Automatic feeding assembly

Abstract

A feeder, container, system and method configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption. A feeding assembly (1) comprising: a) a container storage assembly (12) configured to store one or more containers (16) of food therein; b) a container handling assembly (42) and / or a transport assembly (40) configured to retrieve and / or receive and transfer from the container storage assembly to a feeding area (32); c) a container opening assembly (46) configured to open the container when the container is transferred from the container storage assembly to the feeding area; d) optionally, a waste collection assembly (14) configured to receive the one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented in the feeding area. The feeding assembly may provide a container opening assembly (46) configured to peel the lid (54) from the container (16) before the container is presented in the feeding area.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 341,962, filed on May 13, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for autonomously providing food to animals. The present disclosure can be used to present containers of food, such as wet food and / or dry food, to animals. The present disclosure can be used to automatically remove lids or other coverings from food before automatically presenting the container to an animal for consumption. Background Art

[0004] Many families own one or more pets, such as cats or dogs. Among pets, cats are unique animals in that they form strong social bonds with humans but at the same time like to maintain their independence. The main concerns for cats are feeding cats in a timely manner and providing them with a healthy mixture of wet and dry food to keep them healthy. Cats tend to be creatures of habit and prefer fixed feeding times and rituals. Cats may not like to eat from certain shapes or types of feeding containers, such as bowls made of gel materials, and may have difficulty removing food from containers with sharp corners. In addition, cats can be messy eaters, and many cats will take their food out of the bowl and throw it on the ground to eat. Therefore, a system and method are needed to allow cats to be fed in a timely, reliable and healthy manner, even when the cat's caregiver is unable to prepare and present the food to the cat, and to maintain the cat's physical and psychological health.

[0005] In today's market, there are automatic feeders for dry food. But these automatic feeders usually put the dry food in a large amount into a hopper, and then separate and distribute limited amounts of food into the serving area. These automatic feeders are not compatible with wet food. Wet food is not suitable for large quantities stored in the hopper due to the consistency of the food (e.g., sticking to the side walls) and bacterial growth. The dispensing mechanism is also not suitable for use with wet food. Therefore, a feeding assembly and system that is compatible with wet food is needed.

[0006] There are also some automatic feeders on the market today that are compatible with wet food. These automatic feeders generally require the user to manually remove the wet food from the package and then place the food into the isolated serving area. The feeder has a lid that can be opened and closed to provide access to the food stored therein. The lid or base is sometimes designed as a turntable that rotates so that one isolated serving area can be accessed while sealing the remaining isolated serving areas, and then rotates to provide access to subsequent isolated serving areas. Problems with these automatic feeders are that the user (e.g., a pet owner) still needs to prepare the food, the food is not sealed to prevent spoilage, and the parts of the feeding assembly require frequent cleaning.

[0007] Typically, wet food is stored and purchased in disposable containers. Disposable containers include metal cans, plastic bags, and plastic containers. Pet owners need to remove the food from the container and place the wet food in a serving dish. Wet food may only be left for a period of time to prevent spoilage. In addition, pet owners also need to clean the serving dish and throw away the food container. This can be a tedious process, but it also poses a challenge to pet owners when they are away from home (such as on vacation, work). Therefore, a feeding assembly that is compatible with wet food containers is needed. A feeding assembly that removes edible food before it spoils is needed. A method of avoiding or reducing dish cleaning is needed. A container compatible with a feeding assembly is also needed for automatically opening and displaying for consumption. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage assembly configured to store one or more containers of food therein; b) a container handling assembly and / or transport assembly configured to obtain and / or receive the containers from the container storage assembly and transfer them to a feeding area; c) a container opening assembly configured to open the containers prior to presentation to the animal; and d) optionally, a waste collection assembly configured to receive one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

[0009] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage assembly configured to store a plurality of food containers therein; b) a container handling assembly configured to obtain and / or receive containers from the container storage assembly; c) a container transport assembly configured to move the container handling assembly from a loading position at the container storage assembly to a feeding position at a feeding area in one or linear directions; d) a container opening assembly configured to open a container when the container is transferred from the container storage assembly to the feeding area, wherein the container opening assembly is configured to engage with a lid and apply a peeling force to remove the lid from the container; and e) a waste collection assembly configured to receive one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented at the feeding area.

[0010] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage assembly configured to store a plurality of containers of food therein; b) a container handling assembly and / or a transport assembly configured to retrieve and / or receive the containers from the container storage assembly and transfer the containers to a feeding area; c) a container opening assembly having a pair of jaws and / or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grasp, clamp, hook) a lid of a container, wherein the container opening assembly, together with the container handling assembly and / or the container transport assembly, is configured to apply a peeling force to the lid of the container by moving the container handling assembly relative to the container opening assembly, moving the container opening assembly relative to the container handling assembly, or both relative to each other to remove the lid and open the container; and d) optionally, a waste collection assembly configured to receive one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

[0011] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage assembly having: i) a hopper configured to store a plurality of food containers therein; ii) a restraining mechanism configured to retain the plurality of containers in the hopper and selectively release the containers from the plurality of containers; b) a container handling assembly configured to acquire and / or receive the containers from the container storage assembly; c) a container transport assembly configured to transfer the container handling assembly from a loading position at the container storage assembly to a feeding position at a feeding area in one or linear directions, wherein the container transport assembly includes one or more drive mechanisms. a unit that drives the unit together with the container handling component to convert rotation into linear movement; d) a container opening component having a pair of jaws or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grasp, clamp, hook) a lid of a container, wherein the container opening component together with the container handling component and / or the container transport component is configured to apply a peeling force to the lid of the container by moving the container handling component relative to the container opening component, moving the container opening component relative to the container handling component, or both relative to each other to remove the lid and open the container; and e) a waste collection component configured to receive one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

[0012] The present teachings relate to a container comprising: a) a container base defining a food cavity configured to retain food therein, wherein the container base comprises: one or more flanges comprising and / or forming one or more keying features, the keying features being configured to provide one or more orientations of the container; and b) a lid removably adhered to the container base, wherein the lid is configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (e.g., an assembly) for peeling the lid from the container, wherein the lid comprises one of the following: i) a handling portion comprising a bottom surface of the lid exposed from one or more flanges and / or one or more edges of the container base; ii) a handling portion extending beyond the container base such that the bottom of the lid is exposed (e.g., from one or more flanges) and comprising a reinforcement structure secured thereto; or iii) a handling portion extending from the container base together with reinforcement features of one or more flanges secured thereto and configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (e.g., an assembly) to peel the lid from the container base.

[0013] The present teachings relate to a system in which a feeding assembly includes one or more communication modules and is configured to connect to a network. The system may use a feeding assembly according to the teachings herein.

[0014] The present teachings relate to a method for automatically presenting food to an animal for consumption via a feeding assembly, the method comprising: a) a container handling assembly automatically receiving and / or retrieving a food container from a container storage assembly; b) a container handling assembly automatically transferring the container to a feeding area and presenting the container for consumption; and c) a container handling assembly automatically moving the container to a waste collection assembly and releasing the container into the waste collection assembly.

[0015] The present teachings may provide an automatic feeding assembly. The automatic feeding assembly may be useful for storing food containers and automatically dispensing food for consumption by animals. The food containers may be suitable for wet food and / or dry food. The feeding assembly may be compatible with wet food containers. The feeding assembly may provide an assembly and method for storing, opening, and presenting wet food containers to animals for consumption therefrom. This may avoid contact of the wet food with components of the feeding assembly, may avoid the need for a user to prepare the wet food in a serving compartment, or both. The feeding assembly may provide automatic waste collection, thereby eliminating cleanup after each individual serving. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the feeding assembly.

[0017] Figure 2 is a front view of the feeding assembly.

[0018] Figure 3 is the rear view of the feeding assembly.

[0019] Figure 4 is a top view of the feeding assembly.

[0020] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the feeding assembly.

[0021] Figure 6 It is the left side view of the feeding assembly.

[0022] Figure 7 It is the right side view of the feeding assembly.

[0023] Figure 8 Loading of the container into the feeding assembly is shown.

[0024] Fig. 9 Loading of the container into the feeding assembly is shown.

[0025] Fig.10 Loading of multiple containers into the feeding assembly is shown.

[0026] Fig.11 A cross section of the feeding assembly is shown with the container handling assembly in a loading position prior to dispensing containers into the container handling assembly.

[0027] Fig.12 A cross section of a feeding assembly is shown with a container handling assembly in a loading position and holding a container.

[0028] Fig.13 A cross section of the feeding assembly is shown with the container handling assembly in an open position.

[0029] Fig.14 A cross section of the feeding assembly is shown with the container handling assembly in the feeding position.

[0030] Fig.15 A cross section of the feeding assembly is shown with the container handling assembly in a handling position.

[0031] Fig.16 A cross section of the feeding assembly is shown with the container handling assembly in a rest position.

[0032] Fig.17 is a perspective view of a container storage assembly.

[0033] Fig.18 is a front view of the container storage assembly.

[0034] Fig.19 is a perspective view of a container storage assembly.

[0035] Fig. 20 is a front view of the container storage assembly.

[0036] Fig.21 is a perspective view of the container's open assembly.

[0037] Fig. 22 is a cross section of the container opening component in the open position.

[0038] Fig.23 It is a cross section of the container opening component in the closed or clamped position.

[0039] Fig.24 is a side view of the container opening assembly and the container.

[0040] Fig.25 It is a perspective view of the container opening assembly and the container.

[0041] Fig.26 is a top view of a portion of the feeding assembly.

[0042] Fig. 27 is a top perspective view of the container handling assembly.

[0043] Fig.28 is a top perspective view of a container handling assembly holding a container.

[0044] Fig.29is a bottom perspective view of a container handling assembly holding a container.

[0045] Fig.30 The front of the feeding assembly is shown.

[0046] Fig.31 is a perspective view of the container handling assembly in the feeding position.

[0047] Fig.32 is a perspective view of a waste storage assembly.

[0048] Fig.33 is a perspective view of a waste storage assembly.

[0049] Fig.34 is a perspective view of the feeding assembly without the top cover.

[0050] Fig.35 A schematic diagram of a system including a feeding assembly is shown.

[0051] Fig.36 is a schematic block diagram of the feeding assembly.

[0052] Fig.37 is a schematic flow chart of a method for autonomously feeding an animal.

[0053] Fig.38A is a schematic flow chart of the process of ordering and setting up a feeding assembly. Fig.38B is a schematic flow chart of the process of filling and / or emptying the feeding assembly. Fig.38C is a schematic flow chart of the process of feeding animals with wet food.

[0054] Fig.38D is a schematic flow chart of the process of feeding animals with dry food.

[0055] Fig.39 is a perspective view of the feeding assembly.

[0056] Fig.40 is a top view of the feeding assembly.

[0057] Fig.41 is a perspective view of the feeding assembly.

[0058] Fig.42 This is a floor plan of the container warehouse.

[0059] Fig.43 This is a floor plan of the container warehouse.

[0060] Fig.44 This is the front view of the container warehouse.

[0061] Fig.45 This is the front view of the container warehouse.

[0062] Fig.46 This is the front view of the container warehouse.

[0063] Fig.47 It is a perspective view of multiple containers.

[0064] Fig.48 is a perspective view of the container base.

[0065] Fig.49 It is a top view of the container.

[0066] Fig.50 is a side view of the container.

[0067] Fig.51 is a perspective view of the container in a closed configuration.

[0068] Fig.52 is a perspective view of the container in an open configuration.

[0069] Fig.53 is a perspective view of the container in a closed configuration.

[0070] Fig.54 is a perspective view of the container in an open configuration.

[0071] Fig.55 is a side view of the container.

[0072] Fig.56 is a top view of the container in a closed configuration.

[0073] Fig.57 is a top view of the container in an open configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to familiarize other persons skilled in the art with the present teachings, their principles, and their practical applications. The specific embodiments of the present teachings set forth are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present teachings. The scope of the present teachings should be determined with reference to the appended claims and the full scope of equivalents to which these claims are assigned. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible, as will be obtained from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.

[0075] Feeding assembly

[0076] A feeding assembly can be any device that contains and dispenses food for consumption by an animal. The food can include any type of food suitable for consumption by an animal. The food can include wet food, dry food, or both. Wet food can include ground and / or chopped proteins (such as meat), vegetables, grains, fruits, and / or similar foods served in or mixed with a liquid. The liquid can refer to water, broth, gravy, or other liquids. Dry food can refer to food that is substantially free of liquid, can be in the form of a granular substance, or both.

[0077] The food can be presented in the container, transferred to the container, or both. The feeding assembly can be configured to receive at least one container. The feeding assembly can receive and store multiple containers. The feeding assembly can be configured to have one or more containers, which can be individually located therein, as a group in a container compartment, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0078] The feeding assembly can be used to present food in a container, remove food from a container, or both. The feeding assembly can be used to retrieve or otherwise obtain a food container stored therein and provide the contents of the container to make it easily accessible to the animal. The animal can be any domestic animal. The domestic animal can include a dog, a cat, a pig, a rabbit, a hamster, a guinea pig, a ferret, etc., or any combination thereof. In a typical pet-keeping household, the domestic animals may include one or more cats, dogs, or both.

[0079] The feeding assembly may be referred to as an automatic feeding assembly.

[0080] The feeding assembly may include: a) a container storage component configured to store one or more food containers therein; b) a container handling component and / or transport component configured to obtain and / or receive containers from the container storage component and transfer the containers to the feeding area; c) a container opening component configured to open the container when the container is transferred from the container storage component to the feeding area; d) optionally, a waste collection component configured to receive one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

[0081] The feeding assembly may include one or more of the following features: a housing, a container storage assembly, a container handling assembly, a transport assembly, a container opening assembly, a container retaining assembly, a disposal assembly, a waste collection assembly, a feeding area, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0082] The feeding assembly may include a housing. The housing may serve the following functions: to house and / or support various components of the feeding assembly, to provide an aesthetic appearance to the feeding assembly, or both. The housing may include one or more bases, intermediate supports, support plates, top covers, etc. or any combination thereof. The housing may provide or define a feeding area.

[0083] The housing can be formed of any suitable material. Suitable materials can be easy to clean, suitable for contact with food, or both. Suitable materials can include plastics, polymers, metals (e.g., aluminum), alloys, any other suitable materials, or combinations thereof.

[0084] The housing may define an interior volume within which at least some components or parts of the feeding assembly may be placed. The housing may be divided into sections, each section housing one or more components of the assembly. The housing may include or be coupled to a housing container included in a container storage assembly and one or more waste collection assemblies.

[0085] The housing may support and / or a container storage assembly, container handling assembly, transport assembly, container opening assembly, container holding assembly, disposal assembly, waste collection assembly, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0086] The housing may include one or more bases. The base may serve the following functions: supporting other housing components, providing a surface against a supporting surface, accommodating a waste collection assembly, or a combination thereof. The base may have any shape, size, and / or configuration to provide a partial or entire footprint (e.g., length and width). The base may have a three-dimensional shape that is substantially or partially a cuboid, a cube, a U-shaped or C-shaped groove, a sphere, a toroidal cylinder, a spherical ring, a cylinder, a prism, a cone, or the like, or any combination thereof. The cuboid or cube shape may provide balanced support for the overall housing and the components supported by the housing. The base may include one or more support structures, stationary supports, cavities, and / or the like. The base may be formed as a one-piece, integral component or assembly.

[0087] The base may include one or more support structures. The one or more support structures may function to allow one or more other components to be placed thereon. The one or more support structures may be located within the base, as one or more edges of the base, or both. The one or more support structures may be located within a component cavity of the base. The one or more support structures may hold intermediate supports, support plates, or both thereon. The intermediate supports and / or support plates may be mounted relative to the bottom surface of the base.

[0088] The base may include one or more stationary supports. The one or more stationary supports may or may not be configured to accommodate uneven surfaces. The one or more stationary supports may include one or more feet, ridges, and / or the like. The one or more stationary supports may be adjustable so that the device can be placed horizontally on a stationary surface. The one or more stationary supports may be located at the bottom surface of the base. The one or more stationary supports may include a plurality of stationary supports. The stationary supports may be distributed around or near the peripheral edge of the bottom surface.

[0089] The base may include one or more cavities. The one or more cavities may extend partially or completely through the base. The cavities may include waste cavities, power cavities, component cavities, etc. or combinations thereof.

[0090] The base may include a waste cavity. The waste cavity may be a cavity configured to hold one or more waste collection assemblies therein. The waste cavity may extend partially or completely through the base. The waste cavity may begin at the front, rear, or both of the base. The waste cavity may be configured as a drawer cavity. The drawer cavity may be suitable for mating with one or more waste collection assemblies configured as drawers. The waste cavity may include one or more rails. The one or more rails may be part of the base or fixed to the base. The one or more rails may mate with one or more grooves of the waste collection assembly.

[0091] The base may include a component cavity. The component cavity may serve to hold one or more components (e.g., electrical components) of the feeding assembly. The component cavity may be formed by an upper surface of the base. In other words, the opening of the cavity is located at the upper facing surface of the base. The component cavity may be all or a portion of the volume of the base. One or more drive units, power adapters, controllers, communication modules, and / or the like may be located within the component cavity.

[0092] The base may include a power cavity. The power cavity may serve to house or support one or more electrical components, to allow the base to sit flush on a support surface, or both. The power cavity may be formed as an indentation or an opening. The power cavity may be located away from sight. The power cavity may be located at a rear portion of the base. The power cavity may be located opposite an entrance to the waste cavity.

[0093] The housing may include one or more intermediate supports. The intermediate supports may serve to support a transport assembly, a container assembly, a support plate, one or more sensing devices, one or more drive units, one or more sensing devices and / or the like. The intermediate supports may be placed on one or more support structures of the base. The intermediate supports may be placed on and / or fixed to the base, located above the waste chamber, located above the waste collection assembly, or a combination thereof. The intermediate supports may be located below the top cover, below the support plate, below the container storage assembly, below the container opening assembly, or any combination thereof. The intermediate supports may be located below and / or adjacent to the transport assembly, the container handling assembly, or both. The intermediate supports may be located between the base and the top cover, between the base and the support plate, or both.

[0094] The intermediate support member can have any size, shape and / or configuration so as to be supported by the base, support multiple components of the feeding assembly, or both. The intermediate support member can have a two-dimensional cross-section that is reciprocal to the two-dimensional cross-section of the base. The intermediate support member can have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially rectangular, square, circular, oval, etc., or a combination thereof. The intermediate support member can be substantially planar, non-planar, or both. The intermediate support member can be substantially planar with a non-planar structure. The intermediate support member can include one or more channels, waste openings, brackets, mounting openings, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0095] One or more brackets may function to support one or more rotating components. One or more brackets may face upward, away from the base, toward the transport assembly, or any combination thereof. One or more brackets may have a shape that is reciprocal and / or interoperable with one or more drive shafts, rotating shafts, support shafts, and / or the like. One or more brackets may have a U-shape, a C-shape, a concave shape, and / or the like.

[0096] One or more waste openings and / or passages may form openings through the intermediate support. The waste openings and / or passages may provide access to one or more waste collection assemblies, may allow clearance for one or more container handling assemblies to move between a loading position and a feeding position, or both.

[0097] One or more mounting openings may allow one or more components of the feeding assembly to be mounted to the intermediate support. One or more mounting openings may cooperate with one or more fasteners or other mounting structures.

[0098] The intermediate support may have fixed thereto a transport assembly, a support plate, one or more sensor devices, a container handling assembly, a lifting wedge, etc. or any combination thereof.

[0099] The housing may include one or more support plates. The support plate may serve the following functions: hiding one or more components of the feeding assembly, providing a feeding area, supporting a top cover, supporting a container storage assembly, supporting a container opening assembly, supporting one or more sensing devices, etc., or a combination thereof. The support plate may be kept at a certain distance from one or more intermediate supports to form a gap suitable for accommodating one or more components. The components in the gap may be one or more components supported by the intermediate plate. The support plate may be placed on and / or fixed to a base, an intermediate support, or both. The support plate may be located below the top cover, below the container storage assembly, below the container opening assembly, or below a combination thereof. The support plate may be located above a base, a waste chamber, a waste collection assembly, an intermediate support, a transport assembly, a container handling assembly, or above a combination thereof.

[0100] The support plate can have any size, shape and / or configuration for being supported by the base and / or the intermediate support, supporting multiple components of the feeding assembly, providing a feeding area, or a combination thereof. The support plate can have a two-dimensional cross-section that is the inverse of the two-dimensional cross-section of the base, the intermediate support, or both. The support plate can have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially rectangular, square, circular, oval, etc., or a combination thereof. The support plate can be substantially planar, non-planar, or both. The support plate can include one or more openings. The one or more openings can include one or more container display openings, hopper openings, or both.

[0101] The support plate may include a container display opening. The container display opening may include the following functions: allowing access to the container from outside the housing, allowing the animal to consume food from the container, or both. The container display opening may be offset toward the front of the feeding assembly. The container display opening may have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially similar to or different from the cross-sectional shape of the container. The cross-sectional shape may be a cross-sectional shape that is parallel to the upper surface of the support plate, perpendicular to the vertical axis, or both.

[0102] The support plate may include a hopper opening. The hopper opening may allow one or more containers stored in the container storage assembly to be handled from the hopper opening, one or more containers to be transferred from one side of the support plate to an opposite side of the support plate, or both. The hopper opening may be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the container. Such a size may facilitate easy movement of the container therethrough. The hopper opening may be aligned with an opening (e.g., an outlet) of the container storage assembly.

[0103] The housing may include one or more top covers. The top cover may serve to hide one or more components of the feeding assembly. The top cover may cooperate with the base, the support plate, or both to provide a feeding area. The top cover may be the topmost portion of the housing. The top cover may be located above a support plate, an intermediate support, a base, etc., or a combination thereof, or may be fixed to or placed on a support plate, an intermediate support, a base, etc., or a combination thereof. The top cover may accommodate a container storage assembly, a container opening assembly, one or more sensing devices, one or more other electrical components, or any combination thereof. The top cover may be biased toward the rear of the feeding assembly, may allow the front of the support plate and / or the base to be exposed, or any combination thereof.

[0104] The top cover can have any size, shape and / or configuration for hiding one or more components, providing a feeding area or both. The top cover can have a three-dimensional shape, which is substantially or partially a cuboid, a cube, a sphere, a toroidal cylinder, a spherical ring, a cylinder, a prism, a cone, etc. or any combination thereof. The length or width of the top cover can be shorter than the length or width of the base, the intermediate support and / or the support plate. The top cover can be located at the rear or near the container display opening of the support plate. The top cover can include one or more openings.

[0105] The top cover may include one or more container refill openings. The container refill openings may allow access to the container storage assembly, refilling of the feeding assembly with one or more containers, insertion of one or more container bins, or any combination thereof. The container refill opening may be aligned with the entrance of the hopper. The container refill opening may be located on the upper surface, the side surface, or both of the top cover. The container refill opening may have a shape that is the inverse of or different from the cross-sectional shape of the container. The size of the container opening may be greater than the cross-sectional size of the container, the container bin, or both.

[0106] The housing can provide a feeding area. The feeding area can be a part of the housing that presents the container and / or food to the animal so that it is easily accessible to the animal for consumption. The feeding area can be located at any height of the housing. The feeding area can be arranged at a base, an intermediate support, a support plate, a top cover, or a combination thereof. The feeding area can be arranged adjacent to (e.g., in front of) a base, an intermediate support, a support plate, a top cover, or any combination thereof. The feeding area can be defined by a container display opening.

[0107] The feeding area can be located at a height suitable for the animal to eat. The height of the feeding area can refer to the height that the top surface of the container presents relative to the ground. The height of the feeding area can be at the height of the animal's feet, knees and / or shoulders. The feeding area can provide an elevated feeding height. The elevated feeding height can be at the height of the animal's knees and / or shoulders. The feeding height can be about 0.5 inches or more, about 1 inch or more, about 2 inches or more, or even about 3 inches or more. The feeding height can be about 7 inches or less, about 6 inches or less, or even about 5 inches or less. The elevated feeding height can be about 3 inches to about 6 inches. The feeding height can also refer to the height of the base, the distance from the bottom of the base to the top of the support plate, or both.

