The present invention relates to a device, a system and a method for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents.

In more detail, the present invention relates to a system capable of mapping and conditioning the behaviour of rodents in order to collect information related to the position/movements of animals in a predefined area and the behaviours of the latter. Based on this information, the in vivo capture of the rodents is optimized according to a predefined operating logic of the apparatus.

The present invention also relates to a device for capturing rodents, adapted to retain the captured animals in vivo.

As is known, to maintain optimal hygienic/sanitary conditions of environments, especially humid environments such as cellars, storage warehouses or open environments such as agricultural areas, disinfestation is carried out against rodents or other pests. Such disinfestation operations are mostly implemented by eliminating the animals by means of various types of traps which have the purpose of killing the pests.

Such traps are generally of a mechanical (for example, trap jaws) or electrical type and therefore provided with live components to electrocute the animal when it comes in contact with the trap. Another type of trap widely used is of the chemical type adapted to deliver a poisoned food product which causes the death of the rat shortly after ingestion of the food.

Although effective, such traps have significant disadvantages. Firstly, such traps do not allow the capture of live animals. Therefore, they still require manual intervention to immediately remove the carcasses from the traps, otherwise having to face the decomposition of the dead animal. Moreover, in the case of poison use, it is not always easy to identify the rodent which may die far from the respective trap. In this context, it is particularly difficult to identify the rodent promptly.

Furthermore, the traps described above do not allow to discriminate killing only rodents and are therefore potentially dangerous for other animals which are not pests, for example pets with a size similar to that of the aforementioned rodents.

In order to overcome such drawbacks, traps are also provided for the capture of the live animal. These traps mostly consist of single-access containers provided with an automatic closing gate.

Thereby, when the rodents enter the interior of the container, appropriate electromechanical detection systems activate the gate valve to close and retain the animal inside the container. Subsequently, the operator can remove the live animal which is distanced from the area to be disinfested.

However, this type of trap also has significant application drawbacks and limitations.

Firstly, traps of this type are provided for the capture of a single rodent. In fact, once the gate valve is activated, it is kept closed to prevent the rodent from escaping. Therefore, in areas where there are several rodents, a series of traps must necessarily be placed separately, with consequent drawbacks in terms of costs and practicality.

In addition, traps may not always be easily placed separately in the areas where rodents are most frequent, resulting in the ineffective capture of animals.

Further, since it is not possible to monitor the number and habits of the rodents to be caught, it is difficult to identify the best positioning of the trap to capture the rodent.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a device, a system and a method for the capture and or conditioning of pests which lack the drawbacks of the known art mentioned above.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to propose a structurally simple device capable of capturing in vivo a series of rodents without requiring frequent manual intervention for removing the animals captured inside the apparatus.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a capture system and a capture method capable of mapping the behaviour of the rodents, thus identifying the areas with greater pest activity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a capture device and a capture system capable of conditioning the behaviour of the rodent by means of positive reinforcements, thus optimizing capture times and quantities.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a versatile method which can be used for both capturing and for only mapping the behaviour of the rodents.

The mentioned technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved by a system, a device and a method for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents, comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims.

According to the present invention, a device is described for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents, comprising: a box like body defining an access opening for the rodents inside the box-like body itself; a conditioning compartment arranged inside the box-like body; a supply member of at least one acoustic and/or food and/or thermal and/or olfactory attraction stimulus for said rodents arranged inside said conditioning compartment; a corridor arranged inside the box-like body between the access opening and the conditioning compartment and defining a walking surface of the rodents; a retention compartment of the rodents arranged below said conditioning compartment; a sensor assembly for detecting the passage of the rodents inside said box-like body. The corridor is switchable between a conditioning position in which the walking surface allows rodents to access said conditioning compartment and a capture position in which said walking surface directs the rodents towards the retention compartment.

Advantageously, the device allows to capture the rodents, selectively and according to the behaviour thereof.

