Automatic Feeding Assembly

Abstract

A feeding assembly, system and method configured to automatically provide food to an animal for consumption. The feeding assembly includes: a) a receptacle storage subassembly configured to store one or more receptacles of food therein; b) a receptacle handling and / or transport subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive from the receptacle storage subassembly and transfer to a feeding area; c) a receptacle opening subassembly configured to open the receptacles during transfer from the receptacle storage subassembly to the feeding area; and d) optionally a waste collection subassembly configured to contain the one or more receptacles after presentation at the feeding area. The feeding assembly may provide a receptacle opening subassembly configured to peel a lid from the receptacle before presenting the receptacle to the feeding area.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 341,962, filed May 13, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0002] <Field> The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for autonomously feeding animals with food. The present disclosure may be used to provide a container of food, such as wet food and / or dry food, to an animal. The present disclosure may be used to automatically remove a lid or other covering from the food before automatically providing the container to the animal for consumption.

[0003] <Background> Many households have one or more pets, such as cats or dogs. Among pets, cats are unique animals that form strong social bonds with humans while at the same time trying to maintain their independence. A major concern with cats is to feed them in a timely manner and provide them with a healthy mix of wet and dry food to maintain their health. Cats are creatures of habit and tend to prefer set feeding times and routines. Cats may not like to eat from certain shapes or types of feeding containers, such as bowls made from gelatinous materials, and may have difficulty removing food from containers with angular corners. Additionally, cats can be messy eaters, with many cats removing food from bowls and dropping it on the ground to eat. Thus, there is a need for systems and methods to enable reliable, healthy, and timely feeding of cats even when the cat sitter is unable to prepare and provide food to the cat for the purpose of maintaining the physical and mental health of the cat.

[0004] There are automated feeders for dry food on the market today. However, the automated feeders typically hold the dry food in a large amount in a hopper and then separate and release limited portions into a presentation area. These automated feeders are not compatible with wet food. Wet food is not suitable for storing in large amounts inside the hopper due to both food consistency (e.g., sticking to side walls) and bacterial growth. The release mechanisms are also not suitable for wet food. Therefore, what is needed is a feeding assembly and system compatible with wet food.

[0005] There are also some automated feeders on the market today that are adapted for wet food. These automated feeders typically require the user to manually remove the wet food from the packaging and then place the food in a separate serving area. The feeder has a lid that opens and closes to provide access to the food stored therein. The lid or base may be designed to be rotatable, so that rotation allows access to one separate serving area while the remaining separate serving areas are sealed and then rotated to provide access to the subsequent separate serving areas. These automated feeders pose problems such as the user (e.g., pet owner) still needs to prepare the food, the food is not sealed against spoilage, and the components of the feeding assembly require frequent cleaning.

[0006] Typically, wet food is stored in and purchased in disposable containers. Disposable containers include metal cans, plastic pouches, and plastic containers. The pet owner must remove the food from the container and place the wet food in a serving dish. To prevent spoilage, the wet food can only be left for a certain period of time. Furthermore, the pet owner must then wash the serving dish and discard the food container. This is a cumbersome process and may also pose challenges to the pet owner when leaving the home (e.g., vacation, work). Therefore, what is needed is a feeding assembly that fits over the wet food container. What is needed is a feeding assembly that removes ingestible food before it spoils. What is needed is a means to avoid or reduce washing of the serving utensils. What is further needed is a container that fits over the feeding assembly and that automatically opens and presents for consumption.

[0007] <Summary> The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically provide food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a container storage subassembly configured to store one or more containers of food therein; b) a container handling subassembly and / or a transport subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a given container from the container storage subassembly and transport it to a feeding area; c) a container opening subassembly configured to open the container prior to presentation to the animal; and d) optionally a waste collection subassembly configured to store the one or more containers after presentation at the feeding area.

[0008] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically provide food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a container storage subassembly configured to store a plurality of containers of food therein; b) a container handling subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a predetermined container from the container storage subassembly; c) a container transport subassembly configured to move the container handling subassembly in one or a linear direction from a loading position in the container storage subassembly to a feeding position in the feeding area; d) a container opening subassembly configured to open a container during transfer from the container storage subassembly to the feeding area, the container opening subassembly configured to engage a lid and apply a peeling force to remove the lid from the container; and e) a waste collection subassembly configured to store one or more containers after presentation at the feeding area.

[0009] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically provide food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a container storage subassembly configured to store a plurality of containers of food therein; b) a container handling subassembly and / or a transport subassembly configured to remove and / or receive a given container from the container storage subassembly and transport it to a feeding area; c) a container opening subassembly having a pair of jaws and / or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grab, hold, hook) a lid of the container, the container opening subassembly, together with the container handling subassembly and / or the container transport subassembly, being configured to apply a peeling force to the lid of the container to remove the lid and open the container by moving the container handling subassembly relative to the container opening subassembly, moving the container opening subassembly relative to the container handling subassembly, or moving both relative to each other; and d) optionally a waste collection subassembly configured to store one or more containers after presentation at the feeding area.

[0010] The present teachings provide a feeding assembly configured to automatically provide food to an animal for ingestion, comprising: a) a receptacle storage subassembly having i) a hopper configured to store a plurality of receptacles of food therein; and ii) a restraining mechanism configured to hold the plurality of receptacles within the hopper and selectively release a selected receptacle from the plurality of receptacles; b) a receptacle handling subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a selected receptacle from the receptacle storage subassembly; and c) a receptacle transport subassembly configured to move the receptacle handling subassembly in a unidirectional or linear direction from a loading position in the receptacle storage subassembly to a feeding position in a feeding area, the receptacle transport subassembly configured to translate one or more rotational to linear translational motions in conjunction with the receptacle handling subassembly. a container opening subassembly having a pair of jaws and / or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grab, hold, hook) the lid of a container, and configured, together with the container handling subassembly and / or the container transporting subassembly, to apply a peeling force to the lid of the container to remove the lid and open the container by moving the container handling subassembly relative to the container opening subassembly, moving the container opening subassembly relative to the container handling subassembly, or moving both relative to each other; and e) a waste collection subassembly configured to store one or more containers after they are presented at the feeding area.

[0011] The present teachings relate to a container including: a) a container base defining a hood cavity configured to hold a hood therein, the container base including one or more flanges including and / or forming one or more key features configured to provide one or more orientations of the container; and b) a lid removably attached to the container base, the lid configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (e.g., a subassembly) to peel the lid from the container, the lid including one of: i) a handling portion including a bottom surface of the lid exposed from one or more flanges and / or one or more rims of the container base; ii) a handling portion extending beyond the container base such that the bottom surface of the lid is exposed (e.g., from one or more flanges) and includes a reinforcing structure attached thereto; or iii) a handling portion extending away from the container base with the reinforcing features of the one or more flanges attached thereto and configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (e.g., a subassembly) to peel the lid from the container base.

[0012] The present teachings relate to a system, where a feeding assembly includes one or more communication modules and is configured to be connected to a network. The system may use a feeding assembly according to the teachings herein.

[0013] The present teachings relate to a method for automatically providing food to an animal for ingestion by a feeding assembly, the method including: a) a receptacle handling subassembly automatically receiving and / or retrieving a predetermined receptacle of food from a receptacle storage subassembly; b) the receptacle handling subassembly automatically moving the receptacle to a feeding area and presenting the receptacle for ingestion; and c) the receptacle handling subassembly automatically moving the receptacle to a waste collection subassembly and releasing the receptacle into the waste collection subassembly.

[0014] The present teachings may provide an automatic feeding assembly. The automatic feeding assembly may provide advantages with respect to storing a container of food and automatically releasing the food for consumption by the animal. The container of food may be suitable for wet food and / or dry food. The feeding assembly may be adapted to a container of wet food. The feeding assembly may provide an assembly and method for storing, opening and presenting the container of wet food therefrom to the animal for consumption. This may avoid the wet food coming into contact with components of the feeding assembly, the need for a user to prepare the wet food in the presentation area, or both. The feeding assembly may provide automatic waste collection, thus eliminating cleanup after each individual presentation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the feeding assembly. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the feeding assembly. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view of the feeding assembly. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the feeding assembly. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the feeding assembly. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a right side view of the feeding assembly. [Figure 8] 11A-11D illustrate loading of a given container into the feeding assembly. [Figure 9] 11A-11D illustrate loading of a given container into the feeding assembly. [Figure 10] 13A-13D illustrate loading multiple containers into the feeding assembly. [Figure 11] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly with the container handling subassembly in a loading position prior to releasing a given container into the container handling subassembly; [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly with the container handling subassembly in the loaded position and holding a given container. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly with the container handling subassembly in an open position. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly with the container handling subassembly in the feeding position. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly with the container handling subassembly in a disposal position. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly with the container handling subassembly in a rest position. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vessel containment subassembly. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a front view of the container containment subassembly. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vessel containment subassembly. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a front view of the container containment subassembly. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a container opening subassembly. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the container opening subassembly in an open position. [Diagram 23] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the container opening subassembly in a closed or clamping position. [Figure 24] FIG. 2 is a side view of the container opening subassembly and the container. [Diagram 25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container opening subassembly and the container. [Figure 26] FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the feeding assembly. [Figure 27] FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the container handling subassembly. [Figure 28] FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of a container handling subassembly holding a container. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a container handling subassembly holding a container. [Diagram 30]FIG. 2 shows a front portion of the feeding assembly. [Diagram 31] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the container handling subassembly while in the feeding position. [Diagram 32] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste containment subassembly. [Diagram 33] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste containment subassembly. [Diagram 34] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feeding assembly without the upper cover. [Diagram 35] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system including a feeding assembly. [Diagram 36] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a feeding assembly. [Figure 37] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a method for autonomously feeding an animal. [Figure 38A] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a process for ordering and configuring a feeding assembly. [Figure 38B] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a process for filling and / or emptying a feeding assembly. [Figure 38C] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a process for feeding wet food to animals. [Figure 38D] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a process for feeding dry food to animals. [Figure 39] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly. [Diagram 40] FIG. 2 is a top view of the feeding assembly. [Diagram 41] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly. [Diagram 42] FIG. [Diagram 43] FIG. [Diagram 44] FIG. [Diagram 45] FIG. [Figure 46] FIG. [Figure 47] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a number of containers. [Figure 48] FIG. [Figure 49] FIG. [Figure 50] FIG. [Figure 51] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in a closed state. [Figure 52] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in an open state. [Diagram 53] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in a closed state. [Figure 54] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in an open state. [Figure 55] FIG. [Figure 56] FIG. 2 is a top view of the container in a closed state. [Figure 57] FIG. 2 is a top view of the container in an open state.

[0016] <Detailed Description> The explanations and examples provided herein are intended to familiarize those skilled in the art with the teachings, their principles, and their practical applications. The specific embodiments of the teachings described are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should be determined with reference to the appended claims, together with the full scope of equivalents encompassed by such claims. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. As other combinations are possible that can be derived from the following claims, these are also incorporated by reference herein.

[0017] <Feeding Assembly> The feeding assembly may be any device that contains and releases food for consumption by an animal. The food may include any type of food suitable for consumption by an animal. The food may include wet food, dry food, or both. Wet food may include ground and / or shredded protein (e.g., meat), vegetables, grains, fruits, and / or the like provided in or mixed with a liquid. Liquid may refer to water, broth, gravy, or another type of liquid. Dry food may refer to food that is substantially free of liquid, or may be in the form of granular material, or both.

[0018] The food may be provided in the container, transferred to the container, or both. The feeding assembly may be configured to accommodate at least one container. The feeding assembly may accommodate and store multiple containers. The feeding assembly may be configured to have one or more containers located therein individually, as a set, within a container magazine, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0019] The feeding assembly may be useful in providing food into a container, removing food from a container, or both. The feeding assembly may be useful in removing or accessing a container of food stored therein and providing the contents of the container for access by an animal. The animal may be any domestic animal. Domestic animals may include dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, the like, or any combination thereof. In a typical household that keeps pets, domestic animals may include one or more cats, dogs, or both.

[0020] The feeding assembly may be referred to as an automatic feeding assembly.

[0021] The feeding assembly may include: a) a container storage subassembly configured to store one or more containers of food therein; b) a container handling subassembly and / or a transport subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a given container from the container storage subassembly and transport it to the feeding area; c) a container opening subassembly configured to open the container during transport from the container storage subassembly to the feeding area; and d) optionally a waste collection subassembly configured to store the one or more containers after presentation in the feeding area.

[0022] The feeding assembly may include one or more of the following features: a housing, a container storage subassembly, a container handling subassembly, a transport subassembly, a container opening subassembly, a container holding subassembly, a disposal subassembly, a waste collection subassembly, a feeding area, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0023] The feeding assembly may include a housing. The housing may function to contain and / or support various components of the feeding assembly, provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the feeding assembly, or both. The housing may include one or more bases, intermediate supports, support plates, upper covers, the like, or any combination thereof. The housing may provide or define a feeding area.

[0024] The housing may be formed from any suitable material. Suitable materials may be easy to clean, suitable for contact with a hood, or both. Suitable materials may include plastics, polymers, metals (e.g., aluminum), alloys, any other suitable materials, or combinations thereof.

[0025] The housing may define an interior volume in which at least some of the subassemblies and components of the feeding assembly may be disposed. The housing may be divided into various sections, each section housing one or more of the subassemblies of the assembly. The housing may include or be coupled to a housing can that is included in the receptacle containment subassembly and one or more waste collection subassemblies.

[0026] The housing may support a container storage subassembly, a container handling subassembly, a transport subassembly, a container opening subassembly, a container holding subassembly, a disposal subassembly, a waste collection subassembly, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0027] The housing may include one or more substrates. The substrate may function to support another housing component, provide a surface to rest on a support surface, accommodate a waste collection subassembly, or combinations thereof. The substrate may have any shape, size, and / or configuration (e.g., length and width) to provide a partial or total footprint. The substrate may have a three-dimensional shape that is substantially or partially a rectangular prism, a cube, a U-shaped or C-shaped trough, a sphere, an annular cylinder, a spherical ring, a cylinder, a prism, a cone, the like, or any combination thereof. The rectangular or cubic shape may provide balanced support for the entire housing and the components supported by the housing. The substrate may include one or more support structures, stationary supports, cavities, and / or the like. The substrate may be formed as a one-piece integral component or may be an assembly.

[0028] The base may include one or more support structures. The one or more support structures may function to have one or more other components mounted thereon. The one or more support structures may be located within the base, as one or more edges of the base, or both. The one or more support structures may be located within a component cavity of the base. The one or more support structures may carry an intermediate support, a support plate, or both thereon. The intermediate support and / or the support plate may be assembled to the side opposite the bottom surface of the base.

[0029] The substrate may include one or more stationary supports. The one or more stationary supports may or may not be configured to conform to an uneven surface. The one or more stationary supports may include one or more feet, ridges, and / or the like. The one or more stationary supports may be adjustable so that the device rests horizontally on a stationary surface. The one or more stationary supports may be located on a bottom surface of the substrate. The one or more stationary supports may include a plurality of stationary supports. The stationary supports may be distributed around or near the periphery of the bottom surface.

[0030] The substrate may include one or more cavities. The one or more cavities may extend partially or completely through the substrate. The cavities may include waste cavities, power cavities, component cavities, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0031] The base may include a waste cavity. The waste cavity may be a cavity configured to hold one or more waste collection subassemblies therein. The waste cavity may extend partially or completely through the base. The waste cavity may begin at a front side, a rear side, or both of the base. The waste cavity may be configured as a drawer cavity. The drawer cavity may be suitable for cooperation with one or more waste collection subassemblies configured as drawers. The waste cavity may include one or more rails. The one or more rails may be part of the base or may be attached to the base. The one or more rails may cooperate with one or more grooves of the waste collection subassembly.

[0032] The base may include a component cavity. The component cavity may function to hold one or more components (e.g., electrical components) of the feeding assembly. The component cavity may be formed from a top surface of the base. In other words, an opening to the cavity is present on an upwardly facing surface of the base. The component cavity may be all or a portion of the volume of the base. Located within the component cavity may be one or more drive units, adapters for power, controllers, communication modules, and / or the like.

[0033] The base may include a power cavity. The power cavity may function to house or support one or more electrical components, allow the base to lie flush against a support surface, or both. The power cavity may be formed as a recess or an opening. The power cavity may be located out of sight. The power cavity may be located on the rear side of the base. The power cavity may be located opposite an entrance into the waste cavity.

[0034] The housing may include one or more intermediate supports. The intermediate supports may function to support the transport subassembly, the container subassembly, the support plate, one or more sensing devices, one or more drive units, one or more sensing devices, and / or the like. The intermediate supports may be mounted on one or more support structures of the base. The intermediate supports may be mounted and / or attached to the base, may be located above the waste cavity, may be located above the waste collection subassembly, or combinations thereof. The intermediate supports may be located below the upper cover, below the support plate, below the container containment subassembly, below the container opening subassembly, or any combination thereof. The intermediate supports may be located below and / or adjacent to the transport subassembly, the container handling subassembly, or both. The intermediate supports may be located between the base and the upper cover, between the base and the support plate, or both.

[0035] The intermediate support may have any size, shape and / or configuration that results in the intermediate support being supported by the base and / or supporting multiple components of the feeding assembly. The intermediate support may have a two-dimensional cross-section that correlates with the two-dimensional cross-section of the base. The intermediate support may have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially rectangular, square, circular, oval, the like, or combinations thereof. The intermediate support may be substantially planar, non-planar, or both. The intermediate support may be substantially planar with a non-planar structure. The intermediate support may include one or more passageways, waste openings, cradles, assembly openings, the like, or any combinations thereof.

[0036] The one or more cradles may function to support one or more rotating components. The one or more cradles may be oriented upward, away from the base, toward the transport subassembly, or any combination thereof. The one or more cradles may have a shape that correlates and / or cooperates with one or more drive shafts, rotation shafts, support shafts, and / or the like. The one or more cradles may have a U-shape, C-shape, concave, and / or the like shape.

[0037] The one or more waste openings and / or passageways may define openings through the intermediate support and may provide access to the one or more waste collection subassemblies and / or allow clearance for movement of the one or more container handling subassemblies from the loading position to the feeding position and from the feeding position to the loading position.

[0038] The one or more mounting openings may allow for assembly of one or more components of the feeding assembly to the intermediate support. The one or more mounting openings may cooperate with one or more fasteners or another mounting structure.

[0039] The intermediate support may have a transport subassembly, a support plate, one or more sensing devices, a container handling subassembly, a lifting wedge, the like, or any combination thereof attached thereto.

[0040] The housing may include one or more support plates. The support plates may function to conceal one or more components of the feeding assembly, provide a feeding area, support an upper cover, support a receptacle storage subassembly, support a receptacle opening subassembly, support one or more sensing devices, the like, or combinations thereof. The support plates may be spaced apart from one or more intermediate supports to form a gap suitable for accommodating one or more components. The components within the gap may be one or more components supported by the intermediate plate. The support plates may rest and / or be attached to a base, intermediate supports, or both. The support plates may be located below the upper cover, below the receptacle storage assembly, below the receptacle opening subassembly, or combinations thereof. The support plates may be located above the base, the waste cavity, the waste collection subassembly, the intermediate supports, the transport subassembly, the receptacle handling subassembly, or combinations thereof.

[0041] The support plate may have any size, shape and / or configuration to be supported by the base and / or intermediate support, to support multiple components of the feeding assembly, to provide a feeding area, or to create a combination thereof. The support plate may have a two-dimensional cross-section that correlates with the two-dimensional cross-section of the base, intermediate support, or both. The support plate may have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially rectangular, square, circular, oval, the like, or a combination thereof. The support plate may be substantially flat, non-flat, or both. The support plate may include one or more openings. The one or more openings may include one or more container presenting openings, hopper openings, or both.

[0042] The support plate may include a receptacle presentation opening. The receptacle presentation opening may function to allow access to the receptacle from outside the housing, or for an animal to ingest food from the receptacle, or both. The receptacle presentation opening may be biased toward a front side of the feeding assembly. The receptacle presentation opening may have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially similar or dissimilar to the cross-sectional shape of the receptacle. The cross-sectional shape may be parallel to an upwardly facing surface of the support plate, perpendicular to a vertical axis, or both.

[0043] The support plate may include a hopper opening. The hopper opening may allow one or more containers stored within the container containment assembly to be placed therethrough, may allow one or more containers to pass from one side of the support plate to the other side of the support plate, or both. The hopper opening may be larger than a cross-sectional area of ​​the container. This size may facilitate easy passage of a given container relative to the hopper opening. The hopper opening may be aligned with an opening (e.g., an outlet) of the container containment subassembly.

[0044] The housing may include one or more upper covers. The upper covers may function to conceal one or more components of the feeding assembly. The upper covers may cooperate with the base, the support plate, or both to provide a feeding area. The upper covers may be the topmost portion of the housing. The upper covers may be located above, attached to, and / or resting on the support plate, the intermediate support, the base, the like, or combinations thereof. The upper covers may house a receptacle containment subassembly, a receptacle opening subassembly, one or more sensing devices, one or more additional electrical components, or any combination thereof. The upper covers may be biased toward the rear of the feeding assembly, may allow a front portion of the support plate and / or the base to be exposed, or any combination thereof.

[0045] The upper cover may have any size, shape and / or configuration to conceal one or more components, provide a feeding area, or both. The upper cover may have a three-dimensional shape that is substantially or partially a rectangular prism, cube, sphere, annular cylinder, spherical ring, cylinder, prism, cone, the like, or any combination thereof. The upper cover may have a length or width that is less than the length or width of the base, intermediate support and / or support plate. The upper cover may be located behind or adjacent to the container presenting opening of the support plate. The upper cover may include one or more openings.

[0046] The upper cover may include one or more receptacle refill openings. The receptacle refill openings may allow access into the receptacle storage subassembly, refilling of one or more receptacles into the feeding assembly, insertion of one or more receptacle magazines, or any combination thereof. The receptacle refill openings may be aligned with the inlet opening of the hopper. The receptacle refill openings may be located on a top surface, a side surface, or both of the upper cover. The receptacle openings may have a shape that correlates with or differs from the cross-sectional shape of the receptacle. The receptacle openings may be sized larger than the size of the cross-section of the receptacle, the receptacle magazine, or both.

[0047] The housing may provide a feeding area. The feeding area may be a portion of the housing that provides receptacles and / or food to the animal such that the receptacle and / or food are accessible by the animal for consumption. The feeding area may be located at any level of the housing. The feeding area may be provided on the base, intermediate support, support plate, upper cover, or combinations thereof. The feeding area may be provided adjacent (e.g., in front of) the base, intermediate support, support plate, upper cover, or any combinations thereof. The feeding area may be defined by a receptacle presentation opening.

[0048] The feeding area may be at a comfortable height for the animal to consume food. The feeding area height may be the height at which the top surface of the container is provided relative to the ground. The feeding area height may be at the level of the animal's feet, knees and / or shoulders. The feeding area may provide an elevated feeding height. The elevated feeding height may be at the level of the animal's knees and / or shoulders. The feeding height may be about 0.5 inches or more, about 1 inch or more, about 2 inches or more, or even about 3 inches or more. The feeding height may be about 7 inches or less, about 6 inches or less, or even about 5 inches or less. The elevated feeding height may be about 3 inches to about 6 inches. The feeding height may also be referred to as the height of the base, the distance from the bottom surface of the base to the top surface of the support plate, or both.

[0049] The feeding area may include a guard. The guard may be located surrounding the receptacle presentation opening. The guard may be attached to a portion of the housing in which the receptacle presentation opening is located. The guard may cover any gaps between a housing surface and the receptacle when the receptacle is presented to the animal for consumption.

