Automatic feeding assembly

Abstract

An automatic feeding assembly (1) is configured to store a plurality of food containers (16), open a food container (16), present the food container in a feeding area (32), and collect the waste generated from the feeding process. The feeding assembly may include a container storage subassembly (12) for retaining a stack of containers. The feeding assembly may have a container handling subassembly (42) and transport subassembly (44) configured to move the container throughout the feeding assembly. The feeding assembly may have a container opening subassembly (46) for automatically opening a container during movement toward the feeding area. The feeding assembly may include a waste receptacle (36) configured as a rotating carousel.

Description

AUTOMATIC FEEDING ASSEMBLYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 599,131, filed on November 15, 2023 and 63 / 647,687, filed on May 15, 2024; and which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for autonomously providing food to animals. The present disclosure may find use in presenting a container of food, such as wet food and / or dry food, to an animal. The present disclosure may find use in automatically removing a lid or other covering from food before automatically presenting a container to an animal for consumption.BACKGROUND

[0003] Many households include one or more pets, such as a cat or a dog. Among pets, cats are unique animals who form a strong social bond with humans, but at the same time, like to maintain their independence. A major concern with cats is timely feeding of the cats and providing them with a heathy mixture of wet food and dry food to maintain their health. Cats tend to be creatures of habit and prefer set feeding times and rituals. Cats may not prefer eating from certain shapes or types of feeding containers, such as, for example, bowls formed from gelatinous materials, and may have trouble removing food from containers having sharp comers. Moreover, cats can be messy eaters, and many cats take their food out of their bowl and drop it on the ground for eating. Thus, there is a need for systems and methods to allow for timely, reliable, and healthy feeding of a cat, even when a caregiver of the cat is not available to prepare and present food to the cat, to maintain the physical and mental health of cats.

[0004] Elegant solutions for presenting wet food for consumption by an animal directly from the storage container are disclosed in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2023 / 220751 and WO 2023 / 220752, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. There is an ongoing need to continue improvement upon the automated feeders disclosed therein to improve the user experience for both the consumer and the animal.

[0005] There is a need to refine the hopper such as to maintain alignment of the containers therein. There is a need to engage the hopper with the housing of the feeding assembly to avoid accidental disengagement, such as by being pushed by the animal or a curious child. There is also a need to ensure the hopper is properly reinstalled into the feeding assembly after being refilled with containers.

[0006] There is a need to provide a container moving mechanism which can cooperate with both the hopper and the feeding area with simple and reliable components. There is a need to provide a container handling mechanism which can easily raise a container into a feeding position while avoiding a more complex transport subassembly which may allow for movement in multiple axes of direction.

[0007] There is a need to improve the reliability of an opening mechanism. A stronger pinch force may be beneficial in better gripping a lid for removal from the container.

[0008] There is a need to continue to improve utilization of space within a waste receptacle to collect waste from the feeding process. A static waste receptacle may result in the waste concentrating in one area and piling which may result in a shorter amount of time between emptying by a user or a taller base which may be too high to provide a comfortable feeding height for the animal.

[0009] There is a need to weigh the container throughout the feeding process.SUMMARY

[0010] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; b) a container storage subassembly configured to store a plurality of containers in a closed configuration, wherein the container storage assembly includes: i) a hopper having a hollow interior in which the plurality of containers may be stacked and retained; ii) an inlet opening and an outlet opening providing access into the hollow interior; and c) a restraint mechanism for retaining the plurality of containers within the hopper which is located at or adjacent to the outlet opening.

[0011] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; b) a container handling subassembly configured to retrieve and retain the container and display in the feeding area; c) a transport subassembly affixed to the container handling subassembly and configured to move the container handling subassembly within the feeding assembly.

[0012] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; and b) a waste collection subassembly with a waste receptacle in the form of waste carousel which rotates for collecting the container after being presented for consumption.

[0013] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; and b) a container opening subassembly comprising a pair of jaws configured to grasp and pinch a leading edge of a lid to remove a lid from the container such as to provide the container in the open configuration.

[0014] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly comprising: a) a base including one or more weight sensors; b) a mid-support including a container handling subassembly for moving one or more containers within the feeding assembly, wherein the mid-support rests upon and or / is affixed to the one more weight sensors while being free of direct attachment to the base; and c) a container storage subassembly affixed indirectly or directly to the base while being free of contact to the mid-support and free of having any weight detected by the one or more weight sensors.

[0015] The present teachings relate to a method of operating a feeding assembly comprising: a) a container handling subassembly automatically retrieving a container of the food from a container storage subassembly; b) the container handling subassembly automatically moving the container to a feeding area and presenting the container for consumption; c) automatically opening the container by a container opening subassembly in route to the feeding area; and d) automatically disposing of the container from the container handling subassembly into a waste collection subassembly.

[0016] The present teachings may provide for an automatic feeding assembly. The automatic feeding assembly may be beneficial in storing containers of food and automatically dispensing food for consumption by an animal. The containers of food may be suitable for wet food and / or dry food. The feeding assembly may be compatible with containers of wet food. The feeding assembly may provide an assembly and method for storing, opening, and displaying containers of wet food to an animal for consumption therefrom. This may avoid wet food being in contact with components of the feeding assembly, a user needing to prepare wet food in serving compartments, or both. The feeding assembly may provide automatic waste collection thus eliminating clean up after each individual serving.

[0017] The present teachings may provide for a container storage subassembly including a restraint mechanism, compression device, or both for maintaining alignment of the containers. A restraint mechanism may cooperate with a container handling subassembly for simple retrieval of the container. A lock system may engage the container storage subassembly with a housing. The present teachings may provide a container handling subassembly which may include one or more features therein which can be raised or lowered while still cooperating with only linear fore aft movement via the transport subassembly. The present teachings may provide for a container opening mechanism utilizing one or more drive units, cams, bearings, and / or biasing devices to improve a pinch force. The present teachings may provide for a rotating waste carousel to uniformly distribute the waste therein. The present teachings may provide for one or more weight sensors which are isolated from a portion of the housing such as to be able to weigh a single container while avoiding the weight of other containers in the feeding assembly.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a feeding assembly in a closed position.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a feeding assembly in an open position.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a feeding assembly in an open position.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a front view of a feeding assembly.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a feeding assembly.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a top view of a feeding assembly.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a feeding assembly.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a left side view of a feeding assembly in an open position.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a right side view of a feeding assembly in a closed position.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a feeding assembly without a top cover.

[0028] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a container storage subassembly.

[0029] FIG. 12 is another front perspective view of a container storage subassembly.

[0030] FIG. 13 is atop perspective view of a container storage subassembly.

[0031] FIG. 14 is a close-up view of a retaining clip.

[0032] FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of a retaining clip holding a container.

[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a retaining clip holding a container.

[0034] FIG. 17 is a cross-section view of a container storage subassembly.

[0035] FIG. 18 is a left side perspective view of a container storage subassembly.

[0036] FIG. 19 is a close-up view of a compression device.

[0037] FIG. 20 is a cross-section view of a container storage subassembly.

[0038] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a container storage subassembly retaining a plurality of containers.

[0039] FIG. 22 is a top view of a container storage subassembly retaining a plurality of containers.

[0040] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a portion of a feeding assembly.

[0041] FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of a container handling subassembly holding a container.

[0042] FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of a container handling subassembly.

[0043] FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view of a container handling subassembly.

[0044] FIG. 27 is a cross-section view of a container handling subassembly holding a container.

[0045] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a mid-support.

[0046] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an upper support.

[0047] FIG. 30 is a bottom perspective view of an upper support.

[0048] FIG. 31 is a close-up view of an upper support at a feeding area.

[0049] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a container handling subassembly presenting a container.

[0050] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a base and transport subassembly.

[0051] FIG. 34 is a top view of a base and transport subassembly.

[0052] FIG. 35 is a close-up view of a container handling subassembly in a loading position.

[0053] FIG. 36 is an exploded view of a waste receptacle.

[0054] FIG. 37 is a partially exploded view of a feeder subassembly.

[0055] FIG. 38 is a top perspective view of a base with a waste collection subassembly.

[0056] FIG. 39 is a top perspective view of a base and waste drawer.

[0057] FIG. 40 is a cross-section of a portion of the feeding assembly.

[0058] FIG. 41 is a cross-section view of a base.

[0059] FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a waste receptacle in the form of a waste carousel.

[0060] FIG. 43 is a cross-section view of a waste receptacle.

[0061] FIG. 44 is a drop pattern of waste into a waste receptacle.

[0062] FIG. 45 is a drop pattern of waste into a waste receptacle.

[0063] FIG. 46 is a drop pattern of waste into a waste receptacle.

[0064] FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a base and mid-support.

[0065] FIG. 48 is a top view of a base and mid-support.

[0066] FIG. 49 is atop view of a base.

[0067] FIG. 50 is a front perspective view of a container opening subassembly.

[0068] FIG. 51 is a rear perspective view of a container opening subassembly.

[0069] FIG. 52 is a container opening subassembly in a resting or open position.

[0070] FIG. 53 is a container opening subassembly in a closed or opening position.

[0071] FIG. 54A is a container opening subassembly in a resting or open position.

[0072] FIG. 54B is a container opening subassembly in a closed or opening position.

[0073] FIG. 55 is a front perspective view of a feeding assembly in a closed position.

[0074] FIG. 56 is a rear perspective view of a feeding assembly.

[0075] FIG. 57 is a front view of a feeding assembly.

[0076] FIG. 58 is a rear view of a feeding assembly.

[0077] FIG. 59 is a top view of a feeding assembly.

[0078] FIG. 60 is a bottom view of a feeding assembly.

[0079] FIG. 61 is a left side view of a feeding assembly.

[0080] FIG. 62 is a front perspective view of a feeding assembly in an open position.

[0081] FIG. 63 is an exploded view of a feeding assembly.

[0082] FIG. 64 is a top perspective view of a base and waste collection subassembly.

[0083] FIG. 65 is a top view of a base and waste collection subassembly.

[0084] FIG. 66 is a perspective view of a waste collection subassembly.

[0085] FIG. 67 is a perspective view of a base.

[0086] FIG. 68 is a perspective view of a mid-support.

[0087] FIG. 69 is a perspective view of an upper support.

[0088] FIG. 70 is a close-up view of an upper support and container handling subassembly.

[0089] FIG. 71 is a top perspective view of a base cover.

[0090] FIG. 72 is a bottom perspective view of a base cover.

[0091] FIG. 73 is a perspective view of a container storage subassembly.

[0092] FIG. 74 is a perspective view of a container storage subassembly.

[0093] FIG. 75 is a front perspective view of atop cover.

[0094] FIG. 76 is a rear perspective view of a top cover.

[0095] FIG. 77 is a front perspective view of an interior of a top cover.

[0096] FIG. 78 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0097] FIG. 78 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0098] FIG. 78 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0099] FIG. 78 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0100] FIG. 79 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0101] FIG. 80 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0102] FIG. 81 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0103] FIG. 82 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0104] FIG. 83 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0105] FIG. 84 is a cross-section view of a feeding assembly.

[0106] FIG. 85 illustrates a detecting range of an animal identifier of the feeding assembly.

[0107] FIG. 86 is a perspective view of a container in a closed configuration.

[0108] FIG. 87 is a perspective view of a container in an open configuration.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0109] The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the present teachings, its principles, and its practical application. The specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the present teachings. The scope of the present teachings should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.

[0110] Feeding Assembly[oni] The present teachings relate to a feeding assembly. The feeding assembly may be any device that includes and dispenses food for consumption by an animal. The feeding assembly may provide a comfortable eating experience for an animal. The feeding assembly may store packaged food, automatically open packaged food, present food for consumption, collect waste generated from automatic feeding, or a combination thereof. The feeding assembly may be particularly useful in automatically opening a container of food sealed by a lid and dispensing the food therefrom. The feeding assembly may be particularly useful in collecting waste associated with feeding an animal, sealing in odors associated with food waste, or both. The feeding assembly may be configured to retain a plurality of containers, dispense food therefrom for serving, or both. The feeding assembly may be at least partially automated.

[0112] The feeding assembly may include a housing, container storage subassembly, container handling subassembly, transport subassembly, waste collection subassembly, dispensing subassembly, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0113] The feeding assembly may be an automated feeding assembly.

[0114] The food may include any type of food suitable for consumption by an animal. 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 served in or mixed with a liquid. A liquid may refer to water, broth, gravy, or other liquid. Dry food may refer to food substantially free of liquid, may be in the form of granular material, or both. The food may be stored within a container. The food may be sealed into a container by a lid.

[0115] The animal may be any domestic animal. A domestic animal may include a dog, cat, pig, rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, ferret, the like, or any combination thereof. In a typical pet-owning household, the domestic animal may include one or more cats, dogs, or both.

[0116] The feeding assembly may include a housing. A housing may function to house and / or support various components of the feeding assembly, provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the feeding assembly, or both. A housing may include one or more bases, mid-supports, base covers, top covers, the like, or any combination thereof. A housing may provide for or define a feeding area.

[0117] A housing may be formed from any suitable material. Suitable materials may be easily cleaned, be suitable for contact with food, or both. Suitable materials may include plastics, polymers, metals (e.g., aluminum), alloys, any other suitable material, or a combination thereof.

[0118] The housing may define an internal volume within which at least some of the subassemblies and components of the feeding assembly may be disposed. The housing may be divided into various sections with each section housing one or more of the subassemblies of the assembly. The housing may include or be coupled to housing receptacles included in the container storage subassembly and one or more waste collection subassemblies.

[0119] A housing may support and / or house a container storage subassembly, container handling subassembly, transport subassembly, container opening subassembly, disposal subassembly, waste collection subassembly, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0120] A housing may include one or more bases. A base may function to support other housing components, provide a surface which rests on a supporting surface, house a waste collection subassembly, house one or more electric components, house one or more restraint mechanisms, or a combination thereof. A base may have any shape, size, and / or configuration to provide part of or the overall footprint (e.g., length and width) of the feeder assembly. A base may have a three-dimensional shape which is substantially or partially a cuboid, cube, U or C-shaped trough, sphere, annular cylinder, spherical ring, cylinder, prism, cone, the like, or any combination thereof. A cuboid or cube shape may provide for balanced support of the overall housing and components being supported by the housing. A base may be formed by a bottom wall and one or more side walls projecting upward form the bottom wall. A base may include one or more support structures, resting supports, cavities, and / or the like. A base may be formed as a one-piece, integral component, or be an assembly.

[0121] A base may include one or more support structures. One or more support structures may function to have one or more other components resting thereon or affixed thereto. One or more support structures may be located within the base. One or more support structures may be formed in a bottom wall, one or more side walls, or both. One or more support structures may be located along one or more edges of one or more side walls. One or more support structures may be located within a component cavity of a base. One or more support structures may include one or more mounting brackets, weight sensors (e.g., load cells), retention tabs, retention tab openings, cradles, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more support structures may retain a mid-support, base cover, top cover, container storage subassembly, or a combination thereof. One or more support structures may retain one or more sensing devices, drive units, power sources, power connections, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0122] A base may include one or more resting supports. One or more resting supports may or may not be configured to adapt to uneven surfaces. One or more resting supports may include one or more feet, ridges, and / or the like. The one or more resting supports may be adjustable so that the device may rest level on a resting surface. The one or more resting supports may be located at the bottom surface (e.g., bottom wall) of a base. The one or more resting supports may include a plurality of resting supports. The resting supports may be distributed about or close to a peripheral edge of the bottom surface.

[0123] A base may include one or more cavities. The one or more cavities may extend partially or completely through the base. The cavities may include a waste cavity, power cavity, component cavity, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0124] A base may include a waste cavity. A waste cavity may be a cavity configured to retain one or more waste collection subassemblies therein. A waste cavity may extend partially or completely through the base. A waste cavity may commence at the front, rear, or both, of the base. A waste cavity may be configured as a drawer cavity. A drawer cavity may be suitable for cooperating with one or more waste collection subassemblies configured as a drawer. A waste cavity may include one or more rails. One or more rails may be part of or affixed to the base. One or more rails may be formed on inside surface(s) of one or more side walls (e.g., opposing side walls). One or more rails may cooperate with one or more grooves, flanges, edges, or combination thereof of a waste collection subassembly. One or more rails may slidably engage with one or more flanges of a waste drawer. The waste cavity may be accessible via one or more drawer openings. A drawer opening may be formed at the front, rear, and / or side of the base. The drawer opening may be reciprocal with a front of a waste drawer, closed off by the front of the waste drawer, or both.

[0125] A base may include a component cavity. A component cavity may function to retain one or more components (e.g., electrical components) of a feeding assembly. One or more components may include one or more retaining clips, sensing devices, drive units, adapters for power sources, controllers, communication modules, and / or the like may be located within the component cavity. The component may be the same or separate from the waste cavity. If separated, separation may be from an internal wall within the base. The component cavity may be adjacent to the waste cavity.

[0126] A housing may include one or more mid-supports. A mid-support may function to provide a container display opening; support a transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, container storage subassembly, top cover, one or more sensing devices, one or more drive units, one or more sensing devices, and / or the like; or a combination thereof. A mid-support may be isolated from other parts of the housing, may function to isolate some components from other components, or both. A mid-support may rest upon one or more support structures of a base . A mid-support may rest upon and / or be affixed to a base, be located above a waste cavity, be located above a waste collection subassembly, be located above a retaining clip, or a combination thereof. A mid-support may be located below a top cover, below a base cover, below a container storage subassembly, below a container opening subassembly, or any combination thereof. A mid-support may be below, above, and / or adjacent to a transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, or both. A mid-support may be located between a base and a top cover, between a base andtop cover, or both. A mid-support may be comprised of one or more portions. A mid-support may include a lower support and an upper support. The upper support may be affixed to and adjacent to the lower support.

[0127] A mid-support may include a lower support. A lower support may have any size, shape, and / or configuration for being supported by a base, supporting a plurality of components of the feeding assembly, or both. A lower support may have a two-dimensional cross-section reciprocal with a two-dimensional cross-section of a base. A lower support may have a cross-section shape which is substantially rectangular, square, circular, ovular, the like, or a combination thereof. A lower support may be substantially planar, non-planar, or both. A lower support may be substantially planar with non-planar structures. A lower support may include one or more channels, waste openings, cradles, attachment structures, mounting brackets, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0128] One or more cradles may function to support one or more rotating components. The one or more cradles may face upward, away from the base, toward a transport subassembly, or any combination thereof. The one or more cradles may have a shape reciprocal with and / or which cooperates with one or more drive shafts, rotary shafts, support shafts, and / or the like. The one or more cradles may have a U-shape, C-shape, concave shape, and / or the like. The one or more cradles may have one or more brackets affixed thereto. The bracket may extend over the opening of the cradle, retain a component into the cradle, or both.

[0129] One or more waste openings and / or channels may form an opening through the lower support. The waste opening and / or channel may provide access to one or more waste collection subassemblies, may allow clearance for one or more container handling subassemblies to move to and from a loading position to a feeding position, or both.

[0130] One or more attachment openings may allow for one or more components of the feeding assembly to be mounted to the lower support. The one or more attachment openings may be formed as one or more hollow posts, threaded openings, openings, the like, or a combination thereof. The one or more attachment openings may be formed about an interior of the perimeter of the lower support. One or more fasteners may extend through the one or more attachment openings. One or more fasteners may secure the upper support to the lower support.

[0131] One or more mounting brackets may allow for attachment of the mid-support to a base, one or more sensing devices, or both. One or more mounting brackets may allow for a mid-support to be isolated from any other components of the feeding assembly located above the mid-support. One or more mounting brackets may cooperate with one or more weight sensors. One or more mounting brackets may apply a downward force onto one or more weight sensors. The force may be associated with the weight of the midsupport, container handling subassembly, transport subassembly, container, or a combination thereof. The one or more mounting brackets may be integral with or affixed to the lower support, upper support, or both. The one or more mounting brackets may be formed about an exterior periphery of the lower support, upper support, or both. The one or more mounting brackets may include a single or a plurality of mounting brackets. The one or more mounting brackets may include the same number of mounting brackets as the number of weight sensors.

[0132] A mid-support may include one or more upper supports. An upper support may function to conceal one or more components of a feeding assembly, provide a feeding area, support a container storage subassembly, support a container opening subassembly, support one or more sensing devices, the like, or a combination thereof. An interior of the upper support may be distanced from one or more lower supports to create a gap suitable for housing one or more components. The components within the gap may be one or more components supported by the lower support. An upper support may rest upon and / or be affixed to a base, lower support, or both. An upper support may be located below a base cover, top cover, container storage assembly, container opening subassembly, or a combination thereof. An upper support may be located above a base, waste cavity, waste collection subassembly, lower support, transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, or a combination thereof. The upper support may provide access to a container for an animal to consume therefrom.

[0133] An upper support may have any size, shape, and / or configuration for being supported by a base and / or lower support, supporting a plurality of components of the feeding assembly, providing a feeding area, or a combination thereof. An upper support may have a two-dimensional cross-section reciprocal with a two-dimensional cross-section of a base, lower support, base cover, or a combination thereof. An upper support may have a cross-section shape which is substantially rectangular, square, circular, ovular, the like, or a combination thereof. An upper support may be substantially planar, non-planar, or both. An upper support may include one or more openings. One or more openings may include one or more container display openings, hopper openings, or both.

[0134] An upper support may include a container display opening. A container display opening may function to allow a container to be accessible from outside of a housing, allow an animal to consume food from a container, or both. A container display opening may be biased toward the front of a feeding assembly. A container display opening may have a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to or dissimilar to a cross-sectional shape of a container. A cross-sectional shape may be the cross-section parallel with an upper facing surface of an upper support, perpendicular to a vertical axis, or both.

[0135] An upper support may include a hopper opening. A hopper opening may allow one or more containers stored within a container storage assembly to be disposed therefrom, one or more containers to pass from one side of the upper support to an opposing side of the upper support, or both. A hopper opening may be larger than a cross-sectional area of a container. This size may facilitate easy movement of a container therethrough. The hopper opening may be aligned with an opening (e.g., outlet) of a container storage subassembly. The hopper opening may be formed as a cutout. The cutout may be formed from the rear of the upper support, biased toward the rear of the upper support, or both.

