Apparatus and method for supplying sustenance to insects

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for supplying sustenance to insects. The production of cost-efficient, protein-rich and sustainable sources for the food and feed industry represents one of the challenges of the new millennium, in particular in view of the ever-increasing population of the earth. The problem addressed by the invention proposed here is that of increasing the efficiency and ultimately the yield when rearing insects. This is achieved by the invention through an apparatus for supplying sustenance to insects, comprising at least one vertical transport device and at least one horizontal transport device, wherein the at least one container is movable by means of the vertical transport device in a vertical direction and by means of the horizontal transport device in a horizontal direction, and also comprises a sustenance supply device, by means of which sustenance can be supplied to a container content of the container and / or the container itself. The apparatus according to the invention is distinguished in that the horizontal transport device has a measuring device by which properties of the container and / or the container content movable horizontally by means of the horizontal transport device are determinable before, during and / or after the horizontal transport along a path of the horizontal transport device.

Description

[0001] DEVICE AND METHOD

[0002] FOR THE SUPPLY OF INSECTS

[0003] The invention relates to a device for supplying insects, comprising at least one vertical transport device and at least one horizontal transport device, wherein the at least one container is movable in the vertical direction by means of the vertical transport device and in the horizontal direction by means of the horizontal transport device, and comprises a supply device with which a container content of the container and / or the containers can be supplied. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for supplying insects and the use of the device for supplying insects.

[0004] The production of cost-effective, protein-rich, and sustainable sources for the food and feed industries represents one of the major challenges and necessities of the new millennium, especially in light of the rapidly growing global population. The rearing of insects, particularly mealworms, has emerged as an innovative approach, providing a cost-effective and sustainable source of protein that can be used in both the food and feed industries. Various devices and methods for rearing such insects are known from the prior art. In particular, German patent DE 10 2019 121 102 B3 discloses a device of the type mentioned above and a method for rearing, in particular, insects.The device comprises at least one stack of crates located on a chassis and a gantry, wherein the gantry has at least one supply module, one cleaning module, one vertical upward transporter, one vertical downward transporter, one cross-transporter at the top, and one cross-transporter at the bottom. Furthermore, the device is provided with a guide system on which the gantry can move over a stack of crates and which has a conveyor system with which crates can be conveyed to and from the stacks. Finally, the gantry can be used for cyclical rearranging, supplying, and cleaning of the crates within the stack of crates, wherein crates can also be transferred from and into the stack of crates through the gantry.

[0005] A fully automatic destacking machine for aquaculture equipment, which can stack and destacking crates, is also known from Chinese utility model CN ​​209403339 U. This machine consists of a buffer station, a lifting station, a destacking station, and a conveyor station.

[0006] Furthermore, Chinese utility model CN ​​209824895 U discloses a feeding device for use in insect rearing. The feeding device comprises a support frame, a feeding box, and a screw conveyor with a screw conveyor. The screw conveyor is installed centrally on the support frame, the feeding box is attached to the top of the support frame, and the top of the feeding box is firmly connected to a crushing mechanism. The crushing mechanism is intended to crush the material to be fed appropriately before it is added, so as not to harm the insects when the feed is added and to facilitate the insects' ingestion of the feed.

[0007] A device for automated mealworm rearing is also known from Chinese patent application CN 107691384 A. The device comprises an outer frame, an inner frame, a lifting system, a telescopic system, a feeding system, a scatter feeding system, and a walking system.

[0008] Furthermore, from US 2016 / 0066552 A1 a method and a system for breeding insects using a plurality of individual boxes is previously known, wherein at least a part of each box is filled with a substrate containing feed and immature phases of insects.

