An automatic cat litter box screening device

Abstract

The application discloses an automatic cat litter basin screening device, which comprises a base, a roller, a supporting seat and a screen mesh, an arc-shaped opening groove matched with the roller is formed in the base, the roller is rotationally arranged in the arc-shaped opening groove, an opening cavity and a first discharge port penetrating through the side wall of the opening cavity are formed in the roller, the supporting seat is slidingly arranged on the inner wall of the opening cavity adjacent to the first discharge port, the screen mesh is rotationally arranged on the side wall of the supporting seat and located at the bottom of the opening cavity, after the supporting seat drives the screen mesh to be lifted above the first discharge port, the screen mesh will be turned over towards the first discharge port to pour the excrement into the first discharge port, when the screen mesh finishes pouring the excrement, the roller drives the supporting seat and the screen mesh to rotate, and the screen mesh is turned over away from the first discharge port to be reset by the supporting seat. According to the application, the screen mesh is lifted by the supporting seat, the excrement in the cat litter is screened out, and then the excrement is poured by turning over the screen mesh, so that the excrement is effectively prevented from being squeezed and the adhesion of the excrement is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pet feces treatment technology, and in particular to an automatic cat litter box screening device. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the pet market, cats, as popular family pets, are becoming an important part of many family lives. To provide cats with a more hygienic and comfortable living environment, the convenience and efficiency of cleaning litter boxes are increasingly attracting the attention of pet owners. Traditional manual litter cleaning is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it can also affect the cleanliness of the home environment and may even cause odor problems. Therefore, the emergence of automated litter boxes provides pet owners with a brand-new solution. Through integrated mechanical structures and intelligent operating systems, automated litter boxes can efficiently complete tasks such as litter sieving and feces cleaning, significantly reducing the daily burden on cat-owning families while optimizing the cat's living experience.

[0003] Currently, automatic litter boxes on the market typically separate cat litter from fecal clumps using different screening methods. The two most common technologies are drum screening and scraper screening. Drum screening uses a rotating structure as its core, where the movement of the drum separates the cat litter from the fecal clumps into layers. A screen or comb then separates the fecal clumps from the litter, finally guiding them into a dedicated storage compartment. Scraper screening uses a motor-driven comb or screen to scrape and move the fecal clumps to the storage area. Both methods have their own characteristics, but both aim to improve the automated cleaning capability of the litter box and, to some extent, address the shortcomings of traditional cleaning methods.

[0004] However, these technical solutions still have certain shortcomings in practical applications. The drum sieving method is prone to incomplete cleaning because fecal clumps may adhere to the screen or drum surface, especially performing poorly on soft, incompletely clumped fecal matter, further leading to odor residue and maintenance difficulties. While the scraper sieving method simplifies drum movement structurally, friction and adhesion issues between the comb teeth and the base still exist, allowing unclumped fecal matter to easily scatter during cleaning, contaminating the inner walls of the equipment. Furthermore, both methods are ineffective at cleaning fecal clumps near the back wall of the litter box, failing to achieve complete coverage. These problems not only affect the user experience of automatic litter boxes but also place higher demands on the cleaning and maintenance of the equipment. Therefore, the design of automatic litter boxes urgently needs further optimization to achieve more efficient and thorough cleaning, providing a better user experience for pet owners and cats. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides an automatic cat litter box sieving device to solve the technical problem that existing cat litter cleaning devices cannot effectively clean up feces and urine, resulting in unpleasant odors.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides an automatic litter box sieving device, comprising a base, a roller, a support, and a screen. The base has an arc-shaped opening groove adapted to the roller. The roller is rotatably disposed within the arc-shaped opening groove. The roller has an opening cavity and a first discharge port penetrating the side wall of the opening cavity. The support is slidably disposed on the inner wall of the opening cavity adjacent to the first discharge port. The screen is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the support and located at the bottom of the opening cavity. The support is used to lift the screen above the first discharge port, after which the screen flips towards the first discharge port to pour feces into it. After the screen has poured out the feces, the roller drives the support and the screen to rotate, and the screen flips away from the first discharge port so that the support can reset the screen.

[0007] Furthermore, a groove is formed on the inner wall of the opening, and the support includes a lifting slider slidably disposed in the groove and a support member disposed at the bottom of the lifting slider. The screen is rotatably disposed on the support member, and the lifting slider is used to drive the screen to lift.

[0008] Furthermore, the screen includes a first fixed plate, a second fixed plate, and a plurality of screen blades. The first fixed plate is rotatably mounted on the inner wall of the support member near the first discharge port. The two ends of the screen blades are fixedly connected to the first fixed plate and the second fixed plate, respectively. The screen blades are evenly arranged between the first fixed plate and the second fixed plate. The screen has the first fixed plate as its rotation center, and the screen blades are parallel to the rotation direction of the screen.

