Manufacturing method and step sequence of stainless steel animal excrement collector

Abstract

The invention provides a method for manufacturing a stainless steel animal excrement and cat excrement collector. The method comprises the following steps of: completely cutting a profile of a vertical wall from a 300-series austenitic stainless steel plate with the thickness of at least 1.2 millimeters by laser; performing complete laser cutting to obtain the contour of the circular bottom; the outline of a U-shaped inlet is cut by partial laser; rolling the vertical wall cutting piece into a cylindrical shape; rolling up the edge of the circular bottom to form a circular edge between the vertical wall and the bottom; longitudinally welding the joints of the cylindrical vertical walls, and connecting the opposite edges of the cylindrical vertical walls; welding the circular bottom and the cylindrical vertical wall through a circular seam, and connecting the bottom to the vertical wall; milling the inner and outer surfaces; removing the U-shaped inlet and the handle opening; and the top, the U-shaped inlet and the edge of the opening of the handle are subjected to deburring treatment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an animal waste collector, its materials, manufacturing method, and sequence of steps. More specifically, this invention relates to a marine and medical-grade 300 series stainless steel cat waste collector, its manufacturing method, and sequence of steps. Background Technology

[0002] Pet waste collectors are commonly used for indoor animals (such as cats) to collect their urine and excrement. Generally, most pet waste collectors are made of plastic. Granular cat litter can be placed at the bottom of the collector to absorb moisture and odors produced by the animal's physical activity. Furthermore, since cats like to sweep their paws back to cover their excrement, granular cat litter satisfies their instinctive desire to bury their scent and encourages them to do so.

[0003] Even with proper cleaning and disinfection, it is generally recommended to replace pet waste collectors once or twice a year. Plastic, non-stick, and Teflon-coated cat waste collectors are easily damaged by cat scratches. The grooves created by these scratches can breed odors and bacteria. Furthermore, cat urine is highly acidic. These discarded cat waste collectors ultimately end up in landfills without undergoing any significant degree of biodegradation.

[0004] From a biological perspective, cats rotate before and after excretion; however, most cat waste collectors are rectangular, which hinders the cat's ability to rotate fully. The length a cat can rotate is limited by the shorter side of the rectangle. Therefore, providing a cat waste collector with a circular interior would be more biologically appropriate, allowing the cat to rotate without obstruction.

[0005] Cats typically squat to defecate, but many cats can urinate up to 25 inches high. Existing cat waste collectors do not offer such high wall heights and are usually composed of two parts, including an extended wall and a bottom tray, which causes urine to leak from the gap between the extended wall and the bottom tray. Therefore, there is a need for a 300 series stainless steel cat waste collector with vertical walls higher than 20 inches, suitable for cats that urinate at high heights and do not squat, and to prevent urine from overflowing from the common 6-8 inch shallow wall collectors.

[0006] However, steel objects exceeding 8 inches in height or depth cannot be formed by molding, casting, or deep drawing because, in this field, the stretching, deep drawing, or denting depth of stainless steel sheets cannot exceed 8 inches. Only 300 series stainless steel sheets, with their lower ductility and rigidity, can be rolled and welded to form walls exceeding 8 inches in height or depth, with walls that can stand upright without deformation, while having a wide entrance for animals, a top opening for pouring granular cat litter, and a handle opening on the curved surface of the animal waste collector. For example, tall 200 series stainless steel trash cans use plastic linings or frame support to prevent deformation. Common 200 series stainless steel food trays are only 6-8 inches high, which is too shallow for filling with the veterinarian-recommended minimum 2-inch litter layer, preventing animals from urinating or defecating and burying their waste. A 6-8 inch wall height is insufficient to effectively block urine from high places. Furthermore, the low nickel content of 200 series stainless steel is not corrosion-resistant enough to contain corrosive cat urine. Therefore, common 6-8 inch high stainless steel food trays cannot be successfully used as animal waste collectors and cat waste collectors.