[0050] The housing may include a cover. The cover may function to selectively cover the receptacle presentation opening, prevent access to the interior of the feeding assembly, prevent access to used food from entering the housing, prevent access to the receptacle, allow access to the receptacle, or both. The receptacle presentation opening may be selectively covered by a cover configured to prevent the animal from reaching the interior of the housing. The cover may be configured as a door and / or wiper. Exemplary doors may include retractable doors, hinged doors, or both. Exemplary wipers may include soft, flexible flaps or silicone brushes. The cover may extend partially into the opening. When the receptacle base is retracted back into the housing after presentation to the animal, the door and / or wiper may prevent any food that may extend above the top surface of the receptacle base from entering the housing.

[0051] The housing may include a movable and / or removable lid. The removable lid may function to selectively cover the container storage subassembly, the container refill opening, one or more waste collection subassemblies, or any combination thereof. The lid may be moved between a closed state and an open state. In the open state, at least a portion of the interior volume may be accessible. The interior volume may include the container storage subassembly, one or more waste collection subassemblies, or both. The lid may be positioned over the one or more refill openings. It is also contemplated that a top cover may function as the removable lid. It is also contemplated that a panel on the front side of the waste bin drawer may function as the lid.

[0052] The feeding assembly may include a receptacle storage subassembly. The receptacle storage assembly may function to have one or more receptacles temporarily arranged and stored therein. Arrangement may mean vertically stacked, horizontally stacked, radially stacked, assembled, the like, or any combination thereof. The receptacle storage subassembly may provide a single stack or multiple stacks of receptacles. The receptacle storage assembly may provide a single circular array or multiple circular arrays of multiple receptacles.

[0053] The receptacle storage subassembly may cooperate with one or more other components of the feeding assembly to selectively retrieve one or more receptacles. The receptacle storage assembly may cooperate with one or more transport subassemblies, receptacle handling subassemblies, or both to release the receptacle. After retrieval, the food in the receptacle may be accessible to the animal. The receptacle storage subassembly may be removably located within the feeding assembly or may be semi-permanently / permanently attached to the feeding assembly. A removable receptacle storage subassembly may be referred to as a receptacle magazine. The receptacle storage assembly may enable automated retrieval of one or more receptacles stored therein by one or more other components of the feeder assembly. The receptacle storage assembly may cooperate with a transport subassembly, a lid removal subassembly, a receptacle handling subassembly, one or more sensing devices, or any combination thereof.

[0054] The containers within the container containment subassembly may have containers internally organized by first in, first out, by expiration date, by brand, by flavor, by size, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0055] The container storage assembly may be located in any location suitable for cooperating with the transport subassembly, the lid removal subassembly, the container handling subassembly, one or more sensing devices, or a combination thereof. The container storage subassembly may be located generally opposite the feeding area, near the loading location, toward the rear of the feeding assembly, or a combination thereof.

[0056] The container containment assembly may include one or more hoppers, container magazines, restraining mechanisms, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0057] The container storage assembly may include one or more hoppers. The one or more hoppers may be configured to store multiple containers therein. The containers may be stacked in line or aligned with one another. The hoppers may directly house the containers or may house a container magazine that holds multiple containers. The one or more hoppers may include one or more, two or more, or even three or more hoppers.

[0058] The hopper may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to cooperate with one or more containers, container magazines, or both, to store and / or release one or more containers, container magazines, or both, to cooperate with a restraining mechanism, to cooperate with a container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof. The hopper may have a three-dimensional shape that is generally cylindrical, rectangular, cuboid, the like, or a combination thereof. The hopper may have a two-dimensional cross-sectional shape that correlates (e.g., is complementary to), dissimilar, or both to the cross-section of the containers and / or container magazines. The cross-sectional shape may refer to a cross-section that intersects the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, or both of the hopper. The hopper may have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially symmetric about one axis of symmetry, two axes of symmetry, or even more axes of symmetry. The hopper may have a cross-sectional shape that is asymmetric. The symmetry may facilitate positioning the containers within the hopper. By having more than one axis of symmetry, containers can be supported within the hopper in multiple proper orientations.

[0059] The hopper may function as, form, and / or be located within the housing. The hopper may form a removable portion of the housing. The hopper may be removably inserted into the housing. The housing may include interrelated housing portions configured to receive the hopper. The hopper may be located inside the upper cover, above the support plate, above the intermediate support, above the base, and / or the like. The hopper may be located within or form the interrelated housing portion. The hopper may be located adjacent to one or more waste collection subassemblies, transport subassemblies, or both. The hopper may be accessible by one or more container handling subassemblies, or may engage one or more container handling subassemblies for discharging.

[0060] The hopper may include one or more key features. The one or more key features may function to facilitate proper orientation of the container, container magazine, or both within the hopper. The one or more key features may include one or more protrusions, recesses, surface contours, and / or the like. The one or more key features may be formed on an interior surface of the hopper. The one or more key features may be located along all or a portion of the length of the hopper. The one or more protrusions may include one or more ribs, tabs, teeth, and / or the like. The one or more recesses may include one or more grooves, notches, and / or the like. The one or more surface contours may include one or more planar (e.g., flat) surfaces, one or more curved surfaces, a change in radius or degree of curvature, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more key features may cooperate with one or more key features, alignment features, engagement features, lid reinforcement features, lid access features, or any combination thereof of the container, container magazine, or both. One or more key features of the hopper may correlate with one or more key features of the container.

[0061] The hopper may have one or more openings. The hopper may have an entrance opening, an exit opening, an identification opening, and / or the like. The entrance opening may function to accommodate one or more containers, container magazines, or both within the hopper. The exit opening may function to allow the release of one or more containers therefrom. The identification opening may allow an identification sensor to access one or more identifiers located on one or more containers. The entrance and exit openings may be opposite each other (e.g., in linear alignment), perpendicular to each other, or both. The entrance opening may be located at the top end, side wall, or both of the hopper. The entrance opening may be located adjacent to the upper cover or another portion of the housing. The entrance opening may be aligned with a container refill opening of the housing. The exit opening may be located at the bottom end, side wall, or both of the hopper. The exit opening may be configured to align with a container handling subassembly (e.g., to eject / drop a container), or to allow insertion of a container handling subassembly through the exit opening (e.g., to grab a container), or both. The identification opening may be located along a sidewall of the hopper. The identification opening may be biased toward (e.g., located closer to) the entrance opening or the exit opening. The identification opening may be configured to align with one or more identifiers located on one or more containers, container magazines, or both.

[0062] The hopper may have a height allocated to a number of desired containers, serving sizes, number of days, and / or the like. The hopper may have a height suitable for storing containers sufficient to feed an animal for 1 or more days, 2 or more days, 3 or more days, or even 4 or more days. The hopper may have a height suitable for storing containers sufficient to feed an animal for 10 or less days, 9 or less days, 8 or less days, or even 7 or less days. The hopper may be configured to hold 2 or more containers, 3 or more containers, 6 or more containers, 9 or more containers, or even 12 or more containers. The hopper may be configured to hold 30 or less containers, 24 or less containers, or even 21 or less containers.

[0063] The hopper may include one or more notches. The one or more notches may enable the hopper to cooperate with a restraining mechanism. The one or more notches may be formed in one or more side walls of the hopper. The one or more notches may be formed towards and / or at the lower surface of the hopper, along the height of the hopper, or both. Each notch may be assigned a roller. There may be an equal number of notches as rollers. The one or more notches may include two or more notches, three or more notches, or even four or more notches. The one or more notches may extend substantially linearly. The one or more notches may extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, or both of the hopper. The one or more notches may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, or both of the hopper. The one or more cutouts may extend in the same direction (e.g., parallel longitudinal axes) as the one or more rollers. The one or more rollers may be disposed at least partially within the one or more cutouts.

[0064] The receptacle storage subassembly may include one or more restraining mechanisms. The one or more restraining mechanisms may function to hold one or more receptacles within the hoppers and / or receptacle magazine, work against gravity, selectively release a given receptacle (e.g., when ready for pick-up), or any combination thereof. The one or more restraining mechanisms may be located adjacent to one or more hoppers, partially disposed within one or more hoppers, proximate to one or more hoppers, and / or the like. The one or more restraining mechanisms may include one or more rollers, drive units, gears, pulleys, and / or the like.

[0065] The restraining mechanism may include one or more rollers. The one or more rollers may engage the one or more containers, hold the one or more containers statically relative to the hopper, release the one or more containers from the hopper, or any combination thereof. The one or more rollers may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to engage a flange of the container. The one or more rollers may be partially located inside the hopper. The one or more rollers may be partially located inside the one or more notches. The rollers may function by supporting a flange (e.g., like a shelf) of the container. When the rollers are stationary, the container may remain stationary inside the hopper. Rotation of the rollers may then release the container from the hopper. Rotation of the rollers may result in the container moving downward, out of the hopper, through an exit opening, toward a container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof. The one or more rollers may be positioned such that the rollers are parallel to the one or more notches. The one or more rollers may be parallel, perpendicular or both to the longitudinal axis, vertical axis or both of the hopper. The one or more rollers may include one or more axles, fins, worm gears and / or the like. The one or more fins may be radially distributed around the axle. The one or more rollers may include one or opposing axles with fins located at / near the underside of the hopper. The opposing axles may be located on opposing sides of the hopper. The opposing axles may be rotatably connected via one or more gears, rollers, containers or combinations thereof. For example, an active roller may receive torque from a drive unit. The active roller may transmit the torque to a passive roller via one or more gears, pulleys or even containers. The passive roller may be located on the side of the hopper opposite the active roller. One or more of the rollers may include one or more worm gears located within the notches, along the length of the hopper, or both.When stationary, the flange of the container may be located between the teeth of the worm gear.

[0066] The one or more rollers may include one or more gears. The one or more gears may function to receive and / or transmit torque. The one or more gears of the rollers may be referred to as one or more roller gears, worm gears, or both. The one or more roller gears may include one or more spur gears, bevel gears, worm gears, rack and pinion gears, internal gears, herringbone gears, cranks, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more gears may be coupled to one or more other gears, a drive unit, or both. The one or more gears may be directly and / or indirectly rotatably coupled to one or more drive units. The one or more spur gears or the like may be drivingly coupled to one or more gears assigned to the drive unit.

[0067] The restraining mechanism may be assembled on one or more portions of the housing. The restraining mechanism may be supported by a base, intermediate support, support plate, upper cover, and / or the like. The restraining mechanism may be supported on the same portion of the housing as the hopper. The restraining mechanism may include one or more bases (e.g., mounts). The one or more bases may stationarily and movably (e.g., rotatably) support one or more other components of the restraining mechanism. The bases may include one or more cradles for rotatably supporting one or more rollers, axles, drive axles, and / or the like.

[0068] The container storage assembly may include a container magazine and / or may be configured to removably receive the container magazine. The container magazine may function to store multiple containers together as a set, to allow multiple containers to be placed in the container storage assembly in a single loading step, to allow multiple containers to be transported together and then loaded together into the container storage assembly, to provide a user with easy access to the loaded containers, or any combination thereof. The container magazine may function as a cartridge for inserting multiple containers into the feeding assembly.

[0069] The container magazine may cooperate with the hopper, or may function as the hopper, or both. The container magazine may be inserted into the hopper. The container magazine may be inserted into the hopper via the inlet opening, the outlet opening, or both. The container magazine may be centered or eccentric with the hopper. The container magazine may be removable from the hopper. The container magazine may be removed when empty, if a different container (e.g. flavor, size, brand) is desired, or both. The hopper may be provided with an ejection mechanism (e.g. spring) to assist removal from the hopper. The container magazine may be removed via the inlet opening, the outlet opening, or both. A restraining mechanism may function as the ejection mechanism. The restraining mechanisms may move (e.g. rotate) in opposite directions to cause translation and / or at least partial ejection of the container magazine.

[0070] The receptacle magazine may function as, form part of, and / or be located within the housing. The receptacle magazine may form a removable portion of the housing. The receptacle magazine may be removably inserted into the housing. The housing may include interrelated housing portions configured to receive the receptacle magazine. The receptacle magazine may be located adjacent to one or more waste collection subassemblies, identification sensors, transport subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0071] The container magazine may have any shape, size, and / or configuration that holds a plurality of containers therein and / or fits into the hopper. The container magazine may have an exterior cross-sectional shape that correlates with the interior cross-sectional shape of the hopper. The container magazine may have shapes and features as described above relative to the hopper. The container magazine may include one or more entrance openings, exit openings, identification openings, and / or the like. The container magazine may or may not include one or more columns and / or slots.

[0072] The container magazine may include one or more vertical side walls. A single continuous side wall may provide a cross-sectional shape generally without corners (e.g., circular, oval, elliptical). Multiple vertical side walls may provide a cross-sectional shape having one or more vertices (e.g., square, rectangular, triangular).

[0073] The container magazine may provide a single column or multiple columns for container storage. The container magazine may be divided into multiple columns of container storage. Each column may hold one or multiple containers. The containers may be stacked such that one container supports adjacent containers, is in physical contact with adjacent containers, is spaced apart from adjacent containers, or the like, or a combination thereof. For example, the lid of one container may support the container base of an adjacent container. For example, the containers may be suspended or held via a slot and may or may not be in contact with each other. As another example, each container may be located within its own dedicated slot or pocket.

[0074] The container magazine may define one or more slots. The one or more slots may function to accommodate one or more containers. The slots may be dedicated to accommodating one or more containers. For example, the container magazine may define a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots configured to accommodate a given container or set of containers. The slots may accommodate the containers in whole or in part. The slots may be formed as one or more recesses (e.g., grooves or notches) in the interior of a wall of the container magazine. The interior wall may be a vertical side wall. The one or more slots may be continuous around the interior wall or may be discontinuous. In other words, a single slot may extend completely around the interior circumference and / or perimeter of the vertical wall. Discrete may mean that the slot has a length that is less than the interior circumference and / or perimeter of the vertical wall. A single slot may hold a single container. A plurality of slots may cooperate with each other to hold a retainer. For example, two opposing slots may hold opposing sides of a flange of a container. The slots may receive and hold the flange of the container therein. The slots may be formed as one or more pockets. The pockets may receive the entire container therein. The slots may be evenly or unevenly spaced along the length and / or diameter of the container magazine. The slots may be spaced apart from one another to accommodate containers of different sizes (e.g., height, volume). For example, containers of smaller volume may be stacked within the container magazine such that each slot holds a flange of a container, while containers of larger volume may be stacked within the container magazine such that every other slot holds a flange of a container.

[0075] The container magazine may be configured as a rotating magazine. The rotating magazine may be configured to be loaded with multiple containers. The rotating magazine may include multiple slots. The multiple slots may be arranged radially around a center of the rotating magazine. The slots may hold one or multiple containers. The rotating magazine may be configured to be rotated about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis or any angle between each other. The slots may open toward an exterior of the rotating magazine, toward an arm or another portion of the container storage subassembly, toward an interior of the rotating magazine, toward a central cavity, or any combination thereof.

[0076] The rotating magazine may include a circular hub. The circular hub may be configured to be rotated about a horizontal or vertical axis or any angle between each other. The circular hub may support one or more slots. Rotation of the circular hub may provide for rotation of one or more containers located within the one or more slots. Rotation of the circular hub may allow for alignment of the one or more slots with an access window in the central cavity.

[0077] The rotating magazine may include a central cavity. The central cavity may provide a pick-up and / or ejection location for the container. The central cavity may provide an entry point for one or more container handling subassemblies to remove the container. The central cavity may be aligned with one or more container handling subassemblies to allow ejection of the container thereto. The central cavity may be coaxial with a circular hub. The central cavity may remain stationary while the circular hub rotates about the central cavity. The central cavity may include an entry window. The slot may be rotated into position to align with the entry window. The container may be transferred from the slot through the entry window and into the central cavity.

[0078] The receptacle magazine may include one or more removable covers. The one or more removable covers may function to retain one or more receptacles within the magazine, to prevent premature release of one or more receptacles from the receptacle magazine, or both. The one or more removable covers may be used during transportation and storage of the receptacle magazine separately from the feeding assembly. The one or more removable covers may be attached to a wall of the receptacle magazine. The one or more removable covers may cover an inlet opening, an outlet opening, or both. The one or more removable covers may be removable or pierced by a user prior to placing the receptacle magazine in the feeding assembly, by a component of the feeding assembly upon insertion, and / or the like.

[0079] The container magazine may include one or more handles. The handles may provide a structure for easily grasping the magazine. The handles may facilitate grasping the container magazine for placement into the container storage assembly, removing the container magazine from the container storage subassembly, or both.

[0080] The container magazine may include one or more identifiers, which may be in addition to or instead of one or more identifiers on one or more containers, and the identifiers on the container magazine may be similar to one or more identifiers described as suitable for the containers.

[0081] The feeding assembly may include a container handling subassembly. The container handling subassembly may function to receive a given container from the container storage subassembly, hold a given container during transport to the feeding area, hold a given container within the feeding area, hold a container base during removal of a lid, transport a given container for disposal after use, or any combination thereof. The container subassembly may be configured to releasably engage one or more containers. The container handling subassembly may be configured to be disposed within or adjacent to the feeding area. The container handling subassembly may be configured to actively receive (e.g., grab) a given container, place a given container therein, or both. The container handling subassembly may be configured to actively release a given container, dispose of a given container therefrom, or both. The container handling subassembly may include one or more shuttle assemblies, gripper assemblies, or both. The container handling subassembly may include one or more cradles, retaining supports, supports, through holes, disposal bars, arms, plates, bases, actuators, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0082] The container handling subassembly may be coupled to the transport subassembly. The container handling subassembly may be attached to or part of the transport subassembly. The container handling subassembly may be moved between positions via the transport subassembly.

[0083] The container handling subassembly may be movable to one or more positions within the feeding assembly. The container handling subassembly may be movable to a variety of positions to interact with one or more containers and / or another subassembly. The one or more positions may include a loading position, an open position, a feeding position, a disposal position, a rest position, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0084] In the loading position, the container handling subassembly may cooperate with the container storage subassembly, the transport subassembly, or both. In the loading position, the container handling subassembly may be positioned to receive and / or remove a given container from the container storage subassembly. In the loading position, the container handling subassembly may receive a container having a lid attached to the container base (e.g., a closed container). In the loading position, the container handling subassembly may be located adjacent to the container storage subassembly, partially or completely disposed within the container storage subassembly, or both. In the loading position, the container handling subassembly may be located within an aisle of the housing. The aisle may be an aisle formed in the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. In the loading position, a portion of the container handling subassembly may be aligned with one or more hopper openings in the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. In the loading position, a portion of the container handling subassembly may be aligned with, adjacent to, or inserted into the inlet opening, the outlet opening, or both of the container storage subassembly. In the loading position, the shuttle assembly may be adjacent to, below, or both of the hopper. In the loading position, the shuttle assembly may be aligned with the outlet opening of the hopper. In the resting position, the cradle may be configured to receive a container therein. In the loading position, the cradle of the shuttle assembly may be substantially aligned (e.g., centered) with the outlet opening of the hopper. In the loading position, the gripper assembly may be configured to fit through an opening of the hopper or container magazine. In the loading position, the gripper assembly may be inserted into the opening of the hopper or container magazine. In the loading position, the gripper assembly may be configured to position the gripper around the container. The loading position may be located toward the rear of the feeding assembly, opposite the feeding area, or both. From the loading position, the container handling subassembly may be moved to an open position.

[0085] In the open position, the container handling subassembly may cooperate with the container opening subassembly, the transport subassembly, or both. In the open position, the container handling subassembly may be positioned to allow opening of the container. Opening of the container may include removal of a lid or another covering or access to the interior hood of the container. The open position may be a stationary position or a dynamic range of positions of the container handling subassembly. In other words, the container handling subassembly may remain stationary while the container opening subassembly moves to remove a lid, the container handling subassembly moves while the container opening subassembly remains stationary to remove a lid, or both the container opening subassembly and the container handling subassembly move to remove a lid. In the open position, the container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to, below, above, and / or near the container opening subassembly. In the open position, the container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to, above, below, and / or near one or more waste collection subassemblies. For example, the container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to and above the waste collection subassembly such that the lid falls into the waste bin (e.g., via gravity) after removal of the lid. In the open position, the container handling subassembly may be located within the passageway of the housing. In the open position, the shuttle assembly and / or gripper assembly may move below and past the container opening assembly. The open position may be located anywhere between the front and rear of the feeding assembly, between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area, or both. From the open position, the container handling subassembly may move to the feeding position.

[0086] In the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may cooperate with one or more portions of the housing, the container holding subassembly, the transport subassembly, or a combination thereof to present the container in an open state to the animal. In the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may present and / or position the container in the feeding area. In the feeding position, the container is accessible by the animal from outside the housing to consume food from the container. In the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to the container presentation opening, below the container presentation opening, or both. In the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may be located inside the housing while the container is accessible from outside the housing. In the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may be located between the container holding subassembly and a portion of the housing (e.g., a support plate), or may have a housing (e.g., a wall) located between the container holding subassembly and the container handling subassembly, or both. In the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may continue to hold the container during presentation at the feeding position, may be container-free during presentation at the feeding area, or both. In other words, the container handling subassembly may continue to hold the container while it is presented at the feeding area, or may temporarily dispose of the container. In the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may cooperate with the container holding subassembly to position the container in a suitable position for ingestion. In the feeding position, the shuttle assembly may cooperate with the lifting wedge to raise the container into the container presentation opening. In the feeding position, the gripper assembly may cooperate with the support rail to hold the container in place. The feeding position may be biased towards or in front of the feeding assembly, at or adjacent to the feeding area, or both. From the feeding position, the container handling subassembly may move to a disposal position.

[0087] In the disposal position, the container handling subassembly may cooperate with one or more portions of the housing, the container disposal subassembly, the transport subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or a combination thereof to transport a container (e.g., a used container) into the waste collection subassembly. In the disposal position, the container handling subassembly may be positioned to dispose of the container in the waste collection subassembly, cooperate with the container disposal subassembly, or both. In the disposal position, the container handling subassembly may dispose of or release the container substrate. In the disposal position, the container handling subassembly may be located adjacent to the waste collection subassembly, partially or completely disposed within the waste collection subassembly, or both. In the disposal position, the container handling subassembly may be located within the passageway of the housing. In the disposal position, the container handling subassembly may be located adjacent to the container disposal subassembly, below the container disposal subassembly, above the container disposal subassembly, and / or adjacent to the container disposal subassembly. In the disposal position, the shuttle assembly may be adjacent to the waste bin, above the waste bin, or both. In the loading position, the disposal bar of the shuttle assembly may be moved into the holding support, adjacent to and / or by the disposal subassembly, and may move or push the container out of the cradle, or a combination thereof. In the disposal position, the gripper assembly may be configured to be inserted into the waste bin. In the disposal position, the support plate, one or more grippers, or both of the gripper assembly may be released to allow the container to drop therefrom into the waste bin. The disposal position may be between the feeding area and the container storage subassembly, between the front and rear sides of the feeding assembly, between the feeding area and the container opening subassembly, or any combination thereof. From the disposal position, the container handling subassembly may be moved to a rest position, may remain in place for transition to the rest position, or both.

[0088] In the rest position, the container handling subassembly may be at rest prior to retrieving or receiving a given container. In the rest position, the container handling subassembly may be held out of the way of another movable or removable component. The container handling subassembly may be located in the rest position in cooperation with the transport subassembly. The rest position may be between the feeding area and the container storage subassembly, between the front and rear of the feeding assembly, between the feeding area and the container opening subassembly, between the container disposal subassembly and the container storage subassembly, or any combination thereof.

[0089] The container handling subassembly may include a gripper assembly, a shuttle assembly, and / or the like. One or more components of the gripper assembly may cooperate with one or more components of the shuttle arrangement. For example, a cradle may take the form of a gripper. For example, the shuttle assembly may cooperate with an actuator for rotation. For example, a cradle may be mated with a gripper or a support plate.

