A pet toilet
By using a rotating sleeve to drive the sand shovel to rotate 360°, combined with a front and rear drive mechanism, the design solves the problems of complex transmission structure and easy residue left when dumping in existing pet toilets, achieving a low-cost, compact transmission structure and efficient feces collection.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202311856072.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-12-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing pet toilets have complex transmission structures, high production costs, limited rotation angles of the rake body, and are prone to leaving debris when emptying.
The design employs a rotating sleeve to drive the sand shovel to rotate 360°. Combined with front and rear drive mechanisms and a rotating drive mechanism, the sand shovel can pour sand granules into the manure collection mechanism. The inner cavity of the rotating sleeve and the moving seat enclose the installation cavity, avoiding direct exposure to the outside environment. The transmission structure is compact.
It features a simple structure, low cost, and small footprint. The sand shovel is designed to prevent debris from being left behind when emptying the sand. The transmission structure is compact and has dustproof and accidental contact prevention features, thus protecting pets.
Smart Images

Figure CN117751850B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of pet products, and more particularly to a pet toilet. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, some self-cleaning pet toilets have appeared on the market, such as the Chinese invention patent application publication document CN110521611A entitled "An Automatic Litter Scraping and Sealing Pet Toilet." This pet toilet includes a litter box, a collection device, a guide rail, a litter scrambler, and a drive device. The litter box has a litter baffle on the front side to assist in scrambling litter. The collection device is located on the rear side of the litter box and has a collection opening. The guide rail is located above the litter box. The litter scrambler includes a scrambler body and a connecting mechanism. The upper end of the connecting mechanism is slidably connected to the guide rail and moves along the guide rail between the litter baffle and the collection device. The front and rear sides of the scrambler body face the litter baffle and the collection device, respectively. The scrambler body has a channel for cat litter to move from the front side of the scrambler body to the rear side of the scrambler body. The scrambler body has several sieve holes. The scrambler body is rotatably connected to the lower end of the connecting mechanism. The driving device is used to drive the connecting mechanism to move along the guide rail. The driving device is also used to drive the rake body to swing and rise around the rotational connection between the rake body and the connecting mechanism. The sand-shoveling baffle matches the end trajectory of the rake body when it swings and rises. This solution has a relatively complex transmission structure and high production costs; moreover, due to the limitations of the transmission structure, the rake body's rotation angle is limited, and debris easily remains on the rake body during the dumping action. Summary of the Invention
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pet toilet that has the advantages of reasonable design, simple and compact structure, small space occupation, low production cost, and easy removal of debris when the litter shovel is used for emptying.
[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: a pet toilet, including a shell, a litter box, and a feces collection mechanism; the litter box and the feces collection mechanism are arranged and installed on the shell in a front-to-back direction; it also includes a gantry frame, a litter shovel, a front-to-back drive mechanism, a rotation drive mechanism, and a main control module;
[0005] The gantry frame includes two movable seats and a rotating sleeve. Both movable seats can be mounted on the housing in a forward and backward motion. The two movable seats are arranged in a left-right direction. The sand basin and the feces collection mechanism are located between the two movable seats. The rotating sleeve has open ends. One end of the rotating sleeve is rotatably connected to one of the movable seats, and the other end of the rotating sleeve is rotatably connected to the other movable seat. The rotating sleeve is higher than the sand basin and the feces collection mechanism. The rotation axis of the rotating sleeve is arranged in a left-right direction. The inner cavity of the rotating sleeve and the two movable seats enclose an installation cavity.
[0006] The front and rear drive mechanism can drive two movable seats to move back and forth;
[0007] The rotation drive mechanism includes a rotation drive motor, which is mounted on one of the movable seats and located in the mounting cavity. The rotation drive motor can drive the rotating sleeve to rotate 360°.
[0008] The sand shovel has several sieve holes for clean sand particles to pass through. The sand shovel is installed and fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating sleeve. The sand shovel can be driven by the rotating sleeve to rotate 360° around the rotation axis of the rotating sleeve. Through the cooperation of the front and rear drive mechanism and the rotation drive mechanism, the sand shovel can collect the sand particles that have solidified with feces in the sand basin and transport them to the feces collection mechanism.
[0009] The main control module is electrically connected to the front and rear drive mechanisms and the rotation drive motor, and is used to control the operation of the front and rear drive mechanisms and the rotation drive mechanism.
[0010] Working principle of the invention:
[0011] Initially, the gantry frame is positioned close to the feces collection mechanism in the front-to-back direction, with the sand shovel facing the feces collection mechanism at a 60°–90° angle to the horizontal plane and above the rotating sleeve. When the main control module starts the feces cleaning program, the front and rear drive mechanisms move the gantry frame to the middle position of the sand basin. The drive motor rotates the rotating sleeve, causing the sand shovel to rotate and become horizontally positioned with the feces collection mechanism. The drive motor continues to rotate the rotating sleeve, causing the sand shovel to rotate downwards by 180°, so that the sand shovel is on the side of the rotating sleeve facing away from the feces collection mechanism. During the rotation of the sand shovel, sand particles that have solidified with feces in the sand basin are collected on the sand shovel. Then, the front and rear drive mechanisms move the gantry frame to the side of the feces collection mechanism. Finally, the drive motor rotates the rotating sleeve, causing the sand shovel to rotate upwards by 90°–120° to return to the initial position, causing the sand particles on the sand shovel to fall into the feces collection mechanism for collection. This design utilizes a rotating sleeve to drive the sand shovel. This design simplifies the transmission structure and reduces production costs. Furthermore, the axial rotation of the sleeve allows for a 360° rotation angle, providing greater freedom of movement for the sand shovel. This facilitates the easier disposal of sand clumps into the waste collection mechanism, minimizing debris residue on the shovel. Additionally, the inner cavity of the rotating sleeve, enclosing the two movable seats, forms a mounting cavity. This provides space for the drive motor and other transmission components, preventing direct exposure to the external environment. This results in a more compact transmission structure, dustproof and accidental contact prevention, reduced space occupation, pet protection, and improved aesthetics.