[0009] Furthermore, the screen also includes a limiting member, which is disposed on the second fixing plate. The top of the support member has a limiting notch adapted to the limiting member, and the limiting member engages with the limiting notch.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a driver, which includes a first rotating motor disposed on the inner wall of the arc-shaped opening groove and a second rotating motor disposed on the support member. The first rotating motor is driven connected to the roller, and the second rotating motor is driven connected to the second fixed plate. The rotation axis of the roller is parallel to the first fixed plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the sieve blade has an arc-shaped structure, and the sieve blade extends from the middle of the sieve to both ends to form an asymmetrical arc structure.

[0012] Furthermore, when the screen is in the position where the excrement is poured, the projection of the first fixing plate perpendicularly onto the inner wall of the opening is located within the range of the first discharge port, and there is a functional relationship:

[0013] h≥1.5m, where h represents the vertical height from the top of the first fixed plate to the top wall of the first discharge port, and m represents the distance between adjacent screen blade sidewalls.

[0014] Furthermore, the horizontal distance x from the lower edge of the first discharge port to the side wall of the first fixing plate ranges from 0 to 0.25m.

[0015] Furthermore, the sieve's flip angle ranges from 45° to 75°, and the roller's rotation angle is 0° to 360°.

[0016] Furthermore, a discharge chamber cover is rotatably provided on the first discharge port, the discharge chamber cover is adapted to the shape of the roller, and the screen is driven to connect with the discharge chamber cover for opening and closing the first discharge port.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the automatic cat litter box sieving device of this invention has the following advantages:

[0018] This invention, in its embodiment, features a rotatable roller mounted on a base, with a slidable support seat and a flip-up screen located within an opening inside the roller. When sieving and cleaning feces from cat litter, the support seat slides along the inner wall of the opening, lifting the screen from the litter to separate the feces. When the screen reaches above the first discharge port, the support seat stops sliding, and the screen flips towards the discharge port, causing the separated feces to roll into the port due to inertia. This effectively separates and cleans the feces. The lifting and sieving design of the screen effectively prevents the feces from being squeezed in the litter, reducing the amount of feces adhering to the screen and ensuring thorough cleaning, thus maintaining the hygiene of the device. This ensures the cat's health; simultaneously, to prevent the slight residue of feces on the screen from emitting odors, after the feces are emptied, the roller drives the support base and screen to rotate. The cat litter, due to inertia, slides along the inner wall of the opening, detaching from the support base and screen in their initial positions within the opening. This allows the support base and screen to reverse and return to their initial positions within the opening. Then, the roller simply continues to rotate until the support base and screen are at the lowest point of the opening, at which point the cat litter can re-cover the screen, effectively isolating residual feces and preventing odors. The entire cleaning process is highly automated, reducing manual intervention, greatly improving the cleaning efficiency of the litter box, and greatly facilitating users. It meets the needs of modern families for smart pet products and has broad application potential.

[0019] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings are provided for a better understanding of this solution and do not constitute a limitation of the invention. Wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic litter box sieving device provided in an embodiment of the present invention from one angle.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic litter box sieving device provided in an embodiment of the present invention from another angle;

[0023] Figure 3 This is another structural schematic diagram of the automatic litter box sieving device provided in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Full sectional view along the AA direction;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the roller in the automatic litter box screening device provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the base in the automatic litter box screening device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the support base in the automatic litter box screening device provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the screen in the automatic litter box screening device provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0029] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing the automatic litter box sieving device provided in this embodiment of the invention in the sieving operation state;

[0030] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the automatic litter box sieving device provided in this embodiment of the invention in the tilting operation state;

[0031] Figure 11 This is a state diagram of the automatic litter box sieving device provided in this embodiment of the invention in a reset operation.

[0032] Figure 12 This is another state diagram of the automatic cat litter box sieving device provided in the embodiment of the present invention in the reset operation.

[0033] In the diagram, 10 is a roller; 11 is an open mouth; 12 is the first excretion port; 13 is the excretion chamber cover; 14 is a chute; 15 is the first input port; 16 is the cat litter chamber cover; 20 is a support base; 21 is a lifting slider; 22 is a support component; 23 is a limiting notch; 30 is a screen; 31 is the first fixing plate; 32 is the second fixing plate; 33 is a screen blade; 34 is a limiting component; 40 is a driver; 41 is the first rotating motor; 42 is the second rotating motor; 43 is a sliding motor; 50 is a base; 51 is an arc-shaped opening groove; 52 is a waste chamber; 53 is the second excretion port; 54 is the cat litter storage chamber; and 55 is the second input port. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the directional terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation and positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this invention.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features. Thus, the use of "first" and "second" to define a feature may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature, and in the description of this invention, "at least" means one or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0037] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "assembly," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can also refer to a mechanical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or a connection through an intermediate medium; or they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] like Figure 1-8As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides an automatic litter box sieving device, including a base 50, a roller 10, a support 20, and a screen 30. The base 50 has an arc-shaped opening groove 51 adapted to the roller 10. The roller 10 is rotatably disposed within the arc-shaped opening groove 51. The roller 10 has an opening 11 and a first discharge port 12 penetrating the side wall of the opening 11. The support 20 is slidably disposed on the inner wall of the opening 11 adjacent to the first discharge port 12. The screen 30 rotates... The screen 30 is located on the side wall of the support base 20 and at the bottom of the opening 11. The support base 20 is used to lift the screen 30 above the first discharge port 12. The screen 30 will then flip towards the first discharge port 12 to pour the excrement into the first discharge port 12. After the screen 30 has finished pouring the excrement, the roller 10 will drive the support base 20 and the screen 30 to rotate, and the screen 30 will flip away from the first discharge port 12 so that the support base 20 can drive the screen 30 to reset.

