WO2021130079A1

WO2021130079A1 - Apparatus for dispensing and distributing living organisms, such as arthropods and nematodes

Info

Publication number: WO2021130079A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/086463
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ilja KRASZOVSZKIJ; Anders Petersen
Original assignee: Ecobotix Aps
Priority date: 2019-12-23
Filing date: 2020-12-16
Publication date: 2021-07-01
Also published as: EP4081024A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) configured to dispense living organisms, such as arthropods and nematodes, and comprises a container (20) having an outlet passage (30) at a bottom portion of the container (20), and an agitator device (40, 70). The agitator device comprises i) a plunger (40) arranged inside the container (20) and having a head (41) with a first side (42) oriented towards the outlet passage (30), and an opposite second side (43), a drive (90) configured for reciprocating the plunger head (41) between a first position (P1) wherein the outlet passage (30) is open and a second position (P2) wherein the outlet passage (30) is open, and/or ii) vibrator device (70), such as a motor with an unbalanced mass, mounted to a portion (21) of the container (20) surrounding the outlet passage (30), and configured to vibrate the portion (21).

Description

Apparatus for dispensing and distributing living organisms, such as arthropods and nematodes

The present invention concerns an apparatus for dispensing and distributing living organisms in a targeted area.

The living organisms may be beneficial in the way that they can serve as nat ural enemies of agricultural pests, vectors thereof, pollinators or any other ben eficial function that either enhances or inhibits a plant-growing process in the targeted area or alternatively reduces another pest problem (such as mosqui toes or flies and even the potential spreading of disease associated herewith).

The targeted area can be any agricultural environment (e.g. fields, green houses, tunnels, orchards, plantations or fish farms) but also natural environ ments (e.g. forests, meadows, heaths, rivers, streams and lakes) or urban en vironments (e.g. public or private gardens or golf courses) when such environ ment could experience a pest problem and/or benefit from enhancing or dimin ishing a plant-growing process and/or otherwise would experience a deficiency in, or even local extinction of, the population of certain living organisms.

Today, many areas are sprayed with chemical pesticides for instance in order to protect crops from damaging pests such as some weeds, fungi or insects. However, since chemical pesticides are potentially harmful to humans, bene ficial insects, as well as to the environment, biological control agents (BCA) are often applied as a substitute to the pesticides, and further also to obtain an organic agriculture.

Various types of living organisms can serve as BCAs, both microbial types such as vira, bacteria and fungi and macrobial types such as arthropods and nematodes. Also the various BCAs can be applied in various life stages (e.g. adults, nymphs, instars, larvae, pupae or eggs). Macrobial types, such as arthropods and nematodes, can be very fragile, and therefore must be handled with great care when being applied as BCAs. Ar thropods is a common term for a wide variety of relatively small animals includ- ing insects, arachnids, and mites, and nematodes is a term for roundworms.

Arthropods, before application, may be prepared in a formulation containing: carrier material, food sources, water and a mix of arthropod species in various life stages. The so-called carrier material can be e.g. vermiculite, buckwheat husks, bran, corn grit, peat, sawdust, or mixes of these. The carrier material serves as shelter for the arthropods, and thereby reducing cannibalization and stress among the arthropods, and enabling also a lower dosing rate. Added water as well various food sources for the BCAs (such a bran mites or eggs of Ephestia kuehniella) can prevent the arthropods from dehydrating or starving.

Nematodes, before application, may e.g. be prepared as part of a formulation containing nematode-killed insects (infected insect cadavers) from which the nematodes can emerge to seek new hosts. The cadavers are well-known to be fragile and sticky and therefore, and even despite that they are sometimes precoated, the cadavers may still risk being squashed. The formulation may, similarly as for the arthropods, also include e.g a carrier material, water etc.

The arthropods, nematodes or other living organisms (or a formulation thereof) are distributed in the targeted area (say an agricultural field) in order to prey on, parasitize or otherwise counteract pests such as harmful arthropods (say aphids), that are already, or could later, become present in the targeted area.

US5794847A discloses an apparatus for dispensing and distributing insects onto a crop field, wherein insects are transferred from a container into a cham- ber, and subsequently distributed onto a crop field by a stream of air flowing through the delivery chamber. In the above mentioned document, insects are transferred from a container into a delivery chamber by way of mechanical metering devices involving me chanical components that move relative to each other.

