Device for dispensing animal feed, and method for dispensing wet feed implemented by a device of this kind

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (2) for dispensing animal feed, the device (2) comprising a casing (6) inside which a feed receptacle (8A) and a wet feed dispensing unit (10) are arranged. The wet feed dispensing unit (10) is suitable for receiving a removable bag (4) of wet feed provided with an opening neck for the bag (4), the wet feed dispensing unit (10) comprising: - an electromechanical device (24) for supplying wet feed from the bag (4) to the feed receptacle (8A), comprising means (36B) for squeezing and / or pressing the bag (4) and means (38, 38A, 38B) for pinching at least one edge of the bag (4), said pinching means (38, 38A, 38B) being motorised and being mounted so as to be movable between a push position in which said at least one edge of the bag (4) is pushed towards the neck, and a pull position in which said at least one edge of the bag (4) is pulled away from the neck; and - means for controlling the electromechanical device (24), which are able to control dispensing of the wet feed from the bag (4) towards the feed receptacle (8A).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: Device for dispensing food for animals, and method for dispensing wet food implemented by such a device

[0003] The invention relates to the field of devices for dispensing food (in particular wet food) for animals, typically for small domestic animals such as cats or dogs. The wet food is, for example (but not limited to), animal food. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a device and a bag of wet food installed within the device; as well as to a method for dispensing wet food implemented by such a device.

[0004] In the field of animal food dispensing devices, food receptacles are known that control the animal's access to wet food. For example, prior art solutions consist of equipping the animal (e.g., a cat) with an electronic chip, typically worn by a collar placed around the animal's neck or via an intradermal chip. The receptacle is, for example, provided with a movable lid preventing access to the food when it is closed. The receptacle is provided with electronic control means for opening the lid, as well as chip recognition means (e.g., a detection arch) connected to the control means. In this way, the animal equipped with the chip and approaching the receptacle controls the opening of the lid, thus releasing access to the wet food.However, a disadvantage of this type of receptacle is that it requires manual refilling by the user for each food distribution. In addition, wet food, once removed from its packaging, and even when protected from ambient air, oxidizes after about four to eight hours.

[0005] There is therefore a need to be able to distribute wet food (of the pâté type) in an automated and repeated manner, thus allowing the user to more easily go about their business while meeting the animal's nutritional needs. For this purpose, dispensers are known that allow predefined doses of wet food to be automatically delivered. Patent document US 9,232,769 B1 describes, for example, such a wet food dispenser. The dispenser comprises a food dispensing unit and several bags of wet food arranged in the upper part of the unit. The food dispensing unit is provided with a housing, a receptacle arranged in the lower part of the housing; an electromechanical device arranged in the middle part of the housing for bringing the food from the bags to the receptacle; and means for controlling the electromechanical device.Each bag is attached to the housing from the top and bottom, via upper and lower retaining clips provided on the housing. The electromechanical device comprises a servomotor equipped with a shaft, itself connected to a belt / pulley system. The belt is connected to a movable arm via a connector which passes through a channel provided in the housing. The arm, which is equipped at its free end with a rotating blade, is thus driven in translation along the channel by the action of the motorized belt / pulley system. In operation, the arm equipped with its blade cuts off an end portion of the bags pre-positioned on the housing, thus allowing the distribution of wet food into the receptacle. However, a disadvantage of the food dispenser described in this patent document is that it requires having to consume an entire bag of wet food for each dose of food distributed.This leads to food waste and overconsumption by the animal, and affects the autonomy of the device.

[0006] Another disadvantage of such a dispenser is that it does not guarantee bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of wet food. In fact, the food container and the opening mechanism, or even the bags themselves after opening, remain in contact with the air, which carries germs and bacteria, which are themselves sources of bacteriological contamination.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to provide a device for dispensing food, in particular wet food, for animals, which makes it possible to dose a precise quantity of wet food suitable for the animal, and therefore both to avoid wasting food and to increase the autonomy of the device (by saving on food refills).

[0008] Another aim of the invention is to provide an automated device for distributing food, particularly wet food, for animals, which is simple and reliable and which guarantees bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of the wet food.

[0009] To achieve these objectives, the present disclosure relates to a device for dispensing food for animals, this device comprising a housing comprising a food receptacle and a wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit being adapted to receive a removable bag of wet food, this wet food dispensing unit being configured to ensure the maintenance and fixing of said bag so that the latter then extends at least in part along a main axis, said bag being provided with a neck for opening the bag, the neck being deformable between at least one opening position and a closing position, being provided on a lower part of the bag and being arranged opposite the food receptacle when the bag is received in the wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit comprising:

[0010] - an electromechanical device for feeding wet food from the bag to the food receptacle, and

[0011] - means for controlling the electromechanical device, capable of controlling a distribution of wet food from the bag to the food receptacle.

[0012] According to the invention, the electromechanical device comprises:

[0013] - at least one block comprising a gripping element for holding a part of said bag arranged laterally to said neck, said gripping element being mounted so as to be movable in translation along an axis transverse or substantially transverse to said main axis, and a motor for driving said gripping element in movement between a position of said part of said bag thus held, corresponding to an opening position of the neck, and a pulling position of said part of said bag thus held, corresponding to said closing position of the neck,

[0014] - said blocks being configured to hold a first part and a second part of said bag placed laterally of said neck, and located on either side of the latter, when said electromechanical device comprises two blocks,

[0015] - said electromechanical device comprising at least one retaining element for a second part of said bag placed laterally to said neck, when it comprises a single block for gripping a first part of said bag placed laterally to said neck, said first and second parts being located on either side of said neck, and

[0016] - said blocks, or said block and said retaining element, being configured to allow selective opening or closing of said neck, with tensioning of said first and second parts in the pulling position ensuring sealed closing of said neck and thus guaranteeing bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of the wet food.

[0017] The present disclosure advantageously makes it possible to keep the same bag that has been opened, for a longer time in the wet food distribution unit, without altering the quality of its contents. Tests have thus shown that the same 500 gram bag of wet food (bi-nutrition) could be used between two (2) and five (5) days at room temperature in the food distribution device, after opening. No storage of the bag in a refrigerated compartment after opening is required.

[0018] Preferably, the housing comprises a single-piece shell made of injected aluminum.

[0019] The present disclosure also relates to a device for dispensing food for animals, the device comprising a housing comprising a food receptacle and a wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit being adapted to receive a removable bag of wet food, capable of being held and fixed inside the housing and provided with a neck for opening the bag, the neck being deformable between at least one opening position and a closing position, being provided on a lower part of the bag and being arranged opposite the food receptacle when the bag is received in the wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit comprising:

[0020] - an electromechanical device for feeding wet food from the bag to the food receptacle; and

[0021] - means for controlling the electromechanical device, capable of controlling a distribution of wet food from the bag to the food receptacle.

[0022] According to the invention, the electromechanical device comprises:

[0023] - a clamping / pressing assembly for the bag movable along a main axis for clamping and / or pressing at least part of said bag, and

[0024] - a first block comprising:

[0025] - a first element for gripping a first part of the bag arranged laterally at the neck, the first gripping element being mounted to move in translation along an axis transverse or substantially transverse to a main axis defined by the axis of movement of the bag clamping / pressing assembly, and

[0026] - a motor to drive the first gripping element between:

[0027] - a position of the first part of the bag thus grasped, corresponding to an opening position of the neck, and

[0028] - a position for pulling the first part of the bag thus grasped, corresponding to the position for closing the neck,

[0029] - a second block comprising:

[0030] - a second element for gripping a second part of the bag placed laterally at the neck, the first and second parts of the bag being located on either side of the neck,

[0031] - the second gripping element being either fixed to form a retaining element for the second part of the bag, or mounted to move in translation along the transverse axis or substantially transverse to the main axis defined by the axis of movement of the bag clamping / pressing assembly,

[0032] - the first and second blocks being configured to allow selective opening or closing of the neck, with tensioning of the first and second parts of the bag in the pulling position ensuring a tight closing of the neck and thus guaranteeing bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of the wet food.

[0033] The present disclosure also relates to a device for dispensing food for animals, the device comprising a housing inside which are arranged a food receptacle and a wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit being adapted to receive a removable bag of wet food, capable of being held and fixed inside the housing and provided with a neck for opening the bag, the neck being deformable between an open position and a closed position, being provided on a lower part of the bag and being arranged opposite the food receptacle when the bag is received in the wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit comprising:

[0034] - an electromechanical device for feeding wet food from the bag to the food receptacle; and

[0035] - means for controlling the electromechanical device, capable of controlling a distribution of wet food from the bag to the food receptacle.

[0036] According to the invention, the electromechanical device comprises:

[0037] - means for tightening and / or pressing the bag; and

[0038] - means for pinching at least one edge of the bag, said pinching means being motorized and mounted to move between a position for pushing said at least one edge of the bag towards the neck, and a position for pulling said at least one edge of the bag away from the neck, the bag being configured such that the position for pushing said at least one edge of the bag corresponds to the position for opening the neck, and the position for pulling said at least one edge of the bag corresponds to the position for closing the neck, the pinching means being configured to allow selective opening or closing of the neck.

