TRAY FOR FARMING INSECTS, SUITABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL-SCALE FARMING

Abstract

The invention relates to a tray for farming insects, comprising a solid bottom (2) that defines a substantially horizontal plane, and side walls (4) defining a peripheral enclosure (5) of the tray. The bottom (2) and the side walls (4) define a tray body. The tray comprises feet (6) that extend vertically from the bottom (2) of the tray to a level above the enclosure (5) of the tray. The feet make it possible for an identical insect farming tray to be stacked on top of the farming tray while creating a space between the bottom (2) of said identical tray and the enclosure (5) of the tray. The body of the tray has no sharp edges in order to limit disruption to a laminar air flow flowing around the tray. The invention also relates to a stack of multiple trays of this type.

Claims

1. A tray for farming insects, including a solid bottom (2), defining a substantially horizontal plane, side walls (4) defining a peripheral enclosure (5) of the tray, the bottom (2) and the side walls (4) defining a tray body, and feet (6) extending vertically from the bottom (2) of the tray up to a level located above the enclosure (5) of the tray, said feet (6) being configured to enable a stacking of an identical insect farming tray on top of said farming tray, while leaving a space between the bottom (2) of said identical tray and the enclosure (5) of the tray, said feet (6) including an upper bearing surface (7) configured to cooperate with a lower bearing surface (8) of the feet (6) of said identical tray, characterised in that the body of the tray has no sharp edges, so as to limit disruptions to a laminar air flow flowing around the tray.

2. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, wherein the feet (6) have no vertical sharp edges.

3. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, wherein the body of the tray has a rectangular parallelepiped general shape with a small height (h) compared to its length (L) and its width (I) and includes rounded vertical edges.

4. The tray for farming insects according to claim 3, wherein the bottom (2) of the tray includes, at each of its longitudinal ends, a raised portion (15) with respect to the horizontal.

5. The tray for farming insects according to claim 3, said tray including four feet (6), two of said four feet (6) being located on a first long side of the tray extending along its length (L), and two of said four feet (6) being located on a second long side of the tray extending along its length (L), said four feet (6) being located at a distance from a first short side of the tray extending along its width and a second short side of the tray extending along its width.

6. The tray for farming insects according to claim 5, including nine feet (6), namely: the four feet (6) defined in claim 5, two feet (6) located in a longitudinal midplane of the tray, at a distance from the short sides of the tray, two feet (6) located in a transverse midplane of the tray, on the long sides of the tray, and a central foot, at the intersection of the longitudinal midplane and the transverse midplane.

7. The tray for farming insects according to claim 3, said tray having a length of 0.6 m to 3.6 m and a width of 0.4 m to 2.0 m.

8. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, wherein the tray body has a height of 30 mm to 200 mm.

9. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, wherein the feet (6) have an oblong cross-section.

10. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, wherein each foot (6) includes, over its upper bearing surface (7), a stud (16) projecting from said upper bearing surface (7).

11. The tray for farming insects according to claim 11, including, for each foot (6), an attached insert (18) forming the lower bearing surface (8) of the foot, said insert (18) having a concavity with a shape corresponding, except for a functional clearance, to the shape of the stud (16).

12. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure (5) of the tray extends substantially parallel to the bottom (2) of the tray, and each foot (6) extends above the enclosure (5) of the tray over a height comprised between 20% and 100% of the height of the tray body, measured between the bottom (2) of the tray and the enclosure (5) of the tray.

13. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, wherein the bottom (2) of the tray has a reinforcing pattern, in the form of convexities (13) formed on the bottom (2) of the tray or of ribs with small heights (22) forming a hexagonal or triangular geometric pattern on the bottom (2) of the tray.

14. The tray for farming insects according to claim 1, said tray having an internal volume divided into several areas by at least one vertical partition.

15. A stack of trays consisting of several stacked trays for farming insects according to claim 1, the lower tray of which forms a handling support allowing lifting and moving said stack of trays.

16. The tray for farming insects according to claim 3, said tray having a length of 2.4 m and a width of 1.2 m.

17. The tray for farming insects according to claim 14, wherein said several areas are two to eight areas (12).

18. The tray for farming insects according to claim 14, wherein said several areas are six areas (12).

19. The tray for farming insects according to claim 9, wherein the oblong cross-section is a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners or an elliptical cross-section.