According to the present invention, a system for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents, is also described, which comprises: at least one device for conditioning and capture; at least one peripheral unit for monitoring said rodents which is spaced from said device; a central unit for communicating with said device and with said peripheral unit to acquire a plurality of signals representative of a mapping of the rodents. The central unit is associated with the electronic processing unit of the device for enabling/disabling the sensor according to said signals which are acquired by the central unit itself.

The system preferably includes a plurality of peripheral units and one or more capture devices for implementing a mapping in a predefined area and conditioning the behaviour of the rodents in order to direct them only to the capture devices.

According to the present invention, a method for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents, is also described, which comprises the steps of: providing at least one conditioning and capture device; providing at least one peripheral unit for mapping; supplying in said device and in said peripheral unit at least one attractive stimulus for a rodent; acquiring a series of signals in said device and peripheral unit representative of a rodent mapping; and enabling a sensor of said device to position a corridor of the device in a respective capture position in which it directs the rodents in a retention compartment of the device itself. Advantageously, the method allows to map and process the data collected from a single central electronic unit which, as a function of the acquired data, allows to manage the delivery of attractive stimuli to condition the behaviour of the rodents and attract them to the capture device.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of an exemplary, but not exclusive, and therefore non-limiting, preferred embodiment of a system, a device and a method for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which: figures 1 to 4 show perspective and schematic views of the conditioning and capture device in accordance with the present invention and in respective operating steps; figure 5 shows a schematic view of a system for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents, comprising at least one device of the type shown in the previous figures; and figure 6 shows a perspective view of the device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the appended drawings, the reference number 1 globally indicates a device for the conditioning and capture of pests, in particular rodents.

In particular, the device 1 illustrated in figures 1 to 4 in a schematic manner and in respective operating conditions comprises a box-like body 2 defining an access opening 3 for the rodents inside the box-like body 2 itself.

The access opening 3 is raised with respect to the base of the box-like body 2 and is formed at a respective front wall 2a of the body 2 itself.

The front wall 2a also has ramps 3a, fixed or movable, which facilitate the entry of rodents from the ground towards the access opening 3.

By way of example, and therefore without limitation, the ramps 3a can consist of ladders, ropes, strips, or any other type of grip which allows rodents to climb to access the interior of the access opening 3.

Inside the box-like body 2, a conditioning compartment 4 is defined, preferably arranged at a bottom wall 2b of the box-like body 2 opposite the aforementioned front wall 2a. As will be better clarified in the following discussion, the conditioning compartment 4 is configured to supply at least one attractive stimulus to the rodent, i.e., a stimulus of any nature which can attract and bring the rodent closer inside the conditioning compartment 4.

For this purpose, at least one supply member 5 of at least one acoustic and/or food and/or thermal and/or olfactory attraction stimulus for rodents is provided inside the conditioning compartment 4.

The supply member 5 can be of any type and configured to supply at least one of the stimuli described above or any other stimulus which may be of attraction to the rodent. For example, the member 5 can supply inside the conditioning compartment 4 food in a liquid or solid form, in a programmed manner over time and in measured quantities, in order to determine a "positive reinforcement" intended as a lure to access inside the conditioning compartment 4 and adapted to a conditioning action of the behaviour of the rodent.

The device 1 further comprises a corridor 6 arranged inside the box-like body 2 between the access opening 3 and the conditioning compartment 4. The corridor 6 defines a walking surface 7 which is travelled by the rodents inside the box-like body 2 to reach the compartment 4. Thereby, the rodent entering from the access opening 3 runs along the entire surface 7 to access inside the compartment 4 in which the aforementioned attractive stimulus is delivered.

The device 1 further comprises a sensor assembly 8 for detecting the passage of rodents inside the box-like body. The sensor assembly 8 is preferably arranged at the corridor 6 and/or the conditioning compartment 4 in order to detect the presence of the rodent inside the box-like body 2 and in particular at the conditioning compartment 4.

In particular, the sensor assembly 8 (shown in the appended drawings) comprises a series of sensors (not described in detail since of known type) connected to an electronic processing unit which can be arranged at the box-like body or connected remotely. The electronic unit is configured to acquire a plurality of signals S representative at least of the presence of rodents in the box-like body 2 and/or the number of rodent passages inside the box-like body 2 and/or the residence time of said rodents in the box-like body 2.