[0039] Although suitable for distributing food for all types of animals (especially domestic animals), the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for distributing food to cats, whose physiological needs require wet food (most of them do not drink enough), and whose biological rhythm leads to about ten small meals every twenty-four hours. The wet food distributed may be animal food, in particular cat food.

[0040] Thanks to the particular configuration of the bag, combined with the presence in the electromechanical device of means for tightening and / or pressing the bag and means for pinching at least one edge of the bag, the food dispensing device according to the invention makes it possible to dose a precise quantity of wet food suitable for the animal (and in particular to deliver precise doses of personalized food, typically doses of wet food ranging from 10 g to 100 g). In addition, the neck of the bag being deformable between an open position and a closed position by pulling or pushing on the edge of the bag, and the pinching means being configured to allow selective opening or closing of the neck, the interior of the neck (and therefore of the bag) remains airtight outside periods of wet food distribution, due to the closing of the neck.The contents of the opened bag thus remain airtight and bacteria-proof throughout the entire duration of its emptying, because the opening surface of the neck is minimal, almost always sealed, without residue (which falls by gravity), and inside a fully streamlined machine (no contact with pets or insects). In addition, the neck of the bag is integral with it and itself acts as a stopper thanks to the pinching means of at least one edge of the bag, all of the food passing through the neck either falls into the receptacle by gravity, or remains suspended in the completely sealed neck. Consequently, no air comes into contact with the contents of the neck (and by extension of the bag). This ensures effective bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of the wet food.It should also be noted that the bag has no seals, stopper or attached moving part, as well as no residue on the outside; there is also no suction phenomenon sucking air inside the bag: the food is pushed and comes out of the bag, or remains protected inside it. The constant vertical position of the bag also causes the wet food to close the opening of the neck and prevent air from entering. Furthermore, the doses of wet food dispensed and any residue are protected from external contact (via the fairing provided by the device housing) and do not come into contact with the mechanical parts of the device but only with the various food receptacles, which are preferably removable and thus constitute the only parts of the device requiring cleaning.Indeed, the doses of wet food dispensed and the residues fall directly by gravity into the various food receptacles of the device, without ever touching parts of the electromechanical device. Finally, the food dispensing device according to the invention is simple, reliable and has good autonomy (due to the distribution of predefined doses corresponding to portions of wet food contained in the bag).

[0041] According to one embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, each gripping element is configured to grip a portion of said bag located between said neck and a corresponding side edge of said bag, said neck being excluded.

[0042] According to another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, said retaining element is a lug or a fixed gripping element.

[0043] The term "lug" means a small protruding part intended to be engaged in a hole provided for this purpose in the corresponding lateral part of said bag. According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the neck of said bag having at least two stable opening geometries, when said or each block holds a corresponding part of said bag arranged laterally to the neck in predetermined opening positions of the latter, each block is configured to selectively move from the neck closure position to each opening position, each of these positions being reached by the translational movement of said block or blocks along said transverse axis.

[0044] Advantageously, it is then possible to adjust the shape of the neck to adapt this opening to the rheology and / or the number of phases / components of the wet food, such as two-component pâtés. In the latter case, it may be, for example, a pâté comprising pieces in the jelly.

[0045] For purely illustrative purposes, a first of said opening positions corresponding to a stable opening geometry of the neck, called the forced opening position, corresponds to a position of said or each block, in which it exerts a thrust on a corresponding part of said bag arranged laterally of said neck.

[0046] To exert such a thrust, the corresponding block moves towards the neck.

[0047] This forced opening position corresponds for example to a geometry of the neck called “full opening”, and to a straight cross-section of the neck which is circular or substantially circular, the latter being reached when the position of said at least one block is closest to said neck.

[0048] According to another illustration, another of said opening positions corresponding to a stable opening geometry of the neck, called the normal opening position of the bag, corresponds to a position of said or each block, in which the corresponding part of said bag arranged laterally of said neck is not put under tension by said block. For example, this stable opening position corresponds to an opening geometry of the neck in which the latter has a straight cat's eye cross section.

[0049] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, each block is configured so that the transverse or substantially transverse axis of movement of its gripping element is placed between the lower and upper ends of said neck when the bag is held in said housing.

[0050] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, each gripping element comprises one or more objects chosen from the group comprising teeth, pointed elements such as needles or spikes, pressure bars with or without rubber, a lug or a fixing stud intended to cooperate with a corresponding orifice placed in the lower part of the bag, shapes and counter-shapes, and combinations of these elements.

[0051] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, each gripping element is formed by a gripping jaw for gripping said portion of the bag arranged laterally of said neck by each of the faces of said bag.

[0052] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, said electromechanical device also comprises an assembly for clamping and / or pressing said bag, said assembly defining a main axis along which said assembly for clamping and / or pressing said bag moves to clamp and / or press at least a portion of said bag.

[0053] Preferably, said bag clamping and / or pressing assembly comprises two motorized parallel rollers, each of the rollers being mounted to move in translation along said main axis inside the housing and extending in a direction transverse to said main axis, the bag being intended to extend between the rollers while being held by clamping between the rollers when the bag is received in the wet food dispensing unit, the neck of the bag extending below the rollers.

[0054] The rollers, descending downwards, slide the wet food towards the neck and therefore towards the outlet of the bag, the wet food then falling into the food receptacle by gravity. Such a configuration using motorized parallel rollers to tighten and / or press the bag makes it possible to efficiently press the bag to make the wet food fall into the receptacle, while adapting the length of descent of the rollers on the one hand to the dose of wet food to be dispensed, and on the other hand to the height where the rollers are located relative to the bag (1 cm descended by the rollers expels more or less wet food depending on the relative position of the rollers with respect to the bag). For this purpose, a linear regression law can advantageously be implemented in a data processing unit to control the movement of the rollers (profile, speed, pressure, descended height, etc.), in order to control the flow of wet food and the uniform distribution of doses regardless of the position of the rollers.

[0055] Advantageously, the two parallel rollers extend in the same horizontal plane when they are in the bag clamping position, each of the two rollers extending in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0056] Preferably, said animal food dispensing device comprises at least one pair of guide rail portions placed opposite each other in the upper part of the housing, said guide rail portions for guiding said rollers between a storage, or retracted, position and an operating position, in which said rollers are engaged with said bag, the upper ends of said rail portions bringing said rollers to their retracted position, being inclined to increase the distance separating these rollers and facilitate the positioning of the bag in the wet food dispensing unit when the rollers are in the retracted position. Advantageously, said retracted position is placed above fixing elements for suspending said bag in the wet food dispensing unit.

[0057] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the electromechanical device further comprises at least one roller support part, preferably two roller support parts, said at least one support part being connected to a motor or servomotor allowing its translational movement inside the housing, said at least one support part having a first part for holding one of the two rollers configured so as to form a pivot connection for said roller, and a second part for holding the other roller, said second part of the part being provided with an oblong-shaped recess configured to receive, depending on the translational movement of the rollers in the housing, said other roller in a first portion of the recess, corresponding to a position of bringing the rollers together, or in a second portion of the recess,corresponding to a position of spacing of the rollers, the first and second portions of the oblong-shaped recess being offset from each other vertically and / or horizontally. Such a support piece thus configured provides an effective means for allowing easy insertion of the bag between the rollers during its installation in the device, while allowing the rollers to move closer together and therefore clamping of the bag when the vertical downward movement of the rollers is initiated. Indeed, when the support piece is driven in translation downwards by the motor, the roller inserted in the oblong-shaped recess rises in the first portion of the recess and thus moves closer to the other roller. When the support piece is not driven in translation by the motor,the roll inserted into the oblong-shaped recess falls back into the second portion of the recess and then moves away from the other roll (allowing in particular insertion or replacement of the bag). The support piece extends for example transversely to the main direction of extension of the rolls, in a substantially vertical plane. The length of the oblong-shaped recess can advantageously be oriented along an axis oblique to the vertical direction, in particular along an axis forming an angle with this vertical direction of between 15 and 45 degrees, for example substantially equal to 20 degrees. According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the two rolls is mounted to rotate about its main axis of extension, in said at least one support piece. Each of the two rolls can for example be mounted to rotate freely about a rod, itself inserted into said at least one support piece.,

[0058] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, said gripping element(s) are means for pinching two opposite edges of the bag and consist of two clamps, at least one of the two clamps being motorized, each clamp being configured to hold by pinching a lower edge of the bag, said lower edge being located on the lower part of the bag. This makes it possible to precisely control the opening or closing of the neck of the bag, and thus to effectively control the dispensing of each dose of wet food, without damaging the bag.

[0059] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, it further comprises a movable drawer inside which the food receptacle is arranged, the drawer being mounted movable inside the housing between an open position in which the food is accessible from outside the housing and a closed position in which the food is inaccessible from outside the housing, and the device further comprises means for controlling the movable drawer, capable of controlling an opening or a closing of the movable drawer. This makes it possible to further increase the bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of the wet food. Indeed, the wet food remains protected from the air after its distribution in the receptacle, because the drawer is controlled to open by the control means only while the animal is feeding.If the animal does not finish the wet food dispensed, the drawer closes and the wet food remains protected from oxidation and sources of pollution and contamination.