[0039] In this embodiment of the invention, a rotatable roller 10 is mounted on a base 50, and a slidable support 20 is installed within an opening 11 inside the roller 10, along with a flip-up screen 30. When sieving and cleaning feces from cat litter, the support 20 slides on the inner wall of the opening 11, lifting the screen 30 from the litter to separate the feces. When the screen 30 reaches above the first discharge port 12, the support 20 stops sliding, and the screen 30 flips towards the first discharge port 12, causing the sieved feces to roll into the discharge port due to inertia. This effectively separates and cleans the feces. The lifting and sieving design of the screen 30 effectively avoids squeezing the feces in the litter, reducing the amount of feces adhering to the screen 30, thus ensuring thorough cleaning and maintaining the hygiene of the device. This system ensures the litter box's cleanliness and health. To prevent odors from lingering residual feces on the screen 30, after the litter is emptied, the roller 10 rotates the support base 20 and screen 30. The litter, due to inertia, slides along the inner wall of the opening, detaching from the initial position of the support base 20 and screen 30 within the opening 11. This allows the support base 20 and screen 30 to reverse and return to their initial positions within the opening 11. Then, the roller 10 simply continues to rotate until the support base 20 and screen 30 are at the lowest point of the opening 11, at which point the litter can re-cover the screen 30, effectively isolating residual feces and preventing odors. The entire cleaning process is highly automated, reducing manual intervention and significantly improving the litter box's cleaning efficiency. This greatly benefits users, meets the needs of modern families for smart pet products, and has broad application potential.

[0040] To prevent cat litter from falling into the first discharge port 12 when the screen 30 is raised or the roller 10 is rotated, the design height of the first discharge port 12 is usually set above the litter storage cut-off line at the bottom of the opening 11. This effectively prevents cat litter from entering the first discharge port 12, thus avoiding waste. The litter cut-off line refers to the highest point of the cat litter piled up in a flat state within the opening 11. Typically, during cat litter use, the litter is leveled to ensure a flat and uniform surface; the litter cut-off line represents the maximum height of the accumulated litter. The screen 30 can be designed in various styles, including straight and curved shapes. A curved screen 30 is preferred because, during raising, the curved structure better supports feces and reduces the possibility of it falling, thereby improving sieving efficiency and ease of use.

[0041] In addition, the roller 10 drives the support 22 and the screen 30 to rotate, which plays an important role in enabling the support 22 to drive the screen 30 to perform a reset operation. Because cat litter is relatively hard and the screen 30 is connected to the support 20 via a rotating mechanism, when the support 20 directly drives the screen 30 to reset, the resistance of the cat litter often requires more force. This not only increases energy consumption, but also, due to the resistance, the reset process of the screen 30 may not be completed smoothly, leading to instability or misalignment of the screen 30, affecting the stability and service life of the equipment. Therefore, the design of introducing the rotation of the roller 10 has the following advantages in resetting the support base 20 and the screen 30: First, the screen 30 is re-buried in the cat litter, and the resistance of the cat litter helps to re-wrap the feces adhering to the screen 30 into the cat litter, effectively isolating the residual feces and preventing the feces from emitting odors; Second, it effectively reduces the resistance during the resetting process of the screen 30, avoiding the excessive force required to directly drive the screen 30 by the support base 20, thereby saving energy consumption, preventing the screen 30 from being damaged by frequent high-intensity loads, and extending the service life of the equipment.

[0042] It should be noted that raising the screen 30 above the first discharge port 12 before inverting it allows the accumulated excrement on the screen 30 to gain sufficient potential energy under gravity, enabling it to smoothly flip and roll off due to inertia. This higher position allows the screen 30 to better align with the discharge port during the flipping process, preventing the excrement from being unable to drain properly due to insufficient flipping angle or improper positioning. In this way, the excrement can smoothly enter the first discharge port 12, thus more thoroughly removing the excrement from the screen 30 and ensuring efficient and thorough sieving.