[0108] The feeding area may include a guard. The guard may be located around the container display opening. The guard may be secured to the portion of the housing where the container display opening is located. The guard may cover any gap between the housing surface and the container when the container is displayed to the animal for consumption.

[0109] The housing can include a lid. The lid can be used to selectively cover the container display opening, prevent access to the interior of the feeding assembly, prevent consumed food from entering the housing, prevent access to the container, allow access to the container, or both. The container display opening can be selectively covered by a lid configured to prevent the animal from entering the interior of the housing. The lid can be configured as a door and / or a wiper. Exemplary doors can include telescopic doors, hinged doors, or both. Exemplary wipers can include soft flexible flaps or silicone brushes. The lid can extend partially into the opening. When the container base is pulled back into the housing after being presented to the animal, any food that can extend above the upper surface of the container base can be blocked from entering the housing by the door and / or wiper.

[0110] The housing may include a movable and / or removable cover. The removable cover may function to selectively cover the container storage assembly, the container refill opening, one or more waste collection assemblies, or any combination thereof. The cover may be movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the open configuration, at least a portion of the internal volume is accessible. The internal volume may include the container storage assembly, one or more waste collection assemblies, or both. The cover may be located above the one or more refill openings. It is also contemplated that a top cover may be used as the removable cover. It is also contemplated that a drawer front of a waste container may be used as the cover.

[0111] The feeding assembly may include a container storage assembly. The container storage assembly may serve to temporarily place and store one or more containers therein. Placement may refer to vertical stacking, horizontal stacking, radial stacking, mounting on the like, or any combination thereof. The container storage assembly may provide a single stack or multiple stacks of containers. The container storage assembly may provide a single circular array or multiple circular arrays of multiple containers.

[0112] The container storage assembly can cooperate with one or more other components of the feeding assembly to selectively remove one or more containers. The container storage assembly can cooperate with one or more transport components, container handling components, or both to distribute containers. After removal, the food in the container can be easily obtained by the animal. The container storage assembly can be removably located in the feeding assembly, or semi-permanently / permanently fixed to the feeding assembly. The removable container storage assembly can be referred to as a container bin. The container storage assembly can allow one or more containers stored therein to be automatically obtained by one or more other components of the feeding assembly. The container storage assembly can cooperate with a transport assembly, a lid removal assembly, a container handling assembly, one or more sensing devices, or any combination thereof.

[0113] The containers in the container storage assembly may organize the containers therein by first-in-first-out, by expiration date, by brand, by flavor, by size, etc. or any combination thereof.

[0114] The container storage assembly can be located in any suitable position for cooperating with the transport assembly, the lid removal assembly, the container handling assembly, one or more sensing devices, or a combination thereof. The container storage assembly can be located generally opposite the feeding area, beside the loading position, toward the rear of the feeding assembly, or a combination thereof.

[0115] The container storage assembly may include one or more hoppers, container bins, restraining mechanisms, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0116] The container storage assembly may include one or more hoppers. The one or more hoppers may be configured to store a plurality of containers therein. The containers may be stacked or otherwise aligned in a row. The hopper may directly receive a container or receive a container bin that holds a plurality of containers. The one or more hoppers may include 1 or more, 2 or more, or even 3 or more hoppers.

[0117] The hopper can have any size, shape and / or configuration to fit, store and / or dispense one or more containers, container bins, or both; to fit with a restraining mechanism; to fit with a container handling assembly; or any combination thereof. The hopper can have a three-dimensional shape that is generally cylindrical, cuboid, cubic, etc., or a combination thereof. The hopper can have a two-dimensional cross-sectional shape that is reciprocal (e.g., complementary), different, or both to the cross-section of the container and / or container bin. The cross-sectional shape can refer to a cross-section that intersects the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, or both of the hopper. The hopper can have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially symmetrical about one axis of symmetry, two axes of symmetry, or even more axes of symmetry. The hopper can have an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape. Symmetry can facilitate placement of the container within the hopper. Having more than one axis of symmetry can support multiple correct orientations of the container within the hopper.

[0118] The hopper may be part of the housing, form part of the housing, and / or be placed within the housing. The hopper may form a removable portion of the housing. The hopper may be removably inserted into the housing. The housing may include reciprocal housing portions configured to receive the hopper. The hopper may be located within the top cover, above the support plate, above the intermediate support, above the base, and / or the like. The hopper may be located within the reciprocal housing portion or form part of the housing. The hopper may be located adjacent to one or more waste collection assemblies, transport assemblies, or both. The hopper may be accessed by or in distributable communication with one or more container handling assemblies.

[0119] The hopper may include one or more keying features. The one or more keying features may serve to facilitate the correct positioning of the container, the container bin, or both within the hopper. The one or more keying features may include one or more protrusions, indentations, surface profiles, and / or the like. The one or more keying features may be formed on the inner surface of the hopper. The one or more keying features may be located along all or part of the length of the hopper. The one or more protrusions may include one or more ribs, tabs, teeth, and / or the like. The one or more indentations may include one or more grooves, notches, and / or the like. The one or more surface profiles may include one or more planar (e.g., flat) surfaces, one or more curved surfaces, changes in radius or curvature, etc., or any combination thereof. The one or more keying features may cooperate with one or more keying features, alignment features, engagement features, lid reinforcement features, lid entry features, or any combination thereof of the container, the container bin, or both. The one or more keying features of the hopper may be reciprocal with one or more keying features of the container.

[0120] The hopper may have one or more openings. The hopper may have an inlet opening, an outlet opening, an identification opening, and / or the like. The inlet opening may function to receive one or more containers, a container bin, or both within the hopper. The outlet opening may function to allow one or more containers to be dispensed therefrom. The identification opening may allow an identification sensor to acquire one or more identifiers located on one or more containers. The inlet opening and the outlet opening may be opposite to each other (e.g., linearly aligned), perpendicular to each other, or both. The inlet opening may be located in the upper end, sidewall, or both of the hopper. The inlet opening may be located in a top cover or other portion of an adjacent housing. The inlet opening may be aligned with a container refill opening of the housing. The outlet opening may be located in the lower end, sidewall, or both of the hopper. The outlet opening may be configured to align with a container handling assembly (e.g., dispense / put down a container), to allow a container handling assembly to be inserted therein (e.g., to grab a container), or both. The identification opening may be located along the sidewall of the hopper. The identification opening may be offset toward (e.g., located closer to) the inlet opening or the outlet opening. The identification opening may be configured to align with one or more identifiers located on one or more containers, container bays, or both.

[0121] The hopper can have a height associated with the desired number of containers, servings, days, and / or the like. The hopper can have a height suitable for storing enough containers to feed the animal for 1 or more days, 2 or more days, 3 or more days, or even 4 or more days. The hopper can have a height suitable for storing enough containers to feed the animal for 10 or less days, 9 or less days, 8 or less days, or even 7 or less days. The hopper can be configured to hold 2 or more containers, 3 or more containers, 6 or more containers, 9 or more containers, or even 12 or more containers. The hopper can be configured to hold 30 or less containers, 24 or less containers, or even 21 or less containers.

[0122] The hopper may include one or more cutouts. One or more cutouts may allow the hopper to cooperate with the restraining mechanism. One or more cutouts may be formed in one or more side walls of the hopper. One or more cutouts may be formed toward and / or at the bottom of the hopper, along the height of the hopper, or both. Each cutout may be associated with a roller. The number of cutouts may be equal to the number of rollers. One or more cutouts may include 2 or more cutouts, 3 or more cutouts, or even 4 or more cutouts. One or more cutouts may extend substantially linearly. One or more cutouts may extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, or both of the hopper. One or more cutouts may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, or both of the hopper. One or more cutouts may extend in the same direction as one or more rollers (e.g., parallel longitudinal axes). At least partially placed within one or more cutouts may be one or more rollers.

[0123] The container storage assembly may include one or more restraining mechanisms. The one or more restraining mechanisms may function to: retain one or more containers within a hopper and / or container bin; work against gravity; selectively release a container (e.g., when ready to eat); or any combination thereof. The one or more restraining mechanisms may be located adjacent to, partially disposed on, proximate to, and / or similarly positioned to one or more hoppers. The one or more restraining mechanisms may include one or more rollers, drive units, gears, pulleys, and / or the like.

[0124] The restraining mechanism may include one or more rollers. The one or more rollers may engage with one or more containers, hold one or more containers in a stationary position relative to the hopper, cause one or more containers to be dispensed from the hopper, or any combination thereof. The one or more rollers may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to engage with a flange of a container. The one or more rollers may be partially located within the hopper. The one or more rollers may be partially located within one or more cutouts. The rollers may function by supporting a flange of the container (e.g., like a shelf). When the rollers are stationary, the container may remain stationary within the hopper. Then, rotation of the rollers may cause the container to be dispensed from the hopper. Rotation of the rollers may cause the container to move downward, away from the hopper, through an outlet opening, toward a container handling assembly, or any combination thereof. The one or more rollers may be arranged so that the rollers are parallel to the one or more cutouts. The one or more rollers may be parallel, perpendicular, or both relative to the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, or both of the hopper. The one or more rollers may include one or more rotating shafts, fins, worm gears, and / or the like. One or more fins may be radially distributed around the rotating shaft. One or more rollers may include one or relative rotational axes having fins located at / near the bottom of the hopper. The relative rotational axes may be located at opposite sides of the hopper. The relative rotational axes may be rotatably connected through one or more gears, rollers, containers, or a combination thereof. For example, the active roller may receive torque from a drive unit. The active roller may transmit torque to the non-active roller through one or more gears, pulleys, or even through a container. The non-active roller may be located on the side of the hopper opposite to the active roller. One or more rollers may include one or more worm gears, one or more worm gears located along the length of the hopper, in the cutout, or both. When stationary, the flange of the container may be located between the teeth of the worm gear.

[0125] One or more rollers may include one or more gears. One or more gears may serve to receive and / or transmit torque. One or more gears of a roller may refer to one or more roller gears, worm gears, or both. One or more roller gears may include one or more spur gears, bevel gears, worm gears, racks and pinions, internal gears, herringbone gears, cranks, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more gears may be connected to one or more other gears, a drive unit, or both. One or more gears may be rotatably connected to one or more drive units directly and / or indirectly. One or more spur gears or the like may be drivingly connected to one or more gears associated with a drive unit.

[0126] The restraining mechanism may be mounted on one or more parts of the housing. The restraining mechanism may be supported by a base, an intermediate support, a support plate, a top cover and / or the like. The restraining mechanism may be supported on the same portion of the housing as the hopper. The restraining mechanism may include one or more bases (e.g., mountings). The one or more bases may support one or more other components of the restraining mechanism stationarily or movably (e.g., rotatably). The base may include one or more brackets for rotatably supporting one or more rollers, rotating shafts, drive shafts and / or the like.

[0127] The container storage assembly may include and / or be configured to removably receive a container bin. The container bin may serve the following functions: store multiple containers together as a group, allow multiple containers to be placed in the container storage assembly in a single loading step, allow multiple containers to be shipped together and then loaded together into the container storage assembly, provide convenient user access to load containers, or any combination thereof. The container bin may be used as a box to insert multiple containers into the feeding assembly.

[0128] The container bin can cooperate with the hopper, can serve as the hopper, or both. The container bin can be inserted into the hopper. The container bin can be inserted into the hopper through the inlet opening, the outlet opening, or both. The container bin can be centered in the hopper or not. The container bin can be removed from the hopper. If different containers (e.g., flavors, sizes, brands) or both are required, the container bin can be removed after emptying. There can be an ejection mechanism (such as a spring) in the hopper to help remove it from the hopper. The container bin can be removed through the inlet opening, the outlet opening, or both. A restraining mechanism can be used as an ejection mechanism. The restraining mechanism can move in opposite directions (e.g., rotate) to cause translation and / or at least partial ejection of the container bin.

[0129] The container bin may be used as part of the housing, form part of the housing and / or be placed within the housing. The container bin may form a removable portion of the housing. The container bin may be removably inserted into the housing. The housing may include reciprocal housing portions configured to receive the container bin. The container bin may be located adjacent to one or more waste collection components, identification sensors, transport components, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0130] The container bin can have any shape, size and / or configuration to accommodate multiple containers therein, be compatible with a hopper, or both. The container bin can have an external cross-sectional shape that is the inverse of the internal cross-sectional shape of the hopper. The container bin can have the shape and features described above relative to the hopper. The container bin can include one or more inlet openings, outlet openings, identification openings, and / or the like. The container bin can include or not include one or more columns and / or slots.

[0131] The container bin may include one or more vertical side walls. A single continuous side wall may provide a substantially cornerless cross-sectional shape (e.g., circular, oval, elliptical). Multiple vertical side walls may provide a cross-sectional shape with one or more vertices (e.g., square, rectangular, triangular).

[0132] The container bin can provide a single column or multiple columns for container storage. The container bin can be divided into multiple columns of container storage. Each column can hold one or more containers. The containers can be stacked so that one container supports an adjacent container, is in physical contact with an adjacent container, is separated from an adjacent container, or the like or a combination thereof. For example, a lid of a container can support a container base of an adjacent container. For example, containers can be suspended or held by a slot and be in contact or not in contact with each other. As another example, each container can be placed in its own dedicated slot or recess.

[0133] The container bin may define one or more slots. One or more slots may serve to receive one or more containers. A slot may be dedicated to receiving one or more containers. For example, the container bin may define multiple slots, each of which is configured to receive a container or a group of containers. A slot may receive all or part of a container. The slot may be formed as one or more indentations (e.g., grooves or notches) inside the wall of the container bin. The inner wall may be a vertical side wall. One or more slots may be continuous or discontinuous around the inner wall. In other words, a single slot may extend completely around the inner perimeter and / or perimeter of the vertical wall. Discontinuous may mean that the length of the slot is less than the inner perimeter and / or perimeter of the vertical wall. A single slot may hold a single container. Multiple slots may fit together to hold a retainer. For example, two opposing slots may hold opposite sides of a container flange. The slot may receive and hold the flange of the container therein. The slot may be formed as one or more recesses. The recess may receive the entire container therein. The slots may be spaced evenly or unevenly along the length and / or diameter of the container bin. The slots may be spaced apart to accommodate containers of different sizes (e.g., height, volume). For example, smaller volume containers may be stacked within a container bin such that each slot holds a flange of the container, while larger volume containers may be stacked within a container bin such that every other slot holds a flange of the container.

[0134] The container bin can be configured as a turntable bin. The turntable bin can be configured to load multiple containers. The turntable bin can include multiple slots. The multiple slots can be arranged radially around the center of the turntable bin. The slots can hold one or more containers. The turntable bin can be configured to rotate around a horizontal axis or a vertical axis or any angle therebetween. The slots can open toward the outside of the turntable bin, toward an arm or other portion of the container storage assembly, toward the inside of the turntable bin, toward a central cavity, or any combination thereof.

[0135] The carousel bin may include a circular hub. The circular hub may be configured to rotate about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis or any angle therebetween. The circular hub may support one or more slots. Rotation of the circular hub may provide rotation of one or more containers located within the one or more slots. Rotation of the circular hub may allow one or more slots to align with an access window of the central cavity.

[0136] The carousel bin may include a central cavity. The central cavity may provide a location for obtaining and / or dispensing containers. The central cavity may provide an entry point for one or more container handling components to obtain containers. The central cavity may be aligned with the one or more container handling components to allow containers to be dispensed thereto. The central cavity may be coaxial with the circular hub. The central cavity may remain stationary as the circular hub rotates about the central cavity. The central cavity may include an access window. The slot may be rotated into position to align with the access window. The container may be transferred from the slot into the central cavity through the access window.

[0137] The container bin may include one or more removable covers. The one or more removable covers may serve the following functions: keeping one or more containers in the bin, preventing one or more containers from being dispensed from the container bin prematurely, or both. The one or more removable covers may be used during transportation and storage of the container bin separated from the feeding assembly. The one or more removable covers may be adhered to the wall of the container bin. The one or more removable covers may cover the inlet opening, the outlet opening, or both. The one or more removable covers may be removed or pierced by the user before placing the container bin into the feeding assembly, removed or pierced by a component of the feeding assembly during insertion, and / or removed or pierced in a similar manner.

[0138] The container bin may include one or more handles. The handles may provide a structure that is easy to grasp the bin. The handles may facilitate grasping the container bin to place the container bin into the container storage assembly, remove the container bin from the container storage assembly, or both.

[0139] The container bin may include one or more identifiers. These identifiers may be in addition to or in lieu of one or more identifiers on one or more containers. The identifier of the container bin may be similar to the one or more identifiers described as being suitable for the container.

[0140] The feeding assembly may include a container handling assembly. The container handling assembly may serve the following functions: receiving containers from the container storage assembly, holding containers during transportation to the feeding area, holding containers in the feeding area, holding the container base during the removal of the lid, transporting the container for disposal after use, or any combination thereof. The container assembly may be configured to releasably engage one or more containers. The container handling assembly may be configured to be placed in or adjacent to the feeding area. The container handling assembly may be configured to actively obtain (e.g., grab) the container, place the container therein, or both. The container handling assembly may be configured to actively release the container, dispose of the container therefrom, or both. The container handling assembly may include one or more shuttle assemblies, fixture assemblies, or both. The container handling assembly may include one or more brackets, holding supports, bearings, through holes, disposal rods, arms, plates, bases, actuators, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0141] The container handling assembly may be coupled to the transport assembly. The container handling assembly may be fixed to the transport assembly or be a part of the transport assembly. The container handling assembly may be moved between locations by the transport assembly.

[0142] The container handling assembly can be moved to one or more positions within the feeding assembly. The container handling assembly can be moved to various positions to interact with one or more containers and / or other components. The one or more positions can include a loading position, an open position, a feeding position, a handling position, a resting position, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0143] In the loading position, the container handling assembly can cooperate with the container storage assembly, the transport assembly, or both. In the loading position, the container handling assembly can be positioned to receive and / or obtain a container from the container storage assembly. In the loading position, the container handling assembly can receive a container (e.g., a closed container) having a lid attached to a container base. In the loading position, the container handling assembly can be located adjacent to the container storage assembly, partially or completely placed in the container storage assembly, or both. In the loading position, the container handling assembly can be located in a channel of the housing. The channel can be a channel formed in the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. In the loading position, a portion of the container handling assembly can be aligned with one or more hopper openings of the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. In the loading position, a portion of the container handling assembly can be aligned with, adjacent to, inserted into, or a combination thereof, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, or both of the container storage assembly. In the loading position, the shuttle assembly is adjacent to, below, or both of the hopper. In the loading position, the shuttle assembly can be aligned with the outlet opening of the hopper. In the loading position, the bracket can be configured so that a container is received therein. In the loading position, the carriage of the shuttle assembly can be substantially aligned with (e.g., centered) the outlet opening of the hopper. In the loading position, the clamp assembly can be configured to fit through the opening of the hopper or container bin. In the loading position, the clamp assembly can be inserted into the opening of the hopper or container bin. In the loading position, the clamp assembly can be configured so that the clamp is positioned around the container. The loading position can be located at the rear of the feeding assembly, opposite the feeding area, or both. The container handling assembly can be moved from the loading position to the open position.

[0144] In the open position, the container handling assembly can cooperate with the container opening assembly, the transport assembly, or both. In the open position, the container handling assembly can be positioned to allow the container to be opened. Opening the container can include removing a lid or other covering, or otherwise obtaining food within the container. The open position can be a static position of the container handling assembly or a dynamic range of positions. In other words, the container handling assembly can remain stationary while the container opening assembly moves to remove the lid; the container handling assembly can move while the container opening assembly remains stationary to remove the lid; or both the container handling assembly and the container opening assembly move to remove the lid. In the open position, the container handling assembly can be located adjacent to, below, above, and / or near the container opening assembly. In the open position, the container handling assembly can be located adjacent to, below, above, and / or near one or more waste collection assemblies. For example, the container handling assembly can be located adjacent to and above the waste collection assembly so that when the lid is removed, the lid can fall (e.g., by gravity) into the waste container. In the open position, the container handling assembly can be located within a channel of the housing. In the open position, the shuttle assembly and / or the clamp assembly can move below the container opening assembly and pass through the container opening assembly. The open position can be located between the front and rear of the feeding assembly, between the container storage assembly and the feeding area, or anywhere between the two. The container handling assembly can be moved from the open position to the feeding position.

[0145] In the feeding position, the container handling assembly can cooperate with one or more parts of the housing, the container holding assembly, the transport assembly, or a combination thereof to present the container in an open configuration to the animal. In the feeding position, the container handling assembly can present and / or place the container in the feeding area. In the feeding position, the container is easily accessible to the animal from the outside of the housing to consume food therefrom. In the feeding position, the container handling assembly can be located adjacent to, below, or both of the container display openings. In the feeding position, the container handling assembly can be located within the housing, and the container is easily accessible from the outside of the housing. In the feeding position, the container handling assembly can be located between the container holding assembly and a portion of the housing (e.g., a support plate), can have the housing (e.g., a wall) located between the container holding assembly and the container handling assembly, or both. In the feeding position, the container handling assembly can continue to hold the container when the container is presented in the feeding position, can not hold the container when the container is presented in the feeding position, or both. In other words, the container handling assembly can continue to hold the container or can temporarily dispose of the container when the container is presented in the feeding position. In the feeding position, the container handling assembly can cooperate with the container holding assembly to place the container in a suitable position for consumption. In the feeding position, the shuttle assembly can cooperate with the lifting wedge to lift the container into the container display opening. In the feeding position, the clamp assembly can cooperate with the support rail to fix the container in place. The feeding position can be offset toward the front of the feeding assembly or at the front of the feeding assembly, in the feeding area or adjacent to the feeding area, or both. The container handling assembly can be moved from the feeding position to the disposal position.

[0146] In the disposal position, the container handling assembly can cooperate with one or more parts of the housing, the container handling assembly, the transport assembly, the waste collection assembly, or a combination thereof to transfer a container (e.g., a used container) to the waste collection assembly. In the disposal position, the container handling assembly can be positioned to dispose of the container into the waste collection assembly, cooperate with the container handling assembly, or both. In the disposal position, the container handling assembly can dispose of or release the container base. In the disposal position, the container handling assembly can be located adjacent to the waste collection assembly, partially or completely within the waste collection assembly, or both. In the disposal position, the container handling assembly can be located in the channel of the housing. In the disposal position, the container handling assembly can be located adjacent to, below, above, and / or adjacent to the container handling assembly. In the disposal position, the shuttle assembly can be adjacent to, above, or both of the waste container. In the loading position, the disposal rod of the shuttle assembly can be moved into the retaining support, can be adjacent to the disposal assembly and / or moved by the disposal assembly, can be moved or otherwise push the container out of the bracket, or a combination thereof. In the disposal position, the clamp assembly can be configured to be inserted into the waste container. In the disposal position, the support plate, one or more clamps, or both of the clamp assembly can be released to allow the container to fall therefrom into a waste container. The disposal position can be between the feeding area and the container storage assembly, between the front and rear of the feeding assembly, between the feeding area and the container opening assembly, or any combination thereof. The container handling assembly can be moved from the disposal position to the resting position, can remain in place for transition to the resting position, or both.

[0147] In the static position, the container handling assembly can be stopped before acquiring or receiving the container. In the static position, the container handling assembly can be maintained in a position that does not interfere with other moving or movable parts. The container handling assembly can cooperate with the transport assembly to be arranged in the static position. The static position can be between the feeding area and the container storage assembly, between the front and rear of the feeding assembly, between the feeding area and the container opening assembly, between the container handling assembly and the container storage assembly, or any combination thereof.

