome these various drawbacks, the invention provides various technical means. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] First of all, a first objective of the invention is to provide a system for quickly and reliably processing batches of trays at the end of the production cycle and preparing the following batches for the next production cycles.

[0011] To do this, the invention provides a handling system for implementing a plurality of transition operations between two production cycles with a plurality of tanks at the end of an insect breeding cycle in said tanks, and preparing these tanks for a following insect breeding cycle, comprising: i) a gantry for receiving a stack of trays at the end of the breeding cycle; ii) a gantry for palletizing a stack of trays to start a next insect production cycle; iii) a handling enclosure designed to implement all the operations for transitioning the trays between the two gantries; the handling enclosure comprising a bin handling tower in which the following are arranged vertically: iv) a bin handling module, for moving the bins in translation and rotation; v) a module for receiving end-of-production-cycle materials arranged under the bin handling module; vi) a module for filling with starting material for a next insect production cycle, arranged above the bin handling module, characterized in that in the handling system (1), the gantry for receiving an incoming stack of bins from the end of a production cycle and the gantry for palletizing an outgoing starting stack for a next insect production cycle are arranged on each side of the handling tower.

[0012] The system includes the equipment necessary to handle bins from the end of a production cycle, in particular to pick up at least one bin, empty the bin(s) to recover the end-of-production-cycle material, fill the bin(s) with starting material for a new insect production cycle, and stack the filled bins. The use of a tower as described allows all of these operations to be carried out in a single phase. Each phase groups together all of the operations carried out between picking up one or more bins filled with end-of-production-cycle material from a receiving gantry and placing the bin(s) filled with production-cycle starting material in a palletizing gantry.

[0013] This arrangement allows all handling operations to be carried out using a single handling tool, helping to minimize the space required and reduce system costs. This handling tool is multi-phase in order to carry out operations for the two ongoing phases, namely a production material recovery phase from a completed production cycle and a bin preparation phase with the addition of starting material for a new production cycle.

[0014] This arrangement, with a tower surrounded by two gantries, minimizes movement. The system occupies a small space and cycle times are reduced to a minimum.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the bin handling module comprises rails arranged between the receiving gantry and the palletizing gantry, a mobile trolley being mounted on said rails.

[0016] This architecture is simple, with a single moving element performing all operations on the bins.

[0017] Advantageously, the mobile trolley comprises a pivot adapted to tilt at least one bin and pour its contents.

[0018] Also advantageously, the end-of-production-cycle material receiving module comprises a screen-recovery unit for end-of-cycle material designed to separate the constituents to be recovered from the end-of-production-cycle material and convey these constituents to at least one point for recovering the separated materials.

[0019] This architecture makes it possible to separate the constituents of the end-of-production-cycle material in real time, when the contents of the bins are poured into the handling tower.

[0020] The sieve-recovery system advantageously has at least two sieving levels. The multiple sieving levels make it possible to sort several constituent elements according to their particle size.

[0021] The sieve is an efficient and effective device for carrying out operations of selection or sorting of the constituents of the contents of the bins, even for large bins. The sieve makes it easy to process the entire contents of an entire bin or even several bins. The superposition of the stages, with sieves of different grain sizes, makes it possible to carry out several separation operations on a contained surface with routing to points of recovery of the constituents.

[0022] Advantageously, the recovery of components for a laying cycle and the recovery of components for a larval or insect production cycle can be carried out in the same sifter-recoverer. The multi-cycle sifter-recoverer allows the handling system to be adapted quickly and easily, at reduced costs, and in a limited space.

[0023] According to another advantageous embodiment, the handling system comprises a suction system arranged to recover the larval molts and volatile dust. The handling carried out with the bins, in particular the step of pouring the contents of the bins into the hopper, generates significant quantities of dust which can remain suspended in the air for a certain time. Their recovery makes it possible to clean the ambient air. This simple and compact means also makes it possible to recover the larval molts. For example, a Pouyès ring is used. The system advantageously ensures good ambient air quality.

[0024] Advantageously, the bin receiving gantry and the bin palletizing gantry comprise a lift designed to allow the positioning of a bin located on top of a stack of bins at the handling module.

