Sticky insect trap magazine dispenser

Abstract

Sticky trap insect monitoring system comprising: a plurality of sticky trap sheets, each mounted in a respective rigid frame 301, a cartridge 320 loaded with the plurality of rigid frames, a dispenser

Description

Background Monitoring pest populations, such as psyllids in citrus farms or whitefly, thrips, aphids and moths in a variety of agricultural production, is crucial for effective pest management and optimal agricultural productivity. Traditionally, sticky traps are manually deployed and inspected, which is labour-intensive, provides inconsistent results, and is slow for large-scale monitoring. Summary of the Invention According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a sticky trap insect monitoring system comprising: a plurality of sticky trap sheets, wherein each sticky trap sheet is mounted in a respective rigid frame; a cartridge loaded with the plurality of rigid frames; a dispenser configured to automatically advance a selected rigid frame from a stored position in the cartridge to an exposed position where at least one side of the sticky trap sheet is accessible to flying insects within an environment; and, a camera mounted for imaging the at least one side of the sticky trap sheet. The rigid frame may be a contiguous frame with external edges of the respective sticky trap sheet. The camera may be moveable relative to a rigid frame in the exposed position. The sticky trap insect monitoring system may further comprise an actuator configured to translate the position of a rigid frame in the exposed position such that the camera can image a side of an exposed sticky trap sheet. The sticky trap insect monitoring system may further comprise an actuator configured to translate the position of the camera such that the camera can image a side of the exposed sticky trap sheet. The sticky trap insect monitoring system may further comprise a loading mechanism for advancing the rigid frame from the exposed position to allow a subsequent rigid frame with a sticky trap sheet in the cartridge to be advanced from the stored position to the exposed position. The cartridge may be configured to hold the rigid frames in a stack in the stored position. The dispenser may be configured to drop the rigid frame from the stored position to the exposed position substantially vertically. The cartridge may be configured to hold the rigid frames in a carousel arrangement. The sticky trap insect monitoring system may further comprise a communications module for transmitting image data to a remote location. The communications module may be a battery powered wireless device. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating the sticky trap insect monitoring system of any preceding claim, the method comprising the steps of: holding the camera in an offset position from the cartridge such that it does not interfere with the flight path of insects to an exposed sticky trap sheet; moving the camera relative to the rigid frame in the exposed position to face a first side of the sticky trap sheet, and imaging the first side of the sticky trap sheet; optionally, moving the camera relative to the rigid frame in the exposed position to face a second side of the sticky trap sheet, and imaging the second side of the sticky trap sheet; and, returning the camera to the offset position relative to the cartridge. The imaging may be performed on a periodic basis under the control of a microprocessor, preferably at least daily. The imaging may be performed under the control of a microprocessor based on one or more of weather conditions, season, prior incidence of insects, and geographical location. The microprocessor may be controllable from a remote server. The method may further comprise the step of transmitting image data and / or results to a remote server. Image data and / or results may be transmitted over a wireless communications network. The method may further comprise the step of advancing the rigid frame from the exposed position to a disposal position to allow a subsequent rigid frame with a sticky trap sheet in the cartridge to be advanced from the stored position to the exposed position. According to yet another aspect of the invention a cartridge for use in the sticky trap insect monitoring system is provided, wherein the cartridge is loaded with a plurality of rigid frames, each frame having a sticky trap sheet mounted therein. The cartridge may be refillable. Brief Description of the Drawings Examples of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an example sticky trap insect monitoring system according to the present disclosure, deployed next to a tree; Figure 2a shows a schematic illustration of an example sticky trap according to the present disclosure; Figure 2b shows a schematic illustration of multiple sticky traps of Figure 2a stacked for storage; Figure 3a shows a view of an exterior of an example sticky trap insect monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 3b shows a view of the inside elements of the sticky trap insect monitoring system of Figure 3a; Figure 4 shows a schematic illustration of example positions of the sticky trap frames; Figure 5a shows a view of an exterior of an example sticky trap insect monitoring system according to another embodiment the present disclosure; Figure 5b shows a view of the inside elements of the sticky trap insect monitoring system of Figure 5a; and, Figure 6 shows a flowchart of an example method of operating the sticky trap insect monitoring system of the present disclosure. Detailed Description By way of an overview of the invention described below, the system is a self-contained system for automating the use of sticky trap sheets in pest monitoring. Sticky trap sheets are mounted in rigid frames and housed in a protective enclosure. A mechanism advances frames containing sticky trap sheets from a magazine / cassette to an exposed position, where they attract flying insects. The exposed sticky trap sheet is periodically imaged using an integrated camera to capture high-resolution images for pest detection. After a period of time, the used frame is moved to a waste position, and a new frame is advanced into the exposed position. The system includes a sticky trap cassette, such as a magazine (similar in concept to am