[0009] Based on this prior art, the object of the invention presented here is to increase the efficiency and ultimately the yield in insect breeding. This is achieved with a device according to independent claim 1. Furthermore, this object is achieved by a method according to independent method claim 24 and by using a device according to the invention according to independent use claims 30 to 33. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0010] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for supplying insects. This device comprises at least one vertical transport device and at least one horizontal transport device, wherein at least one container contains a container content that preferably comprises insects, and the at least one container is movable vertically by means of the vertical transport device and horizontally by means of the horizontal transport device. For example, several, preferably two, container stacks standing on pallets can be simultaneously rearranged next to and / or one after the other by the horizontal transport device and vertical transport device according to the paternoster principle.

[0011] In addition, the device has a supply device with which the contents of the container, in particular the insects contained in the container, can be supplied.

[0012] The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one measuring device. Using this measuring device, the device can detect properties of the containers that can be moved horizontally by means of the horizontal transport device and / or the container contents before, during, and / or after horizontal transport along a path of the horizontal transport device. It is also conceivable that data can be recorded over a defined period of time.

[0013] With the device according to the invention, it can be achieved that, during the transport of at least one container by the horizontal transport device, the properties of this container and / or the container contents can be detected before, during, and / or after transport without requiring a further step, thus increasing the conveying rate and efficiency in the supply of, for example, insects. This results in increased and, through increased knowledge, optimized breeding of the container contents, especially insects.

[0014] By associating the measuring device with the horizontal transport device, a more compact and comparatively space-saving design can be achieved. In particular, integrating the measuring device into the horizontal transport device is conceivable. In this case, by moving the measuring device along with the horizontal transport device, the measuring time can be extended or the transport time can be used for the measurement. According to an alternative embodiment, the at least one measuring device is arranged along the path of the horizontal transport device or before or after it.

[0015] It is conceivable that a measuring device could be arranged before, along, or after the horizontal transport device's path. This could ensure, for example, that properties of the container and / or its contents can be recorded at any time during transport by the horizontal transport device.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the measuring device can comprise a weighing device for determining the weight of the container and / or its contents. By determining the weight of the respective container, a mass change curve of the containers, or more precisely of the container contents, can be determined over time, for example, and from this, the mass change curve of each container content can be created based on the measured values ​​at different measurement times.

[0017] By determining the weight and the respective weight change of the container contents, the exact amount of feed required for further breeding can be determined. For insects, for example, this allows the optimal feed amount for ad libitum feeding to be determined for each stage of the insects in the containers, preventing overfeeding. The overall system is thus more efficient, and the optimal harvest time can be determined more effectively. Incorrectly filled boxes can also be identified at this point and removed from the system.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the weighing device consists of load cells. It is conceivable that the containers are picked up by the weighing device on several sides, edges, or corners by the load cells or associated pick-up devices, so that during the pick-up of the container, it can also be determined whether the container exhibits any damage or deformation. Furthermore, an inhomogeneous distribution of the container contents can be detected by picking up the containers on several sides or corners.

[0019] In order to be able to clearly assign the properties determined by means of the measuring device, in particular the weight of the containers and / or their contents, to the respective container, container stack and / or pallet with containers and / or container stack, the device provides in a further advantageous embodiment that the respective container has at least one identification element with which the respective container can be marked and clearly identified. The marking of a container stack and / or a pallet with containers and / or container stacks with an identification element is also conceivable in this case. Thus, the properties of the containers, container stacks and / or pallet with containers and / or container stacks and / or the container contents determined by means of the measuring device can each be clearly assigned to a container, a container stack and / or a pallet of containers and / or container stacks.

[0020] The marking element is preferably a marking element that can be read by a device, in particular an RFID transponder, a QR code, a combination thereof, or another marking element that can be read by a recognition device. Particularly advantageously, the horizontal transport device has a device for reading and identifying the marking element, with the aid of which a container, a stack of containers, and / or a pallet with containers and / or container stacks can be recognized and / or identified. Thus, for example, the properties determined by the measuring device before, during, or after the horizontal transport of at least one container by the horizontal transport device can be assigned to the respective container, stack of containers, and / or pallet of containers and / or container stacks that has been uniquely determined by the recognition device.