[0007] To avoid using the plastic and non-stick coatings or Teflon coatings commonly used in animal waste collection, a finely ground inner surface is also required to reduce the adhesion of wet animal waste and granular cat litter to the surface.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a cat waste collector and an animal waste collector made of 300 series stainless steel. Simultaneously, a method and a series of manufacturing steps are also needed to manufacture a suitable cat waste collector using this material, which presents numerous challenges in terms of processability. Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to one embodiment, an animal waste collector and a cat waste collector are disclosed. The collector has a bottom and a curved sidewall extending around the bottom, forming a cylindrical animal waste collector with an open top. The collector is seamless and free of weld marks, and is made of at least 300 series stainless steel. A rounded curved edge is formed at the junction of the bottom and the curved sidewall, the rounded bottom edge preventing material buildup within the animal waste collector and cat waste collector. A U-shaped opening is located on the front area sidewall of the collector, forming a discontinuous edge area to allow animals to enter the collector; the bottom of the opening is at least 6 inches from the bottom of the collector. A fill line is also present on the collector to indicate the amount of cat litter filled. A pair of handle openings are located on either side of the curved sidewall.

[0010] According to another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a stainless steel animal excrement collector is provided, comprising: fully laser-cutting the contour of a vertical wall from a 300 series austenitic stainless steel sheet at least 1.2 mm thick; fully laser-cutting the contour of a circular bottom from the 300 series austenitic stainless steel sheet at least 1.2 mm thick; partially laser-cutting the contour of a "U"-shaped inlet, the height of which does not exceed 2 / 3 of the total height of the vertical wall and the width of which does not exceed 1 / 10 of the circumference; rolling the vertical wall cut into a cylindrical shape; rolling up the edge of the circular bottom to form a circular edge between the vertical wall and the bottom; longitudinally welding the joint of the cylindrical vertical wall to connect the opposite edges of the cylindrical vertical wall; seam welding the circular bottom and the cylindrical vertical wall to connect the bottom to the vertical wall; milling the inner and outer surfaces with a vertical milling brush to increase the non-stick and scratch resistance of the surface; removing the "U"-shaped inlet and handle opening; and deburring the edges of the top, the "U"-shaped inlet, and the handle opening. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a manufacturing process flow diagram of the excrement collector used in this invention;

[0012] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an excrement collector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 3 This is according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 Front view of the excrement collector;

[0014] Figure 4 This is according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 Side view of the excrement collector;

[0015] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the lid in an implementation example. Detailed Implementation

[0016] This disclosure relates to an improved excrement collector and a method of manufacturing the same. The improved excrement collector can be made of a rust-resistant material and is seamless to prevent crevice corrosion. The collector is made of 300 series stainless steel, and therefore does not absorb odors, breed bacteria and mold, leave stains, rust, or accumulate residue like plastic, rubber, and lower-grade stainless steel excrement collectors.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a manufacturing process flow diagram for manufacturing excrement collectors according to the present invention.

[0018] Step 101 involves fully laser-cutting the profile of the vertical wall from a 300 series austenitic stainless steel sheet that is at least 1.2 mm thick.

[0019] Step 102 involves laser-cutting the outline of the round bottom from a 300 series austenitic stainless steel sheet that is at least 1.2 mm thick.

[0020] Step 103 involves partially laser-cutting the outline of a "U"-shaped entrance, with its height not less than 1 / 3 and not more than 2 / 3 of the total height of the vertical wall, and its width not more than 1 / 10 of the perimeter.

[0021] Step 104 involves rolling the vertical wall cut piece into a cylindrical shape.

[0022] Step 105 is to roll up the edge of the rounded bottom to form a rounded edge between the vertical wall and the bottom.

[0023] Step 106 involves longitudinally welding the joints of the cylindrical vertical walls to connect the opposing vertical edges of the cylinder.

[0024] Step 107 involves seaming the circular bottom and the cylindrical vertical wall together to attach the bottom to the vertical wall.

[0025] Step 108 involves milling the inner and outer surfaces with a vertical milling brush to increase the surface's non-stickiness and scratch resistance.

[0026] Step 109 is to remove the "U"-shaped inlet and handle opening.

[0027] Step 110 involves deburring the edges of the top, the "U"-shaped entrance, and the handle opening.

[0028] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen, the animal waste collector 10 is a collection unit 12, which has an open top area 15. In this embodiment, the collection unit 12 is circular. The circular design of the collection unit 12 eliminates corners, which are a problem with waste collectors in the prior art because corner areas are more difficult to clean and tend to accumulate cat litter and animal waste. Therefore, the circular design of the collection unit 12 is easier to clean and prevents the accumulation of cat litter and animal waste.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the collector 12 comprises a bottom 12B and a sidewall 12A extending around the bottom 12B, forming a collector 12 with an open top region 15. The sidewall is perpendicular to the bottom, and the profile of the top of the collector is parallel to the profile of the bottom. Both the sidewall and the bottom are made of 300 series austenitic stainless steel sheet with a thickness of at least 1.2 mm.