In other words, the electronic unit acquires all the signals which define a mapping of the behaviour of the rodents inside the device 1. In fact, such a mapping is defined by a series of parameters representative of the passages of each rodent along the corridor 6 and/or by the number of rodents accessing inside the box-like body 2 and/or by the residence time of the rodents inside the box-like body 2. Such parameters are also processed according to the stimulus supply activities inside the conditioning compartment 4.

The data collected by each individual unit is transmitted to the central data collection and processing unit, consisting of a database which is part of a central server which allows to store and process all the data transmitted by the individual units (e.g., date, time, temperature, identification, etc.) in order to identify the unit or group of units, analyse the data, send switching commands to the remote units.

Thereby, it is possible to activate or modify the stimulus delivery process also as a function of what is mapped in terms of rodent behaviour inside the respective device 1.

Below the corridor 6 there is also a retention compartment 9 of the rodents inside which the animals are captured and retained.

In particular, the retention compartment 9 is defined by a volume inside the box-like body 2 arranged at the base and therefore of a lower portion of the body 2 itself.

With particular reference to figures 2 and 3, it should be noted that the corridor 6 is switchable between a conditioning position (figure 2) in which the walking surface 7 allows rodents access to the conditioning compartment 4 and a capture position (figure 3) in which said walking surface 7 directs the rodents towards the retention compartment 9. In particular, the corridor comprises a rotating element 10 rotatable around a rotation axis to define the aforementioned conditioning and capture positions.

The rotatable element 10 preferably has a profiled configuration having an "L"-shaped cross section.

The element 10 further comprises a first portion 10a defining the walking surface 7 and a second portion 10b extending perpendicular to the first portion 10a and defining a side wall of the corridor 6.

In other words, in the conditioning position, the first portion 10a is arranged horizontally to facilitate the entry of the rodent advancing along the walking surface 7. In this situation, the second portion 10b lies laterally to define a side wall of the corridor 6.

Instead, in the capture position better illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the first portion 10a is tipped downwards and in particular towards the retention compartment 9. In this situation, the second portion 10b is overturned to be arranged horizontally and close the retention compartment 9, thus preventing the escape of the rodents outside the retention compartment 9 itself.

It should also be noted that said portions 10a, 10b are associated with each other at a common edge coinciding with the rotation axis of the rotatable element 10.

Again, it should be further noted that the rotatable element 10 is configured to rotate 90° between the conditioning position and the capture position.

Advantageously, in the capture condition the first portion 10a and therefore also the walking surface 7 is overturned to make the rodents fall inside the retention compartment 9.

The movement of the rotating element 10 is implemented by means of an electromechanical actuator (not described and illustrated in detail since of known type) in turn controlled by a sensor 11 interposed between the corridor 6 and the conditioning compartment 4. The sensor 11 can be made in the form of a door operable in the moment when the rodent enters the conditioning compartment 4.

Advantageously, the sensor 11 is configured to be enabled and activate the actuator in the capture position when it detects the presence of at least one rodent and to be disabled when it does not detect the presence of the rodent.

In this situation, the electronic processing unit is operatively associated with the sensor 11 to enable/disable the sensor 11 as a function of the signals S which are acquired.

In other words, the electronic processing unit can keep the sensor 11 disabled to allow the entry of the rodent inside the compartment and therefore to allow the conditioning operation of the rodent itself. Following a predetermined mapping derived from the signals S acquired by the electronic processing unit, the same can determine the enabling of the sensor 11 to therefore define the capture of one or more rodents present in the corridor 6.

The present invention also relates to a system 100 for the conditioning and capture of pests, which is illustrated overall and schematically in figure 5. Such a system 100 comprises at least one device 1 of the type described above. However, the system 100 can provide, as illustrated by way of example in figure 5, a plurality of devices 1 (for example two devices 1) suitably located in an area to be disinfested.

The system 100 further comprises at least one peripheral unit 101 for monitoring said rodents which is spaced from each device 1. Preferably, a plurality of peripheral units 101 are provided suitably spaced apart and located inside the area to be disinfested. The number of peripheral units and the position thereof is determined by the width of the aforesaid area and by the spread of the pests.