[0148] The container handling assembly may include a fixture assembly, a shuttle assembly, and / or the like. One or more components of the fixture assembly may cooperate with one or more components of the shuttle configuration. For example, the bracket may take the form of a fixture. For example, the shuttle assembly may cooperate with an actuator to rotate. For example, the bracket may be paired with a fixture or a support plate.

[0149] The container handling assembly may include or not include a shuttle assembly. The shuttle assembly may function to hold the container while moving through various locations within the feeding assembly. The shuttle assembly may function to cooperate with the transport assembly to move the container through various locations within the feeding assembly. The shuttle assembly may function to hold the container base while allowing the lid to be removed therefrom. The shuttle assembly may include a bracket, a retaining support, a bearing, a through hole, a disposal rod, a biasing device, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0150] The shuttle assembly may include a bracket. The bracket may serve the following functions: temporarily holding the container, cooperating with the container storage assembly to receive the container, holding the container when transporting the container to various locations within the feeding assembly, retaining the container base when allowing the lid to be removed, cooperating with the disposal assembly to allow the container to be disposed therefrom, cooperating with the container holding assembly (e.g., a lifting wedge) to lift the container into the container display opening, or any combination thereof. The bracket may have any size, shape, and / or configuration for holding the container. The bracket may have a cross-section that is the inverse of the cross-sectional shape or peripheral shape of the container base. For example, the bracket may have a two-dimensional shape that is substantially U-shaped or C-shaped, circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, etc., or any combination thereof. The bracket may include one or more keying features. The one or more keying features may be the overall shape and / or size of the bracket, and / or one or more features formed therein. The one or more keying features may be similar or identical to the features described for the hopper. The bracket may have an opening, a passthrough, one or more inclined surfaces, one or more biasing devices, and / or the like.

[0151] The bracket may have an opening. The opening may function to receive the container therein. The bracket may be sized to engage with a container base, to cooperate with a flange of the container, or both. The opening of the bracket may have an opening equal to or greater than the outer width or diameter of the container base. The opening of the bracket may have an opening less than the outer width or diameter of the container flange. The bracket may have a container base located within the opening, with the flange located at the top of the bracket.

[0152] The carriage may have a through hole. A through hole may mean that the carriage is not completely continuous. For example, a substantially circular or oval cross-section of the carriage may have a through hole so that the carriage forms a U-shape or a C-shape. The carriage may be movable relative to one or more other components of the shuttle assembly. The carriage may be movable relative to one or more retaining supports. The carriage may be movably retained on a retaining support.

[0153] The carriage may include one or more inclined surfaces. The one or more inclined surfaces may cooperate with one or more other components to lift the carriage toward the feeding area, present the container to the feeding area, or both. The one or more inclined surfaces may face the bottom of the feeding assembly, the lifting wedge, or both. The one or more inclined surfaces may face the one or more inclined surfaces of the lifting wedge. When the container handling assembly or the shuttle assembly moves toward and enters the feeding position, the one or more inclined inclined surfaces may cooperate with one or more opposing inclined surfaces. The opposing inclined surfaces may apply an upward force to the inclined surfaces of the carriage, causing the carriage to be lifted from the retaining support. The carriage may transfer the upward force to the flange of the container. The upward movement of the carriage may cause the container retained therein to move upward. When retreating from the feeding position and leaving, the force from the one or more inclined surfaces may be removed. After the force is removed, the carriage may move back to its original position and be placed on the retaining support. The carriage may include one or more biasing devices. The one or more biasing devices may bias the carriage toward the retaining support. The force from the inclined surfaces may overcome the biasing force.

[0154] The shuttle assembly may include one or more retaining supports. One or more retaining supports may serve to retain a bracket, a disposal rod, or both. The retaining supports may allow the bracket and / or the disposal rod to move relative to it. The retaining supports may fix the bracket on one or more bearings. The retaining supports may have an opening, an edge or a ledge, a through hole, or any combination thereof. The opening and the through hole may have a shape and / or size that is substantially opposite to the size and / or shape of the bracket, the container, the container base, or any combination thereof. The opening and the through hole may perform functions similar to the opening and through hole of the bracket. The retaining supports may include an edge or a ledge around the opening. The edge or the ledge may serve to support the bracket. The bracket may be placed on the edge or the ledge. The retaining supports may include one or more through holes. One or more through holes may movably accommodate one or more inclined surfaces, the disposal rod, or both. One or more through holes may be formed around the opening, pass through the edge or the ledge, parallel to the axis of motion of the bracket, or a combination thereof. The one or more through holes may be formed adjacent to the opening, away from the edge or boss, parallel to the axis of movement of the disposal rod, perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bracket, or any combination thereof.The retaining support may be fixed on one or more bearings.

[0155] The shuttle assembly may include one or more bearings. The one or more bearings may serve the following functions: to couple the container handling assembly to the transport assembly, to connect the shuttle assembly to the transport assembly, or both. The one or more bearings may be located on one or opposite sides of the shuttle assembly, one or both sides of the holding support, one or both sides of the bracket, or a combination thereof. The opposing bearings may provide balanced support for the container handling assembly when moving within the feeding assembly. The one or more bearings may be separated from or integrated with the holding support (e.g., formed integrally therewith). The one or more bearings may serve to accommodate one or more shafts (e.g., a drive shaft, a support shaft). The one or more bearings may include one or more through holes. The one or more through holes may be keyed to match the shaft, may work with the shaft to convert rotation into linear motion, provide a surface that minimizes friction applied to the shaft, or any combination thereof. The one or more through holes may be drive shaft through holes. The one or more through holes may have a threaded interior to engage with a threaded exterior of the drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft within the through hole may result in conversion of rotation into linear motion. Rotation of the drive shaft within the through hole may result in movement of the bearing along the length of the drive shaft. Movement along the length of the drive shaft may result in movement of a container handling component within the feeding assembly from one or more positions to one or more other positions, or both.One or more other through holes may receive one or more support shafts.

[0156] The shuttle assembly may include one or more disposal rods. The one or more disposal rods may function as follows: to cooperate with the disposal assembly, to push the container or container base out of the shuttle assembly, or both. The one or more disposal rods may be movably fixed to one or more parts of the shuttle assembly. The one or more disposal rods may include one or more retaining legs. The one or more retaining legs may be movably accommodated in a retaining support, a bearing, or other parts of the shuttle assembly. The one or more retaining legs may be axially movable within the shuttle assembly. The one or more retaining legs may be located in one or more through holes of the retaining support. The one or more retaining legs may include two opposing and spaced retaining legs. The retaining legs may be fixed to a transverse rod. The transverse rod may be located outside the retaining support, the bearing, or both. The transverse rod may be located opposite to the through hole of the bracket. The transverse rod may move toward and away from the bracket. Movement of the transverse rod may cause movement of the retaining legs relative to the retaining support and / or the bearing. The transverse rod may be configured to receive a disposal force from the container disposal assembly. Opposite to the transverse rod may be a push rod. The push rod may also be fixed between the two retaining legs and / or extend between the two retaining legs. The push rod may be located adjacent to, outside, or both of the bracket openings. The push rod may be biased or pushed toward the opening, enter the opening, overlap the opening, or any combination thereof. When biased or pushed, the push rod may contact the container (e.g., the container base) and apply a thrust. The thrust may be toward the through hole of the bracket. The thrust may be applied by the push rod so that the container is pushed out of the through hole of the bracket. After being pushed out, the container may be disposed of from the container handling assembly, fall into the waste collection assembly, or both. The disposal rod may include or be connected to one or more biasing devices, such as one or more springs. One or more biasing devices may bias the transverse rod away from the bracket. The force from the disposal assembly may overcome the biasing force and push the transverse rod toward the bracket.

[0157] The container handling assembly may include or not include a clamp assembly. The clamp assembly may be configured to engage and hold the container in response to the transport assembly moving one or more clamps into the container storage assembly to facilitate removal of a lid associated with the container, and / or to place the container in the feeding area in response to the transport assembly moving the container into the feeding area. When the container opening assembly interacts with the lid and removes the lid, the clamp assembly may move the container base of the container relative to the lid and / or hold the position of the container base of the container. The clamp assembly may include one or more arms, supports, actuators, or any combination thereof. One or more pairs of arms, supports, or both may extend from the clamp base. One or more pairs of arms and / or supports may be fixed stationarily and / or hingedly fixed to the clamp base.

[0158] The fixture assembly may include at least one pair of arms. The pair of arms may serve the following functions: positioning around a container, grasping a container, releasing a container, acquiring one or more containers, being able to move through one or more openings, etc., or any combination thereof. The pair of arms may be laterally spaced apart from each other, move laterally toward and away from each other, be stationary relative to each other, or a combination thereof. The fixture assembly may include an upper pair of arms, a lower pair of arms, or both. The upper pair of arms may be vertically spaced apart from the lower pair of arms, move vertically toward and away from the lower pair of arms, be stationary relative to the lower pair of arms, or any combination thereof. The container may be placed between a pair of arms, between an upper pair of arms and a lower pair of arms, or both. One or more pairs of arms may be formed to have a profile that is reciprocal to one or more portions of the container. One or more pairs of arms may be rigid, flexible, or both. The tip of the arm may be flexible. Flexibility may allow one or more pairs of arms to bend and follow the profile of the container when the container moves to the space between the arms (e.g., moves laterally to the space between the arms).

[0159] The upper pair of arms can rotate relative to the lower pair of arms between a closed fixed position and an open position (also referred to as a loading position, a feeding position and / or a disposal position). In the fixed position, the upper pair of arms can contact a container supported by the lower pair of arms and / or the lower support plate. In the open position, the upper pair of arms can rotate away from the lower pair of arms relative to the feeding position. In the open position, the upper pair of arms can move without contacting the container. In order to engage with the container, the lower pair of arms can be placed below the flange or edge of the container and then vertically raised to engage with the flange or edge, thereby lifting the container. The container handling assembly can then move the container (e.g., away from the container storage assembly), and the upper pair of arms can transition from the open position to a fixed position to fix the container base between the upper pair of arms and the lower pair of arms. The upper pair of arms and the lower pair of arms can hold the container by applying opposite forces. The upper pair of arms can be located on the upper surface of the lid and / or the flange, and the lower pair of arms can be located on the lower surface of the flange.

[0160] The upper pair of arms and / or the lower pair of arms can rotate toward and away from each other between a closed fixed position and an open position. The upper pair of arms and / or the lower pair of arms can act like claws, rotating away from each other to an open position and rotating toward each other to a fixed position. Each pair of arms can selectively be laterally separated or laterally brought together. The pair of arms can be moved around the clamp base. When inserted or moved close to the container storage assembly, the pair of arms can be moved closer together. The clamp assembly can work without the lower pair of arms and only with the upper pair of arms, or vice versa.

[0161] The fixture assembly may include one or more supports. The one or more supports may include a lower support plate, a lower support member, an upper support plate, an upper support member, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more supports may be in the form of one or more plates. The one or more plates may be solid, hollow, or a combination of both. The plates may be referred to as support plates, clamping plates, or both. The one or more supports may be configured to be below and / or above the container. The support plate may be configured to be located below the container and have the container placed thereon. The support plate may be located below one or more pairs of arms. In a loading or fixed position, the support plate may slide below the container or have the container placed thereon. In a loading or fixed position, one or more pairs of arms may be rotated closer to each other to grasp a container supported by (e.g., located on, seated on) the support plate.

[0162] The fixture assembly may include one or more engagement features. The one or more engagement features may engage with corresponding engagement features of the container. The one or more engagement features may assist in aligning and / or securing the container to the fixture assembly. The one or more engagement features may be part of one or more pairs of arms, supports, or both.

[0163] The clamp assembly may include one or more sensing devices. The one or more sensing devices may function to measure one or more parameters associated with the container. For example, the clamping plate may include a weight sensor and / or an identification sensor for measuring parameters associated with the container.

[0164] The fixture assembly may include or be connected to one or more actuators. The actuator may be configured to move the arms laterally and / or vertically apart or together, rotate one or more pairs of arms, rotate one or more supports, or any combination thereof. In this way, the pair of arms may be configured to grasp and secure the container, allow the container to be obtained from the container storage assembly, release the container, and / or allow the container to be disposed of in the waste collection assembly. The actuator may be a rotary actuator. One or more drive units disclosed herein or parts thereof may be used as actuators. For example, the actuator may be a motor (e.g., a stepper motor).

[0165] The clamp assembly may include one or more springs. The one or more springs may allow the clamp assembly to naturally return to the open configuration or the closed configuration in the absence of a switching force applied by one or more actuators or due to a switching force applied by the interaction between the container and an obstacle (such as a wall of the container or a wall of the container storage assembly).

[0166] The container handling assembly can be configured to be compatible with a plurality of different clamp assemblies. A plurality of clamp assemblies can be provided in different shapes and / or sizes. The clamp assembly can be configured to be compatible with a particular container shape and / or size or a range of shapes and / or sizes. The container handling assembly or portions thereof can be selectively removable and reattachable to the feeding assembly. For example, the clamp assembly can be removable to attach clamp assemblies of different sizes and / or shapes.

[0167] The feeding assembly may include a transport assembly. The transport assembly may play the following roles: cooperate with the container handling assembly, move the container handling assembly and / or the container between different positions in the feeding assembly, or both. The transport assembly may play the role of transporting the container to the container opening assembly, the feeding area, and / or the container disposal assembly. The transport assembly may play the role of moving the container handling assembly to a loading position, an opening position, a feeding position, a disposal position, a static position, etc. or any combination thereof. The transport assembly may play the role of moving the container handling assembly and / or the container along one or more axes (e.g., axial movement), one or more linear directions, or both. The transport assembly may move the container handling assembly along a single axis, along two axes, and / or along three axes.

[0168] The transport assembly may be located within the housing. The transport assembly may be supported by one or more walls of the housing, a base, or both. The transport assembly may be mounted on a support plate, an intermediate support, or both. The transport assembly may be located adjacent to, below, above, and / or proximate to one or more waste collection assemblies, container storage assemblies, container opening assemblies, disposal assemblies, and the like, or any combination thereof.

[0169] The transport assembly may be coupled to and / or be a part of the container handling assembly.

[0170] The transport assembly may include one or more support structures, mounting rods, drive units, trolleys, conveyor belts, track chains, rollers, actuators movable on rails, one or more inclined surfaces and / or any other suitable components for transporting containers to an opening assembly, a feeding area and / or a container handling assembly.

[0171] The transport assembly may include one or more drive units. The one or more drive units may function to drive the movement of the transport assembly. The one or more drive units may be as described herein. The one or more drive units may function to drive the movement along one or more support structures. One or more drive shafts of the drive unit may engage with the container handling assembly. The drive shaft may extend through a through hole of the container handling assembly. The drive shaft may extend through a bearing of the container handling assembly. The drive unit combined with the container handling assembly may convert rotation into linear movement. For example, the drive shaft may be a lead screw. The drive shaft may be rotatably engaged with the container handling assembly. The drive shaft may be rotatably engaged with the threaded through hole of the container handling assembly. Thus, rotation of the drive shaft may cause the container handling assembly to move axially along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft by the drive source may cause the container handling assembly to move in the X, Y and / or Z directions. The one or more drive units may be referred to as one or more actuators.

[0172] For example, for a container handling assembly that moves only in a single axial direction, the transport assembly can be coupled to the container handling assembly so that a drive shaft (e.g., a lead screw) is rotatably connected to the container handling assembly. Rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction can cause the container handling assembly to move toward the front of the feeding assembly, the feeding area, or both. Rotation of the drive shaft in a second direction can cause the container handling assembly to move toward the rear of the feeding assembly, toward the loading position, or both.

[0173] For example, for a container handling assembly that moves in three different axial directions, a first actuator may be coupled to a first lead screw extending in the X direction, a second actuator may be coupled to a second lead screw extending in the Y direction, and a third actuator may be coupled to a third lead screw extending in the Z direction, such that the container handling assembly may be independently, sequentially, or simultaneously moved in the X, Y, and / or Z directions.

[0174] The transport assembly may include one or more support shafts. The one or more support shafts may serve the following functions: provide a bearing surface; provide a guide for the container handling assembly to travel along; distribute the weight of the container handling structure; or any combination thereof. The one or more support shafts may be located adjacent to, parallel to, within, or any combination thereof, a channel within the housing. The one or more support shafts may be parallel to the drive shaft. The one or more support shafts may be located within one or more through holes of the container handling assembly. The one or more support shafts may extend through one or more bearings of the container handling assembly. The one or more support shafts may include two opposing support shafts. The opposing support shafts may be located on and support opposite sides of the container handling assembly.

[0175] The transport assembly may include one or more support structures. One or more support structures may serve to move the container handling assembly from one or more positions in the feeding assembly to one or more other positions. One or more support structures may move the container handling assembly from a loading position to a lid removal position, from a loading position and / or a lid removal position to a feeding position, from a feeding position to a disposal position, from a feeding area and / or a disposal position to a stationary position and / or a loading position, etc. or any combination thereof. The support structure may include one or more mounting rods. The support structure may include a first mounting rod extending vertically from the base of the housing. The first mounting rod may allow the container handling assembly to translate in a vertical direction (e.g., in the Z direction). For example, the container handling assembly is vertically aligned with any one of the containers that can be vertically stacked in a container bin and / or a hopper. The support structure may also include a first group of mounting rods extending in a first direction perpendicular to the vertical direction (e.g., the X direction). The support structure may include a second group of mounting rods extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the vertical direction (e.g., the Y direction). The first group of mounting rods and the second group of mounting rods may allow the container to translate in the first direction and the second direction. The support structures work together to provide movement of the container handling assembly in three dimensions and in three different axes.

[0176] The transport assembly may also include a rotary actuator. The rotary actuator may be configured to rotate the container handling assembly around a vertical axis or Z axis. For example, in a first configuration, the rotary actuator may be configured to orient the container handling assembly in a first radial direction, in which the container handling assembly faces the container storage assembly. This may allow the container handling assembly to obtain a container placed in the container handling assembly or allow the container handling assembly to move into or out of the waste collection assembly. The rotary actuator may be configured to selectively redirect the container handling assembly in a second radial direction, in which the container handling assembly faces the feeding area to allow at least a portion of the container handling assembly to selectively move into or out of the feeding area. The rotary actuator may include gears, wheels, pulleys, and / or the like.

[0177] The feeding assembly may include a container opening assembly. The container opening assembly may function to open the container, remove the lid, separate the lid from the container base, remove or at least partially open the casing, or a combination thereof. The container opening assembly may be referred to as a lid removal assembly or structure.

[0178] The container opening assembly can be configured to releasably couple to the lid, apply tension to the lid, and remove the lid from the container base. The container opening assembly can be configured to releasably couple to the sleeve, apply tension and / or shear force to the sleeve, remove the sleeve, and / or expose food in the sleeve. When the lid and / or the container base are moved (e.g., by the transport assembly, the container handling assembly, or both), the container opening assembly can engage with the lid and / or peel the lid off the container base. The container opening assembly can be configured to remove the lid from the container base when the container base remains stationary, to keep the lid in place when the container base moves, or to remove the lid from the container base when the container base is also simultaneously removed from the lid.

[0179] The container opening assembly may include one or more components that act as an arm, a knife, a hook, a clamp, a can opener, a vacuum source, a clamping jaw, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0180] The container opening assembly can be located between the container storage assembly and the feeding area, near the opening position, between the loading position and the feeding position of the container handling assembly, etc., or any combination thereof. The container opening assembly can be located above, adjacent to, below, and / or near the container handling assembly, the waste collection assembly, or both. The container opening assembly can be located above the container handling assembly, the waste collection assembly, or both. This positioning can allow a container with a lid to pass under the container handling assembly to remove the lid located on the top, prevent food from spilling during lid removal, or both. This positioning can allow the lid to be disposed of (e.g., dropped) into the waste collection assembly once removed. The container opening assembly can be located within the housing. The container opening assembly can be located within the top cover, mounted on a support plate, close to a hopper, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0181] The container opening assembly may include one or more jaws, a drive unit, a drive support, arms, hooks, and / or the like.

[0182] The container opening assembly may include a pair of jaws. The jaws may serve the following functions: grasping and clamping a portion of the lid, keeping the lid stationary while moving the container base, moving the lid while keeping the container base stationary, or moving the lid while the container also moves in the opposite direction. The pair of jaws may grasp and clamp an extended lug of the lid, the container base, or both. The pair of jaws may include two movable jaws or a movable jaw and a fixed jaw. In the open configuration, the pair of jaws may be kept at a distance from each other, and in the clamping configuration, may be moved closer and / or in contact. The fixed jaws may be held in place by being mounted to one or more portions of the housing. The fixed jaws may be mounted to an intermediate support member of a support plate and / or housing.

[0183] The distance between the pair of jaws may be referred to as a clamping gap. The clamping gap may be a gap that receives a portion of the cover. The clamping gap decreases as the jaws move to a closed configuration.

[0184] The movable jaw can be moved by one or more drive units. The movable jaw can be driven by the drive unit to an open configuration and a clamped configuration. The movable jaw can convert rotation into linear motion, rotate around different axes, or both. The movable jaw can cooperate with a screw and nut system. For example, the drive unit can be a motor with a drive shaft. The drive shaft can have a nut mounted thereon and associated with the movable jaw. The drive support can accommodate the drive shaft and can be fixed to the fixed jaw or the movable jaw, or both. The movable jaw can be moved to an open configuration by axially (e.g., linearly) moving away from the fixed jaw, by rotating (e.g., pivoting) away from the fixed jaw, or both.

[0185] The container opening assembly may include a hook. The hook may function to: latch or otherwise engage the opening of the lid; to hold the lid stationary while the container base moves; to move the lid while the container base remains stationary; or to move the lid while the container also moves in an opposite direction. The hook may move into position to align with the opening as the container moves through the container handling assembly; the hook may remain stationary and in the path of movement of the container as it moves through the container handling assembly; or both. The hook may be mounted on an arm. The arm may be stationary relative to the housing, may rotate via one or more hinges, may move axially (e.g., laterally or vertically), or any combination thereof.

[0186] The feeding assembly may include a container holding assembly. The container holding assembly may serve the following functions: holding the container in the feeding area, presenting the container in the feeding area, or both. The container holding assembly may cooperate with one or more container handling assemblies, transport assemblies, a portion of the housing, or any combination thereof, to prevent the container from moving in the feeding area, to facilitate the presentation of the container in the feeding area, or both. The container holding assembly may include or function as a lifting wedge, an arm, a guide rail, a shield, or a combination thereof.

[0187] The container holding assembly may include a lifting wedge. The lifting wedge may function to provide a lifting force to a portion of the container handling assembly. The lifting wedge may cooperate with the bracket to lift the bracket from the holding support, or both. The lifting wedge may cooperate with one or more inclined surfaces of the bracket. The lifting wedge may include one or more mutually opposing and opposite inclined surfaces. The inclined surface of the lifting wedge may be opposite to the inclined surface of the bracket. The lifting wedge may be located in and / or above the channel of the intermediate support and / or support plate, below the container display opening, or both. The lifting wedge may have an opening. The opening may have a shape that is opposite to the outer shape of the container base. The opening may cooperate with the opening of the bracket. When in the feeding position, the lifting wedge and the bracket may wrap around the container to hold the container in place.

[0188] The container retention assembly may include a set of arms, rails and / or shields configured to secure the container within the feeding area and / or cooperate with the support plate of the clamp assembly to inhibit movement of the container relative to the housing as the animal interacts with and feeds from the container.

