Insect egg collector formed by a structure with egg-laying reliefs

Abstract

Insect egg-laying collector characterized in that it is formed by a structure having egg-laying reliefs, the lower or upper part of said structure being configured to allow sliding in a slide for insertion of the collector into the laying area and its extraction. Figure to be published: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Insect egg collector formed by a structure having egg-laying reliefs Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of industrial breeding of insects, in particular the black soldier fly, intended for example for the production of proteins from insect larvae. It relates more particularly to equipment intended for the stage of reproduction and laying of eggs of insects (in English "mating"), beginning with the introduction of pupae and ending with the collection of eggs which are then transferred to another piece of equipment intended for the hatching stage. This stage of reproduction and laying is generally carried out inside cages allowing the insects to have sufficient living space while remaining confined in an enclosed space. The climatic conditions are controlled inside these cages in order to guarantee optimal conditions.

[0002] Collectors are placed in these cages to encourage insects to lay eggs in selected locations, and to facilitate large-scale egg collection. State of the art

[0003] Patent FR3053212 is known in the state of the art, describing a collection and harvesting device suitable for laying and harvesting insect eggs, the harvesting device comprising: supports, superimposed on each other, spacers, each of the spacers being interposed between two adjacent supports, among the superimposed supports, a spacer member movable between a retracted position in which the supports are in the laying position, and an interaction position in which the supports are in the harvesting position, the movement of the spacer member from the retracted position to the interaction position causing the supports to move from the laying position to the harvesting position, in the laying position, the spacers are in contact with the two respective adjacent supports, and define an egg-laying space between the two adjacent supports, suitable for receiving the insect eggs,and in the harvesting position, each support is spaced from an adjacent support by a distance D greater than the height of the spacer.

[0004] Patent FR3013561 describes another example of an installation comprising a so-called laying chamber comprising at least one horizontal sieve separating said laying chamber into an upper part called the aviary and a lower part called the collector. This sieve has holes whose dimensions are just greater than the dimensions of the eggs and insect larvae and whose dimensions are less to the size of insect imagoes. The eggs / neonates then fall into the substrate.

[0005] Patent FR3027488 describes another example of an insect breeding unit comprising at least one closed enclosure formed by an upper compartment intended to contain insects and having an airlock, a lower compartment intended to receive the eggs coming from the upper compartment. The upper and lower compartments are removable and separable from the enclosure, independently of each other by a porous separating element.

[0006] Also known is patent application WO2016153340 which describes an insect egg-laying container solution in which at least one egg-laying structure is arranged in which the mother insects will lay their eggs. This egg-laying structure has an extendable face designed so that the mother beetles can crawl from the bottom onto and upwards along the extendable face of the egg-laying structure, the egg-laying structure comprising a multitude of crevices accessible from the extendable face, the slots having dimensions adapted to the egg-laying organ of the mother beetles.

[0007] A similar egg collector solution is described in patent application WO2021128669A1 relating to an apparatus for collecting hermetia illucens eggs comprising an egg collecting apparatus body. This apparatus body is provided with an egg collecting plate placement area formed by a central cavity. Grooves are provided on two symmetrical side walls at positions close to the egg collecting plate placement area. The egg collecting plates are inserted between the clamping grooves. Disadvantages of the prior art

[0008] The solutions of the prior art are not entirely satisfactory because the handling of the egg collection support involves two risks: a risk of flies escaping when removing the collectors from the laying area and a risk of the eggs detaching during the various handlings of the collection support, such as for example during transfer to the hatching area.

[0009] Many state-of-the-art solutions are also degradable over time: cardboard cells, wooden plates sensitive to humidity, etc., which means they need to be changed repeatedly.

[0010] Some solutions consist of an assembly of moving or removable parts, which weakens them and reduces their lifespan, given the handling to which they are subjected.

[0011] Finally, in several state-of-the-art solutions, the eggs or freshly hatched larvae are recovered from the substrate, which makes their precise quantification difficult. However, quantifying the number of eggs or newly hatched larvae is essential for the proper control of the rest of the breeding process. Solution provided by the invention

[0012] In order to overcome these drawbacks, the present invention relates, in its most general sense, to an insect egg-laying collector characterized in that it is formed by a structure having reliefs for laying eggs, the lower or upper part of said structure being configured to allow sliding in a slide for insertion of the collector into the egg-laying zone and its extraction.

[0013] Preferably, said structure has on the upper edge attachment means capable of sliding in said slide.

[0014] According to a first variant, said structure is constituted by a stamped metal sheet having ribs on either side of the median plane.

[0015] According to a second variant, said structure is constituted by a plastic plate, in particular PVC, having ribs on either side of the median plane.