The use of such mechanical metering or dispensing systems is associated with inter alia three major problems:

First, the insects or other arthropods may be stressed, damaged or killed be- cause they are exposed to crushing forces or squashing caused by the moving mechanical components and the physical interrelationship of the later with other components of the apparatus, such as the container bottom opening.

Second, any opening, such as the outlet of the container or hopper containing the arthropod formulation, or an inlet to a delivery chamber, might become clogged, due to the relatively high water content that some arthropod formula tions possess, thereby effectively limiting the range of applicable formulations.

Third, the mechanical components moving relatively to each other will only allow for minor differences in the distribution of particle sizes between the ar thropod formulations used. Hereby the user experience and the versatility of the apparatus to cope with various arthropods and types of formulations suf fers. Other prior art, such as disclosed in EP2099279A1 , distribute insects or other arthropods onto crop fields using rotating discs making use of centrifugal forces.

Arthropods, nematodes and other types of living organisms are often highly vulnerable, and thus must be handled with care. Exposing them to such cen trifugal forces is harsh on them, may damage them, or even kill them, and furthermore, generally leads away from the general purpose of the present invention which is to dispense and distribute the living organisms (say the BCAs) in a way so that they can perform their function to the best of their abil ities.

The object of the present invention is inter alia to provide an apparatus for dispensing and distributing living organisms, such as insects in a targeted area without damaging them, and further having provisions for preventing clogging of the apparatus, such as of the outlet(s), and further again allowing for a wider range of living organisms (such as arthropods and nematodes) as well as for mulations of these to be dispensed and distributed.

Summary In view of this object, an apparatus for dispensing and distributing living organ isms, such as arthropods and nematodes, in a targeted area, is provided, com prising a container for containing the living organisms (or a formulation thereof if desired), the container comprising an outlet arranged at the bottom, for dis charging the content of the container, and a plunger/piston that recipro- cates/oscillates inside the container for gradually allowing motion of the con tent of the container towards the outlet, but without closing the outlet so that no living organisms get crushed. The reciprocating movement breaks up the contents that may be sticky and hence have a natural tendency to agglomer ate.

The reciprocating movement may be linear with increasing, decreasing and/or constant intervals. By way of example, a constant interval in a low position can be used to allow for dispensing material only at discrete time intervals, whereas a constant interval in a high position allows for relatively larger amounts of material to flow out, for instance at discrete time intervals. The apparatus may alternatively or further comprise a vibrator device arranged in or on the housing of the container at the outlet, for vibrating the housing and prevent clogging of the outlet passage. The oscillation of the plunger as well as vibrator movements are selected so as to allow for any relevant distribution of particle sizes and particle types to be dispensed, and at a desired rate.

In this way, the living organisms are dispensed with care and clogging is pre vented. Same time a broad range of living organisms (and formulations thereof) can be dispensed and a desired dispensing rate can be achieved. The apparatus may be carried e.g. by a person, a vehicle, a drone, a stationary frame, or may travel along a support structure.

In one embodiment, the apparatus for dispensing and distributing living organ isms, such as arthropods and nematodes, comprises a container, comprising an outlet passage, a linearly oscillating plunger, a drive for driving the plunger, wherein the plunger moves between positions, such as a first and a second position, that have different distances to the outlet passage but not closing the outlet passage, but can also be made to move to a third position being further away from the outlet passage than the first and second positions, and to a fourth position, fully closing off the outlet passage.

The drive may be a linear actuator or a motor.

In a second embodiment, the apparatus comprises a dispensing chamber downstream of the outlet passage, comprising a second plunger and a second outlet arranged at the bottom of the dispensing chamber.

In a third embodiment, the apparatus comprises a vibrator device at the hous ing of the container and/or the housing of the dispensing chamber, configured to vibrate the outlet passage and/or second outlet passage. In another embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a controller for selecting the motion pattern of the reciprocating motion of the plunger and/or the vibrator device.

In another embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a ring-shaped pressure- relieving separating structure arranged inside the container. The pressure re lieving separating structure may be comprised of an upwardly or downwardly parabolic or curved plate or a structure resembling the surface of a saddle, arranged inside the container to leave a gap between the plate and the inner surface of the container or between the plate and the plunger. The separating structure serves to carry the weight of material resting thereon to reduce the risk that living organisms closer to the bottom of the container are crushed by the weight of the living material and carrier material etc. in the container.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus is configured to cool or chill the content of the container, by providing cooling means, such as plates extending inside the container. Such cooling means may in a preferred embodiment cool down the content of the container by thermoelectric cooling, making use of the Peltier effect, or by being cooled down from outside of the container, thereby leading heat from the inside of the container to the outside of the container.