[0136] An upper support may include an opening passthrough. An opening pass through may allow one or more container opening subassemblies to extend at least partially therethrough, allow the container opening subassembly to access a container, or both. An opening passthrough may be located between a hopper opening and a container display opening. A container opening subassembly may be mounted to the surface of the upper support adjacent to the opening passthrough.

[0137] An upper support may include one or more container urging features. One or more container urging features may function to cooperate with a container handling subassembly to maintain a container seated in a container handling subassembly, raise a container into a container display opening, or both. One or more urging features may function to raise a cradle of the container handling subassembly. One or more container urging features may function to maintain a container handling subassembly below the upper support during opening of the container, counteracting the peeling force, or both. One or more container urging features may include one or more rails. One or more rails may be formed on the underside of the upper support. One or more rails may project downward from the upper support. One or more rails may be located adjacent to one or more cavities and / or channels of the upper support. One or more rails may come in contact with and apply a downward force onto bearings of a container handing subassembly. One or more rails may contact a container handling subassembly when in the opening position, loading position, and / or disposing position, before reaching a feeding position, or a combination thereof. The one or more rails may apply a downward force onto the container handling subassembly as the container opening subassembly opens the container. One or more urging features may include one or more lift surfaces. One or more lift surfaces may function apply force to and / or raise a portion of a container handling subassembly when in the feeding position. One or more lift surfaces may be located toward a feeding area, front of an upper support, in front of a container handling subassembly, or a combination thereof. One or more lift surfaces may be configured as one or more ramps, wedges, and / or brackets in the upper support. One or more lift surfaces may be formed inside the front of the upper support. One or more lift surfaces may come into contact with a container handling subassembly when the container handling subassembly reaches a feeding position. The one or more lift surfaces may apply a force onto one or more bearings, such as one or more lift bearings. Upon one or more lift surfaces contacting the one or more bearings, the cradle may be raised such as to display the container in the container display opening.

[0138] The housing may include one or more base covers. A base cover may function to conceal a base, support a container storage subassembly, support a top cover, affix a container storage subassembly and / or top cover to a base, or any combination thereof. A base cover may function to support a lid, one or more mechanisms for opening a lid, or both. A base cover may rest upon and / or be affixed to a base, mid-support, or both. A base cover may be free of attachment and / or contact with the mid-support. A base cover may isolate a container storage subassembly and / or top cover from the mid-support. A base cover may be located below a top cover, container storage assembly, container opening subassembly, or a combination thereof. A base cover may be located above a base, waste cavity, waste collection subassembly, mid-support, transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, or a combination thereof. The base cover may provide and / or prevent access to a container for an animal to consume therefrom. The base cover may include a cover body, one or more lid assemblies, or both.

[0139] A base cover may include a cover body. The cover body may be the main body of the base cover. A base cover may have any size, shape, and / or configuration for being supported by a base and / or midsupport, supporting a plurality of components of the feeding assembly, providing access to a feeding area,or a combination thereof. A base cover may have a two-dimensional cross-section reciprocal with a two- dimensional cross-section of a base, lower support, base cover, or a combination thereof. A base cover may have a cross-section shape which is substantially rectangular, square, circular, ovular, the like, or a combination thereof. A base cover may be substantially planar, non-planar, or both. The cover body may include one or more openings, support structures, or both.

[0140] A base cover may include a food opening. A food opening may function to allow a container to be accessible from outside of a housing, allow an animal to consume food from a container, or both. A food opening may be aligned with and expose a container display opening. A food opening may be closeable by the lid. A food opening may be biased toward the front of a feeding assembly. A food opening may have a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to or dissimilar to a cross-sectional shape of a lid. A cross- sectional shape may be the cross-section parallel with an upper facing surface of a base cover, perpendicular to a vertical axis, or both.

[0141] A base cover may include a container opening. A container opening may allow one or more containers stored within a container storage assembly to be disposed therefrom, one or more containers to pass from above the base cover to under the base cover, one or more containers to transfer from the container storage subassembly to the retaining clip and / or container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof. A container opening may be the same or larger than a cross-sectional area of a container. This size may facilitate easy movement of a container therethrough. The container opening may be aligned with an opening (e.g., outlet) of a container storage subassembly, retaining clip, or both. The container opening may be opposite a feeding area, lid, or both. The container opening may be biased toward the rear of the feeding assembly.

[0142] A base cover may include an opener passthrough. An opener pass through may allow one or more container opening subassemblies to extend at least partially therethrough, allow the container opening subassembly to access a container, or both. An opener passthrough may be located between a food opening and a container opening.

[0143] Abase cover may include one or more cavities. One or more cavities may function to receive and / or support one or more components of the feeding assembly. One or more cavities may be formed by one or more flanges. The one or more flanges may extend upward and away from the base cover, such as from the cover body. The one or more flanges may be received within and / or receive a top cover, container storage subassembly, or both. The one or more cavities may include a top cover cavity, container storage cavity, or both. The cavities may function to affix the top cover, container storage subassembly, or both to the base. The cavities may isolate the top cover and / or container storage subassembly from the mid-support, one or more weight sensors, or both.

[0144] A base cover may include one or more lid assemblies. One or more lid assemblies may function to expose and / or cover a food opening, container display opening, container, or a combination thereof. A lid assembly may include one or more lids, hinges, drive units, or a combination thereof. A lid may be affixed to the top of a cover body. A lid may rotate into an open position to expose a food opening, container displayopening, container, or a combination thereof. A lid may rotate into a closed position to conceal a food opening, container display opening, container, or a combination thereof. A lid may be affixed to one or more hinges. One or more hinges may function to cause rotation of the lid to and from an open position and closed position. One or more hinges may be under mounted, over mounted, or both. Undermounted may mean the hinges are affixed to a bottom of a base cover (e.g., cover body). Overmounted may mean the hinges are affixed to the top of a base cover. The one or more hinges may be rotated by one or more drive units. The one or more drive units may be affixed below and / or above the cover body.

[0145] A housing may include one or more top covers. A top cover may function to conceal one or more components of a feeding assembly. A top cover may cooperate with a base, base cover, mid-support, or a combination thereof. A top cover may cooperate with a base, base cover, and / or mid-support to provide a feeding area. A top cover may be an uppermost portion of a housing. A top cover may be located above, be affixed to, and / or rest upon a base cover, mid-support, base, the like, or a combination thereof. Atop cover may house or cooperate with a container storage subassembly. A top cover may support and / or house a container opening subassembly, one or more sensing devices, one or more other electrical components, or any combination thereof. Atop cover may be biased toward the rear of the feeding assembly, may allow for a front portion of a mid-support, base cover, and / or base to be exposed, or any combination thereof.

[0146] A top cover may have any size, shape, and / or configuration for supporting and / or concealing one or more components, providing for a feeding area, cooperating with a container storage subassembly, or a combination thereof. A top cover may have a three-dimensional shape which is substantially or partially a cuboid, cube, sphere, annular cylinder, spherical ring, cylinder, prism, cone, the like, or any combination thereof. A top cover may have a cross-sectional shape which may form an L-shape, C-shape, square, rectangular, circular, annular, the like, or a combination thereof. A top cover may have a length or width shorter than that of the base, base cover, and / or mid-support. A top cover may be located rearward or adjacent to a container display opening, food opening, lid, or a combination thereof. A top cover may include one or more openings.

[0147] A top cover may include one or more container refill openings. A container refill opening may allow for access into a container storage subassembly, refilling the feeding assembly with one or more containers, or any combination thereof. A container refill opening may extend the length of the top cover. A container refill opening may be formed as a pass through, cut-out, or both. A pass through may be fully surrounded by the top cover. A cut-out may be formed as a notch, in one or more walls, or both of the top cover. A container refill opening may receive the container storage subassembly. A container refill opening may be located at the top surface, side surface, or both of a top cover. A container refill opening may have a shape reciprocal with or different from a cross-sectional shape of a container.

[0148] A top cover may include one or more latch openings. One or more latch openings may function to receive one or more latches (e.g., release latches), retain a container storage subassembly, or both. One or more latch openings may be formed in an interior surface, surface of a hollow interior and / or refill opening, or both. One or more latch openings may be biased toward the top of the top cover. One or more latchopenings may be reciprocal with the one or more latches of the container storage subassembly. One or more latch openings may include and / or be in proximity to one or more sensing devices, such as one or more presence sensors.

[0149] A housing may provide for a feeding area. A feeding area may be a portion of a housing which presents a container and / or food to an animal such that it is accessible by the animal for consumption. A feeding area may be located at any level of the housing. A feeding area may be provided at the base, midsupport, base cover, top cover, or a combination thereof. A feeding area may be provided adjacent to (e.g., in front of) a base, mid-support, base cover, top cover, or any combination thereof. A feeding area may be provided in front of a top cover. A feeding area may be provided above a base cover, mid-support, base, or a combination thereof. A feeding area may be defined by a container display opening.

[0150] A feeding area may be at a height comfortable for an animal to consume food. The height of a feeding area may refer to the height at which a top surface of a container is presented at relative to the ground. The height of a feeding area may be at an animal’s foot, knee, and / or shoulder level. A feeding area may provide for an elevated feeding height. An elevated feeding height may be at an animal’s knee and / or shoulder level. A feeding height may be about 0.5” or greater, about 1” or greater, about 2” or greater, or even about 3” or greater. A feeding height may be about 10” or less, about 8” or less, 7” or less, about 6” or less, or even about 5” or less. An elevated feeding height may be about 3” to about 8”, about 4” to about 7”, or even about 5” to about 6.5”. The feeding height may also refer to the height of a base, a distance from a bottom of a base to a top of a base cover, or both.

[0151] A feeding area may include a guard. A guard may be located about a container display opening, atop a mid-support, atop a base cover, or any combination thereof. A guard may be affixed to a housing portion in which a container display opening is located. A guard may be affixed to a base cover. A guard may be affixed within a food opening of a base cover. A guard may cover any gaps between a housing surface (e.g., base cover surface) and a container when the container is being presented to an animal for consumption.

[0152] The feeding assembly may include a container storage subassembly. A container storage assembly may function to have one or a plurality of containers temporarily disposed and stored therein. Disposed may mean stacked vertically, horizontal, radially, mounted to, the like, or any combination thereof. A container storage subassembly may provide for a single stack or a plurality of stacks of containers.

[0153] A container storage subassembly may cooperate with one or more other components of the feeding assembly to have one or more containers selectively removed. A container storage assembly may cooperate with one or more transport subassemblies, container handling subassemblies, retaining clips, or combination thereof to dispense a container. A container storage subassembly may be removably located within the feeding assembly or semi-permanently / permanently affixed to the feeding assembly. A container storage subassembly may allow for automated retrieval of one or more containers stored therein by one or more other components of the feeding assembly. A container storage assembly may cooperate with acontainer handling subassembly, transport subassembly, container opening subassembly, retaining clip, one or more sensing devices, or any combination thereof.

[0154] A container storage assembly may be located anywhere suitable for cooperating with a transport subassembly, container opening subassembly, container handling subassembly, retaining clip, one or more sensing devices, or a combination thereof. A container storage subassembly may be located generally opposite a feeding area, by a loading position, toward a rear of the feeding assembly, or a combination thereof.

[0155] A container storage subassembly may include one or more hoppers, compression devices, counters, lock systems, the like, or a combination thereof. A container storage subassembly may include, be affixed to, and / or be adjacent to a restraint mechanism (e.g., retaining clip).

[0156] A container storage assembly may include one or more hoppers. One or more hoppers may be configured to store a plurality of containers therein. The containers may be stacked or otherwise aligned in a column. A hopper may receive the containers directly or receive a container magazine holding a plurality of containers. One or more hoppers may include 1 or more, 2 or more, or even 3 or more hoppers.

[0157] A hopper may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to cooperate with, store, and / or dispense one or more containers, container magazines, or both; cooperate with a restraint mechanism; cooperate with a container handling subassembly; cooperate with a restraint mechanism; or any combination thereof. A hopper may have a three-dimensional shape which is generally cylindrical, cuboid, cubed, the like, or a combination thereof. A cross-section shape may refer to a cross-section which intersects a longitudinal axis, vertical axis, or both of the hopper. A hopper may have a cross-section shape which is substantially symmetrical about one axis of symmetry, two axes of symmetry, or even more. A hopper may have a hollow interior. The hollow interior may extend along the length of the hopper. The plurality of containers may reside within the hollow interior.

[0158] A hopper may function as part of the housing, form part of the housing, and / or be disposed within the housing. A hopper may form a removable portion of the housing. A hopper may be removably inserted into the housing. The housing may include a reciprocal housing portion configured to receive the hopper. A hopper may be located inside atop cover, adjacent atop cover, above a base cover, above a mid-support, above a base, and / or the like . A hopper may be located within a reciprocal housing portion or form a housing portion. A hopper may be located adjacent to one or more waste collection subassemblies, a transport subassembly, base covers, mid-supports, or a combination thereof. A hopper may be accessible or in dispensing communication with one or more container handling subassemblies.

[0159] A hopper may include one or more keying features. One or more keying features may function to facilitate correct orientation of a container, container magazine, or both within the hopper. One or more keying features may include one or more projections, indentations, surface contours, and / or the like. One or more keying features may be formed on the inside surface of the hopper. One or more keying features may be located along all or a portion of the length of the hopper. One or more projections may include one or more ribs, tabs, teeth, and / or the like. One or more indentations may include one or more grooves,notches, and / or the like. 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. One or more keying features may cooperate with one or more keying features, alignment features, engagement features, lid reinforcing features, lid access features, or any combination thereof of a container, container magazine, or both. One or more keying features of a hopper may be reciprocal with one or more keying features of a container.

[0160] A hopper may have one or more openings. A hopper may have an inlet opening, outlet opening, identification opening, and / or the like. An inlet opening may function to receive one or more containers, container magazines, or both within the hopper. An outlet opening may function to allow dispensing of one or more containers therefrom. An identification opening may allow for an identification sensor to have access to one or more identifiers located on one or more containers. The inlet opening and outlet opening may be opposite one another (e.g., linear alignment), perpendicular to one another, or both. An inlet opening may be located at an upper end, side wall, or both of a hopper. An outlet opening may be located at a lower end, side wall, or both of a hopper. An outlet opening may be configured to align with a container handling subassembly (e.g., to dispense / drop a container), align with a retaining clip, have a container handling subassembly be inserted therethrough (e.g., to grab a container), or both. An inlet opening and outlet opening may define an inlet and outlet of the hollow interior. An identification opening may be located along the side wall of a hopper, may be the same as the outlet opening, or both. An identification opening may be biased toward (e.g., located closer to) or be the same as the inlet opening or the outlet opening. The identification opening may be configured to be aligned with one or more identifiers located on one or more containers.

[0161] A hopper may have a height associated with a number of desired containers, servings, days, and / or the like. A hopper may have a height suitable for storing sufficient containers to feed an animal for 1 or more days, 2 or more days, 3 or more days, or even 4 or more days. A hopper may have a height suitable for storing sufficient containers to feed an animal for 10 or less days, 9 or less days, 8 or less days, or even 7 or less days. A 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. A hopper may be configured to hold 30 or less containers, 24 or less containers, or even 21 or less containers.

[0162] A hopper may include one or more cutouts. One or more cutouts may allow a hopper to cooperate with a retaining clip, container handling subassembly, container, counter, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more cutouts may be formed in one or more side walls, comers, or both of a hopper. One or more cutouts may be formed on the front side of the hopper. One or more cutouts may face another part of a housing, may be closed off by the housing, or both. One or more cutouts may be formed toward and / or at the bottom of hopper, along a height of a hopper, or both. A cutout may be formed along the length of the hopper, parallel to the hollow interior, or both. One or more cutouts may extend parallel and / or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hopper, vertical axis, or both.

[0163] A container storage subassembly may include one or more handles. A handle may provide a structure for easily grasping onto the container storage subassembly. A handle may facilitate grasping the container handling subassembly for removing and / or assembling to the feeding assembly. The handle may be located on any suitable exterior surface. The handle may be located on an upper surface of the hopper. The handle may be pivotably attached to the hopper. The handle may engage and / or disengage one or more lock systems.

[0164] A container storage subassembly may include one or more lock systems. One or more lock systems may function to engage the container storage subassembly with one or more portions of the feeding assembly, such as a housing. One or more lock systems may engage the container storage subassembly with a top cover. One or more lock systems may prevent removal of the container storage subassembly from the feeding assembly when engaged. One or more lock systems may allow removal of the container storage subassembly when disengaged. One or more lock systems may include one or more latches. One or more latches may be referred to as one or more release latches. One or more latches may removably engage with one or more latch openings, crossbars, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more latches may be in the form of one or more extensions, hooks, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more latches may be located in proximity to a handle. One or more latches may be movable by a handle. One or more latches may be pivotably engaged with the handle. One or more latches may be affixed to the handle by a pivot joint. One or more latches may function to convert rotation of a handle into a linear movement of the latch. One or more latches may retract into the hopper when the handle is lifted, may extend from the hopper when the handle is lowered, or both. The one or more latches may function similar to a deadbolt of a door. The one or more latches may extend into one or more latch openings, retract from one or more latch openings, or both. The one or more latches may be located on a side of the hopper which faces toward a surface of a housing, such as a surface of a top cover. The one or more latches may be located on the front side of the hopper, face toward an interior surface of a top cover, or both. The one or more latches may be biased toward a top of the hopper. The one or more latches may cooperate with one or more sensing devices. The one or more latches may cooperate with one or more presence sensors to detect presence and / or absence of the container storage subassembly. The one or more latches may include one or more magnets therein to cooperate with one or more presence sensors.

[0165] A container storage subassembly may include or cooperate with one or more restraint mechanisms. One or more restraint mechanisms may function to retain one or a plurality of containers within a hopper and / or container magazine; work against gravity; selectively release a container (e.g., when ready to be consumed); or any combination thereof. One or more restraint mechanisms may be located adjacent to, partially disposed in, in proximity to, and / or the like one or more hoppers. The one or more restraint mechanisms may be located within a base. The one or more restraint mechanisms may be part of the container storage subassembly, part of the base, or both. One or more restraint mechanisms may be located below and aligned with the container storage subassembly. One or more restraint mechanisms may cooperate with the hopper and / or the container handling subassembly to release a container from the hopperto the container handling subassembly. The one or more restraint mechanisms may include one or more retaining clips.

[0166] A restraint mechanism may include and / or be a retaining clip. A retaining clip may function to retain the plurality of containers within the hopper, release a container to the container handling subassembly, or both. A retaining clip may include a container holder. A container holder may cooperate with the shape of the container to hold a container within or adjacent to the hopper. A container holder may retain the first container within the hopper, near an outlet of the hopper, or both. The first container may be considered the container about to be released from the container storage subassembly. The container holder may have a shape configured to receive and release a container. The container holder may have a shape which is substantially U-shaped. The container holder may include two opposing guide arms. The guide arms may function to rest under the rim and / or flange of the container, beside the side wall(s) of the container, or both. Connecting the two opposing guide arms may be a rear support. A rear support may be integral with or separate from and attached to the two opposing guide arms. The rear support may be at a rear of the container holder. The retaining clip may include one or more latches. One or more latches may be affixed to a container holder. One or more latches may be affixed to a rear support. One or more latches may function to removably engage with the container. One or more latches may engage with a rim and / or flange of a container to retain a container within the retaining clip. The one or more latches may deflect when a force is applied to the container. The one or more latches may deflect when a retrieving and / or forward force is applied to the container by a container handling subassembly. By deflecting, the container may be released from the container holder. The retaining clip may include one or more biasing arms. The biasing arms may be engaged with a biasing device, such as a spring. The one or more biasing arms in a resting position may be biased inward and / or downward. The biasing arms may restrict upward and / or sideways movement of a container relative to the container storage subassembly and / or container handling subassembly. The biasing arms may deflect outward and / or upward. The biasing arms may deflect when a forward force is applied to the container. The forward force may be applied by one or more portions of the container handling subassembly. Once the container is removed from the hopper, the container storage subassembly, or both, the next subsequent container may move into the retaining clip. Moving into the retaining clip may include dropping via gravity.

[0167] A container storage subassembly may include one or more compression devices. A compression device may function to retain one or more containers within the hopper, maintain alignment of a plurality of containers within the hollow interior, compress the one or more containers between the compression device and the retaining clip. The one or more compression devices may function to apply a downward force to one or more containers. The compression device may move laterally along a hollow interior of the hopper. The compression device may be biased toward the bottom of the hopper. The one or more compression devices may apply a downward force onto an upper surface of a rim and / or flange of a container. The compression device may allow for manual manipulation when the container storage subassembly is removed from the feeding assembly. The compression device may be configured to deflectdownward toward the bottom of the hopper when the container storage subassembly is assembled to the feeding assembly. The compression device may include a compressing portion, handle portion, biasing device, magnet, the like, or any combination thereof. A compressing portion may have any shape suitable for applying downward force onto a top of a container, residing within the hollow interior, or both. A compressing portion may have a shape substantially reciprocal with a cross-sectional shape of the hollow interior, the outer and / or top shape of the container, or both. A compressing portion may be affixed a handle portion. A handle portion may function to allow a user to rotate the compressing portion out of and back into the hopper, out of the hollow interior, into the hollow interior, or both. A handle portion may allow a user to rotate the compressing portion out of the hopper to allow one or more containers to be added to the hopper. The handle portion may reside within and / or move along a channel of the hopper. The compressing portion may extend to the handle portion through the channel. The compression device may include one or more biasing devices. The biasing device may bias the compression device downward in the hopper, atop a container, or both. The compression device may include one or more magnets. One or more magnets may cooperate with one or more sensing devices, such as one or more counters. One or more magnets may be located within a handle portion.

