Worm bed system and apparatus
AssigneeAnnelida Soil Solutions Ltd.
InventorsHai Le, Michael Launer, Jamie DePape
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for distributing organic matter to a stack of worm bed reactors, where each worm bed reactor has a receptacle with a screened bottom surface, sidewalls, an open top, and is filled with substrate and worms. A distribution gantry moveable from a docking area along the length of each reactor. An organic matter feeder overlies the docking area of each stack and supplies organic matter to each gantry in the stack. The gantries travel along the reactor to distribute the organic matter.
Claims20
A method of distributing organic matter to worm bed reactors being vertically arranged in a stack, each of the worm bed reactors having a screened bottom surface that permits loosened material to fall from the worm bed reactor and a track that extends above the worm bed reactor, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing worms into each worm bed reactors;
- supplying organic matter to each worm bed reactor using an organic matter distribution system, the organic matter distribution system comprising:
- a docking area at a first end of the stack;
- a distribution gantry mounted to the track above each worm bed reactor, the distribution gantry being adapted to distribute particulate matter while moving along the track;
- and
- a feeder for filling the distribution gantry of each worm bed reactor with organic matter;
- wherein supplying organic matter to each worm bed reactor comprises:
- with a selected distribution gantry in the docking area adjacent to a selected worm bed reactor in the stack, depositing organic matter from the feeder into the selected distribution gantry;
- causing the selected distribution gantry to move from the docking area along the track of the selected worm bed reactor while distributing the organic matter;
- with a further distribution gantry in the docking area adjacent to a further worm bed reactor in the stack, depositing organic matter from the feeder into the selected distribution gantry;
- and
- causing the further distribution gantry to move from the docking area along the track of the further worm bed reactor while distributing the organic matter.
An apparatus for processing organic matter, the apparatus comprising:
- worm bed reactors being vertically arranged in a stack, each of the worm bed reactors having a screened bottom surface that permits loosened substrate to fall from the worm bed reactor and a track that extends above the worm bed reactor;
- an organic matter distribution system comprising:
- a docking area at a first end of the stack;
- a distribution gantry mounted to the track above each worm bed reactor, the distribution gantry being adapted to distribute organic matter while moving along the track;
- and
- a feeder for filling the distribution gantry of each worm bed reactor with organic matter;
- a cutter bar within each worm bed reactor, the cutter bar being moveable in a direction parallel to the screened bottom surface, the cutter bar being adapted to dislodge a bottom portion of the substrate in the worm bed reactor and cause the bottom portion to fall through the screened bottom surface;
- and
- a substrate collector underlying each worm bed reactor and disposed to collect the bottom portion of the substrate after falling through the screened bottom surface.
A gantry system for delivering organic matter to a worm bed reactor, the worm bed reactor comprising a length and a width, the gantry system comprising:
- a track extending along the length of the worm bed reactor;
- and
- a distribution gantry mounted to the track, the distribution gantry comprising:
- track engagements sized to engage with and move along the track;
- and
- an organic matter receptacle having a sidewall surrounding an open bottom that extends substantially across the width of the worm bed reactor, and a conveyor below the open bottom that extends across the open bottom, the conveyor receiving organic matter from the open bottom and moving the organic matter from within the organic matter receptacle to the worm bed reactor along the length of the worm bed reactor as the distribution gantry moves along the track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.