[0012] Furthermore, in the pet toilet described above, the inner cavity of the rotating sleeve has a circular cross-section, and a transmission tooth segment is formed on the inner wall of the rotating sleeve. The transmission tooth segment is an annular structure arranged around the rotation axis of the rotating sleeve. The rotation drive mechanism also includes a transmission gear and a rotation drive shaft. The rotation drive shaft is rotatably installed in the mounting cavity. The transmission gear is installed and fixed on the rotation drive shaft, and the axis of the transmission gear is collinear with the rotation axis of the rotation drive shaft. The transmission gear meshes with the transmission tooth segment on the rotating sleeve. The rotation drive motor can drive the rotation drive shaft to rotate, thereby driving the rotating sleeve to rotate.
[0013] Furthermore, in the pet toilet described above, the rotation drive mechanism further includes a transmission shaft and a clutch assembly. The transmission shaft is rotatably installed in the mounting cavity, and its rotation axis is collinear with that of the rotation drive shaft. One end of the transmission shaft and one end of the rotation drive shaft are connected via the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly can connect or disconnect the transmission shaft and the rotation drive shaft. The rotation drive motor drives the rotation drive shaft to rotate via the sequentially connected transmission shaft and the clutch assembly. An angle monitoring assembly is also included, mounted on a gantry frame, and used to monitor the angle between the sand shovel and the horizontal plane. The main control module is electrically connected to the clutch assembly and the angle monitoring assembly. The clutch assembly can be an electromagnetic clutch or a clutch structure formed by combining the transmission shaft and the rotation drive shaft.
[0014] Furthermore, in the pet toilet described above, the angle monitoring component includes a monitoring sensor and a trigger; the monitoring sensor is disposed within the mounting cavity and is electrically connected to the main control module; the trigger is mounted and fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotation drive shaft, and the trigger can be driven by the rotation drive shaft to rotate around the rotation axis of the rotation drive shaft, thereby triggering the monitoring sensor. The monitoring sensor can be a photoelectric sensor, an activation sensor, a proximity switch, etc.
[0015] Furthermore, as described above, a pet toilet also includes a sand storage bin, which is installed on the shell and located directly above the litter box. The sand storage bin contains a sand storage cavity for storing sand particles. A discharge port communicating with the sand storage cavity is formed on the bottom surface of the sand storage bin. A movable baffle is rotatably installed on the discharge port. The rotation axis of the movable baffle is set along the left-right direction. The movable baffle can switch between a state of blocking the discharge port and a state of opening the discharge port by rotation. The movable baffle has a tendency to switch to the state of blocking the discharge port. The sand shovel can be moved and rotated by a gantry frame so that its end rests on the bottom surface of the movable baffle and drives the movable baffle to rotate upwards, thus opening the discharge port.
[0016] Furthermore, in the pet toilet described above, a receiving cavity is formed inside the shell, and an inlet and outlet communicating with the receiving cavity are formed on the front side of the shell. The inlet and outlet are located near the left or right side of the shell. The litter box, feces collection mechanism, gantry frame, litter shovel, front and rear drive mechanism, and rotation drive mechanism are all located inside the receiving cavity, and the litter box is located near the inlet and outlet.
[0017] Furthermore, as described above, a pet toilet also includes a folding corridor, which comprises a first plate and a second plate. Each of the first and second plates has a sand-draining hole connecting its two sides. The first and second plates are arranged sequentially in the accommodating cavity along the front-to-back direction and are higher than the sand tray. One end of the first plate is located along the lower edge of the inlet / outlet and is rotatably connected to the housing. The other end of the first plate is rotatably connected to one end of the second plate. The rotation axes of both the first and second plates are arranged along the left-to-right direction. The folding corridor can be switched between a folded state and an unfolded state by rotating the first and second plates. A third... A torsion spring causes the first and second plates to have a tendency to rotate to form an angle of 120° to 150°. When the folding corridor is in the folded state, the first and second plates are stacked, with the first plate sandwiched between the second plate and the inner wall of the housing, blocking the entrance and exit. When the folding corridor is in the unfolded state, the first plate is gradually tilted upward from front to back, and the second plate is horizontal. A locking electromagnet is installed on the inner wall of the housing to attract and lock the second plate of the folding corridor in the folded state. A locking structure is formed on the gantry frame to lock the second plate of the folding corridor in the unfolded state.
[0018] Further, in the pet toilet described above, the locking structure includes an upper positioning member and a lower support member; the upper positioning member is disposed on the front side of the movable seat near the inlet and outlet of the gantry frame, and a sliding ramp is formed on the front side of the movable seat, which is gradually inclined upward from front to back and disposed below the upper positioning member; a sliding wheel is installed on the other end of the second plate, which can slide along the sliding ramp and rest against the bottom surface of the upper positioning member; the lower support member is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating sleeve of the gantry frame, and the lower support member can be driven by the rotating sleeve to support the bottom surface of the second plate of the folded corridor in the unfolded state; the upper positioning member and the lower support member work together to clamp and lock the second plate of the folded corridor in the unfolded state.
[0019] Furthermore, in the pet toilet described above, the folding corridor also includes a third plate, which is rotatably connected to one side of the first plate, and the rotation axis of the third plate is parallel to the axis of the first plate; a second torsion spring is provided between the third plate and the first plate, so that the third plate has a tendency to rotate toward the direction of the first plate and make an angle of 91° to 120° with the first plate; when the folding corridor is in the folded state, the first plate and the third plate are arranged in the left and right directions, and the third plate is arranged parallel to the first plate; when the folding corridor is in the unfolded state, the third plate, the first plate, and the left or right side wall of the shell form an access channel, which is connected to the entrance and exit.
