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US 11,780,041 B2Granted
Systems and methods for sorting insects
AssigneeBeta Hatch Inc.
InventorVirginia Emery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Insect sorting conveyor systems include at least first and second insect conveyor stages. The first and second insect sorting conveyor stages each include an outwardly facing grasping surface forming at least part of a continuous loop having an upper section and a lower section, and an insect diverter positioned adjacent to the lower section. The second insect sorting conveyor stage is disposed below the first insect sorting conveyor stage.
Claims20
An insect sorting conveyor system, comprising:
- a first type of insect and at least a second type of insect;
- a first insect sorting conveyor stage comprising:
- an outwardly facing first insect grasping surface forming at least part of a first continuous loop having an upper section and a lower section, wherein the first insect grasping surface is graspable by at least the first type of insect and non-graspable by at least the second type of insect, and
- a first insect diverter positioned adjacent to the lower section;
- and
- a second insect sorting conveyor stage comprising:
- an outwardly facing second insect grasping surface forming at least part of a second continuous loop having an upper section and a lower section, wherein the second insect grasping surface is graspable by at least the first type of insect and non-graspable by at least the second type of insect, wherein the second insect sorting conveyor stage is disposed gravitationally below the first insect sorting conveyor stage such that non-grasping insects on the first grasping surface fall onto the upper section of the second grasping surface as the first insect grasping surface rotates in the continuous loop in a forward direction toward the second insect sorting conveyor stage, and
- a second insect diverter positioned adjacent to the lower section.
5 more elements
An insect sorting conveyor system configured to sort at least a first type of insect from at least a second type of insect, comprising:
- a first insect sorting conveyor stage having a first insect grasping surface, wherein the first insect grasping surface is graspable by at least the first type of insect and non-graspable by at least the second type of insect;
- a second insect sorting conveyor stage having a second insect grasping surface, wherein the second insect grasping surface is graspable by at least the first type of insect and non-graspable by at least the second type of insect, and wherein the second insect sorting conveyor stage is disposed gravitationally below and offset laterally from the first insect sorting conveyor such that non-grasping insects on the first grasping surface fall onto the second grasping surface as the first insect grasping surface is conveyed in a first direction, and
- an insect diverter assembly configured to remove grasping insects from the first and second insect grasping surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.