WORKSHOP REARING INSECT

19-05-2017 дата публикации
Номер:
FR0003034622B1
Принадлежит: YNSECT
Контакты:
Номер заявки: 1553207
Дата заявки: 13-04-2015

[1]

The present invention relates to the field of insect breeding.

[2]

In particular, on a workshop or insect rearing unit.

[3]

The insects, especially certain species, can constitute a source of products or raw materials, in particular human or animal feed, or to many other industries.

[4]

Unless otherwise indicated, the term " insect>>employed herein denotes any stage of progression of the egg glues to the insect adult, larva and through the skirt or the mummies.

[5]

In particular, the term " larva>>denotes herein the larval stage of insects, including by maggots for dipteran and lepidopteran insects for the track, as well as the stages wingless in Orthoptera. The term " mummies>>denotes in the present intermediate stages between larva and imago, which includes the skirt for dipteran, the mummies Coleoptera, the chrysalis to lepidopteran insects and, optionally, an intermediate stage during which certain physiological changes (prepupal) or behavioral individuals appear, such as sclerification significant cuticle dipteran. Similarly, the term " egg>>also covers a glues of Dictyoptera.

[6]

Typically, some insect species are edible protein rich. About two thousand edible insect species have been identified to date, and this number increases regularly. Many insects can be employed in stock feeding terrestrial (mammals, birds...), fish and aquatic invertebrates breeding, like insects generally convert a large proportion of that they ingest in body mass (especially much more that the mammals). In effect, have a metabolism of organisms poikilotherms which does not require the provision of energy to maintain their body temperature. Conversely, higher animals, said warm blooded animals, employ much power to maintain their body temperature. The domestication of insects for food production thus represents an opportunity to pool world in nutrition and environmental conservation.

[7]

Also the appearance food, insects can constitute a resource important in many industrial fields. Typically, the exoskeleton insects consists largely of chitin, which is chitosan derivative known. The uses of chitin and/or chitosan are many: cosmetic (cosmetic composition), medical and pharmaceutical (pharmaceutical composition, treatment of burns, biomaterials, corneal dressings, surgical threads), dietetic food and, technical (filtering agent, texturing, flocculant or adsorbent with axial and pollution control of the water), and the like effect, chitin and/or chitosan are biocompatible materials, biodegradable and non-toxic.

[8]

Breeding insects knows a certain utility. Certain methods and some devices relative to such a breeding have thus been developed. It is known for example through the document wo2014/171829 a method and an associated device for automating food delivery into cases insect breeding system. More specifically, this document discloses a device for determining, by an observation method of each of the boxes for breeding purposes, the status and stage of insect growth present in each of the boxes, and if delivery of food is required in the case under consideration.

[9]

Thus, if certain devices known meets certain problematic simplification in a rearing of insects, it is not known device and method for rearing insects is contemplated that large scale under optimized conditions.

[10]

In particular, the problematic logistics and managing a large scale farming remain unknown and unresolved in the art. Gold, a large scale farming would allow obtaining sufficient quantities of products in the interest of convenience for food and chemical markets in particular.

[11]

The present invention has the aim of solving at least one of the above drawbacks. The present invention is to provide a device, in particular a workshop, optimizing logistics associated with the rearing of insects.

[12]

In particular, a workshop insect breeding system, having a first area where insects during breeding are stored they grow in containers and a second area including at least one station configured for performing an operation on or insects from container upon said container; the containers being grouped in the first zone by sets of containers palletised said elementary units, the first area with shelving vane may be arranged in which the elementary units; the first zone being further equipped with an automated device configured for movement of the elementary units between the first region and an interface with the second region.

[13]

The division into two areas of the workshop allows optimization of many aspects of the livestock. The first zone provides an automated device for the recovery of pallets and sending in the second area, such that no or hardly any livestock operation is to be performed in the first zone. Breeding organized in pallets may be grouped and manipulating a large number of batches of unitary insects, each lot comprised of insects at the same stage of development or growth. Further, produces a high automation, the pallets and containers is easily operable farmed by robots or machines. This allows high rate production shop. A storage pallet containers breeding can be implemented in shelving tailored, allowing a large spatial optimization of the storage region, in all three spatial dimensions. The formation of elemental units of livestock, preferably comprising the insects at the same stage of progression, a simple sequential permits regulation of the farming method implemented in the workshop. The workshop proposed in the invention can thus adopt methods and management of industrial production of hitherto unknown in the field of livestock insects.

[14]

In such a workshop for rearing insects is the automated device can advantageously comprise a retrieval unit movable along or between the shelves.

[15]

The containers may especially be stackable boxes, the elementary units comprising a plurality of stacked crates, in one or more columns, on a pallet. In this case, an elementary unit can in particular comprise two to four columns each consisting of four to twenty-five stacked crates.