[0020] Further, in the pet toilet described above, the front and rear drive mechanism includes a front and rear drive shaft, a guide gear, a guide member, and a front and rear drive motor; the guide member is mounted on the housing, and a guide tooth segment is formed on the guide member along the front and rear direction; the guide gear is rotatably mounted on the gantry frame, the rotation axis of the guide gear is arranged along the left and right direction, and the guide gear meshes with the guide tooth segment; one end of the front and rear drive shaft is rotatably mounted on one of the movable seats of the gantry frame, and the other end of the front and rear drive shaft passes through the mounting cavity and is rotatably mounted on another movable seat of the gantry frame, the rotation axis of the front and rear drive shaft is arranged along the left and right direction, and the front and rear drive shaft is connected to the guide gear; the front and rear drive motor is mounted on one of the movable seats of the gantry frame and is located in the mounting cavity, the front and rear drive motor is electrically connected to the main control module, and the front and rear drive motor can drive the front and rear drive shaft to rotate, thereby driving the guide gear to rotate.
[0021] The technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages: reasonable design, simple and compact structure, small space occupation, low production cost, and easy to leave debris when the sand shovel is poured. Attached Figure Description
[0022] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment;
[0023] Figure 2 This is one of the three-dimensional structural diagrams of the embodiment after the plates on the left, right, top, bottom, and rear sides of the shell have been removed;
[0024] Figure 3 This is the second perspective view of the embodiment after the plates on the left, right, top, bottom, and rear sides of the shell have been removed;
[0025] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the embodiment after the casing has been removed;
[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the gantry frame, sand shovel, and front and rear drive mechanisms in an embodiment.
[0027] Figure 6 This is an assembly structure diagram of the front and rear drive mechanism and the rotation drive mechanism in the embodiment;
[0028] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion at point A;
[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0030] 1-Shell; 11-Inlet / Outlet; 2-Sand Basin; 3-Feces Collection Mechanism; 31-Feces Collection Chamber; 311-Collection Chamber; 312-Grinding Chamber; 32-Grinding Motor; 33-Solenoid Water Valve; 34-Inlet Pipe; 35-Drainage Pipe; 4-Gantry Frame; 41-Moving Base; 411-Guide Pulley; 412-Sliding Inclined Surface; 413-Connecting Part; 42-Rotating Sleeve; 421-First Transmission Unit; 422-Second Transmission Unit; 423-Connecting Part; 424-Transmission Gear Section; 5-Sand Shovel; 51-Sieve Hole; 6-Front and Rear Drive Mechanism; 61-Front and Rear Drive Shaft; 62-Guide Gear; 63-Guide Part; 631-Guide Gear Section; 632-Guide Rail; 64-Front and Rear Drive Motor; 65-First Gear; 66-Second Gear; 67-Third Gear; 68-Output Gear; 7-Rotation Drive Mechanism; 71-Transmission Gear; 7 2-Rotation drive shaft; 73-Transmission shaft; 74-Clutch assembly; 741-First assembly; 742-Second assembly; 75-Rotation drive motor; 76-Fourth gear; 77-Drive gear; 8-Main control module; 9-Drag chain; 10-Control panel; 20-Angle monitoring assembly; 201-Monitoring sensor; 2011-Photoelectric module; 202-Trigger element; 2021-Mounting part; 2022-Trigger protrusion Part; 30-Sand storage bin; 301-Modible baffle; 40-Folding corridor; 401-First plate; 402-Second plate; 4021-Sliding wheel; 4022-Locking part; 403-Third plate; 4031-Spherical part; 4032-Limiting part; 404-First torsion spring; 405-Second torsion spring; 406-Locking electromagnet; 407-Locking structure; 4071-Upper positioning part; 4072-Lower support part. Detailed Implementation
[0031] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] like Figures 1 to 7 An embodiment of a pet toilet includes a housing 1, a litter box 2, and a feces collection mechanism 3; the litter box 2 and the feces collection mechanism 3 are sequentially arranged on the housing 1 in a front-to-back direction; it also includes a gantry frame 4, a litter shovel 5, a front-to-back drive mechanism 6, a rotation drive mechanism 7, and a main control module 8;
[0033] The gantry frame 4 includes two movable seats 41 and a rotating sleeve 42. The two movable seats 41 can be moved back and forth on the housing 1 and are arranged in the left and right direction. The sand basin 2 and the feces collection mechanism 3 are located between the two movable seats 41. The rotating sleeve 42 has open ends. One end of the rotating sleeve 42 is rotatably connected to one of the movable seats 41, and the other end of the rotating sleeve 42 is rotatably connected to the other movable seat 41. The rotating sleeve 42 is higher than the sand basin 2 and the feces collection mechanism 3. The rotation axis of the rotating sleeve 42 is arranged in the left and right direction. The inner cavity of the rotating sleeve 42 and the two movable seats 41 enclose an installation cavity.
[0034] The front and rear drive mechanism 6 can drive the two movable seats 41 to move back and forth;
[0035] The rotation drive mechanism 7 includes a rotation drive motor 75, which is mounted on one of the movable seats 41 and located in the mounting cavity. The rotation drive motor 75 can drive the rotating sleeve 42 to rotate 360°.
[0036] The sand shovel 5 has several sieve holes 51 for clean sand particles to pass through. The sand shovel 5 is installed and fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating sleeve 42. The sand shovel 5 can be driven by the rotating sleeve 42 to rotate 360° around the rotation axis of the rotating sleeve 42. Through the joint cooperation of the front and rear drive mechanism 6 and the rotation drive mechanism 7, the sand shovel 5 can collect the sand particles that are solidified with feces in the sand basin 2 and transport them to the feces collection mechanism 3.