[0060] Advantageously, the movable drawer is a removable drawer, and is for example mounted by clipping into an opening made in the housing. This makes it easier to remove the drawer, in particular to allow it to be cleaned easily.

[0061] According to another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, said animal food dispensing device comprises elements for locking the position of the bag when it is received in said unit, such as horizontal or vertical hinges, locks or latches.

[0062] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the food receptacle is a removable and interchangeable receptacle.

[0063] Advantageously, the food dispensing device further comprises a scale, for example an electronic scale, arranged within the movable drawer. Such a scale makes it possible to accurately measure the weight of each dose of wet food dispensed, as well as the weight of the wet food consumed by the animal (by difference between the weighing of the contents of the drawer before and after opening the latter).

[0064] Thus, and purely for illustrative purposes, each food receptacle is a magnetic bowl, which is mounted on a weighing sensor module, in order to ensure the weighing of said bowl.

[0065] This load cell module may be powered by the electrical network. Alternatively, or as a redundant power supply, it may include a circuit and a battery space, with one or more batteries coupled to the circuit and the battery space.

[0066] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the wet food dispensing unit further comprises means for fixing an upper portion of the bag inside the housing. Advantageously, the means for fixing the upper portion of the bag inside the housing comprise a jaw fixed in the housing and configured to clamp the upper portion of the bag over substantially its entire width. Such a jaw makes it possible to securely hold the bag in place inside the housing, and to distribute the traction of the bag over the entire width of the latter. The jaw is preferably coated with a rubber strip on its face in contact with the bag, such a rubber strip defining, for example, sawtooth entanglements to facilitate clamping of the bag by the jaw.

[0067] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the upper part of said wet food dispensing unit comprises fixing elements for suspending a bag, which are chosen from the group comprising rods, straight suspension rods, suspension rods having an elongated body of curved shape, hooks and hooks whose cross-section increases towards their base. Preferably, the base of these hooks has a circular cross-section. It is, in fact, important that this cross-section is free of any angle so as not to generate a point of fragility in the bag.

[0068] Advantageously, the diameter of the hole in the bag intended to receive a hook is slightly smaller than the diameter of the base of the corresponding hook so that when the hole in the bag comes into contact with the base of the hook, a deformation of the material of the bag occurs. This deformation generates a bead of material at the level of the part of the bag surrounding this hole which creates more friction and therefore ensures better adhesion and reinforcement of the holding in position of the bag.

[0069] This embodiment also allows the bag to be pulled harder with the clamping and / or pressing assembly and the blocks. It is then observed that the forces are better distributed. According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the device further comprises a data processing unit and a camera connected to the data processing unit, the data processing unit being connected to the control means of the electromechanical device, the camera being positioned on a front face of the housing and being configured to capture images in front of the housing.

[0070] Preferably, the camera is an infrared camera. The infrared camera is, for example, configured to have a field of view substantially equal to 120 degrees.

[0071] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the data processing unit comprises memory means storing a neural network, the neural network having been trained for its learning using training data comprising data from at least one database containing images of animals.

[0072] In this way, the data processing unit is able to detect the presence of a predetermined type of animal (e.g., the type "cats") in front of the food dispensing device (in particular by body size detection via the camera), and thus to start the food supply sequence. Each dose of wet food is, for example, extracted from the bag only if an animal corresponding to the predetermined type of animal (e.g., a cat) appears in front of the device. If the cat does not finish its dose of wet food, the movable drawer closes and the food remains protected from oxidation and pollution. This thus gives the food dispensing device according to the invention an automated and intelligent aspect.Preferably, the data processing unit is configured in such a way that, each time the neural network recognizes an animal located in the field of vision of the camera and corresponding to the predetermined type of animal, the data processing unit records in its memory means a photo of the animal (taken by the camera). According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, it further comprises a dry food dispensing unit of the kibble type, said dry food dispensing unit being arranged inside the housing.

[0073] Preferably, this dry food dispensing unit comprises an auger for dispensing said dry food.

[0074] The food dispensing device thus configured therefore makes it possible to deliver both dry and wet food (mixed food) and, being controlled by electronic control means and by the (configured) data processing unit, allows in particular a user to be able to easily and flexibly manage the dietary transition of his animal (such as a cat) towards increasingly wet food (for example to gradually increase the ratio of calories provided by wet food versus those provided by dry food). The food dispensing device is for example configured to have an autonomy (before recharging) of the order of two to five days for a bag of wet food, and of the order of approximately twenty days for the distribution of dry food.

[0075] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, it comprises a light or sound indicator indicating that the device is operating, connected to the data processing unit and positioned on one face of the housing (for example on a front face of the latter). The indicator indicating that the device is operating is, for example, a light-emitting diode.

[0076] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, it comprises a loudspeaker connected to the data processing unit and positioned on one face of the housing (for example on a front face of the latter). The loudspeaker is for example configured to broadcast a pre-recorded sound or voice within the data processing unit, typically the voice of an owner of the animal intended to be fed via the device according to the invention (the broadcast of such a voice being intended to call the animal to approach the device).

[0077] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, the device further comprises wireless communication means, said wireless communication means being connected to the data processing unit and being based for example on a Wi-Fi protocol, on a Bluetooth protocol, or on any other protocol well known to those skilled in the art. The wireless communication means of the device are capable of communicating with a mobile communication device and / or with a remote server, in particular to allow the configuration of food doses, the manual activation of food dispensing, the editing of reports on the various parameters ("reporting" in English) and the monitoring of the parameters ("monitoring" in English).

[0078] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food dispensing device, it comprises a material recovery device such as a crumb collector.

[0079] This material recovery device is advantageously movable between an erasing position and an active position.

[0080] For example, it can slide over the food receptacle.

[0081] According to yet another embodiment of the animal food distribution device, it comprises members for tightening the lower fixings via a reverse-pitch screw.

[0082] For purely illustrative purposes, it may thus comprise a motor and two fixings in opposite motion, which move away from each other.

[0083] According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a wet animal food bag, the bag being provided with a neck for opening the bag, the neck being deformable between an opening position and a closing position and being provided on a lower part of the bag. According to the invention, this bag is adapted to be received in a wet food dispensing unit of an animal food dispensing device as described above, and

[0084] - said neck comprises continuous lips, separable from one another to define an opening in said bag for the passage of part of its contents, said lips forming a sealed barrier when tensioning thereof is achieved by exerting traction on at least one of the parts of the bag placed laterally to said neck,

[0085] - said neck being configured to have a straight cross-section of different shape for at least two distinct opening positions of the latter, one of said opening positions being said to be forced, and corresponding to a straight cross-section of said neck of circular or substantially circular shape, when a thrust is exerted on this neck, and

[0086] - the ratio between the width (LG) and the height (HG) of said neck, when it allows passage of said wet food, and when it is at rest, that is to say not under tension, is between 1.5 and 10, preferably between 2 and 4 and even better equal to 2.5, so as to ensure a regular flow of said wet food through said neck.

[0087] Advantageously, the neck of the bag described above has technical characteristics ensuring a regular flow of its contents in its use, or employment, with a wet food dispensing device as described above. This avoids, for example, the formation of jets of wet food, making it impossible to control the quantity of wet food dispensed.

[0088] This pouch also has at least two "stable opening geometries, or shapes" to allow adjustment to the rheology and / or number of phases of the wet food contained within.

[0089] The term "stable opening geometry or shape" of the neck of the bag means that the configuration of the latter remains stable over time when constant tension is applied to the parts of the bag arranged laterally to this neck, or on the contrary, in the absence of such tension. Preferably, this bag is made from a single plastic material such as a thermoplastic material, advantageously a polyolefin such as polypropylene (PP).

[0090] According to one embodiment of the wet animal food bag, it comprises means configured to cooperate with said clamping and / or pressing assembly and with the gripping elements, or said gripping element and said retaining element, of said food dispensing device, to allow dispensing of wet food.

[0091] According to another embodiment of the wet pet food pouch, it has a substantially rectangular shape when laid flat and not filled with wet food, and the pouch is provided with four orifices positioned at the four corners of the rectangle formed by the pouch. Preferably, among the two orifices positioned at the upper corners of the rectangle formed by the pouch, one of the orifices has an oblong shape, the length of the oblong orifice being oriented along the width of the rectangle formed by the pouch, and the other orifice has a substantially triangular shape. Such orifices thus configured make it easier to install and maintain the pouch in position within a wet food dispensing unit of a food dispensing device.

[0092] According to yet another embodiment of the wet pet food bag, the means for fixing the upper part of the bag inside the housing (typically the bag fixing jaw) comprise a first pair of pins configured to be inserted into the two holes positioned at the upper corners of the rectangle formed by the bag. The means for pinching at least one edge of the bag (typically the motorized clamps) comprise a second pair of pins configured to be inserted into the two holes positioned at the lower corners of the rectangle formed by the bag. Such cooperation between the pins and the holes of the bag allows easy installation of the bag within the wet food dispensing unit of the device.According to yet another embodiment of the wet animal food bag, the ratio between the height (HE) of the funnel and the width (LG) of said neck, when it allows passage of said wet food, and when it is at rest, that is to say not under tension, is greater than 1.5 and preferably greater than 2.