Having cooling elements penetrating deeply into the container, it is inter alia achieved that the temperature is more homogenous through the inside of the container, and further also that the contents of the container cool down faster.

By reducing the temperature of the living organisms, such as arthropods or nematodes, or their surroundings, their activity is also reduced, thereby reduc ing the occurrence of cannibalism amongst them and further reducing the un evenness of their distribution inside the container, thereby allowing for a more accurate dosing rate of the living organisms. In yet a further embodiment, a distributor element is provided downstream of the outlet passage, which will distribute the outgoing living organisms radially, towards an upward and radially going air stream produced by an air blower, arranged after the distributor element, thereby distributing the living organisms, and carrier material radially onto the crop field.

In yet another embodiment, the outlet passage is connected to a dispensing pipe, which receives the outgoing living organisms, and blows them into a cer tain direction onto the crop field, using an air blower connected to the dispens ing pipe and producing a stream of air in a direction coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the dispensing pipe.

The apparatus may comprise either or both of the plunger and/or the vibrator, and in any combination with the second plunger and/or the distributor element and/or the air blower and/or the dispensing pipe and/or the separating struc ture.

The apparatus may further comprise a stirrer arranged inside the container for stirring the content of the container, thereby achieving a mixing and homoge nizing of the content material. The stirrer may be rotated by a drive, such as a motor.

In an embodiment, the cooling elements are configured to rotate and/or oscil late within the container. Hereby it is achieved that two different functions may be performed by the same element, thus, the cooling elements perform the task of cooling down the content of the container and simultaneously stirring it. In this way, there is no need for a stirrer.

In an embodiment, a cooling system for cooling down the cooling elements, arranged on the apparatus, and the cooling elements, may be connected to a motor and to a radial-axial bearing, in order to rotate and/or oscillate. The cool ing elements may comprise branches extending from the cooling system into the interior of the container.

In yet another embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a second container connected to the container and arranged downstream of the outlet passage, where the second container comprises a plunger, a drive for that second plunger, and an outlet passage arranged at the bottom of that second con tainer. In this way, a more precise dosing is achieved.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises one or more load cells. The load cells may be arranged between the support arm and the apparatus, and con figured to measure the weight of the apparatus or the content of the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises load cells, arranged on the sides or on the top of the apparatus, optionally along the circumference of an imaginary circle, optionally equally spaced along that circumference, and optionally at three points separated with 120° shifts in rotation.

In a preferred embodiment the apparatus comprises an inner container sus pended on a lever frame and guided by bearings within the outer device con tainer frame in axial/vertical direction, with one end of the lever frame mounted to the outer frame, while the other to the measuring end of a loadcell mounted on the outer frame. At most connection points rotational joints are to be ap plied. Such construction will leave only one degree of freedom movement for the inner container (the desired DoF), thus still allowing measurement of its weight, while preventing formulation of (mostly undesirable) force components that would otherwise be present at and exert their influence on the inner con tainer and/or loadcell, thus potentially distorting readings. In case such force formulation prevention or filtering is not feasible, or as an other alternative, a tripod loadcell configuration can be applied, which, as com pared to a single-loadcell (on standalone basis), provides a greater ability to cope with or account for relevant force dynamism phenomena (e.g. torques, net force vector size or orientation change, etc.) that may occur during an op eration.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the weight estimate is computationally compensated with reading from an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) that in cludes gyroscopic and/or accelerometric and/or magnetic information).

In one embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to move the plunger head away from the outlet passage and/or opening the outlet passage, and/or starting the vibration device upon detecting the presence of an insertion de vice, adapted to be inserted into the outlet passage.

In another embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a signal receiving device, configured to receive a signal from the insertion device, indicating the pres ence of the insertion device.

In one embodiment, the insertion device may be a funnel.

Disclosed is further a funnel, adapted to be inserted into the outlet passage of the apparatus as described above, the funnel comprising a signalling device, configured to send a signal to the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the signal may be electromagnetic, optical, ultrasonic, and/or radio.