[0168] The feeding assembly may include a container handling subassembly. A container handling subassembly may function to retrieve a container from a container storage subassembly, retain a container during transport to a feeding area, retain a container in a feeding area, present a container within a container display opening, retain a container base during removal of a lid, transport a container for disposal after use, or any combination thereof. A container subassembly may be configured to releasably engage one or more containers. A container handling subassembly may be configured to be disposed in or adjacent to a feeding area. A container handling subassembly may be configured to actively retrieve (e.g., grasp) a container, have a container disposed therein, or both. A container handling subassembly may be configured to actively release a container, have a container disposed therefrom, or both. A container handling subassembly may include one or more shuttle assemblies, gripper assemblies, or both. A container handling subassembly may include one or more cradles, holding supports, bearings, through holes, lift linkages, platforms, latches, position flags, magnets, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0169] A container handling subassembly may be in the form of a shuttle, gripper, or both.

[0170] A container handling subassembly may be in the form of a shuttle. A shuttle may function to retain a container while being moved through various positions within the feeding assembly. A shuttle may function to cooperate with a transport subassembly to move a container through various positions within a feeding assembly. A shuttle may function to hold a container base while allowing for removal of a lid therefrom. A shuttle may have substantially linear movement along a single or a plurality of axes. A shuttle may have substantially linear movement along only a single axis, move in a fore aft direction within the feeder assembly, or both. A shuttle may include one or more cradles, holding supports, bearings, through holes, lift linkages, platforms, latches, position flags, magnets, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0171] A container handling subassembly may include a cradle. A cradle may function to temporarily retain a container, cooperate with a container storage subassembly and / or restraint mechanism to receive a container, retain a container while being transported to various positions within the feeding assembly, retain a container base while allowing for removal of a lid, cooperate with a disposal subassembly to allow a container to be disposed therefrom, cooperate with a mid-support to raise a container into a container display opening, or any combination thereof. A cradle may cooperate with one or more bearings. The cradle may linearly move within the feeder assembly with the one or more bearings. A cradle may have any size, shape, and / or configuration for retaining a container. A cradle may have a cross-sectional shape reciprocal with a cross-sectional shape or outer peripheral shape of a container base. For example, a cradle may have a two-dimensional shape which is substantially U or C shaped, circular, ovular, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, the like, or any combination thereof. A cradle may have a bottom wall and one or more side walls projecting from the bottom wall. A bottom wall may be referred to as a platform. The platform may be configured to a container to rest thereon. The platform may be substantially planar. A planar surface may allow for a container base to slide on and / or off. The bottom of a container may rest on the platform. The one or more side walls may include a pair of side walls on opposing sides of the platform. The one or more side walls may project upward, parallel and / or tangential with one or more side walls of a container, or both. The platform and a pair of side walls may form a substantially U or C shaped profde. The cradle may support one or more latches.

[0172] The container handling subassembly may include one or more latches. One or more latches may function to retain a container static within the container handling subassembly, such as the cradle; engage a container in a container storage subassembly and / or retaining clip; allow for disposal of the container handling subassembly; or any combination thereof. One or more latches may be any type of mechanism able to be biased to retain the container and deflect to allow receiving and disposal of the container. One or more latches may include one or more latches affixed to the cradle. The one or more latches may be affixed to one or more side walls of a cradle. One or more latches may be affixed to an upper surface of the one or more side walls, opposite a platform, or both. The one or more latches may be biased toward the rear and / or middle of the platform. The one or more latches may be one or more pivoting arms retained in a resting position by a biasing device, allowed to deflect via biasing device, or both. A resting position may be inward. A deflect position may be outward. In a resting position, the one or more latches may be located within one or more engagement features of a container. The one or more latches may be affixed to the cradle via one or more pivot joints, biasing devices, or both. One or more biasing devices may include one or more springs, elastomeric material, or both. One or more springs may include one or more torsion springs, spring belts, the like, or a combination thereof. The one or more latches may include a pair of latches. The pair of latches may be opposing one another. Each side wall of the cradle may include a latch. Opposite the latch, the cradle may rest upon a holding support.

[0173] The container handling subassembly may include one or more holding supports. One or more holding supports may function to retain a cradle, affix a cradle to one or more bearings, providereinforcement to the container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof. The holding support may allow for movement of the cradle relative thereto. A holding support may form a base of the container handling subassembly. A holding support may extend across the width of the container holding subassembly, extend from one bearing to an opposing bearing, extend underneath the cradle, the like, or any combination thereof. A holding support may have a shape similar or dissimilar to that of the cradle. A holding support may be substantially planar, U or C-shaped, or a combination thereof. A holding support may be affixed to the cradle such as to allow, at least vertical, movement of the cradle relative to the holding support. A holding support may be affixed to a cradle via one or more lift linkages and / or other fasteners. A holding support may be affixed to one or more bearings.

[0174] A container handling subassembly may include one or more lift linkages. One or more lift linkages may allow for a cradle to be lifted toward a container display opening, lifted away from a holding support, lowered away from a container display opening, lowered toward a holding support, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more lift linkages may be any type of fastening and / or link mechanism which allows movement of the cradle relative to the holding support. One or more lift linkages may include one or more links engaged with the holding support, cradle, or both. The one or more lift linkages may be pivotably fastened to the holding support, cradle, or both. The one or more lift linkages may be affixed to the holding support, one or more side walls of the cradle, or both. The one or more lift linkages may be located between the one or more side walls, bearings, or both. Force applied to the cradle, one or more bearings, or both may result rotation and / or other movement of the one or more lift linkages. Force applied to the cradle, one or more bearings, or both may result in upward movement of the cradle away from the holding support. Removal of force applied to the cradle, one or more bearings, or both may result in downward movement of the cradle toward the holding support.

[0175] A container handling subassembly may include one or more bearings. One or more bearings may include one or more linear travel bearings. One or more bearings may function to couple a container handling subassembly to a transport assembly. One or more bearings may function to convert rotational movement into linear movement. One or more bearings may be located on one or both sides (e.g., opposing sides) of the container handling subassembly. Opposing bearings may provide for balanced support of a container handling subassembly while moving within the feeding assembly. One or more bearings may be separate from or integral with (e.g., one-piece, formed with) a holding support. One or more bearings may be located on opposite sides of the holding support, the cradle, or both. One or more bearings may be adjacent to one or more side walls of the cradle. One or more bearings together with the holding support may form a shape which is reciprocal with the shape of a cradle. A cradle may rest within the holding support and bearings. One or more bearings may function to house one or more shafts (e.g., drive shaft, support shaft). One or more bearings may include one or more through holes. One or more through holes may be keyed to match a shaft, may work with a shaft to convert rotation to linear motion, provide a surface which minimizes friction imparted on a shaft, or any combination thereof. One or more through holes may be a drive shaft through hole. One or more through holes may have a threaded interior to engage with athreaded exterior of a drive shaft. Rotation of a drive shaft within a through hole may result in conversion of rotation to linear movement. Rotation of a drive shaft within a through hole may result in the bearing moving along the length of the drive shaft. Movement along the length of a drive shaft may result in movement of a container handling subassembly within the feeding assembly, from one or more positions to one or more other positions, or both. One or more other through holes may receive one or more support shafts. The linear bearings may include a pair of bearings and each having a hole to receive one of a pair of opposing support shafts.

[0176] One or more bearings may include one or more lift bearings. One or more lift bearings may function to receive a lifting force, transfer a lifting force to one or more lift linkages and / or a cradle, or a combination thereof. One or more lift bearings may cooperate with a mid-support. One or more lift bearings may cooperate with one or more lift surfaces of a mid-support (e.g., upper support). One or more lift bearings may be affixed toward the front of the container handling subassembly. One or more lift bearings may include one or more bearings affixed to one or more lift linkages, a cradle, or both. One or more lift bearings may be static or rotatable. One or more lift bearings may include a single or a pair of lift bearings. A pair of lift bearings may include a lift bearing on either side of the cradle.

[0177] The container handling subassembly may include one or more position flags. One or more position flags may cooperate with one or more sensing devices to detect one or more positions of a container handling subassembly within the feeding subassembly. The one or more position flags may include one or more protrusions which extend away from the container handling subassembly. The one or more position flags may include one or more tabs or other extensions which extend away from the one or more bearings, holding support, cradle, the like, or a combination thereof. The one or more position flags may be integral with or affixed to the one or more bearings, holding support, or both. The one or more position flags may extend perpendicular, parallel, or any angle therebetween relative to the axial movement of the container handling subassembly. For example, one or more position flags may extend from a bearing toward a side wall of the base. One or more position flags may include one or more features for cooperating with a sensing device. The one or more features may include an overall shape which is reciprocal and intended to be received within the sensing device. The one or more features may include one or more magnets configured to cooperate with a sensing device. One or more magnets may be located within the position flag.

[0178] A container handling subassembly may be coupled to a transport subassembly. A container handling subassembly may be affixed to or part of a transport subassembly. A container handling subassembly may be moved between positions via a transport subassembly.

[0179] A container handling subassembly may be moveable to one or more positions within the feeding assembly. The container handling subassembly may be moveable to various positions to interact with one or more containers and / or other subassemblies. One or more positions may include a loading position, opening position, feeding position, disposing position, resting position, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0180] In a loading position, a container handling subassembly may cooperate with a container storage subassembly, transport subassembly, restrain mechanism, or combination thereof. In a loading position, acontainer handling subassembly may be positioned such as to receive and / or retrieve a container from a container storage subassembly. In a loading position, a container handling subassembly may receive a container having a lid attached to a container base (e.g., closed container). In a loading position, a container handling subassembly may be located adjacent to, aligned and below, partially or completely disposed within, or any combination thereof a container storage subassembly. In a loading position, a container handling subassembly may be received within a channel of the housing, a hollow interior of the housing, a retaining clip, or any combination thereof. In a loading position, a retaining clip or a portion thereof may be received within the container handling subassembly. In a loading position, the container handling subassembly may be located between a container storage subassembly and one or more sensing devices, such as an identification sensor. In a loading position, a pair of guide arms may be received within the cradle. In a loading position, a pair of latches of the container handling subassembly may engage with one or more engagement features of a container. The latches may provide a gripping force. From the loading position, the container handling subassembly may move toward an opening position.

[0181] In an opening position, a container handling subassembly may cooperate with a container opening subassembly, transport subassembly, or both. In an opening position, a container handling subassembly may be positioned such as to allow for opening of a container. Opening of a container may include removal of a lid or other covering, or otherwise accessing food within a container. An opening position may be a static position of a container handling subassembly or a dynamic range of positions. In other words, a container handling subassembly may remain static while a container opening subassembly moves to remove a lid, a container handling subassembly moves while a container opening subassembly remains static to remove a lid, or both the container opening subassembly and container handling subassembly move to remove a lid. In an opening position, a container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to, below, above, and / or in proximity to a container opening subassembly. In an opening position, a container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to, above, below, and / or in proximity to one or more waste collection subassemblies. For example, a container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to and above a waste collection subassembly such that upon removal of a lid, the lid may fall (e.g., via gravity) into a waste receptacle. In an opening position, a container handling subassembly may be located within a channel of the housing. In an opening position, a shuttle assembly and / or gripper assembly may move below and past a container opening assembly. An opening position may be located anywhere between the front and rear of a feeding assembly, between a container storage subassembly and a feeding area, or both. From an opening position, a container handling subassembly may move to a feeding position.

[0182] In a feeding position, a container handling subassembly may cooperate with one or more portions of a housing, a container holding subassembly, a transport subassembly, or a combination thereof to present a container in an open configuration to an animal. In a feeding position, a container handling subassembly may present a container into a feeding area. In a feeding position, a container is accessible from an outside of the housing by an animal for consumption of food therefrom. In a feeding position, a container handling subassembly may be positioned adjacent to, below, or both a container display opening. In a feedingposition, a container handling subassembly may be located within the housing while a container is accessible from outside of the housing. In a feeding position, a container handling subassembly may continue to retain a container while presenting in the feeding position. In a feeding position, a portion of the container handling subassembly may raise up such as to raise the container into the container display opening. In a feeding position, one or more lift surfaces of a mid-support may apply a lifting force onto one or more lift bearings, lift linkages, a cradle, the like, or a combination thereof. A lifting force may be a force in an opposing direction of movement of the container handling subassembly toward the feeding area. In a feeding position, a cradle may be lifted away from a holding support.

[0183] In a disposing position, a container handling subassembly may cooperate with one or more portions of a transport subassembly, a waste collection subassembly, or a combination thereof to transfer a container (e.g., used container) into a waste collection subassembly. In a disposing position, a container handling subassembly may be positioned such as to dispose a container into a waste collection subassembly, cooperate with a container disposal subassembly, or both. In a disposing position, a container handling subassembly may dispose or release a container base. In a disposing position, a container handling subassembly may be located adjacent to, above, or both a waste collection subassembly. In a disposing position, a container handling subassembly may be located within a channel of the housing. In a disposing position, a container handling subassembly may be located adjacent to, below, above, and / or abut to a container disposing subassembly. The container disposing subassembly may be the same as or part of the container opening subassembly. In a disposing position, the container disposing subassembly may apply a disposing force onto the container. The disposing force may be opposite the biasing force of one or more latches. The disposing force may overcome the biasing force of the one or more latches. In the disposing position, a container may fall off the cradle and into a waste collection subassembly (e.g., waste receptacle). From the disposing position, a container handing subassembly may move into a resting position.

[0184] In a resting position, a container handling subassembly may rest prior to retrieving or receiving a container. In a resting position, the container handling subassembly may be retained out of the way of other moveable or removable components. The container handling subassembly may cooperate with a transport subassembly to be arranged in a resting position. A resting position may be between a feeding area and a container storage subassembly, between a front and a rear of a feeding assembly, between a feeding area and a container opening subassembly, between a container disposal subassembly and a container storage subassembly, between a container opening subassembly and a container storage subassembly, or any combination thereof.

[0185] The feeding assembly may include a transport subassembly. A transport subassembly may function to cooperate with a container handling subassembly, move a container handling subassembly and / or container among varying positions within a feeding assembly, or both. A transport subassembly may function to transport a container to a container opening subassembly, feeding area, and / or container disposal subassembly. A transport subassembly may function to move a container handling subassembly to a loading position, opening position, feeding position, disposing position, resting position, the like, or anycombination thereof. A transport subassembly may function to move a container handling subassembly and / or container along one or more axes (e.g., axial movement), one or more linear directions, or both. A transport subassembly may move a container handling subassembly along a single axis, along two axes, and / or along three axes.

[0186] A transport subassembly may be located within the housing. A transport subassembly may be supported by one or more walls, a base, or both of a housing. A transport subassembly may be mounted onto a mid-support. A transport subassembly may be affixed to a lower support of mid-support. A transport subassembly may be located between a lower support and upper support. A transport subassembly may be located adjacent to, below, above, and / or in proximity to one or more waste collection subassemblies, container storage subassemblies, container opening subassemblies, disposal subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0187] A transport subassembly may be coupled to and / or be part of a container handling subassembly.

[0188] A transport subassembly may include one or more support structures, mounting bars, drive units, trolleys, conveyer belts, track chains, rollers, actuators movable on rails, one or more ramp surfaces, and / or any other suitable components for transporting a container to an opening subassembly, feeding area, and / or container disposal subassembly.

[0189] Atransport subassembly may include one or more drive units. One or more drive units may function to drive movement of a transport subassembly. One or more drive units may be as described herein. One or more drive units may function to drive movement along one or more support structures. One or more drive shafts of a drive unit may be engaged with a container handling subassembly. A drive shaft may extend through a through hole of a container handling subassembly. A drive shaft may extend through a bearing of a container handling subassembly. A drive unit in combination with a container handling subassembly may convert rotation into linear motion. For example, a drive shaft may be a lead screw. A drive shaft may be rotatably engaged with a container handling subassembly. A drive shaft may be rotatably engaged with a threaded through hole of a container handling subassembly. Rotation of the drive shaft may thus result in axial movement of the container handling subassembly along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. Rotation of a drive shaft by a drive source may cause a container handling subassembly to move in the X, Y, and / or Z direction. One or more drive units may be referred to as one or more actuators.

[0190] For example, a container handling subassembly may only move in a single axial direction. A transport subassembly may be coupled to the container handling subassembly such that one drive shaft (e.g., lead screw) is in rotatable communication with the container handling subassembly. Rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction may cause the container handling subassembly to move toward a front of the feeding assembly, a feeding area, or both. Rotation of the drive shaft in a second direction may cause the container handling subassembly to move toward the rear of the feeding assembly, toward a loading position, or both.

[0191] A transport subassembly may include one or more support shafts. One or more support shafts may function to provide bearing surfaces, may provide guides for the container handling subassembly to travelalong, distribute the weight of a container handling structure, or any combination thereof. One or more support shafts may be located adjacent to, parallel, inside, or any combination thereof a channel within a housing. One or more support shafts may run parallel to a drive shaft. One or more support shafts may be located within one or more through holes of a container handling subassembly. One or more support shafts may extend through one or more bearings of a container handling subassembly. One or more support shafts may include two opposing support shafts. The opposing support shafts may be located on and support opposing sides of a container handling subassembly.

[0192] The feeding assembly may include a container opening subassembly. A container opening subassembly may function to open a container, to remove a lid, to separate a lid from a container base, to remove or at least partially open a casing, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0193] A container opening subassembly may be configured to releasably couple to the lid, apply a pulling force to a lid, and remove a lid from a container base. A container opening subassembly may engage with a lid and / or peel the lid from the container base. A container opening subassembly may be configured to move the lid away from the container base while the container base is held static, retain the lid in place while the container base is moved, or move the lid away from the container base while the container base is also simultaneously moved away from the lid.

[0194] A container opening subassembly may include one or more components which function as an arm, knife, hook, clamp, can opener, vacuum source, jaws, the like, or any combination thereof. A container opening subassembly may be configured to apply a peeling force to a lid.

[0195] A container opening subassembly may be located between a container storage subassembly and a feeding area, near an opening position, between a loading position and a feeding position of a container handling subassembly, the like, or any combination thereof. A container opening subassembly may be located above, adjacent, below, and / or in proximity to a container handling subassembly, waste collection subassembly, or both. A container opening subassembly may be located above a container handling subassembly, a waste collection subassembly, or both. This positioning may allow for a container having a lid to pass below a container opening subassembly for removal of a lid located on an upper portion, prevent food from spilling during lid removal, or both. This positioning may allow for a lid, once removed, to be disposed (e.g., fall) of into a waste collection subassembly. A container opening subassembly may be located within the housing . A container opening subassembly may be located within a top cover, be mounted to a mid-support, be mounted to an upper support, be at least partially a top of a base cover, be adjacent to a hopper, partially pass through one or more openings of a base cover and / or upper support, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0196] A container opening subassembly may include one or more jaws, drive units, drive supports, arms, hooks, and / or the like.

[0197] A container opening subassembly may include a pair of jaws. The jaws may function to grasp and pinch a portion of a lid, hold a lid static while a container base is moved, move the lid while the container base is held static, or move the lid while the container is also moved in an opposing direction. The pair ofjaws may grasp and pinch the leading edge of a lid. The pair of jaws may grasp and pinch a lid within a lid access feature. The pair of jaws may include two moveable jaws or one moveable jaw and one stationary jaw. The pair of jaws may include an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw and / or the lower jaw may be the static jaw and / or moveable jaw. The pair of jaws may be distanced from one another in an open configuration and / or resting configuration. The pair of jaws may be moved closer together and / or into contact in the pinch and / or resting configuration. A stationary jaw may be held in place via being mounted to one or more portions of a housing, upper support, and / or mid-support. A housing of a container opening subassembly may be referred to as a casing.

[0198] The pair of jaws may include a moveable jaw and a static jaw. A movable jaw may come into contact with the static jaw to pinch the lid therebetween. The pair of jaws may include a pair of moveable jaws. The movable jaws may both move toward the casing, away from the container, or both when moving into the closed position. One moveable jaw may apply a push force against a second movable jaw to cause it to move toward the casing, away from the container, or both. This movement of both jaws allows the jaws to pinch the lid and continue to move upward away from an opening of the food cavity. This movement of both jaws may allow the lower jaw to remain free of contact with food within the food cavity. The ability to remain free of contact avoids contamination and bacterial growth overtime and the transferring among different containers during subsequent feeding cycles of the feeding assembly.

[0199] A distance between the pair of jaws may be referred to as a pinch gap. The pinch gap may be the gap where a portion of the lid is received. The pinch gap decreases as the one or two jaws move into the closed configuration.

[0200] Amoveable jaw may be moveable via one or more drive units, biasing devices, or both. Amoveable jaw may be driven into the open configuration and pinch configuration by a drive unit, biasing device, or both. A jaw moveable via drive unit may be referred to as a motor driven jaw. A jaw movable via a biasing device may be referred to as a spring driven jaw.

[0201] A drive unit may directly or indirectly cause movement of the movable jaw. A moveable jaw may convert rotation into linear motion, rotation about a different axis, or both. Amoveable jaw may cooperate with a screw and nut system, cam, bearing, and / or the like to convert rotation into linear motion. It is also possible the jaw may pivot and rotate. A drive support may house the drive shaft, may be affixed to the stationary jaw or a moveable jaw, or both. For example, the drive unit may be a motor with a drive shaft. That drive shaft may have a nut assembled thereon associated with the moveable jaw. As another example, the drive unit may be rotationally engaged with a cam and rotation of the cam results in movement of the jaw. Amoveable jaw may move into the open configuration by axially (e.g., linear) moving away from the other jaw, by rotating (e.g., pivoting) away from the other jaw, or both. The moveable jaw associated with the drive unit may be the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. The drive unit may be engaged with one or more jaws via one or more actuators. One or more actuators may function to convert rotation into linear movement. 1

[0202] The container opening subassembly may include one or more cams. A cam may be configured to cooperate with a drive unit, moveable jaw, and / or biasing device to cause movement of the moveable jaw. The cam may have a circular and / or semi-circular shape. The cam may have two semi-circular shapes. The cam may be comprised of a larger semi-circle integral with a smaller semi-circle. A difference in radius and / or diameter may be associated with differences in speed and / or travel height of a bearing, bearing surface, movable jaw, and / or the like. The smaller semi-circle may be referred to as a first, compressing portion. The larger semi-circle may be referred to as a second, compressing portion. The differing circular shapes may give an overall snail shape to the cam. The cam may be rotationally engaged with a drive shaft. The drive shaft may be centered and / or off center relative to the cam. Being off center may allow for the outer surface of the cam to laterally shift during rotation relative to a bearing, movable jaw, or both. The cam may be rotated in a first direction and / or second direction (e.g., opposing the first) by the drive unit. A first direction may cause or allow a movable jaw to move into a closed position. A second direction may cause or allow a movable jaw to move into an open position.