[0093] According to a third aspect, the invention also relates to an assembly comprising an animal food dispensing device as described above, and a wet animal food pouch as described above, the wet food pouch being installed within the device and being received in the wet food dispensing unit of the device.

[0094] According to a fourth aspect, the invention also relates to a method of dispensing wet animal food, implemented by a wet food dispensing unit of an animal food dispensing device as described above, the method comprising steps of:

[0095] - installing a wet food pouch as described above within the wet food dispensing unit, such that the neck of the pouch extends opposite the food receptacle; and

[0096] - activating the control means of the electromechanical device, to control a distribution of wet food from the bag to the food receptacle, the activation of the control means causing a movement of the pinching means towards the position of pushing said at least one edge of the bag towards the neck, allowing the neck to open.

[0097] According to one embodiment of the invention, the data processing unit activates the control means of the electromechanical device to control a dispensing of wet food from the bag to the food receptacle, said activation being caused by a recognition of a predetermined type of animal by the neural network when an animal corresponding to said type of animal is present in the field of vision of the camera. According to one embodiment of the invention, each activation of the control means of the electromechanical device further causes a vertical descent movement of the two rollers inside the housing according to a vertical descent step, the descent length of the rollers according to the vertical descent step being predetermined and corresponding to the dispensing of a predefined dose of wet food.

[0098] According to yet another aspect of the invention, it relates to a device for dispensing food for animals, the device comprising a housing comprising a food receptacle and a wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit being adapted to receive a removable bag of wet food, capable of being held and fixed inside the housing and provided with a neck for opening the bag, the neck being deformable between at least one opening position and a closing position, being provided on a lower part of the bag and being arranged opposite the food receptacle when the bag is received in the wet food dispensing unit, the wet food dispensing unit comprising:

[0099] - an electromechanical device for feeding wet food from the bag to the food receptacle; and

[0100] - means for controlling the electromechanical device, capable of controlling a distribution of wet food from the bag to the food receptacle.

[0101] According to the invention, the upper part of said wet food dispensing unit comprises fixing elements for suspending the upper part of said bag, these fixing elements being hooks whose base has a circular or substantially circular cross-section.

[0102] Preferably, the base of each of these hooks has a circular section.

[0103] It is, in fact, important that this cross-section is free of any angle so as not to generate a point of weakness in the bag. Advantageously, the diameter of the hole in the bag intended to receive a hook is slightly smaller than the diameter of the base of the corresponding hook so that when the hole in the bag comes into contact with the base of the hook, a deformation of the material of the bag occurs. This deformation generates a bead of material at the level of the part of the bag surrounding this hole which causes more friction and therefore ensures better adhesion and a reinforcement of the holding in position of the bag.

[0104] This embodiment also allows the bag to be pulled harder with the clamping and / or pressing assembly and the blocks. It is advantageous to observe that the forces are better distributed.

[0105] These hooks can, for example, be curved.

[0106] The terms "horizontal", "vertical" or "transverse", "lower", "upper", "top", "bottom", "side" are defined with respect to the orientation of the food dispensing device according to the invention. In particular, in this application, the term "vertical" designates an orientation perpendicular to the horizon while the term "horizontal" designates an orientation parallel to the horizon.

[0107] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures, among which:

[0108] - [Fig.l] is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention comprising a food dispensing device and a wet food bag, the device comprising a housing inside which the wet food bag and a food receptacle are installed;

[0109] - [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the interior of the housing, and in particular the bag of wet food received in a wet food dispensing unit of the device, in an installation configuration of the bag, the food receptacle being in the open position, the wet food dispensing unit comprising an electromechanical device for feeding the wet food from the bag to the food receptacle, in the form of motorized rollers;

[0110] - [Fig.3] is a front view of the assembly of Figure 2, with the food receptacle in the closed position;

[0111] - [Fig.4] is a view similar to that of Figure 2, the wet food sachet having been omitted;

[0112] - [Fig.5] is a perspective view showing a detail of the assembly of figure 2;

[0113] - [Fig.6] is a front view of the wet food pouch of Figure 2;

[0114] - [Fig.7] is a view similar to that of figure 2, in a position of descent of the rollers, the food receptacle being in the closed position, the electromechanical device comprising means for pinching two opposite edges of the bag of wet food;

[0115] - [Fig.8] is a perspective view of the wet food pouch and the interior of the housing of the food dispensing device of Figure 7;

[0116] - [Fig.9] is a view similar to that of figure 7, the wet food sachet having been omitted;

[0117] - [Fig.10] is another perspective view of the whole of figure 9;

[0118] - [Fig.11] is a view similar to that of figure 8, the wet food bag having been omitted, the electromechanical device comprising two roller support parts;

[0119] - [Fig.12] is a side view of one of the roller support parts of Figure 11;

[0120] - [Fig.13] is a perspective view of the pinching means and a lower portion of the wet food pouch of Figure 7, in a wet food non-dispensing configuration corresponding to a pulling position of the pinching means; and

[0121] - [Fig.14] is a view similar to that of figure 13, in a wet food dispensing configuration corresponding to a pushing position of the pinching means; - [Fig.15] is a schematic representation of an assembly comprising a food dispensing device and a wet food bag according to another embodiment of the invention, this assembly being seen from behind;

[0122] - [Fig.16] is an enlarged and partial view of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 15 showing the fixing hooks for hanging the bag, these hooks being placed in the upper part of the case.

[0123] - [Fig.17] is a schematic representation of fixing hooks for hanging the bag according to another embodiment;

[0124] - [Fig.18] is a schematic representation of fixing hooks for hanging the bag according to another embodiment;

[0125] - [Fig.19] is a schematic view of the movable drawer received in the lower part of the housing of the food dispensing device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0126] - [Fig.20] is a perspective and bottom view of the movable drawer placed in the lower part of the housing;

[0127] - [Fig.21] shows a material recovery device according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0128] - [Fig.22] shows a dry food dispensing unit according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0129] - [Fig.23] is a partial schematic representation of a block of the electromechanical device of a wet food dispensing unit according to another particular embodiment of the invention;

[0130] - [Fig.24] is a schematic representation of only the jaws of the gripping element of the block illustrated in Fig. 23;

[0131] - [Fig.25] is a schematic representation of a sachet according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0132] Figures 1 to 3, 5 and 7 show an assembly 1 comprising a food dispensing device 2 for animals and a bag of wet food 4 for animals installed within the device 2. The device 2 is typically intended to dispense food for small domestic animals such as cats or dogs. The food dispensing device 2 comprises a housing 6 inside which are arranged at least one food receptacle 8A, 8B, a wet food dispensing unit 10, a dry food dispensing unit 12, a scale, a data processing unit and wireless communication means (these last three elements not being shown in the figures for reasons of clarity).Preferably, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, 7, 9 and 10, the food receptacle 8A, 8B is arranged inside a drawer 14 mounted movably inside the housing 6, and the food dispensing device 2 further comprises means for controlling the movable drawer 14 (not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity). More preferably, the food dispensing device 2 further comprises a camera 16 connected to the data processing unit and positioned on one face of the housing 6, typically on a front face 18 of the housing 6 (the front face 18 of the housing 6 being defined as the face opposite which the animal stands when it wishes to feed).More preferably, the food dispensing device 2 further comprises a light or sound indicator 19 indicating operation of the device 2, connected to the data processing unit and positioned on one face of the housing 6, typically on the front face 18 of the housing 6. More preferably, the food dispensing device 2 further comprises a loudspeaker (not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity), the loudspeaker being connected to the data processing unit and being positioned on one face of the housing 6, typically on the front face 18 of the housing 6. More preferably, the food dispensing device 2 further comprises a manual control interface of the device 2 (not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity), connected to the data processing unit and positioned on one face of the housing 6, typically on an upper face 20 of the housing 6.The food dispensing device 2 further comprises a series of servomotors and sensors which will not be described in more detail here. As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 7 to 10, the housing 6 is advantageously provided with a door 21 pivotally mounted on the housing 6 and providing access to the interior of the housing 6 when open.

[0133] In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the food dispensing device 2 comprises two food receptacles 8A, 8B, namely a first receptacle 8A for receiving wet food and a second receptacle 8B for receiving dry food. The first food receptacle 8A is arranged opposite the wet food bag 4. The second food receptacle 8B is arranged opposite the dry food dispensing unit 12 (the latter being a conventional dry food dispensing unit which will not be described in more detail below, but which notably comprises a dry food reservoir). The dry food is for example (but not limited to) dry kibble. Each food receptacle 8A, 8B is for example a removable and interchangeable receptacle.The drawer 14 is mounted to move inside the housing 6 between an open position (illustrated in Figures 2 and 4) in which the food is accessible from outside the housing, and a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 7, 9 and 10) in which the food is inaccessible from outside the housing 6. The movable drawer 14 is for example mounted by clipping in an opening made in the housing 6. The movable drawer 14 can thus be unclipped from the housing 6 to allow in particular easy cleaning of the entire drawer 14. The control means of the movable drawer 14 are capable of controlling an opening or a closing of the movable drawer 14. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the movable drawer 14 also contains another removable receptacle 22, of the “crumb collector” type.Such a “crumb collector” type receptacle 22 makes it possible to collect wet food residues which may fall from the bag 4 when the movable drawer 14 is in the open position, or when the movable drawer 14 is in its translational movement between its open and closed positions. The scale (not shown in the figures), which is for example an electronic scale connected to the data processing unit, is arranged within the movable drawer 14. Such a scale makes it possible to accurately measure the weight of each dose of wet food dispensed, as well as the weight of the wet food consumed by the animal (by difference between the weighing of the contents of the drawer 14 before and after opening the latter).