[16]

For example, the elementary units may have a height between 1, 80m and 2, 40m, and preferably between 2m and 2, 20m.

[17]

Furthermore, the racks can be configured for the storage of two to fifteen elemental units in height, and one or two core units in depth.

[18]

In one embodiment, the first zone can be divided into bins, for storing or insect larvae to stages of growth and/or of different species, said silos being separated by partitioning means

[19]

Advantageously, the workshop may include a device for monitoring at least one environmental parameter among the temperature, the air humidity, atmospheric pressure, light and its periodicity, the oxygen content in the air, the content of the volatile organic compounds, and the content of the fine particles, configured to apply a different environmental parameter value to each set of shelves.

[20]

In one embodiment, the second region may include an automated system for moving conveyor or containers unbundled elemental units to the at least one station of said second area.

[21]

The second zone can in particular comprise a depalletizing station and unbundling containers.

[22]

The second region may include a plurality of stations, each station being configured to one or more operations selected from a breeding:

[23]

- the feeding;

[24]

- the supply of water;

[25]

- calibration, in size, mass, volume or density of insects;

[26]

- sorting between larvae live, dead, and manure;

[27]

- sorting between adults living and dead adult;

[28]

- sorting between live and dead nymphs nymphs;

[29]

- sorting between at least two stages of evolution of insects between eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults,

[30]

- the separation of live insects and the substrate not consumed;

[31]

- sorting between insects and eggs;

[32]

- the addition of insect breeding in a container;

[33]

- slaughter or destroying insect

[34]

- identifying insects with symptoms of disease;

[35]

- the washing of containers.

[36]

Such a workshop can in particular comprise a station configured for calibration, in size, mass, volume or density/adult insects and larvae or sorting between living, dead, and manure and/or sorting between adult insects and larvae or nymphs, comprising a separation device according to density and taking in air.

[37]

The workshop may include a station configured for calibration, in size or volume larvae live and/or sorting between larvae live, dead, adult insects living, dead, live nymphs, dead, eggs, substrate and waste, comprising a device for optical sorting. The optical sorting may allow especially sorting the insects by size, or other visually identifiable parameters, such as color, shape, movement, andc.

[38]

The workshop may include a station configured for calibration of live larvae and/or sorting between larvae live, dead, adult insects living, dead, live nymphs, dead, eggs, substrate and waste, having a vibrating element such as a screen or a vibrating table.

[39]

The workshop may include a station configured for calibration of live larvae and/or sorting between larvae live, dead, adult insects living, dead, live nymphs, dead, eggs, substrate and waste, comprising a grading table.

[40]

The workshop may include a station configured for calibration of live larvae and/or sorting between larvae live, dead, adult insects living, dead, live nymphs, dead, eggs, substrate and waste, comprising a rotating member for ejection of the larvae by centrifugal force.

[41]

The workshop may include an identification of crates or elemental units adapted to be implemented by electronic means

[42]

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear further in the description hereinafter.

[43]

The accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples:

[44]

figure 1 - has the organization a general factory according to one embodiment of the invention;

[45]

figure 2 - has, according to a three-dimensional schematic view, an example of workshop in accordance with a embodiment of the invention;

[46]

Figure 3 - shows, in a schematic view, an elementary unit for rearing insects;

[47]

Figure 4 - shows an exemplary organization of a first area of a factory floor according to one embodiment of the invention;

[48]

Figure 5 - shows an exemplary organization of a first zone of a workshop according to another embodiment of the invention

[49]

Figure 6 - shows, in a schematic view in three dimensions, a first area of a factory floor according to one embodiment of the invention adopting the organization shown in Figure 4.

[50]

Figure 7 - has, according to a three-dimensional schematic view, a variant of the first area shown in Figure 6;

[51]

- Figure 8 shows an exemplary organization of a first zone of a workshop according another embodiment of the invention;

[52]

- Figure 9 shows, in a schematic view, an example of organization of a second area of a factory floor according to one embodiment of the invention.

[53]

As shown in Figure 1, a workshop insect breeding system according to the invention, herein represented as a plane schematic plan view, has at least two zones, namely a first area z1 organized for storage insects during growth. In this first region Z1, insects grow under environmental conditions (defined by environmental parameters like temperature, hygrometry...) controlled and optimized.

[54]

The notion insect breeding system comprises growing adult insects to a desired stage, but may also include all phases before obtaining an insect adult, from laying eggs, the egg development, hatching, the larval stage, pupation, the nymphal stage, the emergence, like insect breeding can in particular be envisaged an organized assembly for egg laying by adult insects for production of larvae, some larvae being raised toward adulthood for laying new eggs, adults being renewed regularly (e.g. upon their death) by adults young achieving novel bridged, and so on. The final product of the production can be eggs, and/or larvae, and/or nymphs, and/or adult insects.