[0037] The main control module 8 is electrically connected to the front and rear drive mechanisms 6 and the rotation drive motor 75. The main control module 8 is used to control the operation of the front and rear drive mechanisms 6 and the rotation drive motor 75.
[0038] The working principle of this embodiment:
[0039] In the initial state, the gantry frame 4 is positioned close to the feces collection mechanism 3 in the front-to-back direction, and the sand shovel 5 is positioned at 60° to 90° to the horizontal plane towards the feces collection mechanism 3 and is located above the rotating sleeve 42. When the main control module 8 starts the feces cleaning program, the front and rear drive mechanism 6 drives the gantry frame 4 to move to the middle position of the sand basin 2, and the drive motor 75 rotates the rotating sleeve 42, so that the sand shovel 5 is rotated and the rotating sleeve 42 is horizontally positioned with the feces collection mechanism 3. The drive motor 75 continues to rotate the rotating sleeve 42, so that the sand shovel 5 rotates downward 180°, so that the sand shovel 5 rotates to the side of the rotating sleeve 42 that is away from the feces collection mechanism 3. During the rotation of the sand shovel 5, the sand particles that have solidified with the feces in the sand basin 2 are collected on the sand shovel 5. Then the front and rear drive mechanism 6 drives the gantry frame 4 to move to the side of the feces collection mechanism 3. Finally, the drive motor 75 rotates the rotating sleeve 42, so that the sand shovel 5 rotates upward 90° to 120° to return to the initial state, and the sand particles on the sand shovel 5 fall to the feces collection mechanism 3 for collection. This design uses a rotating sleeve 42 to drive the sand shovel 5. On one hand, the transmission structure is relatively simple, resulting in lower production costs. On the other hand, since the rotating sleeve 42 rotates axially with a 360° rotation angle, the sand shovel 5 has greater freedom of rotation. When dumping sand clumps, the clumps fall more easily into the feces collection mechanism 3, and debris is less likely to remain on the sand shovel 5. Furthermore, the inner cavity of the rotating sleeve 42 and the two movable seats 41 form an installation cavity, providing installation space for components of the transmission structure, such as the rotating drive motor 75, avoiding direct exposure to the external environment. This makes the transmission structure more compact, provides dustproof and accidental contact prevention, reduces space occupation, protects pets, and enhances aesthetics.
[0040] like Figures 2 to 6As shown, the front and rear drive mechanism 6 includes a front and rear drive shaft 61, two guide gears 62, two guide members 63, and a front and rear drive motor 64; the two guide members 63 are both mounted on the housing 1 and are respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the sand basin 2. Each guide member 63 has a guide tooth section 631 and a guide slide rail 632 formed on it. The length direction of each guide tooth section 631 and guide slide rail 632 is arranged along the front and rear direction; one guide member 63 corresponds to a movable seat 41 of the gantry frame 4. The guide gear 62 is rotatably mounted on the movable seat 41 of the gantry frame 4. The rotation axis of the guide gear 62 is set in the left-right direction. The guide gear 62 meshes with the guide tooth section 631 of the guide member 63. The movable seat 41 is equipped with a guide pulley 411, and the movable seat 41 is slidably mounted on the guide rail 632 of the guide member 63 via the guide pulley 411. One end of the front and rear drive shaft 61 is rotatably mounted on one of the movable seats 41 of the gantry frame 4. The other end of shaft 61 passes through the mounting cavity and is rotatably mounted on another movable seat 41 of the gantry frame 4. The rotation axis of the front and rear drive shaft 61 is set in the left and right direction. Two first gears 65 and a third gear 67 are rotatably mounted on the front and rear drive shaft 61. A second gear 66 is rotatably mounted on each movable seat 41. A first gear 65, a second gear 66, and a guide gear 62 correspond to each other. The first gear 65 meshes with the second gear 66, and the second gear 66 is rotatably fixedly connected to the guide gear 62. The front and rear drive motor 64 is mounted on one of the movable seats 41 of the gantry frame 4 and is located in the mounting cavity. The front and rear drive motor 64 is electrically connected to the main control module 8. An output gear 68 is rotatably mounted on the output shaft of the front and rear drive motor 64. The output gear 68 meshes with the third gear 67 on the front and rear drive shaft 61. The front and rear drive motor 64 can drive the front and rear drive shaft 61 to rotate, thereby driving the guide gear 62 to rotate. In this embodiment, a cable chain 9 is provided along the length of one of the guide members 63. The wires between the main control module 8 and the electrical components in the mounting cavity on the gantry 4 are guided and positioned by the cable chain 9, thereby preventing damage to the wires during the movement of the gantry 4. By placing the front and rear drive motors 64 inside the mounting cavity, dustproof and accidental contact prevention are achieved, resulting in a more compact structure.
[0041] like Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the inner cross-section of the rotating sleeve 42 is circular. Along its axis, the rotating sleeve 42 sequentially forms a first transmission part 421, a connecting part 423, and a second transmission part 422. The inner cavities of the first transmission part 421, the connecting part 423, and the second transmission part 422 are all interconnected. Transmission tooth segments 424 are formed on the inner walls of the first transmission part 421 and the second transmission part 422. The transmission tooth segments 424 are annular structures arranged around the rotation axis of the rotating sleeve 42. The rotation drive mechanism 7 also includes two transmission gears 71 and a rotation drive shaft 7. 2. The rotary drive shaft 72 is rotatably mounted on the front and rear drive shafts 61 and is located within the mounting cavity. Two transmission gears 71 are mounted and fixed on the rotary drive shaft 72, with the axes of each transmission gear 71 collinear with the rotation axis of the rotary drive shaft 72. One transmission gear 71 meshes with the transmission tooth segment 424 on the first transmission part 421, and the other transmission gear 71 meshes with the transmission tooth segment 424 on the second transmission part 422. The rotary drive motor 75 can drive the rotary drive shaft 72 to rotate, thereby driving the rotary sleeve 42 to rotate. This design makes the rotary drive mechanism 7 more compact and reasonable in structure, reduces space occupation, and provides good transmission effect.