[0134] The wet food dispensing unit 10 comprises an electromechanical device 24 for supplying wet food from the bag 4 to the first food receptacle 8A; and means for controlling the electromechanical device 24 (not shown in the figures but for example connected to or consisting of the data processing unit). The means for controlling the electromechanical device 24 are capable of controlling a dispensing of wet food from the bag 4 to the first food receptacle 8A. The wet food is for example (but not limited to) animal food. Preferably, the wet food dispensing unit 10 also comprises means 25 for fixing an upper part of the bag 4 inside the housing 6.

[0135] The wet food bag 4 for animals is removably mounted in the food dispensing device 2, and is received in the wet food dispensing unit 10 of the device 2. More specifically, as seen in Figures 2, 3, 7 and 8, the wet food bag 4 is held and fixed inside the housing 6, in particular using the means 25 for fixing the upper part of the bag 4. The bag 4 is provided with a neck 26 for opening the bag 4, provided on a lower part of the bag 4. The neck 26 is deformable between an open position (illustrated in Figure 14) and a closed position (illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 13), and is arranged opposite the first food receptacle 8A when the bag 4 is received in the wet food dispensing unit 10. The neck 26 is configured to be opened or closed selectively, by pushing or pulling on at least one edge 27A, 27B of the bag 4.

[0136] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 5 to 8, the wet food bag 4 is formed of two walls (in particular two substantially rectangular walls) connected to each other on a part 28A of their periphery 28 and defining between them a volume for receiving wet food. As illustrated in the figure

[0137] 6, the two walls are not connected to each other on another part 28B of their periphery 28 and are configured to form the opening neck 26 of the bag 4 at this other part 28B. The neck 26 is thus made up of two lips, each lip forming part of a separate wall of the bag, the two lips being spaced apart from each other in the opening position of the neck 26 (visible in FIG. 14), the two lips being in contact with each other and extending parallel to each other in the closing position of the neck 26 (visible in FIGS. 2, 3, 5,

[0138] 7, 8 and 13). Preferably, as seen in Figure 14, the neck 26 has an eye-shaped cross-section in its open position. In a variant not shown, the neck 26 has a substantially circular or elliptical cross-section in its open position.

[0139] The walls of the bag 4 are for example made of a metallic material made of aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy, or a plastic material made of polypropylene. The use of such a polypropylene material makes it possible in particular to ensure the recyclability of the bag 4. The walls of the bag 4 comprise, on their internal face, one or more internal welds 30 connecting the walls to each other inside the bag 4. Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the walls of the bag 4 comprise, on their internal face, two internal welds 30 connecting the walls to each other inside the bag 4, the two internal welds 30 being arranged so as to form a "V" when the bag 4 is laid flat and is not filled with wet food.The two internal welds 30 have a symmetrical arrangement around a median longitudinal plane of the bag (such a plane being a vertical plane extending perpendicular to the plane of extension of the rectangle formed by the bag when it is empty of food), each internal weld 30 extending in a direction DI, D2 which forms an angle a1, a2 with the direction corresponding to the length of the rectangle formed by the bag when it is empty of food (this direction also being the vertical direction). Preferably, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the angles a1, a2 is between 25 degrees and 35 degrees, preferably substantially equal to 30 degrees. The internal welds 30 are connected together so as to form, inside the bag 4, a funnel 32 in fluid communication with the opening neck 26 of the bag 4.Such a funnel shape makes it possible to guide the wet food efficiently and smoothly towards the bottom of the bag 4, and in particular towards the neck 26 which has a narrower diameter. This makes it possible to ensure a controlled and stable flow of wet food at the outlet of the neck 26, regardless of the descent height of the rollers 36A, 36B (see below) with respect to the bag 4.

[0140] As illustrated in Figure 6, the wet food bag 4 is provided with four orifices 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D intended to allow its attachment within the wet food dispensing unit 10, inside the housing 6. The four orifices 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D are positioned at the four corners of the rectangle formed by the bag 4 when it is laid flat and empty of food. Two first orifices 34A, 34B called "upper" are positioned at the upper corners of the rectangle formed by the bag 4. One of these orifices 34A has an oblong shape, the length of this orifice 34A being oriented according to the width of the rectangle formed by the bag 4. The other orifice 34B positioned at an upper corner of the rectangle formed by the bag 4 has a substantially triangular shape. Two other orifices 34C, 34D called “lower”, typically circular in shape, are positioned at the lower corners of the rectangle formed by the bag 4.Preferably, as illustrated in Figure 6, each upper orifice 34A, 34B is vertically aligned with a corresponding lower orifice 34C, 34D, with a lateral variation of plus or minus 1 cm. Each lower orifice 34C, 34D is spaced from the edge of the neck 26 by a distance for example between 2.5 cm and 5.5 cm, preferably substantially equal to 4 cm.

[0141] Preferably, as visible in Figures 3, 5 and 6 in particular, the wet food bag 4 is provided on its lower part with a protective cover 35 for the neck 26 projecting downwards, under the neck 26. The protective cover 35 makes it possible to hermetically close the neck 26 before using the bag 4 and thus prevent any loss of food before it is placed in the device 2. Figures 7, 8, 13 and 14 show the bag 4 in use in the device 2 (allowing distribution of wet food), the cover 35 having been removed beforehand by a user to make the neck 26 functional. The cover 35 is advantageously provided with a pre-cut to facilitate its tearing by a user.

[0142] For information purposes, the neck 26 has, for example (after opening the bag 4 and therefore tearing the seal 35) a length of between 16 mm and 24 mm, preferably substantially equal to 20 mm. The neck 26 has, for example, in its closed position, a width of between 16 mm and 24 mm, preferably substantially equal to 20 mm, the width being measured in the direction of the thickness of the bag 4.

[0143] As a further indication, when the neck 26 has a substantially circular cross-section in its open position, the diameter of the neck 26 is for example between 11 mm and 15 mm, preferably substantially equal to 13 mm.

[0144] The electromechanical device 24 comprises means 36A, 36B for clamping and / or pressing the bag 4, and means 38 for pinching at least one edge 27A, 27B of the bag 4. The electromechanical device 24 further comprises at least one motor or servomotor 40, for example an electric servomotor 40, connected to the pinching means 38 in order to enable them to be actuated. Preferably, when the clamping and / or pressing means 36A, 36B are rollers (see below), the electromechanical device 24 further comprises two parts 42 for supporting the rollers 36A, 36B, and another motor or servomotor (not shown in the figures) connected to the rollers 36A, 36B in order to enable them to be actuated.

[0145] The pinching means 38 are mounted to move between a position for pushing one of the edges 27A of the bag 4 towards the neck 26 (such a position corresponding to the opening position of the neck 26 and being illustrated in FIG. 14), and a position for pulling the edge 27A of the bag 4 away from the neck 26 (such a position corresponding to the closing position of the neck 26 and being illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 13). The pinching means 38 are thus configured to allow selective opening or closing of the neck 26 of the bag 4.

[0146] In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 14, the pinching means 38 are means for pinching two opposite lower edges 27A, 27B of the bag 4, and consist of two clamps 38A, 38B. Each clamp 38A, 38B comprises two flaps, one of which is pivotally mounted relative to the other (for example by means of a hinge). Each clamp 38A, 38B is configured to hold by pinching one of the lower edges 27A, 27B of the bag 4. The two clamps 38A, 38B are thus arranged on either side of the neck 26 of the bag 4 when the bag 4 is held by the clamps 38A, 38B. At least one of the two clamps 38A, 38B is connected to the electric servomotor 40 (in the example illustrated in the figures, the first clamp 38A is connected to the electric servomotor 40).The first clamp 38A is thus mounted to move in horizontal translation, between the position of pushing the edge 27A of the bag 4 towards the neck 26 and the position of pulling the edge 27A of the bag 4 away from the neck 26, the translational movement of the first clamp 38A being situated substantially in the same plane as the extension plane of the bag 4 when it is empty of food. As illustrated in Figures 3, 8, 10 and 11, each clamp 38A, 38B is for example provided on the internal face of one of its leaves with a pin 44A, 44B intended to be inserted into one of the lower orifices 34C, 34D of the bag 4, to allow effective positioning and holding of the bag 4 in the clamp 38A, 38B (which lower orifice 34C, 34D is located on the lower edge 27B, 27A of the bag 4 held by the clamp 38A, 38B in question).Preferably, each clamp 38A, 38B is provided with a means 46 for locking the bag 4 in position in the clamp 38A, 38B, such means 46 being for example a latch for locking the flaps of the clamp. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 14, the means 36A, 36B for clamping and / or pressing the bag 4 consist of two motorized parallel rollers. Each roller 36A, 36B extends in a direction transverse (preferably perpendicular) to the vertical direction. The bag 4 extends between the rollers 36A, 36B and is held by clamping between the rollers 36A, 36B, the neck 26 of the bag 4 extending below the rollers 36A, 36B, opposite the first food receptacle 8A. The two parallel rollers 36A, 36B extend in the same horizontal plane when they are in the position for clamping the bag 4.The motorization of the two rollers 36A, 36B is for example obtained via the following arrangement, illustrated in Figures 8 to 12: the ends of each roller 36A, 36B are received in the two support pieces 42, each support piece 42 being mounted movable in vertical translation on a vertical rail 48. The two support pieces 42 are connected to each other via a horizontal crosspiece 50 passing at the rear of the rollers 36A, 36B, each support piece 42 extending at the front of the horizontal crosspiece 50. The horizontal crosspiece 50 is provided in its center with an opening 52 allowing the passage of a vertical endless screw 54. The endless screw 54 is mechanically connected to the shaft of the servomotor previously mentioned in relation to the rollers 36A, 36B. The opening 52 is sized to match the diameter of the worm screw 54 and is tapped so that its internal thread cooperates with the thread of the worm screw 54.In this way, when the servomotor is actuated, it drives the worm screw 54 in rotation which in turn drives in vertical translation the assembly consisting of the horizontal crosspiece 50, the support parts 42 and the rollers 36A, 36B, this vertical translation movement being carried out along the vertical rails 48.