ammunition magazine) or carousel containing multiple sticky trap sheets, each mounted in a rigid frame to ensure stability and precise alignment. The system further includes a frame handling mechanism, such as a motorised system for advancing frames, exposing trap sheets, imaging trap sheets, and disposing of used frames, designed to minimise energy consumption and mechanical complexity. The system further includes an imaging system. The imaging system comprises a camera capable of capturing images of the sticky trap sheets for consistent and accurate pest identification. The system may further include a protective housing which functions as an enclosure to shield sticky trap sheets and mechanisms from environmental elements such as rain, dust, and insects, with selectively close-fitting openings to minimise exposure while ensuring reliable operation. The system may be battery or solar-powered, capable of operating for months without intervention. The system may be equipped with wireless communication capabilities to transmit data and / or results of image processing performed locally to a remote server for analysis. Figure 1 shows an example embodiment of a sticky trap insect monitoring system 100 according to the present disclosure, deployed next to a tree. While traditional methods typically require attaching an individual sticky trap sheet to a tree, the system 100 allows a supply of sticky trap sheets to be stored without exposing them to the environment and automatically exposing a single sheet at a time. The system 100 may be deployed in different environments and locations, both indoors or outdoors. For example, the system 100 may be deployed on or next to a tree, in a forest, in a field, in a greenhouse, or in a polytunnel. The system 100 may be mounted on a pole or a plurality of poles. The poles may be adjustable. Although not shown, the system 100 may be protected by a cage. Figure 2a shows a schematic illustration of a sticky trap frame 200. The sticky trap frame 200 comprises a sticky trap sheet 201 mounted in a rigid frame 202. Figure 2b shows a schematic illustration of a plurality of sticky trap frames 205 - 209, analogous to the sticky trap frame 200, stacked next to each other. The rigid frame keeps the respective sticky trap sheet flat and prevents the sticky trap sheet touching the other sticky trap sheets. Thus, mounting the sticky trap sheet 201 in the rigid frame 202 enables compact storage and facilitates handling of the sticky trap sheet 201. Furthermore, keeping the sticky trap sheet 201 rigid and flat facilitates mechanical alignment and deployment of the frame 200, as described in detail below. Further still, it facilitates optical alignment of the sticky trap sheet 201, which is advantageous for photographing the sticky sheet 201 from one or both sides. The rigid frame 202 is typically made of a plastics material selected from polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Example width, heights, and depth of the rigid frame 202 are typically 140 mm, 355 mm, and 17 mm, respectively. More generally, the width may be between 50 mm and 250 mm, the height between 50 mm and 500 mm, and the depth between 2 mm and 30 mm, according to application. In this embodiment the rigid frame 202 is contiguous with the edges of a respective sticky trap sheet 201. In other embodiments, an empty space between at least one side of the sticky trap sheet and a respective at least one side of the rigid frame may be provided. The rigid frame 202 shown in Figure 2a is continuous. In other embodiments the rigid frame may consist of two separate straight arms. One arm is attached to a top edge of a sticky trap sheet and the other arm to a bottom edge of the sticky trap sheet. That is, the arms are attached to opposite edges of the sticky trap sheet. In this configuration the other two edges of the sticky sheet are not attached to the frame. The sticky trap sheets may be based on a paper, card or a plastic substrate with wet sticky glue or dry hot-melt glue on one or both sides of the sheet. For example, the following commercially available sticky trap sheets may be used: ISCA ColorTrap Armadilha Panel Amarelo, ISCA Green Panel Trap, Koppert Horiver Wetstick or Drystick Trap, or Biobest Bug-Scan Trap (in black or blue or red or yellow). Figure 3a shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the sticky trap insect monitoring system 300. Figure 3b shows the internal configuration of system 300. In this "vending machine" embodiment, sticky trap frames 305 - 309 are stacked in a cartridge 320 in a storage position and advanced one at a time to an exposed position by a dispenser 330. Figures 3a and 3b show a sticky trap frame 301 in the exposed position, i.e., accessible to flying insects. Used sticky trap frames may be ejected out of the monitoring system into a waste compartment (not shown) or stored in a separate section of the monitoring system (not shown). Describing the embodiment of Figures 3a and 3b in more detail, the system 300 comprises a housing 310. The housing 310 covers the dispenser 330 with the stack of sticky trap frames 305 - 309 in the storage position such that the unused sticky trap sheets are protected from flying insects. The housing 310 also protects the unused sticky trap frames 305 - 309 and mechanical elements of the system, such as the dispenser 330, from environmental factors. The housing 310 comprises an opening 334 (not clearly visible in Figure 3a, indicated by a dashed arrow). When a sticky trap frame 301 is dispensed by the dispenser 330, it passes through the opening 334 into the exposed position. In Figure 3a, the sticky trap frame 301 is shown in the exposed position. The opening 334 is large enough to allow a single sticky trap frame 301 to pass through but close-fitting so as to minimise ingress of rain, dust, or insects. The housing 310 comprises robust materials, for instance durable, UV-resistant plastics or corrosion-resistant metals, so as to withstand temperature fluctuations, humidity, and chemical exposure such as pesticides. The cartridge 320 comprises a cartridge frame 322 which holds the sticky trap frames 305 - 309. The cartridge further comprises a top set of rollers 324a and a bottom set of rollers 324b. The rollers 324a,b separate the sticky trap frames 305 - 309 stored