Description

[0042] In the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples:

[0043] FIG. 1 represents, according to a schematic three-dimensional view, an insect farming tray according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 represents, according to a top view, the tray of FIG. 1

[0045] FIG. 3 represents, according to a first partial sectional view, the tray of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0046] FIG. 4 represents, according to a second partial sectional view, the tray of FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0047] FIG. 5 represents, according to a schematic three-dimensional view, an example of an insert that can be used in the invention;

[0048] FIG. 6 represents, according to a top view, a tray according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0049] FIG. 7 represents, according to a first partial sectional view, the tray of FIG. 6;

[0050] FIG. 8 represents, according to a second partial sectional view, the tray of FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0051] FIG. 9 represents a graph illustrating the distribution of the temperature in the trays of a set of stacked straight-sided trays, not corresponding to the present invention;

[0052] FIG. 10 represents a graph illustrating the temperature distribution in the trays of a set of stacked trays according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 11 represents a graph illustrating the air speed at the inlet of columns of stacked straight-sided trays, not corresponding to the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 12 represents a graph illustrating the air speed at the inlet of columns of stacked trays in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0055] FIG. 1 represents, according to a schematic three-dimensional view, an insect farming tray according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0056] The tray 1 includes a bottom 2 which is solid and an opposite open face 3. The tray 1 is suited for farming crawling or essentially crawling insects, or flying insects at the egg, larva, or nymph stage.

[0057] The bottom 2 of the tray 1 extends according to a general extension plane considered as horizontal. Indeed, when farming insects in the tray, the bottom of the tray is configured to be disposed horizontally.

[0058] The tray includes side walls 4. With the bottom 2, the side walls thus form a tray body. The tray body enables the reception of the insects and, where appropriate, the substrate useful for farming thereof. The farming substrate corresponds to the material used to create a living environment for the insects, and, optionally, including the nutrient elements necessary for growth thereof.

[0059] The side walls 4 of the tray define an enclosure of the tray 5, formed by an upper flange of said side walls 4. The enclosure of tray 5 extends parallel to the bottom of tray 2, i.e. horizontally. In particular, the enclosure of the tray 5 extends horizontally all around the tray body.

[0060] The tray 1 includes feet 6.

[0061] The feet 6 extend in the vertical direction (perpendicular to the horizontal) from the bottom 2 of the tray, i.e. from the horizontal plane defined by the bottom 2, up to beyond the enclosure 5 of the tray 1.

[0062] Each foot 6 includes an upper bearing surface 7 and a lower bearing surface 8.

[0063] Thus, the tray 1 is configured to be stacked on top of or under an identical tray. Thus, a stack of trays 1 may be formed, wherein, with the exception of the lowest tray of the stack, the lower bearing surface 8 of each foot bears on the upper bearing surface 7 of the corresponding foot of the tray located below.

[0064] In comparison with the trays known in the prior art, the tray 1 object of the invention has the particularity of being devoid of sharp edges. In the represented example, the tray has a substantially flattened parallelepipedic shape (yet without excluding that the side walls 4 could confer a slightly flared shape on the tray body). Thus, the tray body has rounded corners. The corners of the tray body and of the tray 1 correspond to the vertical edges 9 of the tray, formed at the junction of two successive side walls 4 of the tray, and to the corner flanges 10 formed by the tray enclosure 5 at this level.

[0065] In general, the edges of the tray 1 likely to be exposed to an airflow generated to cross a stack of trays and thus renew the air present in and around the trays, whether these are edges of the tray body or feet, are rounded.

[0066] The tray 1 includes vertical partitions 11 which divide the tray into several areas 12. The vertical partitions 11 are longitudinal and/or transverse.

[0067] Advantageously, the tray 1 is made of a plastic material. Advantageously, a food grade material is used. Thus, the tray 1 may in particular be made of polypropylene. The tray 1 may be made using an injection moulding process.

[0068] Preferably, the areas 12 have identical or similar dimensions.

[0069] FIG. 2 represents, according to a top view, the tray of FIG. 1.

[0070] The tray has large dimensions, in comparison with the farming trays known in the prior art. The tray body having a small height h in comparison with its length L and with its width I, the tray may also be referred to by the term farming tray.

[0071] In the example represented herein, the tray 1 has a length of 2.40 m and a width of 1.20 m.