[0043] like Figure 5 and Figure 7As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, a groove 14 is formed on the inner wall of the opening 11, and the support base 20 includes a lifting slider 21 slidably disposed in the groove 14 and a support member 22 disposed at the bottom of the lifting slider 21. The screen 30 is rotatably disposed on the support member 22, and the lifting slider 21 is used to drive the screen 30 to lift.

[0044] Specifically, the cooperative design of the chute 14 and the lifting slider 21 allows the lifting slider 21 to slide within the chute 14, which can smoothly drive the screen 30 to rise. This provides better guidance for the support base 20 and the screen 30 during the lifting process, avoiding the problems of violent vibration or unstable lifting that may occur in traditional designs, reducing the risk of jamming, ensuring the smooth movement of the screen 30, and improving the reliability and service life of the device.

[0045] It's important to note that the Open Mouth 11 not only serves as a passageway for pets but also provides a convenient space for placing and changing litter, ensuring even litter distribution and facilitating daily maintenance and cleaning. This design simplifies the litter changing process, allowing users to easily add or replace litter without additional operations or complicated steps, thus improving efficiency and reducing cleaning hassles. Furthermore, the Open Mouth 11 design helps maintain a clean and even litter distribution, preventing uneven litter accumulation or waste, enhancing the overall user experience and hygiene.

[0046] like Figure 8 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the screen 30 includes a first fixing plate 31, a second fixing plate 32 and a plurality of screen blades 33. The first fixing plate 31 is rotatably disposed on the inner wall of the support member 22 near the first discharge port 12. The two ends of the screen blades 33 are fixedly connected to the first fixing plate 31 and the second fixing plate 32 respectively. The screen blades 33 are evenly arranged between the first fixing plate 31 and the second fixing plate 32. The screen 30 is rotated with the first fixing plate 31 as the rotation center, and the screen blades 33 are parallel to the rotation direction of the screen 30.

[0047] Specifically, the uniform arrangement of the sieve blades 33 on the sieve 30 ensures that the sieve 30 can evenly and effectively sieve excrement during the sieving process, avoiding uneven sieving or over-sieving in certain areas. This helps improve sieving efficiency, ensuring that every part of the excrement can be cleaned up, avoiding any omissions. Furthermore, the design of the sieve blades 33 being parallel to the sieve 30's rotation direction further optimizes the tumbling direction of the excrement. When the sieve 30 rotates, the direction of the sieve blades 33 is relatively consistent with the rolling direction of the excrement, thereby reducing collisions between the excrement and the sieve 30 (such as crossing the sieve 30). This design effectively maintains the integrity of the excrement, preventing it from being squeezed, broken, or scattered during sieving, ensuring smooth discharge and improving the cleaning effect.

[0048] By rotating the first fixing plate 31 onto the inner wall of the support 22 near the first discharge port 12, the screen 30's rotation path is optimized with the first fixing plate 31 as the rotation center. This design saves space, preventing the screen 30 from being raised too high or occupying too much space, thus achieving efficient space utilization. Within the limited space of the inner opening 11 of the roller 10, the end rotation process of the screen 30 can be completed without occupying excessive space. Because the rotation center of the screen 30 is close to the discharge port, and the screen 30 is not raised too high, the overall structure of the device is more compact, facilitating placement and operation. This design allows the screen 30 to complete a large-angle rotation within a limited space, ensuring that excrement can be smoothly discharged into the discharge port, while saving design and installation space, making the device more widely applicable and improving its adaptability and convenience.

[0049] In summary, this design, through the rational layout of the screen 30's structure and its flipping path, not only improves screening efficiency and the integrity of waste disposal but also optimizes space utilization, enabling the equipment to operate efficiently within a limited space. These design features significantly enhance the device's reliability and lifespan, while also improving the user experience, meeting the needs of modern families for smart pet products.

[0050] like Figure 8 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the screen 30 further includes a limiting member 34, which is disposed on the second fixing plate 32. The top of the support member 22 is provided with a limiting notch 23 that is adapted to the limiting member 34, and the limiting member 34 is engaged with the limiting notch 23.

[0051] Specifically, since the screen 30 is embedded in the cat litter, it will experience resistance from the litter during the lifting process, hindering its rise. If supported only by one side of the first fixing plate 31, the screen 30 may tilt or fail to lift evenly. By setting a limiting member 34 on the second fixing plate 32 and engaging it with the limiting notch 23 at the top of the support member 22, the limiting member 34 provides additional support, ensuring balanced support for the screen 30 during lifting and preventing tilting or jamming that may result from unilateral support. Furthermore, the limiting member 34 engaging with the limiting notch 23 at the top of the support member 22 forms an additional support point, balancing the forces on both ends of the screen 30. This significantly improves the stability of the screen 30 during lifting, preventing tilting, shaking, or dislocation, reducing abnormal noises or operational difficulties caused by shaking and vibration, and ensuring the smooth lifting action of the lifting slider 21.