in the cartridge 320. As an alternative a magazine arrangement (similar in principle to an ammunition magazine) could be used in which the sticky trap frames are mounted for deployment and can be refilled. The dispenser 330 shown in Figure 3b comprises two top supporting rails 332a, 332b, two bottom supporting rails 332c, 332d, two guide rails 336a, 336b, and an elevator actuator 334. The top supporting rails 334a, 334b support the top set of rollers 324a. The bottom supporting rails 334c, 334d support the bottom set of rollers 324b. The top and bottom supporting rails 334a-d are substantially horizontal when in use so that the respective rollers 324a,b may roll along the supporting rails. The dispenser 330 shown in Figure 3b functions as a vend actuator, pushing the cartridge 320 so that the wheels 334a,b roll forward or backward along the respective supporting rails 334a-d. This forward and / or backward movement allows aligning a sticky trap frame which is to be dispensed with the guide rails 336a, 336b. Figure 3b shows an empty place between two sticky trap frames 306, 307, from which the sticky trap frame 301, shown in the exposed position, had been dispensed. The guide rails 336a, 336b are substantially vertical and guide the sticky trap frame that is being dispensed from the storage position in the cartridge to the exposed position. The elevator actuator 334 controls the vertical movement of the sticky trap frame to the exposed position. Alternatively, the sticky trap frame may fall down to the exposed position by gravity. The dispensing mechanism ensures that none of the sticky surfaces of the sticky trap frames contacts other parts of the system during movement. After use, a loading mechanism (not shown) advances the sticky trap frame 301 from the exposed position. The sticky trap frame may be advanced to a waste area outside the system 300 or to a compartment within the system 300. The mechanism is designed to tolerate jamming and includes self-recovery strategies, such as reversing movements to clear obstructions. Advancing the already exposed sticky trap frame from the exposed position allows a subsequent sticky trap frame in the cartridge to be advanced from the stored position to the exposed position. A new sticky trap frame may be dispensed at preset intervals, or depending on the coverage of the currently exposed sticky trap frame 301, i.e., the amount of insects and / or debris stuck on the sticky trap frame 301, or observed ageing of the sticky trap frame 301. The coverage may be determined from images of the exposed sticky trap frame 301. The user may view trap counts daily to give time and space localised insights on where to take action, saving productivity and input costs. Figure 3b schematically shows a camera 350. The camera 350 is mounted for imaging at least one side of the sticky trap sheet of the sticky trap frame 301. The camera 350 is mounted in a fixed position. Although not shown, the camera 350 may be mounted within a protective docking mechanism or housing arrangement to protect it from the environment. In other embodiments the camera 350 may be moveably mounted such that it is moveable relative to the sticky trap frame 301 in the exposed position. For instance, in such embodiments the camera may be mounted on a linear slide or on a moveable arm, enabling it to move along the exposed sticky trap sheet to image it. To image a side of the sticky trap sheet in such an embodiment the camera is moved in front of the exposed sticky trap frame to face the respective sticky trap sheet. In this position the camera is able to take a clear, undistorted image of the side of the sticky trap sheet. The camera may also be mounted such that it can move around the exposed sticky trap frame to image both sides of the respective sticky sheet. The system may be configured so that the camera and / or the sticky trap frame can be moved so as to enable the camera to image the second side of the sticky trap sheet. In the embodiment of Figures 3a and 3b this is enabled by a turntable 360 which, when actuated by an actuator 362, rotates along a vertical axis so that the second side of the sticky trap frame 301 is exposed to the camera 350. In some embodiments, the camera may be offset from the sticky trap frame in the exposed position, such that it does not obscure the sight or the flight path of flying insects moving towards the sticky trap frame. The camera 350 may image the sticky trap sheet at preset intervals. These intervals may be modified to be shorter or longer depending on the coverage of the imaged sticky trap frame 301. Figure 4 shows a schematic illustration of example positions of the sticky trap frames. A stack of sticky trap frames is shown in the storage position 402. A single sticky trap frame is shown in the exposed position 401. A sticky trap frame is also shown in an intermediate position 403. In use, the exposed position 401 and the intermediate position 403 would not be occupied a the same time. Rather, the sticky trap frame in the exposed position 401 would be moved into the intermediate position 403 to be rotated. The same sticky trap frame would then either be imaged in the intermediate position 403 by a camera 450, or would be returned to the exposed position 401 and imaged by the camera 450 there. The cone in Figure 4 schematically indicates the imaging field of the camera 450. In this case the imaging field is not wide enough to image the entire side of the sticky trap frame. The dashed vertical arrow indicates that the camera 450 can move vertically. This can be accomplished by mounting the camera on a linear slide or on a moveable arm. This enables the camera to accurately image the whole side of the sticky trap frame either in the exposed position 401 or in the intermediate position 403. In other embodiments, the camera may be mounted so that it can also rotate around the sticky trap frame to image both sides. In other embodiments, the exposed sticky trap frame may be rotated along a horizontal axis. An imaging system suitable for use with the monitoring system described herein comprises a camera, a camera mount, and a focus actuation module. The camera is preferably a high-resolution camera, so as to provide images enabling accurate pest identification. The camera is preferably capable of capturing