[0203] The cam may cooperate with one or more bearing surfaces. A bearing surface may be part of a bearing, bushing, or any other suitable member. A suitable member may be any member suitable for receiving a push force from the cam and transferring to the movable jaw. A suitable member may be any suitable member which minimizes friction and allows the cam to rotate against its surface. The bearing may reside within a slot of a movable jaw. The bearing may be held static relative to one or more jaws. The bearing may be held static within the slot of the movable jaw. The bearing may be fixed toward the top of the slot, may be pinched between the cam and the top surface of the slot, or both. The bearing may be sandwiched between the outer surface of the cam and the top surface of the slot. One or more bearings may be located at a radial center of the cam, adjacent to an exterior of the cam, or both.

[0204] As the cam rotates in a first direction, the exterior surface of the first compression portion of the cam may contact and rotate against the bearing. As the cam continues to rotate in a first direction, the exterior surface of the second compression portion of the cam may contact and rotate against the bearing. As the cam rotates in the first direction, the cam applies a closing force against the bearing. This closing force is then transferred to the movable jaw via the bearing. The closing force results in the jaw moving in the closed position. This transition to a larger radius causes the cam to apply a push force onto the bearing. The first compression portion with the smaller radius may result in quicker movement and / or larger travel distance of the movable jaw. The second compression portion with the larger radius may result in slower movement and / or smallertravel distance ofthe movable jaw. The second compression portion may function to continue to apply a closing force onto to the bearing. This force may transfer to the moveable arm. This force may provide an additional grip force to the pair of jaws. The cam may be rotatable in an opposing, second direction. This allows the cam to remove the push force from the bearing and / or jaw.

[0205] The container opening subassembly may include one or more biasing devices. One or more biasing devices may aid in applying force onto one or more jaws. One or more biasing devices may include one or more springs, elastomeric materials, or both. One or more springs may include a compression spring,tension spring, or both. One or more springs may aid in moving a moveable jaw away and / or toward the other jaw, into and / or out of the casing, or any combination thereof. One or more springs may aid in supplementing gravity, supplementing a pinch force, or both. One or more springs may be affixed to a casing, jaw, or both. One or more biasing devices may be affixed to a movable jaw engaged with a drive unit, cam, bearing, or combination thereof. One or more biasing devices may supplement gravity in moving a movable jaw into the open position once a drive unit, cam, and / or bearing stop applying a closing force, wherein the one or more biasing devices are configured to drive the lower jaw into an open position, allow upper jaw to be moved toward the casing, apply or resist force from the lower jaw on the upper jaw, or any combination thereof. One or more biasing devices may be affixed to the lower jaw and casing. A compression and / or tension spring may aid in moving the lower jaw into the open position, away from the upper jaw, or both. One or more biasing devices may supplement a pinch force stemming from a drive unit. One or more biasing devices may apply an opposing force to a jaw moved directly or indirectly via drive unit (e.g., the motor drive jaw). One or more biasing devices may be affixed to the upper jaw and casing. A compression and / or tension spring may aid in allowing the upper jaw to deflect toward the casing when the movable jaw comes into contact with the upper jaw, may apply a gripping force toward the upper jaw, or both.

[0206] The pair of jaws may be retained by a casing. The container opening subassembly may include a casing to house and / or support one or more components. One or more jaws may be movably affixed, statically affixed, or both to the casing. The casing may be formed as a one-piece housing or a multi -piece housing. The casing may have one or more mounting brackets attached thereto. A pair of mounting brackets may be located on opposing sides of the casing. The mounting brackets may secure the casing to a midsupport, upper support, base cover, the like, or a combination thereof. The one or more mounting brackets may retain the container opening subassembly over a channel of the lower support, within an opening of an upper support, within an opening of a base cover, or any combination thereof.

[0207] The container opening subassembly may include or be referred to as a disposal subassembly. A disposal subassembly may function to dispose and / or urge a lid off of the container base, urge a container base from a container handling subassembly, or both into a waste collection subassembly. A disposal subassembly may apply a disposing force. A disposing force may overcome a biasing force of a container handling subassembly applied to the container. A disposing force may overcome friction force between a container base and a lid. A disposal subassembly may be configured to face toward a container base, a front of a feeding assembly, opposite a container storage subassembly, or any combination thereof. A disposal subassembly may contact the container base, lid, or both as the container handling subassembly moves from the feeding position to the disposing position, resting position, and / or loading position. A disposal subassembly may contact and apply a counter force to a lid as the container base, lid, and / or container handling subassembly moves from the opening subassembly and / or opening position to the feeding position. A disposal subassembly may contact and apply a counter force to the container base, or both as the container handling subassembly retracts from the feeding position. A disposal subassembly may includeany type of suitable member for applying force to the lid and / or container base while also remaining out of the way when the container handling subassembly moves from the loading position to the opening position and / or feeding position. A disposal subassembly may include a crash bar, a jaw, or both. One of the pair of jaws may function as a disposal subassembly.

[0208] A container handling subassembly may include a crash bar as part of a disposal subassembly. The crash bar may function to dispose of a lid, container base, or both. A crash bar may be static, may be moveable, or both. A crash bar may be configured to lift and lower. A crash bar may be pivotable from a lifted position to a lowered position and vice versa. A crash bar may be configured to extend about a portion of a casing. A crash bar may be configured to cooperate with one or more jaws. Movement of one or more jaws may result in movement of the crash bar. Linear movement of one or more jaws may result in rotation of the crash bar. A crash bar may be affixed to an upper jaw, lower jaw, or both via one or more pivot joints. A crash bar may be affixed to a casing via one or more biasing devices. One or more biasing devices may include one or more springs, elastomeric materials, or both. One or more springs may include one or more tension springs, compression springs, torsion springs, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0209] A container handling subassembly may use at least one jaw of the pair of jaws as part of or as the disposal subassembly. A surface of a jaw may face toward the feeding area. The surface of the jaw may come into contact with, apply a disposing force, or both to a container base. The surface of a jaw may contact and apply a disposing force to the container as the container handling subassembly moves from the feeding position to the disposing position, resting position, and / or loading position. The surface of the jaw may be the surface of one of the pair of jaws when in the open position. The surface of the jaw may be a forward-facing surface, a surface facing toward the feeding area, or both. One or both jaws (e.g., lower jaw) may be lowered when in the open position and be in the path of movement of the container. By being in the path of movement and being an obstruction, the jaw (e.g., lower) may come into contact with the container and urge it off the container handling subassembly, opposite a biasing force of one or more latches, or both.

[0210] The feeding assembly may include one or more waste collection subassemblies. A 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 a container base; collect one or more container bases after an animal has been given the opportunity to consume therefrom; collect residual waste; the like; or any combination thereof. A waste collection subassembly may be easily accessible such that a user may be able to easily access waste contents within the waste collection subassembly for disposal. A waste collection subassembly may include one or more waste drawers, waste receptacles, liners, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0211] One or more waste collection subassemblies may be located within the housing, supported by the housing, form part of the housing, and / or any combination thereof. One or more waste collection subassemblies may be located within, below, above, and / or adjacent to a base of a housing. 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 part or all of a movement path of one or more containers within the feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. Oneor more openings of a waste collection subassembly may be aligned with one or more channels of one or more mid-supports of a housing.

[0212] One or more waste collection subassemblies may include one or more waste receptacles. A waste receptacle may function to provide a hollow cavity which receives waste (e.g., lids, container bases, residual waste), cooperates with one or more components of a housing to have the waste receptacle removably retained therein, or both. A waste receptacle may function to collect waste, temporarily store the waste, prevent malodors related to waste (e.g., odor from residual food) from exiting the device, or a combination thereof. One or more waste receptacles may have any size, shape, and / or configuration to be stored within the housing or form part of the housing. One or more waste receptacles may be a hollow interior of a waste drawer, may be supported in and / or on a waste drawer, or both. The waste receptacle, or portions thereof, may have a three-dimensional shape which is substantially spherical, ovoidal, cylindrical, cuboidal, conical, pyramidical, the like, or any combination thereof. The waste receptacle may include and / or be a waste carousel.

[0213] The waste receptacle may include or be a waste carousel. A waste carousel may function as a rotating waste receptacle. A waste carousel may function to uniformly distribute the waste collected from the feeding process, allow waste to build up for a longer period of time, allow for a shorter base due to waste not piling up vertically in a single location, or any combination thereof. A waste carousel may be formed as a generally cylindrical container. A waste carousel may be rotatably supported by a waste drawer, base, or both. A waste carousel may be driven (e.g., rotated) by one or more drive units. A waste carousel may include a track. A track may be formed about a periphery, edge, or both of the waste carousel. A track may be formed about a downward facing edge of the waste carousel. A track may be formed as a crown gear, spur gear, or both. The track may be rotatably engaged with one or more gears.

[0214] The waste carousel may have a shape to encourage the containers to rest on the bottom wall. The waste carousel may include a bottom wall and a side wall. The side wall may be connected to the bottom wall directly or via an intermediate wall. The intermediate wall may have a contour formed therein. The contour may function to encourage a container to rest on the bottom wall as opposed to resting upon the side wall. The intermediate wall may be curved. The intermediate wall may be curved inward (e.g., convex). The waste carousel may include a conical portion. A conical portion may function to encourage a contour to rest on the bottom wall, avoid piling up near the center of the carousel, or both. A conical portion may be a conical shaped protrusion extending into the interior of the carousel.

[0215] A carousel may be rotated in one or more drop patterns. Each feeding cycle may cause rotation of the carousel to a subsequent receiving area in the drop pattern. A carousel may be divided out into a single or a plurality of receiving areas. A receiving area may be physically divided from another receiving area, may only be defined via drop pattern, may be defined by one or more magnets or other position identifiers, or any combination thereof. Physical division may include one or more walls formed within the carousel to define the receiving areas. A plurality of receiving areas may include four or more, six or more, or even eight or more receiving areas. A plurality of receiving areas may include sixteen or less, twelve or less, oreven ten or less receiving areas. A same number of position identifiers may be affixed to the carousel as the number of receiving areas. The position identifiers may be evenly spaced about the carousel. The position identifiers may be on an interior, exterior, and / or embedded within one or more side walls, bottom wall, or both of the carousel. For example, a plurality of magnets may be evenly spaced about the carousel.

[0216] A waste receptacle may be configured to retain a liner therein. A liner may have a shape reciprocal with the interior of a carousel, may confirm to have a shape substantially reciprocal with the waste receptacle, or both. A liner may be a molded liner, a waste bag, or both. The liner includes keying feature engage with a reciprocal feature of the waste carousel so as to be statically affixed to and rotate with the waste carousel A liner once filled with waste may be removed from a waste receptacle and cleaned and / or disposed of. The waste receptacle may be free of using a liner. A user may simply remove waste from a waste receptacle and then cleanse the interior of the waste receptacle.

[0217] One or more waste receptacles may be formed as an interior of a waste drawer, may be supported by a waste drawer, or both.

[0218] The waste collection subassembly may include a waste drawer. A waste drawer may allow for easy removal and insertion into the housing, such as the base. A waste drawer may reside within a drawer cavity. Movement of the drawer may be caused by pushing and pulling. A wall of a drawer may be used as a front, side, and / or rear panel to receive the pushing and pulling force. Generally, a waste drawer may slide along a substantially horizontal plane.

[0219] The waste drawer may rotatably support a waste receptacle in the form of a carousel. The waste drawer may include one or more pivots. A pivot may be a protrusion extending from the bottom surface of the waste receptacle. A pivot opening and / or cavity of a waste carousel may rest upon the pivot. The waste carousel may rotate about the pivot.

[0220] A waste collection subassembly may include a seal. One or more seals may function to prevent odor from transferring from a waste receptacle and / or base to an exterior of the feeding assembly. The one or more seals may include any seal capable of forming a sealing junction between two or more surfaces to prevent malodors from passing therethrough. 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, compressing fittings, plugs, the like, or any combination thereof. 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 about the opening which defines an entry into a waste receptacle. The one or more seals may be located about a rim of a waste drawer. The seal may seal a gap between a waste receptacle and a base, midsupport, or any combination thereof. The one or more seals may allow for a waste receptacle to be moved in and out of a waste cavity.

[0221] A lid, once removed, may fall from or be released by the container opening subassembly into a waste collection subassembly. The lid may fall into the waste receptacle.

[0222] A container base, after removal from a feeding area, may fall into, be urged into, be released into, or a combination thereof into a waste collection subassembly. The container base may fall into the wastereceptacle. A transport subassembly and / or container handling subassembly may move a used container base from a feeding area to above or into a waste collection subassembly. Another component or subassembly, such as a portion of a container opening subassembly, disposal subassembly, or both may be configured to urge a used container base away from a container handling subassembly such that the container base falls into the waste collection subassembly.

[0223] The feeding assembly may include one or more drive units. One or more drive units may be configured to drive movement of one or more components of the feeding assembly. The one or more drive sources may be associated with container storage assembly (e.g., restraint mechanism), a transport subassembly, a container opening subassembly, a container handling subassembly (e.g., grippers), a moveable cover (e.g., covering the container display opening), and / or the like. One or more drive sources may be shared amongst different components or be dedicated drive sources. For example, a drive source associated with the transport subassembly may also be associated with a container opening subassembly. A drive unit may also be referred to as an actuator.

[0224] A drive unit may include one or more drive sources. A drive source may convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. A drive source may be configured to be in electrical communication with a power source. A drive source may be a motor or other power supply. The drive source may be an electronic motor, pneumatic power supply, hydraulic power supply, another power supply, or a combination thereof. An exemplary electronic motor may include a stepper motor. The drive source may transfer or produce torque in a drive shaft.

[0225] 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 in communication with the drive source. The drive shaft may be rotationally affixed to the drive source. A drive shaft may include a lead screw.

[0226] The drive unit may include and / or be in communication with one or more gears. The drive source, drive shaft, or both may be in rotational communication with one or more gears. The drive source, drive shaft, or both may transfer torque and / or drive one or more gears. One or more gears may include one or more drive gears. One or more gears may be directly engaged or in communication with the drive shaft. The one or more gears of a drive unit may engage with one or more gears of a container storage assembly (e.g., restraint mechanism), a transport subassembly, a container opening subassembly, a container handling subassembly (e.g., grippers), a moveable cover (e.g., covering the container display opening), and / or the like.

[0227] The feeding assembly may include one or more sensing devices. One or more sensing devices may function to sense a presence of one or more containers, obtain one or more parameters of one or more containers and / or container magazines, sense a position of one or more subassemblies, or any combination thereof. One or more sensing devices may generally function to sense a status of one or more components within the feeding assembly. One or more sensing devices may identify a position of one or more components of the feeding assembly. One or more sensing devices may identify an animal. One or more sensing devices may be in electrical communication with one or more controllers. One or more sensingdevices may automatically transmit a signal, change in signal, or both to the one or more controllers. One or more sensing devices may include one or more cameras, identification sensors, container presence sensors, position sensors, weight sensors, counters, waste sensors, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0228] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more cameras. One or more cameras may function to identify the presence of an animal, a type of animal, and / or a specific animal. One or more cameras may function to record the activity of an animal at the feeding assembly. One or more cameras may be located in a front of a housing, above a feeding area, or both. One or more cameras may be located in the top cover and above the feeding area. One or more cameras may be located in front of the container storage subassembly, between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area, or both. One or more cameras may function as provided for in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2024 / 196865 and WO 2024 / 196852, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Visually capturing an approved animal approaching and / or an unapproved animal departing may provide for automatically displaying of a container, opening of a lid, or both. Visually capturing an approved animal departing and / or an unapproved animal approaching may provide for automatically disposing of a container, closing a lid, or both.

[0229] The one or more sensing devices may include one or more animal identification sensors. One or more animal identification sensors may be used in lieu of or in conjunction with a camera. One or more animal identification sensors may function to detect a trigger device. Detection of a trigger device by a sensing device may open the lid, close the lid, or both. A trigger device may be sensed by a sensing device upon entering a detecting range of the sensing device. A trigger device may be a tag, a barcode, a chip, a transceiver, another sensor, or the like. A trigger device may be wearable by an animal, embedded in an animal, or both. For example, a tag may be affixed to the collar of an animal. The trigger device and the sensing device may use Bluetooth, wi-fi, radio frequency, near field communication, and / or the like to communicate with one another. The sensing device configured to interact with one or more trigger devices may be located anywhere in the feeder. The sensing device may be located at or near the feeding area, the user interface, the top cover, a front, a rear, a side, the like, or any combination thereof. Being near a feeding area may be optimal for forming a wireless connection with a trigger device. For example, the head of an animal may typically block or impede a connection being formed (e.g., block the signal) when the trigger device is worn on a collar and the sensing device is located near the control panel and / or sensing tower (e.g., at or above an animal’s head height).

[0230] One or more sensing devices may include one or more identification sensors. One or more identification sensors may function to read and / or communicate with one or more identifiers. One or more identification sensors may be disposed proximate to the container storage subassembly. One or more identification sensors may be disposed such as to have a view of, form a connection with, or both one or more identifiers of one or more containers. One or more identification sensors may be retained in a base, below a hopper, below a retaining clip, in a hopper, above a hopper, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more identification sensors may be located directly below and aligned with an outlet of a hopper, a retaining clip, or both. One or more identification sensors may function to obtain one or more parametersassociated with the container and / or food therein, obtain access to a database or other repository having one or more parameters associated with the container and / or food therein, or both. One or more identification sensors may be any type of transceiver compatible with any identifier disclosed herein, able scan or read an identifier, able to obtain parameters associated with a container or food therein, able to direct a controller as to where to obtain parameters associated with a container or food 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, nearfield communication transmitters (NFC), image sensors, the like, or any combination thereof. The identification sensor may be an optical sensor (e.g., a UV sensor, an IR sensor, a CCD camera, an electrical sensor, etc.). The one or more identification sensors may be compatible with one or more identifiers including a bar code, a QR code, a reflective feature, a scannable optical feature, an IR or UV visible printed feature, raised or recessed features, or an electrical circuit (e.g., a resistive electrical circuit), an NFC chip, an RFID, or any other visual, electric, or electromagnetic indicator.

[0231] One or more sensing devices may include one or more container presence sensors. One or more container presence sensors may function to determine if a container has been retrieved by, received in, is positioned correctly in, or any combination thereof a container handling subassembly. The one or more sensing devices may be any type of sensing device which may detect a presence of a container in a container handling subassembly. One or more presence sensors may identify the presence of a container by sight or blocking of a light path, by mass, and / or the like. A presence sensor may continuously or intermittently monitor for presence of a container. A presence sensor may automatically check for presence of a container after a container storage subassembly has been triggered to release a container, a container handling subassembly has been triggered to retrieve a container, or both. 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, conductive sensors, optical interface sensors, microwave sensors, the like, or combination thereof. A presence sensor may be located at any location within the feeding assembly suitable for detecting presence of a container within the container handling subassembly. The presence sensor may be mounted onto the container handling subassembly, may be mounted to the housing, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted in close proximity to a container storage subassembly. The presence sensor may be mounted toward the rear of a feeding assembly. The presence sensor may be mounted onto an upper support, mid-support, or both. The presence sensor may be mounted adjacent to, toward a rear of, or both a channel of a mid-support, support plate, or both. The presence sensor may also be in the form of one or more weight sensors.

[0232] One or more sensing devices may include one or more weight sensors. One or more weight sensors may function to determine if a container has been retrieved by a container handling subassembly, measure the weight of a container before feeding the animal, measure the weight of the container after the animal has finished eating, measure weight of waste or change in weight of waste in a waste collection subassembly, or a combination thereof. One or more weight sensors may weigh a container before, during, and / or after being retrieved by a container handling subassembly. One or more weight sensors may weigha container when the container handling subassembly is positioned in a loading position, opening position, feeding position and / or disposing position. One or more weight sensors may function to weigh a container before, during, and / or after being positioned at a feeding area. One or more weight sensors may continuously or intermittently weigh a container from retrieval by a container handling subassembly until disposal into a waste collection subassembly. One or more weight sensors may include one or more strain gauges (incl. load cell), impedance sensors (e.g., capacitive-based weight sensor), hydraulic sensors, pneumatic sensors, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more weight sensors may measure an overall weight of a transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, container, or a combination thereof to determine a weight of a container. One or more weight sensors may be affixed to or part of one or more container handling subassemblies, transport subassemblies, housings, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more weight sensors may be affixed to one or more support plates of one or more container handling subassemblies. One or more weight sensors may be affixed to a mid-support, base, or both. One or more weight sensors may capture an isolated weight associated with the mid-support, transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, container opening subassembly, and / or container while being free of capturing weight of a base cover, container storage subassembly, and / or top cover. The weight of the mid-support may be isolated from the weight of the base cover, container storage subassembly, and / or top cover. One or more weight sensors may be affixed to an interior of a base. One or more weight sensors may be affixed to one or more side walls, a bottom wall, or both of a base. One or more weight sensors may be affixed to an exterior of a mid-support. One or more weight sensors may be affixed to an exterior side wall of a lower-support. One or more weight sensors may be affixed in place by one or more mounting brackets.