[0189] The feeding assembly may include one or more container disposal components. The container disposal component may promote the used container to enter the waste collection component, cooperate with the container handling component, cooperate with the transport component, or any combination thereof. The container disposal component may have a configuration that cooperates with the motion path of the container handling component. When the container handling component moves away from the feeding position, in the disposal position, moves toward the static position, moves toward the loading position, etc., or any combination thereof, the container handling component may promote the container (e.g., a used container base) to be disposed of from the container handling component. The container disposal component may be configured to remove or otherwise not interfere with the container in the container handling component when the container handling component moves toward the feeding position. The container disposal component may be positioned along the moving path of the container handling component. The container disposal component may be located on one or both sides of the channel. One or more container disposal components may include two opposing disposal components located on each side of the channel. The container disposal component may be configured to retract from the channel and / or the travel path when the container handling component moves toward the feeding position and avoid interfering with the container. The container disposal assembly can be configured to extend into the passage and / or travel path to transmit a biasing force to the container handling assembly to cause the container to be disposed of. The container disposal assembly can be located above, near, below, and / or adjacent to one or more waste collection assemblies. The passage can be a passage in the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. The container disposal assembly can include a mount, a plunger, a spring, an inclined surface, a lever, and / or the like.

[0190] The container handling assembly may include a mounting seat. The mounting seat may serve to secure the container handling assembly to one or more portions of the housing. The mounting seat may be referred to as a mounting bracket. The mounting seat may secure the container handling assembly to the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. The mounting seat may be located adjacent to a channel of the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. The mounting seat may be located between the feeding area and the container storage assembly. The mounting seat may be a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may be secured to the housing by one or more fasteners. The mounting bracket may movably accommodate a plunger, a spring, and / or the like.

[0191] The container handling assembly may include a plunger. The plunger may function to contact a portion of the container handling assembly and cause the container to be disposed therefrom. The plunger may contact and apply a thrust to a disposal rod of the container handling assembly. The plunger may contact the disposal rod when the container handling assembly moves from a feeding position toward a disposal position, a rest position, a loading position; from a front portion toward a rear portion of the feeding assembly; or any combination. The plunger may be movably fixed to a mounting seat. The plunger may be partially located within the mounting seat, between the mounting seat and an intermediate support or support plate, or a combination thereof. The plunger may include an inclined surface. The inclined surface may allow the container handling assembly to move from a loading position, an open position, or both to a feeding position; from a rear portion to a front portion; or a combination thereof. The inclined surface may allow the container handling assembly to move toward the feeding position without damaging a container located therein. The container handling assembly may contact the inclined surface and bias the plunger away. The container handling assembly may apply a force to the inclined surface and then transmit the force to a biasing device. The force may compress the biasing device. By allowing the biasing means to compress, the plunger may be moved into the mount and retracted from the path of travel of the container handling assembly.

[0192] The container handling assembly may include a biasing device. The biasing device may function to: apply a biasing force to the plunger; allow the plunger to retract; transmit a biasing force to the container handling assembly; or any combination thereof. The biasing device may be a spring. The spring may include a compression spring. The biasing device may be fixed to the mounting seat, the plunger, or both. The biasing device may provide a biasing force that urges the plunger away from the mounting seat, toward the channel, toward the container handling assembly, or a combination thereof. The biasing device provides sufficient biasing force to cause movement of the handling rod of the container handling assembly. The biasing device may also be compressed, allowing the plunger to retract from the channel and / or the container handling assembly, or both.

[0193] The feeding assembly may include one or more waste collection assemblies. The waste collection assembly may be configured to: collect one or more lids, container bases, food, and / or the like; collect one or more lids after the lids are removed from the container bases; collect one or more container bases after the animal has had an opportunity to eat therefrom; collect residual waste; the like; or any combination thereof. The waste collection assembly may be readily accessible so that a user may be able to easily access the waste contents within the waste collection assembly for disposal. The waste collection assembly may include one or more waste containers, openings, residual waste collectors, or both. The waste collection assembly may include one or more waste containers, openings, removable lids, seals, trash bags, the like, or any combination thereof. The waste container may be configured to receive a lid, a container base, residual waste, or a combination thereof.

[0194] One or more waste collection assemblies may be located within the housing, supported by the housing, form a part of the housing, and / or any combination thereof. One or more waste collection assemblies may be located within, below, above, and / or adjacent to a base of the housing. One or more waste collection assemblies may be located below one or more feeding areas, below a container handling assembly, below one or more container opening assemblies, below a transport assembly, below part or all of one or more container movement paths within a feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. One or more openings of the waste collection assembly may be aligned with one or more intermediate supports of the housing, a support plate, or one or more channels of both.

[0195] One or more waste collection components may include one or more waste containers. The waste container may serve the following functions: provide a cavity for receiving waste (e.g., a lid, a container base, residual waste); cooperate with one or more components of the housing to removably retain the waste container therein; or both. The waste container may serve the following functions: collect waste; temporarily store waste; prevent malodors associated with waste (e.g., the smell of residual food) from leaving the device; or a combination thereof. The one or more waste containers may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to be stored within the housing or form a part of the housing. The one or more waste containers may have a shape that is the inverse of the waste cavity. The waste cavity may be formed in the housing. The waste cavity may be formed at the base of the housing. The waste container or a portion thereof may have a three-dimensional shape that is substantially spherical, oval, cylindrical, cuboid, conical, pyramidal, etc. or any combination thereof.

[0196] The waste container can be configured to retain a waste bag (e.g., a garbage bag) therein. The waste bag can be removed from the waste container and disposed of once it is full of waste. The waste container can be bagless. The user can simply remove the waste from the waste container and then clean the interior of the waste container.

[0197] The one or more waste containers may be formed into one or more drawers, baskets, stationary containers, and / or any accessible configuration.

[0198] A basket may generally refer to a waste container that defines a container for waste, the basket being removably stored within a cavity of a housing. The cavity of the housing may be closed and opened by a door. The door may be a portion of the housing. The door may be hinged or otherwise similarly opened to provide access to the basket. The basket may be moved into and out of the waste cavity along any plane.

[0199] A stationary container may generally refer to a container that defines a container for waste and remains fixed to the housing. The stationary container may remain stationary relative to the base and / or other components of the housing when waste is removed therefrom. The stationary container may have a lid. The lid may be removable to allow access to the waste therein for removal.

[0200] A drawer may generally refer to a waste container that defines a container for waste and is capable of sliding into and out of a waste cavity. The movement of the drawer may be caused by pushing and pulling. The walls of the drawer may serve as a front panel to receive the pushing and pulling forces. Typically, the waste drawer may slide along a substantially horizontal plane.

[0201] One or more waste containers may be configured as a waste drawer. One or more waste containers may include one or more handles. The one or more handles may allow the waste container to be easily pulled out of and pushed into the feeding assembly. One or more waste containers may include one or more side walls, a front panel, a rear panel, or any combination thereof. One or more side walls and / or panels may include one or more features for mating with the housing to facilitate insertion into and removal from the housing. One or more features may include one or more rails, grooves, and / or the like. For example, the waste container may be formed as a waste drawer having rails or grooves on the side walls that slidably engage mating features of a waste cavity in the base.

[0202] The waste collection assembly may include a seal. One or more seals may function to prevent odors from being transferred from the waste container and / or the base to the outside of the feeding assembly. One or more seals may include any seal capable of forming a sealed bond between two or more surfaces to prevent malodors from passing therethrough. One or more seals may include one or more mechanical seals. One or more mechanical seals may include one or more adhesives, sealants, gaskets, compression fittings, plugs, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more gaskets may include one or more flange gaskets, O-ring gaskets, brush seals, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more seals may be located around the opening defining the entrance to the waste container. One or more seals may be located around the edge of the waste drawer. The seal may seal the gap between the waste container and the base, intermediate support, support plate, or any combination thereof. One or more seals may allow the waste container to move in and out of the waste chamber.

[0203] A single waste collection assembly can receive all waste associated with a container (e.g., lid, container base, residual waste), or multiple waste collection assemblies can be dedicated to receiving different types of waste. The multiple waste collection assemblies can include a lid waste assembly (e.g., a first waste collection assembly), a container base waste assembly (e.g., a second waste collection assembly), a residual waste assembly, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0204] Once the lid is removed, it can fall from the container opening assembly or be released by the container opening assembly into the waste collection assembly. Another component or assembly, such as a container handling assembly, can be configured to push the separated lid away from the container opening assembly so that the lid falls into the waste collection assembly.

[0205] After the container base is removed from the feeding area, it can fall into, be transported to, be released into, or a combination thereof, into a waste collection assembly. The transport assembly and / or the container handling assembly can move the used container base from the feeding area to above or into the waste collection assembly. Another component or assembly, such as a portion of the container handling assembly, the disposal assembly, or both, can be configured to cause the used container base to leave the container handling assembly so that the container base falls into the waste collection assembly.

[0206] The container bases can be stacked or distributed within the waste collection assembly. The distribution can be random or substantially uniform. A waste collection assembly dedicated to receiving the container bases can be shaped to receive the used container bases. The waste container can have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the perimeter shape of the used container bases. As additional used container bases are added, the used container bases can form a vertical stack of used container bases. The used container bases can be at least partially nested with adjacent container bases. The depth of the nesting can depend on the volume of food remaining in the used container bases.

[0207] The residual waste collector may be positioned below one or more locations where the container may be located. The residual waste collector may function to collect any food or waste that is spilled within or outside of the housing. The container may contain wet food, the wet food including water and / or small food pieces. The wet food may spill out of the container during movement of the container within the housing, may spill out of the container when consumed by the animal, or both. The residual waste collector may receive any wet food splashes that may fall out of the container. The residual waste collector may be configured to be periodically removed from the feeding assembly, cleaned, and then reinstalled into the feeding assembly.

[0208] The residual waste collector may include or be formed as a bottom surface of the feeding assembly. The residual waste collector may cooperate with one or more waste containers. The residual waste collector may be located on a surface below a container path within the feeding assembly, which may not have a waste container located below it. The residual waste collector may be a generally flat structure. The residual waste collector may be formed as a tray, a mat, and / or the like. The residual waste collector may be removable and reusable. The residual waste collector may be washable.

[0209] The residual waste collector can be made of one or more washable materials. For example, the washable mat can be a rubber or polymer mat and / or a metal or plastic tray.

[0210] The residual waste collector may be located outside the housing or extend out of the housing. The residual waste collector may extend outside the housing and / or may be adjacent to the feeding area. The residual waste collector may also extend to the feeding area outside the housing so that at least a portion of the residual waste collector is placed below the container and / or in front of the feeding area. The residual waste collector or a separate residual waste collector may be placed entirely outside the housing in the feeding area or adjacent to the feeding area.

[0211] The feeding assembly may include one or more drive units. The one or more drive units may be configured to drive movement of one or more components of the feeding assembly. One or more drive sources may be associated with a container storage component (e.g., a restraining mechanism), a transport component, a container opening component, a container handling component (e.g., a clamp), a removable cover (e.g., covering a container display opening), and / or the like. One or more drive sources may be shared between different components or may be dedicated drive sources. For example, a drive source associated with a transport component may also be associated with a container opening component. The drive unit may also be referred to as an actuator.

[0212] The drive unit may include one or more drive sources. The drive source may convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The drive source may be configured to be electrically connected to a power source. The drive source may be a motor or other power source. The drive source may be an electronic motor, a pneumatic power source, a hydraulic power source, other power sources, or a combination thereof. An exemplary electronic motor may include a stepper motor. The drive source may transmit or generate torque in a drive shaft.

[0213] The drive source may include a drive shaft. The drive shaft may receive torque from the drive source, output torque, or both. The drive shaft may be in communication with the drive source. The drive shaft may be rotationally fixed to the drive source. The drive shaft may include a lead screw.

[0214] The drive unit may include one or more gears and / or be in communication with one or more gears. The drive source, the drive shaft, or both may be in rotational communication with one or more gears. The drive source, the drive shaft, or both may transmit torque and / or drive one or more gears. The one or more gears may include one or more drive gears. The one or more gears may be directly engaged or communicated with the drive shaft. The one or more gears of the drive unit may be engaged with one or more gears of a container storage assembly (e.g., a restraining mechanism), a transport assembly, a container opening assembly, a container handling assembly (e.g., a fixture), a removable cover (e.g., covering a container display opening), and / or the like.

[0215] The feeding assembly may include one or more sensing devices. The one or more sensing devices may serve the following functions: sensing the presence of one or more containers; obtaining one or more parameters of one or more containers and / or container bins; sensing the position of one or more components; or any combination thereof. The one or more sensing devices may generally serve to sense the state of one or more components within the feeding assembly. The one or more sensing devices may be in electrical communication with one or more controllers. The one or more sensing devices may include one or more identification sensors, container presence sensors, retainer position sensors, weight sensors, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0216] One or more sensing devices may include one or more identification sensors. One or more identification sensors may play a role in reading and / or communicating with one or more identifiers. One or more identification sensors may be placed near a container storage assembly. One or more identification sensors may be placed to have a field of view of one or more identifiers of one or more containers, to form a connection with one or more identifiers of one or more containers, or both. One or more identification sensors may play the following roles: obtaining one or more parameters associated with a container and / or the food therein, obtaining access to a database or other repository having one or more parameters associated with a container and / or the food therein, or both. One or more identification sensors may be any type of transceiver compatible with any identifier disclosed herein, capable of scanning or reading an identifier, capable of obtaining parameters associated with a container or the food therein, capable of instructing a controller where to obtain parameters associated with a container or the food therein, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more identification sensors may include one or more radio frequency transmitters, barcode readers, QR code readers, near field communication transmitters (NFC), image sensors, etc., or any combination thereof. The identification sensor may be an optical sensor (e.g., a UV sensor, an IR sensor, a CCD camera, an electrical sensor, etc.). The one or more identification sensors may be compatible with one or more identifiers including a bar code, a QR code, a reflective feature, a scannable optical feature, an IR or UV visible printed feature, a raised or recessed feature, a circuit (e.g., a resistive circuit), an NFC chip, an RFID, or any other visual, electrical, or electromagnetic indicator.

[0217] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more container presence sensors. The one or more container presence sensors may function to determine whether a container has been acquired, received, properly positioned, or any combination thereof by a container handling assembly. The one or more sensing devices may be any type of sensing device that can detect the presence of a container in a container handling assembly. The one or more presence sensors may identify the presence of a container by line of sight or blocking an optical path, by mass, and / or the like. The presence sensor may monitor the presence of a container continuously or intermittently. The presence sensor may automatically check for the presence of a container after the container storage assembly has been triggered to release the container, after the container handling assembly has been triggered to acquire the container, or both. The one or more presence sensors may include one or more mass sensors, capacitive sensors, infrared sensors, laser sensors (e.g., time of flight), ultrasonic sensors, membrane sensors, radio frequency (RF) admittance sensors, conductive sensors, optical interface sensors, microwave sensors, and the like, or a combination thereof.

[0218] The presence sensor may be located anywhere in the feeding assembly suitable for detecting the presence of a container within the container handling assembly. The presence sensor may be mounted on the container handling assembly, may be mounted on the housing, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted proximate to the container storage assembly. The presence sensor may be mounted toward the rear of the feeding assembly. The presence sensor may be mounted on the support plate, the intermediate support, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted adjacent to the aisle of the intermediate support, the support plate, or both, toward the rear of the aisle, or both.

[0219] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more position sensors. The one or more position sensors may function to detect the position of one or more components within the feeding assembly. The one or more position sensors may function to detect the position of the container handling assembly. The one or more position sensors may function to detect whether the container handling assembly is in the loading position. By checking that the container handling assembly is in the loading position, the position sensor confirms that the container handling assembly is ready to receive and / or retrieve the container from the container storage assembly. Any type of sensor suitable as a presence sensor may also be used as a position sensor. The position sensor may include one or more switches, such as an optical end stopswitch. The position sensor may include a position pocket. The position pocket may be an indent. The indent may be the opposite of an extension from the container handling assembly. The extension may extend from any portion of the container handling assembly. When the container handling assembly is in the loading position, the extension may be located in the position pocket.

[0220] The position sensor may be located anywhere within the feeding assembly suitable for detecting the container handling assembly being in a desired position (e.g., a loading position). The position sensor may be mounted on the container handling assembly, may be mounted on the housing, or both. The position sensor may be mounted near the container storage assembly, the loading position, or both. The position sensor may be mounted toward the rear of the feeding assembly. The position sensor may be mounted on the support plate, the intermediate support, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted adjacent to, toward the rear of, or both the intermediate support, the support plate, or the passageway. The position sensor may be mounted near the presence sensor.

[0221] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more weight sensors. The one or more weight sensors may serve to measure the weight of the container before feeding the animal and after the animal has finished eating. The one or more weight sensors may serve to weigh the container before, during and / or after the container is placed in the feeding area. The one or more weight sensors may include one or more strain gauges (including weighing sensors), impedance sensors (e.g., capacitance-based weight sensors), hydraulic sensors, pneumatic sensors, etc., or any combination thereof. The one or more weight sensors may be fixed to or as part of one or more container handling components, transport components, housings, etc., or combinations thereof. The one or more weight sensors may be fixed to one or more support plates of one or more container handling components. The one or more weight sensors may be fixed to one or more support plates of one or more housings. The one or more weight sensors may measure the total weight of the transport component, container handling component, container, or a combination thereof to determine the weight of the container.

[0222] The feeding assembly may include one or more temperature control devices. The one or more temperature control devices may function to maintain and / or change the temperature of the food in the container to a desired temperature for one or more animals to promote consumption of the food; prevent bacterial growth; or both. The one or more temperature control devices may function to maintain, reduce and / or increase the temperature of the food in the container. The one or more temperature control devices may control the temperature of one or more containers contained in the container storage assembly, feeding area, waste container and / or the like. The one or more temperature control devices may function by directly and / or indirectly contacting or approaching the container, hopper, container bin, waste container and / or the like. The one or more temperature control devices may be housed in the gap between the top cover, the base, the intermediate support and the support plate, or any combination thereof. The one or more temperature control devices may include one or more refrigeration systems. The one or more refrigeration systems may include one or more mechanical compression refrigeration systems, absorption refrigeration systems, evaporative cooling systems, thermoelectric refrigeration systems or combinations thereof.

[0223] The feeding assembly may be connected to or include one or more power sources. The power source may function to provide power to one or more components of the device. The power source may be any typical power source for consumer products. The power source may be an outlet, direct current, alternating current, etc., or a combination thereof. The device may accommodate an adapter for the power source, such as in a base of the feeding assembly.

[0224] Controller

[0225] The feeding assembly may include one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may function to receive one or more signals, send one or more signals, control the operation of one or more components of the device, or a combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be configured to control the overall operation of the feeding assembly. The one or more controllers may communicate with one or more sensing devices, components, communication modules, other components, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be adapted to receive one or more signals from one or more sensing devices, components, communication modules, and / or the like. The one or more controllers may communicate electrically with one or more sensing devices, components, communication modules, and / or the like. The one or more controllers may interpret one or more signals from one or more sensing devices as one or more status signals, parameters, and / or other information. The one or more controllers may automatically receive, interpret, and / or transmit one or more signals. The controller may be configured to receive a signal indicating one or more parameters associated with the container from one or more identification sensors. The controller may determine the parameters directly from information and associated signals from the identification sensors, or may communicate over a network to obtain further information. The one or more controllers may automatically control one or more operations of one or more components upon receiving one or more signals or instructions. The controller may selectively cause the transport assembly to move the container handling assembly between the container storage assembly and the feeding area and / or anywhere between them. The controller can be configured to adjust the speed of movement of the transport assembly, the container handling assembly, or both. The speed can be adjusted based on one or more parameters related to the container. The controller can be housed and / or supported by one or more parts of the housing. The controller can be located in and / or supported by a base, an intermediate support, a support plate, a top housing, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers can include one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, processors, storage media, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers can include one or more computing devices, processors, storage media, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers can communicate with one or more other computing devices, processors, storage media, or any combination thereof.

[0226] System including feeding assembly

[0227] The feeding assembly can be incorporated into the system. The system can include a network, one or more computing devices in communication with the feeding assembly, or both. The system can be used to allow remote control and / or monitoring of the feeding assembly. The system can include one or more feeding assemblies, computing devices, processors, storage media, databases, networks, communication modules, communication hubs, and / or the like.

[0228] The feeding assembly may include and / or communicate with one or more computing devices. One or more computing devices may play the following roles: receiving and / or transmitting one or more signals, converting one or more signals into data entries, sending one or more data entries to a storage medium, storing one or more data entries, retrieving one or more data entries from a storage medium, calculating one or more algorithms, applying one or more rules, or any combination thereof. One or more computing devices may include or communicate with one or more other computing devices, processors, storage media, databases, or any combination thereof. One or more computing devices may communicate with one or more computing devices, processors, storage media, databases, or any combination thereof. Communications between computing devices may be controlled or managed by a hosted cloud service. One or more computing devices may include one or more non-temporary storage media. Non-temporary storage media may include one or more physical servers, virtual servers, or a combination of both. One or more servers may include one or more local servers, remote servers, or both. One or more computing devices may include one or more processors, one or more controllers, personal computers (e.g., laptops, desktop computers, etc.), mobile computing devices (e.g., tablet computers, mobile phones, etc.), or a combination thereof of a feeding assembly. One or more computing devices may refer to multiple computing devices used throughout the system, located in the feeding assembly, communicating directly with the feeding assembly, and / or communicating indirectly with the feeding assembly through a network. One or more computing devices may use one or more processors.

[0229] One or more computing devices may include one or more processors. One or more processors may function to analyze one or more signals from any part of the system. One or more processors may function to analyze one or more signals from the feeding assembly or one or more components thereof, one or more other computing devices, one or more other processors, one or more storage media, databases, communication modules, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more processors may be located within or communicate with one or more computing devices, controllers, servers, storage media, or any combination thereof. One or more processors may communicate with one or more other processors. One or more processors may function to process data, execute one or more algorithms to analyze data, apply one or more rules, evaluate data according to one or more rules, or any combination thereof. One or more processors may automatically process data, execute one or more algorithms, apply one or more rules, evaluate data, or any combination thereof; may wait for instructions or signals such as from a user; or any combination thereof. Processing data may include receiving, converting, outputting, executing, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more processors may be part of one or more hardware, software, systems, or any combination thereof. One or more hardware processors may include one or more central processing units, multi-core processors, front-end processors, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more software processors may include one or more word processors, document processors, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more system processors may include one or more information processors, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more processors suitable for use as part of one or more controllers in a device may include a microcontroller, such as a part number PIC18F45K22 and / or a part number PIC18F46J50 produced by Microchip Technology Inc., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. One or more processors may be located in a non-transient storage medium that is the same or different from one or more storage media, other processors, communication modules, communication hubs, or any combination thereof. One or more processors may be an ARM-based processor, an ASIP processor, an FPGA processor, or any combination thereof. Exemplary ARM-based processors may include one or more of the Cortex-M series, versions ARM to ARMv6 (ARM 32-bit), versions ARMv6-M to ARMv9-R (ARM 32-bit Cortex), versions ARMv8-A to ARMv-9 (ARM 64 / 32-bit), etc., or any combination thereof. One or more processors may include one or more cloud-based processors. A cloud-based processor may be part of or communicate with a scheduling interface, an interactive interface, an authentication portal, or a combination thereof. The cloud-based processor may be located remotely from the device, the computing device, one or more other processors, one or more databases, or any combination thereof.Cloud-based may mean that one or more processors may be located in a non-transitory storage medium remote from the device, computing device, processor, database, or any combination thereof. One or more cloud-based processors may be accessible via one or more networks. A suitable cloud-based processor may be Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. TM (EC2TM), which can be provided by Amazon Web Services Another suitable platform for cloud-based processors may include the Providing Lambda TM , which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The one or more processors may convert the data signals into data entries for storage in one or more storage media. The one or more processors may access one or more algorithms to analyze the one or more data entries and / or data signals. The one or more processors may access one or more algorithms stored in one or more memory storage media. The one or more algorithms accessed by the one or more processors may be located in the same or different storage media or server as the processor.