[55]

The shop also has a second region Z2, organized for performing one or more operations of livestock. The rearing operations correspond to operations to be taken for life, good growth, and/or the optimization of insect breeding conditions. This can involve, among other steps, of:

[56]

- feeding insects;

[57]

- their supply water;

[58]

- renew the substrate in which they are raised;

[59]

- the sort (allowing for taking out the eggs, separate the insects by size, extract the dead during breeding, and so on);

[60]

- identifying insects with symptoms of disease;

[61]

- densification or de-densifying elemental units to maximize production adversely affecting the well-being and health-insects, to optimize the productivity of animal husbandry;

[62]

- slaughter the insects supernumerary, diseased, and/or contaminated or parasitized;

[63]

- add new strains of insects (to maintain the healthy state of the line);

[64]

- conditioning droppings for their upgrading.

[65]

The second area z2 has in particular one or more dedicated workstations in performing one or more sequences of livestock. A sequence of livestock may correspond to an operation or a chain of several stages which make it up. The second area z2 can be configured to enable the implementation, data in addition to the one or more workstations, a breeding sequences consisting of a succession of operations. The workstations may typically be grouped in island for the implementation of successive operations.

[66]

Figure 1 shows an organization scheme possible z1 the first zone. Insects (eggs, larvae, nymphs, or adult) are high in containers grouped into elemental units of livestock in the form of paddles. The pallets are stored in the first area in shelves z1 vane. In the example herein represented, the racks to pallets are separated by an aisle a1 for circulation between the shelves. Several parallel sets of shelves/racks/aisles may be defined to constitute the area z1. The racks may e.g. comprise of 1 to 20 locations for pallet. For example, the aisle a1 may allow the circulation of an automated device, typically a retrieval unit, for moving the elemental units to an interface with the second zone z2 1. The interface 1 can be a deposition zone of an elementary unit, for example with a conveyor system such as a belt conveyor having the operating capacity of the elementary unit toward the second zone 2 for performing an operation of livestock.

[67]

Figure 2 shows, in a three-dimensional schematic view, an example of workshop in accordance with a embodiment of the invention. In the example herein represented, the racks to pallets are made of a one-post beams wherein passages can be provided for the circulation of shelf operating between the shelves. The second region comprises a conveyer belt z2 2 allows any elemental units or containers unbundled z2 in said second area. The belt conveyor 2 generally permits flow through the second area z2 from the interface with the first zone to the one or more stations z1 p1 and/or P2, optionally grouped in island of stations, and dedicated to one or more operations farmed, and between the stations. The belt conveyor 2 can allow the return of the elementary unit or the containers to the interface I is, or, optionally, to a second interface (not shown) dedicated to the transition of the elementary units of the second area to the first area z2 z1.

[68]

For the realization of certain operations, it may be necessary to de-palletized and/or unbundle the containers rearing. This can, according to various organizations possible, be carried out at the interface I in, or on a dedicated station z2 of the second zone.

[69]

In addition to the first area and the second z1 region Z2, a workshop insect breeding system according to one embodiment of the invention may include various complementary regions: a preparation area Z8 breeding products, including fluids, including those for the control of atmospheric conditions of breeding, a lead-in area of new strains, an area of consignments of strains.

[70]

Other complementary regions breeding may be present: a laboratory area and Z3, Z4 are an office area, an area waste treatment of Z5, a food preparation area Z6's breeding, a production zone Z7 products, for the production of various products from insects high, an area logistics Z9, andc.

[71]

In the invention, insect growth, c'est to say the phases of farmed out operations point breeding, occurs in elemental units of livestock. Groupings of the set of containers of a farm. Figure 3 shows an example of rearing unit, according to a representation of principle in three dimensions. In particular, the containers may be rearing stacking boxes or crates. By bins or boxes stackable, is designated particular bins or boxes that are superposed on top of each other, slightly recessed, thereby providing stability to the column of boxes thus formed.

[72]

The totes are made of a material the stackable rot. They may in particular be made of plastic material. Preferably, the material employed is of the type food, c'est i.e. acceptable material for food contact.

[73]

It includes in particular cases of simple geometry, with one or more of the following: a generally rectangular parallelepiped, a flat bottom, edges (sidewalls) vertical. They can include an open topside, particular for maturing of beetles, or a top closed to form a cage farming, in particular for maturing Dipteran (with, typically, of grid walls for the passage of air and light). They may further be provided with corresponding means for flush between the top side and the underside, as pins to fit within corresponding bores during stacking crates.