[0233] One or more sensing devices may include one or more position sensors. One or more position sensors may function to detect a position of one or more subassemblies within the feeding assembly. One or more position sensors may function to detect the position of at least a portion of a container handling subassembly, waste collection subassembly, container storage subassembly, or a combination thereof. One or more position sensors may function to detect if a container handling subassembly is stationed at the loading position, opening position, feeding position, disposing position, resting position, or somewhere therebetween. By checking that a container handling subassembly is at a loading position, the position sensors acknowledge that the container handling subassembly is ready to receive and / or retrieve a container from a container storage subassembly. By keeping track of the position of the container handling subassembly throughout the feeding cycle, progression may be kept track of, along with any potential problems. One or more position sensors may function to detect the position of a compression device within a container storage subassembly. The position of a compression device may be correlated to a position (e.g., height) within the hopper. The position of a compression device may be correlated to a number of containers stored within the hopper. One or more position sensors may function to detect a position of a waste drawer, waste receptacle, waste carousel, the like, or combination thereof. One or more position sensors may function to detect insertion of a waste drawer into a waste cavity of a base, a position of a carousel duringrotation, a position of a receiving area, the like, or any combination thereof. Any type of sensor suitable as a presence sensor may also be utilized as a position sensor. A position sensor may be mounted onto a board, into a motor, into a component, the like, or any combination thereof. A position sensor may include one or more photodetectors, optical encoders, hall effect sensors, potentiometers, capacitive position sensors, inductive sensors, magneto strictive sensors, proximity sensors, rotary encoder, linear encoder, or a combination thereof.

[0234] For example, an optical encoder may include an optical end stop switch in a position pocket. A position pocket may be an indentation or other receiving area. One or more position pockets may be located along the travel path of the container handling subassembly to identify one or more positions of the container handling subassembly. The indentation may be reciprocal with an extension projecting from a container handling subassembly. One or more extensions may project from any portion of the container handling subassembly. One or more extensions may project from one or more holding support, cradle, bearings, and / or the like. As an example, in the loading position, an extension may seat within one position pocket near the rear of the feeder assembly and in the feeding position, the same or another extension may seat within another position pocket near the front of the feeder assembly.

[0235] For example, an array of hall effect sensors may cooperate with the container handling subassembly to detect a plurality of positions. The array may be located on a circuit board to form the sensing device. This may be referred to as a position sensor. The position sensor may be located parallel to a path of travel of the container handling subassembly, next to a channel of a mid-support (i.e., lower support), or both. The position sensor may be mounted to the mid-support, the base, or both. The container handling subassembly may include one or more magnets. The one or more magnets may include a magnet affixed to the holding support, bearings, a position flag, or any combination thereof. For example, the magnet may be retained by and / or within the position flag. As the container handling subassembly moves among a plurality of positions, the array of hall sensors may detect a position of the magnet and thus the container handling subassembly.

[0236] For example, an array of hall effect sensors may cooperate with a container storage subassembly to detect a number of containers stored therein. The array may be located on a circuit board to form the sensing device. The sensing device may be referred to as a counter. The counter may be located parallel to a path of travel of a compression device. The counter may be affixed to the interior of a top cover. The counter may be affixed adjacent to a channel through which the compression device travels. The compression device may include a magnet which cooperates with the counter and its array of hall sensors. The magnet may be retained by and / or within a handling portion. As compression device moves down the hopper each time a container is removed in a feeding cycle, the array of hall sensors may detect the movement of the magnet down to a subsequent position. The position may then be correlated to a quantity of containers, or lack thereof, still available within the hopper for use.

[0237] As another example, one or more hall effect sensors may cooperate with a waste carousel to detect a position of the carousel. The one or more hall effect sensors may be located in the base. The carousel mayhave one or more magnets thereon. A plurality of magnets may be equal to or different from a number of receiving areas. As the carousel rotates, the hall effect sensors may detect the magnets and thus the position of the carousel.

[0238] 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 operations of one or more components of the device, execute one or more methods of operation, or a combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be configured to control overall operation of the feeding assembly. The one or more controllers may be in electrical 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 the one or more sensing devices, subassemblies, communication modules, and / or the like. The one or more controllers may interpret one or more signals from 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 one or more controllers may include one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, processors, storage mediums, or a combination thereof. The one or more controllers may include one or more computing devices, processors, storage mediums, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be in communication with one or more other computing devices, processor(s), storage mediums, or any combination thereof. A controller may be housed and / or supported by one or more portions of a housing. A controller may be located within and / or supported by a base, mid-support, top cover, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0239] The one or more controllers may automatically control one or more operations of one or more components upon receipt of one or more signals or instructions. The one or more controllers may automatically execute a method of operating the feeding assembly. The one or more controllers may include one or more computer readable instructions stored therein or accessible thereby. The instructions may be the method of operating the feeding assembly. A controller may selectively cause a transport subassembly to move a container handling subassembly between a container storage subassembly (i.e., loading position) and feeding area (i.e., feeding position), move a container handling subassembly from a feeding area (i.e., feeding position) to a disposing position, and / or any positions therebetween. A controller may selectively cause the opening and / or closing of a lid. A controller may be configured to adjust the movement speed of a transport subassembly, container handling subassembly, or both. A speed may be adjusted based on one or more parameters associated with a container. A controller may cause rotation of a waste carousel. A controller may cause actuation of a container opening subassembly. A controller may execute one or more notifications regarding the status of one or more components.

[0240] A controller may be configured to receive a signal indicative of one or more parameters associated with a container from one or more identification sensors. The controller may determine the parameters directly via the information from the identification sensor and associated signal or may communicate via a network to obtain further information.

[0241] The feeding assembly may be in communication with or include one or more power sources. A power source may function to provide power to one or more components of the device. A power source may be any typical power source for consumer products. A power source may be an outlet, direct current, alternating current, the like, or a combination thereof. The device may house an adapter for a power source, such as in base of the feeding assembly.

[0242] The feeding assembly of the present teachings may incorporate any of the teachings related to the feeders disclosed in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2023 / 220751, WO 2023 / 220752, WO 2024 / 196865, WO 2024 / 196852, and WO 2024 / 197306; and U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 599,131 filed on November 15, 2023 and 63 / 647,687, filed on May 15, 2023, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0243] System Including Feeding Assembly

[0244] The feeding assembly may be incorporated into a system. A system may include a network, one or more computing devices in communication with the feeding assembly, or both. A system may be useful for allowing for remote control and / or monitoring of a feeding assembly. A system may include one or more feeding assemblies, computing devices, processors, storage mediums, databases, a network, communication modules, communication hubs, and / or the like.

[0245] The feeding assembly may include and / or be in communication 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 to data entries, to send one or more data entries to a storage medium, to store one or more data entries, to retrieve one or more data entries from a storage medium, to compute one or more algorithms, apply one or more rules, or any combination thereof. One or more computing devices may include or be in communication with one or more other computing devices, processors, storage mediums, databases, or any combination thereof. One or more computing devices may communicate with one or more computing devices, processors, storage mediums, databases, or any combination thereof. Communication between 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 mediums. A non- transitory storage medium may include or be part of one or more physical servers, virtual servers, or a combination of both. One or more servers may include one or more local servers, remote servers, or both. One or more computing devices may include one or more processors of the feeding assembly, one or more controllers, personal computers (e.g., laptop, desktop, etc.), mobile computing devices (e.g., tablet, mobile phone, etc.), or a combination thereof. One or more computing devices may refer to the plurality of computing devices used across the system, located in the feeding assembly, in communication directly to the feeding assembly, and / or in indirect communication to the feeding assembly via a network. One or more computing devices may use one or more processors.

[0246] 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, oneor more other computing devices, one or more other processors, one or more storage mediums, 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 mediums, or any combination thereof. One or more processors may be in communication 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 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 a combination thereof; may wait for an instruction or signal such as from a user; or any combination thereof. Processing data may include receiving, transforming, outputting, executing, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more processors may be part of one or more hardware, software, systems, or any combination thereof. 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. One or more software processors may include one or more word processors, document processors, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more system processors may include one or more information processors, the like, or a combination thereof. One or more processors suitable for use within the device as part of the one or more controllers may include a microcontroller, such as Part No. PIC18F45K22 and / or Part No. PIC18F46J50 produced by Microchip Technology Inc., incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. The one or more processors may be located within a same or different non-transient storage medium as one or more storage mediums, other processors, communication modules, communication hubs, or any combination thereof. The one or more processors may be an ARMbased processor, ASIP processor, FPGA process, or any combination thereof. Exemplary ARM-based processors may include one or more of the Cortex-M Family, versions ARM to ARMv6 (ARM 32-bit), version ARMv6-M to ARMv9-R (ARM 32-bit Cortex), versions ARMv8-A to ARMv-9 (ARM 64 / 32-bit), the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more processors may include one or more cloud-based processors. A cloud-based processor may be part of or in communication with a dispatch interface, an interaction interface, an authentication portal, or a combination thereof. A cloud-based processor may be located remote from a 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 located remote from the device, computing device, processor, databases, or any combination thereof. 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™ (EC2TM) may be provided by Amazon Web Services®, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Another suitable platform for a cloud-based processor may include Lambda™ provided by Amazon Web Services®, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes. The one or more processors may convert data signals to data entries to be saved within one or more storage mediums. The one or more processors may access one or more algorithms to analyze one or more data entries and / or data signals. The one or more processors may access one or more algorithms saved within one or more memory storage mediums. Theone or more algorithms being accessed by one or more processors may be located in the same or different storage medium or server as the processor(s).

[0247] One or more computing devices may include one or more memory storage mediums. The one or more memory storage mediums may include one or more hard drives (e.g., hard drive memory), chips (e.g., Random Access Memory “RAM)”), discs, flash drives, memory cards, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more storage mediums may include one or more cloud-based storage mediums. A cloud-based storage medium may be located remote from a device, a computing device, one or more processors, one or more databases, or any combination thereof. Cloud-based may mean that the one or more storage mediums may reside in a non-transitory storage medium located remote from the device, computing device, processor, other databases, or any combination thereof. One or more cloud-based storage mediums may be accessible via one or more networks. A suitable cloud-based storage medium may be Amazon S3TM provided by Amazon Web Services®, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. One or more memory storage mediums may store one or more data entries in a native format, foreign format, or both. One or more memory storage mediums may store data entries as objects, fdes, blocks, or a combination thereof. The one or more memory storage mediums may include one or more algorithms, rules, databases, data entries, the like, or any combination therefore stored therein. The one or more memory storage mediums may store data in the form of one or more databases.

[0248] One or more computing devices may include and / or be able to access one or more databases. One or more databases may be useful for storing information therein related to one or more animals, users, feeding assemblies, containers, foods, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more databases may include one or more animal profde databases. An animal profde database may store one or more parameters of one or more animals therein. One or more parameters may include age, gender, breed, weight, color, medical information, feed information (e.g., quantity, schedule), the like, or any combination thereof. One or more databases may include one or more food databases. One or more food databases may include one or more parameters of food stored therein. The food may be the food associated with containers compatible for use with a feeding assembly. The one or more food parameters associated with the food may include compatibility with the feeding assembly, a type of food in the container, a volume of food in the container, nutritional values associated with the food in the container, a brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, a production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, an expiration date of the food in the container, an amount of time food may be unsealed and exposed to ambient temperatures before beginning to spoil, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more parameters may be associated with one or more identifiers or data provided therefrom. For example, an identifier may direct a computing device to find information related to that identifier in the food database. This may be opposed to or in addition to parameters provided by the identifier itself.

[0249] The feeding assembly may include one or more communication modules. The one or more communication modules may allow for 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 modulesmay have any configuration which may allow for one or more data signals from one or more controllers to be relayed to one or more other controllers, communication modules, communication hubs, networks, computing devices, processors, the like, or any combination thereof located external of the feeding assembly. The one or more communication modules may include one or more wired communication modules, wireless communication modules, or both. A wired communication module may be any module capable of transmitting and / or receiving one or more data signals via a wired connection. One or more wired communication modules may communicate via one or more networks via a direct, wired connection. A wired connection may include a local area network wired connection by an ethemet port. A wired communication module may include a PC Card, PCMCIA card, PCI card, the like, or any combination thereof. A wireless communication module may include any module capable of transmitting and / or receiving one or more data signals via a wireless connection. One or more wireless communication modules may communicate via one or more networks via a wireless connection. 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, cellular radio signal transmitter, Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) transmitter, the like, or any combination thereof. A Wi-Fi transmitter may be any transmitter compliant with IEEE 802.11. A communication module may be single band, multi-band (e.g., dual band), or both. A communication module may operate at 2.4 Ghz, 5 Ghz, the like, or a combination thereof. A cellular radio signal transmitter may be any transceiver compatible with any cellular frequency band (e.g., 500, 900, 1,800, 1,900 MHz) and / or network (3G, LTE, LTE Catl, LTE M, 4G, 5G). A communication module may communicate with one or more other communication modules, computing devices, processors, or any combination thereof directly; via one or more communication hubs, networks, or both; via one or more interaction interfaces; or any combination thereof.

[0250] The feeding system may include and / or be in communication with a communication hub. A communication hub may function to receive one or more signals, transfer one or more signals, or both from one or more other computing devices. The communication hub may be any type of communication hub capable of sending and transmitting data signals over a network to one or a plurality of computing devices. The communication hub may include a wired router, a wireless router, an antenna, a satellite, or any combination thereof. For example, an antenna may include a cellular tower. The communication hub may be connected to a feeding assembly, one or more computing devices, or both via wired connection, wireless connection, or a combination of both. For example, the communication hub may be wirelessly connected with the feeding assembly via a communication module. The communication hub may allow for communication of a computing device 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 and / or wireless connection and communicates with the feeding device through the communication hub. An indirect connection to the communication hub may mean that a computing device first communicates with one or more other computing devices via a network beforetransmitting and / or receiving one or more signals to and / or from the communication hub and then to the feeding assembly.

[0251] The feeding assembly may be integrated into one or more networks. The feeding assembly may be in removable communication with one or more networks. The one or more networks may be formed by placing a feeding assembly in communication with one or more other computing devices. One or more networks may include one or more communication hubs, communication modules, computing devices, feeding assemblies, or a combination thereof as part of the network. One or more networks may be free of one or more communication hubs. One or more computing devices of the system may be directly connected to one another 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 a pet health device or other computing device without having a communication hub therebetween. One or more networks may be connected to one or more other networks. One or more networks may include one or more local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranet, Internet, Internet of Things (loT), the like, or any combination thereof. The network may allow for a feeding assembly to be in communication with one or more user interfaces remote from the feeding assembly via the Internet, such as through one or more managed cloud services. An exemplary managed cloud service may include AWS loT 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. A network may allow for 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 allow for one or more signals from one or more controllers to be relayed through the system to one or more other computing devices, processors, storage mediums, the like, or any combination thereof. The network may allow for one or more computing devices to receive one or more data entries from and / or transmit one or more data entries to one or more storage mediums. The network may allow for transmission of one or more signals, status signals, data entries, instruction signals, or any combination thereof for processing by one or more processors. Communication across one or more networks may be enabled by one or more protocols. One or more protocols may be proprietary, open-source (e.g., “Matter”), and / or shared.

[0252] One or more computing devices (e.g., personal computing devices) may include one or more user interfaces. The one or more user interfaces may function to display information related to one or more animals (e.g., usage, consumption, trends, etc.), receive user inputs from a user (e.g., animal caregiver), display data and / or one or more prompts to a user, or any combination thereof. The one or more user interfaces may be suitable for receiving data from a user. The one or more user interfaces may include one or more graphic user interfaces (GUI), audio interfaces, image interfaces, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more graphic user interfaces may function to display visual data to a user, receive one or more inputs from the user, or both. The one or more graphic interfaces may include one or more screens. The one or more screens may be a screen located on a computing device. The one or more screens may bea screen on a mobile computing device, non-mobile computing device, or both. The one or more graphic interfaces may include and / or be in communication 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, touch pads (i.e., a touch-sensitive area, provided as a separate peripheral or integrated into a computing device, that does 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 a graphic user interface. An audio interface may function to project sound to a user and / or receive sound from a user. The audio interface may include audio circuitry, one or more speakers, one or more microphones, the like, or any combination thereof. An image interface may function to capture, receive, display, and / or transmit one or more images. An image interface may include one or more cameras. A user interface may function to display and / or navigate through one or more menus of the application.

[0253] The system may include and / or execute one or more applications. The application (i.e., “computer program”) 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 application may be stored on one or more memory storage devices. The application may be stored on one or more personal computing devices. The application may comprise and / or access one or more computer-executable instructions, algorithms, rules, processes, methods, user interfaces, menus, databases, the like, or any combination thereof. The computerexecutable instructions, when executed by a computing device, may cause the computing device to perform one or more methods described herein. The application may be downloaded, accessible without downloading, or both. The application may be downloadable onto one or more computing devices. The application may be downloadable from an application store (i.e., “app store”). An application store may include, but is not limited to, Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, or any combination thereof. The application may be accessible without downloading onto one or more computing devices. The application may be accessible via 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 utilized by one or more computing devices. The application may also be referred to as a dedicated application.

[0254] External developers may be in communication with one or more computing devices, user devices, the feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. External developers may include third party mobile or web application developers. The network may enable external developers to create applications that are compatible with the website or application installed on the user device, and which may be used to control the feeding assembly.

[0255] The system of the present teachings may incorporate any of the teachings related to the system and feeding assemblies as disclosed in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2023 / 220751, WO 2023 / 220752, WO 2024 / 196865, WO 2024 / 196852, and WO 2024 / 197306; and U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 599,131filed on November 15, 2023 and 63 / 647,687, filed on May 15, 2023, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0256] Container Compatible with Feeding Assembly

[0257] The present teachings relate to a container. The container may function to store food therein, be used as a serving dish to have an animal consume therefrom, be compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for automatically opening the container, be compatible with an automatic feeding assembly for being presented to an animal to consume therefrom, or any combination thereof. The container may have the food sealed therein such as to extend the shelf life of the food and avoid the need for refrigeration.

[0258] The container may include a container base, a lid, a seal member(s), identifier(s), the like, or a combination thereof.

[0259] The container may have a symmetric or asymmetric shape. Symmetry may be about an axis or plane intersecting both a container base and lid. Symmetry may be about a plane which extends from the front to the rear of the container, from a lid access feature to a rear of the container, or both.

[0260] A container may be configured to have a single correct orientation or multiple correct orientations for being located into a feeding assembly and / or cooperating with a container opening subassembly. A lid may be formed such that the leading edge and trailing edge may or may not be reversible. For example, a container may have no planes of symmetry or just one plane of symmetry to provide for one correct orientation or two planes of symmetry to provide for two correct orientations. A container with a single correct orientation may have one or more lid access features only adjacent to and / or in proximity to a leading edge of a lid. A container with two correct orientations may have one or more lid access features adjacent to and / or in proximity to a leading edge and a trailing edge of a lid.

[0261] A container may have an open configuration, closed configuration, partially open configuration, the like, or any combination thereof. A closed configuration may allow for shipping and storage of the container. A closed configuration may mean that a lid of the container is located and sealed to the container base. In a closed configuration, a lid may cooperate with a cavity base to completely seal a cavity of the cavity base. An open configuration and / or partially open configuration may allow for access to food within a container, consumption of food directly from the container (e.g., by an animal), accessing food for placing into a serving dish, or any combination thereof. An open configuration may mean that a lid of the container is removed from a container base such as to expose the cavity thereof.

[0262] A container may cooperate with a feeding assembly to be moved from a closed configuration to an open configuration and / or partially open configuration or vice versa.

[0263] A container may include a container base. A container base may function to retain food therein. A container base may function as a serving dish for an animal to consume directly therefrom. A container base may define an internal volume in which food may be placed. A food cavity may be defined by the internal volume. A container base may include one or more storage portions, rims, flanges, keying features, alignment features, engagement features, lid access features, lid reinforcing features, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0264] The container base may include a storage portion. A storage portion may define a hollow cavity for containing the food. A storage portion may be the portion of a container an animal consumes from.

[0265] A bottom wall may define the bottom surface of the container. The bottom wall may cooperate with the lid and one or more side walls to seal food stored within the container. The bottom wall may cooperate with one or more side walls to define a food cavity.

[0266] One or more side walls may define the outer surface of the container base. One or more side walls may determine part of, most of, or all of a volume and / or height of a container and / or container base. One or more side walls may extend from the bottom wall. The one or more side walls may have a closed end and a free end. A closed end may be an end adjoining to a bottom wall. A free end may define the rim of the container base.

[0267] A container base may include one or more rims. One or more rims may serve as the outer edge of a container base, one or more flanges, or both. One or more rims may include or be separate from one or more flanges.

[0268] A container base may include one or more flanges. One or more flanges may function to provide a surface for a lid to be adhered to, cooperate with one or more container storage subassemblies, cooperate with one or more retaining clips, cooperate with one or more container handling subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof. A flange may extend from a storage portion. A flange may extend from one or more side walls, one or more rims, or both. A flange may extend from and / or define the rim of the container base. A flange may be separate from, affixed to, and / or integral with the rim of the container base. A flange may be a laterally outward extending portion of a rim. A flange may extend substantially laterally from a side wall below a rim, from a downward projecting portion from a rim, below a top surface of a rim, or any combination thereof. In other words, a flange may be located along any part of the height of one or more side walls and / or rim. A flange may be biased more toward the rim, an upper surface of a rim, and / or an upper surface of a side wall. A flange may provide a surface for handling a container, adhering to a lid, supporting a seal member, or any combination thereof. A flange may cooperate with one or more container storage subassemblies, container handling subassemblies, container opening subassemblies, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0269] A container may include or be free of one or more keying features. One or more keying features may function to allow for a container to be keyed for engagement with a feeding assembly, a container magazine, or both. One or more keying features may aid in a human correctly orientating a container, one or more portions of a feeding assembly correctly orientating a container, or even one or more machines within an assembly process. One or more keying features may function to allow for a container to be keyed for engagement with a container storage subassembly, container handling subassembly, waste collection subassembly, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more keying features may be formed in and / or affixed to any portion of a container which may be suitable. One or more keying features may be formed, included in, and / or affixed to one or more rims, flanges, side walls, bottom walls, lids, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0270] One or more keying features may be changes in contours in one or more portions of a container base. One or more keying features may include one or more concave portions, convex portions, protrusions, indentations, flat surface, straight edges, the like, or any combination thereof. One or more keying features may include an overall shape of flange, a two-dimensional shape of a flange, or both. For example, a flange may have a cross-sectional or plan shape which is not circular, does not have radial symmetry, or both. For example, shapes such as pill-shaped with an inward indentation, pill-shaped with an inward indentation opposite a curved side and narrowing neck on sides to form two lobes (e.g., mouse head shape), tear-drop, egg-shaped, ovular with a blunt end, the like, or a combination thereof. Such a shape may aid in providing for limited correct orientations and aid in correct placement. Exemplary keying features may include one or more notches, tabs, rounded portions, and / or flat portions. One or more notches may be formed where one or more flanges narrow at a neck. Keying features may be formed in a flange such as to avoid impacting storage volume or shape of a storage portion of a container base. Keying features may be formed in a flange to aid in correct orientation of shapes which may have more than one plane of symmetry (e.g., square, rectangle, circle).