[0090] The container handling subassembly may or may not include a shuttle assembly. The shuttle assembly may function to hold the container while it is moved through various positions within the feeding assembly. The shuttle assembly may function in cooperation with the transport subassembly to move the container through various positions within the feeding assembly. The shuttle assembly may function to hold the container base while allowing removal of the lid from the container base. The shuttle assembly may include a cradle, a holding support, a support, a through hole, a disposal bar, a biasing device, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0091] The shuttle assembly may include a cradle. The cradle may function to temporarily hold a container, to receive a given container in cooperation with a container storage subassembly, to hold the container during transport to various locations within the feeding assembly, to hold the container base while allowing removal of the lid, to cooperate with a disposal subassembly to allow disposal of the container from the disposal subassembly, to cooperate with a container retention subassembly (e.g., a lifting wedge) to lift the container into the container presentation opening, or any combination thereof. The cradle may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to hold the container. The cradle may have a cross-sectional shape that correlates with the cross-sectional or perimeter shape of the container base. For example, the cradle may have a two-dimensional shape that is substantially U-shaped or C-shaped, circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, the like, or any combination thereof. The cradle may include one or more key features. The one or more key features may be the overall shape and / or size of the cradle and / or one or more features formed in the cradle. The one or more key features may be similar or the same as those described with respect to the hopper. The cradle may have an opening, a penetration, one or more ramps, one or more biasing devices, and / or the like.

[0092] The cradle may have an opening. The opening may function to receive the container therein. The cradle may be sized to engage the container base, to cooperate with a flange of the container, or both. The cradle opening may have an opening that is equal to or greater than the outer width or diameter of the container base. The cradle opening may have an opening that is less than the outer width or diameter of the flange of the container. The cradle may have the container base located within the opening while the flange is seated on the cradle.

[0093] The cradle may have a through-hole. Through-hole may mean that the cradle is not completely continuous. For example, the substantially circular or oval cross-section of the cradle may have a through-hole such that the cradle forms a U-shape or a C-shape. The cradle may be movable relative to one or more other components of the shuttle assembly. The cradle may be movable relative to one or more holding supports. The cradle may be movably held within the holding supports.

[0094] The cradle may have one or more inclined surfaces. The one or more inclined surfaces may cooperate with one or more other components to lift the cradle towards the feeding area, provide the container into the feeding area, or both. The one or more inclined surfaces may be directed towards the underside of the feeding assembly, the lifting wedge, or both. The one or more inclined surfaces may be directed towards one or more inclined surfaces of the lifting wedge. The one or more inclined surfaces may cooperate with one or more opposing inclined surfaces while the container handling subassembly or shuttle assembly is moved towards and into the feeding position. The opposing inclined surfaces may exert an upward force on the inclined surface of the cradle to lift the cradle away from the holding support. The cradle may transmit the upward force to a flange of the container. The upward movement of the cradle may result in an upward movement of the container held therein. Moving back away from the feeding position may remove the force from the one or more inclined surfaces. When the force is removed, the cradle may be moved back into place and placed on the holding support. The cradle may include one or more biasing devices. The one or more biasing devices may bias the cradle towards the holding support. The force from the inclined surface may exceed the biasing force.

[0095] The shuttle assembly may include one or more retaining supports. The one or more retaining supports may function to retain the cradle, the disposal bar, or both. The retaining supports may allow movement of the cradle and / or movement of the disposal bar relative to the cradle. The retaining supports may attach the cradle to one or more supports. The retaining supports may have an opening, a rim or overhang, a penetration, or any combination thereof. The openings and penetrations may have a shape and / or size that substantially correlates with the size and / or shape of the cradle, the container, the container base, or any combination thereof. The openings and penetrations may perform a similar function to the openings and penetrations of the cradle. The retaining supports may have a rim or overhang surrounding the opening. The rim or overhang may function to support the cradle. The cradle may rest on the rim or overhang. The retaining supports may include one or more penetrations. The one or more penetrations may movably accommodate one or more ramps, the disposal bar, or both. The one or more penetrations may be formed around the opening, through a rim or overhang, parallel to the axis of movement of the cradle, or a combination thereof. The one or more penetrations may be formed adjacent to the opening, spaced from the rim or overhang, parallel to the axis of movement of the disposal bar, perpendicular to the axis of movement of the cradle, or any combination thereof. The retaining support may be attached to one or more supports.

[0096] The shuttle assembly may include one or more supports. The one or more supports may function to couple the container handling subassembly to the transport assembly, the shuttle assembly to the transport assembly, or both. The one or more supports may be located on one or opposing sides of the shuttle assembly, on one or both sides of the holding support, on one or both sides of the cradle, or combinations thereof. The opposing supports may provide balanced support for the container handling subassembly during movement within the feeding assembly. The one or more supports may be separate from the holding support or may be integral with the holding support (e.g., one piece, formed therewith). The one or more supports may function to accommodate one or more shafts (e.g., drive shafts, support shafts). The one or more supports may include one or more through holes. The one or more through holes may be provided with a key to fit the shaft, may cooperate with the shaft to convert rotation to linear movement, may provide a surface that minimizes friction imparted to the shaft, or any combination thereof. The one or more through holes may be drive shaft through holes. The one or more through holes may have a threaded inner surface for engaging a threaded outer surface of the drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft within the through hole may result in translation of rotation into linear movement. Rotation of the drive shaft within the through hole may result in movement of the bearing along the length of the drive shaft. Movement along the length of the drive shaft may result in movement of the container handling subassembly from one or more locations to one or more other locations, or both, within the feeding assembly. The one or more other through holes may accommodate one or more support shafts.

[0097] The shuttle assembly may include one or more disposal bars. The one or more disposal bars may function to cooperate with the disposal subassembly, to push the container or container substrate out of the shuttle assembly, or both. The one or more disposal bars may be movably attached to one or more parts of the shuttle assembly. The one or more disposal bars may include one or more retaining legs. The one or more retaining legs may be movably housed within a retaining support, a support, or another part of the shuttle assembly. The one or more retaining legs may be axially movable within the shuttle assembly. The one or more retaining legs may reside within one or more penetrations of the retaining support. The one or more retaining legs may include two retaining legs opposed and spaced apart from each other. The retaining legs may be attached to a cross bar. The cross bar may be located outside the retaining support, the support, or both. The cross bar may be located opposite the penetration of the cradle. The cross bar may be movable towards and away from the cradle. Movement of the cross bar may result in movement of the holding legs relative to the holding support and / or support. The cross bar may be configured to receive a disposal force from the container disposal subassembly. Opposite the cross bar may be a pressure bar. The pressure bar may be attached to and / or extend between the two holding legs. The pressure bar may be located adjacent to the opening of the cradle, outside the opening, or both. The pressure bar may be biased or pressed toward, into, overlapping the opening, or any combination thereof. When biased or pressed, the pressure bar may contact the container (e.g., container base) and apply a pressure force. The pressure force may be directed at the penetration of the cradle. The pressure force may be applied by the pressure bar such that the container is pushed out of the penetration of the cradle. When pushed out, the container may be disposed of from the container handling subassembly, dropped into the waste collection subassembly, or both. The disposal bar may include or be connected to one or more biasing devices, such as one or more springs.The one or more biasing devices may bias the cross bar away from the cradle. The force from the disposal subassembly may overcome the biasing force and urge the cross bar towards the cradle.

[0098] The container handling subassembly may or may not include a gripper assembly. The gripper assembly may be configured to engage and hold the container in response to the transport subassembly moving one or more grippers into the container storage subassembly to facilitate removal of a lid assigned to the container and / or to place the container in the feeding area in response to the transport subassembly moving the container to the feeding area. The gripper assembly may move a container base of the container relative to the lid and / or maintain a position of the container base of the container while the container opening subassembly interacts with the lid to remove it. The gripper assembly may include one or more arms, supports, actuators, or any combination thereof. One or more pairs of arms, supports, or both may extend from the gripper base. One or more pairs of arms and / or supports may be stationarily attached to the gripper base and / or may be pivotally attached to the gripper base.

[0099] The gripper assembly may include at least one pair of arms. The pair of arms may function to surround a container, to grip a container, to release a container, to access one or more containers, to be movable through one or more openings, or the like, or any combination thereof. The pair of arms may be laterally spaced apart from one another, may be laterally movable towards and away from one another, may be stationary relative to one another, or a combination thereof. The gripper assembly may include an upper pair of arms, a lower pair of arms, or both. The upper pair of arms may be vertically spaced apart from the lower pair of arms, may be vertically movable towards and away from the lower pair of arms, may be stationary relative to the lower pair of arms, or a combination thereof. The container may be disposed between the pair of arms, between the upper pair of arms and the lower pair of arms, or both. One or more of the arms may be formed to have a contour that correlates with one or more portions of the container. The one or more arms may be rigid, flexible, or both. The tips of the arms may be flexible. Flexibility may allow the one or more arms to flex and conform to the contours of the container as the container moves into the space between the arms (e.g., moving laterally into the space between the arms).

[0100] The upper pair of arms may be rotated relative to the lower pair of arms between a closed, fixed position and an open position (also referred to as a loading position, a feeding position and / or a disposal position). In the fixed position, the upper pair of arms may be in contact with a container supported by the lower pair of arms and / or the lower support plate. In the open position, the upper pair of arms may be rotated away from the lower pair of arms relative to the feeding position. In the open position, the upper pair of arms may be moved out of contact with the container. For engagement with a container, the lower pair of arms may be positioned below a flange or rim of the container and then vertically raised to engage the flange or rim and thus lift the container. The container handling subassembly may then move the container (e.g., away from the container storage subassembly) and the upper pair of arms may transition from the open position to a fixed position to secure the container base between the upper pair of arms and the lower pair of arms. The upper pair of arms and the lower pair of arms may hold the container by exerting opposing forces on each other, and the upper pair of arms may be positioned on a top surface of the lid and / or flange, while the lower pair of arms may be positioned on a bottom surface of the flange.

[0101] The upper pair of arms and / or the lower pair of arms may be rotated toward and away from each other between a closed, locked position and an open position. The upper pair of arms and / or the lower pair of arms may act like pawls and rotate away from each other to the open position and toward each other to the locked position. Each pair of arms may be selectively moved laterally away from each other or toward each other. The pair of arms may move to encircle the gripper base. The pair of arms may move toward each other when inserted into or moved into the vicinity of the container containment subassembly. The gripper subassembly may not include a lower pair of arms and may cooperate only with the upper pair of arms, or vice versa.

[0102] The gripper assembly may include one or more supports. The one or more supports may include a lower support plate, a lower support, an upper support plate, an upper support, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more supports may be in the form of one or more plates. The one or more plates may be solid, hollow, or a combination of both. The plates may be referred to as support plates, gripper plates, or both. The one or more supports may be configured to be below and / or above the container. The support plate may be configured to be located below the container and to place the container thereon. The support plate may be located below one or more pairs of arms. In the loading or fixed position, the support plate may slide below the container or may have the container placed on the support plate. In the loading or fixed position, the one or more pairs of arms may rotate toward each other to grip the container supported by (e.g., located on, placed on) the support plate.

[0103] The gripper assembly may include one or more engagement features. The one or more engagement features may engage corresponding engagement features on the container. The one or more engagement features may facilitate alignment and / or securing of the container to the gripper assembly. The one or more engagement features may be part of one or more arms, supports, or both.

[0104] The gripper assembly may include one or more sensing devices. The one or more sensing devices may function to measure one or more parameters assigned to the container. For example, the gripper plate may include a weight sensor and / or an identification sensor to measure the parameters assigned to the container.

[0105] The gripper assembly may include or be coupled to one or more actuators. The actuators may be configured to move the arms laterally and / or vertically separately or together, rotate one or more arms, rotate one or more supports, or any combination thereof. Thus, a pair of arms may be configured to grip and secure a container, enable removal from the container storage subassembly, release the container, and / or enable disposal in the waste collection subassembly. The actuator may be a rotational actuator. One or more of the drive units disclosed herein, or portions thereof, may be useful as an actuator. For example, the actuator may be a motor (e.g., a stepper motor).

[0106] The gripper assembly may include one or more springs that may enable the gripper assembly to naturally return to the open or closed state without a transition force applied by one or more actuators or by an interaction between the container and an obstruction, such as a wall of the receptacle or a wall of the container containment subassembly.

[0107] The container handling subassembly may be configured to accommodate a number of different gripper assemblies. The number of gripper assemblies may be provided in different shapes and / or sizes. The gripper assemblies may be configured to accommodate a particular container shape and / or size or a range of shapes and / or sizes. The container handling subassembly, or a portion thereof, may be selectively removable and reattachable to the feeding assembly. For example, the gripper assemblies may be removable to accommodate gripper assemblies of different sizes and / or shapes.

[0108] The feeding assembly may include a transport subassembly. The transport subassembly may function to cooperate with the container handling subassembly, to move the container handling subassembly and / or the containers between varying positions within the feeding assembly, or both. The transport subassembly may function to transport the containers to the container opening subassembly, the feeding area, and / or the container disposal subassembly. The transport subassembly may function to move the container handling subassembly to a loading position, an open position, a feeding position, a disposal position, a rest position, the like, or any combination thereof. The transport subassembly may function to move the container handling subassembly and / or the containers along one or more axes (e.g., axial movement), one or more linear directions, or both. The transport subassembly may move the container handling subassembly along only one axis, two axes, and / or three axes.

[0109] The transport subassembly may be located within the housing. The transport subassembly may be supported by one or more walls, a base, or both of the housing. The transport subassembly may be mounted on a support plate, an intermediate support, or both. The transport subassembly may be located adjacent to, below, above, and / or near one or more waste collection subassemblies, container storage subassemblies, container opening subassemblies, disposal subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0110] The transport subassembly may be coupled to and / or may be part of the container handling subassembly.

[0111] The transport subassembly may include one or more support structures, assembly bars, drive units, trolleys, conveyor belts, track chains, rollers, actuators movable on rails, one or more ramps, and / or any other suitable components for transporting the containers to the opening subassembly, the feeding area, and / or the container disposal subassembly.

[0112] The transport subassembly may include one or more drive units. The one or more drive units may function to urge movement of the transport subassembly. The one or more drive units may be as described herein. The one or more drive units may function to urge movement along one or more support structures. One or more drive shafts of the drive units may be engaged with the container handling subassembly. The drive shafts may extend through a through hole of the container handling subassembly. The drive shafts may extend through a bearing of the container handling subassembly. The drive units coupled with the container handling subassembly may convert rotation to linear movement. For example, the drive shafts may be lead screws. The drive shafts may be rotatably engaged with the container handling subassembly. The drive shafts may be rotatably engaged with a threaded through hole of the container handling subassembly. Thus, rotation of the drive shafts may result in axial movement of the container handling subassembly along a longitudinal axis of the drive shafts. Rotation of the drive shaft by a drive source can cause movement of the container handling subassembly in the X, Y and / or Z directions. The one or more drive units may be referred to as one or more actuators.

[0113] For example, in a container handling subassembly that moves in only one axial direction. The transport subassembly may be coupled to the container handling subassembly such that one drive shaft (e.g., a lead screw) is rotatably connected to the container handling subassembly. Rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction may move the container handling subassembly toward the front of the feeding assembly, toward the feeding area, or both. Rotation of the drive shaft in a second direction may move the container handling subassembly toward the rear of the feeding assembly, toward a loading position, or both.

[0114] For example, in a container handling subassembly that moves in three different axial directions, a first actuator may be coupled to a first lead screw extending in the X direction, a second actuator may be coupled to a second lead screw extending in the Y direction, and a third actuator may be coupled to a third lead screw extending in the Z direction, thereby allowing the container handling subassembly to move independently in the X, Y and / or Z directions sequentially or simultaneously.

[0115] The transport subassembly may include one or more support shafts. The one or more support shafts may function to provide a bearing surface, provide a guide for the container handling subassembly to travel along, distribute the weight of the container handling structure, or any combination thereof. The one or more support shafts may be located adjacent to a passageway within the housing, parallel to the passageway, inside the passageway, or any combination thereof. The one or more support shafts may extend parallel to the drive shaft. The one or more support shafts may be located within one or more through holes in the container handling subassembly. The one or more support shafts may extend through one or more supports in the container handling subassembly. The one or more support shafts may include two opposing support shafts. The opposing support shafts may be located on opposing sides of the container handling subassembly to support it.

[0116] The transport subassembly may include one or more support structures. The one or more support structures may function to move the container handling subassembly from one or more positions to one or more other positions in the feeding assembly. The one or more support structures may move the container handling subassembly from a loading position to a lid removal position, from a loading position and / or a lid removal position to a feeding position, from a feeding position to a disposal position, from a feeding area and / or a disposal position to a rest position and / or a loading position, the like, or any combination thereof. The support structures may include one or more mounting bars. The support structures may include a first mounting bar extending vertically from a base of the housing. The first mounting bar may enable the container handling subassembly to be translated vertically (e.g., in the Z direction). For example, to vertically align the container handling subassembly with any one of the containers that may be stacked vertically in the container magazine and / or hopper. The support structure may include a first set of mounting bars extending in a first direction (e.g., an X-direction) perpendicular to the vertical direction. The support structure may include a second set of mounting bars extending in a second direction (e.g., a Y-direction) perpendicular to the first direction and the vertical direction. The first and second sets of mounting bars may enable the container to be translated in the first and second directions. The support structures cooperate to provide movement of the container handling subassembly across three dimensions and three different axes.

[0117] The transport subassembly may include a rotational actuator. The rotational actuator may be configured to rotate the container handling subassembly about a vertical axis or a Z-axis. For example, in a first configuration, the rotational actuator may be configured to orient the container handling subassembly in a first radial orientation in which the container handling subassembly faces the container storage subassembly. This may allow the container handling subassembly to access a container disposed in the container handling subassembly or may allow the container handling subassembly to be moved into or out of the waste collection subassembly. The rotational actuator may be configured to selectively redirect the container handling subassembly to a second radial orientation in which the container handling faces the feeding area to allow at least a portion of the container handling subassembly to be selectively moved into or out of the feeding area. The rotational actuator may include gears, wheels, pulleys, and / or the like.

[0118] The feeding assembly may include a receptacle opening subassembly that may function to open the receptacle, remove the lid, separate the lid from the receptacle base, remove or at least partially open the casing, or the like, or a combination thereof. The receptacle opening subassembly may be referred to as a lid removal subassembly or structure.

[0119] The container opening subassembly may be configured to removably couple to the lid and apply a pulling force to the lid and remove the lid from the container base. The container opening subassembly may be configured to removably couple to the casing and apply a pulling and / or cutting force to the casing to remove the casing and / or expose the hood inside the casing. The container opening subassembly may engage the lid and / or peel the lid from the container base as the lid and / or container base are moved (e.g., via the conveying subassembly, the container handling subassembly, or both). The container opening subassembly may be configured to move the lid away from the container base while the container base is held stationary, to hold the lid in place while the container base is moved, or to move the lid away from the container base while simultaneously moving the container base away from the lid.

[0120] The container opening subassembly may include one or more components that function as an arm, a knife, a hook, a clamp, a can opener, a vacuum source, a jaw, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0121] The container opening subassembly may be located between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area, near the opening position, between the loading position and the feeding position of the container handling subassembly, the like, or any combination thereof. The container opening subassembly may be located above the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both, adjacent to the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both, below the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both, and / or near the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both. The container opening subassembly may be located above the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both. This positioning may allow a container having a lid to pass below the container opening subassembly for removal of the lid located at the upper portion, or to prevent the hood from spilling during removal of the lid, or both. This positioning may allow the lid to be disposed of (e.g., dropped) into the waste collection subassembly after removal. The container opening subassembly may be located inside the housing. The container opening subassembly may be located inside the upper cover, may be mounted to the support plate, may be adjacent to the hopper, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0122] The container opening subassembly may include one or more jaws, a drive unit, a drive support, an arm, a hook, and / or the like.

[0123] The container opening subassembly may include a pair of jaws. The jaws may function to grip and clamp a portion of the lid, hold the lid stationary while the container base is moved, move the lid while the container base is held stationary, or move the container in the opposite direction while the lid is moved. The jaw pair may grip and clamp an extension tab on the lid, the container base, or both. The jaw pair may include two movable jaws or one movable jaw and one stationary jaw. The jaw pair may be spaced apart in the open state, may be moved toward each other, and / or may be in contact with each other in the clamping state. The stationary jaws may be held in position via assembly to one or more portions of the housing. The stationary jaws may be assembled to a support plate and / or intermediate support of the housing.

[0124] The distance between the pair of jaws is sometimes referred to as the clamping gap. The clamping gap may be the gap that a portion of the lid is received in. When the jaws are moved to the closed state, the clamping gap decreases.

[0125] The movable jaw may be movable via one or more drive units. The movable jaw may be driven by the drive units to the open and clamping states. The movable jaw may convert the rotation into a linear movement, a rotation about a different axis, or both. The movable jaw may cooperate with a screw and nut system. For example, the drive unit may be a motor with a drive shaft. The drive shaft may have a nut assigned to the movable jaw and assembled to the drive shaft. The drive support may house the drive shaft and may be attached to the stationary jaw or the movable jaw, or both. The movable jaw may be moved to the open state by moving axially (e.g. linearly) away from the stationary jaw, by rotating (e.g. pivoting) away from the stationary jaw, or both.

[0126] The container opening subassembly may include a hook. The hook may function to latch or engage an opening in the lid, to hold the lid stationary while the container base is moved, to move the lid while the container base is held stationary, or to move the container in the opposite direction while the lid is moved. The hook may be moved into a location to align with the opening as the container is moved through the container handling subassembly, or may remain stationary and be in the path of movement of the container as the container is moved through the container handling subassembly, or both. The hook may be mounted on an arm. The arm may be stationary relative to the housing, may be rotated via one or more hinges, may be moved axially (e.g., laterally or vertically), or any combination thereof.

[0127] The feeding assembly may include a container retaining subassembly. The container retaining subassembly may function to retain a container in the feeding area, present a container to the feeding area, or both. The container retaining subassembly may cooperate with one or more container handling subassemblies, transport subassemblies, portions of a housing, or any combination thereof to prevent movement of a container while in the feeding area, facilitate presentation of a container to the feeding area, or both. The container holder subassembly may include or be a lifting wedge, arm, rail, shroud, or combination thereof.

[0128] The container holding subassembly may include a lifting wedge. The lifting wedge may function to provide a lifting force to a portion of the container handling subassembly. The lifting wedge may cooperate with the cradle to lift the cradle away from the holding support or both. The lifting wedge may cooperate with one or more sloping surfaces of the cradle. The lifting wedge may include one or more sloping surfaces that are mutually related and opposed to one another. The sloping surfaces of the lifting wedge may be mutually related to the sloping surfaces of the cradle. The lifting wedge may be located within and / or across the passage of the intermediate support and / or support plate, below the container presenting opening, or both. The lifting wedge may have an opening. The opening may have a shape that is mutually related to the outer shape of the container base. The opening may cooperate with an opening of the cradle. The lifting wedge and cradle may surround the container to hold it in place when in the feeding position.

[0129] The container holding subassembly may include a set of arms, rails and / or a shroud configured to secure the container within the feeding area and / or cooperate with the support plate of the gripping assembly to inhibit movement of the container relative to the housing when the animal is interacting with and receiving food from the container.