[0072] Thus, each area 12 has a length of about 80 cm and a width of about 60 cm. This corresponds to the dimensions of the trays whose good suitability to the farming of insects, in particular at the larval stage, has been validated.

[0073] In order to reinforce the bottom 2 of the tray, which is necessary or preferable, in particular because of its large dimensions, the bottom of the tray has a reinforcement pattern. The reinforcement pattern includes, in the represented example, a series of convexities 13 (viewed from inside the tray) which extend transversely (along the direction of the width) of the tray 1.

[0074] FIGS. 1 and 2 also illustrate a preferred arrangement of the feet. In particular, the four feet located proximate to the corners of the tray 1 are located on a long side of the tray (the side extending along the length of the tray 1) but at a distance from the short sides of the tray (the sides extending along the width of the tray 1). In particular, these four feet may be disposed at a distance of 10 cm to 50 cm from the closest short side, for example at about 20 cm, 30 cm, or 40 cm from this short side. A foot 6 is also located at the middle of the tray, according to the transverse direction, in alignment respectively with each group of two feet located on the long sides of the tray, proximate to a short side of the tray.

[0075] Three feet are also disposed according to a longitudinal centreline of the tray, a foot 6 being located on each of the long sides of the tray, and a foot 6 at the middle of the tray in the transverse direction.

[0076] In order to further reinforce the tray 1, in bending and in torsion, the feet 6 which are aligned transversely are connected together by ribs 14 formed on the bottom 2 of the tray 1. The ribs 14 have a small height, in comparison with the height h of the tray body, and do not form a partitioning in the areas 12.

[0077] Thus, the tray configured so as to have mechanical characteristics, in particular in terms of rigidity and resistance to the load, enabling the lower tray of a stack of trays to serve as a handling support for the transport of a complete stack of trays.

[0078] FIG. 3 represents the tray of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to a first partial sectional view according to the section plane A-A represented in FIG. 2. This partial sectional view shows a longitudinal end of the tray 1.

[0079] Thus, the tray comprises, at its longitudinal end (and in this case at each of its longitudinal ends) a raised portion 15. The raised portion forms an angle, and/or a curvature, evolving or not, with respect to the horizontal materialised by the general extension plane of the bottom 2.

[0080] In the example represented herein, the raised portion 15 extends over about 50 mm in the longitudinal direction. For example, the raised portion may extend over 20 mm to 150 mm, according to various embodiments of the invention. The raised portion herein includes an inclined portion connecting progressively to the bottom 2 of the tray on the one hand, and to the side wall 4 of the small side of the tray on the other hand.

[0081] The raised portion 15 confers on the tray 1, and in particular on the tray body, a shape comparable to that of a boat or a flat-bottomed boat hull. This considerably improves the aerodynamics of the tray, by reducing its drag coefficient with respect to an air flow F whose direction is represented by a double arrow in FIG. 1.

[0082] Thus, the tray 1 is intended for use according to a particular orientation with respect to the predominant airflow which will cross the stacks of trays during the farming of insects.

[0083] As regards the feet 6, as shown in particular in FIGS. 1 to 4, they are also configured according to the orientation of use of tray 1. Thus, the feet 6 have a section of elongated, oblong shape, the largest dimension of the section of the foot being oriented according to the airflow (i.e., in the represented example, according to the longitudinal direction), so as to minimise the frontal surface of each foot with respect to the airflow.

[0084] Thus, each foot 6 may have an elliptical, rectangular section (with rounded corners), or any other oblong section, for example including a rectangular central portion and two semi-circles on either side of this central section.

[0085] FIG. 3 also allows assessing the dimensions of the feet in the represented tray example, in comparison with the height h of the tray body.

[0086] In the represented example, the tray body has a height h in the range of 90 mm. According to various embodiments, the height h may for example be comprised between 40 mm and 120 mm). In turn, the upper bearing surface 7 of the foot 6 is located about 40 mm above the enclosure 5 of the tray 1. In other words, the foot has, in this embodiment, a total height between its lower bearing surface 8 and its upper bearing surface 7, in the range of 130 mm (the lower bearing surface of the foot being located in the same plane, or substantially in the same plane as the bottom 2. According to various embodiments, the upper bearing surface of the foot may be located for example between 10 mm and 120 mm above the enclosure of the tray.