Similar to what is described above for one device, the peripheral unit 101 is also configured to map the behaviour of the rodents and to supply at least one attractive stimulus for the rodents. For this purpose, each peripheral unit 101 which is not illustrated in detail, as being substantially made like the device 1 , comprises: a box-like body defining an access opening for rodents; a conditioning compartment arranged inside said box-like body; a supply member of at least one acoustic and/or food and/or thermal and/or olfactory attraction stimulus for said rodents arranged inside the conditioning compartment; and a sensor assembly for detecting the passage of the rodents inside said box-like body.

Furthermore, the system comprises a central unit 102 for communicating with each device 1 and with each peripheral unit 101 to acquire a plurality of signals S representative of a rodent mapping inside the area to be disinfested.

The central unit 102 is associated with the electronic processing unit of the device 1 to enable/disable the sensor 11 as a function of the signals which are acquired by the central unit 102 itself and which are generated by each peripheral unit 101 and by each device 1.

For such a purpose, the central unit 102 is associated with the sensor assembly 8 of the device 1 and with the sensor assembly of the peripheral unit 101 to acquire a plurality of signals S representative at least of the presence of rodents in each box-like body 2 and/or the number of rodent passages inside each box-like body 2 and/or the residence time of the rodents in each box-like body 2.

The central unit 102 is also associated with the supply member 5 of the device 1 and the supply member of each peripheral unit 101 to command the delivery of at least one attractive stimulus in said peripheral unit 101 and/or device 1.

The management of the estimate is configured by the central unit 102 as a function of the acquired signals S representative of the rodent mapping.

In other words, the central unit 102 manages the supply inside each device 1 and each peripheral unit 101 according to the behaviour of the rodents which is conditioned by the supply of the aforesaid stimuli in each peripheral unit 101 or device 1.

Advantageously, it is possible to condition the behaviour of the rodents so that they can progressively orient themselves inside the devices 1 where the capture thereof is ensured. In this situation, the peripheral units 101 , in addition to mapping the position and entrance of the rodents, can condition the behaviour thereof, bringing them closer to the device 1.

The present invention further relates to a method for the capture of pests, in particular rodents, comprising the steps of: providing at least one conditioning and capture device 1 ; providing at least one peripheral unit 101 for rodent mapping; supplying in the device 1 and the peripheral unit 101 at least one attractive stimulus for a rodent; acquiring the set of signals S in the device 1 and the peripheral unit 101 representative of a rodent mapping; and enabling the sensor 11 of the device 1 to position the corridor 6 of the device 1 in a respective capture position in which it directs the rodents into a retention compartment 9 of the device 1 itself.

In particular, the step of enabling the sensor 11 is implemented according to the set of acquired and identifying signals S of the rodent mapping. If such signals indicate a high concentration of rodents only at the device 1 , the sensor 11 is enabled to capture the rodents. If the signals S instead indicate the presence of the rodents only at the peripheral units 101, the sensor 11 remains disabled in order to configure the device 1 only for mapping and conditioning the rodents.

The step of acquiring a series of signals representative of the rodent mapping comprises the sub-steps of: detecting by means of respective sensor assemblies 8 in said device 1 and in said peripheral unit 101 signals S representative at least of the presence of rodents and/or the number of rodent passages and/or the residence time of said rodents. The signals S are sent to a central electronic unit 102 connected to the sensor assemblies 8 of the device 1 and the peripheral unit 101.

The step of supplying at least one attractive stimulus to a rodent is carried out by delivering at least one acoustic and/or food and/or thermal and/or olfactory stimulus. Such a step is controlled by the central unit 102, by sending a second control signal S1 to the device 1 and to the peripheral unit 101 as a function of the signals S received from each sensor assembly 8.

Furthermore, the central unit 102 activates by sending the control signal S1, progressively supplying the stimulus from the peripheral units 101 most distant from the device 1 to the peripheral units closest to the device 1.