[0130] The feeding assembly may include one or more container disposal subassemblies. The container disposal subassembly may push used containers into the waste collection subassembly, may cooperate with the container handling subassembly, may cooperate with the transport subassembly, or any combination thereof. The container disposal subassembly may have a configuration that cooperates with a path of movement of the container handling subassembly. The container disposal subassembly may cause disposal of a container (e.g., used container substrate) from the container handling subassembly when moving away from the feeding position, in a disposal position, moving toward a rest position, moving toward a loading position, the like, or any combination thereof. The container disposal subassembly may be configured to move so as not to disturb or obstruct the container in the container handling subassembly during movement toward the feeding position. The container disposal subassembly may be located along the path of movement of the container handling subassembly. The container disposal subassembly may be located on one or both sides of the aisle. The one or more receptacle disposal subassemblies may include two opposing disposal subassemblies on each side of the aisle. The receptacle disposal subassemblies may be configured to retract away from the aisle and / or path of travel to avoid obstruction of the receptacle when the receptacle handling subassembly is traveling towards the feeding position. The receptacle disposal subassemblies may be configured to extend into the aisle and / or path of travel to transmit a biasing force to the receptacle handling subassembly to facilitate disposal of the receptacle. The receptacle disposal subassemblies may be located above, near, below and / or adjacent to the one or more waste collection subassemblies. The aisle may be a passageway in the intermediate support, the support plate or both. The receptacle disposal subassembly may include a mount, a plunger, a spring, a ramp, a lever and / or the like.

[0131] The container disposal subassembly may include a mount. The mount may function to mount the container disposal subassembly to one or more portions of the housing. The mount may be referred to as a mounting bracket. The mount may mount the container disposal subassembly to the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. The mount may be located adjacent to a passageway of the intermediate support, the support plate, or both. The mount may be located between the feeding area and the container storage subassembly. The mount may be a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may be attached to the housing via one or more fasteners. The mounting bracket movably houses a plunger, a spring, and / or the like.

[0132] The container disposal subassembly may include a plunger. The plunger may function to contact a portion of the container handling subassembly to facilitate disposal of the container therefrom. The plunger may contact a disposal bar of the container handling subassembly to apply a pressing force. The plunger may be contacted with the disposal bar when the container handling subassembly is moved from a feeding position toward a disposal position, a rest position, a loading position, from the front side toward the rear side of the feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. The plunger may be movably attached to the mount. The plunger may reside partially within the mount, between the mount and the intermediate support or support plate, or any combination thereof. The plunger may include an inclined surface. The inclined surface may enable the container handling subassembly to be moved from a loading position, an open position, or both, toward the feeding position, from the rear side toward the front side, or any combination thereof. The inclined surface may enable the container handling subassembly to be moved toward the feeding position without disturbing the containers located therein. The container handling subassembly may be brought into contact with the ramp to bias the plunger away. The container handling subassembly may apply a force to the ramp which is then transmitted to the biasing device. The force may compress the biasing device. Allowing the biasing device to compress may move the plunger into the mount and retract away from the path of travel of the container handling subassembly.

[0133] The container disposal subassembly may include a biasing device. The biasing device may function to apply a biasing force to the plunger, to allow the plunger to be retracted, to apply a biasing force to the container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof. The biasing device may be a spring. The spring may include a compression spring. The biasing device may be attached to the mount, to the plunger, or both. The biasing device may provide a biasing force to urge the plunger away from the mount, toward the passageway, toward the container handling subassembly, or combinations thereof. The biasing device provides a biasing force sufficient to cause movement of a disposal bar of the container handling subassembly. The biasing device may be compressed, may allow the plunger to be retracted from the passageway and / or the container handling subassembly, or both.

[0134] The feeding assembly may include one or more waste collection subassemblies. The waste collection subassembly may be configured to collect one or more lids, container bases, food, and / or the like, collect one or more lids after removal from the container bases, collect one or more container bases after an animal has had an opportunity to ingest from the one or more container bases, collect waste material, the like, or any combination thereof. The waste collection subassembly may be easily accessible, which may allow a user to easily access waste contents within the waste collection subassembly for disposal. The waste collection subassembly may include one or more waste bins, openings, waste collectors, or both. The waste collection subassembly may include one or more waste bins, openings, removable lids, seals, trash bags, the like, or any combination thereof. The waste bins may be configured to receive the lids, container bases, waste material, or combinations thereof.

[0135] One or more waste collection subassemblies may be located within the housing, supported by the housing, forming part of the housing, and / or any combination thereof. The one or more waste collection subassemblies may be located within, below, above, and / or adjacent to the base of the housing. The one or more waste collection subassemblies may be located below one or more feeding areas, container handling subassemblies, one or more container opening subassemblies, transport subassemblies, below some or all of the path of travel of one or more containers within the feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. One or more openings of the waste collection subassembly may be aligned with one or more passageways of one or more intermediate supports, support plates, or both of the housing.

[0136] The one or more waste collection subassemblies may include one or more waste receptacles. The waste receptacle may function to contain waste material (e.g., lid, container base, waste residue), or cooperate with one or more components of the housing to provide a hollow cavity within which the waste receptacle may be removably retained, or both. The waste receptacle may function to collect waste material, temporarily store waste material, prevent waste-related odors (e.g., odors from residual hood) from escaping the device, or combinations thereof. The one or more waste receptacles may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to be housed within or form part of the housing. The one or more waste receptacles may have a shape that correlates with the waste cavity. The waste cavity may be formed in the housing. The waste cavity may be formed in the base of the housing. The waste bin, or a portion thereof, may have a three-dimensional shape that is substantially spherical, ellipsoidal, cylindrical, rectangular, conical, pyramidal, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0137] The waste bin may be configured to hold a waste bag (e.g., a garbage bag) therein. After being filled with waste, the waste bag may be removed from the waste bin and disposed of. The waste bin may not use a bag. A user may simply remove the waste from the waste bin and then clean the interior of the waste bin.

[0138] The one or more waste receptacles may be configured as one or more drawers, baskets, stationary containers, and / or any accessible configuration.

[0139] The basket may generally refer to a waste container defining a receptacle for waste materials, the basket being removably stored within a cavity of the housing. The cavity of the housing may be opened and closed by a door. The door may be part of the housing. The door may be hinged or similarly openable to access the basket. The basket may be movable along any plane within or outside the waste cavity.

[0140] A stationary receptacle may generally refer to a receptacle that defines a container for waste material and remains attached to the housing. The stationary receptacle may remain stationary relative to a base and / or another component of the housing while waste material is removed from the interior. The stationary receptacle may have a cover. The cover may be removable to access the waste material therein for removal purposes.

[0141] A drawer may generally be a waste bin that defines a receptacle for waste and is slidable in and out of the waste cavity. Movement of the drawer may occur by pushing and pulling. The walls of the drawer may be used as a front panel to receive the pushing and pulling forces. Generally, the waste drawer may slide along a substantially horizontal plane.

[0142] The one or more waste bins may be configured as a waste drawer. The one or more waste bins may include one or more handles. The one or more handles may allow the waste bin to be easily pulled out of and pushed into the feeding assembly. The one or more waste bins may include one or more side walls, a front panel, a rear panel, or any combination thereof. The one or more side walls and / or panels may include one or more features that cooperate with the housing to facilitate easy insertion and removal from the housing. The one or more features may include one or more rails, grooves, and / or the like. For example, the waste bin may be formed as a waste drawer having rails or grooves in the side walls that slidably engage mating features of a waste cavity in the base.

[0143] The waste collection subassembly may include a seal. The one or more seals may function to prevent odors from being transmitted from the waste bin and / or the base to the exterior of the feeding assembly. The one or more seals may include any seal capable of forming a sealing joint between two or more surfaces to prevent odors from passing through. The one or more seals may include one or more mechanical seals. The one or more mechanical seals may include one or more adhesives, sealants, gaskets, compression fittings, plugs, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more gaskets may include one or more flange gaskets, O-ring gaskets, brush seals, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more seals may be located around an opening that defines an entrance into the waste bin. The one or more seals may be located around a rim of the waste drawer. The seals may seal a gap between the waste bin and the base, intermediate support, support plate, or any combination thereof. One or more seals may allow the waste container to be moved in and out of the waste cavity.

[0144] A single waste collection subassembly may contain all waste material assigned to a container (e.g., lid, container base, waste material), and multiple waste collection subassemblies may be specialized to contain different types of waste material. The multiple waste collection subassemblies may include a lid waste subassembly (e.g., a first waste collection subassembly), a container base waste subassembly (e.g., a second waste collection subassembly), a waste material subassembly, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0145] Once removed, the lid may drop from the container opening subassembly into the waste collection subassembly or may be released by the container opening subassembly into the waste collection subassembly. Another component or subassembly, for example a container handling subassembly, may be configured to move the separated lid away from the container opening subassembly, thereby causing the lid to drop into the waste collection subassembly.

[0146] After being removed from the feeding area, the container substrate may be dropped into the waste collection subassembly, transported to the waste collection subassembly, released into the waste collection subassembly, or a combination thereof. The transport subassembly and / or the container handling subassembly may move the used container substrate from the feeding area above the waste collection subassembly or into the waste collection subassembly. Another component or subassembly, for example, a portion of the container handling subassembly, a disposal subassembly, or both, may be configured to move the used container substrate away from the container handling subassembly, thereby causing the container substrate to drop into the waste collection subassembly.

[0147] The container substrates may be stacked or distributed within the waste collection subassembly. The distribution may be random or substantially even. The waste collection subassembly dedicated to receiving the container substrates may be shaped to receive the used container substrates. The waste receptacle may have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the circumferential shape of the used container substrate. As additional used container substrates are added, the used container substrates may form a vertical stack of used container substrates. The used container substrates may at least partially engage with adjacent container substrates internally and externally. The depth of the internal and external engagement may depend on the volume of food remaining within the used container substrate.

[0148] The waste collector may be positioned below one or more locations where the receptacle may be located. The waste collector may function to collect any food or waste that spills into or outside the housing. The receptacle may contain wet food, including water and / or small food chunks. The wet food may spill from the receptacle during movement of the receptacle inside the housing, while being consumed by the animal, or both. The waste collector may contain any wet food droplets that may fall from the receptacle. The waste collector may be configured to be periodically removed from the feeding assembly, cleaned, and then reinstalled in the feeding assembly.

[0149] The waste collector may include or be formed as a bottom surface of the feeding assembly. The waste collector may cooperate with one or more waste bins. The waste collector may be located on a surface below the path of the container within the feeding assembly, which may not have a waste bin located below. The waste collector may be a generally flat structure. The waste collector may be formed as a tray, mat, and / or the like. The waste collector may be removable and reusable. The waste collector may be washable.

[0150] The debris collector may be made from one or more washable materials, for example, a washable mat may be a rubber or polymer mat and / or a metal or plastic tray.

[0151] The waste collector may be located outside the housing or may extend from the housing. The waste collector may extend outside the housing and / or adjacent to the feeding area. The waste collector may extend outside the housing into the feeding area such that at least a portion of the waste collector is located below the container and / or in front of the feeding area. The waste collector or a separate waste collector may be located completely within the feeding area or may be located outside the housing adjacent to the feeding area.

[0152] The feeding assembly may include one or more drive units. The one or more drive units may be configured to drive the movement of one or more components of the feeding assembly. One or more drive sources may be assigned to the container containment assembly (e.g., a restraining mechanism), the transport subassembly, the container opening subassembly, the container handling subassembly (e.g., a gripper), a movable cover (e.g., covering a container presentation opening), and / or the like. The one or more drive sources may be shared between different components or may be dedicated drive sources. For example, a drive source assigned to the transport subassembly may be assigned to the container opening subassembly. The drive units may also be referred to as actuators.

[0153] The drive unit may include one or more drive sources. The drive sources may convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The drive sources may be configured to be electrically coupled to a power source. The drive sources may be a motor or another power source. The drive sources may be an electronic motor, a pneumatic power source, a hydraulic power source, another power source, or a combination thereof. An exemplary electronic motor may include a stepper motor. The drive sources may transmit or generate torque to the drive shaft.

[0154] The drive source may include a drive shaft. The drive shaft may receive torque from the drive source, output torque, or both. The drive shaft may be articulated to the drive source. The drive shaft may be rotatably mounted to the drive source. The drive shaft may include a lead screw.

[0155] The drive unit may include and / or be coupled to one or more gears. The drive source, the drive shaft, or both may be rotatably coupled to one or more gears. The drive source, the drive shaft, or both may transmit torque and / or drive the one or more gears. The one or more gears may include one or more drive gears. The one or more gears may be directly engaged or coupled to the drive shaft. The one or more gears of the drive unit may engage one or more gears of a container containment assembly (e.g., a restraining mechanism), a transport subassembly, a container opening subassembly, a container handling subassembly (e.g., a gripper), a movable cover (e.g., covering a container presentation opening), and / or the like.

[0156] The feeding assembly may include one or more sensing devices. The one or more sensing devices may function to sense the presence of one or more containers, obtain one or more parameters of one or more containers and / or container magazines, sense the position of one or more subassemblies, or any combination thereof. The one or more sensing devices may generally function to sense the status of one or more components within the feeding assembly. The one or more sensing devices may be in electrical communication with one or more controllers. The one or more sensing devices may include one or more identification sensors, container presence sensors, holder position sensors, weight sensors, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0157] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more identification sensors. The one or more identification sensors may function to read and / or communicate with the one or more identifiers. The one or more identification sensors may be located in proximity to the container containment subassembly. The one or more identification sensors may be located to interrogate one or more identifiers of the one or more containers, form a connection with one or more identifiers of the one or more containers, or both. The one or more identification sensors may function to obtain one or more parameters assigned to the container and / or a hood therein, obtain access to a database or another repository having one or more parameters assigned to the container and / or a hood therein, or both. The one or more identification sensors may be any type of transceiver compatible with any identifier disclosed herein, may be capable of scanning or reading the identifier, may be capable of obtaining parameters assigned to the container or a hood therein, may be capable of directing a controller to a location to obtain parameters assigned to the container or a hood therein, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more identification sensors may include one or more radio frequency transmitters, barcode readers, QR code readers, near field communication transmitters (NFC), image sensors, the like, or any combination thereof. The identification sensors may be optical sensors (e.g., UV sensors, IR sensors, CCD cameras, electrical sensors, etc.). The one or more identification sensors may be fitted with one or more identifiers including a barcode, a QR code, a reflective feature, a scannable optical feature, an IR or UV visible printed feature, a raised or recessed feature, or an electrical circuit (e.g., a resistive electrical circuit), an NFC chip, an RFID, or any other visual, electrical, or electromagnetic indicator.

[0158] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more container presence sensors. The one or more container presence sensors may function to determine whether a given container has been removed by the container handling subassembly, received into the container handling subassembly, correctly positioned in the container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof. The one or more sensing devices may be any type of sensing device capable of detecting the presence of a container in the container handling subassembly. The one or more presence sensors may identify the presence of a container by visible or invisible light path, mass, and / or the like. The presence sensor may continuously or intermittently monitor the presence of the container. The presence sensor may automatically check for the presence of the container after the container storage subassembly is triggered to release the container, after the container handling subassembly is triggered to remove the container, or both. The one or more presence sensors may include one or more mass sensors, capacitive sensors, infrared sensors, laser sensors (e.g., time-of-flight), ultrasonic sensors, membrane sensors, radio frequency (RF) admittance sensors, conductivity sensors, optical interface sensors, microwave sensors, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0159] The presence sensor may be located at any location within the feeding assembly suitable for detecting the presence of a container within the container handling subassembly. The presence sensor may be mounted to the container handling subassembly, the housing, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted proximate to the container storage subassembly. The presence sensor may be mounted toward the rear of the feeding assembly. The presence sensor may be mounted on the support plate, on the intermediate support, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted adjacent to the aisle of the intermediate support, support plate, or both, toward the rear of the aisle of the intermediate support, support plate, or both, or both.

[0160] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more position sensors. The one or more position sensors may function to detect the position of the one or more subassemblies inside the feeding assembly. The one or more position sensors may function to detect the position of the container handling subassembly. The one or more position sensors may function to detect whether the container handling subassembly is located in a loading position. By checking that the container handling subassembly is in a loading position, the position sensor recognizes that the container handling subassembly is ready to receive and / or remove a given container from the container storage subassembly. As a position sensor, any type of sensor suitable as a presence sensor may be used. The position sensor may include one or more switches, for example optical end stop switches. The position sensor may include a position pocket. The position pocket may be a recess. The recess may correlate with an extension protruding from the container handling subassembly. The extension may protrude from any portion of the container handling subassembly. The extension may be located inside the position pocket when the container handling subassembly is in the loading position.

[0161] The position sensor may be located anywhere within the feeding assembly suitable for sensing the container handling subassembly in a desired position, e.g., the loading position. The position sensor may be mounted on the container handling subassembly, or on the housing, or both. The position sensor may be mounted proximate to the container storage subassembly, the loading position, or both. The position sensor may be mounted toward the rear of the feeding assembly. The position sensor may be mounted on the support plate, on the intermediate support, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted adjacent to the aisle of the intermediate support, support plate, or both, toward the rear of the aisle of the intermediate support, support plate, or both, or both. The position sensor may be mounted proximate to the presence sensor.

[0162] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more weight sensors. The one or more weight sensors may function to measure the weight of the container before feeding the animal and after the animal has finished feeding. The one or more weight sensors may function to weigh the container before, during, and / or after positioning in the feeding area. The one or more weight sensors may include one or more strain gauges (including load cells), impedance sensors (e.g., capacitance-based weight sensors), hydraulic sensors, pneumatic sensors, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more weight sensors may be attached to or part of one or more container handling subassemblies, conveying subassemblies, housings, the like, or combination thereof. The one or more weight sensors may be attached to one or more support plates of the one or more container handling subassemblies. The one or more weight sensors may be attached to one or more support plates of the one or more housings. One or more weight sensors may measure the overall weight of the transport subassembly, the container handling subassembly, the container, or a combination thereof to determine the weight of the container.

[0163] The feeding assembly may include one or more temperature control devices. The one or more temperature control devices may function to maintain and / or change the temperature of the food in the receptacle at a desired temperature to promote food intake by one or more animals, inhibit bacterial growth, or both. The one or more temperature control devices may function to maintain, reduce, and / or increase the temperature of the food inside the receptacle. The one or more temperature control devices may control the temperature of one or more receptacles housed within the receptacle containment assembly, feeding area, waste bin, and / or the like. The one or more temperature control devices may function by being in direct and / or indirect contact with or located in proximity to the receptacle, hopper, receptacle magazine, waste bin, and / or the like. The one or more temperature control devices may be housed within the upper cover, the base, the gap between the intermediate support and the support plate, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more temperature control devices may include one or more refrigeration systems. The one or more refrigeration systems may include one or more mechanical compression refrigeration systems, absorption refrigeration systems, evaporative cooling systems, thermoelectric refrigeration systems, or combinations thereof.

[0164] The feeding assembly may be associated with or include one or more power sources. The power source may function to provide power to one or more components of the device. The power source may be any typical power source for a consumer product. The power source may be a mains, direct current, alternating current, the like, or a combination thereof. The device may house an adapter for the power source, for example within the base of the feeding assembly.

[0165] <Controller> The feeding assembly may include one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may function to receive one or more signals, transmit one or more signals, control the operation of one or more components of the device, or a combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be configured to control the overall operation of the feeding assembly. The one or more controllers may be in communication with one or more sensing devices, subassemblies, communication modules, other components, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be adapted to receive one or more signals from one or more sensing devices, subassemblies, communication modules, and / or the like. The one or more controllers may be in electrical communication with one or more sensing devices, subassemblies, communication modules, and / or the like. The one or more controllers may interpret one or more signals from the one or more sensing devices as one or more status signals, parameters, and / or other information. The one or more controllers may automatically receive, interpret, and / or transmit one or more signals. The controller may be configured to receive signals from one or more identification sensors that are representative of one or more parameters assigned to the container. The controller may determine the parameters directly via information from the identification sensor and the assigned signal, or may communicate over a network to obtain further information. The one or more controllers may automatically control one or more operations of the one or more components in response to receiving one or more signals or instructions. The controller may selectively cause the transport subassembly to move the container handling subassembly between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area and / or any position between each other. The controller may be configured to adjust the speed of movement of the transport subassembly, the container handling subassembly, or both. The speed may be adjusted based on one or more parameters assigned to the container. The controller may be contained and / or supported by one or more portions of the housing.The controller may be located within and / or supported by a base, intermediate support, support plate, upper housing, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers may include one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, processors, storage media, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers may include one or more computing devices, processors, storage media, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be in communication with one or more other computing devices, processors, storage media, or any combination thereof.

[0166] <System including feeding assembly> The feeding assembly may be incorporated into a system. The system may include a network, one or more computing devices in communication with the feeding assembly, or both. The system may be useful for enabling remote control and / or monitoring of the feeding assembly. The system may include one or more feeding assemblies, computing devices, processors, storage media, databases, networks, communication modules, communication hubs, and / or the like.

[0167] The feeding assembly may include one or more computing devices and / or may communicate with one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices may function to receive and / or transmit one or more signals, convert one or more signals into data entries, send one or more data entries to a storage medium, store one or more data entries, retrieve one or more data entries from a storage medium, calculate one or more algorithms, apply one or more rules, or produce any combination thereof. The one or more computing devices may include or communicate with one or more other computing devices, processors, storage media, databases, or any combination thereof. The one or more computing devices may communicate with one or more computing devices, processors, storage media, databases, or any combination thereof. Communications between the computing devices may be controlled or managed via a managed cloud service. The one or more computing devices may include one or more non-transitory storage media. The non-transitory storage media may include one or more physical servers, virtual servers, or a combination of both. The one or more servers may include one or more local servers, remote servers, or both. The one or more computing devices may include one or more processors of the feeding assembly, one or more controllers, a personal computer (e.g., laptop, desktop, etc.), a mobile computing device (e.g., tablet, cell phone, etc.), or a combination thereof. The one or more computing devices may refer to multiple computing devices used throughout the system located within the feeding assembly, communicating directly with the feeding assembly, and / or communicating indirectly with the feeding assembly via a network. The one or more computing devices may use one or more processors.

[0168] The one or more computing devices may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may function to analyze one or more signals across any part of the system. The one or more processors may function to analyze one or more signals from the feeding assembly or one or more components thereof, one or more other computing devices, one or more other processors, one or more storage media, databases, communication modules, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more processors may be located within or in communication with one or more computing devices, controllers, servers, storage media, or any combination thereof. The one or more processors may communicate with one or more other processors. The one or more processors may function to process data, execute one or more algorithms to analyze data, apply one or more rules, evaluate data against one or more rules, or produce any combination thereof. The one or more processors may automatically process data, execute one or more algorithms, apply one or more rules, evaluate data, or produce any combination thereof, or wait for an instruction or signal, for example, from a user, or produce any combination thereof. Processing data may include receiving, converting, outputting, executing, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more processors may be part of one or more hardware, software, systems, or any combination thereof. The one or more hardware processors may include one or more central processing units, multi-core processors, front-end processors, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more software processors may include one or more word processors, document processors, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more system processors may include one or more information processors, the like, or any combination thereof.The one or more processors suitable for use within the device as part of the one or more controllers may include a microcontroller, e.g., part number PIC18F45K22 and / or part number PIC18F46J50 produced by Microchip Technology Inc., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. The one or more processors may be located within the same or different non-transitory storage medium as one or more storage media, another processor, a communication module, a communication hub, or any combination thereof. The one or more processors may be an ARM-based processor, an ASIP processor, an FPGA process, or any combination thereof. Exemplary ARM-based processors may include one or more of the Cortex-M family, versions ARM through ARMv6 (ARM 32-bit), versions ARMv6-M through ARMv9-R (ARM 32-bit Cortex), versions ARMv8-A through ARMv9 (ARM 64 / 32-bit), the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more processors may include one or more cloud-based processors. The cloud-based processor may be part of or in communication with a dispatch interface, an interaction interface, an authentication portal, or a combination thereof. The cloud-based processor may be located remotely from the device, a computing device, one or more other processors, one or more databases, or any combination thereof. Cloud-based may mean that one or more processors may reside in a non-transitory storage medium that is located remotely from the device, a computing device, a processor, a database, or any combination thereof. The one or more cloud-based processors may be accessible via one or more networks.A suitable cloud-based processor may be Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2™), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, and may be provided by Amazon Web Services®. Another suitable platform for a cloud-based processor may include Lambda, which is provided by Amazon Web Services, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The one or more processors may convert data signals into data entries stored within one or more storage media. The one or more processors may access one or more algorithms to analyze the one or more data entries and / or data signals. The one or more processors may access one or more algorithms stored within one or more memory storage media. The one or more algorithms accessed by the one or more processors may be located within the same or different storage media or server as the processor.