[0271] One or more keying features may include a single keying feature or a plurality of keying features. Keying features may or may not be mirrored on an opposing portion of a container. Mirroring may provide for a single or two or more correct orientations of a container. For example, mirroring of keying features with a container base (e.g., flange) having only symmetry about one-plane, may provide for only a single correct orientation. For example, mirroring of keying features with a container base (e.g., flange) having symmetry about two or more planes, may provide for two or more correct orientation. A plurality of keying features may include 2 or more, 3 or more, 4 or more, or even 6 or more keying features. A plurality of keying features may all be the same or different from one another. One or more keying features may have the same and / or different shape and / or size of one or more other keying features. For example, all of the keying features may be notches. As another example, some keying features may be notches while others are straight edges. As another example, a single keying feature may be the overall two-dimensional shape of a flange.

[0272] One or more keying features may include, function as, or be separate from one or more alignment features, engagement features, lid access features, lid reinforcing features, the like, or a combination thereof.

[0273] A container base may include or be free of one or more lid access features. One or more lid access features may function to allow a portion of a lid to be accessible; allow a bottom surface of a lid to be accessible, in addition to an upper surface of the lid; expose a portion of a bottom of a lid; allow for a leading edge to be accessible; receive one or more components of a container opening subassembly; allow for one or more components of a container opening subassembly to engage with a lid for subsequent removal; or a combination thereof. One or more lid access features may protect a leading edge, trailing edge, or both of a lid. One or more lid access features may be provided in one or more locations of a container.

[0274] One or more lid access features may include one or more flange indentations. One or more flange indentations may function to allow a bottom surface of a lid to be accessible, in addition to an upper surface; may allow for a leading edge to be accessible; may expose a portion of a lid relative to container; may allow for one or more components of a container opening subassembly to engage with a lid; or any combination thereof. One or more flange indentations may be formed in a flange of a container base. One or more flange indentations may be formed in proximity to and / or adjacent to a leading edge of a lid, a stress rise feature of a seal member, or both. One or more flange indentations may project inward toward a vertical axis, the center of the container, a center of a rim and / or flange, or a combination thereof. One or more flange indentations may be formed as one or more cutouts and / or notches. One or more flange indentations may be formed as one or more gaps between two opposing lobes of the flange. For example, a flange indentation may be an inwardly contoured portion of one or more flange portions such that a gap is formed between two opposing lobes also formed by the one or more flange portions. One or more flange indentations may refer to a localized area of contour change of a rim and / or flange. One or more flange indentations may have a shape reciprocal with or dissimilar to one or more components of a container opening subassembly. One or more flange indentations may have a shape reciprocal or dissimilar to one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like. One or more rim indentations may have a shape with a cross-sectional area equal to or larger than a cross-sectional area of one or more jaws, hooks, and / or the like. A cross-sectional area equal to or larger than a cross-sectional area of one or more jaws and / or hooks may allow for them to have sufficient access to a lid for removal. One or more flange indentations may be formed as one or more inwardly curved surfaces, one or more gaps between projecting lobes, or both. As an example, the one or more flange indentations may be formed opposite a curved side of the one or more flange portions.

[0275] One or more lid access features may include one or more blunt surfaces (e.g., straight edges). One or more blunt surfaces may function to allow a bottom surface of a lid to be accessible, in addition to an upper surface; may allow for a leading edge to be accessible; may expose a portion of a lid relative to container; may allow for one or more components of a container opening subassembly to engage with a lid; or any combination thereof. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed in the rim and / or flange of a container base. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed in proximity to and / or adjacent to a leading edge of a lid, a stress rise feature of a seal member, or both. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed as one or more straight edges, edges tangent to a majority of a contour, or both of one or more rims and / or flanges. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed as a substantially flat and / or straight edge of a rim and / or flange. One or more blunt surfaces may be dissimilar to the majority of a peripheral contour of a rim and / or flange. One or more blunt surfaces may be formed in a cross-sectional and / or two-dimensional plan shape coming to a straight surface. For example, one or more rounded shapes may have one or more straight edges formed therein. For example, a circle, oval, egg-shape, tear-drop shape, and / or the like may curve and / or narrow to a straight edge to form a blunt surface. The blunt surface may be opposite a rounded surface. One or more blunt surfaces may refer to a localized area of contour change of a rim and / or flange. One or more blunt surfaces may also define an exposed area of the lid referred to as the handling portion.

[0276] The container may include a lid. A lid may function to close or seal a container, preserve food within a container, or both. A lid may be shaped to be reciprocal with, similar to, dissimilar to, fully cover a food cavity of a container base, or any combination thereof. A lid may be shaped to be reciprocal with, similar to, dissimilar to, fully cover, partially cover, or any combination thereof a flange and / or rim of a container base. The lid may be adhered to the container base. The lid may be partially or completely removable. Removing a lid may transition a container from a closed configuration to an open configuration.

[0277] An edge of the lid which is peeled or otherwise removed from the container first may be referred to as a leading edge. An edge of the lid which is peeled last, remains adhered, or otherwise removed may be referred to as a trailing edge. A peeling force may be applied from a leading edge toward and / or to the trailing edge.

[0278] A lid may be releasably coupled to the container base. A lid may be releasably attached to the rim and / or flange. A lid may be releasably coupled to a container base via a seal member. A lid may or may not be able to be recoupled to a container base.

[0279] A lid may be shaped such as to completely cover an opening of a container base defining a food cavity therein. A lid may be shaped to cover the opening defined by the rim and / or flange of a container base. A lid may be shaped such as to cooperate with a container opening subassembly. A lid may be shaped such as to allow for consistent presentation and locating relative to a container opening subassembly container magazine, or both. A lid may be shaped for repeatable and accessible gripping, clamping, hooking, and / or the like by a container opening subassembly, user, or both.

[0280] A lid may be shaped such that when a lid is presented to a container opening subassembly it is presented at a consistent location with a leading edge facing toward the container opening subassembly. A lid may have a cross-sectional shape (cut plane parallel to upper surface of lid, longitudinal and / or horizontal plane) or overall two-dimensional plan shape (viewing top down or bottom up) which is substantially half bullet or half-pill shaped, circular, ovular, egg-shaped, teardrop shaped, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal (e.g., pentagon, hexagon), and / or the like. A lid may have a shape which is asymmetrical or symmetrical about one or more planes. A lid may have a shape which is free of symmetry, includes one plane of symmetry, two or more planes of symmetry. A lip shape may aid in orienting of a container within one or more components of the feeding assembly.

[0281] The container may include one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers may function to indicate one or more parameters associated with the container. One or more identifiers may include one or more visual identifiers, signal identifiers, or both. One or more visual identifiers may include one or more quick response (“QR”) codes, bar codes, colored pattern, textures, surface reflectivity patterns, the like, or a combination thereof. 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. 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 of the container. One or more identifiers may be located on an exterior of the lid, an exterior of the one or more side walls of thecontainer base, a bottom wall of a container base, an exterior of a casing, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more identifiers may be placed on a container such as to be accessible and readable by an identification sensor. The one or more parameters associated with an identifier may include compatibility with the feeding assembly, a type of food in the container, a volume of food in the container, nutritional values associated with the food in the container, a brand or manufacturer of the food in the container, a production and / or packaging date of the food in the container, an amount of time food may be unsealed and exposed to ambient temperatures before beginning to spoil, an expiration date, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more parameters associated with the identifier may include one or more instructions to access one or more databases to retrieve information about the container or food.

[0282] The container of the present teachings may incorporate any of teachings as disclosed in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2023 / 220751 and WO 2023 / 220752, PCT Application No. PCT / US2024 / 045373 filed on September 5, 2024; and U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 580,529 filed on September 5, 2023, 63 / 599,125 filed on November 15 , 2023 , 63 / 645 ,210 filed on May 10, 2024, 63 / 599, 131 filed on November 15, 2023, and 63 / 647,687, filed on May 15, 2023, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0283] Method of Presenting Food

[0284] The present teachings may also relate to a method for automatically presenting food to an animal for consumption by a feeding assembly. The method may use the feeding assembly, container, and / or system according to the teachings herein. The method may include a) a container handling subassembly automatically retrieving a container of the food from a container storage subassembly; b) the container handling subassembly automatically moving the container to a feeding area and presenting the container for consumption; c) automatically opening the container by a container opening subassembly in route to the feeding area; and d) automatically disposing of the container from the container handling subassembly into a waste collection subassembly.

[0285] The method may include identifying an animal. Identifying may be automatic. The identifying may include identifying proximity of an animal, identifying a specific animal, or both. The identifying may include identifying if the animal is permitted and / or prohibited to consume the food therefrom. The identifying may include one or more cameras, animal identification sensors, or both detecting an animal approaching the feeding assembly, entering a detection range, or both. The identifying may include the one or more cameras, animal identification sensors, or both identifying the animal. Identifying the animal may include establishing a signal with a trigger device. Identifying may include correlating a signal from a trigger device with an animal identity, an image of the animal with an animal identity, or both. Identifying an animal permitted to consume from the feeding assembly may result in executing one or more steps from the method, opening a lid, or both. Identifying an animal prohibited from consuming food therefrom may result in automatically closing a lid and / or maintaining the lid closed.

[0286] The method may include receiving and / or retrieving a container from a container storage subassembly. Retrieval may be automatic. Retrieval may include a container handling subassemblygrasping or otherwise actively acquiring a container from a container storage subassembly. A container handling subassembly may at least partially enter into a container storage subassembly, retaining clip, or both to acquire a container. Receiving may include a container being dispensed into a container handling subassembly. One or more latches of a container handling subassembly may apply a retrieving force onto a container. The container may be the container at the bottom of a hopper, in proximity to an outlet of the hopper, retained in a retaining clip, or any combination thereof. Retrieving the container may include retracting the container from the container storage subassembly. Upon retracting, one or more biasing devices of a container storage subassembly, retaining clip, or both may release from the container. One or more biasing arms may deflect due to the retrieving force. Receiving and / or retrieving a container may be based on one or more configurations input by a user, identification of an animal, system defaults, or a combination thereof. For example, initiating receiving and / or retrieving based on a feeding schedule input by a user. As another example, initiating receiving and / or retrieving based on detecting an animal approaching the feeding assembly. And as another example, a user selecting via a user interface on the feeding assembly or via an application to commence a feeding cycle.

[0287] The method may include confirming the container handling subassembly is in the loading position. Confirming may be automatic. One or more position sensors may automatically detect the presence of a container handling subassembly in the loading position. One or more position sensors may detect the container handling subassembly at the loading position. A position flag, or magnet therein, of the container handling subassembly may cooperate with one or more position sensors associated with the loading position. One or more position sensors may automatically transmit a signal associated with the position to the one or more controllers.

[0288] The method may include confirming a container has been retrieved by the container handling subassembly. Confirming may be automatic. One or more presence sensors, weight sensors, or both may automatically detect a container being retrieved by the container handling subassembly. One or more weight sensors may detect a change in weight. The change in weight may be an increase in weight. The increase in weight may be associated with the weight of the container. The increase in weight may be the weight of the container being loaded onto the container handling subassembly and thus the weight transferring from the container storage subassembly to the container handling subassembly. The weight of the mid-support, including the container handling subassembly, may be isolated from the weight of the container storage subassembly, such as discussed herein. Thus, while the weight of the feeding assembly overall may remain the same as a container moves throughout the feeding cycle, the weight of the mid-support may increase and decrease and provide a reliable status of a container. Upon confirming the container has been retrieved, movement to an opening position, feeding position, or both may commence. One or more presence and / or weight sensors may automatically transmit a signal associated with the presence and / or weight to the one or more controllers.

[0289] The method may include a container handling subassembly automatically moving the container to a feeding area and presenting the container for consumption. Movement may be along one or more axes.Movement may be generated by a transport subassembly. A container handling subassembly may stop at one or more positions prior to being located at a feeding area. The one or more positions may be those disclosed herein. The container handling subassembly may move through and / or stop at a container opening position.

[0290] The method may include confirming the container handling subassembly is in and / or has passed the opening position. Confirming may be automatic. One or more position sensors may automatically detect a presence of a container handling subassembly in or passing the opening position. One or more position sensors may detect the container handling subassembly at the opening position. A position flag, or magnet therein, of the container handling subassembly may cooperate with one or more position sensors associated with the opening position. One or more position sensors may automatically transmit a signal associated with the position to the one or more controllers.

[0291] The method may include automatically opening the container by a container opening subassembly. Opening may be during movement of the container, container handling subassembly, or both between the container storage subassembly and the feeding area. A transport subassembly may move the container handling subassembly into or through the opening position, may stop movement of the container handling subassembly at the opening position, or both. The opening may include peeling a lid from a container base. The opening may include engaging a leading edge and / or removal opening near the leading edge of the lid by the container opening subassembly. Opening may include a pair of jaws of a container opening subassembly moving into a closed and / or gripping position. The pair of jaws may grip the leading edge of the lid. The opening may include the container opening subassembly moving relative to the container handling subassembly, the container handling subassembly moving relative to the container opening subassembly, or the container opening subassembly and the container handling subassembly moving relative to one another. The opening may be prior to presenting the container at the feeding area. The opening may occur at an opening position.

[0292] The method may include automatically presenting the container for consumption. Presenting may include a transport subassembly moving the container handling subassembly to a feeding position, a container handling subassembly raising the container into the container display opening, or both. A container handling subassembly may receive a lifting force. A lifting force may cause a cradle to lift away from the holding support. A lifting force may cause one or more lift linkages to rotate, lift, or both.

[0293] The method may include displaying the container until a pre-determined condition is met. Monitoring and confirming the pre -determined condition may be automatic. The container may remain in the container display opening, the container handling subassembly may remain in the feeding position, or both until the pre-determined condition is met. A pre-determined condition may be stored within the set of instructions, may be associated with the identifier of the container and / or its specific parameters, or both. The pre-determined condition may include a duration of time, a weight of the container, detecting an animal leaving proximity of the feeding assembly, or any combination thereof. A duration of time may be a time associated with spoiling of food, a time preset by a user via a user interface, a default time, or anycombination thereof. The duration of time may be about 15 minutes or greater, 30 minutes or greater, 45 minutes or greater, or even 1 hour or greater. The duration of time may be about 3 hours or less, about 2 hours or less, or about 1.5 hours or less. The weight of a container may be a container reaching a weight associated with being empty and / or near empty. If a weight of the container reaches empty and / or near empty before a duration of time has passed, the method may move to the subsequent step. This weight reduction may mean the animal has fully or nearly completely consumed the food within the container. If the weight of container remains elevated after the duration of time has passed (e.g., indicating food is still present in the container), the method may move to the subsequent step. This may prevent the animal from consuming spoiled food, even if they have not fully or even partially consumed the food in the container.

[0294] The method may include automatically disposing of a container. The container handling subassembly may be moved to allow for disposal of a container from the container handling subassembly. The container handling subassembly may be moved into and / or through a disposing position. Movement may be generated by a transport subassembly. The container handling subassembly may be located atop a waste collection subassembly. The container handling subassembly may move past a disposal subassembly, container opening subassembly, or both. The disposal subassembly, container opening subassembly, or both may include a crash bar. The container opening subassembly, disposal subassembly, or both may move into the path of travel of the container handling subassembly. As the container handling subassembly moves past the crash bar, the crash bar may come into contact with the container. The crash bar may apply a disposing force. The disposing force may be toward the front of the feeding assembly. The disposing force may cause the container to fall off of the container handling subassembly and into the waste collection subassembly.

[0295] The method may include confirming a container has been disposed of and is no longer retained by the container handling subassembly. Confirming may be automatic. One or more presence sensors, weight sensors, or both may automatically detect a container being removed from the container handling subassembly. One or more weight sensors may detect a change in weight. The change in weight may be a decrease in weight. The decrease in weight may be associated with the weight of the container, a known empty weight of the container handling subassembly, or both. The decrease in weight may be the weight of the container being removed from the container handling subassembly and thus the weight transferring from the container handling subassembly to the waste collection subassembly. The weight of the midsupport, including the container handling subassembly, may be isolated from the weight of the base and / or waste collection subassembly, such as discussed herein. Thus, while the weight of the feeding assembly overall may remain substantially the same as a container moves throughout the feeding cycle, the weight of the mid-support may increase and decrease and provide a reliable status of a container. Upon confirming the container has been disposed of, movement of the container handling subassembly back to a resting position, loading position, or both may continue. If disposal is not detected, the container handling subassembly may be moved back toward the feeding position and then back to the disposing position toreatempt disposing. One or more presence and / or weight sensors may automatically transmit a signal associated with the absence and / or weight to the one or more controllers.

[0296] The method may include determining the amount of food consumed by the animal. Determining may be automatic. An amount of food consumed may be determined via a weight change of the container. One or more weight sensors may determine the weight of a container before being presented into a feeding area. This may be referred to as an initial weight. For example, the weight of the container at any point from the loading position to the feeding position may be determined and stored. One or more weight sensors may determine the weight of the container after removal from the feeding area. This may be referred to as the final weight. For example, the weight of the container at any point from the feeding position to the disposing position may be determined and stored. The difference between the final weight and the initial weight may be automatically determined. This weight difference may be established as the amount of food consumed or may be converted to another form of measurement. One or more parameters associated with the container, such as by one or more identifiers, may aid in converting the weight into one or more other forms of measurement. For example, nutritional information of the food in a container may include a calories per serving value and the weight may be converted to calories. Maintaining the isolated weight detection of the mid-support may allow for isolating the weight of a single container throughout the feeding cycle. The method may include updating a database, application, or both with the consumption value(s).

[0297] The method may include moving a waste receptacle. The movement may be automated. The movement may provide for more uniform distribution of the containers, lids, and / or food waste within the waste receptacle. The movement may be rotation of a waste carousel. The waste carousel may be automatically rotated according to one or more drop paterns. The waste carousel may be rotated to a subsequent receiving area in the drop patern. The waste carousel may be rotated such that the receiving area aligns with the container handling subassembly, general fall path of a container from the container handling subassembly in a disposing position, or both. The waste carousel may be rotated via one or more drive units. The waste carousel may be rotated at the start of a feeding cycle, end of a feeding cycle, or any time therebetween such that the desired receiving area is available for the container to be disposed therein.

[0298] The method may include determining an inventory of one or more containers stored within the container storage subassembly. The determining may be automated. One or more position sensors may detect a position of one or more components of a container storage subassembly. A counter may determine the position of a compression device. One or more sensors part of a counter may detect proximity of a compression device. One or more sensors of a counter may detect proximity of a handling portion of a compression device . The position may be correlated to a height. The position or the height may be correlated to a number of containers stored within a hopper. Upon determining a number of containers, the number may be updated in a database, an application, or both. The number of containers may also be converted to a different value, such as days. This may be based on a feeding schedule and / or consumption trends of the animal.

[0299] The method may include a user configuring the feeding assembly via a user interface on the feeding assembly, a computing device separate from the feeding assembly (e.g., personal computer, mobile device), or both. Configuring 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. Configuring may be completed over an application.

[0300] The method may include receiving one or more signals from one or more sensing devices. One or more signals may be used to initiate one or more steps of the method. One or more parameters of a container may be received before dispensing and / or retrieving the container. The presence of a container in a container handling subassembly may be confirmed before moving the container handling subassembly toward a feeding area. The position of a container handling subassembly may be confirmed before dispensing a container into the container handling subassembly.

[0301] The method may be stored as a set of computer readable instructions on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The method of the present teachings may be accessible and / or executable by one or more processors (e.g., part of or separate from controller). Any step of the method may be automatically executed via the one or more processors.

[0302] The method may incorporate any of the teachings related to the system, methods, and / or feeding assemblies as disclosed in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2023 / 220751, WO 2023 / 220752, WO 2024 / 196865, WO 2024 / 196852, and WO 2024 / 197306; and U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 63 / 599,131 filed on November 15, 2023 and 63 / 647,687, filed on May 15, 2023, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0303] Illustrative Examples

[0304] Any of the features described herein may be combined or used in lieu of one or more other features described herein, described in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2024 / 196865 and WO 2024 / 196852, or any combination thereof. One or more features illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 54B may be combined with any combination of features of FIGS. 55 through 85. The container as shown in FIGS. 86 to 87 may cooperate with any of the features as shown in FIGS. 1 through 85.

[0305] FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective views of a feeding assembly 1. In FIG. 1, the feeding assembly 1 is in a closed position CP. In FIG. 2 and 3, the feeding assembly 1 is in an open position OP. in FIG. 3, the feeding assembly 1 presents a container 16 in an open configuration O. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10, container storage subassembly 12, and waste collection subassembly 14. The housing 10 includes a base 18, top cover 22, and serving lid 23. The feeding assembly 1 defines a feeding area 32. The feeding area 32 is closed off from access by the serving lid 23. The container storage subassembly 12 is located within the top cover 22. The base 18 houses the waste collection subassembly 14. The feeding assembly 1 includes a user interface 230. The user interface 230 can include one or more displays, buttons, and / or the like. The feeding assembly 1 also includes a sensing device 232. The sensing device 232 may be in the form of a camera 234 or other imaging device. In the open position OP, the serving lid 23 is opened such as to expose a container display opening 24.

[0306] FIGS. 4 to 9 illustrate various plan views of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is in the open position OP and closed position CP. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10, a container storage subassembly 12, and a waste collection subassembly 14. The housing 10 includes a base 18 and a top cover 22. The top cover 22 is atop the base 18. The top cover 22 only spans across a portion of the depth of the base 18 such that a feeding area 32 is exposed. The top cover 22 includes a container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 provides access for a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is configured to store a plurality of containers 16. The base 18 includes a power opening 30. The power opening 30 may function to allow pass through of one or more components associated with a power source (e.g., power cable). Removably housed within the base 18 is the waste collection subassembly 14. The waste collection subassembly includes a waste receptacle 36. The bottom of the base 18 may include a plurality of feet 38.