[0025] A handling method is also provided for implementing a plurality of transition operations between two production cycles with a plurality of tanks at the end of an insect breeding cycle in said tanks, and preparing these tanks for a following insect breeding cycle, comprising the following steps: i) receiving a plurality of incoming bins at the end of an insect breeding cycle for recovery of the contents; ii) gripping an incoming bin in a receiving gantry housing a stack of insect production bins by a module for handling in translation and rotation of bins for translation of this bin from the stack of incoming bins to a processing tower; iii) turning over the bin gripped by the handling module and recovery of the contents by a receiving module; iv) turning over the bin by the handling module for reception of new material; v) filling the bin with starting material for a next insect production cycle by a filling module; vi) translating the newly filled bin for placement in a palletizing gantry in a stack of successively filled outgoing bins;vii) successive implementation of steps ii to vi until complete depalletization of the incoming stack of bins and complete palletization of a stack of outgoing bins.;

[0026] This process allows all the handling operations of the production tanks to be carried out automatically, simply, efficiently and quickly at the end of the larvae growth cycle, in particular to recover the latter, and at the start of the larvae production cycle, in order to load the required production starter material into each of the tanks.

[0027] Advantageously, the bins making the transition between the two gantries are the same. This avoids, on the one hand, storing the bins arriving from production and, on the other hand, having to use a stock of new bins to start the following production cycles.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment, the phases of recovering end-of-production cycle materials and preparing bins with subsequent production starter materials are nested so that a stack of cycle starter bins formed corresponds to a stack of unstacked end-of-cycle bins.

[0029] Advantageously, the process is used to produce beetles, most preferably tenebrio, and even more preferably tenebrio molitor. These types of insects are particularly well-suited to this type of process. They also have high nutritional qualities, including a high protein content.

[0030] Advantageously, the insects produced are in the larval stage. This is the growth stage that allows for high protein levels while maintaining relatively short production cycles.

[0031] It is advantageous to use relatively large bins, for example 800 cm by 600 cm. Once loaded, the bins are too heavy to be handled manually by an operator during industrial-scale operating phases, which involve handling several bins per minute. The system provided allows these operations to be carried out without affecting the safety of the operators, who can thus concentrate on control and monitoring operations.

[0032] According to an advantageous embodiment, the bins are stackable and include guide studs facilitating their stacking and which can also serve as a target for the location and guidance system. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0033] All the details of the implementation are given in the following description, supplemented by the figures 1 to 4 , presented solely for non-limiting example purposes, and in which: there figure 1is a schematic elevational representation of an exemplary embodiment of a bin handling system; the figure 2 is a perspective view of an example of a bin handling module; the figure 3 shows, in perspective, the sieve-recovery system of the figure 1 ; there figure 4 is a front view of an example bin handling system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION DEFINITIONS

[0034] By “end of production cycle materials”, we mean larvae, droppings, moulting residues, food leftovers for a breeding cycle of larvae or insects, and / or breeders, eggs, food leftovers and droppings for a laying cycle.

[0035] By “production cycle starter materials”, we mean food with eggs, or food with breeding insects, depending on the cycle.

[0036] By "substrate", we mean a material constituting the living environment of eggs, larvae, insects or reproductive material.

[0037] By " substrate residual” means the substrate present at the end of the production cycle.

[0038] By "end product" we mean the larvae at the end of their growth or insects such as adult beetles. HANDLING SYSTEM

[0039] To produce large quantities of insects or larvae, insect farms or factories are set up. A farm, for example, includes one or more storage locations for placing a plurality of stacks of trays. One or more additional devices may be provided, for example, to add watering doses when necessary or at pre-established intervals.

[0040] The handling system previously described can be arranged in a reserved area of ​​the storage location, or in a neighboring room or premises.

[0041] After their growth, the larvae or insects may undergo one or more stages of transformation into a food product. For example, a dehydration phase is planned so that the resulting food product is easy to preserve and handle.

[0042] The technology presented consists of a system and method for efficiently and optimally carrying out the transition between the end of a breeding cycle or insect production and the start of a new breeding cycle or insect production, using the same tanks.