[0169] The one or more computing devices may include one or more memory storage media. The one or more memory storage media may include one or more hard drives (e.g., hard drive memory), chips (e.g., random access memory "RAM"), disks, flash drives, memory cards, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more storage media may include one or more cloud-based storage media. The cloud-based storage media may be located remotely from the device, the computing device, one or more processors, one or more databases, or any combination thereof. Cloud-based may mean that the one or more storage media may reside in a non-transitory storage medium that is located remotely from the device, the computing device, a processor, another database, or any combination thereof. The one or more cloud-based storage media may be accessible via one or more networks. A suitable cloud-based storage medium may be Amazon S3™ provided by Amazon Web Services, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The one or more memory storage media may store one or more data entries in a native format, a non-native format, or both. The one or more memory storage media may store data entries as objects, files, blocks, or combinations thereof. The one or more memory storage media may include one or more algorithms, rules, databases, data entries, the like, or any combinations thereof stored therein. The one or more memory storage media may store data in the form of one or more databases.

[0170] The one or more computing devices may include one or more databases and / or may be accessible to one or more databases. The one or more databases may be useful for internally storing information regarding one or more animals, users, feeding assemblies, containers, food, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more databases may include one or more animal profile databases. The animal profile databases may internally store one or more parameters of one or more animals. The one or more parameters may include age, sex, breed, weight, color, medical information, feeding information (e.g., amount, schedule), the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more databases may include one or more food databases. The one or more food databases may include one or more parameters of food stored therein. The food may be food assigned to a container adapted for use with the feeding assembly. The one or more food parameters assigned to the food may include compatibility with a feeding assembly, the type of food in the container, the volume of the food in the container, the nutritional value assigned to the food in the container, the brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, the production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, the expiration date of the food in the container, the period of time the food may be opened and exposed to ambient temperatures before it begins to spoil, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more parameters may be assigned to one or more identifiers or data provided therefrom. For example, an identifier may instruct a computing device to find information about that identifier in a food database. This may be in opposition to or in addition to the parameters provided by the identifier itself.

[0171] The feeding assembly may include one or more communication modules. The one or more communication modules may enable the device to receive and / or transmit one or more signals from one or more computing devices, be integrated into a network, or both. The one or more communication modules may have any configuration that may enable one or more data signals from one or more controllers to be transmitted to one or more other controllers, communication modules, communication hubs, networks, computing devices, processors, the like, or any combination thereof located outside the feeding assembly. The one or more communication modules may include one or more wired communication modules, wireless communication modules, or both. The wired communication module may be any module that can transmit and / or receive one or more data signals via a wired connection. The one or more wired communication modules may communicate over one or more networks via a direct wired connection. The wired connection may include a local area network wired connection via an Ethernet port. The wired communication module may include a PC card, a PCMCIA card, a PCI card, the like, or any combination thereof. The wireless communication module may include any module capable of transmitting and / or receiving one or more data signals over a wireless connection. The one or more wireless communication modules may communicate over one or more networks over a wireless connection. The one or more wireless communication modules may include a Wi-Fi transmitter, a Bluetooth transmitter, an infrared transmitter, a radio frequency transmitter, an IEEE 802.15.4 compliant transmitter, a cellular radio signal transmitter, a Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) transmitter, the like, or any combination thereof. The Wi-Fi transmitter may be any IEEE 802.11 compliant transmitter. The communication module may be single band, multi-band (e.g., dual band), or both. The communication module may operate at 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, the like, or any combination thereof.The cellular radio signal transmitter may be any transceiver compatible with any cellular frequency band (e.g., 500, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) and / or network (3G, LTE, LTE Cat1, LTE M, 4G, 5G). The communication module may communicate with one or more other communication modules, computing devices, processors, or any combination thereof directly, through one or more communication hubs, networks, or both, through one or more interaction interfaces, or any combination thereof.

[0172] The feeding system may include and / or communicate with a communication hub. The communication hub may function to receive one or more signals from one or more other computing devices, transmit one or more signals, or both. The communication hub may be any type of communication hub capable of transmitting and transmitting data signals to one or more computing devices over a network. The communication hub may include a wired router, a wireless router, an antenna, a satellite, or any combination thereof. For example, the antenna may include a cellular tower. The communication hub may be connected to the feeding assembly, one or more computing devices, or both via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of both. For example, the communication hub may be wirelessly connected to the feeding assembly via a communication module. The communication hub may enable the computing device to communicate with the feeding assembly when the computing device is directly connected to the communication hub, indirectly connected to the communication hub, or both. A direct connection to the communication hub may mean that the computing device is directly connected to the communication hub via a wired connection and / or a wireless connection and communicates with the feeding device through the communication hub. An indirect connection to a communications hub may mean that a computing device first communicates with one or more other computing devices via a network, and then transmits and / or receives one or more signals to and from the communications hub, and then to the feeding assembly.

[0173] The feeding assembly may be embedded within one or more networks. The feeding assembly may be in removably communication with one or more networks. The one or more networks may be formed by placing the feeding assembly in communication with one or more other computing devices. The one or more networks may include one or more communication hubs, communication modules, computing devices, feeding assemblies, or combinations thereof as part of the network. The one or more networks may not include one or more communication hubs. The one or more computing devices of the system may be directly connected to each other without the use of a communication hub. For example, a communication module of the feeding assembly may be placed in direct communication with a communication module of the pet health device or another computing device without having a communication hub between them. The one or more networks may be connected to one or more other networks. The one or more networks may include one or more local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), intranets, the Internet, the Internet of Things (IoT), the like, or any combination thereof. The network may enable the feeding assembly to communicate with one or more user interfaces remote from the feeding assembly via the Internet, for example, through one or more managed cloud services. An exemplary managed cloud service may include AWS IoT Core by Amazon Web Services. The network may be temporarily, semi-permanently, or permanently connected to the feeding assembly, one or more computing devices, or both. The network may enable one or more computing devices to be temporarily and / or permanently connected to the feeding assembly to transmit one or more data signals to the feeding assembly, receive one or more data signals from the feeding assembly, or both. The network may enable one or more signals from one or more controllers to be transmitted through the system to one or more other computing devices, processors, storage media, the like, or any combination thereof.A network may enable one or more computing devices to receive one or more data entries from one or more storage media and / or transmit one or more data entries to one or more storage media. A network may enable transmission of one or more signals, status signals, data entries, instruction signals, or any combination thereof, proceeded by one or more processors. Communication over the one or more networks may be enabled by one or more protocols. The one or more protocols may be proprietary, open source (e.g., "Matter"), and / or shared.

[0174] The one or more computing devices (e.g., personal computing devices) may include one or more user interfaces. The one or more user interfaces may be operable to display information about one or more animals (e.g., habits, intake, trends, etc.), receive user input from a user (e.g., an animal sitter), display data and / or one or more prompts to a user, or cause any combination thereof. The one or more user interfaces may be adapted to receive data from a user. The one or more user interfaces may include one or more graphic user interfaces (GUIs), audio interfaces, image interfaces, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more graphic user interfaces may be operable to display visual data to a user, receive one or more inputs from a user, or cause both. The one or more graphic interfaces may include one or more screens. The one or more screens may be screens located on the computing device. The one or more screens may be screens provided on a mobile computing device, a non-mobile computing device, or both. The one or more graphic interfaces may include and / or communicate with one or more user input devices, audio interfaces, image interfaces, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more user input devices may allow for receiving one or more inputs from a user. The one or more input devices may include one or more buttons, wheels, keyboards, switches, mice, joysticks, touchpads (i.e., touch-sensitive areas provided as separate peripherals or integrated within a computing device that do not display visual output), touch-sensitive monitor screens, microphones, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more input devices may be integrated with the graphic user interface. The audio interface may function to emit sounds to and / or receive sounds from a user.The audio interface may include audio circuitry, one or more speakers, one or more microphones, the like, or any combination thereof. The image interface may function to capture, receive, display, and / or transmit one or more images. The image interface may include one or more cameras. The user interface may function to display and / or navigate one or more menus of an application.

[0175] The system may include one or more applications. The applications (i.e., "computer programs") may function to access data, upload data, or both to the system, interact with a user interface, interact with a feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. The applications may be stored in one or more memory storage devices. The applications may be stored in one or more personal computing devices. The applications may include and / or access one or more computer-executable instructions, algorithms, rules, processes, methods, user interfaces, menus, databases, the like, or any combination thereof. The computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computing device, may cause the computing device to perform one or more methods described herein. The applications may be downloadable, accessible without download, or both. The applications may be downloadable to one or more computing devices. The applications may be downloaded from an application store (i.e., "app store"). The application store may include, but is not limited to, the Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, or any combination thereof. The application may be accessible without download to one or more computing devices. The application may be accessible through one or more web browsers. The application may be accessible as a website. The application may interact and / or communicate through one or more user interfaces. The application may be used by one or more computing devices. The application may also be referred to as a dedicated application.

[0176] An external developer may communicate with one or more computing devices, user devices, feeding assemblies, or any combination thereof. The external developer may include a third party mobile or web application developer. The network may enable the external developer to create an application that matches a website or application installed on the user device and that may be used to control the feeding assembly.

[0177] <Container suitable for feeding assembly> The present teachings relate to containers. The containers may function to store food within the container, to be used as a serving dish for an animal to consume, to be fitted with an automatic feeding assembly for automatically opening the container, to be fitted with an automatic feeding assembly for providing food from the container to an animal to consume, or any combination thereof. The food may be sealed within the container to extend the shelf life of the food and avoid the need for refrigeration.

[0178] The container may include a container base, a lid, a sealing member, an identifier, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0179] The container may have a symmetrical or asymmetrical shape. The symmetry may be with respect to an axis or plane that intersects both the container base and the lid.

[0180] The container may have an open state, a closed state, a partially open state, the like, or any combination thereof. The closed state may allow for transport and storage of the container. The closed state may mean that the lid of the container is located and sealed to the container base. In the closed state, the lid may cooperate with the hollow base to completely seal the cavity of the hollow base. The open and / or partially open state may allow access to the food inside the container, direct ingestion of the food from the container (e.g., by an animal), access to the food for placement in a serving dish, or any combination thereof. The open state may mean that the lid of the container is removed from the container base to expose the cavity of the container.

[0181] The container may be moved from a closed state to an open state and / or a partially open state in cooperation with the feeding assembly, and vice versa.

[0182] The container may include a container substrate. The container substrate may function to hold food therein. The container substrate may function as a presentation dish for direct ingestion by the animal. The container substrate may define an interior volume in which the food may be placed. The food cavity may be defined by the interior volume. The container substrate may include one or more storage portions, rims, flanges, keying features, alignment features, engagement features, lid access features, lid reinforcement features, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0183] The receptacle substrate may include a reservoir portion. The reservoir portion may define a hollow cavity for receiving the food. The reservoir portion may be the portion of the receptacle through which the animal ingests.

[0184] The bottom wall may define a bottom surface of the container. The bottom wall may cooperate with the lid and one or more side walls to seal a food stored within the container. The bottom wall may cooperate with the one or more side walls to define a food cavity.

[0185] The one or more sidewalls may define an exterior surface of the container base. The one or more sidewalls may determine a portion, a majority or the entire volume and / or height of the container and / or container base. The one or more sidewalls may extend from the bottom wall. The one or more sidewalls may have a closed end and a free end. The closed end may be the end adjacent the bottom wall. The free end may define a rim of the container base.

[0186] The container base may include one or more rims. The one or more rims may serve as an outer edge of the container base, one or more flanges, or both. The one or more rims may include one or more flanges or may be separate from the one or more flanges.

[0187] The container base may include one or more flanges. The one or more flanges may function to provide a surface for attachment of a lid, to cooperate with one or more container storage subassemblies, to cooperate with one or more container handling subassemblies, to cooperate with a container magazine, or the like, or any combination thereof. The flanges may extend from the storage portion. The flanges may extend from one or more sidewalls, one or more rims, or both. The flanges may extend from and / or define the rim of the container base. The flanges may be separate from the rim of the container base, attached to the rim of the container base, and / or integral with the rim of the container base. The flanges may be a laterally outwardly extending portion of the rim. The flanges may extend substantially laterally from the sidewall below the rim, from a portion projecting downwardly from the rim, below the upper surface of the rim, or any combination thereof. In other words, the flanges may be located along any portion of the height of one or more sidewalls and / or the rim. The flange may be biased toward the rim, an upper surface of the rim, and / or an upper surface of the sidewall. The flange may provide a surface for handling the container, for attaching to a lid, for supporting a seal member, or any combination thereof. The flange may cooperate with one or more container containment subassemblies, container handling subassemblies, container opening subassemblies, container retention subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0188] The flange may have a cross-sectional shape (cutting planes parallel to the flange, longitudinal planes and / or horizontal planes) that is substantially circular, oval, oval, teardrop, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal (e.g., pentagonal, hexagonal) and / or the like, or a generally two-dimensional planar shape (viewed top-down or bottom-up). The flange may have a shape that is asymmetric or symmetric with respect to one or more planes. The flange may have a shape that has no symmetry, includes one plane of symmetry, includes two planes of symmetry, or includes more planes of symmetry. The flange shape may aid in the orientation of the container.

[0189] The container may or may not include one or more key features. The one or more key features may function to allow the container to be keyed and engaged with a feeding assembly, a container magazine, or both. The one or more key features may assist a human to properly orient the container, one or more parts of the feeding assembly to properly orient the container, or even one or more machines within the assembly process. The one or more key features may function to allow the container to be keyed and engaged with a container storage subassembly, a container magazine, a container handling subassembly, a container holding subassembly, a waste collection subassembly, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more key features may be formed and / or attached to any portion of the container that may be appropriate. The one or more key features may be formed in, included in, and / or attached to one or more rims, flanges, side walls, bottom walls, lids, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0190] The one or more key features may be a change in the contour of one or more portions of the base of the container. The one or more key features may include one or more concave portions, convex portions, raised portions, recessed portions, flat surfaces, straight edges, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more key features may include the overall shape of the flange, the two-dimensional shape of the flange, or both. For example, the flange may have a cross-sectional or planar shape that is not circular, does not have radial symmetry, or both. For example, shapes such as teardrops with smooth ends, ovals, ovals, the like, or combinations thereof. Such shapes may help provide limited proper orientation and aid proper placement. Exemplary key features may include one or more notches, tabs, rounded portions, and / or flat portions. The key features may be formed in the flange to avoid affecting the storage volume or shape of the storage portion of the base of the container. The key features may be formed in the flange to assist in proper orientation of shapes that may have more than one plane of symmetry (e.g., square, rectangular, circular). The one or more key features may include one or more pockets formed in the flange.

[0191] The one or more key features may include a single key feature or multiple key features. The key features may or may not be mirror symmetric on opposing portions of the container. The mirror symmetry may provide only one or more correct orientations of the container. For example, the mirror symmetry of a key feature where the container base (e.g., flange) has symmetry with respect to only one plane may provide only one correct orientation. For example, the mirror symmetry of a key feature where the container base (e.g., flange) has symmetry with respect to two or more planes may provide two or more correct orientations. The multiple key features may include two or more, three or more, four or more, or even six or more key features. The multiple key features may all be the same or different from each other. One or more key features may have the same and / or different shape and / or size as one or more other key features. For example, all key features may be notches. As another example, some key features may be notches while others may be straight edges. As another example, a single key feature may be the general two-dimensional shape of the flange.

[0192] The one or more key features may include, function as, or be separate from one or more alignment features, engagement features, lid access features, lid reinforcement features, the like, or combinations thereof.

[0193] The receptacle may or may not include one or more alignment features. The one or more alignment features may facilitate alignment of the receptacle within a receptacle storage subassembly, a receptacle magazine, a receptacle handling subassembly, or both. The one or more alignment features may facilitate alignment of the receptacle within a hopper, a cartridge magazine, a shuttle assembly, a gripper assembly, a lifting wedge, the like, or combinations thereof. The one or more alignment features may facilitate maintaining the receptacle in a proper orientation during movement within the feeding assembly, may facilitate loading of the receptacle, or both. The one or more alignment features may prevent rotation, rocking, or pivoting of the receptacle after loading into the receptacle storage subassembly, a receptacle magazine, a receptacle handling subassembly, or any combinations thereof.

[0194] The one or more alignment features may include a change in the contour of the rim, flange, bottom wall, sidewall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may include one or more recesses, protrusions, flat surfaces, flat edges, rounded surfaces, rounded edges, or any combination thereof on the rim, flange, bottom wall, sidewall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may include a change in the contour of the top surface, sitter surface, and / or periphery of the rim, flange, bottom wall, sidewall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may include one or more protrusions extending from the rim and / or flange of the container base, laterally away from the lid, generally parallel to the vertical axis, toward the bottom wall, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may be or provide a shape that correlates with one or more portions of the container storage subassembly, the container magazine, the container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof.

[0195] The one or more alignment features may be located at one or more engagement points with one or more components of the feeding assembly. The one or more alignment features may be biased toward the rear of the container, the front, leading edge and / or trailing edge of the container, the side of the container, or any combination thereof. The one or more alignment features may be well-centered or off-centered relative to the frontal plane, the longitudinal plane, or both. The one or more alignment features may or may not be mirror symmetric relative to one or more other alignment features. The one or more alignment features may be mirror symmetric relative to one or more opposing alignment features. The one or more alignment features may be located opposite one another alignment feature relative to the frontal plane, the longitudinal plane, or both.

[0196] The one or more alignment features may cooperate with the cradle, one or more pairs of arms, or both. Cooperation may include engaging, mating, providing a frictional surface, providing a passageway, providing interrelated surfaces, or any combination thereof. For example, the one or more alignment features may form a passageway (e.g., a C-shaped passageway) with the sidewall and the bottom surface of the flange of the container. For example, the one or more alignment features may include two or more protrusions that form a groove and / or passageway that protrudes from the sidewall and surrounds at least a portion of the container base. For example, the one or more alignment features may include one or more recesses or protrusions that form a groove or passageway in the bottom wall. The passageway and / or groove may receive a portion of the cradle, one or more arms, a support plate (e.g., of a handling subassembly), or a combination thereof to help maintain the container base in a relatively stationary position. For example, the one or more alignment features may be a flat portion of the sidewall that is curved in most part. The flat portion of the sidewall may mate with a flat portion of the container handling subassembly, the container containment subassembly, or both.

[0197] The container may or may not include one or more engagement features. The one or more engagement features may function to engage one or more components of the feeding assembly, a container magazine, maintain and hold the proper orientation of the container relative to the one or more components, or both. The one or more engagement features may cooperate with one or more container storage subassemblies, a container magazine, a container handling subassembly, a container holding subassembly, or combinations thereof. The one or more engagement features may engage with a cradle, a pair of arms, a support plate (e.g., of a container handling subassembly), a lifting wedge, or any combination thereof. The one or more engagement features may be the same as or separate from one or more key features, alignment features, or both.

[0198] The one or more engagement features may provide a shape that accommodates a portion of one or more container containment subassemblies, container handling subassemblies, container retention subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more engagement features may be located on a rim, a flange, a bottom wall, a side wall, or any combination thereof. The one or more engagement features may function to partially or completely accommodate one or more protrusions therethrough. The one or more engagement features may or may not partially or completely correlate with the one or more protrusions. The one or more engagement features may include one or more holes, recesses, grooves, and / or the like.

[0199] The one or more protrusions may include one or more pins, tabs, posts, hooks, and / or the like. The one or more protrusions may be part of a container storage subassembly, a container handling subassembly, a container retaining subassembly, and / or the like. The one or more protrusions may extend from one of one or more cradles, arms, support plates (e.g., of a container handling subassembly), lifting wedges, rails, and / or any combination thereof. For example, the one or more protrusions may include pins protruding from one or more arms of a container handling subassembly, gripper plates and / or support plates of a container handling subassembly, cradles of a container handling subassembly, lifting ramps of a container retaining subassembly, or any combination thereof.

[0200] Exemplary engagement features may include a plurality of holes defined at predefined locations through the rim and / or flange of the container base that may receive corresponding pins protruding from the gripper plate and / or cradle of the container handling subassembly. Together the holes and pins may maintain proper orientation and retention of the container base within various stages of the feeding cycle.

[0201] The container substrate may or may not include one or more lid access features. The one or more lid access features may function to provide access to a portion of the lid, provide access to the bottom surface of the lid in addition to the top surface, expose a portion of the underside of the lid, provide access to the leading edge, accommodate one or more components of the container opening subassembly, allow one or more components of the container opening subassembly to engage the lid for subsequent removal, or a combination thereof. The one or more lid access features may protect the leading edge, the trailing edge, or both of the lid. The one or more lid access features may be provided at one or more locations on the container.

[0202] The container may be configured to have a single correct orientation or multiple correct orientations for positioning within the feeding assembly and / or cooperating with the container opening subassembly. The lid may be formed such that the leading and trailing edges may or may not be reversible. For example, the container may have no plane of symmetry, may have only one plane of symmetry to provide one correct orientation, or may have two planes of symmetry to provide two correct orientations. A container with a single correct orientation may simply have one or more lid access features adjacent and / or near the leading edge of the lid. A container with two correct orientations may have one or more lid access features adjacent and / or near the leading and trailing edges of the lid.

[0203] The one or more lid access features may include one or more pockets, one or more rim and / or flange recesses, one or more rim and / or flange smooth surfaces, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0204] The one or more lid access features may include one or more pockets. The one or more pockets may function to protect and maintain the handling portion of the lid. The one or more pockets may form a pocket gap for receiving a portion of the container opening subassembly therein. The pocket may be defined by or connected to a rim and / or flange of the container base. The pocket may extend below a top surface of the container base, below a flange plane, below a flange axis, below a major top surface of the flange, or any combination thereof. The pocket may be formed in a flange and / or rim of the container base. The pocket may be formed in the flange and / or rim as a recess, concave portion, and / or the like in the flange and / or rim. The pocket may project away from the lid, away from a top surface of the container base, away from a top surface of the rim and / or flange, toward an underside of the container, generally parallel to a vertical axis of the container, or any combination thereof. The pocket may be formed near and / or adjacent to a leading edge of the lid, a trailing edge of the lid, a stress increasing feature of the seal member, or a combination thereof. The pocket may cooperate with the lid to define a pocket gap. The pocket gap may be the distance between the pocket and the lid.

[0205] The one or more lid access features may include one or more rim recesses. The one or more rim recesses may function to provide access to the bottom surface of the lid in addition to the top surface, may provide access to the leading edge, may expose a portion of the lid relative to the container, may allow one or more components of the container opening subassembly to engage the lid, or any combination thereof. The one or more rim recesses may be formed in the rim and / or flange of the container base. The one or more rim recesses may be formed near and / or adjacent to the leading edge of the lid, the stress increase feature of the seal member, or both. The one or more rim recesses may project inwardly toward the vertical axis, the center of the container, the center of the rim and / or the flange, or combinations thereof. The one or more rim recesses may be formed as one or more notches and / or notches. The one or more rim recesses may refer to localized areas of contour change in the rim and / or flange. The one or more rim recesses may have a shape that may or may not correspond to one or more components of the container opening subassembly. The one or more rim recesses may have a shape that may or may not correspond to one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like. The one or more rim recesses may have a shape that has a cross-sectional area greater than or equal to one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like. A cross-sectional area greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​one or more jaws and / or hooks may allow such jaws and / or hooks sufficient access to the lid for removal.