[0042] like Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the rotation drive mechanism 7 further includes a transmission shaft 73 and a clutch assembly 74. The transmission shaft 73 is rotatably mounted on the front and rear drive shafts 61 and is located within the mounting cavity. The rotation axis of the transmission shaft 73 is collinear with the rotation axis of the rotation drive shaft 72. A fourth gear 76 is coaxially and rotatably mounted on the transmission shaft 73. One end of the transmission shaft 73 and one end of the rotation drive shaft 72 are connected via the clutch assembly 74. The clutch assembly 74 can connect the transmission shaft 73 and the rotation drive shaft 72 or disconnect the transmission shaft 73 and the rotation drive shaft 72. The connection is as follows: a drive gear 77 is rotatably mounted on the output shaft of the rotary drive motor 75, and the drive gear 77 meshes with the fourth gear 76. The rotary drive motor 75 drives the rotary drive shaft 72 to rotate through the transmission shaft 73 and the clutch assembly 74 in a connected state. It also includes an angle monitoring assembly 20, which is mounted on the gantry frame 4 and is used to monitor the angle between the sand shovel 5 and the horizontal plane. The main control module 8 is electrically connected to the clutch assembly 74 and the angle monitoring assembly 20. The angle monitoring component 20 includes a monitoring sensor 201 and a trigger 202. The monitoring sensor 201 includes two photoelectric modules 2011, both of which are located within the mounting cavity. One photoelectric module 2011 is connected and fixed to one of the movable bases 41 via a connector 413, and the other photoelectric module 2011 is connected and fixed to the other movable base 41 via a connector 413. The trigger ends of the two photoelectric modules 2011 are positioned facing the illumination, and both photoelectric modules 2011 are electrically connected to the main control module 8. The trigger 202 includes a mounting part 2021 and a trigger protrusion 2022. The mounting part 2021 has an annular structure and is fixedly mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the rotation drive shaft 72. The mounting part 2021 can be driven by the rotation drive shaft 72 to rotate around the rotation axis of the rotation drive shaft 72. The trigger protrusion 2022 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting part 2021. The trigger protrusion 2022 is driven by the mounting part 2021 to rotate and can block the trigger ends of the two photoelectric modules 2011 to trigger the monitoring sensor 201.In this embodiment, the clutch assembly 74 includes a first assembly 741, a second assembly 742, a disengagement electromagnet, and a return spring (the disengagement electromagnet and return spring are not shown in the drawings). The first assembly 741 is disposed at one end of the rotation drive shaft 72, and the second assembly 742 is disposed at one end of the transmission shaft 73. The return spring is compressed between the other end of the transmission shaft 73 and the adjacent movable seat 41, so that the second assembly 742 has a tendency to move toward the direction of the first assembly 741 and engage with it. The disengagement electromagnet is installed on the movable seat 41 adjacent to the transmission shaft 73 and is located on the side of the transmission shaft 73 facing away from the rotation drive shaft 72. The disengagement electromagnet can attract the transmission shaft 73 by being energized, thereby causing the transmission shaft 73 to move away from the rotation drive shaft 72, so that the second assembly 742 disengages from the first assembly 741. The disengagement electromagnet is electrically connected to the main control module 8.
[0043] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, this embodiment also includes a sand storage bin 30, which is installed on the housing 1 and located directly above the sand basin 2. The sand storage bin 30 has a sand storage cavity for storing sand particles, and a discharge port communicating with the sand storage cavity is formed on the bottom surface of the sand storage bin 30. A movable baffle 301 is rotatably installed on the discharge port. The rotation axis of the movable baffle 301 is set along the left-right direction. The movable baffle 301 can switch between a state of blocking the discharge port and a state of opening the discharge port by rotation. The movable baffle 301 has a tendency to switch to the state of blocking the discharge port. The sand shovel 5 can be moved and rotated by the gantry frame 4 so that its end rests on the bottom surface of the movable baffle 301, causing the movable baffle 301 to rotate upwards and open the discharge port. This design allows the main control module 8 to achieve automatic sand replenishment by controlling the movement of the gantry frame 4 and the rotation of the sand shovel 5, making it more convenient to use.
[0044] After the main control module 8 completes the feces cleaning program, it automatically starts the sand storage measurement program. The gantry 4 moves under the action of the front and rear drive mechanisms 6 and approaches the side of the sand basin 2 furthest from the feces collection mechanism 3. During this movement, the sand shovel 5 rotates to the inner side of the sand basin 2 furthest from the feces collection mechanism 3 under the action of the rotation drive mechanism 7. At this time, the main control module 8 energizes the disengagement electromagnet, causing the transmission shaft 73 to disconnect from the rotation drive shaft 72, thus disconnecting the sand shovel 5 from the rotation drive motor 75. Under its own weight, the sand shovel 5 rotates downwards until it adheres to the top surface of the sand layer inside the sand basin 2. Under the action of the front and rear drive mechanism 6, the gantry 4 moves toward the direction of the feces collection mechanism 3, so that the top surface of the sand layer in the sand basin 2 can be flattened and sorted by the sand shovel 5. The main control module 8 calculates the thickness of the sand layer in the sand basin 2 based on the angle between the sand shovel 5 and the horizontal plane monitored by the angle monitoring component 20. After the sand storage is measured, if the sand layer thickness is higher than or equal to the preset threshold, the disengagement electromagnet is de-energized, and the transmission shaft 73 and the rotation drive shaft 72 are reconnected under the action of the reset spring, and the gantry 4 and the sand shovel 5 are reset to the initial state. If the sand layer thickness is lower than the preset threshold, the main control module 8 starts the sand replenishment program. When the main control module 8 starts the sand replenishment program, the main control module 8 controls the gantry 4 to move and approach the sand storage bin 30, and causes the sand shovel 5 to move to the bottom of the sand storage bin 30. The sand shovel 5 moves upward so that its end rests on the bottom surface of the movable baffle 301 of the sand storage bin 30 and drives the movable baffle 301 to rotate upward to open the discharge port, so that the sand particles in the sand storage chamber fall into the sand basin 2 through the discharge port to replenish the sand particles. After the sand particles are replenished, the sand shovel 5 moves downward so that the movable baffle 301 covers the discharge port again, and the main control module 8 starts the sand particle storage measurement program again to flatten the top surface of the sand particle layer in the sand basin 2.