[0016] Preferably, the collector is in one piece and has attachment means directly machined in the mass complementary to the profile of said slide.

[0017] Alternatively, said attachment means are constituted by a rod penetrating into the collector and extended by a head whose section is complementary to the profile of said slide.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment, the collector according to the invention has on the lateral edge attachment means for the reversible assembly of two adjacent collectors. Preferably, said attachment means between collectors are magnets.

[0019] Preferably, said collectors are black in color.

[0020] The invention also relates to a hatch for inserting and extracting a collector consisting of the assembly of two folded plates each having a slot adapted to inserting and extracting an egg collector, and a door for masking said slot.

[0021] Alternatively, the trapdoor has elastic lips providing a barrier to the exit of flies while allowing the insertion of the collectors or their extraction, by elastic deformation of these lips during the passage of the collector in the slot provided on the wall of the cage.

[0022] The invention also relates to a cage equipped with an opening for the insertion and extraction of a collector mentioned above, characterized in that said opening has a hatch constituted by the assembly of two folded plates each having a slot adapted to the insertion and extraction of an egg collector, and a door for masking said slot.

[0023] The invention also relates to a cage equipped with an opening for the insertion and extraction of a collector mentioned above, characterized in that said opening has lips which are deformable between a configuration for closing the opening and a configuration suitable for the insertion and extraction of an egg collector.

[0024] The invention also relates to collector cleaning equipment characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of drive rollers between which the collector to be cleaned is engaged and then driven by the counter-rotating rotation of the drive rollers of each pair between a pair of brushing rollers with fibers and rotating at a speed different from the rotation speed of the drive rollers.

[0025] Detailed description of a non-limiting example of embodiment

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of the invention, a description given by way of example only, referring to the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a front view of a collector according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a front view of an assembly of collectors according to the invention;

[0029] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a hatch for the introduction and the removal of a collector assembly;

[0030] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a schematic perspective view of a piece of equipment cleaning of collectors according to the invention. Description of an example collector

[0031] Figures 1 and 2 show front views of a collector according to the invention and of an assembly of such collectors. A collector (10, 20, 30) is constituted by a panel, for example made of plastic, of rectangular shape, having ribs (1 to 4). These ribs (1 to 4) form a set of edges and recesses suitable for laying and holding eggs. The grooves are preferably provided on both faces of the collector in order to increase the laying surface.

[0032] The invention differs from the prior art in particular by the fact that the laying is carried out on these collectors on which they remain attached due to the reliefs, without falling into a substrate container. These collectors can then be removed from the cage thanks to the slides, without losing eggs, to recover them in reliable egg grouping and weighing equipment. Having reliable quantification of the eggs is essential for monitoring the performance of the reproduction and laying process, as well as for the rest of the breeding process, in particular for measuring the quantity of food in relation to the quantity of eggs or neonates.

[0033] The attachment can be achieved by a protrusion or a cavity provided on the upper edge of the collector, cooperating with a complementary means provided in the cage, or even a hook extending the wall.

[0034] The collector may consist of a profile where the ribs of one face alternate with the ribs of the opposite face, in order to allow production by folding a metal sheet or thermoforming a plastic plate.

[0035] The collector may consist of a block of plastic material, for example PVC, with a thickness of 5 to 30 millimeters, machined to form ribs with a depth of 2 to 15 millimeters and a height of 1 to 20 millimeters.

[0036] The collectors are preferably black in color. Indeed, tests have shown that in the same cage, at symmetrical locations, flies prefer to lay eggs on dark colors than on light colors, black having the best results. The upper front face has protrusions (5 to 7) with a stem penetrating the upper edge of the collector and a flared head, for hooking into a rail (15) and sliding longitudinally relative to this rail, having a hollow core and a slot for the passage of said protrusions (5 to 7).

[0037] The lateral flanks (8, 9) have magnets (11 to 14) making it possible to keep the adjacent collectors (10, 20) linked during their movements relative to the rail (15), during insertion or withdrawal. The action exerted on the accessible collector (10) makes it possible to drive the other magnetically coupled collectors.

[0038] The assembly of small collectors reversibly attached by magnets has several advantages: - If the collector were in a single segment, then it would be very difficult to handle. This would require, for example, adapted hatching equipment and therefore very large equipment. It would also require a significant step back to be able to remove it from the cage and therefore a significant loss of space. - If the collectors were in several segments but not magnetized, then it would be impossible to manipulate those in the middle of the cage without increasing the risk of fly escapes. Example of a hatch

[0039] [Fig.3] shows an example of a hatch for the introduction and extraction of egg collectors.