[74]

Further, the totes are required to have a sufficient vertical strength to support their stacking with good strength to resist the set manipulations, cleanings, cleaners for further use. The number of stacked crates is variable according to various embodiments of the invention, and may for example go up twenty crates per column of boxes. Each bin may for instance have a payload (c'est to say a mass that can be stored in the box) of between 0.2 and 10 kg, preferably between 0.5 and 5 kg and more preferably between 1 and 3 kg. Typically, the load of a box can be of the order of 2 kg, this value being exemplary holométaboles larvae of flight as the darkling or fly soldier, near end-of pupation. A box can have, vacuum, a mass of about 1.5 kg. The mass of a body loaded may thus be typically on the order of 3.5 kg.

[75]

Typically, a column of full containers can have a total mass of the order of 500 kg.

[76]

The crates advantageously have stability and strength sufficient to resist, even stacked, horizontal accelerations caused by the automated device for movement thereof in the first area of the shop or z1 between the first zone and the second zone Z2 z1, and to the means such as a belt conveyor in the second area z2. In particular, the totes advantageously have a horizontal resistance sufficient to support an acceleration differential between their upper and lower side. The crates should preferably be configured to be able to withstand a horizontal acceleration of between 1 m/s2 5 m/s and2 and preferably between 3 m/s2 4 m/s and2 .

[77]

The totes have also advantageously sidewalls that permits a vent adapted to beef insects.

[78]

As shown in Figure 3, the containers 31, 32 are palletized, c'est i.e. grouped into elementary units 33 UE over a pallet handling. The pallet 33 may in particular be a conventionally sized pallet, c'est i.e. typically a pallet type " pallet European>>of 120 cm length by 80 cm width, or half a pallet of this type, of 80 cm length by 60 cm width. Other formats of pallet may be employed, however the use of pallet of standard format reduces the costs related to the specialization of the equipment. A plastic pallet may advantageously be employed food. A metal pallet, e.g. aluminum or aluminum alloy, can also be employed. A plastic pallet or metal avoids some sanitary risk compared to a wooden pallet.

[79]

In the example shown in Figure 3, an elementary unit ue of breeding has four columns of five stacked crates. Other configurations are possible, e.g. the stack of more or less boxes by columns, a single column of crates, or two columns of crates. The shape of the boxes, particularly the general shape of their base, typically square or rectangular, may desired to fund the elementary units.

[80]

For example, four stacks of crates rectangular base of about 60 cm length by 40 cm of width can completely cover a pallet square of 120 cm of width. The six case piles of about 40 cm square base side can be used for completely covering such pallet. It can also be selected not carrying that four stacks of crates of 40 cm square base, spaced therebetween or not. Two stacks of crates rectangular base of about 80 cm by 60 cm may cover this same a pallet. Stacks of boxes of different sizes may also be employed, for example a stack of boxes of about 80 cm by 60 cm and two stacks of crates of about 60 cm by 40 cm.

[81]

To cover a pallet half length 80 cm by 60 cm width, it is possible for instance by means of a stack of boxes of 80 cm by 60 cm rectangular base of about, two stacks of crates of 60 cm by 40 cm about, or four stacks of crates of 40 cm by 30 cm about.

[82]

Many other combinations are possible.

[83]

The height of an elementary unit of complete breeding may for example be between 160 cm and 230 cm, and typically on the order of 200 cm, it will conform to conventional pallet racks that may be included in the first zone z1. Thus, the number of superimposed containers (per column of containers) may be ten or more, potentially 15, even more than 25.

[84]

An elementary unit may include, in addition to a pallet and containers, a cover capping the upper containers (thereof container at the top of the batteries). The cover may have one or more functions of:

[85]

- closing the upper side of upper containers;

[86]

- the mechanical holding cells, which may especially be necessary for the resistance of the elemental units to horizontal acceleration forces experienced upon their displacement;

[87]

- the support of a control sensor, such as a thermometer, a hygrometer, an oxygen sensor, carbon dioxide,

[88]

- the support of an illumination device, preferably LED type, andc.

[89]

Different possible organizations of the first zone z1 are represented, according to schematic plans, Figures 4 and 5.

[90]

Figure 4 with, the first region comprises two aisles z1 the A1, A2 which, between shelves of R1, and R2, and R3, and R4, for the respective passage of two shelf operating Τ 1, t2. Each bin shelving represents a storage location of a pallet, or a column of storage locations. The stacker crane 1 Τ, T1, is movable in the aisle Α 1, a2 with which it is associated, and taking out a pallet in one of the locations of the racks, to move it either to an interface with the second zone (not shown in Figure 4), or to another location of the first zone z1. In the example herein represented, an air knife 4 is provided between certain locations for pallet. The air knife 4 allows to isolate various portions of the first zone Z1, respectively allocated to various stages of insect growth (or larvae, or nymphs), requiring different environmental conditions. Regardless of the general organization of the first zone Z1, more air may be provided for isolating multiple parts of said first zone z1 therebetween.