[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, the shell 1 is assembled from six plates, which respectively form the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom surfaces of the shell 1, enclosing a cavity. An inlet / outlet 11 communicating with the cavity is formed on the front surface of the shell 1, located near the right side of the shell 1. The sand basin 2, feces collection mechanism 3, gantry frame 4, sand shovel 5, front and rear drive mechanism 6, rotation drive mechanism 7, and sand storage bin 30 are all located within the cavity, with the sand basin 2 positioned near the inlet / outlet 11. A control panel 10 is also installed on the front side of the shell 1, electrically connected to the main control module 8. The control panel 10 is used for user interaction to control the main control module 8.
[0046] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, this embodiment also includes a folding corridor 40, which includes a first plate 401 and a second plate 402. Each of the first plate 401 and the second plate 402 has a sand-draining hole connecting its two sides. The first plate 401 and the second plate 402 are arranged sequentially in the accommodating cavity along the front-to-back direction and are higher than the sand basin 2. One end of the first plate 401 is located along the lower edge of the inlet / outlet 11 and is rotatably connected to the housing 1. The other end of the first plate 401 is rotatably connected to one end of the second plate 402. The rotation axes of the first plate 401 and the second plate 402 are both arranged along the left-to-right direction. The first plate 401 and the second plate 402 can be rotated to switch the folding corridor 40 between a folded state and an unfolded state. A first torsion spring 404 is provided between the first plate 401 and the second plate 402, so that the first plate 401… The second plate 402 has a tendency to rotate to form a 125° angle between the two; when the folding corridor 40 is in the folded state, the first plate 401 and the second plate 402 are stacked, with the first plate 401 sandwiched between the second plate 402 and the inner wall of the housing 1, thus blocking the entrance and exit 11; when the folding corridor 40 is in the unfolded state, the first plate 401 is gradually tilted upward from front to back, and the second plate 402 is horizontal; a locking electromagnet 406 is installed on the inner wall of the housing 1, and a locking part 4022 is formed on the second plate 402. The locking electromagnet 406 is used to attract and lock the locking part 4022 of the second plate 402 of the folding corridor 40 in the folded state; a locking structure 407 is formed on the gantry 4, and the locking structure 407 is used to lock the second plate 402 of the folding corridor 40 in the unfolded state. The locking structure 407 includes an upper positioning member 4071 and a lower support member 4072. The upper positioning member 4071 is disposed on the front side of the movable seat 41 near the inlet / outlet 11 of the gantry frame 4. A sliding inclined surface 412 is formed on the front side of the movable seat 41, and the sliding inclined surface 412 is gradually inclined upward from front to back and disposed below the upper positioning member 4071. A sliding wheel 4021 is installed on the other end of the second plate 402, and the sliding wheel 4021 can slide along the sliding surface. The movable inclined plane 412 slides and rests on the bottom surface of the upper positioning member 4071; the lower support member 4072 is set on the outer circumferential surface of the second transmission part 422 of the rotating sleeve 42 of the gantry frame 4, and the lower support member 4072 can be driven by the rotating sleeve 42 to support the bottom surface of the second plate 402 of the unfolded folding corridor 40; the upper positioning member 4071 and the lower support member 4072 work together to clamp and lock the second plate 402 of the unfolded folding corridor 40. This design allows the pet to enter and exit the accommodating cavity through the folding corridor 40, thereby allowing the sand particles stuck to the pet's paws to be peeled off through the sand leakage holes on the first plate 401 and the second plate 402 and fall into the sand basin 2, thus reducing the waste of sand particles.
[0047] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the folding corridor 40 also includes a third plate 403, which is rotatably connected to one side of the first plate 401. The rotation axis of the third plate 403 is parallel to the axis of the first plate 401. A second torsion spring 405 is provided between the third plate 403 and the first plate 401. The third plate 403 has a tendency to rotate toward the direction of the first plate 401 and form a 91° angle with the first plate 401. When the folding corridor 40 is in the folded state, the first plate 401 and the third plate 403 are arranged in the left-right direction, and the third plate 403 is parallel to the first plate 401. When the folding corridor 40 is in the unfolded state, the third plate 403, the first plate 401, and the left or right side wall of the shell 1 form an access channel, which is connected to the entrance / exit 11. The third plate 403 also has a spherical portion 4031, which fits against the inner wall of the housing 1 to reduce the friction between the third plate 403 and the inner wall of the housing 1 during movement. In this embodiment, the third plate 403 is also provided with a limiting member 4032 to prevent the angle between the first plate 401 and the third plate 403 from being less than 91° due to the inertia of the third plate 403. By adding the third plate 403, it is possible to prevent the pet from leaving the litter box 2 without contacting the folding corridor 40 and directly passing over the first plate 401 to leave through the inlet and outlet 11, thereby ensuring that the pet leaves through the folding corridor 40 after leaving the litter box 2, thus cleaning the sand particles on its paws.