[0043] These trays 10 are used to house the growing larvae as well as the nutrients used to ensure this growth. During their growth, the larvae produce droppings which will also be contained in the trays. In practice, to use the smallest possible space, the trays 10 are stacked on top of each other, as shown in the examples of figures 1 And4 , to form stacks of bins that can include five to ten bins or fifteen bins, or even more.

[0044] To enable the bins to be stacked on top of each other, each bin has support elements designed to allow two identical bins to be positioned one inside the other, leaving side windows at least partially free for ventilation purposes.

[0045] As shown in the figure 1 , supplemented by the example of the figure 4 , the handling system 1 comprises two stacks of trays 10, i.e. a stack 18 of incoming trays and a stack 17 of outgoing trays for a new cycle. A receiving gantry 2 allows the stack 18 of trays to be housed and depalletized at the end of the breeding cycle. A palletizing gantry 3 allows a stack 17 of starter trays for a next insect production cycle to be formed and housed.

[0046] Between the two gantries, a handling enclosure 4 is designed to implement all the transition operations of the bins 10 between two production cycles.

[0047] In the example illustrated, the handling enclosure takes the form of a tower 5 in which the different work modules are arranged one above the other.

[0048] First, there is a bin handling module 6, provided, on the one hand, to move the bins in translation between the two gantries, and on the other hand, to allow the bins to pivot when they are in the tower to dump the contents of the bins and return to horizontal so that the bins can be filled. Under the bin handling module 6, a module 7 for receiving end-of-production cycle materials to receive the materials dumped by the bins when they are turned over, is arranged in the tower. In the example illustrated, the module 7 for receiving end-of-production cycle materials comprises a sieve-recoverer 14 for separating the constituents to be recovered from the end-of-production cycle material and conveying these constituents to at least one point 15 for recovering the separated materials, as shown in the example of the figure 3The sieve-recovery unit 14 preferably comprises at least two sieving levels. Each stage comprises a sieve of specific particle size, the dimensions of the orifices of which are provided according to the average dimensions of the constituents to be recovered. The sieve-recovery unit is preferably designed so that the recovery of the constituents from an egg-laying cycle and the recovery of the constituents from a larval or insect rearing cycle can be carried out in the same sieve-recovery unit, thus making it possible to provide a single sieve-recovery unit and / or a single handling system for the corresponding implementation process.

[0049] Above the tray handling module 6, a filling module 8 with starter material for a next insect production cycle is arranged in or on the tower. This module allows the required material to be conveyed, for example, using a screw conveyor or a conveyor or other suitable conveying means.

[0050] As shown in the figure 2 , to ensure the movement of the bins in translation between the two gantries, the bin handling module 6 comprises rails 11 arranged between the receiving gantry 2 and the palletizing gantry 3. A mobile trolley 12 is mounted on these rails 11. Each gantry comprises a lift 9 designed to allow the positioning of a bin located on top of a stack of bins at the level of the handling module 6, for example in alignment between the rails 11, so that the trolley can grip this bin, for example using clamps, jaws, or hooks, or any other suitable gripping means.

[0051] One or more pivots 13 are arranged on the mobile trolley and adapted to pivot the bins and pour their contents into the module 7 for receiving the end-of-production-cycle materials.

[0052] Handling of bins, in particular the dumping of end-of-production cycle materials, is likely to cause the formation of dust which may spread into the ambient atmosphere. A suction system 16 (shown in the example of the figure 4 ) located in tower 5, allows this dust to be collected. The dust can include the molting of larvae and various dusts from insect production.

[0053] In the example shown in figure 1, two stacks of bins are arranged side by side and the receiving gantry 2 is adapted to accommodate these two stacks. The mobile trolley is also designed to accommodate, transport and handle two bins at the same time. Alternatively, the handling system and method are designed for a single stack of bins, or for four stacks of bins, each of the elements of the handling system being adapted according to this number. PROCESS

[0054] The system previously described allows the implementation of a process in two variations, namely a first variation to ensure the transition between two cycles of production of insects or larvae (or variation of production of the final product), and a second variation to ensure the transition between two cycles of production of insect eggs (or variation of reproduction).