[0021] In an alternative embodiment, only the pallet on which the containers and / or container stacks are located is detected, and the respective containers themselves are identified by their position in the stack, with the position of the respective container being stored, for example, in a database. According to a further, alternative embodiment, it is conceivable that the containers, container stacks, and / or pallets of containers and / or container stacks are determined using information from a central controller, for example, by means of a material flow control system or by means of such a system or by means of a warehouse management system.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the invention also provides for the device to have an inactivation module, which may also inactivate the insects, if necessary using microwaves, preferably arranged on the horizontal transport, with which individual containers can be decontaminated and / or sealed, for example by foaming the container.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a device for mixing and / or loosening the container contents, for example, by completely or partially circulating and / or mixing and / or loosening the container contents. This achieves homogenization of the container contents, which enables more optimal nutrient uptake and increased respiration activity of the container contents, thus preventing anaerobic zones.

[0024] In order to be able to take samples from a container or its contents, the invention provides, in a further advantageous embodiment, that a sampling module is assigned to the horizontal transport device. In a preferred embodiment, this module is assigned to the horizontal transport device in such a way that samples of the container contents can be taken before, during, and / or after the horizontal transport of at least one container. Thus, for example, random samples can be taken and examined.

[0025] However, it is also conceivable that no horizontal transport takes place, but rather that only one container of a container stack is lifted by the horizontal transport device and / or the sampling module and a sample is taken from the container or the container contents.

[0026] In a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least one additional measuring device is arranged along the path of the horizontal transport device. With the aid of this additional measuring device, further measurement data regarding the condition of the containers and / or their contents can be determined.

[0027] Preferably, the additional measuring device comprises at least one sensor for determining the fill level of a container and / or a sensor for detecting the surface profile of the container contents, preferably the entire surface profile. This can be an infrared sensor or another suitable optical sensor that can detect, for example, the crossing of a generated light barrier, an exceedance of a defined height or the height of the container and its contents.

[0028] This makes it possible to determine, in particular, whether the container is deformed, overfilled, and / or whether there is a possible heterogeneity in the respective fill levels or an inhomogeneous fill distribution within the containers. Furthermore, by using different light sensors, it is possible to penetrate through different layers of the container contents, thus determining, for example, the value of a specific content. Furthermore, by combining the determined fill levels of a container with the also detectable weight data, conclusions can be drawn about the density of the container contents and thus, for example, the number of insects or the volume of living biomass. This allows the volume and weight of the container contents to be determined through measurement and data comparison.

[0029] Particularly preferably, the at least one further measuring device comprises at least one optical measuring device, in particular a camera, for detecting the condition of the container and / or the container contents. The optical measuring device, in particular the camera, can be used to determine, among other things, whether the supply device is malfunctioning due to overfeeding or underfeeding, or whether there are any foreign bodies in the container.

[0030] It is also conceivable that a sensor device, such as a sensor cube, which records all of the required parameters (humidity, temperature, substrate height, photographic images, etc.), which is inserted at the beginning of the shifting process or the horizontal transport and is then taken out again and reports the data to the device via wireless communication, as well as several sensors or devices for recording any relevant data, in particular the humidity, temperature, substrate height, optical measurement data, etc., which is inserted into the container during the shifting or supply by the device and then, before leaving the container, removed from the device, and the data collected in the container is transmitted wirelessly, for example to the device.

[0031] Empty or dead containers, as well as any infestation with parasites or other pathogens, such as fungi, can also be detected this way. Feed consumption and the growth rate of insects, for example, can also be detected using the optical measuring device, in particular the camera. This is achieved, for example, by determining the number of insects, the amount of feed, and any insect residues, such as feces or exuviae, from the data recorded by the optical measuring device, in particular the camera. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the optical measuring device, in particular the camera, records both images and video sequences. The use of special cameras, for example infrared cameras, is also conceivable in this context.