[0052] like Figure 4As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, a driver 40 is also included. The driver 40 includes a first rotating motor 41 disposed on the inner wall of the arc-shaped opening groove 51 and a second rotating motor 42 disposed on the support member 22. The first rotating motor 41 is driven connected to the roller 10, and the second rotating motor 42 is driven connected to the second fixed plate 32. The rotation axis of the roller 10 is parallel to the first fixed plate 31.

[0053] Specifically, the first rotating motor 41 is driven and connected to the drum 10, solely responsible for the rotation of the drum 10, achieving precise rotation of the drum 10 and facilitating the lifting and tilting operations of the screen 30. Simultaneously, the rotation axis of the drum 10 is parallel to the second fixed plate 32, ensuring a smoother movement trajectory of the screen 30 within the drum 10. The second rotating motor 42 is driven and connected to the second fixed plate 32 of the screen 30, independently controlling the flipping action of the screen 30. This separate drive design allows for coordinated operation of the drum 10 rotation and the screen 30 flipping action, improving the device's operating efficiency and motion accuracy. Furthermore, to achieve automatic sliding of the lifting slider 21, the driver 40 also includes a sliding motor 43, which is mounted on the side wall of the drum 10 and driven and connected to the lifting slider 21. This motor drives the lifting slider 21 to move up and down on the slide groove 14.

[0054] In this design, the first fixed plate 31 serves as the rotation center of the screen 30, and the rotation axis of the roller 10 is parallel to the second fixed plate 32. When the roller 10 and the screen 30 rotate simultaneously, the transmission of internal forces within the roller 10 is more uniform, avoiding the generation of asymmetrical torques. This ensures that the screen 30 maintains a consistent trajectory and angle during rotation, thereby reducing potential instability or deviation during the rotation process and effectively improving the working efficiency and service life of the screen 30. Simultaneously, the parallel design reduces asymmetrical loads on the structure, helping to reduce friction and wear between the roller 10 and the screen 30, extending the overall service life of the equipment, and reducing maintenance frequency.

[0055] like Figure 8 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the sieve blade 33 has an arc-shaped structure, and the sieve blade 33 extends from the middle of the sieve 30 to both ends to form an asymmetrical arc structure.

[0056] Specifically, the screening blade 33 is designed in an arc shape, and the arc is of an asymmetric structure, forming a more natural rolling force guidance. During the rolling process, the feces are guided by the surface of the screening blade 33, shortening the rolling path, enabling the feces to quickly roll into the first discharge port 12, reducing the retention of feces on the screen 30, thereby reducing the cleaning frequency of the screen 30 and improving the cleaning effect and user experience of the device. At the same time, the arc-shaped screening blade 33 with an asymmetric arc is adapted to feces of different shapes and sizes. Through the guiding effect of the screening blade 33, whether it is granular feces or块状 feces, they can smoothly roll into the first discharge port 12, ensuring stronger universality of the device. The design of different curvature radii can effectively adjust the force state of the feces on the screen 30, making its path during the sliding process more in line with the combined action of natural gravity and centrifugal force. Through the gradually increasing sliding angle, the feces obtain appropriate acceleration, making it slide into the first discharge port 12 more smoothly.

[0057] Here, for the convenience of explanation, it is stipulated first that taking the center of the screen 30 as the boundary, the curvature radius of the screening blade 33 on the side close to the first discharge port 12 is R1, and the curvature radius of the screening blade 33 on the side far from the first discharge port 12 is R2. The arc range of the screening blade 33 is jointly characterized by the curvature radii R1 and R2, and R1≠R2 is satisfied to optimize the force direction and sliding trajectory of the feces during the screening process, thereby ensuring that the feces enter the first discharge port 12 with higher screening efficiency and accuracy. By introducing the asymmetric curvature radii R1 and R2, the arc-shaped structure design of the screening blade 33 shows significant optimization effects in the following aspects: First, the curvature radius of the screening blade 33 on the side close to the first discharge port 12 is smaller (R1<R2), so that the feces can obtain a steeper sliding trajectory when approaching the first discharge port 12 during the sliding process, and the force direction is more definite, facilitating the quick sliding of the feces towards the first discharge port 12; Second, the curvature radius of the screening blade 33 on the side far from the first discharge port 12 is larger (R2>R1), providing a relatively gentle sliding starting point, which not only avoids the out-of-control sliding of the feces due to premature acceleration but also can gradually guide the movement direction of the feces.

[0058] In practical applications, it is necessary to optimize the design according to the balance between separation efficiency and separation accuracy. If rapid separation is prioritized in a specific application scenario, a smaller curvature radius (R1<R2) on the side close to the first discharge port 12 is more advantageous; while if more attention is paid to the stability and accuracy of the sliding process, a larger curvature radius (R2>R1) on the side far from the first discharge port 12 is more suitable.