[91]

The partition of the area z1 multipart or silos can reduce the risk of spread of diseases. A silo may consist, for example, two rows of racks with a retrieval unit centrally between two rows.

[92]

The partition silos can implement air knives, or any other partition means for separating two areas configured for selective ensure two atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, ...) different sanitary and confinement between the silos. For example, physical partitions can be implemented. The first region may comprise several different magazines z1, physical separated by partitions. Each magazine can in this case be provided with one or more automated devices for the displacement of the core units.

[93]

Typically, regardless of the organization of the first zone Z1, it may be divided physically by air knives or virtually in subfields dedicated at different stages of maturity insects or more breeding methods conducted in an animal husbandry. For example, three breeding methods can be distinguished, namely: a production medium method, which relates to the evolution of eggs or juvenile to a larval stage of a given maturity could correspond to the final product of breeding before eventual conversion, a process called reproduction, which describes the evolution of eggs or juvenile stage to the young adults, a method referred to as bridges and, which relates to the production of eggs or juvenile by adult insects.

[94]

5 to Figure, the first zone z1 has shelves of R1, and R2, and R3, and R4, and shelf operating Τ 1, T2 and, on either side of these racks of R1, and R2, or R3, r4. Each shelf is-class progress automated pallets. Typically, at a given stage of shelving of R1, and R2, and R3, and R4, a first rack serving t1 can introduce an elementary unit of livestock in the shelving in question. The elementary unit then progresses into the shelf via a motorized system or under the effect of gravity (for example on a roller system). The progression may be accomplished at the helmsman removal by a second stacker crane t2 of an elementary unit having progressed until one end of the rack opposite to the insertion end by the first stacker crane. An air knife 4 provides the separation between portions of the first region Z1, namely between two series of shelves.

[95]

Regardless of the variation of the invention considered, an air gap of around 1m Tp0.7 2m width (the full height of the shelves), and typically from 1, 6m, is preferable to isolate the relevant portions of the first region or silos.

[96]

Figure 6 illustrates a three-dimensional schematic view an arrangement possible z1 a first area of a manufacturing facility in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The organization represented is a variant of the organization shown in Figure 4, with three aisles of A1, and A2, and A3, between the shelves of R1, and R2, and R3, and R4, and r6 r5.

[97]

In this configuration to three aisles, three shelf operating Τ 1, T2 of, t3 are employed. However, shelf operating devices configured to enable serving more aisles each could alternatively be employed.

[98]

Further, according to this general principle of organization, it may be enlarged almost infinitely the first zone Z1, according to the available space on the ground, by enlarging the length of shelves and/or the number of shelves, and according to the vertical space available by increasing the height of the shelves, hence increasing considerably the productivity of the unit, especially its productivity spatial (c'est to say the production in mass surface ground employed)

[99]

In the case of shelves having a higher level, it may be necessary to ensure sufficient air circulation to make the temperature in a given area (hot air tends to rise in the absence of flux organized).

[100]

Figure 7 illustrates a three-dimensional schematic view of another aspect of organizing a first area z1 according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the racks to r8 r1 are organized in groups of two, and each retrieval unit capable of moving in the aisles of A1, a2 is type double-depth, for gripping a pallet or an elementary unit of livestock palletized on shelving in second row, whether the corresponding location of the shelving in first row is empty. In other embodiments, the retrieval unit may allow recovery of pallet in third row. In addition, some shelf operating double or triple allow the simultaneous recovery of two or three pallets or elemental units.

[101]

Figure 8 shows an exemplary organization of a first zone of a workshop according to another embodiment of the invention.

[102]

In the arrangement shown, three to twenty racks are grouped. In this case, in the example illustrated, the racks to r1 r6 are grouped. A retrieval unit is configured to be able to browse the aisle a1. The aisle a1 separates the racks to r6 r1 r7 r8 and racks. In this embodiment, the retrieval unit provides a mobile robot adapted to fetching an elementary unit in the row of the desired rack shelf r1 to R6 group, if the rows between the aisle a1 and the required row are free. Many variations of this embodiment may be envisioned, by modulating the number of contiguous rows of shelves, or the number of aisles implementations.

[103]

Of course, the examples given in Figures 4 to 8 first zone z1 may also correspond to the organization of a single bin of a first area z1 divided into as many magazines physically partitioned as there are bins constituting the first zone z1.

[104]

Figure 9 shows, in a schematic view, an example of organization of a second area z2 workshop according to one embodiment of the invention.