[0307] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the feeding assembly 1 without the top cover 22 or serving lid 23 (not shown). A container storage subassembly 12 is exposed. The container storage assembly 12 includes a hopper 48. The hopper includes a hollow interior 49. The container storage subassembly 12 is located between the rear of the feeding assembly 1 and a container opening subassembly 46. The container opening subassembly 46 is located between a container storage subassembly 12 and a feeding area 32.

[0308] FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 includes a hopper 48. The hopper 48 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16 (not shown) therein. The hopper 48 includes a hollow interior 49. The hollow interior 49 is exposed via a cutout 84. The cutout 84 extends along the length of the hopper 48. The cutout may expose a rim / flange 76 (not shown) and / or lid 54 (not shown) of a container 16 (not shown). The cutout 84 may be configured as a counter channel 402. The container storage subassembly 12 includes a container counter 400. The container counter 400 is configured to move laterally along the cutout 84. The cutout 84 may also function as a keying feature, along with the interior contour and / or shape of the hollow interior 49.

[0309] The container storage subassembly 12 includes, is affixed to, or is aligned with a retaining clip 47. The retaining clip 47 may function as a restraint mechanism 50. The retaining clip 47 is located adjacent to the bottom of the hopper 48. The retaining clip 47 includes a pair of biasing arms 51. The retaining clip 47 includes a container holder 57. The container holder 57 includes a pair of guide arms 53.

[0310] The container storage subassembly 12 includes a compression device 312. The compression device 312 may function to apply a downward force to one or more containers 16 stored within the hopper 48 such as to keep the containers aligned. The compression device 312 may be in the form of a spatula, be pivotable, or both. The container storage subassembly 12 includes a handle 404. The handle 404 may allow for a user to remove and insert the container storage assembly 12 from the housing 10 (not shown).

[0311] FIGS. 14 to 16 illustrate a retaining clip 47. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the retaining clip 47 retaining a container 16. The retaining clip 47 includes a pair of biasing arms 51. The retaining clip 47 includes a container holder 57. The container holder 57 includes two guide arms 53. The retaining clip 47 also includes a latch 55. The latch 55 may be at affixed to a rear of the container holder 57. The guide arms 53 aid incontrolling vertical movement of a container 16, such as preventing further downward movement. The biasing arms 51 may control sideways movement, twisting movement, or both of the container 16, hold in place until retrieved by a container handling subassembly 42 (not shown), or both. The biasing arms 51 may pivot upward when the container 16 is retrieved. The biasing arms 51 may deflect back into a resting position once a container 16 is retrieved. The container handling subassembly 42 (not shown), container 16, or both may apply an outward and / or upward onto the biasing arms 51 to deflect them away and take over supporting of the container 16. A latch 55 may be located in a rear or other location of the retaining clip 47. The latch 55 may cooperate with the flange and / or rim 76 of the container 16. The latch 55 may aid in the motion of receiving a container 16, dispensing a container 16 to a container handling subassembly 42, or both.

[0312] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a compression device 312 of a container storage subassembly 12. The compression device 312 is able to linearly travel within the hopper 48. The compression device 312 includes a compressing portion 340. The compressing portion 340 may be referred to as a spatula. The compressing portion 340 has a shape substantially reciprocal with the hollow interior 49 of the hopper 48. The compression device 312 is moveable along a channel 342. The channel 342 is formed along the length of the hopper 48. The compression device 312 includes a handle portion 344. The handle portion 344 may include a magnet 309. The magnet 309 may be inside of the handle portion 344. The handle portion 344 is connected to the compressing portion 340. The handle portion 344 is located within and moveable along the channel 342. The handle portion 344 may include one or more pins or other features which are located within and move along one or more grooves of the channel 342. The compression device 312 is configured to rotate away from the top of the hopper 48. Rotation away from the hopper 48 allows for access into the hollow interior 49. Rotation away from the hopper 48 allows for insertion of containers 16 (not shown) into the hopper 48. To move the compression device 312 into an open position, the compressing portion 340 may be rotated upward and out of the hollow interior 49. To move the compression device 312 back into a closed position, the compressing portion 340 may be rotated downward and back into the holler interior 49.

[0313] FIG. 19 shows how the compression device 312 applies a downward force onto the top of a container 16 (not shown), the stack of containers 16 (not shown), or both. The compression device 312 together with the retaining clip 47 compress one or more containers 16 therebetween. The compression device 312 receives a constant force from a compression biasing device 346. The compression biasing device 346 may be a spring, such as a constant force spring. This constant force may be in a downward direction and be transferred to the compressing portion 340.

[0314] FIG. 20 illustrates a lock system 348. The lock system 348 is part of the container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 includes a handle 404. The handle 404 is rotatable about a handle pivot 406. The handle 404 is engaged with a release latch 354. The handle 404 is affixed to the release latch 354 via a pivot joint 408. The handle 404 together with the latch 354 convert the rotational movement of the handle 404 to linear movement of the latch 354. The latch 354 is configured to recede from and advance into a latch opening 350. The latch 354 recedes from the latch opening 350 when thehandle 404 is rotated upward. This allows for the container storage subassembly 12 to be removed from the feeding assembly 1 by being moved upward. Once the container storage subassembly is reinserted into the feeding assembly 1, the handle 404 is rotated downward. The latch 354 advanced into the latch opening 350 when the handle 404 is rotated downward. This engages the container storage assembly 12 with the interior of the feeding assembly 1. The latch opening 350 is formed in the housing 10, such as the cover 22. The latch opening 350 is formed in an interior surface of the housing 10.

[0315] The feeding assembly 1 may also include a sensing device 232. The sensing device 232 may be a presence sensor 240. The presence sensor 240 may be configured to detect that the container storage subassembly 12 is fully seated within the feeding assembly 1. The presence sensor 240 is located in proximity to the latch 354 and latch opening 350. The presence sensor 240 is configured to sense when the latch 354 is fully engaged and seated within the latch opening 350.

[0316] FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate a stack of containers 16 within a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 includes a hopper 48 with a hollow interior 49. The inside shape of the hollow interior 49 functions as a keying feature 58 of the hopper 48. The hopper 48 includes a cutout 84. The cutout 84 extends along a length of the hopper 48.

[0317] FIG. 23 illustrates a feeding assembly 1 without the top cover 22 of the housing and without the container storage subassembly 12. The feeding assembly 1 includes a base 18. The base 18 is part of the housing 10. Housed within the feeding assembly 1 is a container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly 42 is configured to receive a container 16 from the container storage subassembly 12 and retain during movement within the feeding assembly 1.

[0318] FIGS. 24 to 26 illustrate a container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly 42 is shown holding a container 16. 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 includes a platform 302. The container 16 rests on the platform 302 when being held therein. A pair of latches 304 are located on each side of the platform 302. FIG. 24 shows how the latches 304 move from a resting position (e.g., inward) to a deflected position (e.g., outward). The pair of latches 304 engage with keying features 188 of the container 16. The keying features 188 are formed as inward contours and / or notches in the outer periphery of the container 16. The pair of latches 304 hold the container 16 within the container handling subassembly 42 with a biasing force. The cradle 116 is retained by a holding support 118. The holding support 118 may function as or be referred to as a cross base. The holding support 118 is integral with and / or affixed to bearings 120. One or more bearings 120 include one or more linear travel bearings 120a. The bearings 120 include through holes 122. One or more bearings 120 may include one or more lift bearings 120b. The lift bearings 120b may be configured as roller bearings. Also mounted to and / or part of the container handling subassembly 42 is a position flag 308. The position flag 308 can be affixed to and / or integral with the holding support 118, bearings 120, or both.

[0319] FIG. 27 illustrates a cross-section of a container handing subassembly 42 retaining a container 16. The container handling subassembly 42 includes one or more lift linkages 115. The lift linkages 115 areengaged with both the cradle 116 and the holding support 118. The lift linkages 115 are configured to allow the cradle 116 to be lifted upward and away from the holding support 118 and back down toward the holding support 118. The lift linkages 115 are shown in a downward position.

[0320] FIGS. 28 through 30 illustrate movement of the container handling subassembly 42 and container 16. The container handling subassembly 42 moves the container 16 from the container storage subassembly 12 (not shown) to the feeding area 32. The container handling subassembly 42 is shown in a loading position LP and a feeding position FP. Prior to reaching the feeding area 32, the container 16 is located below an upper support 28b. The upper support 28b is part of a mid-support 28. The mid-support 28 also includes a lower support 28a. The upper support 28b rests atop the lower support 28a. The upper support 28b includes one or more rails 21. The rails 21 apply a downward force onto the bearings 120, such as the lift bearings 120b. Before reaching the feeding area 32, the downward force from the rails 21 maintains the lift linkages 115 in a downward position, such as shown in FIG. 27. As such, the cradle 116 remains seated on the holding support 118. This position may be rearward of the container display opening 24, as the container handling subassembly 42 passes a container opening subassembly 46 (not shown), or both. This downward force aids in retaining the container 16 in position while a peeling force to remove a lid (not shown) is applied to the container 16 by the container opening subassembly 46 (not shown). This also allows for the peeling force to be most efficient and directs all and / or a majority of the peeling force back to the container opening subassembly 46.

[0321] In FIG. 31, the container handling subassembly 42 is shown below the upper support 28b with the container 16 lifted into the container display opening 24. The container display opening 24 is formed in the upper support 28b. The upper support 28b includes lift surfaces 109. The lift surfaces 109 are located on an underside of the mid-support 20. The lift surfaces 109 are located at a front end of the mid-support 20. The lift surfaces 109 are configured to come into contact with the lift bearings 120b of the container handling subassembly 42. As the lift surfaces 109 apply a lifting force toward the lift bearings 120b, the lift linkages115 begin to rotate and lift the cradle 116 away from the holding support 118.

[0322] FIG. 32 illustrates the container holding subassembly 42 in the display and / or lifted position. The container holding subassembly 42 retains a container 16. The container holding subassembly 42 includes lift linkages 115. The lift linkages 115 are engaged with lift bearings 120b. When the lift bearings 120b receive a force from lift surfaces 109 (such as shown in FIG. 31), the lift linkages 115 rotate. The cradle116 is lifted up and away from the holding support 118. The raising of the cradle 116 results in lifting of the container 16. At this stage, the lift linkages 115 may be at about a 3.7 degree angle (e.g., about 0 degrees to about 10 degrees).

[0323] FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate various subassemblies of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 includes a base 18. The base 18 retains a waste collection subassembly 14 therein. The base 18 supports a mid-support 28. The mid-support 28 includes a lower support 28a. The lower support 28a supports a transport subassembly 44. The transport subassembly 44 includes a drive unit 64 with a motor 66. The drive unit 64 drives a rotary shaft 62. Rotation of the rotaryshaft 62 results in linear movement of a container handling subassembly 42. There are also support shafts 100. The support shafts 100 support the container handling subassembly 42 and maintain alignment to allow for the linear movement. The container handling subassembly 42 is configured to temporarily retain and transport a container 16.

[0324] FIG. 35 illustrates a container handling subassembly 42 cooperating with a container storage subassembly 12 to grasp a container 16. The container handling subassembly 42 may be in the loading position LP. The container handling subassembly 42 is rearward in the feeding assembly 1 and moves below the hopper 48. The guide arms 53 remain under the rim / flange 76 and are received in the container handling subassembly 42. The guide arms 53 are located between the side wall of the container 16 and the platform 116. The latches 304 deflect out of the way as the container handling subassembly 12 moves below the hopper 48. The latches 304 then deflect back and engage with keying features 188 of the container 16. Once the latches 304 are engaged, the container 16 is retained by the container handling subassembly 12. The container handling subassembly 12 is then able to move forward in the feeding assembly 1 and toward the feeding area 32 (not shown). As the container handling subassembly 12 moves forward, the biasing arms 51 deflect outward and / or upward and away from the container 16. The container storage subassembly 12 releases the container 16 such that it can move with the container handling subassembly 42.

[0325] FIG. 36 illustrates a waste receptacle 36. The waste receptacle 36 includes a waste carousel 300. Located within the waste receptacle 300 is a liner 338. The liner 338 may be configured to be removable. The liner 338 may be washable and / or disposable.

[0326] FIG. 37 illustrates a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a base 18 as part of a housing 10. The base 18 houses a waste collection subassembly 14. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes one or more waste receptacles 36 and waste drawers 124. The one or more waste receptacles 36 may be formed as a waste carousel 300. The waste carousel 300 may be housed in or otherwise supported by the waste drawer 124. The waste drawer 124 may moveable and / or even removable from the base 18.

[0327] FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a base 18 with a waste collection subassembly 14 therein. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes a waste drawer 124. Located within and supported by the waste drawer 124 is a waste receptacle 36. The waste receptacle 36 is a waste carousel 300.

[0328] FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a base 18 housing a waste drawer 124. The waste drawer 124 includes a pivot 224 therein. The base 18 also includes a compartment 326. The compartment 326 may function to house a drive unit 64. The drive unit 64 includes a drive gear 65.

[0329] FIG. 40 illustrates a cross section of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a sensing device 232. The sensing device 232 has a line of sight 336 into the waste receptacle 36, such as the waste carousel 300. The sensing device 232 may be configured such as to detect a depth to a container, identify an available receiving area, and / or the like. The sensing device 232 may include one or more laser sensors 242.

[0330] FIG. 41 illustrates a cross-section of a base 18. Within the base 18 is a waste collection subassembly 14. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes a waste receptacle 36. The waste receptacle 36 is a wastecarousel 300. The waste carousel 36 is rotatably supported in a waste drawer 124. The waste carousel 300 includes a track 202 formed about its periphery. The track 202 is rotatably engaged with gear 204. The gear 204 may be a drive gear 65. The gear 204 may be a pinion gear. The gear 204 may be directly or indirectly driven by a drive unit 64. The drive unit 64 may be a motor 66.

[0331] FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a waste receptacle 36. The waste receptacle 36 includes or is a waste carousel 300. The waste carousel 300 includes a track 202 formed about an edge 208 of its periphery. The track 202 may also be defined as a crown gear 210.

[0332] FIG. 43 illustrates a cross-section of a waste receptacle 36. The waste receptacle 36 includes or is a waste carousel 300. The waste carousel 300 includes a side wall 212. The side wall 212 forms the outer periphery of the waste carousel 300. The side wall 212 is connected to a bottom wall 214 via an intermediate wall 216. The side wall 212 extends past at least a portion of the intermediate wall 216 to form the track 202. The track 202 may be a crown gear 210. The intermediate wall 216 includes an inward (e.g., convex) contour formed therein. This contour may be referred to as a container positioning aid 218. The cup positioning aid 218 may function to prevent a container 16 (not shown) from being biased and resting upon the side wall 212, biasing the container 16 to rest on the bottom wall 214, or both. The bottom wall 214 includes a conical portion 220. The conical portion 220 may function to bias containers 16 (not shown) away from a center of the waste carousel 300, encourage stacking of the containers 16, or both. The bottom wall 214 may include a pivot opening 222. The pivot opening 222 may be formed within the conical portion 220. The pivot opening 222 may cooperate with a pivot 224 of the waste drawer 124.

[0333] FIGS. 44 to 46 illustrate varying drop patterns 326 of empty containers 16 (e.g., container bases) into the waste carousel 300. The waste carousel 300 is divided out into 8 receiving areas 328. FIG. 44 shows a sequential drop method 330. In the sequential drop method 330, the waste carousel 300 is rotated and / or indexed from one receiving area to an adjacent receiving area. Each container 16 is deposited adjacent to the previous container 16. FIG. 45 shows a lug nut drop method 332. In the lug nut drop method 332, the waste carousel 300 is rotated and / or indexed from one receiving area 328 to an opposite receiving area. This is akin to the star-pattern and or lug nut tightening pattern. Each container 16 is deposited generally opposite a previous container 16. FIG. 46 shows an alternating method 334. In the alternating method, the waste carousel 300 receives a plurality of containers 16 in one receiving area and then rotates and / or indexes to two receiving areas over (e.g., skips over a receiving area).

[0334] FIGS. 47 and 48 illustrate a plurality of sensing devices 232 configured to detect a mass or weight. The plurality of sensing devices 232 includes a plurality of weight sensors 316. The weight sensors 316 may include or be in the form of load cells . The weight sensors 316 are affixed to an interior of the base 18. The weight sensors 316 are affixed to the interiors of the side walls of the base 18. The mid-support 28 may rest on the weight sensors 316. The mid-support 28 may include mounting brackets 29. The mounting brackets 29 may project outward and rest atop the weight sensors 316. In this manner, the mid-support 28 may “float” upon the weight sensors 316. This may aid in segregating the mass being detected by the weightsensors 316 from other variables associated with the base 18 (e.g., level ground), weight associated with the container storage subassembly 12 (not shown), or both.

[0335] FIG. 49 illustrates another variation of the weight sensors 316. The weight sensors 316 are located more inward within the base 18 and biased more toward the outer comers of the base 18. The weight sensors 316 are located on brackets or mounts projecting from a bottom of the base 18.

[0336] FIG. 49 also illustrates another type of sensing device 232. The sensing device 232 may include an identification sensor 318. The identification sensor 318 may be any type of sensing device compatible with one or more identifiers of a container 16 (not shown). The identification sensor 318 may be aligned under the container storage subassembly 12 (not shown), the retaining clip 47 (not shown), or both. By being under the container storage subassembly 12 and / or retaining clip 47, identifier (not shown) of a container 16 (not shown) may be visible and / or detectable by the identification sensor 318. For example, an identifier located on a bottom of the container 16 (not shown). The identification sensor 318 may be a scanner, such as a QR Code and / or barcode scanner such as illustrated. Also supported by the base 18 is a controller 320.

[0337] FIGS. 50 and 51 show a container opening subassembly 46. FIG. 50 shows the container opening subassembly in a closed position with a crash bar 103 retracted while FIG. 51 shows the container opening subassembly in an open position with a crash bar 103 extended. The container opening subassembly 46 may also function as a disposal subassembly 56. The container opening subassembly 46 includes a pair of mounting brackets 29, as shown in FIG. 50. The mounting bracket 29 may be used to affix the container opening subassembly 46 to a mid-support 28, base cover 15, or both. The pair of mounting brackets 29 flank the sides of the container opening subassembly 46. The pair of mounting brackets 29 may be affixed to a casing 90. The casing 90 may include a left casing 90a and a right casing 90b. The container opening subassembly 46 includes a pair of jaws 95. The jaws 95 may be housed by the casing 90. The jaws 95 are configured to extend downward to engage with a lid 54 (not shown) of a container 16 (not shown). At least one of the jaws 95 may be driven by a drive unit 64. The drive unit 64 is supported by the casing 90. The drive unit 64 includes a motor 66 and a drive shaft 68 (not shown). The drive shaft 68 may extend inward. The pair of jaws 95 may include a lower jaw 95a and an upper jaw 95b. One or both of the jaws 95 may be a moveable jaw 94. One of the jaws 95 may be a static jaw 96 (not shown). In this example, both of the jaws 95 are moveable jaws 94. A movable jaw 94 can include a motor driven jaw 94a, a spring driven jaw 94b, or both. In this example, the motor driven jaw 94a is the lower jaw 95a while the spring driven jaw 94b is the lower jaw 95b. The movable jaw(s) 94 are moveable relative to the casing 90. The container opening subassembly 46 includes a disposal subassembly 56. The disposal subassembly 56 may be a container crash bar 103. The container crash bar 103 is mounted to one of the jaws 94, such as the lower jaw 95a and / or the motor driven jaw 94a. The container crash bar 103 is mounted to the jaw 94 via a pivot joint 408. The container crash bar 103 is also affixed to the casing 90. The container crash bar 103 is affixed to the casing 90 via a biasing device 99. As illustrated, lateral movement of the jaw 94 also results in rotation of the crash bar 103 from retracted position in FIG. 50 to the extended position in FIG. 51. The extended position may also be considered a disposing position.

[0338] FIG. 52 shows a cross-section of the container opening subassembly 46. The mounting brackets 29 and left casing 90a are not shown. The container opening subassembly 46 is in the open position. The container opening subassembly 46 includes a casing 90. The casing 90 retains a pair of jaws 94. The jaws include a lower jaw 95a and an upper jaw 95b. The container subassembly 46 includes a drive shaft 68. The drive shaft 68 extends through a slot 98 of one of the jaws 94. In such a manner, the jaw 94 (e.g., lower jaw, movable jaw) can slide past the drive shaft 68. The drive shaft 68 may be part of or driven by the drive unit 64. The drive shaft 68 is rotationally engaged with a cam 91. A cam bearing 97 is affixed to the moveable jaw 94. The cam 91 also includes an end stop 101. The end stop 101 may be in the form of a magnet. The jaw 94 includes a jaw portion 93a and a leg portion 93b. The leg portion 93b includes the slot 98 formed therein. The cam bearing 97 is affixed to the leg portion 94b such as to move with the moveable jaw 94. The cam bearing 97 is affixed within the slot 98. Although the term bearing is used, the bearing may be a bushing or other force receiving, force transferring, and / or motion constraining feature. The container opening subassembly 46 also includes one or more biasing devices 99. As shown in the open position, a biasing device 99 is affixed to both jaws 94. The upper jaw 95b may be a spring driven jaw 95b. The upper jaw 95b is affixed to the casing 90 with a biasing device 99. The biasing device 99 may be a compression spring 99a. The biasing device 99 may cooperate with the opposing jaw (e.g., lower jaw 95a) in applying a pinch force when the lower jaw 95a moves up and comes into contact with the upper jaw 94a. The lower jaw 95a is affixed to a biasing device 99. The biasing device 99 may be a tension spring 99b. The biasing device 99 may apply a biasing force such as to aid in quickly deflecting the lower jaw 95a into a lowered and open position as shown. The container opening subassembly 46 may also include one or more sensing devices 232 and / or associated circuit board(s) (e.g., PCBs, printed circuit boards). The one or more sensing devices 232 may cooperate with the end stop 101. The one or more sensing devices 232 may include one or more Hall sensors. Once a sensing device 232 detects the end stop 101, it stops rotating in one direction and either begins to rotate in an opposing direction or awaits a command to rotate in the opposing direction. The container opening subassembly 46 includes a disposal subassembly 56. The disposal subassembly 56 includes the container crash bar 103.