[0147] As illustrated in Figure 12, each support piece 42 comprises a first portion 56 for holding one of the two rollers 36A, and a second portion 58 for holding the other roller 36B. Each support piece 42 extends in a substantially vertical plane. The first portion 56 of the support piece 42 is configured so as to form a pivot connection for the roller 36A that it holds. As shown in Figure 12, the first portion 56 of the piece 42 is for example constituted by a circular orifice inside which one end of the first roller 36A is inserted.The second part 58 of the part 42 is provided with an oblong-shaped recess 60 configured to receive, depending on the translational movement of the rollers 36A, 36B in the housing 6, the second roller 36B in a first portion 60A of the recess 60, corresponding to a position of bringing the rollers 36A, 36B together, or in a second portion 60B of the recess 60, corresponding to a position of separation of the rollers 36A, 36B. Thus, when downward pressure is applied to the support part 42, for example via the action of the servomotor on the endless screw 54 (to push the wet food towards the bottom of the bag 4), the second roller 36B rises into the first portion 60A of the recess 60, from the second portion 60B of this recess 60. During this movement, the second roller 36B thus moves closer to the first roller 36A.In the absence of pressure exerted on the support piece 42, the second roller 36B falls back into the second portion 60B of the recess 60, causing the rollers 36A, 36B to move apart. The first and second portions 60A, 60B of the oblong-shaped recess 60 are offset from each other vertically and horizontally. The length of the oblong-shaped recess 60 may advantageously be oriented along an axis D3 oblique to the vertical direction, in particular along an axis D3 forming an angle a3 with this vertical direction of between 15 and 45 degrees, for example substantially equal to 20 degrees. Each support piece 42 is for example made of a plastic material.

[0148] In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, each of the two rollers 36A, 36B is preferably mounted to rotate about its main axis of extension, in each of the two support pieces 42. Each of the two rollers 36A, 36B is for example mounted to rotate freely about a rod, itself inserted into each of the two support pieces 42. The means 36A, 36B for clamping and / or pressing the bag 4 make it possible to press the bag 4 so as to gradually lower the wet food contained in the bag 4 towards the bottom thereof, and thus exert pressure on the neck 26 of the bag 4 allowing good flow and a controlled flow of wet food when the neck 26 is in its open position. A linear regression law can advantageously be implemented in the data processing unit to control the movement of the rollers 36A, 36B (profile, speed, pressure, lowered height, etc.), in order to control the flow rate of wet food and the uniform distribution of the doses regardless of the position of the rollers 36A, 36B. The wet food dispensing unit 10 is thus provided with at least one sensor (connected to the data processing unit, and not shown in the figures) making it possible to measure the vertical position of the rollers 36A, 36B. A slight back-and-forth movement of the rollers 36A, 36B upwards then downwards (over a very short length compared to the total descent range of the rollers 36A, 36B) may possibly be executed by the control means at the end of each delivery of a dose of wet food. This makes it possible to generate a little slack on the top of the bag 4 to facilitate the subsequent dispensing of wet food. The means 38 for pinching at least one edge 27A, 27B of the bag 4 make it possible to control the opening and sealing of the bag 4.Thanks to the particular configuration of the wet food bag 4 (and in particular its deformable neck 26), combined with the presence in the electromechanical device 24 of the means 36A, 36B for clamping and / or pressing the bag 4 and the means 38 for pinching at least one edge 27A, 27B of the bag 4, the food dispensing device 2 according to the invention thus makes it possible to dose a precise quantity of wet food suitable for the animal (and in particular to deliver precise doses of personalized food, typically doses of wet food ranging from 10 g to 100 g).

[0149] The means 38 for pinching at least one edge 27A, 27B of the bag 4 thus make it possible to ensure a hermetic (and airtight) closure of the bag 4 when the device 2 is not used by the animal (and in particular when no animal is recognized by the data processing unit - see below). The interior of the neck 26 (and therefore of the bag 4) therefore remains airtight outside of periods of distribution of wet food, due to the closure of the neck 26. The contents of the opened bag 4 thus remain airtight and bacteria-proof for the entire duration of its emptying, because the opening surface of the neck 26 is minimal, almost always closed, without residue (which falls by gravity), and inside a fully streamlined machine (no contact with pets or insects). This ensures effective bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of wet food.

[0150] In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the means 25 for fixing the upper part of the bag 4 inside the housing 6 consist of a jaw fixed in the housing 6. The jaw 25 extends over substantially the entire width of the rectangle formed by the bag 4 and comprises two leaves, one of which is pivotally mounted relative to the other (for example by means of a hinge). The jaw 25 is configured to hold by clamping (or pinching) the upper part of the bag 4, over substantially its entire width. The jaw 25 is preferably coated with a rubber strip on its face(s) in contact with the bag 4, such a rubber strip (not visible in the figures) defining for example sawtooth entanglements (not shown) to facilitate the clamping of the bag 4 by the jaw 25.

[0151] As illustrated in Figures 3, 8 and 11, the jaw 25 is for example provided on the internal face of one of its leaves with two pins 62A, 62B intended to be inserted respectively into the two upper orifices 34A, 34B of the bag 4, to allow effective positioning and holding of the bag 4 in the jaw 25. Two openings whose shape corresponds to that of the pins 62A, 62B (and to that of the two upper orifices 34A, 34B of the bag 4) are for example provided on the external leaf of the jaw 25 to allow these pins 62A, 62B to pass when the jaw 25 is closed. Preferably, the jaw 25 comprises at least one (and advantageously two in the embodiment illustrated in the figures) means 66 for locking the bag 4 in position in the jaw 25, such means 66 being for example a latch for locking the leaves of the jaw 25.

[0152] The data processing unit is connected to the control means of the electromechanical device 24 and to the control means of the movable drawer 14. Alternatively, the data processing unit constitutes such control means. The data processing unit is further connected to the wireless communication means. The data processing unit comprises memory means storing a neural network. The neural network has previously been trained for its learning using training data comprising data from at least one database containing images of animals (typically images of cats). In this way, the data processing unit is capable of detecting the presence of a predetermined type of animal (for example the “cat” type) in front of the food dispensing device 2 (in particular by detecting corpulence via the camera 16), and thus of launching the food supply sequence.Preferably, the data processing unit is configured in such a way that, each time the neural network recognizes an animal located in the field of vision of the camera 16 and corresponding to the predetermined type of animal, the data processing unit records in its memory means a photo of the animal (taken by the camera 16). The recording of such a photo makes it possible in particular to initially inform the owner of the animal that the latter has been recognized by the device 2, and therefore that the device 2 has triggered the distribution of food. In a second step, the anonymized photos of the animals can be used to supply the training data of the neural network.

[0153] The data processing unit is implemented, for example, in the form of a microcontroller or a printed circuit board (PCB) in which firmware is integrated. The firmware is, for example, equipped with an artificial intelligence module storing the neural network.

[0154] The wireless communication means of the device 2 are capable of communicating with a communication device (fixed or mobile) and / or with a remote server, in particular to enable the configuration of food doses, the manual activation of food distribution, the editing of reports on the various parameters (“reporting” in English) and the monitoring of the parameters (“monitoring” in English). The wireless communication means of the device 2 are thus configured to transmit and / or receive data on a wireless network to and / or from the mobile communication device and / or the remote server.The communication device is, for example, a smartphone or an electronic tablet or a computer (without this being limiting), on which a dedicated web application is installed, to allow the device 2 to be controlled remotely as well as the use of the various configuration, report editing and parameter monitoring functionalities.

[0155] The camera 16 is configured to capture images in front of the housing 6. Preferably, the camera 16 is an infrared camera. The infrared camera 16 is for example configured so as to have a field of vision substantially equal to 120 degrees.

