Insect storage and dispensing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11602124-B2
Application number	US-201916588125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2019
Priority date	Oct 4, 2018
Publication date	Mar 14, 2023
Grant date	Mar 14, 2023

Abstract

Insect storage and dispensing system are described. An example system may include a dispensing container including at least one wall defining an interior volume for retaining a plurality of adult insects. The system may also include a piston that extends through a first opening of the dispensing container so as to expose a top face of the piston to the interior volume. Longitudinal movement of the piston toward a second opening of the dispensing container may dispense a portion of the plurality of insects from the dispensing container when the plurality of insects is retained in the dispensing container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a dispensing cartridge comprising at least one first wall defining a first interior volume for retaining a plurality of adult insects;
a dispensing container comprising at least one second wall defining a second interior volume for retaining the dispensing cartridge, the dispensing container comprising a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end; and
a piston comprising a top face, the piston extending through the first opening and into the dispensing container so as to physically contact the dispensing cartridge, wherein longitudinal movement of the piston through the second interior volume and toward the second opening causes translation of the dispensing cartridge through the second interior volume and dispenses a portion of the plurality of adult insects from the dispensing cartridge when the plurality of adult insects is retained in the dispensing cartridge.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an air movement system disposed adjacent the second opening of the dispensing container, the air movement system configured to cause an air stream to flow across the second opening to remove, from the dispensing cartridge, portions of the plurality of adult insects that are presented at the second opening by the longitudinal movement of the piston.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the air movement system comprises a fan, a Venturi tube, or an aspirator device.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a movable gate positioned at the second end so as to selectively occlude the second opening.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the movable gate is slidable between a first position and a second position so as to occlude a larger portion of the second opening in the first position and a smaller portion of the second opening in the second position.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a revival system disposed adjacent the second opening of the dispensing container, the revival system configured to revive portions of the plurality of adult insects that are presented at the second opening by the longitudinal movement of the piston.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling sheath configured to chill the plurality of adult insects within the dispensing cartridge.

8. A system, comprising:
an exit chamber comprising a structure that defines a first interior volume, wherein the exit chamber is oriented longitudinally along a first axis and comprises an inlet and an outlet; and
a dispensing system, comprising:
a dispensing container comprising at least one wall defining a second interior volume for retaining a plurality of adult insects, the dispensing container oriented along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and comprising a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end opposite the first end, wherein the dispensing container is oriented with respect to the exit chamber to define an insect pathway between the second opening and the inlet; and
a piston comprising a top face, the piston extending through the first opening and into the dispensing container so as to expose the top face to the second interior volume, wherein longitudinal movement of the piston along the second axis and through the second interior volume and toward the second opening causes a portion of the plurality of adult insects to move from the dispensing container into the exit chamber via the insect pathway when the plurality of adult insects is retained in the dispensing container.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an air movement system disposed adjacent the second opening of the dispensing container, the air movement system configured to cause an air stream to flow across the second opening to blow portions of the plurality of adult insects out of the exit chamber via the outlet.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the air movement system comprises a fan, a Venturi tube, or an aspirator device.

11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a movable gate positioned at the second end so as to selectively occlude the second opening.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the movable gate is slidable between a first position and a second position so as to occlude a larger portion of the second opening in the first position and a smaller portion of the second opening in the second position.

13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a revival system disposed adjacent the second opening of the dispensing container, the revival system configured to revive portions of the plurality of adult insects that are presented at the second opening by the longitudinal movement of the piston.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the dispensing container comprises a dispensing cartridge defining an interior volume to receive the plurality of adult insects and to be inserted within the dispensing container.

15. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a cooling sheath configured to chill the plurality of adult insects within the dispensing container.

16. The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one of a vibration system configured to apply vibration to the exit chamber, or a humidity control system configured to provide humidification or dehumidification to the first interior volume.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing cartridge comprises a plurality of distinct chambers each configured to retain individual portions of adult insects of the plurality of adult insects, and wherein the translation of the dispensing cartridge through the second interior volume selectively dispenses the individual portions of adult insects.

Assignees

• Verily Life Sciences Llc

Inventors

• Massaro Peter
• Snoad Nigel
• Zha Tiantian
• Eldershaw Craig
• Sheridan Martin

Classifications

• A01K67/31 Primary

  Arrangements for releasing thereof into the environment · CPC title

• A01M99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A01M1/00 Primary

  Stationary means for catching or killing insects · CPC title

• A01K1/08 Primary

  Arrangements for simultaneously releasing several animals · CPC title