multiple images, so as to cover the entire surface of the sticky sheet with sufficient resolution to identify small pests. The imaging system may further comprise artificial lighting. Artificial lighting may enhance image quality, with a combination of diffuse and direct light sources to capture both colour and 3D surface details for pest identification. The insect monitoring system described herein may be powered by replaceable batteries and / or solar power. This enables the system to operate autonomously and remotely for months. The system may, however, also operate from mains power. The frame advancing design requires minimal power usage by motors and sensors. The system may further comprise a microprocessor, such as a microprocessor 470 shown schematically in Figure 4. The microprocessor 470 controls the operation of the system including the dispensing operation, the imaging system, and communications with a remote server. The system may further comprise a communications module for transmitting image data to a remote location, such as a communications module 480 shown schematically in Figure 4. The communications module may use wireless communication to transmit images and / or processed data to the remote server. The processed data may comprise pest counts and / or operational status of the system. The server may process all the images or subsets of images, and / or analyse the processed data. Long-range, low-bandwidth protocols are sufficient for the amount of data transmitted. For example, the LoRaWAN protocol may be used. The communications module may use satellite communications. In some embodiments the communications module is a battery-powered wireless device. The system may further comprise a processor configured to analyse images taken by the camera to identify target pests (e.g., psyllids) and exclude non-target objects (e.g., dust and plant material). The results are transmitted to the remote server where additional validation or data integration with weather and / or geographic data may be used, enhancing insights for pest management. Combining trap counts with other sources of data (e.g., wind speed) enables the user to more accurately pinpoint areas internal or external to the farm for action. Figures 5a and 5b show another variant of storing the sticky trap frames in an insect monitoring system 500. In this carousel configuration the sticky trap frames 520 are mounted around a surface of a rotatable cylinder 520. In use, the cylinder 520 rotates to selectively expose a desired sticky trap frame 501 to insects or to the imaging system. After the frame's exposure period ends, the carousel 520 rotates to position the next sticky trap frame. The system 500 further comprises a housing 510, covering the unused sticky trap frames, a rotary actuator 530 which rotates the cylinder 520, and guide rollers 532, 534. The guide rollers 532, 534 ensure the cylinder 520 rotates around its central axis. The system 500 also includes a camera imaging system 550, configured to image the exposed sticky trap frame 501, similarly to the camera 350 described above. In operation, the camera is held in an offset position from the cartridge such that it does not interfere with the flight path of flying insects to an exposed sticky trap sheet. After an interval in which the sticky trap frame is in the exposed position the camera is moved relative to the sticky trap frame in the exposed position to face a first side of the respective sticky trap sheet. The camera images the first side of the sticky trap sheet. The camera may take more than one image to image the first side of the sticky trap sheet. The multiple images may be taken from different positions of the camera. Optionally, the camera moves relative to the sticky trap frame in the exposed position to face a second side of the sticky trap sheet and images the second side of the sticky trap sheet. The camera may take multiple images the second side of the sticky trap sheet to image the second side of the sticky trap sheet. Once the at least one side of the sticky trap sheet has been imaged the camera is returned to the offset position relative to the cartridge. Figure 6 shows a flowchart of another example method 600 of operating the monitoring systems described herein. In step 610 unused sticky trap frames are loaded in the housing. In step 620 an unused sticky trap frame is moved to the exposed position to capture insects. In optional step 630, the sticky trap frame is moved to an image capture position. In step 640 the camera captures an image of one side of the sticky trap sheet. Optionally, in step 650 the sticky trap frame and / or the camera is moved to capture additional views. In a variation, step 650 may be repeated. In step 660 the captured image or images are processed and results transmitted. In a variation, the images may be transmitted together with or instead of the results. In step 670 the sticky trap frame is moved from the exposed position to a waste compartment. In an example method, at least one image is captured daily. In another example method, a sticky trap frame in the exposed position is replaced fortnightly. In another example method, the sticky frame traps are replaced quarterly. Shorter or longer intervals may be used for any of these actions. For instance, when a larger than usual number of insects is captured, the sticky trap frame in the exposed position may be replaced sooner. The monitoring system described herein automates the deployment, imaging, and replacement of sticky traps, reducing labour requirements and enabling large-scale monitoring. By eliminating the need for manual inspection, the system ensures consistency and reduces human error. The system provides pest detection data at a much higher frequency than traditional methods, allowing for daily or even hourly updates. This enables proactive decisionmaking and quicker responses to pest infestations, minimising crop damage and disease spread, and improving farm productivity. The system also ensures consistent, high-quality images for reliable pest identification. The system is designed to operate reliably in harsh environmental conditions with minimal maintenance. The system supports integration with existing pest management systems and adapts to different pest species or farm environments.