[0048] Before initiating the fecal cleaning program, the main control module 8 first initiates the folding procedure of the folding corridor 40. The rotating sleeve 42 rotates, causing the lower support 4072 to rotate downwards, thereby releasing the clamping lock of the upper positioning member 4071 and the lower support 4072 on the second plate 402. The gantry 4 moves towards the inlet / outlet 11. The first plate 401 rotates upwards due to the pressure from the gantry 4 until it adheres to the inner wall of the housing 1 and blocks the inlet / outlet 11. During this process, the third plate 403 is affected by the pressure from the first plate 4071. The compression of plate 401 is performed by sliding along the inner wall of the housing 1 to increase the angle between the third plate 403 and the first plate 401 until the third plate 403 and the first plate 401 are parallel. Then, the second plate 402 rotates downward due to the continued compression of the gantry 4 until it is stacked with the first plate 401. At this time, the locking electromagnet 406 is energized to attract the locking part 4022 of the second plate 402 to overcome the force of the first torsion spring 404 and the second torsion spring 405. Finally, the gantry 4 returns to the initial position. When the main control module 8 completes all programs and no further programs are needed, it initiates the unfolding program of the folding corridor 40. The gantry 4 moves to the side of the entrance / exit 11, causing the sliding wheel 4021 on the second plate 402 to engage with the moving seat 41 of the gantry 4. At this time, the locking electromagnet 406 is de-energized to release the locking of the second plate 402. The gantry 4 moves back to its initial position, and the first plate 401 and the second plate 402 unfold under the action of the first torsion spring 404, causing the sliding wheel 4021 to move back and forth with the moving seat 41 of the gantry 4 and slide along the moving seat 41. The inclined plane 412 slides until it rests on the bottom surface of the upper positioning member 4071, causing the first plate 401 and the second plate 402 to unfold to an angle of 125°, with the second plate 402 in a horizontal state. During this process, the third plate 403 rotates toward the first plate 401 under the action of the second torsion spring 405 until the angle between the third plate 403 and the first plate 401 is 91°. Finally, the rotating sleeve 42 rotates, causing the upper and lower support members 4072 to rotate, so that the second plate 402 is clamped and locked by the upper positioning member 4071 and the lower support member 4072.
[0049] like Figures 2 to 4As shown, the fecal collection mechanism 3 includes a fecal collection chamber 31, a grinding component (not shown in the attached drawing), a grinding motor 32, a solenoid water valve 33, a water inlet pipe 34, and a drain pipe 35. The fecal collection chamber 31 is installed on the shell 1 and located on the rear side of the sand basin 2. The fecal collection chamber 31 has a collection cavity 311 and a grinding cavity 312 connected sequentially in the vertical direction. The collection cavity 311 is connected to the top surface of the fecal collection chamber 31 to form a collection port. The grinding component is rotatably installed on the fecal collection chamber 31 and located in the grinding cavity 312. The rotation direction of the grinding component is vertical. The system is configured as follows: The grinding motor 32 is mounted on the housing 1, and the grinding components are driven by a belt. The grinding motor 32 drives the grinding components to rotate. The water inlet pipe 34 is mounted on the housing 1, with one end connected to an external tap water pipe and the other end connected to an electromagnetic water valve 33. The electromagnetic water valve 33 is positioned above the collection port and sprays water towards the collection port. The drain pipe 35 is mounted on the feces collection chamber 31, with one end connected to the grinding chamber 312 and the other end connected to the external sewer. After the main control module 8 completes the feces cleaning process, it opens the electromagnetic water valve 33 to fill the feces collection chamber 31 with water and controls the grinding motor 32 to rotate the grinding components to grind the sand and feces. The ground sand and feces are then discharged into the sewer through the drain pipe 35. This design eliminates the need for regular manual cleaning of the feces collection mechanism 3, making it more convenient to use.
[0050] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various modifications, combinations, and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A pet toilet, comprising a shell, a litter box, and a feces collection mechanism; the litter box and the feces collection mechanism are sequentially arranged on the shell in a front-to-back direction; characterized in that: It also includes a gantry frame, a sand shovel, front and rear drive mechanisms, a rotary drive mechanism, and a main control module; The gantry frame includes two movable seats and a rotating sleeve. Both movable seats can be mounted on the housing in a forward and backward motion. The two movable seats are arranged in a left-right direction. The sand basin and the feces collection mechanism are located between the two movable seats. The rotating sleeve has open ends. One end of the rotating sleeve is rotatably connected to one of the movable seats, and the other end of the rotating sleeve is rotatably connected to the other movable seat. The rotating sleeve is higher than the sand basin and the feces collection mechanism. The rotation axis of the rotating sleeve is arranged in a left-right direction. The inner cavity of the rotating sleeve and the two movable seats enclose an installation cavity. The front and rear drive mechanism can drive two movable seats to move back and forth; The rotation drive mechanism includes a rotation drive motor, which is mounted on one of the movable seats and located in the mounting cavity. The rotation drive motor can drive the rotating sleeve to rotate 360°. The sand shovel has several sieve holes for clean sand particles to pass through. The sand shovel is installed and fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating sleeve. The sand shovel can be driven by the rotating sleeve to rotate 360° around the rotation axis of the rotating sleeve. Through the cooperation of the front and rear drive mechanism and the rotation drive mechanism, the sand shovel can collect the sand particles that have solidified with feces in the sand basin and transport them to the feces collection mechanism. The main control module is electrically connected to the front and rear drive mechanisms and the rotation drive motor, and is used to control the operation of the front and rear drive mechanisms and the rotation drive motor. The rotation drive mechanism further includes a rotation drive shaft; the rotation drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the mounting cavity; the rotation drive motor can drive the rotation drive shaft to rotate, thereby driving the rotating sleeve to rotate. The rotation drive mechanism also includes a transmission shaft and a clutch assembly. The transmission shaft is rotatably mounted in the mounting cavity, and its rotation axis is collinear with that of the rotation drive shaft. One end of the transmission shaft and one end of the rotation drive shaft are connected via the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly can connect or disconnect the transmission shaft and the rotation drive shaft. The rotation drive motor drives the rotation drive shaft to rotate by sequentially transmitting power through the transmission shaft and the clutch assembly. It also includes an angle monitoring assembly mounted on the gantry frame. The angle monitoring assembly is used to monitor the angle between the sand shovel and the horizontal plane. The main control module is electrically connected to the clutch assembly and the angle monitoring assembly.
