ES1295034U - Insect breeding equipment (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Insect breeding equipment, characterized in that it is made up of a series of modules with a circular tray (1) that has an exit hole (2) towards a lower module, and a push sweeper (3) towards the hole , with a relative movement between each tray (1) and its sweeper (3), a control module that contains the electronics and one or more modules that include a water and excrement collection tank. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

insect breeding equipment

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present application refers to a breeding kit for insects, such as the so-called tenebrios ( Tenebrío molitor), but not limited to this type of insects.

STATE OF THE ART

One of the objectives of the UN is the reduction of hunger, for which the consumption of proteins from insects, for example tenebrios or mealworms, is recommended.

Currently, insects are raised in trays with eggs, larvae and the different phases of the insects until they reach the desired development. Breeding is done manually or automatically, screening for the passage from one stage to another. Companies are usually located in rural areas, far from the points of consumption, with the consequent increase in the carbon footprint due to transport.

The invention opens the door to semi-automatic production and constant monitoring of rearing conditions, making it possible to control the production phases in a continuous cycle of entry and exit of larvae.

The applicant is not aware of any device similar to the invention.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to an insect breeding equipment according to the claims, the embodiments of which improve and solve the problems of the art.

In this context, the equipment allows a local and automated (or semi-automated) production of insects, for animal consumption, the production of organic fertilizer, the decomposition of plastic materials or for human consumption.

The proposed solution allows the development of a production system based on the rotary movement of the product, allowing constant production and control of the phases through which the larvae pass.

The insect breeding equipment is made up of a series of modules, each one with a circular tray that has an exit hole towards a lower module, and a push sweeper (3) towards the exit hole. In the module, a relative movement is made between each tray and its sweeper, being able to rotate one or the other. The equipment also has a control module that contains the electronics and one or more modules that include a water and excrement collection tank. These tanks can be in a single module or in several. The food can be introduced solid through the first module, or liquid/wet through each compartment. Generally the entrance will be made from the side.

In one embodiment, the outlet is connected to a side screening chute connected to the lower tray and to the excrement collection module. The smaller materials are considered droppings. It can also have two sections of different sieve size: the first for waste, the second for the directly lower module or tray and the insects that do not remain in the sieve to an even lower tray.

Other variants are seen in the rest of the report.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the invention, the following figures are included.

Figure 1: Section of an example of embodiment.

Figure 2: Exploded view of an example of embodiment.

Figure 3: Exploded view of a tray

Figure 4: Section along an example of embodiment.

Next, an embodiment of the invention is briefly described, as an illustrative and non-limiting example of the latter.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment, made up of a plurality of circular trays (1), each with an outlet hole (2). A sweeper (3), for example in the form of a cross to divide each tray (1) into several independent areas, runs through each tray (1) to cause the movement of its content towards the outlet (2) and cause it to fall towards the tray (1) immediately below. If desired, a perforated side ramp can be provided that screens and diverts larger insects to an even lower tray (1), skipping a stage. The smaller particles are discarded through the lateral outlet ducts downwards, reducing the contact between excrement and substrate. The size of the sieve passage in each stage can increase, to compensate for the larger size of the insects, but preferably it is constant since it only has to let the excrement through.

The equipment has one or more motors (4) for the relative movement between the sweeper (3) and the tray (1), so that at least one of the two moves. The movements of each pair of trays (1) and sweeper (3) can be independent or carried out for all or part of the trays (1) in parallel. For example, the motors (4) can be placed at one end of the trays (1) so that they move a coaxial axis to all of them, or on one side of each tray (1) to move it or the sweeper (3). from the side by means of a gear.

It can be seen in figure 4 how the trays (1) can have two levels, separated by a sieve (11) or perforated panel. The sieve passage (11) will be small enough to allow debris to pass but not insects. In this case, the sweeper (3) can be complemented with a push piece (31), of lesser height, which runs through the space between the base of the tray (1) and the sieve (11) to drag waste towards one or more side outlets. Thus, the waste falls into an additional module (5) for collecting excrement, in the lower part. It can be seen how the trays (1) are separated from the device casing to allow the waste to pass through. This space (13) can thus be used to pass ducts with the conditioned air in temperature and humidity, by means of grids in the walls of the trays (1).

Figure 4 also shows an auxiliary tray (12) to place the beetle pupae. In their next phase of development they fall, by their movements, to the first tray (1) to start the cycle. This first tray may not have a screen (11) since the insects are still small.

The equipment is modular to be able to add or remove trays (1), adjusting to the breeding period of the particular insect, generally several weeks. Likewise, the speed of the sweepers (3) can be varied. Each module can have a casing that allows the upper module to be supported and one or more side inlets or outlets (6) to introduce food, remove waste, check the status of insects, etc.

The upper module will be a breeding module that allows constant feeding of eggs. A control module contains the electronics and one or more modules comprise a water and collection tank for excrement and waste particles. The additional modules (5) are located, for example, in the lower part.

It will be considered as variables to control the humidity inside the modules, the temperature, the ventilation... for which you can have an independent air conditioning system that cools or heats the interior environment, or a unified ventilation and control system of rearing conditions.

Claims (1)

1- Insect breeding equipment, characterized in that it is made up of a series of modules with a circular tray (1) that has an exit hole (2) towards a lower module, and a push sweeper (3) towards the hole , with a relative movement between each tray (1) and its sweeper (3), a control module that contains the electronics and one or more modules that include a water and excrement collection tank. 2- Insect breeding equipment, according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet (2) is connected to a lateral screening ramp connected to the lower tray (1) and to the excrement collection module. 3- Insect breeding equipment, according to claim 1, characterized in that the sweeper (3) is cross-shaped. 4- Insect breeding equipment, according to claim 1, characterized in that each module has independent movement.