[0040] It is constituted by the assembly of two folded sheets (or pieces of plastic material) (80, 90) each having a slot (95) adapted to the insertion and extraction of an egg collector, that is to say having a shape and dimensions determined according to the cross section of the egg collector in order to allow it to pass through the slot with a clearance preventing the flies in the cage from escaping from the cage.

[0041] This slot (95) can be hidden by a door (85) tilting around a transverse axis (81). Of course, the articulation can also be provided with respect to a vertical axis. A mechanical solution such as an elastic, magnet, latch (82) ensures that the door (85) is held in a position pressed against the slot (95).

[0042] For a flexible cage wall formed by a canvas or a net, the two pieces (80; 90) are positioned on either side of a cutout made in the wall, possibly braided to prevent tearing, and then tightened against each other by screws passing through the two pieces (80, 90). The slot made in the net can be provided with a zipper on either side of the door to allow additional access. The system is also compatible with a zipper and can be positioned over a zipper without the need for additional cutting. Thus, this also offers flexibility of positioning along the zipper.

[0043] The assembly is similar for rigid cage walls. In this case, a cut is made with a dimension greater than that of the slot (95) and smaller than the section of the parts (80, 90) in order to allow them to be positioned on either side of the wall.

[0044] The sheet metal (80) can be fixed by screwing, for example, onto the front end of the guide rails of the egg collectors in order to ensure correct centering. Collector cleaning equipment

[0045] [Fig.4] represents a schematic view of a ribbed collector cleaning equipment according to the invention.

[0046] Cleaning the collectors is an important step in order to be able to reuse the collectors and thus limit waste production: - After laying, the collectors filled with eggs are taken to the hatching area. - Once the eggs have hatched, the collectors are collected for reuse. However, egg residue remains in the slots. Without cleaning, the ribs would gradually become clogged and lose their effectiveness in retaining the eggs.

[0047] However, cleaning inside a rib is not easy, especially given the large number of collectors to be cleaned, hence the need to use a specialized and automatic machine.

[0048] This specialized machine is constituted according to an exemplary embodiment of two pairs of flexible drive rollers (41, 42; 61, 62) between which the collector to be cleaned (10) is engaged then driven by the counter-rotating rotation of the rollers of each pair between a third pair of brushing rollers (51, 52) with flexible fibers and rotating at a speed different from the speed of rotation of the drive rollers (41, 42; 61, 62). They ensure the brushing of the surface of the collector (10) and ribs (1 to 4) on either side of the median plane of the collector (10).

Claims

Claims

1. - Insect egg-laying collector characterized in that it is formed by a structure having egg-laying reliefs, the lower or upper part of said structure being configured to allow sliding in a slide (15) for the insertion of the collector into the egg-laying area and its extraction.

2. - Insect egg collector according to claim 1 characterized in that said structure has on the upper edge hooking means (5 to 7) capable of sliding in said slide (15).

3. - Insect egg collector according to claim 1, characterized in that said structure is constituted by a stamped metal sheet or by a plastic plate having ribs (1 to 4) on either side of the median plane.

4. - Insect bridge collector according to claim 2 characterized in that the collector is in one piece and has attachment means directly machined in the complementary mass of the profile of said slide (15).

5. - Insect egg collector according to claim 2 characterized in that said attachment means (5 to 7) are constituted by a rod penetrating into the collector and extended by a head whose section is complementary to the profile of said slide (15).

6. - Insect egg collector according to claim 1 characterized in that it has on the lateral edge (8, 9) hooking means (11 to 14) for the reversible assembly of two adjacent collectors.

7. - Insect egg collector according to claim 6 characterized in that said attachment means (11 to 14) are magnets.

8. - Insect egg collector according to claim 1 characterized in that it is black in color.

9. - Trapdoor for the insertion and extraction of a collector (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that it is constituted by the assembly of two folded plates each having a slot adapted to the insertion and extraction of an egg collector, and a door for masking said slot.

10. - Trapdoor for the insertion and extraction of a collector (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that it has elastic lips providing a barrier to the exit of flies while allowing the insertion of the collectors or their extraction, by elastic deformation of these lips during the passage of the collector in the slot provided on the wall of the cage.

11. - Laying area equipped with an opening for the insertion and extraction of a collector (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that said opening has a hatch constituted by the assembly of two folded plates (80, 90) each having a slot (95) adapted to the insertion and extraction of an egg collector (10), and a door for masking said slot (95).

12. - Laying area equipped with an opening for the insertion and extraction of a collector (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that said opening has lips deformable between a configuration for closing the opening and a configuration adapted to the insertion and extraction of an egg collector (10).

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