Insect Production Tray Handling System with Gantry and Tower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect farming systems require separate facilities and large surface areas for egg production and larval growth, leading to high complexity, cost, and inefficient handling processes.
Innovation Solution
A handling system with a gantry and tower configuration for integrated bin handling, including a bin handling module, sieve-recovery unit, and filling module, allowing simultaneous operations for transitioning between production cycles, minimizing space and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate facilities are provided for egg production and larval growth, then specific operational requirements for each cycle are met, but facility size and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single facility that performs both egg production and larval growth functions through one integrated system. The bin handling system, sieve-recovery unit, and filling module work together to process both cycles sequentially, eliminating the need for separate facilities while maintaining specific operational requirements for each cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the egg production cycle and larval growth cycle into a single integrated facility. The handling system combines receiving, emptying, filling, and palletizing operations for both cycles within one compact structure, reducing facility size while maintaining functional specificity through sequential processing.
2Ease of operation
If traditional bin handling systems are used, then bins can be moved between locations, but handling time and cycle duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated handling where bins are received, emptied, filled, and palletized without interruption. The sieve-recovery unit continuously processes materials while the filling module continuously loads new bins, eliminating idle time between operations and significantly reducing overall handling cycle time compared to traditional batch processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning empty bins for filling and pre-preparing filling materials. The filling module is ready to immediately receive emptied bins and load them with fresh substrate, eliminating waiting time and accelerating the overall handling cycle.
3Productivity
If automated handling systems are implemented, then productivity increases, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated handling system is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that handles both egg production and larval growth cycles. The same bin handling module, sieve-recovery unit, and filling module serve both purposes, increasing productivity while avoiding the cost of duplicating systems for separate facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple handling functions (receiving, emptying, sorting, filling, palletizing) into a single integrated automated system. This consolidation achieves high productivity through automation while reducing overall system cost by eliminating redundant components that would be required if separate facilities were used.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A handling system (1) for implementing a plurality of operations for transitioning between two production cycles with a plurality of trays (10) at the end of a cycle of raising insects in the trays, and preparing these trays for the next insect-raising cycle, comprising a gantry (2) for receiving a stack (18) of trays, a gantry (3) for palletizing a stack (17) of trays, a handling chamber (4) comprising a tray-handling circuit (5) in which are arranged a tray-manipulating module (6), a module (7) for receiving end-of-production-cycle material and a module (8) for filling with starting material for the next production cycle.