[0032] Furthermore, in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device provides that the at least one further measuring device has at least one sensor for determining the humidity prevailing within the container. This makes it possible to determine, among other things, whether too much water or too much moist food has been added to the insects in the container by the supply device. An increase in humidity within the container can also indicate a leak in a water line on the device or supply device, which can be detected by the humidity sensor.

[0033] Furthermore, in a further advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention has at least one sensor on the at least one further measuring device for determining the surface temperature within the container and / or the surface of the container contents and / or the temperature prevailing in the container contents.

[0034] By detecting the temperature prevailing within the container, it is possible to determine, among other things, whether the temperature is optimal for the growth and survival of the insects. Furthermore, an elevated or decreased temperature can also be an indicator of the presence of a problem within the container, such as a disturbed microclimate due to insufficient air circulation. An elevated temperature could, for example, indicate contamination of the container contents, particularly insects, whereas a temperature that is too low could indicate the death of the container contents, particularly the insects, or hypothermia due to possibly faulty climate control and incorrectly set air conditioning.By detecting the temperature of the container and / or the container contents, in particular the insects inside the container, it is possible to react to a temperature deviating from an optimal value.

[0035] According to a further, again advantageous further embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, the invention comprises an additional “box content mixing or loosening module” to ensure a homogeneous distribution of the various components of the container content.

[0036] Advantageously, the supply device can be arranged along the path of the horizontal transport device. Thus, during the horizontal transport of the container by the horizontal transport device, the container or its contents can be supplied with any necessary supplies in the same step. This ensures an increased and more efficient supply of the container or its contents.

[0037] The supply device preferably has at least one supply module for dispensing a supply material, in particular feed, substrate, water, insects, worms, plants, algae, or other organic substances. This advantageous modular design of the supply device allows the specific needs of the container or container contents transported horizontally by the horizontal transport device and supplied with supply material to be individually addressed with appropriate or required materials. This ensures that optimal conditions are always created for the container contents, in particular for the growth and survival of insects.

[0038] In order to remove any residues, contaminants, or other foreign bodies from the containers, a further advantageous embodiment of the device provides that the supply device has a cleaning module for cleaning the container. Vacuuming to remove any foreign substances and / or contaminants and / or residues is also conceivable in this context.

[0039] In order for the device to be individually adaptable to any existing spatial conditions, in particular with regard to the size and / or type of containers, the container stack and / or the pallet with containers and / or container stacks as well as the container contents, a further advantageous embodiment of the device provides that the device is constructed from a number of modules.

[0040] This is achieved in a preferred embodiment in that the modules are composed of a base frame, a main frame, a number of connecting pieces and an upper frame. The horizontal transport device and the vertical transport device can be attached to the main frame or the horizontal transport device can be attached to the upper frame and / or base frame, wherein the supply device can be arranged on the upper frame. The base frame can, for example, accommodate any conveyor devices, such as a roller conveyor, with which a container, a stack of containers and / or a pallet with containers and / or stack of containers can be transported to the device, in particular to the vertical transport device. The connecting pieces can serve to connect the base frame, the main frame and the upper frame and to connect a main frame to another main frame.In a further advantageous embodiment, the invention provides for the device to have an upstream and / or downstream buffer area on which at least one container, a container stack, and / or a pallet with containers and / or container stacks can be placed and / or removed. Preferably, the buffer area has contour scanners that check the exact position or the exact fit of the containers in a container stack or of the container stack on a pallet and, if necessary, ensure the precise, congruent alignment of the containers or the container stack with respect to one another using stack clamps or other suitable means.

[0041] For example, palletized containers or container stacks from a warehouse logistics facility can be placed on this upstream buffer area, which in turn can be transported from this buffer area in the direction, in particular to the vertical transport device, whereby they can be rearranged by the vertical transport device and the horizontal transport device in a patemostric principle.