[0087] When stacking an identical tray on tray 1, the lower bearing surface of each foot of said identical tray bears on the upper bearing surface 7 of the corresponding foot of said tray 1.

[0088] Thus, a space is provided for the circulation of air between the enclosure 5 of the tray delimiting its open face 3 and the bottom of the identical tray. Thanks to the positioning of the feet set back with respect to the short side of the tray, this space is completely free for the entry of air between the trays at said short side.

[0089] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each foot include, on its upper bearing surface, a stud 16 which projects from the upper bearing surface 7. For example, the stud 16 may have a height in the range of 20 mm. This stud is shaped so as to have a shape matching, except for a functional clearance, with a concavity formed on the lower bearing surface 8.

[0090] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the tray 1, according to the section plane B-B represented in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates many aspects of the construction of a foot. Thus, in the embodiment represented herein, each foot 6 is hollow. The lower bearing surface 8 is formed by an added insert 18.

[0091] The insert 18 is configured to be forcibly fitted and/or fastened by riveting (or fixed by any other suitable means, for example welded or glued) in the volume defined by the wall of the foot 6, and to be supported on a seat 19 formed by this wall.

[0092] The insert may be made of a plastic material, for example of polypropylene, in particular according to an injection moulding process.

[0093] Such an insert 18 is represented in detail in FIG. 5, in a three-dimensional view. Thus, the insert 18 includes a bearing side 20 intended to bear on the seat 19 of the foot. The insert 18 also includes fins 21 which bear on the inner walls of the foot 6 (which is hollow) and which mechanically reinforces it.

[0094] FIGS. 6 to 8 represent a tray according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a top view, FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view according to the section plane CC represented in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view according to the section plane DD represented in FIG. 6.

[0095] The insect farming tray in FIG. 6 has the same general configuration as the tray of FIGS. 1 to 4. In particular, the length L and the width I of the tray 1 may be identical to those of the tray of FIGS. 1 to 4 (for example L=2.40 m and I=1.20 m). The feet 6 may have the same arrangement as in the tray of FIGS. 1 to 4. They may have the same cross-section. The studs 16 and the concavities 17 of the feet may also be identical.

[0096] Thus, the tray of FIGS. 1 to 4 and the tray of FIGS. 6 to 8 can be stacked together.

[0097] While the description given hereinbefore of the tray of FIGS. 1 to 4 thus applies to the tray of FIGS. 6 to 8, the latter nevertheless has the following distinctive features.

[0098] The tray of FIGS. 6 to 8 has on its bottom 2 a reinforcement pattern consisting of ribs 22 with a small height arranged as hexagons. The mechanical reinforcement, in particular in terms of rigidity in all directions, obtained with such a pattern, is greater than the reinforcement obtained with the concavities of the tray of FIGS. 1 to 4. Nevertheless, this pattern is more complex to manufacture.

[0099] The tray of FIGS. 6 to 8 also has a smaller height than the tray of FIGS. 1 to 4. In the example represented herein, the tray body has a height h in the range of 60 mm. In turn, the upper bearing surface 7 of the foot 6 is located about 20 mm above the enclosure 5 of the tray 1. In other words, the foot has, in this embodiment, a total height between its lower bearing surface 8 and its upper bearing surface 7, in the range of 80 mm.

[0100] In this embodiment, the raised portion 15 of the tray has a length in the range of 30 mm.

[0101] The distinctive features of the tray of FIGS. 6 to 8 described hereinabove may be applied individually or in combination, according to various embodiments of the invention.

[0102] While the tray of FIGS. 1 to 3 is particularly well suited to farming of insect larvae and growth thereof, the tray of FIGS. 6 to 8 is particularly well suited to the reproduction and egg-laying of insects.

[0103] Thus, for example, the tray of FIGS. 1 to 3 can be used to form stacks of 15 to 20 trays, for example 18 trays.

[0104] For example, the tray of FIGS. 6 to 8 can be used to form stacks of 25 to 40 trays, for example 32 trays.

[0105] These stacks can be moved by automated means using the bottom tray of the stack as a handling support (excluding in particular the use of a pallet as a handling support).

[0106] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a first major advantage obtained thanks to the aerodynamics of a farming tray in accordance with the invention.