In one embodiment, when placed or being placed into the apparatus, the fun nel provides a signal to the apparatus to open up outlet passage for loading and possibly start loading mode operation (e.g. activating vibrators to prevent congestion of the outlet passage when loading, adjusting LED light etc.).

When removed or being removed from the apparatus, the funnel provides a signal to the apparatus to close the outlet passage for loading and possibly end loading mode operation (e.g. de-activating vibrators, adjusting LED light etc.).

The opening/closing of the outlet passage can be facilitated by the plunger head, or alternatively the opening/closing of the outlet passage can take place by the help of a spring-loaded, self-closing door mechanism, which is mechan ically moved into open position when inserting the funnel.

The apparatus and funnel may communicate by e.g.:

- Activation/deactivation of microswitch

- Electromagnetic or optical sensing of the funnel

- Ultrasonic sensing of the funnel

- or preferably via

- Radio chip (such a RFID, Bluetooth or the like)

In another embodiment, the funnel is inserted in a loading hole being different that the outlet passage, and being located elsewhere than at the bottom of the container, e.g. at the top of the container.

The apparatus may further comprise a plant detector configured to detect plants.

The apparatus may comprise a battery and/or a solar panel and/or be con nected to a power grid, and thus may be driven by electric energy from a bat tery or the power grid, and/or by solar energy. In one embodiment, the apparatus may be controlled by a software imple mented on a computer or a mobile device e.g. as an app. According to the invention also provided is a system comprising a networking device and one or more apparatuses of the invention, each apparatus having a unique network identity and configured to receive control signals and trans mit status signals via the networking device, optionally further including a mo bile device configured to receive user inputs and status signals from the appa- ratuses via the networking device, and based on such information determine and transmit individual control signals to each of the apparatuses via the net working device, and optionally further comprising a positioning device, such as a GNSS-system, configured to transmit location of the one or more apparat uses to a processing unit which in turn may be configured to determine location specific control signals based on the received apparatus locations and a pre defined prescription map for the material dispersing, and to transmit the loca tion specific control signals to the one or more apparatuses. The prescription map may be represented as a digital information on e.g. dosage to be delivered at specific locations.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus. Fig. 2-6 are cross-sectional views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7-9 are illustrations and cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the apparatus. Fig. 10 shows the plunger and the driver that drives the plunger. Fig. 11 shows a diagram illustrating the oscillating movement of the plunger, and a diagram illustrating the vibration movement of the vibrator.

Fig. 12 shows a third embodiment of the apparatus.

Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows a cross-sectional front view of the embodiment in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 shows load cells arranged on the apparatus.

Fig. 16 shows a funnel, adapted to be inserted into the apparatus.

Fig. 17 shows the funnel from Fig. 16 being inserted into the apparatus.

Fig. 18 shows the apparatus in a condition ready for filling.

Fig. 19 indicates the signal sending and the signal receiving devices of the funnel and of the apparatus respectively.

Fig. 20 shows another apparatus configured to dispense living organisms.

Detailed description

The invention will now be explained in more detail below by reference to the figures.

Figures 1-6 disclose one embodiment of the apparatus 10. It is seen that the apparatus 10 is supported by a support arm 300, which may be stationary or a moving part. The apparatus 10 may be movably connected to the support arm 300 such, that the apparatus 10 moves along the support arm 300 by way of for example a motor.

An air blower 60 is arranged at the bottom of the apparatus 10 in order to produce an upward and radial air stream 120 in order to distribute the living organisms and/or carrier material that are led out of the outlet passage 30.

The apparatus 10 may be mounted on the support arm 300 such that the ap paratus 10 may be turned upside down around an axis A (shown in figure 17- 19), the outlet passage 30 or both the outlet passage 30 and a second outlet passage 35 (described further below) being configured for filling the container 20.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a controller 200 that controls the apparatus 10. The controller 200 may control a plunger 40, 45, a plunger driver 90, 95, a stirrer 46, a stirrer motor 47, the air blower 60, a vibrator device 70, 75, a se lection of frequency of reciprocation between a first P1 and a second P2 raised position of a head 41 of the plunger 40, 45 and/or vibration frequency of the vibrator device 70, 75, the cooling of the container 20, the movement of the apparatus 10 along the support arm 300, the movement of the support arm 300, and any other controllable components of the apparatus. The controller (200) may take into account received information from sensors, such as loadcells, filing level sensors (FLS), thermometers (numbers not shown) (e.g. for controlling the dosage rate and cooling in a closed-loop fashion). Also in formation from other sensors, such as positioning sensors and Inertial Meas urement Units (IMUs) (not shown) and/or any inputs received from a user and/or a processing device (not shown) and/or information received via a net working device (not shown) may by configuration influence how the controller (200) controls the apparatus (10).