[0042] For this purpose, in an advantageous embodiment, the device can have at least one positioning unit, with which the exact positioning of a pallet with containers and / or container stacks or a container stack or at least one container within the device can be ensured. Subsequently, the containers that have been rearranged by means of the vertical transport device and horizontal transport device, and those that have been supplied with supply material by the supply device during horizontal transport, can be discharged from the device into a downstream buffer area. In a preferred embodiment, the container, the container stack, and / or the pallet with containers and / or container stacks can be conveyed into and out of the device by a conveyor system.From this downstream buffer area, the containers, container stacks and / or pallets with containers and / or container stacks that have been supplied and discharged from the device can be removed again by a warehouse logistics device.

[0043] Alternatively, the device can also have a device for connection to a conveyor system, with which the device can be connected to, for example, a roller conveyor, with which incoming or outgoing containers, container stacks and / or pallets with containers and / or container stacks can be transported to or away from the device.

[0044] Furthermore, in a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for supplying insects, in particular by means of a device according to the invention. This method is characterized in that the properties of a container and / or a container content are determined before, during and / or after horizontal transport of the container and the properties thus determined are stored as empirical data and / or used to directly adapt or optimize the supply of the container content, in particular the insects. The properties of the containers and / or the container content can be determined, for example, by the measuring device arranged on the device, which is preferably arranged along the path of the horizontal transport device, and / or by the further measuring devices arranged along the path of the horizontal transport device.This makes it possible, for example, to determine whether any supply materials were added correctly during horizontal transport through the horizontal transport device. For example, overfeeding or underfeeding can be identified by determining the properties before and after horizontal transport.

[0045] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the invention provides that the container contents are supplied with supply materials during horizontal transport. Depending on the specific properties of the container and / or the container contents, the supply of supply materials can be carried out, for example, by at least one supply device. For example, only one supply material, in particular feed, substrate, water, insects, or insect eggs, can be added to the container, which is conducive to optimal growth promotion.

[0046] In order to increase the efficiency of supplying any containers during horizontal transport, in particular by a horizontal transport device, the invention provides in a further advantageous embodiment of the method that several containers are transported horizontally at the same time.

[0047] To ensure that the containers or their contents, in particular the insects contained therein, can be optimally supplied with supplies, the invention provides, in a further advantageous embodiment of the method, that the properties of the containers and / or their contents determined during horizontal transport are compared with the empirical data already stored. By comparing the properties determined during horizontal transport with the empirical data already stored, machine learning can be performed in a further advantageous embodiment, whereby the condition of the containers and / or their contents can be more effectively classified, evaluated, and supplied.

[0048] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the invention provides that actions are performed based on the compared data, for example, a container is removed or supply material is added. It is also conceivable that the container is cleaned, for example, by a cleaning module that may be present.

[0049] Finally, in further aspects, the invention provides for the use of a device according to the invention for supplying insects, preferably in or on a high-bay warehouse, plants, or organic substances in the maturation and / or fermentation process, in particular fungi, as well as algae.

[0050] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

[0051] They show:

[0052] Fig. 1 : a side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, and

[0053] Fig. 2: the embodiment according to Figure 1 in a perspective view.

[0054] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention in a side view, and Figure 2 shows the embodiment according to Figure 1 in a perspective view. The device 1 is constructed from modules consisting of a main frame 4, a support frame 6, and an upper frame 5, which are connected to one another by connecting pieces not shown in detail here. Arranged on the support frame 6 is a conveyor system 7 with which double container stacks 10, 11 can be conveyed from an upstream buffer area 8 into the device 1 to the vertical transport devices 3.