[105]

The exemplary second area z2 presented in Figure 9 is displayed as part of the example workshop of Figure 1. in particular, is shown in Figure 9 the interface with the first area z1 1. A conveyor system, namely, in the shown example, a conveyor belt 2, services the elementary units or, if appropriate, of containers unbundled. A retrieval unit, after selection of a pallet in the first zone Z1, deposits thereof on an area of the conveyor belt 2 1 interfacing between the first zone and the second zone Z2 z1, or any other device for sending a desired moment of the pallet on said belt conveyor 2. in the example herein represented, the elementary units palletized are directed by the belt conveyor 2 to areas depalleting (and palletizing) being a first zone and a second zone b1 logistics b2 logistics.

[106]

In general, the example second area z2 represented herein is organized into four subareas called islets, respectively referenced and b, and c, d and e. the islands of b, and c, d and e are associated with one or more operations breeding, for which they are more or less specialized.

[107]

In the example illustrated, the island E corresponds to an insect feeding station (or larvae, or nymphs). A feeding device feeding island e1 team I.

[108]

In various embodiments of the invention, the feeding does or does not require the depalletizing and the dispatch containers forming the elementary units of livestock. The depalletizing may include separating each containing an elementary unit from each other, to obtain a set of containers, or to separate one elementary unit into groups of containers (typically four to six containers).

[109]

The palletizing and depalletizing, in the island of feeding all ages as at the first and second areas logistical the B1, C1 to, can for example be carried out by means of a handling robot-articulated, for example a robot with six-axis, or a robot seven-axis. Such a robot may allow, more generally, the manipulation of containers of livestock with speeds, accelerations, and station keeping compatible insect breeding.

[110]

The feeding device the E1, that the containers of the elementary unit are unbundled or not, must provide a substantially uniform distribution of the food in the containers.

[111]

The island spat e may optionally allow water intake in the containers rearing. This water intake is feasible in various modalities, alternative or complementary: by periodically filling a reservoir dedicated containers, pour or spray mist, by feeding a diet rich materials or water or enriched in water.

[112]

In the example illustrated, the island d is specialized in washing containers rearing. It may in particular comprise one or more tunnels washing d1 suitable for washing and/or rearing containers pallets.

[113]

The island wash d is, in the example herein represented, configured to allow, when necessary, the supply of containers to own islands b and c.

[114]

The islands b and c correspond, in the example shown, to a first island modular b and a second modular island C. the island called b and c are modular in that they include a number of readily interchangeable or evolutionary to readily make specialized for various farm operations. In the arrangement shown, the islands modular of b, c comprise each an area logistics with B1, c1 handling robot equipped with a multi-articulated, for example a robot with six-axis, or a robot seven-axis. The robot equipping these areas makes the dispatch rearing containers when needed to subsequently effecting operation of livestock, and optionally the grouping and palletizing containers in elementary units after performing an operation farmed at the island corresponding.

[115]

The island is also configured to allow the performance of livestock operations on individual building blocks or containers. The island thus includes one or more stations, or one or more machines, to which the elementary units or the containers are to be sent. This function may be in part provided by the handling robot, e.g. for deposit of a container on a conveyor supplying the elementary unit or container to a given station.

[116]

In the example illustrated, the first modular island b comprises a first separator fan at B2, configured for separation between larvae live, dead larvae, and manure. The first island modular b comprises also including a second separator fan B3., configured for calibration of larvae (living), c'est i.e. segregation larvae by size or mass.

[117]

In the example illustrated, the second modular island c includes a screening of C2, configured for separation between adult insects, eggs, and breeding substrate (medium added in the containers, adapted life insects or larvae or nymphs). This can involve a sieving stage, the sieves separating the successive stages being progressively finer performing separation above. The second modular island c includes also a third separator fan 3, configured for separation between adult insects, larvae and nymphs. The second modular island c includes also a fourth separator fan 4, configured for separation between live insects and dead insects. The second modular island c includes also a fifth separator fan 5, configured for separation between larvae and nymphs.

[118]

The organization of the workshop, and in particular from the second zone Z2, presented herein by way of example, allows performing the set of operations periodic insect breeding system, egg until adult insects having the level of growth desired. Many other organizations, are possible, implementing a greater number or lesser islet or stations.

[119]

A workshop in accordance with the invention is also advantageously provided with a device for keeping track of the different operations of said livestock rearing. In particular, the raising method follows a succession of steps, c'est i.e. typically a precise scheduling raising operations are performed according to a predefined schedule, which can optionally be adjusted during breeding according to the evolution of insect growth (or larvae or nymphs). So that it can follow effectively advancing into the cultivation process, the workshop beneficially has a tracking system of elementary units, and/or certain containers, and/or of each of the containers.

[120]

The tracking system of the elementary units, and/or certain containers, and/or each of the containers can in particular implementing RFID technology (according to the acronym English "radiofrequency identification>>often results in" radio frequency ID>>). An RFID tag may be associated, if desired, to the elemental units, or containers, reading systems being arranged to permit their identification in the workshop, typically at the interface between the first region and the second region (for managing the position of the elementary unit in the racks of the first zone z1), and input and/or output of the various stations to which are raising operations. The RFID system implemented may allow also the instantaneous identification of all the trays constituting a pallet. This RFID system is advantageously linked to a database that serves to ensure the traceability of each of the containers. The traceability door throughout the cultivation process, from the raw materials used for breeding insects (food, substrate, and so on), until slaughter and processing into finished products.