Figure 2 and 6 show cross-sectional views of the apparatus disclosed in figure 1 . The apparatus 10 is configured to dispense living organisms, and comprises a container 20 having an outlet passage 30 at a bottom portion of the container 20, and an agitator device 40, 70.

The agitator device comprises a plunger 40 arranged inside the container 20 and having a head 41 with a first side 42 oriented towards the outlet passage 30, and an opposite second side 43, a drive 90 configured for reciprocating the plunger head 41 between a first position P1 wherein the outlet passage 30 is open and a second position P2 wherein the outlet passage 30 is open, and/or a vibrator device 70, such as a motor with an unbalanced mass, mounted to a portion 21 of the container 20 surrounding the outlet passage 30, and config ured to vibrate the portion 21 .

Figure 2 further shows the apparatus 10 comprising cooling bodies, here in the form of plates 80 extending inside the container 20, the apparatus being con figured to cool down the interior of the container 20, and showing the apparatus 10 comprising the air blower 60 and a distributor element 50, the distributor element 50 being arranged downstream of the outlet passage 30 and up stream of the air blower 60. The cooling elements 80 shown in figures 2 and 6 may be part of a thermoelectric cooling system making use of the Peltier effect.

The distributor element 50 is generally a surface of revolution with an upper part 50’ and a lower part 50”, that each may e.g. be conical or flared, and define a first pathway for the living organisms being dispensed and a second pathway for the stream of air generated by the air blower 60, respectively. The distributor element 50 and the air blower 60 are mutually connected and con nected to the container 20 via ribs R (see fig. 1 ) designed preferably to be relatively slim so as not to excessively block the respective passageways. When moving the apparatus shown in fig. 3 across a targeted area in a direc tion perpendicular to the plane of the paper, one of the ribs R may be located so as to point in that direction, to limit to some extent the combined flow in that direction of i) the living organisms/arthropods 110 exiting the first pathway and ii) the stream of air 120 exiting the second pathway. In this way any desired reduction in the application of the living organisms along a narrow strip of land immediately below the path of travel of the apparatus may be achieved

Figure 2 further shows the first P1 and second P2 positions. The figure further shows a third position P3 further away from the outlet passage 30 than the first P1 and second P2 positions. This is desirable to flush the outlet passage 30 if it becomes clogged. This third position P3 is reached periodically by the plunger head 41 , as indicated in figure 11 and the time spent in this position is referred to as “cleansing period”.

Figure 2 further shows a fourth position P4 which the plunger head 41 may reach, in order to close off the outlet passage 30 if necessary, for example during transport or when the apparatus 10 is not in use.

Figure 3 schematically shows a stream of living organisms/arthropods 110 ex iting the apparatus 10 through the outlet pathway towards the upper part 50’ of the distributor element 50 and spread upward and radially by a stream of air 120 following the lower part 50” of the distributor element 50, and produced by the air blower 60. There may be provided one or more filling level sensors (FLS), such as an ultrasonic sensor, configured to determine the level of the content of the container (20).

Figures 4 and 5 show two different embodiments of a ring-shaped pressure- relieving separating structure 100 carried by the container 20 and extending within the interior thereof, above the outlet passage 30. The structure 100 di vides the interior of the container 20 into sub-parts SB1 , SB2 that are in com munication with each other and with the outlet passage 30; additional separat ing structures 100 may be arranged at other levels within the container 20. In figure 4, the separating structure 100 is shown to leave a passage/opening adjacent to the plunger, through which passage the two sub-parts SB1 , SB2 communicate to allow the material inside the upper subpart SB1 to flow into the lower sub-parts SB2, while in figure 5 it is shown to encircle the plunger, and leaving the communication passage/opening at the inner surface of the container.