[0156] The method of operation of the food dispensing device 2, and in particular the method of dispensing wet food according to the invention implemented by the wet food dispensing unit 10 of the device 2, will now be described. Initially, a user of the device 2 installs a bag of wet food 4 within the wet food dispensing unit 10, such that the neck 26 of the bag 4 extends opposite the first food receptacle 8A. To do this, the user opens the door 21 of the housing 6, opens the clamps 38A, 38B and the jaw 25, inserts the bag 4 from the bottom upwards between the rollers 36A, 36B, then adjusts the bag 4 so as to insert the pins 44A, 44B into the lower holes 34C, 34D and to insert the pins 62A, 62B into the upper holes 34A, 34B. The user then closes the clamps 38A, 38B and the jaw 25, locks the latches 46, 66, and tears the seal 35 from the bag 4.As illustrated in Figure 13, the neck 26 of the bag 4 is then in its closed position, and the means 38 for pinching at least one edge 27A, 27B of the bag 4 are in the position for pulling the edge 27A away from the neck 26. The user then closes the door 21. Initially, the movable drawer 14 is in its closed position (illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 7, 9 and 10).

[0157] The method for dispensing wet food comprises a next step consisting of activating the control means of the electromechanical device 24, to control a dispensing of wet food from the bag 4 to the first food receptacle 8A. This activation of the control means is for example carried out manually by the user (either via the manual control interface of the device 2, or remotely via his mobile communication device), or is carried out automatically by the data processing unit after recognition by the neural network that an animal corresponding to the predetermined type of animal (for example a cat) is present in the field of vision of the camera 16. In the latter case, the data processing unit records in its memory means a photo of the animal (taken by the camera 16).

[0158] Activation of the control means of the electromechanical device 24 causes the movement of the means 36A, 36B for clamping and / or pressing the bag 4 and the means 38 for pinching at least one edge 27A, 27B of the bag 4. In particular, at least one of the two clamps 38A, 38B (in this case the first clamp 38A in the embodiment illustrated in the figures) moves in horizontal translation, between the position for pulling the edge 27A of the bag 4 away from the neck 26 (illustrated in FIG. 13) and the position for pushing the edge 27A of the bag 4 towards the neck 26 (illustrated in FIG. 14). This movement of the first clamp 38A causes the deformation of the neck 26, which passes from its closing position to its opening position. The two rollers 36A, 36B then descend vertically inside the housing 6, according to a vertical descent step.The length of descent of the rollers 36A, 36B according to this vertical descent step is predetermined (for example via the implementation of the linear regression law within the data processing unit) and corresponds to the distribution of a predefined dose of wet food in the first food receptacle 8A. It should be emphasized that the length of descent of the rollers 36A, 36B according to this vertical descent step can therefore vary depending on the vertical position of the rollers 36A, 36B in the housing 6.

[0159] At the end of the distribution of the predefined dose of wet food in the first food receptacle 8A (i.e. when the rollers 36A, 36B have completed their vertical movement downwards according to the vertical movement step), at least one of the two clamps 38A, 38B (in this case the first clamp 38A in the embodiment illustrated in the figures) moves in horizontal translation, between the position of pushing the edge 27A of the bag 4 towards the neck 26 (illustrated in FIG. 14) and the position of pulling the edge 27A of the bag 4 away from the neck 26 (illustrated in FIG. 13). This movement of the first clamp 38A causes the deformation of the neck 26, which passes from its open position to its closed position. Furthermore, the data processing unit activates the control means of the movable drawer 14, which then control the movement of the movable drawer 14 towards its open position (illustrated in figures 2 and 4).The animal can then access the dose of wet food dispensed. In the embodiment of the invention by automatic recognition of the presence of an animal in the field of vision of the camera 16, each dose of wet food is thus extracted from the bag 4 only if an animal corresponding to the predetermined type of animal (for example a cat) presents itself in front of the device 2. If the animal does not finish its dose of wet food, the movable drawer 14 closes and the dispensed wet food remains protected from oxidation and pollution.

[0160] The dispensing of dry food via the device 2 has not been discussed in the context of the method steps detailed above, but such dispensing is of course possible via manual control by the user and / or detection of the animal by the neural network, then via activation of the dry food dispensing unit 12 to deliver a dose of dry food.

[0161] Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate an assembly comprising a food dispensing device and a wet food bag according to another embodiment of the invention, this assembly being seen from behind.

[0162] Elements bearing the same references as those shown in Figs. 1 to 4 represent the same objects, which will not be described again below.

[0163] This dispensing device 40 differs from that described above in that it comprises six fixing hooks 41, placed in the upper part of its wet food dispensing unit 10 for suspending the bag.

[0164] These fixing hooks 41, which here have a flared shape with a section increasing towards their base, are intended to cooperate with corresponding orifices placed at the upper end of the bag to suspend the bag.

[0165] The number of these orifices depends on the rheology of the wet food contained in the bag 4, the strength of the motor(s) and the material(s) constituting the bag 4.

[0166] The food dispensing device 2 also comprises guide rail portions 42 placed opposite each other in the upper part of the housing, said guide rail portions 42 making it possible to guide said rollers 43 between a storage, or retracted, position and an operating position. The upper ends of these guide rail portions 42 bringing said rollers 43 into their retracted position, are inclined to increase the distance separating these rollers 43 and thus facilitate the positioning of the bag in the wet food dispensing unit 10, when the rollers 43 are in the retracted position.

[0167] Figures 17 and 18 illustrate different geometries of the fixing hooks for suspending the bag in the upper part of the wet food dispensing unit 10. Figures 19 and 20 illustrate a partial and enlarged view of the animal food dispensing device 2 according to another embodiment.

[0168] In particular, they represent the lower part of the housing 6 of the food distribution device 2, which receives the food receptacles 8 A, 8B mounted in a movable drawer 50.

[0169] This drawer 50 is movable between an extended position, in which the latter is placed at least partly outside the housing 6 to allow the animal to feed and a position for distributing food into each bowl 8A, 8B, in which this movable drawer 50 is housed in the housing 6 so that, in particular, the bowl 8A is positioned under the neck 26 of the bag 4.

[0170] A scale, for example an electronic scale, is arranged within the movable drawer 50. Such a scale makes it possible to accurately measure the weight of each dose of wet food dispensed, as well as the weight of the wet food consumed by the animal (by difference between the weighing of the contents of the drawer before and after opening the latter). Thus, and purely for illustrative purposes, each food receptacle 8A, 8B is here a magnetic bowl, which is mounted on a corresponding weighing sensor 51, in order to ensure the weighing of this bowl 8A, 8B.

[0171] Figure 21 shows a material recovery device 52, such as a crumb collector according to a particular embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, this crumb collector 52 is here placed in an active position in the lower part of the housing 6 so that, being located under the neck 26 of the bag 4, it can recover any material losses from the bag after it has been sealed.

[0172] In this active position of the crumb collector 52, the movable drawer 50 is in the extended position so that the bowls 8A, 8B being placed outside the housing 6, they are then accessible to the animal so that it can feed.

[0173] To reach the food dispensing position (not shown), the crumb collector 52 and the movable drawer 50 supporting the bowls 8A, 8B move simultaneously so that the crumb collector 52 moves from its active position to a clearing position, incorporating a housing provided for this purpose, the bowl 8A then being positioned under the neck 26 of the bag 4.

[0174] Figure 22 shows a distribution unit 20 for dry food of the kibble type according to a particular embodiment.

[0175] This 20 dry food distribution unit has a 60 endless screw for distributing this dry food.

[0176] Advantageously, the throat of this 60 worm screw is 1.5 cm + / - 0.3 cm.

[0177] Figures 23 and 24 are schematic and partial representations of a block 70 of the electromechanical device of a wet food dispensing unit according to another particular embodiment of the invention.

[0178] This block 70 comprises a gripping element formed by a gripping jaw 71, 72 for gripping said part of the bag arranged laterally to the neck 4 by each of the opposite faces of the bag 4.

[0179] This gripping jaw comprises two jaw parts 71, 72 which can tilt against each other around a pivot axis 73 and which each comprise a gripping face.

[0180] These gripping faces here comprise complementary shapes and counter-shapes, such as projections 74 and hollows 75 having complementary shapes, which are placed opposite each other so that when the gripping jaw 71, 72 closes around a part of the bag, each shape is received in a corresponding counter-shape to reinforce the gripping of the part of the bag thus gripped by said gripping element.

[0181] Figure 25 shows a bag 80 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0182] This 80 sachet has the following parameters:

[0183] - Let HU be the “useful height” of the bag, corresponding to the height of the receptacle, and measured between the bottom of the top seal of the bag and the top of the neck after opening the tab, - let HL be the free height of the receptacle, measured between the bottom of the top seal of the bag and the start of the internal seal which moves away from the side edges

[0184] - let HE be the height of the funnel, measured between the start of the internal seal which moves away from the side edges of the bag and the bottom of the neck after opening.

[0185] - let LG be the width of the neck, measured flat, with the bag closed. This is a width and not a diameter.