[0059] It should be noted that the curvature transition from R2 to R1 exhibits a gradual change, consistent with the changing velocity and acceleration of feces during the sliding process. This transitional design reduces abrupt resistance and vibration during sliding, thus ensuring a smoother sieving process. Furthermore, the asymmetric curvature design is not only suitable for granular feces but also enables efficient separation of irregularly shaped or heavier feces by optimizing the sliding trajectory and force conditions. This characteristic makes the design applicable to the needs of various pets, further enhancing the device's versatility.

[0060] like Figure 10 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, when the screen 30 is in the pouring position for excrement, the projection of the first fixing plate 31 vertically onto the inner wall of the opening 11 is located within the range of the first discharge port 12, and has the following functional relationship:

[0061] h≥1.5m, where h represents the vertical height from the top of the first fixed plate 31 to the top wall of the first discharge port 12, and m represents the distance between the side walls of adjacent screen blades 33.

[0062] Specifically, when the screen 30 is in the tilted position, the projection of the first fixing plate 31 onto the side wall of the opening 11 on one side of the first discharge port 12 is completely within the range of the first discharge port 12. Combined with the range design of h≥1.5m, this ensures that the excrement leaves the screen 30 with sufficient falling height and precise landing point, guaranteeing that the excrement sieved by the screen 30 can directly roll into the first discharge port 12. This structural design not only effectively prevents excrement from falling back into the litter at the bottom of the opening 11 due to slippage deviation during the sieving process, thereby reducing the need for secondary litter cleaning, improving the reliability of equipment operation, and increasing cleaning efficiency; it also ensures that the sliding trajectory of the excrement during the sieving process always faces the first discharge port 12, preventing the excrement from hitting the inner wall of the opening 11 during the slippage process, and preventing excrement residue on the side wall from producing odor, thereby improving the hygiene performance of the equipment and the user experience.

[0063] In this design, h represents the vertical height from the top of the first fixed plate 31 to the top wall of the first discharge port 12, while m is the distance between the side walls of adjacent screen blades 33. By setting h ≥ 1.5m, the excrement maintains a certain falling height during the pouring process from the screen 30, ensuring a sufficiently large distance between the screen 30 and the discharge port. When the excrement falls from the screen 30, it has sufficient gravitational acceleration to ensure it slides down quickly, preventing it from being unable to smoothly pass over the top of the discharge port due to insufficient height and thus avoiding getting stuck.

[0064] like Figure 10 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal distance x from the lower edge of the first discharge port 12 to the side wall of the first fixing plate 31 ranges from 0 to 0.25 m.

[0065] Specifically, the screen 30 uses the first fixed plate 31 as its rotation center. After the excrement detaches from the screen 30 during its rotation, it falls along a projectile trajectory from this point. The first discharge port 12 is located on the side wall of the opening 11. The critical condition for the excrement to pass through the lower wall of the first discharge port 12 is that the excrement must cross this lower wall. Limiting the minimum horizontal displacement distance x (the horizontal distance from the lower edge of the first discharge port 12 to the side wall of the first fixed plate 31) of the projectile motion to 0-0.25m effectively controls the horizontal displacement of the excrement after it detaches from the screen 30. This ensures that the excrement ball always falls within the lower wall range of the discharge port and does not deviate to impact the side wall of the opening 11, thus avoiding pollution, odor, and the burden of equipment cleaning.

[0066] Taking a uniformly sized ball of excrement as an example, assuming its diameter R is slightly larger than the distance m between the sidewalls of adjacent sieve blades 33, the ball cannot pass precisely through the mesh opening of the sieve 30. During the flipping process of the sieve 30, even if the ball of excrement detaches from the sieve 30 and falls vertically, it will still land on the lower wall of the excretion opening. A 0.75m diameter portion of the ball will be on the lower wall of the excretion opening, while only a 0.25m diameter portion will be within the open cavity 11 (the suspended portion of the open cavity 11). Due to inertia, the ball of excrement will still roll into the excretion opening. Therefore, setting the horizontal distance x from the lower edge of the first excretion opening 12 to the sidewall of the first fixed plate 31 to 0-0.25m ensures that after the excrement detaches from the sieve 30, whether it undergoes slight projectile motion or falls vertically, it can accurately fall within the excretion opening range. By limiting the horizontal movement distance of excrement, problems such as blockage, pollution, and odor are avoided. At the same time, combined with inertia, an efficient, reliable, and hygienic excretion process is achieved, effectively improving the performance of the equipment and the user experience.

[0067] like Figure 9-12 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the flip angle of the screen 30 is 45°-75°, and the rotation angle of the roller 10 is 0-360°.

[0068] Specifically, by setting the flipping angle of the screen 30 to 45°-75° and the rotation angle of the drum 10 to 0-360°, the optional embodiment of the present invention can effectively optimize the entire process of urine and feces screening and excretion, ensuring that urine and feces smoothly enter the excretion port and avoiding blockage or adhesion problems. At the same time, the flexible rotation design of the drum 10 further enhances the applicability and ease of operation of the equipment, thereby greatly improving the user experience and practicality of the equipment.