Claims

1. A sticky trap insect monitoring system comprising:a plurality of sticky trap sheets, wherein each sticky trap sheet is mounted in a respective rigid frame;a cartridge loaded with the plurality of rigid frames;a dispenser configured to automatically advance a selected rigid frame from a stored position in the cartridge to an exposed position where at least one side of the sticky trap sheet is accessible to flying insects within an environment; and,a camera mounted for imaging the at least one side of the sticky trap sheet.

2. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the rigid frame is a contiguous frame with external edges of the respective sticky trap sheet.

3. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the camera is moveable relative to a rigid frame in the exposed position.

4. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of any preceding claim, further comprising an actuator configured to translate the position of a rigid frame in the exposed position such that the camera can image a side of an exposed sticky trap sheet.

5. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of any preceding claim, further comprising an actuator configured to translate the position of the camera such that the camera can image a side of the exposed sticky trap sheet.

6. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of any preceding claim, further comprising a loading mechanism for advancing the rigid frame from the exposed position to allow a subsequent rigid frame with a sticky trap sheet in the cartridge to be advanced from the stored position to the exposed position.

7. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of any preceding claim, wherein the cartridge is configured to hold the rigid frames in a stack in the stored position.

8. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the dispenser is configured to drop the rigid frame from the stored position to the exposed position substantially vertically.

9. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cartridge is configured to hold the rigid frames in a carousel arrangement.

10. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of any preceding claim, further comprising a communications module for transmitting image data and / or results to a remote server.

11. The sticky trap insect monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the communications module is a battery powered wireless device.

12. A method of operating the sticky trap insect monitoring system of any preceding claim, the method comprising the steps of:holding the camera in an offset position from the cartridge such that it does not interfere with the flight path of insects to an exposed sticky trap sheet;moving the camera relative to the rigid frame in the exposed position to face a first side of the sticky trap sheet, and imaging the first side of the sticky trap sheet;optionally, moving the camera relative to the rigid frame in the exposed position to face a second side of the sticky trap sheet, and imaging the second side of the sticky trap sheet; and,returning the camera to the offset position relative to the cartridge.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the imaging is performed on a periodic basis under the control of a microprocessor, preferably at least daily.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the imaging is performed under the control of a microprocessor based on one or more of weather conditions, season, prior incidence of insects, and geographical location.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the microprocessor is controllable from a remote server.

16. The method of any of claims 12 to 15, further comprising the step of transmitting image data and / or results to a remote server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein image data and / or results is transmitted over a wireless communications network.

18. The method of any of claims 12 to 17, further comprising the step of advancing the rigid frame from the exposed position to a disposal position to allow a subsequent rigid frame with a sticky trap sheet in the cartridge to be advanced from the stored position to the exposed position.

19. A cartridge for use in the system of any of claims 1 to 11, loaded with a plurality of rigid frames, each frame having a sticky trap sheet mounted therein.

20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the cartridge is refillable.