[0186] - let HG be the height of the neck, measured between the height where the internal seals become parallel to the edges of the bag, and the bottom of the neck after opening.

[0187] - or LBS, the width of the welded strip.

[0188] This 80g sachet of wet pet food advantageously has values ​​within the following ranges:

[0189] - LG is between 1.5 and 5 cm

[0190] - HG is between 0.5 and 3 cm

[0191] - the LG / HG ratio is between 1.5 and 10, preferably between 2 and 4, and even better equal to 2.5,

[0192] - the HE / LG ratio is greater than 1.5 and even better greater than 2.

[0193] It is noted that such values ​​for the production of the wet animal food bag make it possible to guarantee regular distribution of the wet food contained in the bag, when the latter is implemented with the food distribution device of the invention.

Claims

DEMANDS

1. . Animal feed dispensing device (2), said device (2) comprising a housing (6) having a feed receptacle (8A) and a wet feed dispensing unit (10), the wet feed dispensing unit (10) being adapted to receive a removable wet feed pouch (4), said wet feed dispensing unit (10) being configured to hold and secure said pouch (4) so ​​that the pouch (4) extends at least partially along a principal axis, said pouch being provided with a nozzle (26) for opening the pouch (4), the nozzle (26) being deformable between at least one open position and a closed position, being provided on a lower portion of the pouch (4) and being arranged opposite the feed receptacle (8A) when the pouch (4) is received in the wet feed dispensing unit (10), the wet feed dispensing unit (10) comprising: - an electromechanical device (24) for conveying the moist food from the pouch (4) to the food receptacle (8A), and - control means for the electromechanical device (24), capable of controlling the distribution of moist food from the pouch (4) to the food receptacle (8A); characterized in that the electromechanical device (24) comprises: - at least one block comprising a gripping element for holding a portion of said bag disposed laterally to said neck, said gripping element being mounted to move in translation along a transverse or substantially transverse axis to said main axis, and a motor for driving said gripping element in movement between a position of said portion of said bag thus held, corresponding to an opening position of the neck, and a pulling position of said portion of said bag thus held, corresponding to said closing position of the neck, - said blocks being configured to hold a first part and a second part of said bag placed laterally to said neck, and located on either side of the latter, when said electromechanical device (24) comprises two blocks, - said electromechanical device (24) comprising at least one retaining element, of a second part of said bag placed laterally to said neck, when it comprises a single block for grasping a first part of said bag placed laterally to said neck, said first and second parts being located on either side of said neck, and - said blocks, or said block and said retaining element, being configured to allow selective opening or closing of said neck, with tensioning of said first and second parts in the pull position ensuring a watertight closure of said neck and thus guaranteeing bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection of moist food.

2. . Device (2) for dispensing animal food according to claim 1, characterized in that each gripping element is configured to grasp a portion of said bag located between said neck and a corresponding lateral edge of said bag, said neck being excluded.

3. . Device (2) for distributing animal food according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said retaining element is a fixed gripping element or a lug.

4. . Device (2) for dispensing animal feed according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the neck of said bag having at least two stable opening geometries, when said or each block holds a corresponding portion of said bag disposed laterally to the neck in predetermined opening positions of the latter, each block is configured to selectively move from said neck closure position to each opening position, each of these positions being affected by the translational displacement of said block(s) along said transverse axis.

5. . Device (2) for distributing animal feed according to claim 4, characterized in that a first of said opening positions corresponding to a stable opening geometry of the neck, called forced opening position, corresponds to a position of said block or at least one of said blocks, in which it exerts a push on a corresponding part of said bag disposed laterally to said neck.

6. . Device (2) for dispensing animal food according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that another of said opening positions corresponding to a stable opening geometry of the neck, said normal opening position of the bag, corresponds to a position of said block or at least one of said blocks, in which the corresponding part of said bag disposed laterally to said neck is not under tension by said block.

7. . Device (2) for dispensing animal food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each block is configured so that the transverse or substantially transverse axis of displacement of its gripping element is placed between the lower and upper ends of said neck when the bag is held in said housing.

8. . Device (2) for dispensing animal feed according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each grasping element comprises one or more objects selected from the group including teeth, sharp elements such as needles or spikes, pressure bars with or without rubber, a lug or a fixing stud intended to cooperate with a corresponding orifice located in the lower part of the bag, of shapes and counter-shapes, and of combinations of these elements.

9. . Device (2) for dispensing animal food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each gripping element is formed by a gripping jaw for grasping said portion of the bag disposed laterally to said neck by each of the faces of said bag.

10. . Device (2) for dispensing animal food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electromechanical device (24) also comprises an assembly (36A, 36B) for clamping and / or pressing said bag (4), said assembly defining a main axis along which said assembly (36A, 36B) for clamping and / or pressing said bag moves to clamp and / or press at least a part of said bag.

11. . Animal feed dispensing device (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that said bag (4) clamping and / or pressing assembly (36A, 36B) comprises two parallel motorized rollers (36A, 36B), each of these rollers (36A, 36B) being mounted movably in translation inside the housing (6) along said main axis and extending in a direction transverse to said main axis, the bag (4) being intended to extend between the rollers (36A, 36B) by being held by clamping between the rollers (36A, 36B) when the bag (4) is received in the wet feed dispensing unit (10), the neck (26) of the bag (4) extending below the rollers (36A, 36B).

12. . Animal feed dispensing device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of guide rail portions placed opposite each other in the upper part of the housing, said portion of guide rail for guiding said rollers (36A, 36B) between a storage, or retracted, position and an operating position, in which said rollers (36A, 36B) are engaged with said bag (4), the upper ends of said portion of rail bringing said rollers (36A, 36B) to their retracted position being inclined to increase the distance separating these rollers (36A, 36B) and facilitate the positioning of the bag in the wet food dispensing unit (10) when the rollers (36A, 36B) are in the retracted position.

13. . Device (2) for dispensing animal food according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said retracted position is placed above fastening elements allowing said bag to be suspended in the wet food dispensing unit (10).

14. . A device (2) for distributing animal feed according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the electromechanical device (24) further comprises at least one roller support piece (42), preferably two roller support pieces (42), said at least one support piece (42) being connected to a motor or servomotor enabling its translational movement within the housing (6), said at least one support piece (42) having a first portion (56) for retaining one of the two rollers (36A) configured to form a pivot joint for said roller (36A), and a second portion (58) for retaining the other roller (36B), said second portion (58) of the piece (42) being provided with an oblong recess (60) configured to receive, depending on the translational movement of the rollers (36A, 36B) in the housing (6),said other roller (36B) in a first portion (60A) of the recess (60), corresponding to a position of approach of the rollers (36A, 36B), or in a second portion (60B) of the recess (60), corresponding to a position of separation of the rollers (36A, 36B), the first and second portions (60A, 60B) of the oblong-shaped recess (60) being offset from each other vertically and / or horizontally.

15. . Device (2) for distributing animal food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device further comprises a data processing unit and a camera (16) connected to the data processing unit, the data processing unit being connected to the control means of the electromechanical device (24), the camera (16) being positioned on a front face of the housing (6) and being configured to capture images in front of the housing (6).

16. . Device (2) for distributing animal food according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the data processing unit comprises memory means storing a neural network, the neural network having been trained for its learning using training data comprising data from at least one database containing images of animals.

17. . Device (2) for dispensing animal food according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper part of said wet food dispensing unit comprises fastening elements for suspending a bag, which are selected from the group comprising rods, straight suspension rods, suspension rods having an elongated body of curved shape, hooks and hooks whose cross-section increases towards their base.

18. . Pouch of wet pet food (4), the pouch (4) being provided with a neck (26) for opening the pouch (4), the neck (26) being deformable between an open position and a closed position of closure and being provided on a lower part of the sachet (4), characterized in that the sachet (4) is adapted to be received in a wet food dispensing unit (10) of an animal feed dispensing device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, and in that - said neck (26) has continuous lips, separable from one another to define an opening of said bag for the passage of part of its contents, said lips forming a watertight barrier when tension is applied to them by pulling on at least one of the parts of the bag placed laterally to said neck, - said neck (26) being configured to present a straight cross-section of a different shape for at least two distinct opening positions of the latter, one of said opening positions being said to be forced, and corresponding to a straight cross-section of said neck of circular or substantially circular shape, when a thrust is exerted on said neck (26), and - the ratio between the width (LG) and the height (HG) of said neck, when it allows passage of said wet food, and when it is at rest, i.e. not under tension, is between 1.5 and 10, preferably between 2 and 4 and even better equal to 2.5, so as to ensure a regular flow of said wet food through said neck.

19. . Wet food pouch (4) for animals according to claim 18, characterized in that the pouch (4) further comprises means (26, 27A, 27B) configured to cooperate with the gripping elements (38, 38A, 38B), or said gripping element and said retaining element, of said food dispensing device (2), to permit the dispensing of wet food.

20. . Assembly (1) comprising an animal food dispensing device (2) and a wet animal food pouch (4) installed within the device (2), characterized in that the animal food dispensing device (2) conforms to any one of claims 1 to 17, and the wet animal food pouch (4) conforms to claim 18 or 19, the wet animal food pouch (4) being received in the wet food dispensing unit (10) of the device (2).

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