IP Library Granted Patent US 12,557,798
Granted Patent B2
US 12,557,798 · App. 18/883,217 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Fly cage module with conveyor belt

Inventors: Katharina Unger (Vienna, AT); Jürgen Wixler (Dissen am Teutoburger Wald, DE)
Assignee: Livin Farms AgriFood GmbH
A01K67/30A01K2227/706
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,557,798
App. No.
18/883,217
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus, arrangement and method for producing insect eggs. The apparatus includes a container to accommodate insects in a container interior and prevent the insects from escaping; at least one egg-laying apparatus is arranged in the container and is configured to accommodate insect eggs laid in the container by the insects in the container; and at least one attractant arranged in an area of the at least one egg-laying apparatus that emits stimulants to lure the insects to the at least one egg-laying apparatus to lay the insect eggs. The at least one egg-laying apparatus is at least partially removable from the container, the at least one attractant is spatially separated from the at least one egg-laying apparatus and is separated from the container interior, and wherein the stimulants emitted by the attractant pass through the at least one egg-laying apparatus into the container interior.

Claims (30)

1 . An apparatus for producing insect eggs, comprising:

a container configured to accommodate insects in an interior of the container and to prevent the accommodated insects from escaping from the container;

at least one egg-laying apparatus that is arranged in the container and is configured to accommodate insect eggs laid in the container by the accommodated insects; and

at least one attractant arranged in an area of the at least one egg-laying apparatus that emits stimulants to lure the accommodated insects to the at least one egg-laying apparatus to lay the insect eggs,

wherein the at least one egg-laying apparatus is removable from the container in order to harvest the insect eggs,

wherein the at least one attractant is spatially separated from the at least one egg-laying apparatus and is separated from the container interior,

wherein the stimulants emitted by the attractant pass through the at least one egg-laying apparatus into the container interior, and

wherein the at least one egg-laying apparatus is arranged on a conveyor belt.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the accommodated insects are adult insects.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one attractant is at least one of water or dead insects.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one egg-laying apparatus is perforated.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one egg-laying apparatus is removable from the conveyor belt.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the container has at least one outlet opening, wherein the at least one egg-laying apparatus on the conveyor belt extends through the at least one outlet opening.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein water is arranged below the conveyor belt as the at least one attractant.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the container comprises at least one insect conveying device that is configured to convey the insects into the container.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the container has a collecting device that is designed to collect dead accommodated insects in the container and to arrange the collected dead insects in the area of the at least one egg-laying apparatus as the at least one attractant.

10 . An arrangement of a plurality of the apparatuses according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apparatuses are arranged in at least one of a row or stacked configuration.

11 . A method for producing insect eggs using the apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:

providing insects into an interior of the container; and

positioning the at least one attractant in the area of the at least one egg-laying apparatus,

whereby the insects are lured to the at least one egg-laying apparatus by the attractant in order to lay the insect eggs.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the insects are adult insects.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein dead insects are collected in the container using a collecting device and the dead insects are provided as the at least one attractant of the at least one egg-laying apparatus.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein, at predetermined intervals, the insect eggs are removed from the at least one egg-laying apparatus.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the predetermined intervals are once per day.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the insect eggs are removed from the at least one egg-laying apparatus mechanically or pneumatically or by flushing out with a liquid.

17 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the providing of the insects comprises conveying the insects into the interior of the container by at least one insect conveying device.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus has connecting elements to connect apparatuses to one another.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a circulating belt of the conveyor belt is designed to serve as the egg-laying apparatus.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyor belt comprises a housing, which ensures that the attractant is separated from the container interior and that the stimulants emitted by the attractant enters the container interior through the egg-laying apparatus.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 69234 FRAME 354. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: UNGER, KATHARINA; WIXLER, JÜRGEN
To: LIVIN FARMS AGRIFOOD GMBH
Reel/Frame 070612/0855 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: UNGER, KATHARINA; WIXLER, JÜRGEN
To: LIVIN FARMS AGRIFOOD GMBH
Reel/Frame 069234/0354 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 23197147 · Sep 13, 2023 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250081949A1 · Mar 13, 2025
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