[0230] One or more computing devices may include one or more memory storage media. The one or more memory storage media may include one or more hard drives (e.g., hard drive memory), chips (e.g., random access memory "RAM"), optical disks, flash drives, memory cards, etc., or any combination thereof. The one or more storage media may include one or more cloud-based storage media. Cloud-based storage media may be located remotely from the device, computing device, one or more processors, one or more databases, or any combination thereof. Cloud-based may mean that the one or more storage media may be located in a non-transient storage medium remotely from the device, computing device, processor, other database, or any combination thereof. The one or more cloud-based storage media may be accessible via one or more networks. Suitable cloud-based storage media may be provided by Amazon Web Services, Inc., or a cloud-based storage service provider. Amazon S3™ is provided and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The one or more memory storage media may store one or more data entries in a local format, an external format, or both. The one or more memory storage media may store the data entries as objects, files, blocks, or a combination thereof. The one or more memory storage media may include one or more algorithms, rules, databases, data entries, etc., or any combination thereof stored therein. The one or more memory storage media may store data in the form of one or more databases.

[0231] One or more computing devices may include and / or be able to access one or more databases. One or more databases may be used to store information related to one or more animals, users, feeding assemblies, containers, foods, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more databases may include one or more animal profile databases. One or more animal profile databases may store one or more parameters of one or more animals therein. One or more parameters may include age, sex, breed, weight, color, medical information, feeding information (e.g., quantity, schedule), etc., or any combination thereof. One or more databases may include one or more food databases. One or more food databases may include one or more parameters of foods stored therein. Food may be food associated with a container compatible with the feeding assembly. One or more food parameters associated with the food may include compatibility with the feeding assembly, the type of food in the container, the volume of the food in the container, the nutritional value associated with the food in the container, the brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, the production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, the expiration date of the food in the container, the amount of time that the food can be unsealed and exposed to ambient temperature before it begins to spoil, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more parameters may be associated with one or more identifiers or data provided thereby. For example, an identifier may instruct the computing device to look up information associated with the identifier in a food database. This may be the opposite of or in addition to the parameters provided by the identifier itself.

[0232] The feeding assembly may include one or more communication modules. The one or more communication modules may allow the device to receive and / or transmit one or more signals from one or more computing devices, be integrated into a network, or both. The one or more communication modules may have any configuration that may allow one or more data signals from one or more controllers to be relayed to one or more other controllers, communication modules, communication hubs, networks, computing devices, processors, etc., or any combination thereof, located outside the feeding assembly. The one or more communication modules may include one or more wired communication modules, wireless communication modules, or both. The wired communication module may be any module capable of transmitting and / or receiving one or more data signals via a wired connection. The one or more wired communication modules may communicate via one or more networks via a direct wired connection. The wired connection may include a LAN wired connection via an Ethernet port. The wired communication module may include a PC card, a PCMCIA card, a PCI card, etc., or any combination thereof. The wireless communication module may include any module capable of transmitting and / or receiving one or more data signals via a wireless connection. The one or more wireless communication modules may communicate via one or more networks via a wireless connection. One or more wireless communication modules may include a Wi-Fi transmitter, a Bluetooth transmitter, an infrared transmitter, a radio frequency transmitter, a transmitter compliant with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, a cellular radio signal transmitter, a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) transmitter, etc., or any combination thereof. The Wi-Fi transmitter may be any transmitter compliant with the IEEE802.11 standard. The communication module may be single-band, multi-band (e.g., dual-band), or both. The communication module may operate at 2.4GHz, 5Ghz, etc., or a combination thereof. The cellular radio signal transmitter may be any transceiver compatible with any cellular band (e.g., 500, 900, 1800, 1900MHz) and / or network (3G, LTE, LTE Cat1, LTE M, 4G, 5G). The communication module may communicate directly with one or more other communication modules, computing devices, processors, or any combination thereof; communicate through one or more communication hubs, networks, or both; communicate through one or more interactive interfaces; or communicate in any combination thereof.

[0233] The feeding system may include and / or communicate with a communication hub. The communication hub may serve the following functions: receiving one or more signals from one or more other computing devices, transmitting one or more signals, or both. The communication hub may be any type of communication hub capable of sending and transmitting data signals to one or more computing devices through a network. The communication hub may include a wired router, a wireless router, an antenna, a satellite, or any combination thereof. For example, the antenna may include a cellular tower. The communication hub may be connected to the feeding assembly, one or more computing devices, or both via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of both. For example, the communication hub may be wirelessly connected to the feeding assembly via a communication module. When the computing device is directly connected to the communication hub, indirectly connected to the communication hub, or both, the communication hub may allow the computing device to communicate with the feeding assembly. A direct connection to the communication hub may mean that the computing device is directly connected to the communication hub via a wired and / or wireless connection, and communicates with the feeding assembly via the communication hub. An indirect connection to a communication hub may mean that the computing device first communicates with one or more other computing devices over a network before transmitting and / or receiving one or more signals to and / or from the communication hub, and then transmitting and / or receiving one or more signals to and / or from the feeding assembly.

[0234] The feeding assembly can be integrated into one or more networks. The feeding assembly can be in removable communication with one or more networks. One or more networks can be formed by placing a feeding assembly that communicates with one or more other computing devices. One or more networks can include one or more communication hubs, communication modules, computing devices, feeding assemblies, or a combination thereof as part of the network. One or more networks may not have one or more communication hubs. One or more computing devices of the system can be directly connected to each other without the use of a communication hub. For example, the communication module of the feeding assembly can communicate directly with the communication module of the pet health device or other computing device without having a communication hub between them. One or more networks can be connected to one or more other networks. One or more networks can include one or more local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), intranets, the Internet, the Internet of Things (IoT), etc., or any combination thereof. The network can allow the feeding assembly to communicate with one or more user interfaces remote from the feeding assembly via the Internet (e.g., via one or more hosted cloud services). Exemplary hosted cloud services can include Amazon Web Services, Inc., and other cloud computing services. AWS IoT Core. The network may be temporarily, semi-permanently, or permanently connected to the feeding assembly, one or more computing devices, or both. The network may allow one or more computing devices to be temporarily and / or permanently connected to the feeding assembly to transmit one or more data signals to the feeding assembly, receive one or more data signals from the feeding assembly, or both. The network may allow one or more signals from one or more controllers to be relayed through the system to one or more other computing devices, processors, storage media, etc., or any combination thereof. The network may allow one or more computing devices to receive one or more data entries from one or more storage media and / or transmit one or more data entries to one or more storage media. The network may allow the transmission of one or more signals, status signals, data entries, instruction signals, or any combination thereof, for processing by one or more processors. Communication across one or more networks may be implemented by one or more protocols. One or more protocols may be proprietary, open source (e.g., "Matter"), and / or shared.

[0235] One or more computing devices (e.g., personal computing devices) may include one or more user interfaces. One or more user interfaces may serve the following functions: display information related to one or more animals (e.g., usage, consumption, trends, etc.), receive user input from a user (e.g., an animal caregiver), display data and / or one or more prompts to a user, or any combination thereof. One or more user interfaces may be suitable for receiving data from a user. One or more user interfaces may include one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs), audio interfaces, image interfaces, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more graphical user interfaces may serve the following functions: display visual data to a user, receive one or more inputs from a user, or both. One or more graphical interfaces may include one or more screens. One or more screens may be screens located on a computing device. One or more screens may be screens on a mobile computing device, a non-mobile computing device, or both. One or more graphical interfaces may include and / or communicate with one or more user input devices, audio interfaces, image interfaces, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more user input devices may allow one or more inputs to be received from a user. One or more input devices may include one or more buttons, scroll wheels, keyboards, switches, mice, joysticks, touch pads (i.e., touch-sensitive areas that are provided as separate peripherals or integrated into computing devices and do not display visual output), touch-sensitive monitor screens, microphones, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more input devices may be integrated with a graphical user interface. An audio interface may serve to emit sound to a user and / or receive sound from a user. An audio interface may include an audio circuit, one or more speakers, one or more microphones, etc., or any combination thereof. An image interface may serve to capture, receive, display, and / or transmit one or more images. An image interface may include one or more cameras. A user interface may serve to display and / or navigate one or more menus of an application.

[0236] The system may include one or more applications. The application (i.e., "computer program") may play the following roles: access data to the system, upload data to the system, or both; interact with a user interface; interact with a feeding assembly; or any combination thereof. The application may be stored on one or more memory storage devices. The application may be stored on one or more personal computing devices. The application may include and / or access one or more computer executable instructions, algorithms, rules, processes, methods, user interfaces, menus, databases, etc., or any combination thereof. Computer executable instructions, when executed by a computing device, may cause the computing device to perform one or more methods described herein. The application may be downloaded, accessed without downloading, or both. The application may be downloaded to one or more computing devices. The application may be downloaded from an application store (i.e., "app store"). The application store may include, but is not limited to, Apple AppStore, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, or any combination thereof. The application may be accessed without downloading to one or more computing devices. The application may be accessed through one or more web browsers. The application may be accessed as a website. The application may interact and / or communicate through one or more user interfaces. The application may be used by one or more computing devices. The application may also be referred to as a dedicated application.

[0237] The external developer may communicate with one or more computing devices, user devices, the feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. The external developer may include a third-party mobile or web application developer. The network may enable the external developer to create an application that is compatible with the website or application installed on the user device and may be used to control the feeding assembly.

[0238] Containers compatible with feeding assembly

[0239] The present teachings relate to a container. The container can function as: storing food therein; serving as a receptacle for an animal to eat from; being compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for automatically opening the container; being compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for presenting food to an animal to eat from; or any combination thereof. The container can seal food therein to extend the shelf life of the food and avoid the need for refrigeration.

[0240] The container may include a container base, a lid, a sealing member, an identifier, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0241] The container may have a symmetrical or asymmetrical shape. The symmetry may be about an axis or plane that intersects the container base and lid.

[0242] The container can have an open configuration, a closed configuration, a partially open configuration, etc., or any combination thereof. The closed configuration can allow for the transport and storage of the container. The closed configuration may mean that the lid of the container is located and sealed to the container base. In the closed configuration, the lid can cooperate with the cavity base to completely seal the cavity of the cavity base. The open configuration and / or partially open configuration can allow access to the food in the container, direct consumption of the food from the container (e.g., by an animal), access to the food to be placed in a food container, or any combination thereof. The open configuration may mean that the lid of the container is removed from the container base, thereby exposing its cavity.

[0243] The container may cooperate with the feeding assembly to move from a closed configuration to an open configuration and / or a partially open configuration, and vice versa.

[0244] The container may include a container base. The container base may function to hold food therein. The container base may be used as a food container for the animal to eat directly therefrom. The container base may define an internal volume in which food may be placed. The food cavity may be defined by the internal volume. The container base may include one or more storage portions, edges, flanges, keying features, alignment features, engagement features, lid entry features, lid reinforcement features, etc., or combinations thereof.

[0245] The container base may include a storage portion. The storage portion may define a cavity for containing food. The storage portion may be the portion from which the animal consumes food from the container.

[0246] The bottom wall may define a bottom surface of the container. The bottom wall may cooperate with the lid and one or more side walls to seal food stored in the container. The bottom wall may cooperate with one or more side walls to define a food cavity.

[0247] One or more side walls may define the outer surface of the container base. One or more side walls may determine part, most or all of the volume and / or height of the container and / or container base. One or more side walls may extend from the bottom wall. One or more side walls may have a closed end and a free end. The closed end may be the end adjacent to the bottom wall. The free end may define the edge of the container base.

[0248] The container base may include one or more edges. The one or more edges may be used as the outer edge of the container base, one or more flanges, or both. The one or more edges may include one or more flanges or be separated from one or more flanges.

[0249] The container base may include one or more flanges. One or more flanges may serve the following functions: providing an attachment surface for the lid, cooperating with one or more storage components, cooperating with one or more container handling components, cooperating with a container bin, etc. or any combination thereof. The flange may extend from the storage portion. The flange may extend from one or more side walls, one or more edges, or both. The flange may extend from the edge of the container base and / or define the edge of the container base. The flange may be separated, attached, and / or integrated with the edge of the container base. The flange may be a portion of the edge extending laterally outward. The flange may extend substantially laterally from the side wall below the edge, a portion protruding downward from the edge, below the top surface of the edge, or any combination thereof. In other words, the flange may be located at any portion of the height along one or more side walls and / or edges. The flange may be more biased toward the edge, the upper surface of the edge, and / or the upper surface of the side wall. The flange may provide a surface for handling the container, attaching to the lid, supporting a sealing member, or any combination thereof. The flange may cooperate with one or more container storage components, container handling components, container opening components, container holding components, etc. or any combination thereof.

[0250] The flange can have a cross-sectional shape (parallel to the cutting plane of the flange, the longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or an overall two-dimensional planar shape (viewed from top to bottom or from bottom to top) that is substantially circular, oval, egg-shaped, teardrop-shaped, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal (e.g., pentagonal, hexagonal) and / or similar. The flange can have a symmetrical shape or a symmetrical shape around one or more planes. The flange can have an asymmetrical shape, including one symmetrical plane, two or more symmetrical planes. The flange shape can help with the orientation of the container.

[0251] The container may or may not include one or more bonding features. One or more bonding features may serve to allow the container to be bonded to engage with a feeding assembly, a container bin, or both. One or more bonding features may help humans to correctly position the container, help one or more parts of a feeding assembly to correctly position the container, or even help one or more machines in the assembly process. One or more bonding features may serve to allow the container to be bonded to engage with a container storage assembly, a container bin, a container handling assembly, a container holding assembly, a waste collection assembly, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more bonding features may be formed on and / or attached to any suitable portion of the container. One or more bonding features may be formed, included in and / or attached to one or more edges, flanges, sidewalls, bottom walls, lids, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0252] One or more bonding features can be a profile change of one or more parts of the container base. One or more bonding features can include one or more recesses, protrusions, protrusions, indentations, flat surfaces, straight edges, etc. or any combination thereof. One or more bonding features can include the overall shape of the flange, the two-dimensional shape of the flange, or both. For example, the flange can have a cross-section or planar shape that is not circular, does not have radial symmetry, or both. For example, shapes such as teardrops, egg-shaped, oval with blunt ends, etc. or combinations thereof. Such shapes can help provide limited correct directions and help correct placement. Exemplary bonding features can include one or more notches, lugs, rounded portions, and / or flat portions. Bonding features can be formed in the flange to avoid affecting the storage volume or shape of the storage portion of the container base. Bonding features can be formed in the flange to help with the correct direction of shapes with more than one plane of symmetry (e.g., square, rectangular, circular). One or more bonding features can include one or more recesses formed in the flange.

[0253] One or more bonding features may include a single bonding feature or multiple bonding features. The bonding feature may or may not be mirrored on the opposite part of the container. Mirroring can provide a single or two or more correct directions of the container. For example, the mirroring of the bonding feature with only a container base (e.g., a flange) symmetrical around one plane may only provide one correct direction. For example, the mirroring of the bonding feature with a container base (e.g., a flange) symmetrical around two or more planes may provide two or more correct directions. Multiple bonding features may include 2 or more, 3 or more, 4 or more, or even 6 or more bonding features. Multiple bonding features may all be the same or different from each other. One or more bonding features may have the same and / or different shapes and / or sizes as one or more other bonding features. For example, all bonding features may be notches. As another example, some bonding features may be notches, while others are straight edges. As another example, a single bonding feature may be the overall two-dimensional shape of a flange.

[0254] The one or more keying features may include, be used as, or be independent of one or more alignment features, engagement features, lid entry features, lid reinforcement features, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0255] The container may or may not include one or more alignment features. The one or more alignment features may facilitate alignment of the container in a container storage assembly, a container bin, a container handling assembly, or both. The one or more alignment features may facilitate alignment of the container within a hopper, a bin, a shuttle assembly, a clamp assembly, a lifting wedge, etc., or a combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may facilitate maintaining the container in proper orientation during movement within a feeding assembly, facilitate loading of the container, or both. The one or more alignment features may prevent rotation, swaying, or turning of the container once loaded into a container storage assembly, a container bin, a container handling assembly, or any combination thereof.

[0256] The one or more alignment features may include a change in profile of an edge, flange, bottom wall, side wall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may include one or more indentations, protrusions, planar surfaces, planar edges, rounded surfaces, rounded edges, or any combination thereof in an edge, flange, bottom wall, side wall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may include a change in profile of an upper surface, a lower surface, and / or a peripheral edge in an edge, flange, bottom wall, side wall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may include one or more protrusions extending laterally from an edge and / or flange of a container base away from the lid, generally parallel to a vertical axis, toward the bottom wall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features are reciprocal in shape or provide a reciprocal shape to one or more portions of a container storage assembly, a container bin, a container handling assembly, or any combination thereof.

[0257] One or more alignment features may be located at one or more junctures with one or more components of the feeding assembly. One or more alignment features may be biased toward the rear of the container, the front of the container, the leading and / or trailing edges, the sides of the container, or any combination thereof. One or more alignment features may be fairly centered or off-center relative to the frontal plane, the longitudinal plane, or both. One or more alignment features may be mirrored or may not be mirrored relative to one or more other alignment features. One or more alignment features may be mirrored relative to one or more opposing alignment features. One or more alignment features may be located relative to each other relative to the frontal plane, the longitudinal plane, or both.

[0258] One or more alignment features can cooperate with the bracket, one or more pairs of arms, or both. Cooperation can include engagement, pairing, providing friction surfaces, providing channels, providing reciprocal surfaces, or any combination thereof. For example, one or more alignment features can form a channel (e.g., a C-shaped channel) together with the sidewalls of the container and the bottom surface of the flange. For example, one or more alignment features can include protrusions from two or more protrusions protruding from the sidewalls and forming a groove or channel around at least a portion of the container base. For example, one or more alignment features can include one or more indentations or protrusions forming a groove or channel in the bottom wall. The channel and / or groove can receive a portion of the bracket, one or more pairs of arms, a support plate (e.g., a support plate of a processing assembly), or a combination thereof, and help keep the container base in a stationary position relative thereto. For example, one or more alignment features can be a planar portion of the sidewall, most of which is curved. The planar portion of the sidewall can be aligned with a planar portion of the container processing assembly, the container storage assembly, or both.

[0259] The container may or may not include one or more engagement features. The one or more engagement features may serve the following functions: to engage with one or more components of the feeding assembly, the container bin; to maintain and hold the container in proper orientation and fixation relative to one or more components; or both. The one or more engagement features may cooperate with one or more container storage components, container bins, container handling components, container holding components, or combinations thereof. The one or more engagement features may engage with a bracket, a pair of arms, a support plate (e.g., a support plate of a container handling component), a lifting wedge, or any combination thereof. The one or more engagement features may be the same as or separate from one or more keying features, alignment features, or both.

[0260] One or more engagement features may provide a shape to receive a portion of one or more container storage assemblies, container handling assemblies, container holding assemblies, etc., or any combination thereof. One or more engagement features may be disposed in an edge, flange, bottom wall, side wall, or any combination thereof. One or more engagement features may function to partially or fully receive one or more protrusions. One or more engagement features may include one or more holes, depressions, grooves, and / or the like.

[0261] The one or more projections may include one or more pins, lugs, posts, hooks, and / or the like. The one or more projections may be part of a container storage assembly, a container handling assembly, a container holding assembly, and / or the like. The one or more projections may extend from one of one or more brackets, arms, support plates (e.g., support plates of a container handling assembly), lifting wedges, rails, and / or any combination thereof. For example, the one or more projections may include pins protruding from one or more arms of a container handling assembly, a clamping plate and / or support plate of a container handling assembly, a bracket of a container handling assembly, a lifting ramp of a container holding assembly, or any combination thereof.

[0262] Exemplary engagement features may include a plurality of holes defined at predetermined locations through the edge and / or flange of the container base. The holes may receive corresponding pins protruding from a clamping plate and / or bracket of the container handling assembly. The holes and pins may together maintain the correct orientation and fixation of the container base at various stages of the feeding cycle.

[0263] The container base may or may not include one or more lid access features. The one or more lid access features may function to: allow a portion of the lid to be accessible; allow a bottom surface of the lid to be accessible in addition to the top surface; expose a portion of the bottom of the lid; allow a leading edge to be accessible; receive one or more components of a container opening assembly; allow one or more components of a container opening assembly to engage with the lid for subsequent removal; or a combination thereof. The one or more lid access features may protect the leading edge, the trailing edge, or both of the lid. The one or more lid access features may be disposed at one or more locations on the container.

[0264] The container can be configured to have a single correct orientation or multiple correct orientations to be positioned in a feeding assembly and / or to cooperate with a container opening assembly. The lid can be formed so that the leading edge and the trailing edge can be reversible or can be irreversible. For example, the container can have no plane of symmetry, or only one plane of symmetry to provide a correct orientation, or two planes of symmetry to provide two correct orientations. A container with a single correct orientation can have one or more lid entry features adjacent to and / or near the lid leading edge only. A container with two correct orientations can have one or more lid entry features adjacent to and / or near the lid leading edge and the trailing edge.

[0265] The one or more lid access features may include one or more recesses, one or more edge and / or flange indentations, one or more edge and / or flange blunt surfaces, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0266] One or more lid access features may include one or more recesses. One or more recesses may serve to protect and maintain the handling portion of the lid. One or more recesses may create a recess gap for a portion of the container opening assembly to be received. The recess may be defined by or coupled to the edge and / or flange of the container base. The recess may extend below the upper surface of the container base, below the flange plane, below the flange axis, below the main upper surface of the flange, or any combination thereof. The recess may be formed in the flange and / or edge of the container base. The recess may be formed as a dent, recess, and / or similar portion in the flange and / or edge. The recess may protrude away from the lid, away from the upper surface of the container base, away from the upper surface of the edge and / or flange, toward the bottom of the container, roughly parallel to the vertical axis of the container, or a combination thereof. The recess may be formed near and / or adjacent to the leading edge of the lid, the trailing edge of the lid, the stress riser feature of the sealing member, or a combination thereof. The recess may cooperate with the lid to define a recess gap. The recess gap may be the distance between the recess and the lid.

[0267] The one or more lid access features may include one or more edge indentations. The one or more edge indentations may serve the following functions: allow the bottom surface of the lid to be accessible in addition to the upper surface; may allow the leading edge to be accessible; may expose a portion of the lid relative to the container; may allow one or more components of the container opening assembly to engage with the lid; or any combination thereof. The one or more edge indentations may be formed in the edge and / or flange of the container base. The one or more edge indentations may be formed at a position close to and / or adjacent to the leading edge of the lid, the stress riser feature of the sealing member, or both. The one or more edge indentations may protrude inwardly toward a vertical axis, the center of the container, the center of the edge and / or flange, or a combination thereof. The one or more edge indentations may be formed as one or more cutouts and / or notches. The one or more edge indentations may refer to a localized area where the profile of the edge and / or flange changes. The one or more edge indentations may have a shape that is the opposite or different from one or more components of the container opening assembly. The one or more edge indentations may have a shape that is the opposite or different from one or more clamps, hooks, and / or the like. One or more edge indentations may have a cross-sectional area equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like. A cross-sectional area equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like may allow them to have sufficient contact to remove the lid.

[0268] One or more lid access features may include one or more blunt surfaces (e.g., straight edges). One or more blunt surfaces may serve the following functions: allowing the bottom surface of the lid to be accessible in addition to the upper surface; allowing the leading edge to be accessible; allowing a portion of the lid to be exposed relative to the container; allowing one or more components of the container opening assembly to engage with the lid; or any combination thereof. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed in the edge and / or flange of the container base. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed at a position close to and / or adjacent to the leading edge of the lid, the stress riser feature of the sealing member, or both. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed as one or more straight edges, edges tangent to a large portion of the profile, or both of one or more edges and / or flanges. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed as substantially flat edges and / or straight edges of edges and / or flanges. One or more blunt surfaces may be different from most of the peripheral profiles of edges and / or flanges. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed as a cross-section and / or a two-dimensional planar shape close to a straight surface. For example, one or more circular shapes may have one or more straight edges formed therein. For example, a circular, oval, egg-shaped, teardrop-shaped, and / or similar shape can be curved and / or narrowed to a straight edge to form a blunt surface. A blunt surface can be opposite to a circular surface. One or more blunt surfaces can refer to a localized area where the profile of an edge and / or flange changes. One or more blunt surfaces can also define an exposed area of ​​the cap, referred to as a handle portion.