[0107] FIGS. 9 and 10 represent, for given thermal load and ventilation conditions identical for both FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the modelled temperature in trays located at different levels of several sets of stacked trays. In particular, sets of eighteen stacked trays are considered, present in a large-scale insect farm, with a thermal regulation device ensuring air circulation in the farm. The considered insect farm corresponds in particular to a farm of the type described in the document WO2020104751. The temperature distribution in the trays of these sets is represented. In particular, in FIGS. 9 and 10, for each range of 1? C. between 24? C. and 44? C. (on the abscissa axis), the percentage of trays in the temperature range (on the ordinate axis) is represented for: [0108] the first tray (located at the top of the stack) referenced P1, [0109] the tenth tray of the stack starting from the top, referenced P10, [0110] the last tray in the stack (at the bottom of the stack), referenced P18.

[0111] FIG. 9 corresponds to a model with trays having a strictly right parallelepipedic tray body, having sharp edges (not rounded), and which are referred to hereinafter as straight-sided trays.

[0112] FIG. 10 corresponds to a model with trays in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, namely trays corresponding to the tray of FIG. 1.

[0113] In the represented example, the comparison of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 shows a much better temperature homogeneity thanks to the trays in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, the number of trays exceeding too high a temperature, in this case 34? C. in the represented example, is quite significantly reduced.

[0114] This promotes the obtainment of an optimum temperature for farming a higher proportion, and even almost all, of the insects in the farm, in comparison with a farm in which straight-sided trays would be used.

[0115] Under the conditions illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, one could notice that the sets of stacked trays are on average hotter when the trays forming them have straight sides. Yet, the evacuation of the heat produced by the insects is a major issue in large-scale insect farming. In the represented example, the average temperature differences in the sets of stacked trays, according to the position of these sets in the farm, is comprised between 0.35? C. and 0.9? C. between straight-sided trays and trays in accordance with the present invention.

[0116] To obtain the same average temperature in straight-sided trays as in the trays in accordance with the invention according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, it is estimated that a ventilation flow rate higher by about 10% would be necessary. This has a considerable energy impact in large-scale farming.

[0117] The airflow flowing between the trays of a set of stacked trays also turns out to be very different depending on whether the trays are straight-sided or optimised according to the present invention.

[0118] As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the optimisation of the shape of the trays allows for a better penetration of the airflow between the trays, and therefore an increase in the flow crossing the sets of stacked trays, which promotes cooling thereof and more generally the renewal of the air in the trays.

[0119] Thus, each of FIGS. 11 and 12 represents the air speed modelled at the inlet of three sets of stacked trays, respectively referenced E1, E2 and E3.

[0120] An air induction duct is located opposite said sets of trays, between the first set E1 and the second set E2. The air induction is identical in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12.

[0121] In FIGS. 11 and 12, the areas with the highest air speed correspond to the darkest areas, whereas the lighter areas correspond to the areas where the air circulates the slowest.

[0122] The areas where the air circulates at the highest speed are naturally located opposite the air induction duct.

[0123] The comparison of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 shows that the areas where the air flows at a significant speed extend more along the width of the first set E1 and the second set E2 with trays in accordance with the invention (FIG. 12) than with straight-sided trays (FIG. 11). In particular, one could notice that in the represented example, an airflow is properly established over the entire width of the trays of the second set E2 with trays in accordance with the invention, while this is not the case with straight-sided trays. Finally, as regards the third set E3, while the air circulation takes place at a very low speed with straight-sided trays, trays in accordance with the present invention allow for a substantially improved air circulation, the airflow flowing at a significant speed.

[0124] Finally, the Applicant has noticed that straight-sided trays result in dead areas at the entrance between the trays, i.e. areas in which no, or almost no, air flows. These areas are reduced and even eliminated thanks to the use of trays in accordance with the invention.

[0125] The insect farming tray thus proposed in the invention has many advantages in comparison with the trays known in the prior art. First of all, the tray is optimised to impede the airflow as little as possible in a stack of several trays, according to at least one direction. This aerodynamic conformation of the tray allows for a good maintenance of the desired environmental parameters in each tray (temperature, CO.sub.2 level, etc.). On the scale of a farming factory, this also allows for considerable energy (and therefore also economic) savings in the used aeraulic systems. A less powerful airflow could be used, which disturbs insect growth less, and/or a greater number of stacks of trays could be crossed by an airflow of a given power.

[0126] In some embodiments, large-sized trays are particularly well suited to farming using automated means for moving the trays and vertical storage in large-sized storage structures.