2. A pet toilet as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The inner cavity of the rotating sleeve has a circular cross-section, and a transmission tooth segment is formed on the inner wall of the rotating sleeve. The transmission tooth segment is an annular structure arranged around the rotation axis of the rotating sleeve. The rotation drive mechanism also includes a transmission gear. The transmission gear is mounted and fixed on the rotation drive shaft, and the axis of the transmission gear is collinear with the rotation axis of the rotation drive shaft. The transmission gear meshes with the transmission tooth segment on the rotating sleeve.
3. A pet toilet as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The angle monitoring component includes a monitoring sensor and a trigger; the monitoring sensor is disposed in the mounting cavity and is electrically connected to the main control module; the trigger is mounted and fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotation drive shaft, and the trigger can be driven by the rotation drive shaft to rotate around the rotation axis of the rotation drive shaft, and the trigger can trigger the monitoring sensor by rotating.
4. A pet toilet as described in claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a sand storage bin, which is installed on the shell and located directly above the sand basin. The sand storage bin has a sand storage cavity for storing sand particles. A discharge port communicating with the sand storage cavity is formed on the bottom surface of the sand storage bin. A movable baffle is rotatably installed on the discharge port. The rotation axis of the movable baffle is set in the left and right direction. The movable baffle can switch between a state of blocking the discharge port and a state of opening the discharge port by rotating. The movable baffle has a tendency to switch to the state of blocking the discharge port. The sand shovel can be moved and rotated by the gantry frame so that its end is placed on the bottom surface of the movable baffle and drives the movable baffle to rotate upward to open the discharge port.
5. A pet toilet as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The housing has a cavity, and the front side of the housing has an inlet and outlet that communicate with the cavity. The inlet and outlet are located near the left or right side of the housing. The sand basin, the feces collection mechanism, the gantry frame, the sand shovel, the front and rear drive mechanism, and the rotation drive mechanism are all located in the cavity, and the sand basin is located near the inlet and outlet.
6. A pet toilet as described in claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes a folding corridor, which comprises a first plate and a second plate. Each of the first and second plates has a sand-draining hole connecting its two sides. The first and second plates are arranged sequentially in the accommodating cavity along the front-to-back direction and are higher than the sand basin. One end of the first plate is set along the lower edge of the inlet and outlet and is rotatably connected to the shell. The other end of the first plate is rotatably connected to one end of the second plate. The rotation axes of the first and second plates are both set along the left-to-right direction. The first and second plates can be rotated to switch the folding corridor between a folded state and an unfolded state. A first torsion spring is provided between the first and second plates, so that the first and second plates have a tendency to rotate to form an angle of 120° to 150° between them. When the folding corridor is in the folded state, the first plate and the second plate are stacked, with the first plate sandwiched between the second plate and the inner wall of the shell and blocking the entrance and exit. When the folding corridor is in the unfolded state, the first panel is gradually tilted upwards from front to back, and the second panel is horizontally positioned; a locking electromagnet is installed on the inner wall of the housing, which is used to attract and lock the second panel of the folding corridor in the folded state; a locking structure is formed on the gantry frame, which is used to lock the second panel of the folding corridor in the unfolded state.
7. A pet toilet as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The locking structure includes an upper positioning component and a lower support component. The upper positioning component is located on the front side of the movable seat near the entrance / exit of the gantry frame. A sliding ramp is formed on the front side of the movable seat, and the sliding ramp gradually slopes upward from front to back and is located below the upper positioning component. A sliding wheel is installed on the other end of the second plate, and the sliding wheel can slide along the sliding ramp and rest against the bottom surface of the upper positioning component. The lower support component is located on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating sleeve of the gantry frame. The lower support component can be driven by the rotating sleeve to support the bottom surface of the second plate of the folded corridor in the unfolded state. The upper positioning component and the lower support component work together to clamp and lock the second plate of the folded corridor in the unfolded state.
8. A pet toilet as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The folding corridor also includes a third plate, which is rotatably connected to one side of the first plate, and the rotation axis of the third plate is parallel to the axis of the first plate. A second torsion spring is provided between the third plate and the first plate, so that the third plate has a tendency to rotate toward the direction of the first plate and make an angle of 91° to 120° with the first plate. When the folding corridor is in the folded state, the first plate and the third plate are arranged in the left and right directions, and the third plate is parallel to the first plate. When the folding corridor is in the unfolded state, the third plate, the first plate, and the left or right side wall of the shell form an access channel, which is connected to the entrance and exit.
9. A pet toilet as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The front and rear drive mechanism includes a front and rear drive shaft, a guide gear, a guide member, and a front and rear drive motor. The guide member is mounted on the housing and has guide tooth segments arranged in the front-rear direction. The guide gear is rotatably mounted on the gantry frame, and its rotation axis is arranged in the left-right direction. The guide gear meshes with the guide tooth segments. One end of the front and rear drive shaft is rotatably mounted on one of the movable seats of the gantry frame, and the other end of the front and rear drive shaft passes through the mounting cavity and is rotatably mounted on another movable seat of the gantry frame. The rotation axis of the front and rear drive shaft is arranged in the left-right direction, and the front and rear drive shaft is connected to the guide gear. The front and rear drive motor is mounted on one of the movable seats of the gantry frame and is located in the mounting cavity. The front and rear drive motor is electrically connected to the main control module and can drive the front and rear drive shaft to rotate, thereby driving the guide gear to rotate.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Automatic sand shoveling and packaging pet toilet
CN110521611A
Automatic pet feces clearing device and method
CN107711529A
Pet excrement collecting device
CN212971149U