[121]

Other identification means and collector corresponding data can be successfully employed, for example a wave communication, typically in a WiFi protocol, a Bluetooth, or ZigBee (trade marks). A low-speed system using low frequency radio waves can also be implemented successfully.

[122]

The workshop is also advantageously provided with a monitoring computer system production, associated with the means for tracking RFID type or other type. The production can thus be controlled in an automated manner, the system can typically associate certain operations to some elemental units of livestock, and controlling timely recovery of an elementary unit of livestock given in the first storage area, performing the desired operation, and a return to a given position of the elementary unit.

[123]

Typically, the stage of progression and insect growth (eggs, larvae, nymphs, adult insects) in a same basic unit livestock is theoretically identical. For this, insects of the same elementary unit are advantageously " synchronized>>, c'est to say from eggs laid every few days at most, and sorted from the larval stage by size or by maturity. The tracking of elementary units is thus generally sufficient for pilot automated devices of the workshop, for example shelf operating devices useful for retrieving a unit in the first zone z1 of the shop and delivering it to the second zone z2 for performing a given operation, then devices for the orientation of the elementary unit in the second area to the one or more stations z2 should.

[124]

The tracking of certain individual types can for example periodic sampling and sampling the particular containers for checks or samples.

[125]

Finally, the individual tracking containers, requiring the identification of each of these containers, allows a complete and individualized of the rearing process. In particular it allows reconstitute, if necessary, individual building blocks being farmed with containers from other elemental units or with new containers.

[126]

A workshop farm according to the invention may be used for breeding many insect species, with slight modifications, typically in the technical definition of breeding containers, and in the calibration machines employed for the feeding and for all sorting. Generally, a single species is high in a workshop. Multiple species can also be high, preferably in distinct parts of the workshop. In the context of a workshop adapted for simultaneous raising several insect species, certain synergies can be exploited. Typically, some larvae, live or dead insects, species, or by-products of producing livestock, may be employed for feeding another species.

[127]

The product so obtained interest (e) ultimately, after upgrade products of farming, are obtained from insects. As previously mentioned, the term " insect>>insects at any stage of development, such as an adult, larval or stadium of mummies. Preferably, the insects implemented in the inventive method are edible.

[128]

More particularly, insects can be selected from the group consisting of Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, the isoptera, orthopterans, hymenopteran, the Dictyoptera, the Hemiptera, Heteroptera, the mayflies and mécoptères, preferably, among the coleopteran, dipteran, and lepidopteran insects orthopterans.

[129]

Preferably, the insects are selected from the group consisting of Molitor larvae (or mealworm), Hermetiaillucens, Rhynchophorus Cryptolestes ferrugineus, toward Galleria mellonella, Alphitobiusdiaperinus, Zophobas single, Blattera fusca gene, parasitizing Musca domestica, Chrysomyamegacephala, Locusta migratoria have, Schistocerca, purchased musculus and Samiaricini.

[130]

Favorable conditions, in particular in the first area where the insects are stored during growth may allow development and fast reproduction insects. For example, the complete cycle of development of the mealworm, egg to adult at full growth, can last two to three months at a temperature of 15 °c to 35 °c, while it may take one year in nature.

[131]

A workshop according to the invention allows for the large-scale breeding insect with minimal costs because of its high automation and optimizing the deployment devices and methods implemented. For example, a retrieval unit can typically provide up to five hundred operations of movement per hour. Further, it may be used to displace cyliider organized for carrying each a large amount of insects. Thus, such a device can organize a traits in a stream very high flow, while having a very high bulk density insect within the livestock.

[132]

Further, livestock operations are performed in an area of limited size with jobs specialized and thus optimized for these operations. Insect growth occurs in an area in the atmosphere (temperature, hygrometry...) controlled and even piloted, to provide optimum growing conditions for insects at all stages of the egg to adult. The storage area insects may further be particularly optimized spatially, by implementing a storage in shelves which can have a considerable height, thereby reducing the amount of floor space required. As an example, it is estimated that whether, in the first zone Z1, shelves on 12 meters in height, a workshop according to the invention could allow the production more than 8000 tons per year of proteins (dry matter) per hectare employed, while soybean and hence they produce one to five tons per hectare and per year, and a raising hogs or chicken as batteries can provide an equivalent of some tens of tons per hectare and per year.