[0069] The rotation angle of the screen 30 is controlled between 45° and 75° for two reasons: first, to avoid the problem that if the rotation angle of the screen 30 is too small (below 45°), due to the irregular shape of the excrement and insufficient rolling inertia, some excrement may not be able to effectively detach from the screen 30 during the rotation process; second, to avoid the problem that if the rotation angle is too large (above 75°), the excrement will land too close to the screen 30, especially if it is sticky, it may fall directly vertically onto the edge of the first discharge port 12, causing the excrement to adhere to the edge of the discharge port, increasing the difficulty of cleaning the equipment, and potentially affecting the normal use of the first discharge port 12, or even causing poor excretion. By setting the rotation angle to 45°-75°, the range of the landing point can be controlled while ensuring that the excrement detaches smoothly from the screen 30, avoiding abnormalities in the excretion process caused by landing points that are too close or too far away.

[0070] The drum 10 can rotate within a range of 0-360°, allowing for free rotation at large angles to accommodate the reset requirements of the screen 30 and support 20 under different working conditions. Whether it's the return of the screen 30 after flipping or the adjustment of the support 20 under different tilting conditions of the equipment, the flexible rotation of the drum 10 ensures the smooth operation of the equipment.

[0071] It should be noted that roller 10 not only supports a wide range of 0-360° unidirectional rotation, but also allows for bidirectional switching between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation. This feature enables the device to flexibly adjust the direction of roller 10's movement during use, thereby adapting to different scenarios and needs and improving the flexibility and adaptability of the device's operation. For example, when it is necessary to adjust the flatness of the cat litter at the bottom of the opening 11, roller 10 only needs to make a small-amplitude cyclical rotation to achieve the leveling of the cat litter. This design effectively prevents uneven accumulation of cat litter at the bottom of the opening 11, ensuring the flatness of the cat litter surface, thereby improving the device's performance and user experience.

[0072] like Figure 9-12 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, a discharge chamber cover 13 is rotatably disposed on the first discharge port 12. The discharge chamber cover 13 is adapted to the shape of the roller 10, and the screen 30 is drivenly connected to the discharge chamber cover 13 for opening and closing the first discharge port 12.

[0073] Specifically, by providing a waste bin cover 13 on the first waste outlet 12, the system maintains a seal when not emptying waste, keeping the surrounding environment fresh. This is especially suitable for home use, reducing odor issues during cleaning and improving user comfort. Simultaneously, the waste bin cover 13 remains normally closed when not in use, preventing the roller 10 from carrying litter out of the opening 11 due to inertia or other factors during rotation. This maintains the cleanliness of the litter inside the opening 11 and the hygiene of the external environment, reducing litter waste, improving litter usage efficiency, and simplifying cleaning.

[0074] The shape of the discharge chamber cover 13 is adapted to the roller 10. This adapted design fully considers the actual needs of the roller 10's large-angle rotation in the equipment, ensuring a tight fit between the discharge chamber cover 13 and the roller 10. This avoids problems such as the roller 10 being obstructed or not rotating smoothly due to unevenness at the connection point of the discharge chamber cover 13, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of the equipment operation. Furthermore, the drive connection between the discharge chamber cover 13 and the screen 30 can adopt various forms, including but not limited to linkage drive and pneumatic drive. The specific selection can be adjusted according to the design requirements and operating environment of the equipment, increasing its applicability. The drive connection enables automated control of the linkage between the discharge chamber cover 13 and the screen 30, avoiding manual intervention and improving the convenience and intelligence level of equipment operation.

[0075] Meanwhile, to improve the automation level of the automatic litter box sieving device and ensure timely replenishment when litter usage decreases, a litter storage bin 54 is provided on the base 50, and a first input port 15 connected to the opening 11 is provided on the roller 10. The litter storage bin 54 is connected to a second input port 55 penetrating its inner wall. The first input port 15 corresponds to the second input port 55, and a litter bin cover 16 is hinged to the first input port 15. The design of the litter bin cover 16 is compatible with the swinging connection method of the excrement bin cover 13, allowing it to open and close flexibly, ensuring timely replenishment of litter, thereby enhancing the automation function of the equipment and optimizing the user experience. To prevent litter from falling out of the litter storage bin 54 through the second input port 55 when the roller 10 rotates, a corresponding bin cover can also be provided on the second input port 55. Furthermore, to facilitate the centralized collection of sifted excrement, a waste bin 52 is designed on the base 50, with a through second excrement port 53 on its side wall. The first discharge port 12 corresponds to the second discharge port 53. When the screen 30 is in the tilted position, the first discharge port 12 and the second discharge port 53 are connected to achieve centralized discharge of urine and feces.