[0206] The one or more lid access features may include one or more smooth surfaces (e.g., straight edges). The one or more smooth surfaces may function to provide access to the bottom surface of the lid in addition to the top surface, provide access to the leading edge, expose a portion of the lid relative to the container, allow one or more components of the container opening subassembly to engage the lid, or any combination thereof. The one or more smooth surfaces may be formed on a rim and / or flange of the container base. The one or more smooth surfaces may be formed near and / or adjacent to the leading edge of the lid, the stress increase feature of the sealing member, or both. The one or more smooth surfaces may be formed as one or more straight edges, edges that border a majority of the contour, or both, of the one or more rims and / or flanges. The one or more smooth surfaces may be formed as substantially flat and / or straight edges of the rims and / or flanges. The one or more smooth surfaces may not resemble a majority of the peripheral contour of the rims and / or flanges. The one or more smooth surfaces may be formed with a cross-sectional shape and / or a two-dimensional planar shape that creates a straight surface. For example, one or more rounded shapes may have one or more straight edges formed therein. For example, circles, ovals, ovals, teardrops, and / or the like may be curved and / or narrowed to a straight edge to form a smooth surface. The smooth surface may be on the opposite side to the rounded surface. The one or more smooth surfaces may refer to localized areas of contour change of the rim and / or flange. The one or more smooth surfaces may define an exposed area of ​​the lid called the handling portion.

[0207] The container may or may not include one or more lid reinforcement features. The one or more lid reinforcement features may function to reinforce the lid during removal from the container base, to prevent the lid from splitting during peeling from the container base, to provide a structurally sufficient structure for cooperation with the container opening subassembly, or any combination thereof. The one or more lid reinforcement features may function as one or more key features, provide uniform orientation of the lid, or both. In many cases, when peelable lids are peeled from their respective container bases, such lids split open, leaving remaining portions of the lid still attached to the container base. The remaining portions may inhibit an animal's access to the food cavity for ingesting food. This is particularly problematic in automatic feeding assemblies, because the user may not be physically present to remove the remaining portions of the lid.

[0208] The lid reinforcing features may help distribute the peel forces (e.g., while the lid is being peeled from the container substrate) to the perimeter, the seal member, and / or away from the centerline / longitudinal plane. Distributing the peel forces outward reduces and / or eliminates the risk of the lid being incompletely peeled away, leaving the remainder of the lid attached to the container substrate. The peel forces may be distributed outward during the initial act of peeling, when the peel is initiated at the leading edge, before the peel reaches the midpoint of the peel, before the peel reaches the widest portion of the container substrate, or any combination thereof. The lid reinforcing features may also help reduce the amount of force required to initiate the peel. This may be compared to the force required in the absence of the lid reinforcing features. This force reduction may help reduce and / or eliminate splashing from a hood contained within the container substrate.

[0209] The lid reinforcing feature may help distribute the peel force toward the seal member, toward the centerline and / or the longitudinal plane, or both (e.g., while the lid is being peeled from the container substrate). Distributing the peel force inward reduces and / or eliminates the risk of the lid being incompletely peeled away, leaving the remainder of the lid attached to the container substrate. The peel force may be distributed outward during the later stages of the peel, when the peel begins to reach the trailing edge, after the peel reaches the midpoint, after the peel reaches the widest portion of the container substrate, or any combination thereof. The lid reinforcing feature may also help reduce the amount of force required to complete the peel. This may be compared to the force required in the absence of the lid reinforcing feature. This force reduction may help reduce and / or eliminate splashing from a hood contained within the container substrate.

[0210] The one or more lid reinforcement features may be provided as part of the lid, the container base, or both. The one or more lid reinforcement features may be provided on a handling portion of the lid. The handling portion may be located towards and / or adjacent to a leading edge of the lid, a portion of the lid and / or container base with which the container opening subassembly may interact, or both. The handling portion may be located adjacent to one or more lid access features. The handling portion may be exposed by the lid access feature.

[0211] The container may include a lid. The lid may function to close or seal the container, store a food inside the container, or both. The lid may be shaped to correlate with the food cavity of the container base, to resemble the food cavity of the container base, to dissimilarly resemble the food cavity of the container base, to completely cover the food cavity of the container base, or any combination thereof. The lid may be shaped to correlate with the flange and / or rim of the container base, to resemble the flange and / or rim of the container base, to dissimilarly resemble the flange and / or rim of the container base, to completely cover the flange and / or rim of the container base, to partially cover the flange and / or rim of the container base, or any combination thereof. The lid may be attached to the container base. The lid may be partially or completely removable. Removal of the lid allows the container to transition from a closed state to an open state.

[0212] The edge of the lid that is peeled or removed from the container first may be referred to as the leading edge. The edge of the lid that is peeled, remains attached, or is removed last may be referred to as the trailing edge. The peel force may be applied from the leading edge towards and / or to the trailing edge.

[0213] The lid may be releasably coupled to the container base. The lid may be releasably attached to the rim and / or flange. The lid may be releasably coupled to the container base via a seal member. The lid may or may not be reconnectable to the container base.

[0214] The lid may be shaped to completely cover an opening in the container base that defines a hood cavity therein. The lid may be shaped to cover an opening defined by a rim and / or flange of the container base. The lid may be shaped to cooperate with the container opening subassembly. The lid may be shaped to allow uniform presentation and placement relative to the container opening subassembly, the container magazine, or both. The lid may be shaped to cause repeatable and accessible gripping, clamping, hooking, and / or the like by the container opening subassembly, a user, or both.

[0215] The lid may be shaped such that when the lid is provided to the container opening subassembly, the leading edge is provided in a uniform position facing the container opening subassembly. The lid may have a cross-sectional shape (cutting planes parallel to the top surface, longitudinal planes and / or horizontal planes of the lid) that is substantially circular, oval, oval, teardrop, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal (e.g., pentagonal, hexagonal) and / or the like, or a generally two-dimensional flat shape (viewed from above down or below up). The lid may have a shape that is asymmetric or symmetric with respect to one or more planes. The lid may have a shape that has no symmetry, includes one plane of symmetry, includes two planes of symmetry, or includes more than one plane of symmetry. The lid shape may aid in the orientation of the container within one or more components of the feeding assembly.

[0216] The lid may include a handling portion. The handling portion may provide a portion of the lid that may be gripped, clamped, hooked, and / or retrieved to allow for providing a peel force to remove the lid. The handling portion may be a portion of the lid that extends beyond the base, rim, and / or flange of the container. The handling portion of the lid may be a portion of the lid that is intended to engage with the container opening subassembly. The handling portion may extend beyond most of the flange, but may have a lid reinforcement feature attached to it. The handling portion may have a removable flange portion attached to it. The handling portion may have a lid contact portion attached to it. The handling portion may extend in the same direction as the flange, or may project laterally away from one or more side walls of the container base, or both. The handling portion of the lid may be formed as an extension tab. The handling portion may not fold over the rim and / or flange as is typically found on standard disposable food containers.

[0217] The lid may include a rigid engagement portion. The rigid engagement portion may be located on a handling portion of the lid. The rigid engagement portion may be the same as or different from the lid reinforcement feature described with respect to the flange. The rigid engagement portion may be the same as or different from the lid contact portion of the lid reinforcement feature. The rigid engagement portion may prevent the lid from collapsing or moving relative to the container base and / or the remainder of the lid.

[0218] The handling portion of the lid may or may not include an optional removal opening. The removal opening may cooperate with one or more container opening subassemblies. The removal opening may be configured to receive a portion of the container opening subassembly therein. The portion of the container opening subassembly may be any portion configured to grip, grasp, hook, or otherwise engage and hold the lid for subsequent removal from the container base. The removal opening may receive a hook, post, jaw, and / or the like.

[0219] The container may include one or more sealing members. The one or more sealing members may function to removably connect the lid to the container base, to adhere the lid to the container base, to permanently adhere the lid reinforcement feature to the lid, or any combination thereof. The sealing member may be a means for directly adhering the lid to the container base, an adhesive separate from the lid and container base, or both.

[0220] The container may include one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers may function to indicate one or more parameters assigned to the container. The one or more identifiers may include one or more visual identifiers, signal identifiers, or both. The one or more visual identifiers may include one or more quick response ("QR") codes, bar codes, color patterns, textures, surface reflective patterns, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more signal identifiers may include one or more radio frequency identification tags ("RFID"), near field communication ("NFC") tags, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more RFID identifiers may be passive. The one or more identifiers may be disposed on one or more portions of the container. The one or more identifiers may be disposed on an exterior surface of the container. The one or more identifiers may be located on an exterior surface of a lid, an exterior surface of one or more side walls of the container base, a bottom wall of the container base, an exterior surface of a casing, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more identifiers may be disposed on the container such that they are accessible and readable by an identification sensor. The one or more parameters assigned to the identifier may include compatibility with a feeding assembly, the type of food in the container, the volume of the food in the container, a nutritional value assigned to the food in the container, the brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, the date of production and / or packaging of the food in the container, the period of time the food may be opened and exposed to ambient temperatures before beginning to spoil, a best-by date, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more parameters assigned to the identifier may include one or more instructions for accessing one or more databases to retrieve information regarding the container or food.

[0221] One or more portions of the container may define one or more axes, planes, or both, or may be defined by one or more axes, planes, or both.

[0222] The one or more axes may include a vertical axis, a horizontal axis, a longitudinal axis, a forehead axis, a lateral axis, a flange axis, the like, or any combination thereof. The vertical axis may extend through the container base and the lid, through the bottom of the container base and the cavity defined within the container base, through the bottom of the container base and the opening defined by the rim and / or flange, or any combination thereof. The vertical axis may be generally perpendicular to the bottom of the container base, the rim, the flange, the lid, or a combination thereof. The vertical axis may be generally parallel to the sidewall of the container base. The forehead axis and / or the central axis may be a vertical axis generally centered on the container, the container base, the lid, or a combination thereof. The horizontal axis may be generally perpendicular to the vertical axis. The horizontal axis may be generally parallel to the rim, flange, lid, bottom of the container base, or a combination thereof. The horizontal axis may or may not intersect the vertical axis. The longitudinal axis may be a horizontal axis. The longitudinal axis may include a centerline of the container. The lateral axis may be a horizontal axis. The flange axis may be an axis that is generally parallel to the majority of the surface area of ​​the flange. The flange axis may be generally parallel to or offset from the horizontal axis, the longitudinal axis, or both.

[0223] The one or more planes may include a flange plane, a rim plane, a lid plane, a longitudinal plane, a lateral plane, a forehead plane, the like, or a combination thereof. The flange plane may be a plane defined by a majority of the surface area of ​​the flange (e.g., a top surface, a surface facing the lid). The flange plane may have a flange axis located therein (e.g., parallel, non-intersecting). The flange plane may be substantially parallel to the lateral plane, the lid plane, or both. The rim plane may be a plane defined by a majority of the surface area of ​​the rim. The rim plane may be parallel to the flange plane, the lid plane, and / or the lateral plane. The rim plane may be the same as the flange plane or may be offset. The lid plane may be a plane defined by a majority of the surface area of ​​the lid (e.g., a bottom surface or a top surface of the lid). The lid plane may be generally parallel to the flange plane or may be offset. The lid plane may be parallel to the lateral plane, the flange plane, or both. The equilateral plane may be a plane that intersects through the container, the container base, the lid, or a combination thereof. The equilateral plane may divide the container between front and rear. The equilateral plane may define one or more planes of symmetry of one or more components of the container. The frontal plane may be located between the front edge and the rear edge of the lid. The equilateral plane may have vertical and / or equilateral axes located therein (e.g., parallel, non-intersecting). The equilateral plane may be generally perpendicular to the flange plane, the lid plane, the longitudinal plane, the lateral plane, or a combination thereof. The longitudinal plane may be generally perpendicular to the lateral plane, the equilateral plane, the flange plane, the lid plane, or a combination thereof. The longitudinal plane may divide the container between the sides (e.g., left and right). The longitudinal plane may have a longitudinal axis, a vertical axis, and / or a frontal axis located therein and / or parallel to the longitudinal axis, a vertical axis, and / or a frontal axis located therein. The longitudinal plane may have a centerline of the container located therein (e.g., parallel to and located within). The transverse plane may define an upper portion and a lower portion of the container.The transverse plane may be formed between the lid and the container base or may extend through the container base. The transverse plane may be perpendicular to the transverse plane, the longitudinal plane, or both. The transverse plane may be parallel to the flange plane, the lid plane, or both.

[0224] The container may or may not have a symmetrical shape. Symmetry may refer to symmetry with respect to one or more planes. Symmetry may mean symmetry with respect to a vertical plane, a longitudinal plane, or any other plane of symmetry, such as any plane that intersects the center point of the container. A container with only one plane of symmetry may have one proper orientation for interaction with the feeding assembly, lid removal, or both. A container with two or more planes of symmetry may have two or more proper orientations for interaction with the feeding assembly, lid removal, or both. Interaction with the feeding assembly may include placement and / or orientation within and / or relative to the container storage subassembly, container handling subassembly, container opening subassembly, container holding subassembly, container disposal subassembly, waste collection subassembly, or combinations thereof. Interaction with the feeding assembly may include placement and / or orientation within and / or relative to a hopper, container magazine, jaws, hooks, gripping / holding features, cradle, lifting wedge, container presenting opening, disposal bar, waste bin, or combinations thereof. One correct orientation may increase the accuracy of component interaction while reducing the complexity and cost in designing, manufacturing, and / or shipping the container. Two or more correct orientations may reduce the probability of a loading error by a user. A loading error may include an improper orientation such that one or more features of the container intended to interact with one or more components of the feeding assembly are unable to perform their function and / or cooperate with each other.

[0225] <How to serve food> The present teachings may also relate to a method for automatically providing food to an animal for ingestion by a feeding assembly. The method may use a feeding assembly, receptacle, and / or a system according to the teachings herein. The method may include a) a receptacle handling subassembly automatically receiving and / or retrieving a predetermined receptacle of food from a receptacle storage subassembly, b) a receptacle handling subassembly automatically moving the receptacle to a feeding area and presenting the receptacle for ingestion, and c) a receptacle handling subassembly automatically moving the receptacle to a waste collection subassembly and releasing the receptacle into the waste collection subassembly.

[0226] The method may include receiving and / or removing a given container from the container storage subassembly. Removing may include the container handling subassembly grabbing or actively acquiring the given container from the container storage subassembly. The container handling subassembly may enter into the container storage subassembly to acquire the given container. Receiving may include the given container being released into the container handling subassembly. The releasing may be performed by a portion of the container storage subassembly. The releasing may be performed by a restraining mechanism. The releasing may provide that the given container is released into a cradle of the container handling subassembly. Receiving and / or removing the given container may be based on one or more configurations entered by a user, system defaults, or both. For example, initiating the receiving and / or removing based on a feeding schedule entered by a user.

[0227] The method may include a container handling subassembly automatically moving the container to the feeding area and presenting the container for consumption. The movement may occur along one or more axes. The movement may be generated by a container transport subassembly. The container handling subassembly may stop at one or more positions prior to being located at the feeding area. The one or more positions may be positions disclosed herein.

[0228] The method may automatically include opening the container by the container opening subassembly. The opening may be during movement of the container, the container handling subassembly, or both between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area. The opening may include peeling the lid from the container base. The opening may include engaging a leading edge of the lid and / or a removal opening near the leading edge by the container opening subassembly. The opening may include moving the container opening subassembly relative to the container handling subassembly, moving the container handling subassembly relative to the container opening subassembly, or moving the container opening subassembly and the container handling subassembly relative to each other. The opening may be prior to providing the container to the feeding area. The opening may occur in the open position.

[0229] Engaging the leading edge and / or removal opening may include engaging a lid reinforcing feature of the container base. Upon application of a peel force, the lid reinforcing feature may break from the container base while remaining attached to the lid. The lid reinforcing feature may initially distribute the peel force outwardly away from the centerline of the lid toward the periphery of the lid, the seal member, or both. The lid reinforcing feature distributes the peel force after passing through a wider portion and / or midpoint of the container toward the centerline of the lid.

[0230] The method may include a container handling subassembly automatically moving the container to the waste collection subassembly and releasing the container into the waste collection subassembly. The movement may be caused by a container transport subassembly. The container handling subassembly may be located above and / or inside the waste collection subassembly. The container handling subassembly may cooperate with one or more container disposal subassemblies to push the container into the waste collection subassembly.

[0231] The method may include a user configuring the feeding assembly via a user interface on the feeding assembly, a computing device (e.g., personal computer, mobile device) separate from the feeding assembly, or both. The configuration may include a user configuring a feeding schedule for the animal, one or more serving sizes, one or more types of food (e.g., brand, flavor, etc.), and / or the like. The configuration may be completed via the application.

[0232] The method may include receiving one or more signals from one or more sensing devices. The one or more signals may be used to initiate one or more steps of the method. One or more parameters of the container may be received prior to releasing and / or removing the container. The presence of the container within the container handling subassembly may be confirmed prior to moving the container handling subassembly towards the feeding area. The position of the container handling subassembly may be confirmed prior to releasing the container into the container handling subassembly.

[0233] <Example> The following figures and description are provided as examples. Features of one example may be combined with features of another example. For example, the key features of any of Figures 47-50 may be combined with any of the containers shown in Figures 51-57. For example, the lid reinforcement features and handling features of the containers shown in Figures 51-57 may be combined with any of the containers shown in Figures 47-50. For example, the cradle assemblies of any of Figures 11-16 and 26-31 may be combined with the feeding assembly of Figures 39-41. The gripper assemblies of any of Figures 39-41 may be combined with the feeding assembly of any of Figures 1-34. The container magazines of Figures 42 and 43 may be combined with the feeding assemblies of any of Figures 1-34 and 39-41.

[0234] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10, a container containment subassembly 12, and a waste collection subassembly 14. The feeding assembly 1 presents a container 16 in an open position O. The housing 10 includes a base 18, an intermediate support 28, a support plate 20, and an upper cover 22. The base 18 houses the waste collection subassembly 14. The support plate 20 includes a feeding area 32. The support plate 20 includes a container presentation opening 24. A guard 26 is present on the support plate 20 surrounding the container presentation opening 24.

[0235] FIG 2 is a front view of the feeding assembly 1, and FIG 3 is a rear view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10 and a waste collection subassembly 14. The housing includes a base 18 and an upper cover 22. The base 18 houses the waste collection subassembly 14. The base 18 includes a cavity 30. The cavity 30 may function to house one or more components associated with a power source.

[0236] 4 is a top view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes an upper cover 22. The upper cover 22 includes a container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 provides access to a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 houses one or more containers 16. The one or more containers are in a closed position C. The housing 10 includes a support plate 20. The support plate 20 rests on a base 18. The support plate 20 includes a feeding area 32. The feeding area 32 includes a container presentation opening 24. Surrounding the container presentation opening 24 is a guard 26.

[0237] 5 is a bottom view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a base 18. The waste collection subassembly 14 is removably housed within the base 18. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes a waste bin 36. The underside of the base 18 may include a number of feet 38.

[0238] 6 and 7 are side views of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a base 18. An upper cover 22 is disposed on the base 18. The upper cover 22 extends over only a portion of the depth of the base 18. The feeding assembly 1 includes a feeding area 32.

[0239] 8 illustrates a method of refilling the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is refilled with a given container 16. The container 16 is in the closed position C. The container 16 is inserted into the container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the housing 10. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the upper cover 22. The container refill opening 34 is located on the upper surface 22a of the upper cover 22. The container refill opening 34 provides an access to the container storage subassembly 12.

[0240] 9 shows a method of refilling the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is refilled with a given container 16. The container 16 is in the closed position C. The container 16 is inserted into the container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the housing 10. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the upper cover 22. The container refill opening 34 is provided in the side surface 22b of the upper cover 22.

[0241] 10 illustrates a method of refilling the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is refilled with a number of containers 16. Each of the containers 16 is in the closed position C. The containers 16 are held together by a container magazine 40. The containers 16 are stacked together inside the container magazine 40. The container magazine is inserted into the container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in the upper cover 22. The container refill opening 34 provides an access to the container storage subassembly 12.

[0242] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is filled with a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed position C. The containers 16 are held in position within a hopper 48. An identification sensor 138 is located adjacent to the hopper 48. The containers 16 are held in position by a restraining mechanism 50 (not shown). Located adjacent to the container storage subassembly 12 is a container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly 42 is shown in a loading position LP. In the loading position LP, the container handling subassembly 42 may be aligned with the container storage subassembly 12. The alignment allows a given container 16 to be transferred from the container storage subassembly 12 to the container handling subassembly 42.

[0243] 12 is a cross-sectional view of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is filled with a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed position C. Adjacent to the container storage subassembly 12, at a loading position LP, is a container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly 42 is aligned with a hopper 48. A restraining mechanism 50 (not shown) urges a given container 16 into the container handling subassembly 42.

[0244] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly 1. The container handling subassembly 42 moves from a loading position LP (as shown in FIG. 12) to an open position OP. The container handling subassembly 42 moves from the container storage subassembly 12 toward the feeding area 32. The container handling subassembly 42 moves a given container 16 in a closed state from the container storage subassembly 12 toward the container opening subassembly 46. The container opening subassembly 46 engages the lid 54. In this example, the container opening subassembly 46 clamps the lid 54. As the container handling subassembly 42 continues to move toward the feeding area 32, the container opening subassembly 46 continues to hold a portion of the lid 54. By keeping a portion of the lid 54 stationary while the container base 52 continues to move toward the feeding area 32, the lid 54 is removed from the container base 52.

[0245] 14 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding assembly 1. The container handling subassembly 42 is located within, below and / or adjacent to the feeding area 32. The container handling subassembly 42 is in the feeding position FP. The container handling subassembly 42 contains a container 16 therein. The container 16 is in the open position O. The lid 54 has previously been removed. The lid 54 is located within the waste collection subassembly 14. The lid 54 resides within the waste bin 36 of the waste collection subassembly 14. The container handling subassembly 42 moves horizontally into the feeding area 32 and moves vertically up. As a result of the upward movement, the container 16 is raised into the container presentation opening 24.

[0246] 15 and 16 are cross-sectional views of the feeding assembly 1. The receptacle handling subassembly 42 is moved towards the disposal subassembly 56. The disposal subassembly 56 cooperates with the receptacle handling subassembly 42. The receptacle handling subassembly is in a disposal position DP. The interaction of the disposal subassembly 56 with the receptacle handling subassembly 42 propels the receptacle 16 into the waste collection subassembly 14. The receptacle 16 drops into the waste bin 36. After the receptacle 16 is disposed of in the waste collection subassembly 14, the receptacle handling subassembly 42 is at rest in a rest position RP. The receptacle handling subassembly 42 may wait in the rest position until a subsequent predetermined receptacle 16 from the receptacle storage subassembly 12 is released and ready to be presented to the animal for ingestion.