Following the progressive supply of the stimulus, the central unit 102 deactivates the supply of the stimulus to the peripheral units 101 while maintaining the supply of the stimulus to only the device 11. At the same time, the sensor 11 is enabled to allow the corridor 6 to position itself, when the sensor 11 is activated, in the respective rodent capture position. In other words, the central unit 102 maps the positioning of the rodents to condition them in the behaviour thereof by delivering the stimulus inside each peripheral unit 101 and device 1. Thereby, the stimuli confer a "positive reinforcement" capable of making the rodents believe that the environment in which it is located (device 1 and peripheral units 101) is safe, comfortable, with plentiful food.

The stimulus deliveries can be individual or in combination, according to the signals S acquired by the central unit 102.

The peripheral units 101 which map the presence of multiple rodents initiate the conditioning step by delivering stimuli.

At this point, the conditioning step of the peripheral units 102 gradually closer to the device 1 can be activated, gradually ceasing to supply the stimuli of the most distant units 101. Advantageously, an approach path is created towards the device 1 in which the rodents are captured.

At the end of the conditioning step, the peripheral units 101 are stopped in the delivery of stimuli but the monitoring and acquisition step of the signals S continues.

The conditioning and capture are instead carried out only by the device 1 . With reference to figure 6, a second embodiment of the device 1 is shown. In particular, the device 1 comprises a box-like body 2 defining an access opening 3 for the rodents inside the box-like body 2 itself.

The access opening 3 is raised with respect to the base of the box-like body 2 and is formed at a respective front wall 2a of the body 2 itself.

The front wall 2a also has ramps 3a, fixed or movable, which facilitate the entry of rodents from the ground towards the access opening 3.

By way of example, and therefore without limitation, the ramps 3a can consist of ladders, ropes, strips, or any other type of grip which allows rodents to climb to access the interior of the access opening 3.

Inside the box-like body 2, a conditioning compartment 4 is defined, preferably arranged at a bottom wall 2b of the box-like body 2 opposite the aforementioned front wall 2a.

The conditioning compartment 4 is configured to supply at least one attractive stimulus to the rodent, i.e., a stimulus of any nature which can attract and bring the rodent closer inside the conditioning compartment 4. For this purpose, at least one supply member 5 of at least one acoustic and/or food and/or thermal and/or olfactory attraction stimulus for rodents is provided inside the conditioning compartment 4.

The supply member 5 can be of any type and configured to supply at least one of the stimuli described above or any other stimulus which may be of attraction to the rodent. For example, the member 5 can supply inside the conditioning compartment 4 food in a liquid or solid form, in a programmed manner over time and in measured quantities, in order to determine a "positive reinforcement" intended as a lure to access inside the conditioning compartment 4 and adapted to a conditioning action of the behaviour of the rodent.

The device 1 further comprises a corridor 6 arranged inside the box-like body 2 between the access opening 3 and the conditioning compartment 4. The corridor 6 defines a walking surface 7 which is travelled by the rodents inside the box-like body 2 to reach the compartment 4. Thereby, the entering rodent travels from the access opening 3 along the entire surface 7 to access inside the compartment 4 in which the aforementioned attractive stimulus is delivered.

Below the corridor 6 there is also a collection compartment 9 for the captured rodents.

In particular, the collection compartment 9 is defined by a volume inside the box-like body 2 arranged at the base and therefore of a lower portion of the body 2 itself.

With particular reference to figures 2 and 3, it should be noted that the corridor 6 is switchable between a conditioning position (figure 2) in which the walking surface 7 allows rodents access to the conditioning compartment 4 and a capture position (figure 3) in which said walking surface 7 directs the rodents towards the retention compartment 9.

In particular, the corridor comprises a rotating element 10 rotatable around a rotation axis to define the aforementioned conditioning and capture positions.

The rotatable element 10 preferably has a profiled configuration having an "L"-shaped cross section.

The element 10 further comprises a first portion 10a defining the walking surface 7 and a second portion 10b extending perpendicular to the first portion 10a and defining a side wall of the corridor 6.