[133]

The proposed workshop in specifically adapted to implement a method of breeding based on sequential ordering, in two separate zones, of unit operations alternating with periods " passive>>storage for insect growth. Such a method is suitable for producing insect to industrial scale. By way of example, a workshop modest in size according to the invention could produce has minimum one ton of larvae per day, have an area for storage of fifty tons of insects (eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults) distributed over 500 pallets. The rearing operations require in this case the displacement of about 140 pallets per day. By the organization proposed in the invention, these values can be increased and improved almost without limit. A large-scale industrial operation, to suit the needs of the market in animal food for example, could thus typically lead to the adoption of values fifty or one hundred times greater than those mentioned above, according to the target markets.

[134]

Finally, the livestock in a workshop according to the invention may be carried out with means and methods permit inspection and a stringent monitoring, limiting health risks in animal husbandry.



[135]

The invention relates to a farm for rearing insects, comprising a first zone (Z1) in which the insects being reared are stored in containers while they grow and a second zone (Z2) comprising at least one station configured for effecting a rearing-related task on the insects in a container or on said container. The containers are grouped in the first zone (Z1) in sets of palletized containers referred to as basic units. The first zone (Z1) comprises pallet racks in which the basic units are disposed. The first zone (Z1) is furthermore equipped with an automated device configured to move the basic units between the first zone (Z1) and an interface (1) with the second zone (Z2).



1. workshop insect breeding system, having a first area (z1) wherein insects during breeding are stored they grow in containers (31.32) and a second region (z2) including at least one station configured for performing an operation on or insects from container upon said container;

characterized in that the containers (31, 32) are grouped into the first area (z1) in sets of containers (31, 32) palletised said elementary units (UEs), the first zone (z1) with shelving (r1... r8) vane (33) may be arranged in which the elementary units (EU);

the first area (z1) being further equipped with an automated device configured for movement of the elementary units (EU) between the first area (z1) and an interface (1) with the second zone (z2).

2. workshop insect breeding system according to claim 1, wherein the automated instrument has one shelf (Τ 1, 2 Τ, t3) movable along or between the shelves (r1... r8).

3. workshop insect breeding system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the containers (31, 32) of the crates are stackable, the elementary units (EU) having a plurality of stacked crates, in one or more columns, on a pallet (33).

4. workshop insect breeding system according to claim 3, wherein an elementary unit (EU) contains two to four columns each consisting of four to twenty-five stacked crates.

5. workshop insect breeding system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elementary units (EU) have a height between 1, 80m and 2, 40m, and preferably between 2m and 2, 20m.

6. workshop insect breeding system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the racks are configured (r1... r8) for the storage of two to fifteen elemental units (UEs) in height, and one or two core units (UEs) in depth.

7. workshop rearing insects is according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first region is divided into (z1) bunkers, for storing or insect larvae to stages of growth and/or of different species, said silos being separated by partitioning means

8. workshop insect breeding system according to claim 7, comprising a device for monitoring at least one environmental parameter among the temperature, the air humidity, atmospheric pressure, light and its periodicity, the oxygen content in the air, the content of the volatile organic compounds, and the content of the fine particles, configured to apply a different environmental parameter value to each rack assembly.

9. workshop according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second zone comprises a system (z2) automated conveyor for movement of elementary units or containers (UEs) (31, 32) unbundled towards the at least one station of said second area (z2).

10. Workshop according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second zone comprises a station (z2) depalleting and unbundling containers (31.32).

11. Workshop according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second region includes a plurality (z2) stations, each station being configured to one or more operations selected from a breeding:

- the feeding;

- the supply of water;

- calibration, in size, mass, volume or density of insects;

- sorting between larvae live, dead, and manure;

- sorting between adults living and dead adult;

- sorting between live and dead nymphs nymphs;

- sorting between at least two stages of evolution of insects between eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults,

- the separation of live insects and the substrate not consumed

- sorting between insects and eggs;

- the addition of insect breeding in a container;

- slaughter or destroying insect

- identifying insects with symptoms of disease;

- washing containers (31.32).

12. workshop according to claim 11, comprising a station configured for calibration, in size, mass, volume or density, adult insects and/or sorting between larvae live, dead, and manure and/or sorting between adult insects and larvae or nymphs, comprising a separation device according to density and taking in air.

13. Workshop according to claim 11 or claim 12, comprising a station configured for calibration, in size or volume larvae live and/or sorting between larvae live, dead, adult insects living, dead, live nymphs, dead, eggs, substrate and waste, comprising a device for optical sorting.

14. Workshop according to one of claims 11 to 13, comprising a station configured for calibration of live larvae and/or sorting between larvae live, dead, adult insects living, dead, live nymphs, dead, eggs, substrate and waste, comprising a screen, a vibrating table, or a grading table.

15. Workshop according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an identification device of crates or elemental units (EU) adapted to be implemented by electronic means.