[0055] With the conveyor system 7, the double container stacks 10, 11 that have been rearranged and supplied in the device 1 can then be conveyed out of the device 1 to a downstream buffer area 9. The double container stacks 10, 11 can be brought from and to the device 1 both to the upstream buffer area 8 and from the downstream buffer area 9 by a warehouse logistics device, for example a storage and retrieval machine. The double container stacks 10, 11 can originate, for example, from a high-bay warehouse, to which they are transported back by a warehouse logistics device after passing through the supply in the device 1 according to the invention.

[0056] After the double container stacks 10, 11 have been conveyed from the upstream buffer area 8 into the device or to the vertical transport device 3 by the conveyor system 7, the containers 16, i.e. both the containers 16 of the left container stack 12, as well as the left double container stack 10 and the right container stack 13 of the left double container stack 10, are lifted by the vertical transport device 3 assigned to the left double container stack 10, so that the horizontal transport device 2 arranged on the upper frame 5 can pick them up and then transport them horizontally in the direction of the right double container stack 11. Vice versa, the containers 16 of the right double container stack 11 can also be transported from right to left.

[0057] The two double container stacks 10, 11 shown can be transferred according to a paternoster principle. In this case, the upper containers 16 of the left double container stack 10, i.e., the containers 16 of the left and right container stacks 12 and 13, are picked up by the horizontal transport device 2, which is arranged on the upper frame 5 of the device 1, and transported horizontally along the path of the upper frame 5 to the right double container stack 11.

[0058] The direction of movement of the horizontal transport device 2 arranged on the upper frame 5 is indicated by an arrow. At the same time, the right double container stack 11 is lifted by the vertical transport device 3 assigned to the right double container stack 11 at the second-lowest containers 16, i.e., at the containers 16 of the left and right container stacks 14 and 15, so that the lower two containers 16 of the right double container stack 11 can be transported horizontally along the lower frame 6 to the left double container stack 10 by the horizontal transport device 2 arranged on the carrier 6. Here, too, the direction of movement of the horizontal transport device 2 arranged on the carrier 6 is indicated by an arrow along the horizontal transport device 2.In order to be able to insert the containers 16 transported from bottom right to bottom left into the lower area of ​​the left double container stack 10, the vertical transport device 3 assigned to the left double container stack 10 lifts the containers 16 of the left double container stack 10 at the lower containers 16 of the double container stack 10, i.e. the containers 16 of the left and right container stacks 12 and 13, whereby the lower containers 16 conveyed from the right double container stack 11 by means of the horizontal transport device 2 arranged below can be arranged under the left double container stack 10 and the left double container stack 10 can in turn be lowered onto this by the vertical transport device 3 assigned to the left double container stack 10.

[0059] The steps described above are carried out until all containers 16 have been guided at least once by the horizontal transport device 2 arranged on the upper frame 5 along the devices arranged on the upper frame 5, here the supply device 17 and the cleaning module 19, and all containers 16 of the two double container stacks 10, 11 could be supplied by the device 1.

[0060] The correct positioning of the containers 16 or the double container stack 10, 11 within the device 1 for carrying out a rearrangement or for horizontal and vertical transport is ensured by the positioning units 23 arranged at different locations. The position of a respective container 16 or a double container stack 10, 11 can be identified using the positioning units 23, so that in the event of a deviation from an ideal position for transport or rearrangement, appropriate repositioning can be carried out. For example, if a double container stack 10, 11 or a container stack 12, 13, 14, 15 of a double container stack 10, 11 is not properly inserted into the device 1 by the conveyor system 7, whereby the improper insertion can be detected by the positioning units 23, the double container stack 10 or 11 orthe respective container stack 12, 13, 14, 15 can be repositioned by the conveyor system 7 and / or the positioning unit 23 itself. It is also conceivable for the positioning unit 23 to ensure from the outset that the double container stacks 10, 11 conveyed by the conveyor system 7 or the respective container stacks 12, 13, 14, 15 of the double container stack 10, 11 are correctly positioned. This can be achieved, for example, by the double container stacks 10, 11 transported by the conveyor system 7 or a container stack 12, 13, 14, 15 of the double container stack 10, 11 being moved against a device (not shown here), in particular a type of "stopper", which ensures the correct positioning of the double container stacks 10, 11 or the container stacks 12, 13, 14, 15 of the double container stack 10, 11.