In other words, in the conditioning position, the first portion 10a is arranged horizontally to facilitate the entry of the rodent advancing along the walking surface 7. In this situation, the second portion 10b lies laterally to define a side wall of the corridor 6.

Instead, in the capture position better illustrated in figure 3, the first portion 10a is tipped downwards and in particular towards the collection compartment 9. In this situation, the second portion 10b is overturned to be arranged horizontally and close the collection compartment 9, thus preventing the escape of the rodents outside the collection compartment 9 itself. It should also be noted that said portions 10a, 10b are associated with each other at a common edge coinciding with the rotation axis of the rotatable element 10.

Again, it should be further noted that the rotatable element 10 is configured to rotate 90° between the conditioning position and the capture position.

Advantageously, in the capture condition the first portion 10a and therefore also the walking surface 7 is overturned to make the rodents fall inside the collection compartment 9.

With particular reference to the exploded view of figure 3, the box-like body 2 comprises a movable wall 8 interposed between the corridor 6 and the collection compartment 9.

In other words, the movable wall 8 is placed below the corridor 6 to separate the corridor 6 itself from the lower volume defined by the collection compartment 9.

The movable wall 8 is configured to switch between a closed condition in which it prevents access to the collection compartment 9 and an open condition (figure 3) in which it allows access inside the collection compartment 9 from the corridor 6.

The movement of the rotating element 10 is implemented by means of an electromechanical actuator (not described and illustrated in detail since of known type) in turn controlled by a sensor 11 interposed between the corridor 6 and the conditioning compartment 4.

The sensor 11 can be made in the form of a door operable in the moment when the rodent enters the conditioning compartment 4.

In this situation, the movable wall 8 is operatively engaged to the rotating element 10 and to the sensor 11 to switch between the respective closed and open conditions simultaneously with the rotation of the rotating element 10 between the conditioning and capture position.

Thereby, the wall 8 is opened to allow the rodents access to the compartment 9 only as the rotating element 10 rotates to define the respective capture condition.

Advantageously, in the normal conditioning condition in which the rotating element 10 allows the passage of the rodent towards the compartment 4, the wall 8 remains closed, preventing the rodents present in the collection compartment 9 from leaving the compartment 9 itself.

According to a peculiar aspect of the present invention shown in figure 1 , the device 1 further comprises a rodent retention chamber 12 separated from the box-like body 2 and in communication with the collection compartment 9 to allow the passage of rodents from the collection compartment 9 to the retention chamber 12.

The retention chamber 12 comprises a substantially box-like, internally hollow body of suitable size to contain a certain number of rodents.

In this situation, a communication conduit 13 is provided having a substantially tubular shape and interposed between the retention chamber 12 and the collection compartment 9.

The conduit 13 is internally hollow to define a passage of the rodents from the collection compartment 4 to the retention chamber 12.

For this purpose, a second supply member arranged inside the chamber

12 is provided to supply at least one acoustic and/or food and/or thermal and/or olfactory attraction stimulus for the rodents.

Advantageously, the rodents captured inside the collection compartment 9 are attracted inside the chamber 12 and retained here due to the stimulus, mainly food, which is provided inside the chamber 12 itself.

Preferably, the box-like body of the chamber 12 is dissociable from the collection compartment 9 to be completely removable from the device 1. Thereby, it is possible to remove and distance the rodents retained in vivo in the chamber 12 while keeping the device active and thus ensuring the constant capture action of the rodents which in the meantime are arranged in the collection compartment 9.

To allow the chamber 12 to be removed, a closure system of the conduit

13 is also provided in order to prevent the rodents retained in the compartment 9 from escaping in the meantime.

The present invention therefore allows to capture in a simple and automatic manner a series of rodents without requiring a frequent manual intervention for the removal of the animals captured inside the apparatus. Furthermore, the invention allows to map and condition the behaviour of rodents, in order to direct the animals towards the capture device 1 and thus maximizing the capture activity.

Advantageously, it is possible to capture the rodents regardless of the location of the capture device 1 , as the rodents are conditioned to access inside the device 1 itself.

It should also be noted that the present invention is very versatile as it can be used for both capturing and for mapping and/or conditioning rodents.