[0247] 17 and 18, the container containment subassembly 12 is shown. The container containment subassembly 12 includes a hopper 48. The hopper 48 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed position C. The hopper 48 has a cross section that generally correlates with a cross section of the containers 16. The hopper 48 has a generally cylindrical shape. The hopper 48 includes one or more key features 58. The hopper 48 includes one or more notches 84. The notches 84 expose the rim or flange 76 of the containers 16. The containers 16 are held in place by a restraining mechanism 50. The restraining mechanism 50 includes two rollers 60. The rollers 60 include a plurality of fins 74. The fins 74 hold the rim or flange 76 of a given container 16. By way of example, the substantially horizontal fins 74 support the rim 76 of the container 16 thereon. The rollers 60 are each rotatably engaged to a pivot 62. One or both rollers 60 are rotatably coupled to a roller drive unit 64. The roller drive unit 64 includes a motor 66, a drive shaft 68, and one or more drive gears 70. The one or more drive gears 70 are rotatably engaged with one or more roller gears 72. Rotation of the drive gears 70 via the motor 66 can result in rotation of the roller gears 72. Rotation of the roller gears 72 can then result in rotation of the axle 62 and / or rollers 60. The rollers 60 rotate such that the fins 74 no longer support the rim 76 of the container 16 (e.g., such that the fins rotate downward). When the rollers 60 no longer support the container 16, the container 16 is released from the hopper 48 and the container handling subassembly. The rotation of the rollers 60 causes the adjacent fins 74 to capture the rim 76 of the next container 16 in the stack.

[0248] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the container storage subassembly 12 is assembled to a base 80. The base includes one or more cradles 82. One or more axles 62 may be supported by the cradles 82. The base 80 may be assembled to a support plate 20. The container storage subassembly 12 need not have a base 80, provided the support plate 20 provides the same features. The support plate 20 includes a hopper opening 78. The hopper opening 78 is at least partially aligned with the hopper 48 to allow the container 16 to pass through the support plate 20 from the hopper. The support plate 20 includes a container presentation opening 24.

[0249] 19 and 20, the container containment subassembly 12 is shown. The container containment subassembly 12 includes a hopper 48. The hopper 48 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16. The containers 16 are in a closed position C. The hopper 48 has a cross-section that generally correlates to a cross-section of the containers 16. The hopper 48 includes a plurality of notches 84 through which rims and / or flanges 76 protrude. The container containment subassembly 12 includes a plurality of rollers 60. The rollers 60 may be configured as worm gears 86. Teeth 88 of the worm gears 86 may function similarly to the fins 74 (not shown). The rim or flange 76 of the container 16 may engage the teeth 88. The teeth 88 may support the rim or flange 76 to hold the container 16 in place within the hopper 48. As roller 60 rotates, the rotation of teeth 88 causes rim or flange 76 to move downwardly through hopper 48. Roller 60 is rotated via drive unit 64 (not shown).

[0250] 21, 22 and 23 show the container opening subassembly 46. The container opening subassembly 46 includes a drive unit 64. The drive unit 64 includes a motor 66 and a drive shaft 68. The drive unit 64 may be configured as a threaded motor 64a. The drive unit 64 may be housed and supported by a drive support 92. The drive unit 64 may be assembled to a drive unit cap 95. A movable jaw 94 is rotatably engaged with the drive shaft 68. The movable jaw 94 is stationary relative to a stationary jaw 96. As the drive shaft 68 rotates, the movable jaw 94 may move toward or away from the stationary jaw 96. The movement of the movable jaw 94 may increase or decrease the clamping gap 98. A lid 54 (not shown) may be moved into the clamping gap 98. The lid 54 (not shown) may be clamped and held between a movable jaw 94 and a stationary jaw 96 .

[0251] 24 and 25 show the container opening subassembly 46. The container opening subassembly 46 includes a hook 220. The hook 220 is attached to an arm 222. The arm 222 may be movable (e.g., rotatable) or stationary. The hook 220 interacts with a hook opening 204 on the container 16. The hook opening 204 may be formed in the container base 52 and / or the lid 54 (not shown). The hook 220 may engage the hook opening 204 in the lid 54 (not shown) to peel the lid from the container base 52.

[0252] FIG. 26 shows a portion of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a base 18. The base 18 holds the waste collection subassembly 14 therein. The base 18 supports an intermediate support 28. The intermediate support 28 supports a transport subassembly 44. The transport subassembly 44 includes a drive unit 64. As shown, the drive unit 64 is located below the intermediate support 28 and is housed within the base 18. The drive unit 64 includes a motor 66. The drive unit 64 may rotatably drive a rotating shaft 62. The drive unit 64 may be rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 62 via one or more gears (not shown). The transport subassembly 44 includes a support shaft 100. The intermediate support 28 includes a plurality of cradles 82. The cradles 82 support the rotating shafts 62 and the support shafts 100. Rotation of the rotating shafts 62 causes linear movement of the container handling subassembly 42. The rotating shaft 62 is engaged with the container handling subassembly 42. A support shaft 100 supports the container handling subassembly 42 and allows for linear movement thereof.

[0253] The feeding assembly 1 includes two disposal subassemblies 56. The disposal subassemblies 56 are positioned opposite one another. Each disposal subassembly 56 includes a mounting bracket 102. The mounting bracket 102 is mounted to the intermediate support 28. The mounting bracket 102 supports a plunger 104. Each disposal subassembly 56 also includes a spring 106. The spring 106 extends through the plunger 104 and the mounting bracket 102. The disposal subassembly 56 is configured to cooperate with a container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly 42 includes a disposal bar 112.

[0254] The feeding assembly 1 has a lifting wedge 108. The lifting wedge 108 is attached to the intermediate support 28. The lifting wedge 108 includes an inclined surface 110. The inclined surface 110 cooperates with an inclined surface 110 of the container handling subassembly 42. The cooperating inclined surfaces 110 allow a container 16 (not shown) to be lifted into the feeding area 32 when the container handling subassembly 42 moves into the feeding position FP (not shown).

[0255] The feeding assembly 1 includes a position sensor 212. The position sensor 212 is configured to sense whether the container handling assembly 42 is in the loading position LP (not shown). The position sensor 212 cooperates with a portion of the container handling subassembly 42. The position sensor 212 includes a position pocket 214. The container handling subassembly 42 includes a position extension 216. When the container handling subassembly 42 is in the loading position LP, the position extension 216 is located within the extension pocket 214.

[0256] The feeding assembly 1 includes a presence sensor 218. The presence sensor 218 is configured to sense whether a container 16 is located within the container handling subassembly 42 after disposal from the container storage subassembly 12.

[0257] 27 and 28 show the container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly of FIG. 28 holds the container 16 in the closed position C. The container handling subassembly 42 may be referred to as a shuttle 114. The container handling subassembly 42 includes a cradle 116. The cradle 116 is configured to hold the container 16. The cradle 116 may include one or more key features 58. The key features 58 may include the entire shape of the cradle, a notch, or the like. The cradle 116 is held by a holding support 118. The cradle 116 is movable within the holding support 118. The cradle 116 may be moved up and down in a vertical direction relative to the holding support 118. The holding support 118 also holds a disposal bar 112. The disposal bar 112 is movable relative to the holding support 118. The disposal bar 112 may be moved back and forth in a horizontal direction relative to the holding support 118. The retaining support is attached to a bearing 120. The bearing 120 includes through holes 122. The through holes 122 may engage one or more shafts. One through hole may be configured with threads to engage the drive shaft 68 (not shown). Another through hole may be configured to engage the support shaft 100 (not shown).

[0258] The cradle 116 has a two-dimensional shape that substantially correlates with at least a portion of the perimeter of the container 16. The cradle 116 is positioned to surround the container base 52 of the container 16. The rim or flange 76 of the container 16 rests on the cradle 116.

[0259] 29 shows the back side of the container-holding subassembly 42 with the container 16. The container-holding subassembly 42 includes a cradle 116. The cradle 116 includes a ramp 110.

[0260] 30 shows the front portion of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 comprises a base 18. The base 18 supports an intermediate support 28. The intermediate support 28 has a lifting ramp 108 assembled thereto. The lifting ramp has two inclined surfaces 110.

[0261] Figure 31 shows a portion of the container holding subassembly 42 as it is moved into the feeding position FP. When the cradle 116 contacts the lifting ramp 108 (as shown in Figure 30), the ramps 110 cooperate with each other. As the container holding subassembly 42 continues to be moved forward toward the lifting ramp 108, the force between the ramps 110 urges the cradle 116 vertically upward and away from the holding support 118. The upwardly moving cradle 116 also moves the container 16 upwardly into the container presentation opening 24 (not shown).

[0262] 32 and 33 show the waste collection subassembly 14. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes one or more waste bins 36. The one or more waste bins 36 are configured as waste drawers 124. As shown in FIG. 32, a single waste bin 36 may collect all waste assigned to a given receptacle. The waste may include lids, container bases, and / or uneaten food. As shown in FIG. 32, one waste bin 36 may be dedicated to collecting removed lids. This waste bin 36 may be referred to as a lid waste bin 36a. Another waste bin 36 may be dedicated to collecting used container bases. This waste bin 36 may collect uneaten food residue inside the container base. This waste bin may be referred to as a container base waste bin 36b. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes a front panel 126. The front panel 126 includes a handle 128. The front panel 126 may form the front panel of the waste drawer 124. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes a side wall 130. The side wall 130 includes a guide channel 132.

[0263] In Figure 34, the feeding assembly 1 is shown without the top cover 22 (not shown). The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a base 18 and a support plate 20. The housing 10 defines a feeding area 32. The feeding area 32 includes a container presentation opening 24. Surrounding the container presentation opening 24 is a guard 26. Located on the support plate 20 is a container storage subassembly 12. Located within the container storage subassembly 12 are a plurality of containers 16. Located within the base 18 is a waste collection subassembly 14.

[0264] FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram of a system 500. The system may provide food (e.g., autonomously) to an animal A. The system 500 includes a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is configured to accommodate at least one container 16. The container 16 includes food therein for the animal to consume. The feeding assembly 1 communicates with a user device 600. The user device 600 is assigned to a user U. The feeding assembly 1 may communicate with the user device 600 directly or indirectly. The feeding assembly 1 may communicate with the user device 600 indirectly via a communication network 502. A remote server 506 may communicate with the user device 600 and / or the feeding assembly 1 via the communication network 502. The remote server 506 may be assigned to one or more databases 508. One or more external developers 504 may communicate with the remote server 506, the feeding assembly 1, and / or the user device 600 via the communication network 502.

[0265] 36 is a schematic block diagram of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a receptacle storage subassembly 12, a transport subassembly 40, a receptacle handling subassembly 42, a receptacle opening subassembly 46, and a housing 10. The receptacle storage subassembly 12 may be loaded and stored with one or more receptacles 16. The housing 10 may include a receptacle presentation opening 24 through which each receptacle 16 may be at least partially positioned in the feeding area 32, thereby allowing an animal access to the receptacle. The receptacle opening subassembly 46 (sometimes referred to as a lid removal assembly) may be configured to interact with each receptacle 16 to separate a lid 54 (not shown) of each receptacle 16 from a base 52 (not shown) of each receptacle 16. The container handling subassembly may engage and maintain each container 16 relative to the transport subassembly 40, thereby enabling the container 16 to be moved from the container storage subassembly 12 to a position where it interacts with the container opening subassembly 46 to remove the lid 54 (not shown) and to the feeding area 32.

[0266] 36, the assembly 1 optionally includes a controller 134. The controller 134 may optionally be in communication with and / or operatively connected to one or more of the container storage subassembly 12, the container handling subassembly 42, the transport subassembly 40, or the container opening subassembly 46 to control the operation of each respective subassembly (e.g., control one or more actuators thereof) and / or exchange data with each respective subassembly (e.g., receive data from sensors thereof).

[0267] 37 is a schematic flow chart of a method 700 for autonomously feeding an animal by a feeding assembly. Method 700 may be used in combination with the feeding assembly 1 disclosed herein. Although the steps of method 700 are described in a particular order, this is for illustrative purposes and the steps of method 700 may be performed in any order.

[0268] The method 700 includes storing 702 a given container or containers within a container containment subassembly. The method 700 may include identifying 704 one or more container parameters assigned to the one or more containers. These parameters may be identified by one or more sensing devices or another component. The method 700 includes releasing 706 the given container from the container containment subassembly. After releasing, the method 700 includes removing 708 a lid for the container. The lid may be removed via a container opening subassembly. Before, after, or simultaneously with removing the lid, the container may be transported 710 to a feeding area. At the feeding area, the open container may be presented to an animal for consumption of the food located therein. In response to determining that feeding of the animal is complete, a controller may identify 712 a change in the container parameters and / or a physiological parameter of the animal. After the animal has finished feeding or another parameter has expired, the method 700 includes disposing 714 of the used container in a waste collection subassembly of the feeding assembly.

[0269] 38A-38D are schematic flow charts illustrating a method 800 of ordering, configuring, and using a feeding assembly. Method 800 may be used in combination with the feeding assembly 1 disclosed herein. Although the steps of method 800 are described in a particular order, this is for illustrative purposes and the steps of method 800 may be performed in any order.

[0270] Method 800 may include an ordering and configuration sub-process 810. Sub-process 810 may begin with a user ordering 811 a feeding assembly and multiple containers (e.g., food containers). The feeding assembly may be packaged. Sub-process 810 then includes unpacking the packaging 812 and then unpacking (e.g., removing) 813 the feeding assembly. Sub-process 810 includes the user plugging the feeding assembly into a power source 814. Also, optionally, the user may install an application on their mobile device. If the user installs the application, the user may then enter the identification information assigned to the animal into the mobile application 815. The user may then program the feeding assembly via the application 816. Programming may include setting feeding times, feeding amounts, duration for which food is available, etc. for the animal.

[0271] Method 800 includes a filling / emptying sub-process 820. Sub-process 820 may begin with a user opening a top cover or opening a feeding assembly to access the receptacle storage sub-assembly 821. If the receptacle storage sub-assembly fits the receptacle magazine, sub-process 820 may include removing the receptacle magazine from the feeding assembly 822. At 823, a user may fill the receptacle magazine with a number of receptacles having animal food therein. At 824, a user reinserts or inserts the filled receptacle magazine back into the receptacle storage sub-assembly. Instead of the receptacle magazine, a user may insert new receptacles directly into the receptacle storage sub-assembly to refill the feeding assembly. A user may then partially or completely remove the waste storage sub-assembly 825. For example, a user may pull out a waste drawer from the base. If the waste bin includes a lid, the user may remove the lid to access one or more waste bags 826. At 826, one or more waste bags may be removed from the waste bin. The waste bags may include the removed lid, used container base and / or remnants of the hood. One or more fresh waste bags may then be inserted into the one or more waste bins 827. At 828, the waste containment subassembly may then be reinserted into the feeding assembly 1. If a top lid or another cover is present, subprocess 820 may include closing 829 the top lid.

[0272] The method 800 includes a sub-process 830 of feeding wet food. The sub-process 830 of feeding wet food includes various steps for setting a feeding cycle for an animal (e.g., a cat). At 831, a user may press a wet food button or engage another optional input / output portion (e.g., a rugged display) of the feeding assembly to start a feeding cycle for the animal. At 832, a user may set a wet food timer for feeding the animal via a mobile application installed on the user device. At 833, the feeding assembly may be configured to start a feeding cycle in response to an animal interacting with the feeding assembly (e.g., standing in front of the feeding assembly for a certain period of time, making noise, gesturing, etc.). At 834, the feeding assembly moves an open food container into a feeding area located outside the housing and accessible to the animal. At 835, the animal eats the food. At 836, the animal leaves the feeding area. After the animal leaves, at 837, the feeding assembly may weigh the amount of wet food remaining in the container and immediately retract the container into the housing. At 838, the remaining food may be weighed, except that the container may then be retracted into the housing after a predetermined time. As described herein, method 800 may proceed from step 837 or step 838 to step 841 of sub-process 840 of feeding dry food, or from step 837 to step 844 of sub-process 840.

[0273] Method 800 may include a sub-process 840 of feeding dry food. The sub-process 840 of feeding dry food may be initiated by a user pressing a dry food button at 841 to start a dry food feeding cycle for the animal, and may set a dry food feeding time at 842 via a mobile application and / or in response to the animal interacting with the feeding assembly at 843. At 844, a container of dry food may be provided to the feeding area by the feeding assembly. At 845, the animal eats the food. At 846, the animal leaves. After the animal leaves, at 847, the feeding assembly may weigh the amount of dry food remaining in the container and immediately retract the container into the housing. At 848, the remaining food may be weighed, except that the container of dry food may be retracted into the housing after a predetermined time. As described herein, method 800 may proceed to step 851 from step 847 or step 848, or may proceed to step 858 from step 848.

[0274] 39, 40 and 41 are perspective views of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 may include a housing 10, a container storage subassembly 12, a waste collection subassembly 14, a transport subassembly 44, a container handling subassembly 42, and a feeding area 32, and may include a controller (not shown).

[0275] A container presentation opening 24 may be defined in a wall of the housing 10. The container presentation opening 24 may be in a wall adjacent to a feeding area 32 located on the exterior of the housing 10. The opening 24 may allow a given container 16 of a set of containers 16 disposed within the container storage subassembly 12 to be delivered or presented through the opening 24 into the feeding area 32.

[0276] The assembly 1 may include a waste collector 136 located underneath the housing 10 or inside the housing 10. The waste collector 136 may be near the base of the housing 10 and / or on the front side of the housing 10.

[0277] The container storage subassembly 12 is configured to receive and store the set of containers 16. The container storage subassembly 12 is located within or includes a portion of a volume of the housing 10 configured to removably receive a container magazine 40 having a set of containers 16 loaded therein.

[0278] An identification sensor 138 may be located adjacent the container containment subassembly 12 .

[0279] The waste collection subassembly 14 may include a section of the housing 10 or may be located within the housing 10. The waste collection subassembly includes a lid waste bin 36a and a container base waste bin 36b. A container opening subassembly 46 (e.g., a protrusion, arm, blade, knife, etc.) may be located within the lid waste bin 36a. The container opening subassembly 46 may be configured to engage the lid of the container 16 and remove the lid from the container base of the container 16 when the container 16 is moved into or out of the lid waste bin 36a by the container handling subassembly 42. The lid waste bin 36a may define an opening 140 in its sidewall. The container handling subassembly 42 may move the container 16 into the lid waste bin 36a through the opening 140. The container base waste bin 36b may include a portion of the housing 10 or may be contained within the housing 10. The container substrate waste receptacle 36b may be configured to receive used containers 16. In some embodiments, a sidewall of the container substrate waste receptacle 36b may define an opening 140 through which the container handling subassembly 42 may transport used containers 16 into the container substrate waste receptacle 36b for disposal therein.

[0280] The feeding assembly 1 may include a transport subassembly 44. The container handling subassembly 42 is coupled to the transport subassembly 44. The transport subassembly may move the container handling subassembly 42 to the lid waste bin 36a and / or the container base waste bin 36b. The transport subassembly 44 includes a first assembly bar 142. The first assembly bar 142 extends in the vertical or Z direction. The first assembly bar 142 allows the container handling subassembly 42 to translate in the vertical direction. The transport subassembly 44 may include a first set of support bars 144 extending in the X direction (e.g., from the front to the back of the feeding assembly) and a second set of support bars 144 extending in the Y direction (e.g., from side to side of the feeding assembly). The transport subassembly 44 may include a first actuator 146, a second actuator 148, and a third actuator 150. The actuators 146, 148, 150 are configured to move the container handling subassembly 42 in the Z, X, and Y directions, respectively.

[0281] The container handling subassembly 42 may include a gripper 152. The gripper 152 is configured to hold and secure a given container 16 of the set of containers 16, facilitate removal of a lid assigned to the container 16, and place the container 16 in the feeding area FA in response to the transport subassembly 44 moving the gripper 152 into the container storage subassembly 12. The gripper 152 includes a pair of arms 154, 156. The pair of arms 154, 156 may be referred to as an upper pair of arms. The pair of arms 154, 156 are each coupled to a gripper base 162. The container handling subassembly 42 may include a gripper plate 158 (also referred to as a support plate) disposed below the pair of arms 442a / 442b. The container 16 is received between the pair of arms 154, 156 and placed on the gripper plate 158. The container handling subassembly 42 may include an actuator, for example a rotational actuator 164 .

[0282] Container holder subassembly 158 may be located within or adjacent feeding area FA. Container holder subassembly 158 may include any suitable structure for securing containers 16 and preventing movement of containers 16. Container holder subassembly 158 may include a set of bars 162. The set of bars 162 protrude from a side wall of housing 10 into feeding area FA.

[0283] 42 and 43 are plan views of the container magazine 40. The container magazine 40 may also be referred to as a rotating magazine. The container magazine 40 includes a circular hub 166. The circular hub is configured as a circular wheel. The circular hub 166 defines a plurality of slots 168. The slots 168 are located around the circumference of the hub 166. Each of the slots 168 is configured to receive one or more containers 16. The containers 16 are stored in the container magazine 40 in a closed state C. The hub 166 may be rotatable about a central cavity 170. Rotation about the central cavity 170 allows the containers 16 to be transferred from the slots 168 into the central cavity 170. The central cavity 170 may include an entry opening 172. The slots 168 may be rotated about the central cavity 170 to align with the entry openings 172. The receptacle 16 may be transferred from the slot 168 to the central cavity 170 by a portion of the receptacle storage assembly 12. For example, the receptacle storage assembly 12 may include an arm 174. The arm 174 may be configured to push the receptacle 16 from the slot 168 into the central cavity 170. The arm 174 may push the receptacle 16 through an access window 172. The receptacle magazine 40 may rotate about a vertical or horizontal axis or any angle between each other. Once within the central cavity 170, the receptacle 16 is accessible to the receptacle handling subassembly 42 for subsequent transport within the feeding assembly 1.

[0284] 44, 45 and 46 show a container magazine 40. The container magazine 40 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16 in a closed configuration C. The containers 16 are stacked vertically.

[0285] In Figure 44, the containers 16 are stacked on top of one another. The lids 54 of the containers 16 support the container bases 52 of adjacent containers 16. The container magazine 40 includes an outer wall 176. The outer wall 176 defines a hollow interior of the magazine 40. The container magazine 40 includes a cover 178. The cover 178 may be removable to allow the containers 16 to be ejected.

[0286] In Figures 45 and 46, the containers 16 are supported by the container magazine 40. The container magazine 40 includes a plurality of slots 168. The slots 168 are formed in an outer wall 176. The slots 168 support the rim or flange 76 of the container 16. The slots 168 may be spaced apart from one another to accommodate containers 16 of different volumes. For example, a container 16 having a larger volume may use only some of the slots 168, whereas a container 16 of a smaller volume uses all or different slots. Figures 45 and 46 illustrate compatibility with containers 16 of different volumes.

[0287] 47 illustrates the container 16 in a partially open state O and in a closed state C. The container 16 in the closed state C also has a larger storage volume. The container 16 includes a container base 52 and a lid 54. The lid 54 is removable from the container base 52. The lid 54 may be removable via a peel force PF. The container base 52 includes a rim 76. The rim 76 is formed as a flange 77. The container base 52 includes one or more pockets 180. The pockets 180 are formed as part of the rim 76. The container base 52 has one or more alignment features 182. The alignment features 182 are formed as part of the rim 76. The container base 52 includes an engagement feature 184. The engagement feature 182 is formed as part of the rim 76. The lid 54 of the container 16 in the open state O includes an identifier 186. The container base 52 of the container 16 in the closed state C includes an identifier 186.

[0288] 48 shows a container base 52. The container base 52 includes a vertical axis VA extending through the container base 52. The vertical axis VA is substantially centered relative to the container base. The container base 52 includes a rim 76. The rim 76 is formed as a flange 77. A majority of the surface of the flange 77 defines a flange axis FA. The flange axis FA is substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis VA. The flange axis VA is aligned with opposing pockets 180. The flange 77 includes a pocket 180 formed therein. The pocket 180 is formed as a recess or transition in the surface of the flange 77. The pocket 180 projects downwardly in a direction substantially similar to the vertical axis VA. The pocket 180 projects away from the axis A. The flange 77 includes a key feature 188 formed therein. The key feature 188 defines a change in the circumferential profile of the flange 77. The key feature 188 includes one or more recesses 190. The recesses 190 project inwardly toward the vertical axis VA. The key feature 188 includes one or more straight edges 192. The straight edges 192 are substantially parallel to the axis A.

