Beneficial insect counting and packaging device

US5594654A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US

Inventors

• Dennis Shuman · Mission Viejo, US
• Carl A. Litzkow · Newberry, US
• Sergey Kruss · Millis, US
• James A. Coffelt · Bakersfield, US
• Frederick L. Petitt · Oak Ridge, US
• David O. Wietlisbach · Oak Ridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 17, 1995
• Grant date: Jan 14, 1997
• Expiry date: Feb 17, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01K67/30
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An automated system has been developed to count and package beneficial insect larvae or eggs and includes a funnel-shaped container which sits in the top portion of a sensor head and a turntable with multiple containers located below the sensor head, for collecting larvae or eggs as they drop through the sensor head. The system accurately records the number and time stamps each insect larva or egg detection as they drop through a sensor head.