[0030] Inside the bottom of collector 12, there is a rounded / curved edge 14 (hereinafter referred to as the rounded edge), located at the junction of sidewall 12A and bottom 12B. The rounded edge 14 is easier to clean and prevents the accumulation or difficulty in removing cat litter and animal excrement. Most existing excrement collectors have a sharper edge between the sidewall and bottom, which is more difficult to clean and tends to accumulate cat litter and animal excrement.

[0031] Collector 12 may form a filler line 16. According to one embodiment, the filler line 16 is located on the sidewall 12A and indicates the amount of granular cat litter that should be placed inside collector 12. The filler line 16 is located 2 to 3 inches above the bottom 12B. According to one embodiment, the filler line 16 may be embossed along the perimeter of container 12. The filler line 16 may be formed on the outer perimeter or the inner perimeter of collector 12. According to one embodiment, the filler line 16 may be formed along the inner perimeter of collector 12 to make it easier to see when adding cat litter. The embossed design of the filler line 16 protects it from animal scratches and normal wear, thus extending its service life.

[0032] A pair of handles 18 may be formed on both sides of the collector 12 for lifting and moving the collector 12. According to one embodiment, the handles 18 may be a pair of elongated elliptical openings 18A located on both sides of the collector 12.

[0033] An opening 20 is formed in the front region of collector 12, creating a discontinuous edge area to allow animals to enter the interior of collector 12. According to one embodiment, opening 20 is a U-shaped opening. The bottom of opening 20 should be high enough to prevent litter from overflowing, but not so high as to obstruct animal entry. According to one embodiment, the bottom of opening 20 should be at least four inches above the bottom 12B. The height of the U-shaped entrance should not exceed 2 / 3 of the total height of the vertical wall, and the width should not exceed 1 / 10 of the perimeter.

[0034] pH represents the concentration of hydrogen ions. The pH level actually measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (i.e., protons) in a substance. Normal cat urine should have a pH between 6 and 6.5. However, different conditions and diets can cause the pH of cat urine to rise or fall. A lower pH generally means the cat urine is more acidic, while a higher pH means the cat urine is more alkaline. A major consideration is that abnormal urine pH may promote the formation of crystals / stones, which can irritate and / or obstruct the cat's urethra. Furthermore, more acidic urine may accelerate damage to existing waste collection devices.

[0035] Many people may assume that all stainless steel is corrosion-resistant and can be easily cast or molded by machine, but this is generally not the case. Metal production typically requires custom tools and highly skilled manual work. The lower the grade of stainless steel, the higher the corrosion rate may be. For example, many inexpensive stainless steel products found on Amazon and IKEA may be made of 201 or 200 series stainless steel. It's difficult to distinguish them by appearance because all stainless steel looks the same. However, 200 series stainless steel will rust even if left in a humid environment for 1-2 years without contact with liquids.

[0036] Studies have shown that certain solutions can cause stainless steel to corrode and crack. When passivated metals such as stainless steel corrode, corrosion occurs where the passivation is broken. This can happen in very small areas and cause surface pitting. Once the passivation in a localized area is destroyed, that area becomes the anode of the remaining passivated surface.

[0037] Increasing carbon content often increases susceptibility to sensitization. Keeping the carbon content to a maximum of 0.03%, such as in higher grades of 300 series stainless steel, may be sufficient to avoid sensitization. Adding titanium or niobium can also inhibit the development of sensitization. Therefore, unless low-carbon grades are used, 300 series stainless steel is recommended for use in corrosive environments.

[0038] Therefore, the collector 12 of the present invention can be made of seamless, gapless, and rivet-free 300 series austenitic stainless steel. Collectors made of 300 series stainless steel will not absorb odors, breed bacteria and mold, leave stains, rust, or accumulate residue like plastic, rubber, and low-grade stainless steel waste collectors. According to one embodiment, the collector 12 can be made of 316 "ocean grade" stainless steel.

[0039] The collector 12, being seamless, gapless, and rivet-free, is crucial because grain boundaries have low corrosion resistance. For example, welding and drilling operations can leave easily corroded or "sensitized" conditions near weld and cut areas. Intergranular corrosion in sensitized steel can be insidious, as the steel may sometimes appear relatively intact after being subjected to such corrosion, but a more detailed inspection may reveal very low strength.