[0289] 49 and 50, a container 16 is shown. The container 16 includes a container base 52. The container base 52 is closed via a lid 54. The lid 54 is removably attached to the container base 52 via a seal member 198. The seal member 198 includes a stress increasing feature 196. The container base 52 includes a flange 77. The flange 77 includes a pocket 180 and a matching feature 182. The container 16 includes a tensioning feature 194. The tensioning feature 194 is provided as part of the lid 54. The container base 52 includes a flat surface 200.

[0290] 51-54 show the container 16 in a closed state C and an open state O. In the closed state, the lid 54 covers the container base 52. In the open state O, the lid 54 has been removed from the container base 52. The lid 54 and the container base 52 each include a key feature 188. The key feature 188 may be defined as the overall perimeter shape (e.g., two-dimensional planar shape and / or cross section) of the rim 76 and the lid 54. The lid 54 includes a handling portion 201. The lid 54 includes an extension tab 202. The extension tab 202 is the handling portion 201. The extension tab 202 may include a hook opening 204. The extension tab 202 may define a leading edge 206 of the lid. Opposite the leading edge 206 may be a trailing edge 208. The container base 52 may also include an extension tab 202. The extension tab 202 may also include a hook opening 204. The extension tab 202 may also be referred to as the lid reinforcement feature 203. The hook openings 204 may be aligned with one another. The container base 52 may include a score line 210. The score line 210 is located between the extension tab 202 and the remainder of the container base 52. The score line 210 allows the extension tab 202 to be broken away from the remainder of the rim 76. The container base 52 includes a seal member 198. The seal member 198 includes a stress increaser feature 196. The stress increaser feature 196 is located near where the leading edge 206 and the trailing edge 208 of the lid 54 are adjacent the container base 52. The seal member 198 includes a first seal member 198a and a second seal member 198b. The first seal member 198a is located at the rim 76. The second seal member 198b is located at the lid reinforcement feature 203.

[0291] 55-57 show different plan views of container 16 in both an open position O and a closed position C. Container 16 includes a container base 52. Container 16 includes a container base 52 to which a lid 54 is removably attached.

[0292] The container 16 includes a vertical axis VA. The vertical axis VA extends through the container base 52 through an opening defined by the rim 76 and / or the flange 77 and / or the lid 54. A transverse plane TP lies substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis VA. The transverse plane is substantially parallel to a flange plane FP and / or a rim plane RP. The flange plane FP is defined by the upper surface of the flange 77. The rim plane RP is defined by the upper surface of the rim 76. A longitudinal plane LP extends from the front to the rear of the container 16. The longitudinal plane LP may define a centerline CL of the container 16. A frontal plane FRP extends from side to side of the container 16. The frontal plane FRP divides the container 16 from the front and rear.

[0293] The container includes a height H, a length L, and a width W. The height H is measured parallel to a vertical axis VA. The height H is measured from the top to the bottom of the container 16. The length L is measured from the front to the rear. The length L is measured parallel to a longitudinal plane LP. The width W is measured from side to side. The width W is measured parallel to a frontal plane FRP.

[0294] The lid 54 includes a handling portion 201. The handling portion 201 may or may not include a hook opening 204. The handling portion 201 may be located toward and / or at the front of the container 16.

[0295] The handling portion 201 may be attached to a lid reinforcement feature 203. The lid reinforcement feature 203 may include a vertically extending portion 203a and a lid contacting portion 203b.

[0296] Unless otherwise stated, any numerical value described herein includes all values ​​from the lower value to the higher value in increments of one unit, provided that there is at least two units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, when a value of an ingredient amount, property, or process variable, such as temperature, pressure, time, and the like, is described as being, for example, 1 to 90, preferably 20 to 80, more preferably 30 to 70, the values ​​in the ranges between (e.g., 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32, etc.) are intended to be within the scope of the teachings of this specification. Similarly, values ​​between individual values ​​are also within the scope of the teachings. For values ​​less than 1, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, or 0.1, as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended, and all possible combinations of numerical values ​​between the lowest and highest values ​​listed should be considered to be explicitly described in a similar format in this application.

[0297] Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of "about" or "approximately" in conjunction with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, "about 20 to 30" is intended to cover "about 20 to about 30," inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.

[0298] The term "approximately" or "substantially" to describe an angular dimension may mean about + / -10° or less, about + / -5° or less, or even about + / -1° or less. The term "approximately" or "substantially" to describe an angular dimension may mean about + / -0.01° or more, about + / -0.1° or more, or even about + / -0.5° or more. The term "approximately" or "substantially" to describe a line dimension, percentage, or ratio may mean about + / -10% or less, about + / -5% or less, or even about + / -1% or less. The term "approximately" or "substantially" to describe a line dimension, percentage, or ratio may mean about + / -0.01% or more, about + / -0.1% or more, or even about + / -0.5% or more.

[0299] The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term "consisting essentially of" to describe a combination includes the identified element, component, ingredient, or step and other elements, components, ingredients, or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms "comprising" or "including" to describe a combination of elements, components, ingredients, or steps herein contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of or even consist of the elements, components, ingredients, or steps. A plurality of elements, components, ingredients, or steps may be provided by a single integrated element, component, ingredient, or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, component, ingredient, or step may be divided into a plurality of separate elements, components, ingredients, or steps. The disclosure of "given (a)" or "one" to describe an element, component, ingredient, or step is not intended to exclude additional elements, components, ingredients, ingredients, or steps.

[0300] Of course, the above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Many embodiments and applications in addition to the examples provided will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be determined with reference to the above description, but instead with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents encompassed by such claims. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein should not be construed as a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor as an indication that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the subject matter of the disclosed invention.

Claims

1. 1. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, comprising: a) a receptacle containment subassembly configured to contain one or more receptacles of the hood therein; b) a container handling subassembly and / or a transport subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a given container from said container storage subassembly and transport it to a feeding area; c) a container opening subassembly configured to open the container prior to presentation to the animal; d) optionally a waste collection subassembly configured to receive said one or more containers after presentation at said feeding area; a feeding assembly including:

2. 1. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, comprising: a) a container containment subassembly configured to contain a plurality of containers of the hood therein; b) a container handling subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a selected container from said container storage subassembly; c) a container transport subassembly configured to move the container handling subassembly in one or a linear direction from a loading position in the container storage subassembly to a feeding position in the feeding area; d) a container opening subassembly configured to open the container during transfer from the container storage subassembly to the feeding area, the container opening subassembly configured to engage a lid and apply a peel force to remove the lid from the container; e) a waste collection subassembly configured to receive the one or more containers after presentation at the feeding area; and a feeding assembly including:

3. 1. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, comprising: a) a container containment subassembly configured to contain a plurality of containers of the hood therein; b) a container handling subassembly and / or a transport subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a given container from said container storage subassembly and transport it to a feeding area; c) a container opening subassembly having a pair of jaws and / or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grab, hold, hook) a lid of the container, and configured, together with the container handling subassembly and / or the container transport subassembly, to apply a peel force to the lid of the container to remove the lid and open the container by moving the container handling subassembly relative to the container opening subassembly, moving the container opening subassembly relative to the container handling subassembly, or moving both relative to each other; d) optionally a waste collection subassembly configured to receive said one or more containers after presentation at said feeding area; a feeding assembly including:

4. 1. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present food to an animal for consumption, comprising: a) a container containment subassembly, i) a hopper configured to store a plurality of containers of the hood therein; ii) a restraining mechanism configured to retain the plurality of containers within the hopper and selectively release a given container from the plurality of containers; a container containment subassembly having b) a container handling subassembly configured to retrieve and / or receive a selected container from said container storage subassembly; c) a container transport subassembly configured to move the container handling subassembly in one or a linear direction from a loading position in the container storage subassembly to a feeding position in the feeding area, the container transport subassembly including one or more drive units that convert rotation to linear movement in conjunction with the container handling subassembly; d) a container opening subassembly having a pair of jaws and / or hooks configured to engage (e.g., grab, hold, hook) a lid of the container, and configured, together with the container handling subassembly and / or the container transport subassembly, to apply a peel force to the lid of the container to remove the lid and open the container by moving the container handling subassembly relative to the container opening subassembly, moving the container opening subassembly relative to the container handling subassembly, or moving both relative to each other; e) a waste collection subassembly configured to receive the one or more containers after presentation at the feeding area; and a feeding assembly including:

5. 5. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container opening subassembly is configured to present a container base of a container in which the food is stored to the feeding area to present the food to an animal for consumption.

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

7. 7. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container opening subassembly is configured to engage a lid of the container and peel the lid from the container base.

8. 8. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container handling subassembly moves relative to the container opening subassembly, the container opening subassembly moves relative to the container handling subassembly, or the container opening subassembly and the container handling subassembly move relative to each other such that the container opening subassembly applies a peeling force to the lid.

9. 9. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the container opening subassembly includes and / or functions as an arm, a knife, a clamp, a can opener, a vacuum source, a pair of jaws, the like, or any combination thereof.

10. 10. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container opening subassembly is located between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area, near an opening position of the container handling subassembly, between a loading position and a feeding position of the container handling subassembly, the like, or any combination thereof.

11. 11. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container opening subassembly is located above the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both, adjacent to the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both, below the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both, and / or in the vicinity of the container handling subassembly, the waste collection subassembly, or both.

12. The feeding assembly of claim 11 , wherein the container opening subassembly is located above the container handling subassembly and the waste collection subassembly.

13. 13. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container opening subassembly includes a pair of jaws configured to grip and clamp a portion of the lid at its leading edge, a hook configured to engage (e.g., be inserted into) a removal opening in the portion of the lid at its leading edge, or both.

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

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

16. A feeding assembly according to claim 14 or 15, wherein one or both of the jaws are movable via one or more drive units.

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

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

19. 19. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the container opening sub-assembly is mounted to a support plate of a housing, the support plate being located above a base of the housing.

20. 20. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container storage subassembly is configured to hold a plurality of containers and selectively release the containers into the container handling subassembly.

21. 21. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container storage subassembly is configured to hold the plurality of containers and the container handling subassembly is configured to selectively remove the containers.

22. 22. The feeding assembly of claim 1, wherein the container storage subassembly includes a hopper configured to directly accommodate one or more stacks (e.g., columns) of a plurality of containers therein or to removably accommodate one or more container magazines having the plurality of containers stored therein.

23. 23. The feeding assembly of claim 22, wherein the container magazine includes one or more slots and / or pockets for maintaining the plurality of containers.

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

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

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

27. 27. The feeding assembly of claim 26, wherein the constraining mechanism comprises one or more rollers, drive units, gears, pulleys and / or the like.

28. 28. The feeding assembly of claim 27, wherein the one or more rollers are located partially within one or more notches in the hopper to engage one or more rims and / or flanges of the container.

29. the rollers support a flange of the container such that the container is held stationary within the hopper when the rollers are stationary; When the rollers are rotating, the container is released from the hopper.

30. A feeding assembly as claimed in claim 28.

30. 30. A feeding assembly as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the one or more rollers include one or more rotating shafts, fins, worm gears and / or the like.

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

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

33. 33. A feeding assembly as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein the one or more notches are located adjacent and / or near the outlet of the hopper, along a width of the hopper, along a length or height of the hopper, or a combination thereof.

34. 34. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 26 to 33, wherein the restraining mechanism is assembled to the same part of the housing as the hopper.

35. 35. The feeding assembly of claim 34, wherein the restraining mechanism is mounted to a support plate of the housing.

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

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

38. 38. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein the housing includes an upper cover.

39. 39. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1 to 38, wherein the container storage subassembly is located adjacent to, in the vicinity of, below, and / or above the container handling subassembly, the container opening subassembly and / or the waste collection subassembly.

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

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

42. 42. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the container handling sub-assembly is configured to releasably engage one or more containers.

43. 43. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1 to 42, wherein the container handling subassembly is configured to be moved between a plurality of positions within the feeding assembly by the container transport subassembly.

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

45. 45. The feeding assembly of claim 44, wherein in the loading position, the container handling subassembly is configured to be positioned relative to the container storage subassembly to receive and / or remove containers from the container storage subassembly.

46. 46. ​​The feeding assembly of claim 45, wherein in the loaded position, the container handling subassembly is located below an outlet of the container storage subassembly.

47. 47. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 44 to 46, wherein in the loaded position, the container handling sub-assembly is located towards the rear of the feeding assembly.

48. 48. A feeding assembly as claimed in any one of claims 44 to 47, wherein in the open position, the container handling sub-assembly is configured to be positioned to allow opening of the container via the container opening sub-assembly.

49. 49. The feeding assembly of claim 48, wherein in the open position, the container handling subassembly is positioned below the container opening subassembly.

50. 50. A feeding assembly according to claim 48 or 49, wherein in the open position, the container handling subassembly is located in an intermediate region of the feeding assembly, between the container storage subassembly and the feeding region, or both.

51. 51. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 50, wherein in the feeding position, the container handling sub-assembly is configured to be positioned to present and / or place the container within the feeding area.

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

53. 53. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 44 to 52, wherein in the disposal position, the container handling subassembly is configured to be positioned to dispose of or release containers into a waste collection subassembly.

54. 54. The feeding assembly of claim 53, wherein in the disposal position, the container handling subassembly resides adjacent to one or more disposal subassemblies and above the waste collection subassembly.

55. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1 to 54, wherein the container handling subassembly includes a shuttle assembly, a gripper assembly, or both, configured to receive and / or remove containers, hold containers during movement within the feeding assembly, release the containers, or a combination thereof.

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

57. 57. A feeding assembly as claimed in claim 55 or 56, wherein the shuttle assembly is configured to cooperate with one or more receptacle disposal subassemblies to push the receptacles from the receptacle handling subassembly and into a waste collection subassembly.

58. 58. A feeding assembly as claimed in any one of claims 55 to 57, wherein the one or more container disposal subassemblies are configured to contact the disposal bar and urge the disposal bar towards the cradle and the container to apply a compressive force to the container.

59. 59. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 55 to 58, wherein the cradle of the container handling sub-assembly remains stationary relative to the container upon receiving the container therein.

60. 60. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 55 to 59, wherein the cradle has a shape that substantially correlates with at least a portion of an outer periphery of the container.

61. 56. The feeding assembly of claim 55, wherein the gripper assembly includes one or more pairs of arms, a support, a drive unit (e.g., an actuator), a base, or a combination thereof.

62. A feeding assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 61, wherein the container transport subassembly is connected to or is part of the container handling subassembly and is configured to translate the container handling subassembly in one or more linear directions, axes or both.

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

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

65. 65. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 62 to 64, wherein the container transport subassembly includes one or more support structures, drive units, trolleys, conveyor belts, track chains, rollers, actuators movable on rails, one or more ramps, the like, or combinations thereof.

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

67. 67. The feeding assembly of claim 66, wherein the one or more support structures have the one or more container handling subassemblies mounted thereto, one or more further support structures mounted to the container handling subassemblies, or both.

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

69. the one or more drive shafts (e.g., lead screws) are rotationally engaged to one or more bearings of the container handling subassembly; the one or more drive shafts and the one or more bearings (e.g., through holes) are configured (e.g., threadedly engaged) to convert rotation to linear movement to cause linear translation of the container handling subassembly; 69. A feeding assembly as described in claim 68.

70. 68. A feeding assembly as described in any one of claims 62 to 67, wherein the one or more support shafts are engaged with one or more bearings to provide a bearing surface for the one or more bearings to slide against when driven via the drive shaft.

71. 71. The feeding assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more container disposal subassemblies configured to cooperate with the container handling subassembly to push the containers into the waste collection subassembly.

72. 72. The feeding assembly of claim 71, wherein the one or more receptacle disposal subassemblies include one or more mounts, plungers, and / or biasing devices.

73. 73. A feeding assembly according to claim 71 or 72, wherein the one or more receptacle disposal subassemblies are assembled along a path of the receptacle handling subassembly from a feeding position to a disposal position, a rest position and / or a loading position.

74. the container disposal subassembly includes one or more plungers biased outwardly toward a path of the container handling subassembly via one or more biasing devices; the one or more plungers are configured to contact and transmit a biasing force to a disposal bar of a container handling subassembly; 74. A feeding assembly as claimed in claim 72 or 73.

75. 75. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1-74, wherein the one or more waste collection subassemblies include one or more waste bins.

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

77. 77. A feeding assembly as claimed in claim 75 or 76, wherein the one or more waste receptacles are one or more waste drawers located within a base of the housing.

78. 78. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1-77, wherein the feeding assembly includes one or more sensing devices.

79. 80. A feeding assembly as described in claim 78, wherein the one or more sensing devices include one or more identification sensors, presence sensors, position sensors, weight sensors, the like, or any combination thereof.

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

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

82. 82. A feeding assembly as described in claim 80 or 81, wherein the one or more identification sensors include one or more radio frequency transmitters, barcode readers, QR code readers, near field communication transmitters (NFC), image sensors, optical sensors, the like, or any combination thereof.

83. 83. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 80 to 82, wherein the one or more identification sensors are configured to receive (e.g., or a signal relating to) one or more parameters of the container or food within the container.

84. 84. A feeding assembly as described in any one of claims 80 to 83, wherein the one or more identification sensors are located near a container storage subassembly, a container handling subassembly, or both, so as to interrogate one or more identifiers of one or more containers, form a connection with one or more identifiers of one or more containers, or both.

85. A feeding assembly as described in any one of claims 79 to 84, wherein the one or more presence sensors are configured to detect whether a container has been removed by, received into, and / or properly positioned within the container handling subassembly.

86. 86. The feeding assembly of claim 85, wherein the one or more presence sensors include one or more mass sensors, capacitive sensors, infrared sensors, laser sensors (e.g., time-of-flight), ultrasonic sensors, membrane sensors, radio frequency (RF) admittance sensors, conductivity sensors, optical interface sensors, microwave sensors, the like, or combinations thereof.

87. 87. A feeding assembly as described in claim 85 or 86, wherein the one or more presence sensors are positioned proximate (e.g., adjacent) to a loading location, the container storage subassembly, the container handling subassembly, or a combination thereof.

88. 88. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 85-87, wherein the one or more presence sensors are positioned towards a rear side of the feeding assembly.

89. 89. A feeding assembly as claimed in any one of claims 85 to 88, wherein the one or more presence sensors are mounted adjacent to a passageway of the intermediate support, support plate or both, towards the rear of the passageway of the intermediate support, support plate or both, or both.

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

91. 91. The feeding assembly of claim 90, wherein the one or more position sensors are positioned proximate (e.g., adjacent) to a loading location, the container storage subassembly, the container handling subassembly, or a combination thereof.

92. 92. A feeding assembly according to claim 90 or 91, wherein the one or more position sensors are positioned towards a rear side of the feeding assembly.

93. 93. A feeding assembly as claimed in any one of claims 90 to 92, wherein the one or more position sensors are mounted adjacent to the passage of the intermediate support, support plate or both, towards the rear of the passage of the intermediate support, support plate or both, or both.

94. 94. A feeding assembly according to any one of claims 79 to 93, wherein the one or more weight sensors are configured to measure a weight of a container before placement in the feeding area and after removal from the feeding area.

95. 95. A feeding assembly as described in claim 94, wherein the one or more weight sensors include one or more strain gauges (including load cells), impedance sensors (e.g., capacitance-based weight sensors), hydraulic sensors, pneumatic sensors, the like, or any combination thereof.

96. A feeding assembly as described in claim 94 or 95, wherein the one or more weight sensors are attached to or are part of one of the housing, the container handling subassembly, the transport subassembly, or a combination thereof.

97. 97. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1 to 96, wherein the feeding assembly includes one or more temperature control devices configured to maintain and / or vary the temperature of food in the receptacle or receptacles.

98. 98. A feeding assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a controller configured to automate the interaction of one or more components within the subassembly.

99. The container comprises: a) a container base defining a hood cavity configured to hold a hood therein; i) one or more flanges including and / or forming one or more key features configured to provide one or more orientations of the container; a container substrate comprising: b) a lid removably attached to the container base and configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (e.g., a subassembly) to peel the lid from the container; i) a handling portion including a bottom surface of the lid exposed through the one or more flanges and / or one or more rims of the container base; ii) the handling portion extending beyond the container base such that a bottom surface of the lid is exposed (e.g., from the one or more flanges) and includes a reinforcing structure attached thereto; or iii) the handling portion extending away from the container base with the reinforcing features of the one or more flanges attached thereto and configured to be engaged by a container opening structure (e.g., a subassembly) to peel the lid from the container base. A lid and 99. The feeding assembly of any one of claims 1-98, comprising:

100. 100. A system comprising a feeding assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 99, the feeding assembly including one or more communication modules and configured to be connected to a network.

101. 101. The system of claim 100, wherein the feeding assembly is in communication with one or more computing devices via the network and is controllable over the network via the one or more computing devices.

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

103. 103. The system of any one of claims 100 to 102, wherein an application is accessible by or stored on the computing device configured to interact with the feeding assembly over the network.

104. 104. A system according to any one of claims 100 to 103, wherein the network includes one or more servers including one or more storage media with one or more databases.

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

106. the one or more animal profile databases storing therein one or more parameters assigned to one or more animals; The one or more parameters may include age, sex, breed, weight, color, medical information, feeding information (e.g., portions, schedule), the like, or any combination thereof; A system according to any one of claims 100 to 105.

107. the one or more food databases storing therein one or more parameters of food; The one or more parameters may include compatibility with the feeding assembly, the type of food in the container, the volume of food in the container, a nutritional value assigned to the food in the container, the brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, the production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, the expiration date of the food in the container, the period of time that the food may be opened and exposed to ambient temperatures before beginning to spoil, the like, or any combination thereof.

107. A system according to any one of claims 100 to 106.

108. 1. A method for automatically providing food to an animal for ingestion by a feeding assembly, comprising: a) a container handling subassembly automatically receiving and / or retrieving a selected container of the hood from a container storage subassembly; b) the container handling subassembly automatically moves the container to a feeding area and presents the container for consumption; c) the container handling subassembly automatically moves the container to a waste collection subassembly and releases the container into the waste collection subassembly; A method comprising:

109. 109. The method of claim 108, wherein the feeding assembly is a feeding assembly described in any one of claims 1-98.

110. The method of claim 108 or 109, wherein the container is a container as described in claim 99.

111. A method according to any one of claims 108 to 110, wherein the method uses a system according to any one of claims 100 to 107.

112. 112. The method of any one of claims 108 to 111, the method including automatically opening the container by a container opening subassembly during movement between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area.

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

114. said opening includes engaging a front edge of said lid and / or a removal opening adjacent said front edge with said container opening subassembly; moving the container opening subassembly relative to the container handling subassembly, moving the container handling subassembly relative to the container opening subassembly, or moving the container opening subassembly and the container handling subassembly relative to each other; 114. The method of claim 112 or 113, comprising:

115. 115. The method of claim 114, wherein engaging the leading edge and / or the removal opening also includes engaging a lid reinforcing feature of the container base.

116. 116. The method of claim 115, wherein upon application of a peel force, the lid reinforcement feature breaks from the container substrate while remaining attached to the lid.

117. 117. The method of claim 115 or 116, wherein the lid reinforcing feature causes the peel force to be initially distributed outwardly, away from a centerline of the lid, toward a peripheral edge of the lid, seal member, or both.

118. 118. The method of any one of claims 115 to 117, wherein the lid reinforcing feature distributes the peel force after passing through the wider portion and / or midpoint of the container towards the centerline of the lid.

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

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

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