[0269] The container may or may not include one or more lid reinforcement features. The one or more lid reinforcement features may serve to reinforce the lid during removal from the container base, prevent the lid from tearing when peeled from the bottom of the container, provide structurally sufficient structure to cooperate with the container opening assembly, or any combination thereof. The one or more lid reinforcement features may serve as one or more keying features, provide consistent orientation for the lid, or both. Typically, when peelable lids are peeled from the corresponding container base, these lids tear, leaving a residue of the lid still adhered to the container base. The residue may hinder the animal from entering the food cavity to consume the food therein. This is particularly problematic for automatic feeding assemblies because the user may not be physically present to remove the residue of the lid.

[0270] The lid reinforcement feature can help disperse the peeling force to the periphery, the sealing member and / or away from the centerline / longitudinal plane (for example, when the lid is peeled from the container base). By dispersing the peeling force outward, this reduces and / or eliminates the risk of the lid not being fully peeled off and leaving a lid residue adhering to the container base. The peeling force can be dispersed outward during the initial movement of peeling, when the leading edge begins to peel, before reaching the midpoint of peeling, before peeling reaches the widest part of the container base, or any combination thereof. The lid reinforcement feature can also help reduce the force required to start peeling. This can be compared with the force required when there is no lid reinforcement feature. This reduction in force can help reduce and / or eliminate the splashing of food contained in the container base.

[0271] The lid reinforcement feature can help disperse the peeling force toward the sealing member, toward the centerline and / or the longitudinal plane, or both (e.g., when the lid is peeled from the container base). By dispersing the peeling force inwardly, this reduces and / or eliminates the risk of the lid completely peeling off and leaving lid residue attached to the container base. The peeling force can be dispersed inwardly during the backward movement of the peeling, when the peeling begins to reach the trailing edge, after reaching the midpoint of the peeling, after the peeling reaches the widest part of the container base, or any combination thereof. The lid reinforcement feature can also help reduce the force required to finally complete the peeling. This can be compared to the force required when there is no lid reinforcement feature. This reduction in force can help reduce and / or eliminate the splashing of food contained in the container base.

[0272] One or more lid reinforcement features can be provided as a part of the lid, the container base, or both. One or more lid reinforcement features can be provided at a processing portion of the lid. The processing portion can be located toward and / or adjacent to a leading edge of the lid, a portion of the lid and / or the container base (e.g., a flange) with which the container opening assembly can interact. The processing portion can be located adjacent to one or more lid access features. The processing portion can be exposed through the lid access feature.

[0273] The container may include a lid. The lid may serve the following functions: closing or sealing the container, preserving the food in the container, or both. The lid may be shaped to be opposite, similar, different, completely covering, or any combination thereof to the food cavity of the container base. The lid may be shaped to be opposite, similar, different, completely covering, partially covering, or any combination thereof to the flange and / or edge of the container base. The lid may be attached to the container base. The lid may be partially or completely removable. Removing the lid may convert the container from a closed configuration to an open configuration.

[0274] The edge of the lid that is first peeled off or otherwise removed from the container can be referred to as the leading edge. The edge of the lid that is last peeled off, remains attached, or otherwise removed can be referred to as the trailing edge. The peeling force can be applied from the leading edge to the trailing edge and / or from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

[0275] The lid may be releasably coupled to the container base. The lid may be releasably attached to the rim and / or flange. The lid may be releasably coupled to the container base via a sealing member. The lid may or may not be capable of being reconnected to the container base.

[0276] The lid can be configured to completely cover the opening of the container base defining the food cavity therein. The lid can be configured to cover the opening defined by the edge and / or flange of the container base. The lid can be configured to cooperate with the container opening assembly. The lid can be configured to allow consistent presentation and positioning relative to the container opening assembly, the container compartment, or both, or both. The lid can be configured to be repeatedly and accessible to grasping, clamping, hooking, and / or the like by the container opening assembly, the user, or both.

[0277] The lid can be shaped so that when the lid is presented to the container opening assembly, it is presented in a consistent position with a leading edge toward the container opening assembly. The lid can have a cross-sectional shape (a cutting plane parallel to the upper surface of the lid, a longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or an overall two-dimensional planar shape (observed from top to bottom or from bottom to top) that is substantially circular, oval, egg-shaped, teardrop-shaped, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal (e.g., pentagonal, hexagonal) and / or similar shapes. The lid can have an asymmetric or symmetrical shape around one or more planes. The lid can have a shape without symmetry, including one plane of symmetry, two or more planes of symmetry. The shape of the lid can help orient the container within one or more components of the feeding assembly.

[0278] The lid may include a handle portion. The handle portion may provide a portion of the lid that is gripped, clamped, hooked and / or otherwise captured to allow a peeling force to be applied to remove the lid. The handle portion may be a portion of the lid that extends beyond the container base, edge and / or flange. The handle portion of the lid may be a portion of the lid that is intended to be engaged with a container opening assembly. The handle portion may extend beyond most of the flange, but have a lid reinforcement feature adhered thereto. The handle portion may have a removable flange portion adhered thereto. The handle portion may have a lid contact portion adhered thereto. The handle portion may extend in the same direction as the flange, protrude laterally from one or more side walls of the container base, or both. The handle portion of the lid may be formed as an extended lug. The handle portion may not be folded over the edge and / or flange, which is common in standard disposable food containers.

[0279] The lid may include a rigid engagement portion. The rigid engagement portion may be placed on a handle portion of the lid. The rigid engagement portion may be the same or different from the lid reinforcement feature described with respect to the flange. The rigid engagement portion may be the same or different from the lid contacting portion of the lid reinforcement feature. The rigid engagement portion may prevent the lid from folding or moving relative to the container base and / or the rest of the lid.

[0280] The handling portion of the lid may or may not include any removable openings. The removable openings may cooperate with one or more container opening assemblies. The removable openings may be configured to receive a portion of the container opening assembly therein. A portion of the container opening assembly may be any portion configured to grab, grasp, hook or otherwise engage and hold the lid for subsequent removal from the container base. The removable openings may receive hooks, posts, clamps and / or the like.

[0281] The container may include one or more sealing members. The one or more sealing members may serve to removably couple the lid to the container base, adhere the lid to the container base, permanently adhere the lid reinforcement feature to the lid, or any combination thereof. The sealing member may refer to a means of directly adhering the lid to the container base, an adhesive separate from the lid and the container base, or both.

[0282] The container may include one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers may serve to indicate one or more parameters associated with the container. The one or more identifiers may include one or more visual identifiers, signal identifiers, or both. The one or more visual identifiers may include one or more quick response ("QR") codes, bar codes, color patterns, textures, surface reflectivity patterns, the like, or a combination thereof. The one or more signal identifiers may include one or more radio frequency identification tags ("RFID"), near field communication ("NFC") tags, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more RFID identifiers may be passive. The one or more identifiers may be placed on one or more portions of the container. The one or more identifiers may be placed on the outside of the container. The one or more identifiers may be located on the outside of the lid, the outside of one or more side walls of the container base, the bottom wall of the container base, the outside of the sleeve, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more identifiers may be placed on the container so that the identification sensor can easily access and read. The one or more parameters associated with the identifier may include compatibility with the feeding assembly, the type of food in the container, the volume of the food in the container, the nutritional value associated with the food in the container, the brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, the date the food in the container was produced and / or packaged, the amount of time the food can be opened and exposed to ambient temperature before it begins to spoil, an expiration date, etc., or any combination thereof. The one or more parameters associated with the identifier may include one or more instructions for accessing one or more databases to retrieve information about the container or the food.

[0283] One or more portions of a container may define or be defined by one or more axes, planes, or both.

[0284] One or more axes may include a vertical axis, a horizontal axis, a longitudinal axis, a front axis, a transverse axis, a flange axis, etc., or any combination thereof. The vertical axis may extend through the container base and the lid, through the bottom of the container base and the cavity defined therein, through the bottom of the container base and the hole defined by the edge and / or flange, or any combination thereof. The vertical axis may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom, edge, flange, lid, or a combination thereof of the container base. The vertical axis may be substantially parallel to the sidewall of the container base. The front axis and / or the center axis may be a vertical axis, which is substantially centered on the container, the container base, the lid, or a combination thereof. The horizontal axis may be substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis. The horizontal axis may be substantially parallel to the bottom of the edge, flange, lid, the container base, or a combination thereof. The horizontal axis may intersect or not intersect with the vertical axis. The longitudinal axis may be a horizontal axis. The longitudinal axis may include the centerline of the container. The transverse axis may be a horizontal axis. The flange axis may be an axis substantially parallel to most of the surface area of ​​the flange. The flange axis may be generally parallel to or offset from the horizontal axis, the longitudinal axis, or both.

[0285] One or more planes may include flange planes, edge planes, lid planes, longitudinal planes, transverse planes, frontal planes, etc. or combinations thereof. The flange plane may be a plane defined by most of the surface area of ​​the flange (e.g., upper surface, surface facing the lid). The flange plane may have a flange axis (e.g., parallel, non-intersecting) therein. The flange plane may be substantially parallel to the transverse plane, lid plane, or both. The edge plane may be a plane defined by most of the surface area of ​​the edge. The edge plane may be parallel to the flange plane, lid plane, and / or transverse plane. The edge plane may be the same as or deviate from the flange plane. The lid plane may be substantially parallel to or deviate from the flange plane. The lid plane may be parallel to the transverse plane, flange plane, or both. The frontal plane may be a plane intersecting and passing through the container, the container base, the lid, or a combination thereof. The frontal plane may divide the container into a front portion and a rear portion. The frontal plane may define one or more planes of symmetry of one or more components of the container. The frontal plane may be located between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the lid. The front plane may have a vertical axis and / or a frontal axis (e.g., parallel, non-intersecting) therein. The front plane may be substantially perpendicular to the flange plane, the cover plane, the longitudinal plane, the transverse plane, or a combination thereof. The longitudinal plane may generally be perpendicular to the transverse plane, the front plane, the flange plane, the cover plane, or a combination thereof. The longitudinal plane may divide the container into two sides (e.g., left and right). The longitudinal plane may have a longitudinal axis, a vertical axis, and / or a frontal axis therein and / or be parallel thereto. The longitudinal plane may have a centerline of the container therein (e.g., parallel to and located therein). The transverse plane may define the upper and lower parts of the container. The transverse plane may be formed between the lid and the container base, or may pass through the container base. The transverse plane may be perpendicular to the transverse plane, the longitudinal plane, or both. The transverse plane may be parallel to the flange plane, the cover plane, or both.

[0286] The container may or may not have a symmetrical shape. Symmetry may be symmetry around one or more planes. Symmetry may mean symmetry around a frontal plane, a longitudinal plane, or any other plane of symmetry, such as any plane that intersects the center point of the container. A container having only one plane of symmetry may have a correct orientation for interacting with a feeding assembly, removing a lid, or both. A container having two or more planes of symmetry may have two or more correct orientations for interacting with a feeding assembly, removing a lid, or both. Interacting with a feeding assembly may include being placed and / or positioned in a container storage assembly, a container handling assembly, a container opening assembly, a container retaining assembly, a container disposal assembly, a waste collection assembly, or a combination thereof, and / or being placed and / or positioned relative to a container storage assembly, a container handling assembly, a container opening assembly, a container retaining assembly, a container disposal assembly, a waste collection assembly, or a combination thereof. Interacting with the feeding assembly can include being placed in and / or positioned in a hopper, a container bin, a gripper, a hook, a grab / hold feature, a bracket, a lifting wedge, a container display opening, a disposal rod, a waste container, or a combination thereof, and / or being placed and / or positioned relative to a hopper, a container bin, a gripper, a hook, a grab / hold feature, a bracket, a lifting wedge, a container display opening, a disposal rod, a waste container, or a combination thereof. A single correct orientation can improve the accuracy of component interaction while reducing the complexity and cost of container design, manufacture, and / or transportation. Two or more correct orientations can reduce the possibility of user loading errors. Loading errors may include incorrect orientations that prevent one or more features of a container intended to interact with one or more components of the feeding assembly from performing their functions and / or fitting together.

[0287] Ways to present food

[0288] The present teachings may also relate to a method of automatically presenting food to an animal for consumption via a feeding assembly. The method may use a feeding assembly, container, and / or system according to the teachings herein. The method may include: a) a container handling assembly automatically receiving and / or obtaining a food container from a container storage assembly; b) a container handling assembly automatically moving the container to a feeding area and presenting the container for consumption; and c) a container handling assembly automatically moving the container to a waste collection assembly and releasing the container into the waste collection assembly.

[0289] The method may include receiving and / or acquiring a container from a container storage assembly. Acquisition may include a container handling assembly grabbing or otherwise actively acquiring a container from a container storage assembly. The container handling assembly may enter the container storage assembly to acquire the container. Receiving may include distributing the container into the container handling assembly. The distribution may be performed by a portion of the container storage assembly. The distribution may be performed by a restraining mechanism. The distribution may provide for distributing the container into a rack of the container handling assembly. Receiving and / or acquiring a container may be based on one or more configurations input by a user, system defaults, or both. For example, receiving and / or acquiring is initiated based on a feeding schedule input by a user.

[0290] The method may include a container handling assembly automatically moving the container to a feeding area and presenting the container for consumption. The movement may be along one or more axes. The movement may be generated by a container transport assembly. The container handling assembly may stop at one or more positions before being in the feeding area. The one or more positions may be those disclosed herein.

[0291] The method may include automatically opening the container by a container opening assembly. The opening may be during movement of the container, the container handling assembly, or both between the container storage assembly and the feeding area. The opening may include peeling off the lid from the container base. The opening may include engaging the leading edge of the lid and / or a removable opening near the leading edge by the container opening assembly. The opening may include moving the container opening assembly relative to the container handling assembly, moving the container handling assembly relative to the container opening assembly, or moving the container opening assembly and the container handling assembly relative to each other. The opening may be before presenting the container to the feeding area. The opening may occur in an open position.

[0292] Engaging the leading edge and / or the removable opening may include engaging with a lid reinforcement feature of the container base. Upon application of a peeling force, the lid reinforcement feature may separate from the container base while remaining adhered to the lid. Due to the lid reinforcement feature, the peeling force may initially disperse away from the centerline of the lid and outwardly toward the peripheral edges of the lid, the sealing member, or both. Due to the lid reinforcement feature, the peeling force disperses toward the centerline of the lid after passing through the wider portion and / or midpoint of the container.

[0293] The method may include a container handling assembly automatically moving the container to a waste collection assembly and releasing the container into the waste collection assembly. The movement may be caused by a container transport assembly. The container handling assembly may be located on top of and / or inside the waste collection assembly. The container handling assembly may cooperate with one or more container handling assemblies to facilitate the container entering the waste collection assembly.

[0294] The method may include a user configuring the feeding assembly via a user interface on the feeding assembly, a computing device separate from the feeding assembly (e.g., a personal computer, a mobile device), or both. Configuration may include the user configuring a feeding schedule for the animal, one or more portion sizes, one or more food types (e.g., brands, flavors, etc.), etc. Configuration may be accomplished via an application.

[0295] The method may include receiving one or more signals from one or more sensing devices. The one or more signals may be used to initiate one or more steps of the method. One or more parameters of the container may be received before distributing and / or acquiring the container. The presence of the container in the container handling assembly may be confirmed before the container handling assembly is moved toward the feeding area. The position of the container handling assembly may be confirmed before the container is distributed to the container handling assembly.

[0296] Illustrative examples

[0297] The following figures and explanations are intended as illustrative examples. Features of one example may be combined with features of another example. For example, Figures 47-50 Any of the bonding features can be Figure 51-57 For example, Figure 51-57 The lid reinforcement features and handles of the container may be combined with Figures 47-50 For example, Figure 11-16 and Figure 26-31 Any bracket component in Figure 39-41 The feeding assembly is combined. Figure 39-41 Any fixture component in Figure 1-34 Any feeding combination in. Fig.42 and 43 The container warehouse can be used with Figure 1-34 and Figure 39-41 Any feeding combination in.

[0298] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10, a container storage assembly 12, and a waste collection assembly 14. The feeding assembly 1 presents a container 16 in an open configuration O. The housing 10 includes a base 18, an intermediate support 28, a support plate 20, and a top cover 22. The base 18 houses the waste collection assembly 14. The support plate 20 includes a feeding area 32. The support plate 20 includes a container display opening 24. Surrounding the container display opening 24 and on top of the support plate 20 is a guard 26.

[0299] Figure 2 and Figure 32 are front and rear views of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10 and a waste collection assembly 14. The housing includes a base 18 and a top cover 22. The base 18 accommodates the waste collection assembly 14. The base 18 includes a cavity 30. The cavity 30 can serve to accommodate one or more components related to the power supply.

[0300] Figure 4 is a top view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a top cover 22. The top cover 22 includes a container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 provides access to the container storage assembly 12. The container storage assembly 12 accommodates one or more containers 16. The containers are in a closed configuration C. The housing 10 includes a support plate 20. The support plate 20 is placed on top of the base 18. The support plate 20 includes a feeding area 32. The feeding area 32 includes a container display opening 24. Surrounding the container display opening 24 is a guard 26.

[0301] Figure 5 1 is a bottom view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a base 18. Removably received within the base 18 is a waste collection assembly 14. The waste collection assembly 14 includes a waste container 36. The bottom of the base 18 may include a plurality of feet 38.

[0302] Figure 6 and Figure 7 1 is a side view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a base 18. On top of the base 18 is a top cover 22. The top cover 22 only spans a portion of the depth of the base 18. The feeding assembly 1 includes a feeding area 32.

[0303] Figure 8 A method of refilling the feeding assembly 1 is shown. The feeding assembly 1 refills the container 16. The container 16 is in the closed configuration C. The container 16 is inserted into the container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the housing 10. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the top cover 22. The container refill opening 34 is disposed on the top surface 22a of the top cover 22. The container refill opening 34 provides access to the container storage assembly 12.

[0304] Fig. 9 A method of refilling the feeding assembly 1 is shown. The feeding assembly 1 refills the container 16. The container 16 is in the closed configuration C. The container 16 is inserted into the container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the housing 10. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the top cover 22. The container refill opening 34 is provided at the side surface 22b of the top cover 22.

[0305] Fig.10A method of refilling the feeding assembly 1 is shown. The feeding assembly 1 refills a plurality of containers 16. The plurality of containers 16 are each in a closed configuration C. The plurality of containers 16 are held together by a container bin 40. The plurality of containers 16 are stacked together within the container bin 40. The container bin is inserted into a container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the top cover 22. The container refill opening 34 provides access to the container storage assembly 12.

[0306] Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage assembly 12. The container storage assembly 12 is filled with a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed configuration C. The containers 16 are held in place within a hopper 48. Proximate to the hopper 48 is an identification sensor 138. The containers 16 are held in place by a restraining mechanism 50 (not shown). Proximate to the container storage assembly 12 is a container handling assembly 42. The container handling assembly 42 is shown in a loading position LP. In the loading position LP, the container handling assembly 42 can be aligned with the container storage assembly 12. The alignment can allow the containers 16 to be transferred from the container storage assembly 12 to the container handling assembly 42.

[0307] Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage assembly 12. The container storage assembly 12 is filled with a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed configuration C. The container handling assembly 42 is adjacent to the container storage assembly 12 and is in a loading position LP. The container handling assembly 42 is aligned with the hopper 48. A restraining mechanism 50 (not shown) urges the containers 16 into the container handling assembly 42.

[0308] Fig.13 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly 1. The container handling assembly 42 is moved from the loading position LP (eg Fig.12 1 and 1 . The container handling assembly 42 is moved to the open position OP from the container storage assembly 12 toward the feeding area 32. The container handling assembly 42 moves the container 16 in the closed configuration from the container storage assembly 12 toward the container opening assembly 46. The container opening assembly 46 engages the lid 54. In this example, the container opening assembly 46 clamps the lid 54. As the container handling assembly 42 continues to move toward the feeding area 32, the container opening assembly 46 continues to hold a portion of the lid 54. As the container base 52 continues to move to the feeding area 32, the lid 54 is removed from the container base 52 by holding a portion of the lid 54 stationary.

[0309] Fig.14is a cross-section of the feeding assembly 1. The container handling assembly 42 is located within, below and / or adjacent to the feeding area 32. The container handling assembly 42 is in the feeding position FP. The container handling assembly 42 includes the container 16 therein. The container 16 is in the open configuration O. The lid 54 has been previously removed. The lid 54 is located within the waste collection assembly 14. The lid 54 is within the waste container 36 of the waste collection assembly 14. The container handling assembly 42 moves horizontally and vertically upward into the feeding area 32. The upward movement causes the container 16 to move upward into the container display opening 24.

[0310] Fig.15 and 16 is a cross-section of the feeding assembly 1. The container handling assembly 42 moves toward the disposal assembly 56. The disposal assembly 56 cooperates with the container handling assembly 42. The container handling assembly is in the disposal position DP. The interaction between the disposal assembly 56 and the container handling assembly 42 causes the container 16 to enter the waste collection assembly 14. The container 16 falls into the waste container 36. After the container 16 is disposed into the waste collection assembly 14, the container handling assembly 42 stays in the rest position RP. The container handling assembly 42 can wait in this position until a subsequent container 16 in the container storage assembly 12 is ready to be dispensed and presented to the animal for consumption.

[0311] Fig.17 and 18A container storage assembly 12 is shown. The container storage assembly 12 includes a hopper 48. The hopper 48 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed configuration C. The hopper 48 has a cross-section that is substantially inverse to the cross-section of the container 16. The hopper 48 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The hopper 48 includes one or more keying features 58. The hopper 48 includes one or more cutouts 84. The cutouts 84 expose the edge or flange 76 of the container 16. The container 16 is held in place by a restraining mechanism 50. The restraining mechanism 50 includes two rollers 60. The rollers 60 include a plurality of fins 74. The fins 74 hold the edge or flange 76 of the container 16. As an example, the substantially horizontal fins 74 support the edge 76 of the container 16 thereon. The rollers 60 are each rotatably engaged with a rotating shaft 62. One or both rollers 60 are rotatably connected to a roller drive unit 64. The roller drive unit 64 includes a motor 66, a drive shaft 68, and one or more drive gears 70. One or more drive gears 70 are rotatably engaged with one or more drum gears 72. Rotation of the drive gear 70 by the motor 66 may result in rotation of the drum gear 72. Rotation of the drum gear 72 may then result in rotation of the rotation shaft 62 and / or the drum 60. The drum 60 rotates such that the fins 74 no longer support the edge 76 of the container 16 (e.g., the fins rotate downward). When the drum 60 no longer supports the container 16, the container 16 is dispensed from the hopper 48 into the container handling assembly. As the drum 60 rotates, the adjacent fins 74 grab the edge 76 of the next container 16 in the stack.

[0312] like Fig.17 and 18 As shown, the container storage assembly 12 is mounted on a base 80. The base includes one or more brackets 82. One or more rotational axes 62 can be supported by the brackets 82. The base 80 can be mounted on the support plate 20. The container storage assembly 12 can also be without the base 80, and the support plate 20 provides the same features. The support plate 20 includes a hopper opening 78. The hopper opening 78 is at least partially aligned with the hopper 48 to allow the container 16 to pass through the support plate 20 from the hopper. The support plate 20 includes a container display opening 24.

[0313] Fig.19 and 20A container storage assembly 12 is shown. The container storage assembly 12 includes a hopper 48. The hopper 48 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed configuration C. The hopper 48 has a cross-section that is substantially the opposite of the cross-section of the containers 16. The hopper 48 includes a plurality of cutouts 84. The edges and / or flanges 76 protrude through the cutouts 84. The container storage assembly 12 includes a plurality of rollers 60. The rollers 60 may be configured as worm gears 86. The teeth 88 of the worm gears 86 may function similarly to the fins 74 (not shown). The edges or flanges 76 of the containers 16 may engage with the teeth 88. The teeth 88 may support the edges or flanges 76 and hold the containers 16 in place within the hopper 48. When the rollers 60 rotate, the rotation of the teeth 88 causes the edges or flanges 76 to pass downward through the hopper 48. The rollers 60 are rotated by a drive unit 64 (not shown).