[0061] Along the path of the horizontal transport device 2 arranged on the upper frame 5, further measuring devices can be located on the horizontal transport devices 2, in addition to the fill level sensor 21 shown here, which serves to determine the fill level of the container contents of a container 16 and / or to determine the surface structure of the container contents, whereby this can be done, for example, by a three-dimensional measurement of the surface of the container contents. These measuring devices can be used to determine any further properties of the containers 16 transported horizontally by the horizontal transport device 2. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, a further measuring device in the form of a camera 20 is located both after the cleaning module 19 arranged on the upper frame 5 and after the supply device 17.

[0062] The cleaning module 19 can be used to clean the containers 16 of the left double container stack 10, which are to be transported by the horizontal transport device 2 arranged on the upper frame 5. Data from the container 16 and / or the container contents can be collected before, after, and / or during the cleaning process using measuring devices, for example, the cameras 20 and the fill level sensor 21. The data thus collected can be used, together with further data collected from the containers 16 and / or the container contents, which can originate, for example, from the determination of the temperature, humidity, or weight of the container 16, to determine the condition of the container 16 or the container contents.

[0063] After the containers 16 have been cleaned by the cleaning module 19 and data has been collected, for example, by the camera 20, the containers 16 are transported horizontally along the upper frame 5 in the direction of the right-hand double container stack 11 by the horizontal transport device 5 arranged on the upper frame 5. During transport, the containers 16 can be supplied with supply materials by the supply device 17. Supply materials can include, among other things, feed, substrate, or water; particularly in the case of insect rearing, insect eggs or insects, as well as other suitable materials required for growth or used to promote growth and animal health.For this purpose, the supply device 17 has different supply modules 18, each containing one or more supply materials and capable of dispensing these in portions into the container 16, which can be transported horizontally by the horizontal transport device 2. Furthermore, the device 1 of the exemplary embodiment has a sampling module 22, which is also arranged on the upper frame 5. This module allows samples to be taken from the container 16 or the container contents and used for analysis either directly or at a later time.

[0064] Thus, a device and a method for supplying insects are disclosed above, with which an increase in efficiency and ultimately in the yield in the breeding of insects in particular is achieved by the horizontal transport device having a measuring device with which properties of the containers which can be moved horizontally by means of the horizontal transport device and / or the container contents can be detected during the horizontal transport along a path of the horizontal transport device and thus data can be generated for further optimization steps.

[0065] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0066] device

[0067] Horizontal transport device

[0068] Vertical transport device

[0069] Left stack of the left double container stack

[0070] Right stack of the left double container stack

[0071] Left stack of the right double container stack Right stack of the right double container stack Container

[0072] Supply facility

[0073] Supply module

[0074] Cleaning module

[0075] camera

[0076] Fill level sensor

[0077] Sampling module

[0078] Positioning unit

Claims

P A T E N T A N S P R Ü C H E 1. Device (1) for supplying insects, comprising at least one vertical transport device (3) and at least one horizontal transport device (2), wherein the at least one container (16) is movable in a vertical direction by means of the vertical transport device (3) and in a horizontal direction by means of the horizontal transport device (2), and comprising a supply device (17) with which a container contents of the container (16) and / or the container itself (16) can be supplied, characterized in that the device has at least one measuring device with which properties of the at least one container (16) that is movable horizontally by means of the horizontal transport device (2) and / or the container contents can be determined before, during and / or after the horizontal transport, along a path of the horizontal transport device (2), wherein the at least one measuring device is assigned to the horizontal transport device (2).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one measuring device is arranged along the path of the horizontal transport (2) or before or after it.

3. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring device has at least one weighing apparatus for determining the weight of the container (16) and / or its contents, wherein the weighing apparatus preferably consists of weighing cells.

4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (16), a container or stack of double containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and / or a pallet with we- at least one container (16) and / or at least one stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), has at least one marking element with which the container (16), the stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and / or the pallet with at least one container (16) and / or at least one stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is marked and identifiable.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the marking element is a marking element that can be read by a device, in particular an RFID transponder, a QR code, a combination of these and / or another means suitable for marking.

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it has at least one device for reading the identification element and identifying the container (16), the stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and / or the pallet with containers (16) and / or stacks of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an inactivation module for decontamination and / or sealing of a container (16), preferably that it is arranged on the horizontal transport device (2).

8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a device for mixing and / or loosening the contents of a container (16).

9. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the horizontal transport device (2) a sampling module (22) is assigned, preferably such that samples of the container contents can be taken before, during and / or after horizontal transport.

10. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one further measuring device is arranged along the path of the horizontal transport device (2).

11. Device according to claim 10, comprising at least one further measuring device, at least one sensor for determining the fill level (21) of a container (16) and / or for detecting the surface profile, in particular the entire surface profile, of the container contents.

12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one further measuring device comprises at least one optical measuring device, in particular a camera (20) for detecting the condition of the container (16) and / or container contents, in particular the insects located in the container contents.

13. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the at least one further measuring device has at least one sensor for determining the moisture prevailing inside the container (11).

14. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the at least one further measuring device has at least one sensor for determining the temperature prevailing inside the container.

15. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply device (17) is arranged along the path of the horizontal transport device (2).

16. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply device (17) has at least one supply module (18) for dispensing a supply material, in particular feed, substrate, water and / or insects.

17. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one cleaning module (19) for cleaning the container (16), in particular for removing residues generated during use.

18. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is modularly constructed from a number of modules, so that the device (1) is adaptable in particular to the size, number and type of a container (16), a stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and / or a pallet with containers (16) and / or a stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) as well as the contents of the containers.

19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the modules consist of a substructure (6), a main frame (4), a superstructure (5) and a number of connecting pieces.

20. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an upstream (8) and / or downstream buffer area (9) on which the at least one container (16), a container stack (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and / or a pallet with at least one container (16) and / or at least one stack of containers (10,11 , 12,13,14,15) can be placed and / or removed.

21. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one positioning unit (23) with which positioning of the at least one container (16), a stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), a single container within a stack of containers, and / or a pallet with at least one container (16) and / or at least one stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) within the device (1) is ensured.

22. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a conveying system (7) for conveying the at least one container (16), a stack of containers (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and / or a pallet with at least one container (16) and / or at least one stack of containers (10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15) in and out of the device (1 ).

23. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a connection device for connection to a conveying system (7), in particular a roller conveyor.

24. Method for supplying insects with a device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 23, characterized in that properties of a container contents and / or a container (16) are determined before, during and / or after a horizontal transport of the container (16) and the properties thus determined are The data are stored as empirical data and / or used for the direct adjustment and / or optimization of the supply to the container contents, in particular the insects. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that the container (16) and / or the container contents are supplied with supply materials before, during, and / or after horizontal transport. A method according to at least one of claims 24 or 25, characterized in that several containers (16) are transported horizontally simultaneously. A method according to at least one of the preceding claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the properties of the container (16) and / or the container contents, in particular the insects, determined during horizontal transport are compared with the stored empirical data. A method according to claim 27, characterized in that the collected data are used for machine learning.Method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that instructions for action are derived on the basis of the compared data, in particular that a container (16) is removed or that supply materials are added. Use of a device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 23 for supplying insects in or at a high-bay warehouse. Use of a device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 23 for supplying plants. Use of a device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 23 for supplying algae or fungi. Use of a device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 23 for supplying organic substances and mixtures in the ripening and / or fermentation process.

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