[0055] In each case, the process comprises two phases, allowing the connection between two successive production cycles. There is thus a phase of recovery of production materials from a previous cycle of production of larvae or insects or eggs and a phase of preparation of tanks for a subsequent cycle of production of larvae or insects or eggs aimed at preparing a cycle starter pile.

[0056] Depending on the configuration of the handling system, one or more stacks of bins 10 containing the materials inherent to the end of the breeding cycle are received and arranged in a receiving gantry 2. The elevator 9 raises the stacks of bins so as to align the top bins with the gripping means of the mobile trolley 12. The aligned bins are gripped by the gripping means of the mobile trolley. The mobile trolley can then move the bins to the inside of the tower 5. Once in place above the module 7 for receiving end-of-production-cycle material, the bins are pivoted or tilted in order to discharge their contents. The materials received by the sieve-recoverer 14 flow into the various sieves and are separated and then recovered for further processing.

[0057] Once emptied of their contents, the bins are returned to a horizontal position to be filled with starting material for a next production cycle using the filling module 8. After filling, the bins are transported by the mobile trolley to the palletizing gantry 3.

[0058] The cycle can then resume with the capture of the next bins from the incoming stacks of bins, until these stacks are exhausted. At the start of the bin stacking phase, the first filled bins are placed on the elevator 9 of the palletizing gantry. Depending on the arrival of the next bins, the elevator descends and frees up the location at the top of the stack to allow the placement of the successive bins, until the complete stacks are formed, which can then be removed from the palletizing gantry. Reference numbers used in the figures

[0059] 1 Insect production bin handling system 2 Bin receiving gantry 3 Palletizing gantry 4 Handling enclosure 5 Handling tower 6 Bin handling module (translation and rotation) 7 Materials Reception Module 8 Filling module 9 Elevator 10 Bins 11 Rails 12 Mobile cart (preferably with two-bin capacity) 13 Pivot 14 Sifter-recoverer 15 Separated materials recovery point 16 Suction system 17 Stack of cycle starter trays 18 Stack of end-of-cycle bins

Claims

1. Handling system (1) for performing a plurality of transition operations between two production cycles with a plurality of bins (10) at the end of an insect rearing cycle in said bins, and preparing these bins for a subsequent insect rearing cycle, comprising: i) a receiving gantry (2) for a stack (18) of bins at the end of the rearing cycle; ii) a palletizing gantry (3) for a stack (17) of bins to start a subsequent cycle of insect production; iii) a handling enclosure (4) designed to carry out all transition operations for the bins between the two gantries; in which the handling enclosure (4) comprises a bin handling tower (5) in which the following are arranged vertically: iv) a bin handling module (6) for moving the bins in translation and rotation; v) a module (7) for receiving materials at the end of production cycles, arranged below the bin handling module (6); vi) a filling module (8) with material for starting the next insect production cycle, arranged above the bin handling module (6), characterized in that in the handling system (1), the receiving gantry (2) for an incoming stack of bins at the end of a production cycle and the palletizing gantry (3) for an outgoing stack of starter material for the next insect production cycle are arranged on either side of the handling tower (5).

2. Handling system (1) according to claim 1, in which the bin handling module (6) comprises rails (11) arranged between the receiving gantry (2) and the palletizing gantry (3), a mobile trolley (12) being mounted on said rails (11).

3. Handling system (1) according to claim 2, in which the mobile trolley (12) comprises a pivot (13) adapted to tilt at least one bin and pour out its contents.

4. Handling system (1) according to claim 1, in which the module (7) for receiving end-of-production cycle materials comprises a sieving and recovery device (14) for end-of-cycle material designed to separate the components to be recovered from the end-of-cycle production material and convey these components to at least one point (15) for recovering the separated materials.

5. Handling system according to claim 4, wherein the sieving and recovery device (14) comprises at least two sieving levels.

6. Handling system according to any of claims 1 to 5, comprising a suction system (16) arranged to recover the larval molts and dust resulting from insect production.

7. Handling system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bin receiving gantry (2) and the bin palletizing gantry (3) comprise an elevator (9) designed to allow the positioning of a bin located on top of a stack of bins at the handling module (6).