Figures 7-9 show a second embodiment of the apparatus 10 where in addition to the features already disclosed in figures 1-6, the apparatus in this embodi ment further comprises a second container 25 connected to the container 20 and arranged downstream of the outlet passage 30, having a second outlet passage 35 at a bottom portion of the second container 25, and a second ag itator device 45, 75. The second agitator device comprises a second plunger 45 arranged inside the second container 25 and having a head with a first side oriented towards the second outlet passage 35, and an opposite second side, a drive 95 configured for reciprocating the head of the second plunger 45 be tween a fifth position P5 wherein the second outlet passage 35 is open and a sixth position P6 wherein the second outlet passage 35 is open, and/or a second vibrator device 75, such as a motor with an unbalanced mass, mounted to a portion of the second container surrounding the second outlet passage 35, and configured to vibrate the portion.

In this embodiment, the distributor element 50 and the air blower 60 are ar ranged downstream of the second outlet passage 35.

A ring-shaped pressure-relieving container 20 separating structure 100 is also disclosed in figure 7, and further a stirrer 46 and a drive 47, which may be a motor, for driving the stirrer 46. Figure 9 further discloses cooling elements 85 extending within the interior of the container 20. The cooling elements 85 in the embodiment shown in figure 9 may be cooled down from outside of the container 20, thereby leading heat from the inside of the container 20 to the outside of the container 20. The cooling elements 80, 85 may be configured to rotate and/or oscillate within the container 20. Hereby it is achieved that two different functions may be per formed by the same element, thus, the cooling elements 80, 85 perform the task of cooling down the content of the container 20 and simultaneously stirring it. In this way, there is no need for a stirrer 46 as shown in Fig. 7.

The above-mentioned cooling and stirring function may be performed by cool ing elements 85 arranged as shown in Fig. 9.

Thus, a cooling system 150 for cooling down the cooling elements 85, ar ranged on the apparatus 10, and the cooling elements 85, may be connected to a motor (not shown) and to a radial-axial bearing (not shown) in order to rotate and/or oscillate. The cooling elements 80, 85 may comprise branches extending from the cooling system 150 into the interior of the container 20.

Figure 7 shows another loadcell 250 configuration where an inner container of the apparatus 10 is suspended on a lever frame and guided by bearings within the outer frame of the apparatus 10 in axial/vertical direction of the inner con tainer, with one end of the lever frame mounted to the outer frame, while the other end to the measuring end of a loadcell 250 mounted on the outer frame. At most connection points rotational joints are to be applied.

Figure 7 further shows the fifth P5 and sixth P6 positions. The figure further shows a seventh position P7 further away from the outlet passage 35 than the fifth P5 and sixth P6 positions. This is desirable to flush the outlet passage 35 if it becomes clogged. This seventh position P7 is reached periodically by the head of the plunger 45, as indicated in figure 11 and the time spent here re ferred to as “cleansing period”. Figure 7 further shows an eighth position P8 which the head of the plunger 45 may reach, in order to close off the outlet passage 35 if necessary, for example during transport or when the apparatus 10 is not in use.

Figure 10 shows the plunger 40 comprising the plunger head 41 and the plunger rod 44 connected to the drive 90, which may be a motor or a linear actuator.

Figure 11 shows an upper graph describing the oscillating motion of the plunger 40, and a lower graph describing the vibrations of the vibrator device 70.

It is seen from the upper graph that the plunger starts from a resting position (referred to as the fourth position P4) closing off the outlet passage 30 at a 0 mm from the outlet passage 30, and then oscillates between two heights, which are different than 0 mm from the outlet passage 30. The smallest height is set to be larger than the average particle size, where particle may refer to a living organism or a particle of a carrier material. It is also seen, that the plunger periodically may reach a third height larger than the two other heights. This is to allow larger particles or a group of particles to pass through the outlet pas sage 30, thereby reducing clogging of the outlet passage 30. This period is in the graph referred to as “cleaning period”.

The lower graph shows the frequency and amplitude of the vibrator device 70.

Both graphs are only representative, and the drive 90 for driving the plunger 40 and the vibrator device 70 may be selected or autonomously set to run with other motion patterns, amplitudes and/or frequencies, depending on the type of living organism, the carrier material, outside conditions, and/or desired dos age rate. Figures 12-14 show the apparatus 10 wherein the distributor element 50 and the air blower 60 are substituted with a distribution pipe 400. As best seen in figure 13, the living organisms, such as arthropods or nematodes, and carrier material will leave the container 20 through the outlet passage 30 and reach the inside of the distribution pipe 400, where they will be carried along the longitudinal axis of the distribution pipe 400 by a stream of air produced by the air blower 500 arranged at one end of the distribution pipe 400.