[0314] Fig.21 , 22 23 shows a container opening assembly 46. The container opening assembly 46 includes a drive unit 64. The drive unit 64 includes a motor 66 and a drive shaft 68. The drive unit 64 can be configured as a threaded motor 64a. The drive unit 64 can be accommodated and supported by a drive support 92. The drive unit 64 can be mounted on a drive unit cover 95. Rotatably engaged with the drive shaft 68 is a movable jaw 94. The movable jaw 94 is stationary relative to the stationary jaw 96. When the drive shaft 68 rotates, the movable jaw 94 can move closer to or farther from the stationary jaw 96. The movement of the movable jaw 94 can cause the clamping gap 98 to become larger or smaller. The lid 54 (not shown) can be moved into the clamping gap 98. The lid 54 (not shown) can be clamped and held between the movable jaw 94 and the stationary jaw 96.

[0315] Fig.24 and 25 The container opening assembly 46 is shown. The container opening assembly 46 includes a hook 220. The hook 220 is fixed to an arm 222. The arm 222 can be movable (e.g., rotatable) or stationary. The hook 220 interacts with a hook opening 204 of the container 16. The hook opening 204 can be formed in the container base 52 and / or the lid 54 (not shown). The hook 220 can engage with the hook opening 204 of the lid 54 (not shown) to peel the lid off the container base 52.

[0316] Fig.26A portion of a feeding assembly 1 is shown. The feeding assembly 1 includes a base 18. The base 18 holds a waste collection assembly 14 therein. The base 18 supports an intermediate support 28. The intermediate support 28 supports a transport assembly 44. The transport assembly 44 includes a drive unit 64. As shown, the drive unit 64 is located below the intermediate support 28 and is accommodated in the base 18. The drive unit 64 includes a motor 66. The drive unit 64 can drive the rotation of a rotating shaft 62. The drive unit 64 can be rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 62 through one or more gears (not shown). The transport assembly 44 includes a support shaft 100. The intermediate support 28 includes a plurality of brackets 2. The brackets 82 support the rotating shaft 62 and the support shaft 100. The rotation of the rotating shaft 62 causes a linear movement of the container handling assembly 42. The rotating shaft 62 is engaged with the container handling assembly 42. The support shaft 100 supports the container handling assembly 42 and allows it to move linearly.

[0317] The feeding assembly 1 includes two handling assemblies 56. The handling assemblies 56 are located at positions opposite to each other. Each handling assembly 56 includes a mounting bracket 102. The mounting bracket 102 is mounted on the intermediate support 28. The mounting bracket 102 supports a plunger 104. Each handling assembly 56 also includes a spring 106. The spring 106 extends through the plunger 104 and the mounting bracket 102. The handling assembly 56 is configured to cooperate with the container handling assembly 42. The container handling assembly 42 includes a handling rod 112.

[0318] The feeding assembly 1 includes a lifting wedge 108. The lifting wedge 108 is fixed to the intermediate support 28. The lifting wedge 108 includes an inclined surface 110. The inclined surface 110 cooperates with the inclined surface 110 of the container handling assembly 42. Through the cooperation of the inclined surface 110, when the container handling assembly 42 is moved to the feeding position FP (not shown), the container 16 (not shown) can be lifted into the feeding area 32.

[0319] The feeding assembly 1 includes a position sensor 212. The position sensor 212 is configured to sense whether the container handling assembly 42 is in the loading position LP (not shown). The position sensor 212 cooperates with a portion of the container handling assembly 42. The position sensor 212 includes a position recess 214. The container handling assembly 42 includes a position extension 216. When the container handling assembly 42 is in the loading position LP, the position extension 216 is located in the extension recess 214.

[0320] The feeding assembly 1 includes a presence sensor 218. The presence sensor is configured to sense whether a container 16 is located in the container handling assembly 42 after being disposed of from the container storage assembly 12.

[0321] Fig. 27 and 28 A container handling assembly 42 is shown. Fig.28The container handling assembly 42 holds the container 16 in the closed configuration C. The container handling assembly 42 may be referred to as a shuttle 114. The container handling assembly 42 includes a bracket 116. The bracket 116 is configured to hold the container 16. The bracket 116 may include one or more keying features 58. The keying feature 58 may include an overall shape of a bracket, a recess, or the like. The bracket 116 is held by a retaining support 118. The bracket 116 is movable within the retaining support 118. The bracket 116 may move vertically upward and downward relative to the retaining support 118. The retaining support 118 also holds the disposal rod 112. The disposal rod 112 is movable relative to the retaining support 118. The disposal rod 112 may move horizontally forward and backward relative to the retaining support 118. The retaining support is fixed to a bearing 120. The bearing 120 includes a through hole 122. The through hole 122 may engage with one or more shafts. One through hole may be threaded and configured to engage the drive shaft 68 (not shown). The other through hole may be configured to engage the support shaft 100 (not shown).

[0322] The bracket 116 has a two-dimensional shape that is substantially inverse to at least a portion of the periphery of the container 16. The bracket 116 is located around the container base 52 of the container 16. The edge or flange 76 of the container 16 rests against the bracket 116.

[0323] Fig.29 The bottom of the container holding assembly 42 is shown with the container 16 mounted thereon. The container holding assembly 42 includes a bracket 116. The bracket 116 includes an inclined surface 110.

[0324] Fig.30 The front of the feeding assembly 1 is shown. The feeding assembly 1 comprises a base 18. The base 18 supports an intermediate support 28. Mounted on the intermediate support 28 is a lifting ramp 108. The lifting ramp has two inclined surfaces 110.

[0325] Fig.31 The container holding assembly 42 is shown as a portion of the container holding assembly 42 when it moves to the feeding position FP. Fig.30 As the container of the container holding assembly 42 continues to move forward toward the lifting ramp 108, the force between the inclined surfaces 110 causes the bracket 116 to be pushed vertically upward away from the holding support 118. The upwardly moving bracket 116 also moves the container 16 upward into the container display opening 24 (not shown).

[0326] Fig.32 and 33 The waste collection assembly 14 is shown. The waste collection assembly 14 includes one or more waste containers 36. The one or more waste containers 36 are formed as a waste drawer 124. Fig.32As shown, a single waste container 36 can collect all waste associated with the container. The waste may include the lid, the container base and / or unconsumed food. Fig.32 As shown, one waste container 36 can be dedicated to collecting removed lids. The waste container 36 can be referred to as a lid waste container 36a. Another waste container 36 can be dedicated to collecting used container bases. The waste container 36 can also collect unconsumed food remaining in the container base. The waste container can be referred to as a container base waste container 36b. The waste collection assembly 14 includes a front panel 126. The front panel 126 includes a handle 128. The front panel 126 can form a front panel of the waste drawer 124. The waste collection assembly 14 includes a side wall 130. The side wall 130 includes a guide groove 132.

[0327] Fig.34 The feeding assembly 1 is shown without the top cover 22 (not shown). The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a base 18 and a support plate 20. The housing 10 defines a feeding area 32. The feeding area 32 includes a container display opening 24. Surrounding the container display opening 24 is a guard 26. Located on top of the support plate 20 is a container storage assembly 12. Located within the container storage assembly 12 are a plurality of containers 16. Located within the base 18 is a waste collection assembly 14.

[0328] Fig.35 is a schematic diagram of a system 500. The system can provide food to an animal A (e.g., autonomously). The system 500 includes a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is configured to receive at least one container 16. The container 16 includes food for the animal to eat. The feeding assembly 1 communicates with a user device 600. The user device 600 is associated with a user U. The feeding assembly 1 can communicate directly or indirectly with the user device 600. The feeding assembly 1 can communicate indirectly with the user device 600 via a communication network 502. A remote server 506 can communicate with the user device 600 and / or the feeding assembly 1 via the communication network 502. The remote server 506 can be associated with one or more databases 508. One or more external developers 504 can communicate with the remote server 506, the feeding assembly 1, and / or the user device 600 via the communication network 502.

[0329] Fig.36is a schematic block diagram of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage assembly 12, a transport assembly 40, a container handling assembly 42, a container opening assembly 46, and a housing 10. The container storage assembly 12 can load and store one or more containers 16. The housing 10 can include a container display opening 24, through which each container 16 can be at least partially placed in the feeding area 32 so that the animal can access the container. The container opening assembly 46 (which can also be referred to as a lid removal assembly) can be configured to interact with each container 16 to separate the lid 54 (not shown) of each container 16 from the base 52 (not shown) of each container 16. The container handling assembly can engage and hold each container 16 relative to the transport assembly 40, allowing the container 16 to move from the container storage assembly 12 to a position to interact with the container opening assembly 46 to remove the lid 54 (not shown) and move to the feeding area 32.

[0330] like Fig.36 As shown, the assembly 1 optionally includes a controller 134. The controller 134 can optionally communicate and / or be operably coupled with one or more of the container storage assembly 12, the container handling assembly 42, the transport assembly 40, or the container opening assembly 46 to control the operation of each respective assembly (e.g., control one or more actuators thereof) and / or exchange data with each respective assembly (e.g., receive data from sensors thereof).

[0331] Fig.37 is a schematic flow chart of a method 700 for autonomously feeding an animal using a feeding assembly. The method 700 may be used in conjunction with the feeding assembly 1 disclosed herein. Although the steps of the method 700 are described in a particular order, this is for illustrative purposes, and the operations of the method 700 may be performed in any order.

[0332] Method 700 includes receiving one or more containers within a container storage assembly (step 702). Method 700 may include determining one or more container parameters associated with one or more containers (step 704). These parameters may be determined by one or more sensing devices or other components. Method 700 includes dispensing containers from the container storage assembly (step 706). After dispensing, method 700 includes removing the lid of the container (step 708). The lid may be removed by a container opening assembly. Before, after, or while removing the lid, the container may be transported to a feeding area (step 710). In the feeding area, the container in an open configuration may be presented to the animal for consumption of the food located therein. In response to determining that the animal has finished eating, the controller may determine changes in the container parameters and / or the physiological parameters of the animal (step 712). After the animal has finished eating or other parameters have passed, method 700 includes disposing the used container into a waste collection assembly of the feeding assembly (step 714).

[0333] Figures 38A-38D 800 is a schematic flow chart showing a method 800 for ordering, setting up, and using a feeding assembly. The method 800 may be used in conjunction with the feeding assembly 1 disclosed herein. Although the steps of the method 800 are described in a particular order, this is for illustrative purposes, and the operations of the method 800 may be performed in any order.

[0334] Method 800 may include a subprocess 810 of ordering and setting up. Subprocess 810 may begin with a user ordering a feeding assembly and a plurality of containers (e.g., food containers) (step 811). The feeding assembly may be packaged. Subprocess 810 may then include unpacking (step 812) and then unpacking (e.g., removing) the feeding assembly (step 813). Subprocess 810 may include the user plugging the feeding assembly into a power source (step 814). Additionally, optionally, the user may install an application on their mobile device. If the user installs the application, the user may then enter identification information associated with the animal on the mobile application (step 815). Thereafter, the user may program the feeding assembly through the application (step 816). Programming may include setting the animal's feeding time, feeding amount, time that food is available, and the like.

[0335] Method 800 includes a subprocess 820 of replenishing / emptying. Subprocess 820 can start with a user opening a top cover or otherwise opening a feeding assembly to access a container storage assembly (step 821). In the case where the container storage assembly is compatible with a container bin, subprocess 820 can include removing the container bin from the feeding assembly (step 822). In step 823, the user can replenish the container bin with multiple containers containing animal food. In step 824, the user reinserts or installs the replenished container bin back into the container storage assembly. Instead of the container bin, the user can directly insert a new container into the container storage assembly to replenish the feeding assembly. Then, the user can partially or completely remove the waste storage assembly (step 825). For example, the user can slide the waste drawer out of the base. If the waste container includes a lid, the user can remove the lid to access one or more waste bags (step 826). In step 826, one or more waste bags can be removed from the waste container. The waste bag can include a removed lid, a used container base, and / or remaining food. Thereafter, one or more fresh waste bags may be inserted into one or more waste containers (step 827). At step 828, the waste storage assembly is then reinserted into the feeding assembly 1. If a lid or other cover is present, subprocess 820 may include closing the lid (step 829).

[0336] Method 800 includes a feeding wet food subprocess 830. The feeding wet food subprocess 830 includes various operations for setting a feeding cycle for an animal (e.g., a cat). In step 831, a user may press a wet food button or engage any other input / output portion of a feeding assembly (e.g., a touch display) to start a feeding cycle for the animal. In step 832, a user may set a wet food timer for feeding the animal through a mobile application installed on a user device. In step 833, the feeding assembly may be configured to start a feeding cycle in response to an animal's interaction with the feeding assembly (e.g., standing in front of the feeding assembly for a period of time, making a noise or making a gesture, etc.). In step 834, the feeding assembly moves an open food container to a feeding area that is located outside the housing and accessible to the animal. In step 835, the animal eats the food. In step 836, the animal leaves the feeding area. In step 837, the feeding assembly may weigh the amount of wet food remaining in the container and retract the container into the housing immediately after the animal leaves. At step 838, the remaining food can be weighed, but after a predetermined time, the container is retracted into the housing. As described herein, method 800 can proceed from step 837 or 838 to operation 841 of feeding dry food subprocess 840, or proceed from operation 837 to operation 844 of subprocess 840.

[0337] Method 800 includes a feeding dry food subprocess 840. The feeding dry food subprocess 840 can start with a user pressing a dry food button to start a dry food feeding cycle for the animal at step 841, setting a dry food feeding time through a mobile application at step 842, and / or in response to an interaction of the animal with a feeding assembly at step 843. At step 844, a dry food container can be presented in a feeding area by the feeding assembly. At step 845, the animal eats the food. At step 846, the animal leaves. At step 847, the feeding assembly can weigh the amount of dry food remaining in the container and retract the container into the housing immediately after the animal leaves. At step 848, the remaining food can be weighed, but the dry food container is not retracted into the housing until a predetermined time has passed. As described herein, method 800 can proceed from operation 847 or 848 to operation 851, or from operation 848 to operation 858.

[0338] Fig.39 , 40 and 41 are transparent views of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 may include a housing 10, a container storage assembly 12, a waste collection assembly 14, a transport assembly 44, a container handling assembly 42, a feeding area 32, and may also include a controller (not shown).

[0339] A container display opening 24 may be defined in a wall of the housing 10. The container display opening 24 may be in a wall adjacent to a feeding area 32 located outside the housing 10. The opening 24 may allow a container 16 placed in a group of containers 16 in the container storage assembly 12 to be transferred or displayed through the opening 24 into the feeding area 32.

[0340] The assembly 1 may include a residual waste collector 136 placed below or within the housing 10. The residual waste collector 136 may be close to the base of the housing 10 and / or at the front of the housing 10.

[0341] The container storage assembly 12 is configured to receive and store the set of containers 16. The container storage assembly 12 is located within the volume of the housing 10 or includes a portion of the volume of the housing 10 that is configured to removably receive a container bin 40 in which a set of containers 16 are loaded.

[0342] The identification sensor 138 may be disposed proximate to the container storage assembly 12 .

[0343] The waste collection assembly 14 may include a portion of the housing 10 or be located within the housing 10. The waste collection assembly includes a lid waste container 36a and a container base waste container 36b. A container opening assembly 46 (e.g., a protrusion, an arm, a blade, a knife, etc.) may be located in the lid waste container 36a. The container opening assembly 46 may be configured to engage the lid of the container 16 and remove the lid from the container base of the container 16 when the container 16 is moved into or out of the lid waste container 36a by the container handling assembly 42. The lid waste container 36a may define an opening 140 in its sidewall. The container handling assembly 42 may move the container 16 into the lid waste container 36a through the opening 140. The container base waste container 36b may include a portion of the housing 10 or be contained in the housing 10. The container base waste container 36b may be configured to receive a used container 16. In some embodiments, the sidewall of the container base waste container 36b may define the opening 140. Through the opening 140, the container handling assembly 42 can transport the used container 16 to the container base waste container 36b and dispose of the used container 16 therein.

[0344] The feeding assembly 1 also includes a transport assembly 44. The container handling assembly 42 is connected to the transport assembly 44. The transport assembly can move the container handling assembly 42 to the lid waste container 36a and / or the container base waste container 36b. The transport assembly 44 can include a first mounting rod 142. The first mounting rod 142 extends vertically or in the Z direction. The first mounting rod 142 allows the container handling assembly 42 to translate in the vertical direction. The transport assembly 44 can also include a first set of support rods 144 extending in the X direction (e.g., from the front to the rear of the feeding assembly) and a second set of support rods 144 extending in the Y direction (e.g., from one side of the feeding assembly to the other side). The transport assembly 44 also includes a first actuator 146, a second actuator 148, and a third actuator 150. The actuators 146, 148, 150 are configured to move the container handling assembly 42 in the Z, X, and Y directions, respectively.

[0345] The container handling assembly 42 may include a clamp 152. The clamp 152 is configured to hold and fix a container 16 in a group of containers 16 in response to the transport assembly 44 moving the clamp 152 into the container storage assembly 12, facilitate the removal of a lid associated with the container 16, and place the container 16 in the feeding area in response to the transport assembly 44 moving the container 16 to the feeding area FA. The clamp 152 includes a pair of arms 154 and 156. The pair of arms 154, 156 can be referred to as an upper pair of arms. The pair of arms 154 and 156 are each coupled to a clamp base 162. The container handling assembly 42 may also include a clamping plate 158 (also referred to as a support plate) disposed below the pair of arms 442a / b. The container 16 is received between the pair of arms 154, 156 and rests against the top of the clamping plate 158. The container handling assembly 42 may include an actuator, such as a rotary actuator 164.

[0346] The container holding assembly 158 can be located at or near the feeding area FA. The container holding assembly 158 can include any suitable structure to fix and prevent the movement of the container 16. The container holding assembly 158 can include a set of rods 162. The set of rods 162 protrude from the side wall of the housing 10 to the feeding area FA.

[0347] Fig.42 and 431 is a plan view of a container bin 40. The container bin 40 may also be referred to as a turntable bin. The container bin 40 includes a circular hub 166. The circular hub is configured as a circular wheel. The circular hub 166 defines a plurality of slots 168. The slots 168 are located around the periphery of the hub 166. Each slot 168 is configured to receive a single or multiple containers 16. The containers 16 are stored in the container bin 40 in a closed configuration C. The hub 166 can rotate around a central cavity 170. By rotating around the central cavity 170, the container 16 can be transferred from the slot 168 to the central cavity 170. The central cavity 170 may include an entry opening 172. The slot 168 can rotate around the central cavity 170 so as to align with the entry opening 172. The container 16 can be transferred from the slot 168 to the central cavity 170 by a portion of the container storage assembly 12. For example, the container storage assembly 12 may include an arm 174. The arm 174 may be configured to push the container 16 from the slot 168 into the central cavity 170. The arm 174 can push the container 16 through the entry window 172. The container bin 40 can rotate around a vertical axis or a horizontal axis or any angle therebetween. Once in the central cavity 170, the container handling assembly 42 can be able to obtain the container 16 for subsequent transportation within the feeding assembly 1.

[0348] Fig.44 , 45 4 and 46 show a container magazine 40. The container magazine 40 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16 in a closed configuration C. The containers 16 are stacked vertically.

[0349] exist Fig.44 1, the containers 16 are stacked one on top of the other. The lid 54 of the container 16 supports the container base 52 of the adjacent container 16. The container bin 40 includes an outer wall 176. The outer wall 176 defines a hollow interior of the bin 40. The container bin 40 includes a lid 178. The lid 178 can be removable to allow the containers 16 to be dispensed.

[0350] exist Fig.45 and 46 1, the container 16 is supported by the container bin 40. The container bin 40 includes a plurality of slots 168. The slots 168 are formed in the outer wall 176. The slots 168 support the edge or flange 76 of the container 16. The slots 168 can be spaced apart to accommodate containers 16 of different volumes. For example, a container 16 with a larger volume may use only some of the slots 168, while a container 16 with a smaller volume may use all or different slots. Fig.45 and 46 Compatibility with containers 16 of different volumes is shown.

[0351] Fig.47A container 16 in a partially open configuration O and a container 16 in a closed configuration C are shown. The container 16 in the closed configuration C also has a larger storage volume. The container 16 includes a container base 52 and a lid 54. The lid 54 is removable from the container base 52. The lid 54 can be removed by a peel force PF. The container base 52 includes an edge 76. The edge 76 forms a flange 77. The container base 52 includes one or more recesses 180. The recess 180 is formed as a part of the edge 76. The container base 52 includes one or more alignment features 182. The alignment feature 182 is formed as a part of the edge 76. The container base 52 includes an engagement feature 184. The engagement feature 182 is formed as a part of the edge 76. The lid 54 of the container 16 in the open configuration O includes an identifier 186. The container base 52 of the container 16 in the closed configuration C includes an identifier 186.

[0352] Fig.48 Container base 52 is shown. Container base 52 includes a vertical axis VA extending therethrough. Vertical axis VA is substantially centered on container base. Container base 52 includes edge 76. Edge 76 is formed as flange 77. Flange axis FA is defined by a majority of the surface of flange 77. Flange axis FA is substantially perpendicular to vertical axis VA. Flange axis VA is aligned with opposite recess 180. Flange 77 includes recess 180 formed therein. Recess 180 is formed as an indentation or change on the surface of flange 77. Recess 180 protrudes downwardly in a direction substantially similar to vertical axis VA. Recess 180 protrudes away from axis A. Flange 77 includes a keying feature 188 formed therein. Keying feature 188 defines a change in the peripheral profile of flange 77. Keying feature 188 includes one or more indentations 190. Indentation 190 protrudes inwardly toward vertical axis VA. Keying feature 188 includes one or more straight edges 192. The straight edge 192 is substantially parallel to the axis A.

[0353] Fig.49 and 50 Container 16 is shown. Container 16 includes container base 52. Container base 52 is closed by lid 54. Lid 54 is removably adhered to container base 52 by sealing member 198. Sealing member 198 includes stress riser feature 196. Container base 52 includes flange 77. Flange 77 includes recess 180 and alignment feature 182. Container 16 includes tensioning feature 194. Tensioning feature 194 is provided as part of lid 54. Container base 52 includes flat surface 200.

[0354] Figure 51-54The container 16 is shown in a closed configuration C and an open configuration O. In the closed configuration, the lid 54 covers the container base 52. In the open configuration O, the lid 54 is removed from the container base 52. The lid 54 and the container base 52 each include a keying feature 188. The keying feature 188 can be defined as the overall peripheral shape (e.g., 2-dimensional planar shape and / or cross-section) of the edge 76 and the lid 54. The lid 54 includes a processing portion 201. The lid 54 includes an extension lug 202. The extension lug 202 is the processing portion 201. The extension lug 202 can include a hook mouth 204. The extension lug 202 can define a leading edge 206 of the lid. Relative to the leading edge 206 can be a trailing edge 208. The container base 52 can also include an extension lug 202. The extension lug 202 can also include a hook mouth 204. The extension lug 202 can also be referred to as a lid reinforcement feature 203. The hook mouth 204 can be aligned with each other. The container base 52 may include a score line 210. The score line 210 is located between the extension lug 202 and the rest of the container base 52. The score line 210 allows the extension lug 202 to be separated from the rest of the edge 76. The container base 52 includes a sealing member 198. The sealing member 198 includes a stress riser feature 196. The stress riser feature 196 is located adjacent to the container base 52 near the leading edge 206 and the trailing edge 208 of the lid 54. The sealing member 198 includes a first sealing member 198a and a second sealing member 198b. The first sealing member 198a is located on the edge 76. The second sealing member 198b is located at the lid reinforcement feature 203.