[0040] Figure 5 The lid of the animal excrement collector of the present invention is shown.

[0041] The animal excrement collector of the present invention can be equipped with a lid, the center of which is stainless steel and the edges of which are malleable silicone, allowing it to conform to the shape of the invention. Plastic or stainless steel lids are not easily adaptable to different shapes, but a stainless steel central lid with malleable silicone edges can.

[0042] A folding hinge 504 provides access to the animal waste collector. A recess 502 clips onto the top edge of the animal waste collector to secure the lid to the collector. A 300 Series stainless steel lid 505 is attached to a silicone platform 503 to support the 300 Series stainless steel lid 505. The soft and malleable edge 501 is typically made of silicone.

[0043] The embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments and are not intended to be a complete description of all elements and features of devices and systems that may utilize the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will become clear to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

[0044] Other implementation examples can be utilized and derived from this invention, thereby allowing for structural and logical substitutions and changes without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0045] The figures are representative only and may not be drawn to scale. Some scales may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Therefore, the description and figures should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that any arrangement intended to achieve the same purpose may substitute for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of the various embodiments.

[0046] Those skilled in the art will understand, after reading the above description, the combination of the above embodiments and other embodiments not specifically described herein. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed.

Claims

1. An animal excrement collector, comprising: The bottom is made of 300 series stainless steel; The curved sidewalls, made of 300 series stainless steel, extend vertically upwards from the bottom, forming an open top area; A rounded edge is formed at the junction of the bottom and sidewalls to prevent the accumulation of material stored inside the collector; and a "U"-shaped opening is provided on the sidewall of the front area of ​​the collector to form a discontinuous edge area to allow animals to enter the interior of the collector; wherein the bottom and sidewalls are made of stainless steel.

2. The animal excrement collector according to claim 1, comprising a filling line formed on the sidewall.

3. The animal excrement collector of claim 1, comprising a filler line formed on the sidewall, the filler line being located at least two inches above the bottom.

4. The animal excrement collector according to claim 1, comprising a pair of handle openings formed on both sides of the sidewall.

5. The animal excrement collector of claim 1 further includes a lid with a stainless steel center and a malleable silicone edge.

6. The animal excrement collector of claim 1, wherein the bottom and sidewalls are made of 316 marine grade stainless steel.

7. The animal excrement collector according to claim 1, wherein the animal excrement collector is cylindrical.

8. The animal excrement collector according to claim 1, wherein the animal excrement collector is seamless.

9. An animal excrement collector, comprising: bottom; The sidewalls extending from the bottom form an open top area; A rounded edge is formed at the junction of the bottom and side walls to prevent the material stored inside the collector from piling up. And there is a "U"-shaped opening on the side wall of the front area of ​​the collector, forming a discontinuous edge area to allow animals to enter the interior of the collector, with the bottom of the opening at least 4 inches from the bottom; The bottom and sidewalls are made of at least 300 series stainless steel; and the bottom is parallel to the top opening; the sidewalls extend around the bottom to form a cylindrical animal excrement collector with an open top area, wherein the animal excrement collector is seamless and made of at least 300 series stainless steel; a filler line is formed on the collector; and a pair of handle openings are formed on both sides of the sidewalls.

10. A method for manufacturing a stainless steel animal excrement collector, comprising: Completely laser-cut the outline of the vertical wall from a 300 series austenitic stainless steel sheet at least 1.2 mm thick; completely laser-cut the outline of the rounded bottom from a 300 series austenitic stainless steel sheet at least 1.2 mm thick; partially laser-cut the outline of the "U"-shaped entrance, with a height not less than 1 / 3 and not more than 2 / 3 of the total height of the vertical wall, and a width not more than 1 / 10 of the circumference; roll the vertical wall cut into a cylindrical shape; roll up the edge of the rounded bottom to form a rounded edge between the vertical wall and the bottom; The longitudinal weld joints of the cylindrical vertical walls connect the opposite edges of the cylindrical vertical walls; the circular weld joints the circular bottom and the cylindrical vertical walls connect the bottom to the vertical walls; the inner and outer surfaces are milled with a vertical milling brush to increase the surface non-stickiness and scratch resistance; the "U" shaped inlet and handle opening are removed; and the edges of the top, "U" shaped inlet and handle opening are deburred.

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