This arrangement is particularly relevant when a more accurate or focused distribution of living organisms, such as arthropods or nematodes, is desired, for example in a crop field where the crop is arranged in rows.

Figure 15 shows the apparatus 10 having one or more load cells 250. The load cells 250 may be arranged between the support arm 300 and the apparatus 10, and configured to measure the weight of the apparatus 10 or the content of the container 20.

The figure further shows that the apparatus may comprise three load cells 250’, 250”, 250’”, arranged on top of the apparatus 10 equally spaced with radially symmetric disposition along the circumference of an imaginary circle.

Figure 16 shows a funnel 350, adapted to be used in filling material, such as arthropods, carrier material, or both, into the container 20 of the apparatus 10.

Figure 17 shows the apparatus 10 being rotated upside down about the rota tion axis A, and having the air blower 60 rotated away from the outlet passage 30. The funnel 350 is shown inserted into the outlet passage 30.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus 10 and the funnel 350, showing the plunger head 41 moved away from the outlet passage 30, in order to facilitate filling of material into the container 20, through the inserted funnel 350.

Figure 19 shows the funnel 350 inserted into the outlet passage 30 of the ap paratus 10, and wherein a signalling device arranged on the funnel 350 and a signal-receiving device arranged on the apparatus 10 is indicated with RFID1 and RFID2, respectively.

Fig. 20 shows another apparatus configured to dispense living organisms, such as arthropods and nematodes, comprising a container 20 having an out let passage 30 at a bottom portion, an air blower 60 having a housing with an upper peripheral edge, and a distributor element 50 arranged downstream of the outlet passage 30 and upstream of the air blower 60. The distributor ele ment 50 has a contour defined as a surface of revolution with an upper part 50’ and a lower part 50”, the upper part 50’ defining together with a lower pe ripheral edge of the container 10 at the outlet passage 30 a first radial pathway, for the living organisms being dispensed, and the lower part 50” defines to gether with the upper peripheral edge a second radial pathway, for a stream of air generated by the air blower 60. The distributor element 50 provides in a highly efficient and simple manner for a combined radial flow of i) the living organisms/arthropods 110 exiting the first pathway and ii) the stream of air 120 exiting the second pathway, to reliably orient this combined flow. The upper part 50’ and the lower part 50” may be conical or flared.

The lower portion of the apparatus of fig. 20 is designed in a manner similar to the same portion shown in figs. 1 -5, and works in the same manner to produce a similar combined flow. Flowever, the shown apparatus differs from the one discussed in relation to figs. 1 -19 in that discharge of the living organisms from the container 20 may be generated by any type of mechanical device, such as the shown auger 22 driven by motor 26, or even by gravity. An independent claim is directed to the apparatus of fig. 20.

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) configured to dispense living organisms, such as ar thropods and nematodes, said apparatus (10) comprising:

- a container (20) having an outlet passage (30) at a bottom portion of said container (20), and

- an agitator device (40, 70), characterised in said agitator device comprising i)

- a plunger (40) arranged inside said container (20) and having a head (41 ) with a first side (42) oriented towards said outlet passage (30), and an opposite second side (43),

- a drive (90) configured for reciprocating the plunger head (41 ) be tween positions wherein said outlet passage (30) is open, such as a first position (P1) and a second position (P2),

- and/or

- ii) vibrator device (70), such as a motor with an unbalanced mass, mounted to a portion (21) of said container (20) surrounding said outlet passage (30), and configured to vibrate said portion (21).

2. The apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (10) comprises a controller for selecting the motion pattern of said recipro cating motion of said plunger and/or said vibrator device (70).

3. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said plunger head (41) being movable to a third position (P3) further away from said outlet passage (30) than said first and second positions (P1, P2).

4. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said plunger head (41) further being movable to a position (P4) closing said outlet passage (30).

5. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, comprising cooling elements (80, 85), such as thermally conducting bodies, extend ing inside said container (20), said cooling elements (80, 85) being con figured to cool down the interior of said container (20).

6. The apparatus (10) according to the previous claim, wherein said cool ing elements (80, 85) are configured to rotate and/or oscillate within said container (20).

7. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, comprising an air blower (60) and a distributor element (50), said distributor element (50) being arranged downstream of said outlet passage (30) and up stream of said air blower (60).

8. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said container (20) carries a separating structure (100) extending within the interior of said container (20) above said outlet passage (30) and configured for dividing the interior of the container (20) into sub-parts (SB1 , SB2) in communication with each other to allow for material inside a sub-part (SB1 ) to flow into the other sub-part (SB2).

9. The apparatus (10) according to the previous claim, wherein said sep arating structure (100) is a plate (100), such as a curved plate, that pro vides openings or a gap between said plate (100) and said plunger (40) and/or between said plate (100) and the inner surface of said container (20).

10. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, comprising:

- a second container (25) connected to said container (20) and ar ranged downstream of said outlet passage (30), having a second outlet passage (35) at a bottom portion of said second container (25), and

- a second agitator device (45, 75), characterised in said second agitator device comprising i)

- a second plunger (45) arranged inside said second container (25) and having a head with a first side oriented towards said second outlet passage (35), and an opposite second side,

- a drive (95) configured for reciprocating the head of the second plunger (45) between a fifth (P5) position wherein said second outlet passage (35) is open and a sixth (P6) position wherein said second outlet passage (35) is open,

- and/or ii) second vibrator device (75), such as a motor with an unbalanced mass, mounted to a portion of said second container (25) surround ing said second outlet passage (35), and configured to vibrate said portion.

11 .The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, said appa ratus (10) mounted to be turned upside down, said outlet passage (30) or both said outlet passage (30) and said second outlet passage (35) being configured for filling said container (20).

12. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, comprising one or more load cells (250) configured to measure the weight of the apparatus (10) or the content of said container (20).

13. The apparatus (10) according to the previous claim, said load cells (250’, 250”, 250’”) being arranged on top or on the side of said appa ratus (10), along the circumference of an imaginary circle, optionally ar ranged equally spaced along said circumference.

14. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, comprising one or more filling level sensors (FLS), such as an ultrasonic sensor, configured to determine the content of said container (20).

15. The apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, configured to move the plunger head (41 ) away from the outlet passage (30) and/or opening the outlet passage (30), and/or starting the vibration device (70, 75) upon detecting the presence of an insertion device (350), adapted to be inserted into the outlet passage (30).

16. The apparatus (10) according to the previous claim, comprising a sig nal-receiving device, configured to receive a signal from the insertion device (350), indicating the presence of the insertion device (350).

17. The apparatus (10) according to the previous claim, the insertion device (350) being a funnel for filling material into said container (20).

18. A funnel (350), adapted to be inserted into the outlet passage (30) of an apparatus (10) according to any of the previous claims, the funnel (350) comprising a signalling device, configured to send a signal to said ap paratus (10).

19. A funnel (350) according to the previous claim, the signal being one of the following:

- electromagnetic or optical,

- ultrasonic, - radio.

20. A system comprising a networking device and one or more apparatuses (10) according to any of the previous claims, each apparatus (10) hav- ing a unique network identity and configured to receive control signals and transmit status signals via the networking device (not shown).

21.A system according to the previous claim, which further includes a mo bile device (not shown) configured to receive user inputs and status signals from said one or more apparatuses (10) via said networking device, and based on such information determine and transmit individ ual control signals to each of the said one or more apparatuses (10) via said networking device.

22. A system according to any of the two previous claims, further compris ing a positioning device, such as a GNSS-system, configured to trans mit location of said one or more apparatuses (10) to a processing unit (not shown) which in turn is configured to determine location specific control signals based on the received apparatus (10) locations and a pre-defined prescription map for the material dispersing, and to trans mit said location specific control signals to said one or more apparat uses (10).

23. An apparatus (10) configured to dispense living organisms, such as ar- thropods and nematodes, said apparatus (10) comprising:

- a container (20) having an outlet passage (30) at a bottom portion of said container (20),

- an air blower (60) having a housing with an upper peripheral edge, and - a distributor element (50), - said distributor element (50) being arranged downstream of said outlet passage (30) and upstream of said air blower (60)

- said distributor element (50) having a contour defined as a surface of revolution with an upper part (50’) and a lower part (50”), - said upper part (50’) defining together with said container (10) at said outlet passage (30) a first radial pathway, for said living organ isms being dispensed, and

- said lower part (50”) defining together with said upper peripheral edge a second radial pathway, for a stream of air generated by said air blower (60), said distributor element (50) providing a combined radial flow of said living organisms/arthropods (110) exiting said first pathway and said stream of air (120) exiting said second pathway.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, said upper part (50’) and said lower part (50”) being conical or flared.