[0355] Figure 55-57 Different plan views of the container 16 are shown in an open configuration O and a closed configuration C. The container 16 includes a container base 52. The container 16 includes the container base 52 with a lid 54 removably adhered thereto.

[0356] The container 16 includes a vertical axis VA. The vertical axis VA extends through the container base 52 through an opening defined by the edge 76 and / or the flange 77 and / or the lid 54. A transverse plane TP is substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis VA. The transverse plane is substantially parallel to the flange plane FP and / or the edge plane RP. The flange plane FP is defined by the upper surface of the flange 77. The edge plane RP is defined by the upper surface of the edge 76. A longitudinal plane LP extends from the front to the rear of the container 16. The longitudinal plane LP can define the centerline CL of the container 16. A front plane FRP extends from one side of the container 16 to the other side. The front plane FRP separates the container 16 from the front and the rear.

[0357] The container includes a height H, a length L, and a width W. The height H is measured parallel to the vertical axis VA. The height H is measured from the top to the bottom of the container 16. The length L is measured from the front to the back. The length L is measured parallel to the longitudinal plane LP. The width W is measured from side to side. The width W is measured parallel to the front plane FRP.

[0358] The lid 54 includes a handling portion 201. The handling portion 201 may or may not include a hook 204. The handling portion 201 may be located toward and or at the front of the container 16.

[0359] The handling portion 201 may be adhered to the lid reinforcement feature 203. The lid reinforcement feature 203 may include a vertically extending portion 203a and a lid contacting portion 203b.

[0360] Unless otherwise stated, any numerical value described herein includes all values ​​that increase progressively with one unit from the lower limit to the upper limit, provided that there is an interval of at least 2 units between any lower limit and any upper limit. As an example, if the value of the amount, characteristic or process variable (such as temperature, pressure, time, etc.) of the component is expressed, for example, 1 to 90, preferably 20 to 80, more preferably 30 to 70, then the intermediate range value (for example, 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32, etc.) is intended to be within the teaching content of this specification. Similarly, individual intermediate values ​​are also within this teaching content. For a value less than 1, a unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of specific intent, and all possible combinations of the numerical value between the minimum value and the maximum value listed should be considered to be clearly stated in the application in a similar manner.

[0361] Unless otherwise indicated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of "about" or "approximately" in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, "about 20 to 30" is intended to cover "about 20 to about 30", including at least the specified endpoints.

[0362] The terms "substantially" or "substantially" used to describe angular measurements may mean about + / -10° or less, about + / -5° or less, or even about + / -1° or less. The terms "substantially" or "substantially" used to describe angular measurements may mean about + / -0.01° or more, about + / -0.1° or more, or even about + / -0.5° or more. The terms "substantially" or "substantially" used to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about + / -10% or less, about + / -5% or less, or even about + / -1% or less. The terms "substantially" or "substantially" used to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about + / -0.01% or more, about + / -0.1% or more, or even about + / -0.5% or more.

[0363] The disclosure of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. The term "consisting essentially of ... " describing a combination should include confirmed elements, ingredients, parts or steps and other elements, ingredients, parts or steps of the type that do not substantially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The combination of the terms "comprising" or "including" used herein to describe elements, ingredients, parts or steps also considers the embodiment consisting essentially of or even consisting of elements, ingredients, parts or steps. Multiple elements, ingredients, parts or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, parts or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, parts or step can be divided into multiple separate elements, ingredients, parts or steps. Disclosing "one" or "one" to describe an element, ingredient, part or step is not intended to exclude other elements, ingredients, parts or steps.

[0364] It should be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. By reading the above description, many embodiments and many applications other than the examples provided will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be determined with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims and the full scope of equivalents granted by these claims. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. The omission of any aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein in the following claims is not a waiver of such subject matter, nor should it be considered that the inventor does not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

Claims

1. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage assembly configured to store one or more food containers therein; b) a container handling assembly and / or transport assembly configured to acquire and / or receive containers from said container storage assembly and transfer to a feeding area; c) a container opening assembly configured to open the container prior to presentation of the container to an animal; d) Optionally, a waste collection assembly configured to receive the one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

2. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage assembly configured to store a plurality of food containers therein; b) a container handling assembly configured to acquire and / or receive containers from said container storage assembly; c) a container transport assembly configured to move the container handling assembly in one or linear direction from a loading position at the container storage assembly to a feeding position at the feeding area; d) a container opening assembly configured to open the container when the container is transferred from the container storage assembly to the feeding area, wherein the container opening assembly is configured to engage a lid and apply a peel force to remove the lid from the container; e) a waste collection assembly configured to receive the one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

3. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage assembly configured to store a plurality of food containers therein; b) a container handling assembly and / or transport assembly configured to acquire and / or receive containers from said container storage assembly and transfer to a feeding area; c) a container opening assembly having a pair of jaws and / or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grasp, clamp, hook) a lid of said container, wherein the container opening assembly, together with the container handling assembly and / or the container transport assembly, is configured to apply a peeling force to the lid of the container by moving the container handling assembly relative to the container opening assembly, moving the container opening assembly relative to the container handling assembly, or both relative to each other to remove the lid and open the container; as well as d) Optionally, a waste collection assembly configured to receive the one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

4. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly comprising: a) a container storage component having: i) a hopper configured as a container for storing a plurality of food items therein; ii) a restraining mechanism configured to retain the plurality of containers in the hopper and selectively release a container from the plurality of containers; b) a container handling assembly configured to acquire and / or receive containers from said container storage assembly; c) a container transport assembly configured to move the container handling assembly from a loading position at the container storage assembly to a feeding position at the feeding area in one or more linear directions, wherein the container transport assembly includes one or more drive units that together with the container handling assembly convert rotation into linear movement; d) a container opening assembly having a pair of jaws and / or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grasp, clamp, hook) a lid of said container, wherein the container opening component is configured together with the container handling component and / or the container transport component to apply a peeling force to the lid of the container by moving the container handling component relative to the container opening component, moving the container opening component relative to the container handling component, or both relative to each other to remove the lid and open the container; and e) a waste collection assembly configured to receive the one or more containers after the one or more containers are presented to the feeding area.

5. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container opening assembly is configured to present the container base of the container to the feeding area so that the food is presented to the animal for consumption in the same container in which the food was stored.

6. The feeding assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The container opening assembly is configured to open the container by removing a lid from a container base, removing and / or at least partially opening a sleeve, or both.

7. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container opening assembly is configured to engage a lid of the container to peel the lid off a container base.

8. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container handling assembly moves relative to the container opening assembly, the container opening assembly moves relative to the container handling assembly, or the container opening assembly and the container handling assembly move relative to each other so that the container opening assembly applies a peeling force to the lid.

9. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container opening assembly includes and / or functions as an arm, a knife, a clamp, a can opener, a vacuum source, a pair of jaws, the like, or any combination thereof.

10. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container opening assembly is located between the container storage assembly and the feeding area, near the opening position of the container handling assembly, between the loading position and the feeding position of the container handling assembly, etc. or any combination thereof.

11. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container opening assembly is located above, adjacent to, below and / or proximate to the container handling assembly, the waste collection assembly, or both.

12. The feeding assembly according to claim 11, wherein: The container opening assembly is located above the container handling assembly and the waste collection assembly.

13. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container opening assembly includes a pair of jaws, hooks, or both, wherein the jaws are configured to grasp and clamp a portion of the lid at a leading edge, and the hooks are configured to engage with (e.g., insert into) a removable opening of the portion of the lid at the leading edge.

14. The feeding assembly of claim 13, wherein: The pair of jaws includes one or more movable jaws, stationary jaws, or both.

15. The feeding assembly of claim 14, wherein: The jaws define a clamping gap that decreases as one or more of the jaws move to a closed configuration to grasp and clamp the lid.

16. A feeding assembly according to claim 14 or 15, wherein: One or both clamping jaws can be moved by one or more drive units.

17. The feeding assembly of claim 16, wherein: The one or both jaws work together with the drive unit to convert rotation into linear movement, further rotation, or both to open and close the pair of jaws.

18. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein: The movable jaw is configured to move linearly, rotate about a pivot point (eg, a hinge), or both to increase and / or decrease the clamping gap.

19. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container opening assembly is mounted to a support plate of the housing, the support plate being located above a base of the housing.

20. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container storage assembly is configured to hold a plurality of containers and selectively release the containers to a container handling assembly.

21. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container storage assembly is configured to hold a plurality of containers and the container handling assembly is configured to selectively retrieve the containers.

22. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container storage assembly includes a hopper configured to directly receive one or more stacks (eg, columns) of a plurality of containers therein or to removably receive one or more container bins having a plurality of containers stored therein.

23. The feeding assembly of claim 22, wherein: The container bay includes one or more slots and / or recesses for supporting the plurality of containers.

24. The feeding assembly of claim 23, wherein: The hopper includes an inlet, an outlet, or both.

25. The feeding assembly of claim 24, wherein: The hopper is configured to place a plurality of containers through the outlet.

26. The feeding assembly of claim 25, wherein: The container storage assembly includes a restraint mechanism configured to retain the plurality of containers in the hopper and selectively release the containers from the hopper.

27. The feeding assembly of claim 26, wherein: The restraining mechanism may include one or more rollers, drive units, gears, pulleys and / or the like.

28. The feeding assembly of claim 27, wherein: The one or more rollers are partially located in one or more cut-outs of the hopper so as to engage with one or more edges and / or flanges of the container.

29. The feeding assembly of claim 28, wherein: The drum supports a flange of the container so that when the drum is stationary, the container remains stationary within the hopper; and Wherein, when the drum rotates, the container is released from the hopper.

30. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein: The one or more rollers may include one or more rotating shafts, fins, worm gears, and / or the like.

31. The feeding assembly of claim 30, wherein: The one or more rollers include one or more rotating shafts having a plurality of fins (eg, adhered or integral) radially projecting therefrom, and when stationary, the flange of the container is located on the fins, between adjacent fins, or both.

32. The feeding assembly of claim 30, wherein: The one or more rollers include one or more worm gears and when stationary the flange of the container is located between the teeth of the worm gears.

33. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein: The one or more cutouts are located adjacent and / or proximate to an outlet of the hopper, along a width of the hopper, along a length or height of the hopper, or a combination thereof.

34. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 26 to 33, wherein: The restraining mechanism is mounted on the same housing portion as the hopper.

35. The feeding assembly of claim 34, wherein: The restraint mechanism is mounted on a support plate of the housing.

36. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 22 to 35, wherein: The inlet of the hopper is upwardly directed and aligned with the outlet, the inlet of the hopper is forwardly directed and perpendicular to the outlet, or both.

37. The feeding assembly of claim 36, wherein: The inlet of the hopper is aligned with the container refill opening of the housing.

38. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The housing includes a top cover.

39. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container storage assembly is located adjacent to, below and / or above the container handling assembly, the container opening assembly and / or the waste collection assembly.

40. The feeding assembly of claim 39, wherein: The container storage assembly is located above the container handling assembly and the waste collection assembly.

41. The feeding assembly of claim 40, wherein: The container storage assembly is located adjacent to the container opening assembly.

42. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container handling assembly is configured to releasably engage one or more containers.

43. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container handling assembly is configured to be moved between a plurality of locations within the feeding assembly by the container transport assembly.

44. The feeding assembly of claim 43, wherein: The plurality of positions include a loading position, an open position, a feeding position, a handling position, a rest position, the like, or a combination thereof.

45. The feeding assembly of claim 44, wherein: In the loading position, the container handling assembly is configured to be positioned relative to the container storage assembly so as to receive and / or retrieve containers from the container storage assembly.

46. ​​The feeding assembly of claim 45, wherein: In the loading position, the container handling assembly is located below the outlet of the container storage assembly.

47. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 46, wherein: In the loading position, the container handling assembly is located toward the rear of the feeding assembly.

48. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 47, wherein: In the open position, the container handling assembly is configured to be positioned to allow opening of a container by the container opening assembly.

49. The feeding assembly of claim 48, wherein: In the open position, the container handling assembly is located below the container opening assembly.

50. A feeding assembly according to claim 48 or 49, wherein: In the open position, the container handling assembly is located in a central area of ​​the feeding assembly, between the container storage assembly and the feeding area, or both.

51. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 50, wherein: In the feeding position, the container handling assembly is configured to be positioned so as to present and / or arrange a container to the feeding area.

52. The feeding assembly of claim 51, wherein: In the feeding position, the container handling assembly is located below the feeding area, toward the front of the feeding assembly, or both.

53. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 52, wherein: In the disposal position, the container handling assembly is configured to be positioned to dispose of or release the container into a waste collection assembly.

54. The feeding assembly of claim 53, wherein: In the disposal position, the container handling assembly is adjacent to one or more disposal assemblies and is located above the waste collection assembly.

55. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container handling assembly includes a shuttle assembly, a gripper assembly, or both, configured to receive and / or acquire a container, hold a container while moving the container within the feeding assembly, release a container, or a combination thereof.

56. The feeding assembly of claim 55, wherein: The shuttle assembly includes a bracket, a retaining support, a bearing, a through hole, a disposal rod, a biasing device, the like, or a combination thereof.

57. A feeding assembly according to claim 55 or 56, wherein: The shuttle assembly is configured to work with one or more container handling assemblies to urge the container from the container handling assembly into the waste collection assembly.

58. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 55 to 57, wherein: The one or more container handling assemblies are configured to contact and bias the handling rod toward the carrier and container to apply a pushing force to the container.

59. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 55 to 58, wherein: The carrier of the container handling assembly remains relatively stationary with respect to the container once the container is received therein.

60. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 55 to 59, wherein: The bracket has a shape that is substantially inverse to at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the container.

61. The feeding assembly of claim 55, wherein: The clamp assembly includes one or more pairs of arms, a support, a drive unit (eg, an actuator), a base, or a combination thereof.

62. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container transport assembly is coupled to or is part of a container handling assembly and is configured to translate the container handling assembly in one or more linear directions, axes, or both.

63. The feeding assembly of claim 62, wherein: The container transport assembly is configured to translate the container handling assembly along only a single axis.

64. The feeding assembly of claim 62, wherein: The container transport assembly is configured to translate the container handling assembly along three axes.

65. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 62 to 64, wherein: The container transport assembly includes one or more support structures, drive units, rollers, conveyor belts, track chains, rollers, actuators capable of moving on guide rails, one or more inclined surfaces, etc. or a combination thereof.

66. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 62 to 65, wherein: The one or more support structures are mounted parallel to the one or more linear directions and / or axes of movement.

67. The feeding assembly of claim 66, wherein: The one or more support structures have one or more container handling components mounted thereon, one or more other support structures mounted thereon, or both.

68. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 62 to 67, wherein: The container transport assembly includes one or more drive shafts and one or more support shafts.

69. The feeding assembly of claim 68, wherein: The one or more drive shafts (e.g., lead screws) are rotationally engaged with one or more bearings of the container handling assembly; as well as Wherein the one or more drive shafts and the one or more bearings (eg, through-holes) are configured to convert rotation into linear movement to cause linear translation (eg, threaded engagement) of the container handling assembly.

70. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 62 to 67, wherein: The one or more support shafts engage the one or more bearings to provide a support surface for the one or more bearings to slide along when driven by the drive shaft.

71. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The feeding assembly includes one or more container handling assemblies configured to cooperate with a container handling assembly to urge a container into the waste collection assembly.

72. The feeding assembly of claim 71, wherein: The one or more container handling assemblies include one or more mounts, plungers and / or biasing devices.

73. A feeding assembly according to claim 71 or 72, wherein: The one or more container handling assemblies are mounted along a path of the container handling assembly from a feeding position to a handling position, a resting position and / or a loading position.

74. A feeding assembly according to claim 72 or 73, wherein: The container handling assembly includes one or more plungers biased outwardly toward a path of the container handling assembly by one or more biasing means; as well as Wherein, the one or more plungers are configured to contact a disposal rod of the container handling assembly to transmit a biasing force.

75. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The one or more waste collection assemblies include one or more waste containers.

76. The feeding assembly of claim 75, wherein: The one or more waste containers are one or more waste drawers, baskets, stationary containers, and / or the like.

77. A feeding assembly according to claim 75 or 76, wherein: The one or more waste containers are one or more waste drawers located in the housing base.

78. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The feeding assembly includes one or more sensing devices.

79. The feeding assembly of claim 78, wherein: The one or more sensing devices include one or more identification sensors, presence sensors, position sensors, weight sensors, etc. or any combination thereof.

80. The feeding assembly of claim 79, wherein: The one or more identification sensors are configured to receive information from one or more identifiers of the container, the plurality of containers, or both.

81. The feeding assembly of claim 80, wherein: The one or more identification sensors are compatible with one or more identifiers including a bar code, a QR code, a reflective feature, a scannable optical feature, an IR or UV visible printed feature, a raised or recessed feature, a circuit (e.g., a resistive circuit), an NFC chip, an RFID, or any other visual, electrical, or electromagnetic indicator.

82. A feeding assembly according to claim 80 or 81, wherein: The one or more identification sensors include one or more radio frequency transmitters, barcode readers, QR code readers, near field communication transmitters (NFC), image sensors, optical sensors, etc. or any combination thereof.

83. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 80 to 82, wherein: The one or more identification sensors are configured to receive one or more parameters of (eg, or signals related to) the container or the food therein.

84. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 80 to 83, wherein: The one or more identification sensors are located proximate to the container storage component, the container handling component, or both so as to be able to observe, be associated with, or both, one or more identifiers of the one or more containers.

85. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 79 to 84, wherein: The one or more presence sensors are configured to detect whether a container has been acquired by, received by, and / or properly positioned in the container handling assembly.

86. The feeding assembly of claim 85, wherein: The one or more presence sensors include one or more mass sensors, capacitive sensors, infrared sensors, laser sensors (e.g., time of flight), ultrasonic sensors, film sensors, radio frequency (RF) admittance sensors, conductive sensors, optical interface sensors, microwave sensors, etc., or a combination thereof.

87. A feeding assembly according to claim 85 or 86, wherein: The one or more presence sensors are located proximate (eg, adjacent) to a loading location, a container storage assembly, a container handling assembly, or a combination thereof.

88. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 85 to 87, wherein: The one or more presence sensors are positioned toward the rear of the feeding assembly.

89. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 85 to 88, wherein: The one or more presence sensors are mounted adjacent to the channel of the intermediate support, the support plate, or both, toward the rear, or both.

90. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 79 to 89, wherein: The one or more position sensors are configured to detect the position of a container handling component, a container transport component, or both within the feeding assembly.

91. The feeding assembly of claim 90, wherein: The one or more position sensors are located proximate (eg, adjacent) to a loading location, a container storage assembly, a container handling assembly, or a combination thereof.

92. A feeding assembly according to claim 90 or 91, wherein: The one or more position sensors are positioned toward the rear of the feeding assembly.

93. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 90 to 92, wherein: The one or more position sensors are mounted adjacent to the channel of the intermediate support, the support plate, or both, toward the rear, or both.

94. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 79 to 93, wherein: The one or more weight sensors are configured to measure the weight of the container before the container is placed in the feeding area and after the container is removed from the feeding area.

95. The feeding assembly of claim 94, wherein: The one or more weight sensors include one or more strain gauges (including load cells), impedance sensors (eg, capacitance-based weight sensors), hydraulic sensors, pneumatic sensors, etc., or any combination thereof.

96. A feeding assembly according to claim 94 or 95, wherein: The one or more weight sensors are secured to or are a part of the housing, the container handling assembly, the transport assembly, or a combination thereof.

97. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The feeding assembly includes one or more temperature control devices configured to maintain and / or change the temperature of food in the container or containers.

98. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The feeding assembly includes a controller configured to automate the interaction of one or more components within the assembly.

99. A feeding assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container comprises: a) a container base defining a food cavity configured to hold food therein, wherein the container base comprises: i) one or more flanges, the flanges comprising and / or forming one or more keying features configured to provide one or more orientations of the container; b) a lid removably adhered to the container base, wherein the lid is configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (e.g., a component) to peel the lid from the container, wherein the lid comprises one of: i) a handling portion, the handling portion comprising a bottom surface of the lid, the bottom surface of the lid emerging from one or more flanges and / or one or more edges of the container base; ii) a handling portion that extends beyond the container base such that the bottom of the lid is exposed (e.g., emerging from one or more flanges) and including a reinforcing structure secured thereto; or iii) a handling portion extending from the container base together with one or more flange reinforcement features secured thereto and configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (eg, assembly) to peel the lid from the container base.

100. A system comprising the feeding assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The feeding assembly includes one or more communication modules and is configured to connect to a network.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein: The feeding assembly communicates with one or more computing devices via a network and can be controlled via the one or more computing devices via the network.

102. The system of claim 100 or 101, wherein: The one or more computing devices include one or more personal computers and / or mobile computing devices.

103. The system of any one of claims 100 to 102, wherein: An application program is accessible by or stored on the computing device, the computing device being configured to interact with the feeding assembly via a network.

104. The system of any one of claims 100 to 103, wherein: The network includes one or more servers including one or more storage media having one or more databases.

105. The system of any one of claims 100 to 104, wherein: The one or more databases include one or more animal profile databases, food databases, or both.

106. The system of any one of claims 100 to 105, wherein: The one or more animal profile databases store one or more parameters associated with one or more animals; and The one or more parameters include age, gender, breed, weight, color, medical information, feeding information (e.g., quantity, schedule), etc. or any combination thereof.

107. The system of any one of claims 100 to 106, wherein: The one or more food databases store one or more parameters of food; and The one or more parameters include compatibility with the feeding assembly, the type of food in the container, the volume of food in the container, the nutritional value associated with the food in the container, the brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, the production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, the expiration date of the food in the container, the time that the food can be unsealed and exposed to ambient temperature before it begins to deteriorate, etc., or any combination thereof.

108. A method of automatically presenting food to an animal for consumption via a feeding assembly, the method comprising: a) the container handling component automatically receives and / or obtains the container of food from the container storage component; b) the container handling assembly automatically moves the container to a feeding area and presents the container for consumption; as well as c) The container handling assembly automatically moves the container to a waste collection assembly and releases the container into the waste collection assembly.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein: The feeding assembly is a feeding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 98.

110. The method according to claim 108 or 109, wherein: The container is the container according to claim 99.

111. The method according to any one of claims 108 to 110, wherein: The method employs a system according to any one of claims 100 to 107.

112. The method according to any one of claims 108 to 111, wherein: The method includes automatically opening the container via a container opening assembly during movement between the container storage assembly and the feeding area.

113. The method according to claim 112, wherein: The opening comprises peeling the lid from the container base.

114. The method according to claim 112 or 113, wherein: The opening comprises engaging the leading edge and / or the removable opening adjacent the leading edge of the lid by the container opening assembly; and The container opening assembly moves relative to the container handling assembly, the container handling assembly moves relative to the container opening assembly, or the container opening assembly and the container handling assembly move relative to each other.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein: Engaging the leading edge and / or the removable opening further comprises engaging with a lid reinforcement feature of the container base.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein: Upon application of a peel force, the lid reinforcement feature separates from the container base while remaining adhered to the lid.

117. The method according to claim 115 or 116, wherein: Due to the lid reinforcement features, the peel forces are initially dispersed outwardly from the centerline of the lid and outwardly toward the peripheral edges of the lid, the sealing member, or both.

118. The method according to any one of claims 115 to 117, wherein: Due to the lid reinforcement features, the peel force is dispersed toward the centerline of the lid after passing the wider portion and / or midpoint of the container.

119. The method according to any one of claims 108 to 118, wherein: The method includes a user configuring the feeding assembly via a user interface on the feeding assembly, a computing device separate from the feeding assembly (eg, a personal computer, a mobile device), or both.

120. The method of claim 119, wherein: The method includes a user configuring a feeding schedule for an animal.

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