[0076] like Figure 9-12As shown, the automatic litter box sieving device provided in this embodiment of the invention is applicable to various work scenarios such as home pet care, pet stores, and animal shelters, providing users with an efficient, convenient, automated, and clean litter cleaning device. When using this automatic litter box sieving device, users can control the flipping of the screen 30 to effectively isolate feces and odors. Its actual working process includes: first, a sieving operation, where the support base 20 slides on the inner wall of the opening 11, lifting the screen 30 from the litter to sift out feces; second, a pouring operation, where when the screen 30 reaches above the first discharge port 12, the support base 20 stops sliding, the discharge chamber cover 13 opens, and the screen 30 flips towards the first discharge port 12, causing the sifted feces to roll into the discharge port due to inertia. The process involves three main steps: First, effective sieving and cleaning of feces and urine. Second, a reset operation. After the feces and urine are emptied, the excrement chamber cover 13 closes, and the roller 10 rotates the support base 20 and screen 30. The litter, due to inertia, slides along the inner wall of the opening, detaching from the initial position of the support base 20 and screen 30 within the opening 11. This allows the support base 20 and screen 30 to reverse and reset to their initial positions within the opening 11. Then, the roller 10 simply continues to rotate until the support base 20 and screen 30 are at the lowest point of the opening 11, allowing the litter to re-cover the screen 30, effectively isolating residual feces and urine and preventing odor. Simultaneously, when the screen 30 resets to the lowest point of the opening 11, the roller 10 can perform small-amplitude cyclical rotations to level the litter, ensuring a smooth surface. This design effectively prevents uneven accumulation of litter at the bottom of the opening 11, ensuring a smooth surface and improving the device's performance and user experience.

[0077] The lifting and screening design of the screen 30 effectively avoids squeezing feces and urine, reducing the amount of feces and urine adhering to the screen 30, thus ensuring thorough cleaning, maintaining the hygiene of the device, and protecting health. The entire cleaning process is highly automated, reducing manual intervention and significantly improving the cleaning efficiency of the litter box. It provides great convenience to users, meets the needs of modern families for smart pet products, and has broad application prospects.

[0078] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In particular, it should be noted that any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention for those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An automatic cat litter box sieving device, characterized in that, The device includes a base, a roller, a support, and a screen. The base has an arc-shaped opening groove adapted to the roller. The roller is rotatably disposed within the arc-shaped opening groove. The roller has an opening cavity and a first discharge port penetrating the side wall of the opening cavity. The support is slidably disposed on the inner wall of the opening cavity adjacent to the first discharge port. The screen is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the support and is located at the bottom of the opening cavity. The support is used to lift the screen above the first discharge port, after which the screen will flip towards the first discharge port to pour excrement into the first discharge port. After the screen has poured out the excrement, the roller will drive the support and the screen to rotate, and the screen will flip away from the first discharge port so that the support can drive the screen to return to its original position. A groove is formed on the inner wall of the opening. The support includes a lifting slider that is slidably disposed in the groove and a support member disposed at the bottom of the lifting slider. The screen is rotatably disposed on the support member. The lifting slider is used to drive the screen to lift. The screen includes a first fixed plate, a second fixed plate, and a plurality of screen blades. The first fixed plate is rotatably mounted on the inner wall of the support member near the first discharge port. The two ends of the screen blades are fixedly connected to the first fixed plate and the second fixed plate, respectively. The screen blades are evenly arranged between the first fixed plate and the second fixed plate. The screen is rotated with the first fixed plate as the rotation center, and the screen blades are parallel to the rotation direction of the screen.

2. The automatic litter box sieving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The screen also includes a limiting member, which is disposed on the second fixing plate. The top of the support member has a limiting notch adapted to the limiting member, and the limiting member engages with the limiting notch.

3. The automatic litter box sieving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a driver, which includes a first rotating motor disposed on the inner wall of the arc-shaped opening groove and a second rotating motor disposed on the support member. The first rotating motor is driven connected to the roller, and the second rotating motor is driven connected to the second fixed plate. The rotation axis of the roller is parallel to the first fixed plate.

4. The automatic litter box sieving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sieve blade has an arc-shaped structure, and the sieve blade extends from the middle of the sieve to both ends to form an asymmetrical arc structure.

5. The automatic litter box sieving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the sieve is in the position where the excrement is poured, the projection of the first fixed plate perpendicularly onto the inner wall of the oral cavity is located within the range of the first excretion opening, and there is a functional relationship: h≥1.5m, where h represents the vertical height from the top of the first fixed plate to the top wall of the first discharge port, and m represents the distance between adjacent screen blade sidewalls.

6. The automatic litter box sieving device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The horizontal distance x from the lower edge of the first discharge port to the side wall of the first fixing plate ranges from 0 to 0.25m.

7. The automatic litter box sieving device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sieve has a flip angle range of 45°-75°, and the roller has a rotation angle of 0-360°.

8. The automatic litter box sieving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A discharge chamber cover is rotatably mounted on the first discharge port. The discharge chamber cover is adapted to the shape of the roller, and the screen is driven to connect with the discharge chamber cover for opening and closing the first discharge port.

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