[0339] FIG. 53 illustrates the container opening subassembly 46 of FIG. 52 in a closed position. The closed position may be an opening position, pinching position, gripping position, and / or the like. In this closed position, the container opening subassembly 46 is configured to pinch a lid 54 (not shown) of a container 16 (not shown) for application of a peeling force PF (not shown).

[0340] FIGS. 54A and 54B illustrate functionality of the container opening subassembly 46. The cam 91 includes a first, opening portion 91a. This portion has a smaller radius than the second, compression portion 91b. The cam 91 is rotated by the drive shaft 68. The cam 91 is rotated in direction R. During this rotation, the outer cam surface 91c at the first, opening portion 91a rotates along a surface of the bearing 97. As the drive shaft 68 is uncentered relative to the cam 91, the increasing distance between the drive shaft 68 and the outer cam surface 91c results in an upward push force on the bearing 97. That upward push force applied to the bearing 97 is transferred to the lower jaw 95a. The upward push force results in upward movementof the lower jaw 95a. Thus, the lower jaw 95a is moved into contact with the upper jaw 95b. This upward movement of the lower jaw 95a also results in expanding the spring 99.

[0341] When the moveable jaw 94 contacts and closes with the static jaw 96, there may still be insufficient compression force (e.g., pinch force) applied to suitable retain a lid 54 (not shown) while a lid 54 is peeled away from a container base 52 (not shown) of a container 16 (not shown). The cam 91 continues to rotate in direction R but rotates into a position in which a second, compression portion 91b interacts with the bearing 97. An outer cam surface 9 Id at the second, compression portion 9 lb rotates along a surface of the bearing 97. The second, compression portion 91b has a much smaller change in height from the drive shaft 68 as compared to the first, opening portion 91b. The outer surface continues to apply an upward force 97 which results in even further compression of the spring 99, 99a. This additional compression with minimal arm movement increases the grip force between the pair of jaws 94. Once fully compressed, peeling of a lid may commence.

[0342] To aid in applying the compression force, the biasing device 99 affixed to the upper jaw 95b resists compression as the lower jaw 95a comes into contact with and applies a force against the upper jaw 95b.

[0343] The cam 91 rotates in an opposing direction (opposite of R) for the movable jaw 94 to move away from the static jaw 96. As the cam 91 rotates, it rotates downward and away from contact with bearing 97.

[0344] To supplement gravity in quickly moving the lower jaw 95a away from the upper jaw 95b, one or more biasing devices 99 may apply a biasing force. A biasing device 99, such as a compression spring 99a, may apply a biasing force to the upper jaw 95b. The upper jaw 95b may then transfer this biasing force to the lower jaw 95a. The biasing force may be from a compression spring 99a which stored energy therein from being compressed when the pair of jaws 94 was in the closed position, from the lower jaw 95b applying the pinch force, or both. Additionally, or in lieu of, a biasing device 99 may apply a biasing force to the lower jaw 95a. A biasing device 99 may be a tension spring 99b. Once the upward force on the lower jaw 95a from the bearing 97 is removed, the biasing device 99 may retract from an extended position to a retracted position. The biasing device 99 may quickly drive the lower jaw 95a away from the upper jaw 95b.

[0345] FIGS. 55 to 62 illustrate a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 may be a more refined version of the feeding assembly 1 shown in previous figures while embracing much of the same or similar teachings. The feeding assembly 1 is shown in both a closed position CP and open position OP. The feeding assembly 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 forms much of the exterior of the feeding assembly 1. The housing 10 includes a base 18 and a top cover 22. The feeding assembly 1 defines a feeding area 32. The feeding area 32 is biased toward the front of the feeding assembly. The feeding area is above the base 18 where the top cover 22 leaves the base 18 exposed. The feeding area 32 includes a serving lid 23. The serving lid 23 is configured to cover and expose a display opening 24. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is retained by the housing 10, such as the top cover 22. The container storage subassembly 12 is located atop the base 18. Within the base 18 is a waste collection subassembly 14. The feeding assembly 1 also includes one or more sensing devices232. The sensing device 232 may include a camera 234 or other imaging device. The camera 234 may be located above and / or behind the feeding area 32. The sensing device 232 may include a microphone 236. Below the sensing device 232 are speaker openings 238.

[0346] FIG. 63 shows a partially exploded view of a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a base 18. The base 18 may define part of a housing 10. The housing 1 may also include a base cover 15 and a top cover 22. Within the base 18 is a waste collection subassembly 14. Supported by the base 18 is a mid-support 28. The mid-support 28 includes a lower support 28a and an upper support 28b. Supported by the mid-support 28 is a container opening subassembly 46. Also supported by the mid-support 28 is a transport subassembly 44 and a container handling subassembly 42. The mid-support 28 includes a container display opening 24. Atop the mid-support 28 to close off the base 18 is a base cover 15. The base cover 15 is affixed to the base 18 and is free of attachment to the mid-support 28. The base cover 15 may be free of applying any weight onto the mid-support 28. The feeding assembly 1 includes a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is located atop the base 18 and the base cover 15 and biased toward a rear of the feeding assembly 1.

[0347] FIGS. 64 and 65 illustrate a base 18 and waste collection subassembly 14. The base 18 forms part of the housing 10. The base 18 includes one or more side walls 19 and a bottom surface 17. The side walls 19 include one or more mounting brackets 13. The mounting brackets 13 project inward into the exterior of the base 18. Affixed to the mounting bracket(s) 13 are one or more sensing devices 232. The one or more sensing devices 232 include one or more weight sensors 316.

[0348] The base 18 includes a retaining clip 47. The retaining clip 47 includes a container holder 57. The container holder 57 includes a pair of guide arms 53. At the rear of the container holder 57 is a latch 55. The retaining clip 47 also includes a pair of biasing arms 51.

[0349] The base 18 includes one or more sensing devices 232. The sensing device 232 includes an identification sensor 318. The identification sensor 318 may be in the form of a QR and / or barcode scanner. The identification sensor 318 is located below the retaining clip 47. The identification sensor 318 is configured to be aligned with and below the container storage subassembly 12 (not shown). The identification sensor 318 is configured to have a line of sight onto a bottom of a container 16 (not shown) such as to have a line of sight onto an identifier (not shown) on the container 16 (not shown).

[0350] Within the base 18 is a waste collection subassembly 14. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes a waste drawer 124. The waste drawer 124 is configured to be removable from the base 18. The waste drawer 124 supports a waste receptacle 36. The waste receptacle 36 may be in the form of a waste carousel 300. The waste carousel 300 is driven by a drive unit 64.

[0351] FIG. 66 illustrates part of a waste collection subassembly 14. The waste collection subassembly 14 includes a waste drawer 124 and a waste receptacle 36. The waste receptacle 36 is rotatably supported by the waste drawer 124. The waste drawer 124 is configured to slide in and out of the base 18 (not shown).

[0352] FIG. 67 illustrates a base 18. The base 18 includes one or more sensing devices 232. The sensing device(s) 232 include one or more waste drawer presence sensors 317.

[0353] An interior of the base 18 includes one or more rails 21. The rails 21 are configured to retain and allow sliding in and out of the waste drawer 124 (not shown). The rails 21 are formed and / or affixed to the side walls 19 of the base 18. The front of the base 18 includes a drawer opening 11. The base 18 holds one or more power sources 5. A power source 5 may include a battery 7, such as a battery back-up.

[0354] FIG. 68 illustrates a mid-support 28. The mid-support 28 includes a lower support 28a below an upper support 28b. The mid-support 28 includes a container display opening 24. The container display opening 24 is formed in the upper support 28b. The lower support 28a supports a transport subassembly 44. The transport subassembly 44 movably supports a container handling subassembly 42. The lower support 28a includes mounting brackets 29. The mounting brackets 29 extend and project outward from the lower support 28a.

[0355] FIG. 69 illustrates a portion of a mid-support 28, transport subassembly 44, and container handling subassembly 46. The mid-support 28 includes a lower support 28a. The lower support 28a includes mounting brackets 29. The lower support 28a supports a transport subassembly 44. The transport subassembly 44 includes a rotary shaft 62. The rotary shaft 62 is driven by a drive unit 64. The transport subassembly 44 also includes a pair of support shafts 100. Supported on the transport subassembly 44 is a container handling subassembly 42. Rotation of the rotary shaft 62 results in the container handling subassembly 42 moving fore aft along the transport subassembly 44 and within the mid-support 28. The mid-support 28 may also support one or more sensing devices 232.

[0356] FIG. 70 illustrates a portion of a mid-support 28. The mid-support 28 includes a lower support 28a. The lower support 28a retains a transport subassembly 44. Retained by the transport subassembly 44 movably supports a container handling subassembly 42. The mid-support 28 retains one or more sensing devices 232. The sensing device 232 may be or include one or more position sensors 311. The sensing device 232 is located along a length of the mid-support 28. The sensing device 232 is located parallel to and along the path of travel of the container handling subassembly. The sensing device 232 cooperates with the container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly 42 includes a position flag 308. The position flag 308 may retain a magnet 309.

[0357] FIGS. 71 and 72 illustrate a base cover 15. The base cover 15 is configured to seal the base 18 (not shown), support a top cover 22 (not shown), and / or support a container handling subassembly 12 (not shown). The base cover 15 includes a cover body 450. Biased toward the front of the cover body 450 such as to be in the feeding area 32 (not shown) is a food opening 452. The food opening 452 is configured to be aligned with and expose the container display opening 24 (not shown). The lid 23 is rotatably engaged with the cover body 450. The base cover 15 includes one or more hinges 454. The hinges 454 are undermounted on the cover body 450. The hinges 454 are rotated via one or more drive units 64. The cover body 450 includes a top cover cavity 456. The cover body 450 includes an opener passthrough 458. The cover body 450 includes a container storage cavity 460. Within the container storage cavity 460 includes a container opening 462. The base cover 15 is configured to be affixed directly to the base 18. The base cover 15 may be free of contact with the mid-support 28 (not shown) or any components supported by the mid-support 28 (not shown). The base cover 15 may function to support the top cover 22 (not shown) and / or the container storage subassembly 12 (not shown) while keeping them isolated from the mid-support 28 (not shown).

[0358] FIGS. 73 and 74 illustrate a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 includes a hopper 48. The hopper 48 is configured to hold a plurality of containers 16 (not shown) therein. The hopper 48 includes a hollow interior 49. The hollow interior 49 is exposed via a cutout 84. The cutout 84 extends along a length of the hopper 48. The cutout 84 is configured to be forward facing in the feeding assembly 1 (not shown). The cutout may expose a rim / flange 76 (not shown) and / or lid 54 (not shown) of a container 16 (not shown). The cutout 84 may also function as a keying feature, along with the interior contour and / or shape of the hollow interior 49.

[0359] The container storage subassembly 12 includes a compression device 312. The compression device 312 is able to move laterally within the hollow interior 49. The compression device 312 is shown at the bottom of the hollow interior 49. The compression device 312 may function to apply a downward force to one or more containers 16 (not shown) stored within the hopper 48 such as to keep the containers aligned. The compression device 312 may be in the form of a spatula, be pivotable, or both. The compression device 312 includes a compressing portion 340. The compression device 312 includes a handle portion 344. The handle portion 344 is movable (e.g., laterally) along a channel 342. The handle portion 344 may include a magnet 309 therein.

[0360] The container storage subassembly 12 includes a lock system 348. The container storage subassembly 12 includes a handle 404. The handle 404 may function to engage the lock system 348. The handle 404 is engaged with one or more (e.g., pair) of release latches 354. The handle 404 is configured such that rotation upward and / or away from the hopper 48 causes the release latches 354 to retract inward into the hopper 48. The handle 404 is configured such that rotation downward and / or toward and onto the top of the hopper 48, causes the release latches 354 to extend forward and into a housing 10, such as the top cover 22 (not shown).

[0361] FIGS. 75 and 76 illustrate a top cover 22. The top cover 22 may function as part of the housing 10. The top cover 22 may include a refill opening 34. The refill opening 34 may be formed as a cutout in the top cover 22. The refill opening 34 may cause the top cover 22 to have a substantially L-shaped crosssection (i.e., from top view). The top cover 22 may include an upper surface 22a, front surface 22b, one or more side surfaces 22c, and one or more interior surfaces 22d.

[0362] The top cover 22 may support one or more sensing devices 232. A sensing device 232 may include a camera 234. The camera 234 may be at the front of the top cover 22, may be exposed by the front surface 22b, or both. The front surface 22b may have an indented cavity 22e formed therein. The indented cavity 22e may function to support the camera 234 inward and angle the camera 234 to have a line of sight to the feeding area 32 (not shown). The front surface 22b may include one or more speaker openings 238. The front surface 22b may include one or more microphone openings 237.

[0363] A sensing device 232 may include one or more counters 400. A counter 400 may be located on an interior surface 22d, facing toward the refill opening 34, or both. The counter 400 may run along a length of a refill opening 34, may be adjacent to a channel 342 (not shown) of a container storage subassembly 12 (not shown), or both. The counter 400 may cooperate with a magnet 309 (not shown) of a compression device 312 (not shown).

[0364] The top cover 22 may support a user interface 230. The user interface 230 may be supported on or form part of the upper surface 22a.

[0365] The top cover 22 may cooperate with or include part of a lock system 348 (not shown). The top cover 22 may include one or more (e.g., pair of) latch openings 350.

[0366] FIG. 77 shows a top cover 22 with a front panel forming a front surface 22b removed. The feeding assembly 1 includes a camera 234. The feeding assembly 1 includes a microphone 236. The feeding assembly 1 includes a speaker 239. The feeding assembly 1 includes a controller 320. The feeding assembly 1 also includes an identification sensor 318. The identification sensor 318 may be an animal identification sensor.

[0367] FIGS. 78 through 84 illustrate a method of operating a feeding assembly 1. The method may be executed by one or more processors, stored on one or more storage mediums, or both. The method may be stored on a controller 320 (not shown) of the feeding assembly 1. The method may be a set of or executed by computer readable instructions.

[0368] FIG. 78 illustrates a step of refilling a feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 is refilled with a plurality of containers 16. The plurality of containers 16 are each in a closed configuration C. The plurality of containers 16 are stored and stacked within a container storage subassembly 12. The container storage subassembly 12 is inserted into a container refill opening 34. The container refill opening 34 is formed in and through a top cover 22.

[0369] FIG. 79 illustrates moving into a loading position LP. 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 configuration C. The containers 16 are held in place within a hopper 48. The containers 16 are held in place by a restraint mechanism 50 (not shown). The restraint mechanism 50 may be a retaining clip 47 (not shown). In proximity 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 (e.g., under) the container storage subassembly 12. Alignment may allow for a container 16 to be transferred from the container storage subassembly 12 to the container handling subassembly 42. In the load position LP, the container handling subassembly 42 may receive a portion of the retaining clip 47 (not shown).

[0370] FIG. 80 illustrates a step of loading a container handling subassembly 42. A container handling subassembly 42 is below the container storage subassembly 12 and in the loading position LP. The container handling subassembly 42 is aligned with a hopper 48. The container handling subassembly 42 urges a container 16 from the retaining clip 47 (not shown) and onto the container handling subassembly 42.

[0371] FIG. 81 illustrates a step of movement of the container handling subassembly 42 and container 16. A container handling subassembly 42 moves from a loading position LP (as shown in FIG. 80) to an opening position OP. The container handling subassembly 42 moves from the container storage subassembly 12 toward a feeding area 32. The container handling subassembly 42 moves a container 16 which is in a closed configuration from the container storage subassembly 12 toward a container opening subassembly 46. The container opening subassembly 46 engages with a lid 54. In this example, the container opening subassembly 46 pinches the lid 54. As the container handling subassembly 42 continues to move toward the feeding area 32, the container opening subassembly 46 continues to retain a portion of the lid 54. By maintaining a portion of the lid 54 as static while a container base 52 continues to move to a feeding area 32, the lid 54 is removed from the container base 52.

[0372] FIG. 82 illustrates displaying an open container 16, O for an animal to consume therefrom. A container handling subassembly 42 is located within, below, and / or adjacent to a feeding area 32. The container handling subassembly 42 is in a feeding position FP. The container handling subassembly 42 includes a container 16 therein. The container 16 is in an open configuration O. The lid 54 has been previously removed. The lid 54 is located within a waste collection subassembly 14. The lid 54 is within a waste receptacle 36 of the waste collection subassembly 14. The container handling subassembly 42 moves both horizontally and vertically up into the feeding area 32. The upward motion results in the container 16 being moved up into a container display opening 24.

[0373] FIGS. 83 and 84 illustrate completion of a feeding cycle. A container handling subassembly 42 is moved toward a disposal subassembly 56. The disposal subassembly 56 may be part of the container opening subassembly 46. The disposal subassembly 56 cooperates with the container handling subassembly 42. The container handling subassembly is in a disposing position DP. Interaction between the disposal subassembly 56 and the container handling subassembly 42 urges a container 16 into a waste collection subassembly 14. The container 16 falls into a waste receptacle 36. After the container 16 is disposed into the waste collection subassembly 14, the container handling subassembly 42 rests in a resting position RP. The container handling subassembly 42 may wait in this position until a subsequent container 16 from the container storage subassembly 12 is ready to be dispensed and presented to an animal for consumption.

[0374] FIG. 85 illustrates a detecting range R of the feeding assembly 1. The feeding assembly 1 includes a sensing device 232. The sensing device 232 may be an identification sensor 318. The identification sensor 318 may be an animal identification sensor. The sensing device 232 is configured to detect a trigger device 322. The trigger device 322 may be worn on or embedded into an animal 2. For example, the trigger device 322 may be on a collar 324. The sensing device 232 may detect a trigger device 322 once the trigger device 322 is within a detecting range R of the feeding assembly 1. Upon the sensing device 232 detecting the trigger device 322, the lid 23 may be automatically opened, thus exposing a container 16 and / or automatically closed, thus preventing access to the feeding dish 16 (not shown).

[0375] FIG. 86 illustrates a container 16 in a closed configuration C. The container 16 includes a lid 54. The lid 54 is located on a base 52. The lid 54 covers a food cavity 55. The lid 54 extends over and isprotected by a lid access feature 193. The lid access feature 193 is formed as a gap 194 between opposing lobes 195 of the base 52. The two lobes 195 provide support for and protect the lid 54 at the gap 194. The lid 54 may have a peripheral shape substantially similar to or dissimilar to the peripheral shape of the container base 52.

[0376] FIG. 87 illustrates a container 16 in an open configuration O. In the open configuration O, the container 16 is free of a lid 54 (not shown) or otherwise the lid 54 is not covering the food cavity 189. The container 16 includes a container base 52. The container base 52 includes a food cavity 189 formed therein. The food cavity 189 is formed by one or more side walls 191 and a bottom wall 190. The opening into the food cavity 55 is defined by a rim 76. The rim 76 is formed at an end of the one or more side walls 191 opposite of the bottom wall 190.

[0377] The rim 76 may include, take the form of, and / or extend into a flange 77. The flange 77 may protrude outward, away from the side wall(s) 51, and / or away from the food cavity 55. The flange 77 may include one or more flange portions 78. A flange portion 78 may include an upper surface and / or upper lateral portion 78a. The upper surface 78a may function to cooperate with the lid 54 (not shown). A flange portion 78 may include a side surface and / or downward projecting portion 78b. The downward projecting portion 78b may be located on an opposite end of the upper surface and / or upper lateral portion 78a as the side wall(s) 51. A flange portion 78 may include a lower surface, lower lateral portion, and / or outermost flange portion 78c. This outermost flange portion 78c projects outward from the downward projecting portion 78b.

[0378] The flange 77 may form the overall outer peripheral shape 192 of the container base 52, container 16, or both. The outermost flange portion 78c may form the overall outer peripheral shape 192. The outer peripheral shape 192 may be generally C-shaped, U-shaped, semicircle shaped, semioval shaped, half-pill shaped, half-squaoval shaped, the like, or a combination thereof. The outer peripheral shape 191 may have an inward indentation. This inward indentation may provide for a lid access feature 193. The inward indentation may be formed as a gap 194. The gap 194 may be formed between two lobes 195. The flange 77 may form the two lobes 195.

[0379] The rim 76 and / or flange 77 may have a varying width about the periphery of the container base 52. The container 16 includes a plurality of keying features 188. The keying features 188 include the overall peripheral shape 191 of the container base 52 and / or container 16. In other words, one or more flanges 77 and / or flange portions 78 may form or include one or more keying features 188. The overall peripheral shape 192 can be defined as the outmost periphery of the container, such as that formed by the rim 76 and / or flange 77. The food cavity 55 may have a cross-sectional shape differing from or similar to the peripheral shape 191.

[0380] The keying features 188 may include notches 196. The notches 196are formed in the rim 76 and / or flange 77. The notches 196 may be formed in all or only some flange portions 78. The notches 196may be an indentation formed in the peripheral shape 192 adjacent to the lobes 195. The notches 196may only be formed in the upper surface 78a and downward projecting portion 78b of the flange 77. The notches 192may form a narrowed neck in the cross-section or two-dimensional shape of one or more flange portions 78.

[0381] Unless otherwise stated, any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component, a property, or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that intermediate range values such as (for example, 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc.) are within the teachings of this specification. Likewise, individual intermediate values are also within the present teachings. For values which are less than one, 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 value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

[0382] Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection 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.

[0383] The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about + / - 10° or less, about + / - 5° or less, or even about + / - 1° or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about + / - 0.01° or greater, about + / - 0.1° or greater, or even about + / - 0.5° or greater. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about + / - 10% or less, about + / - 5% or less, or even about + / - 1% or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about + / - 0.01% or greater, about + / - 0.1% or greater, or even about + / - 0.5% or greater.

[0384] 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 shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components 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 combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of, or even consist of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.

[0385] It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determinednot with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 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 subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:Claim 1. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a) a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; b a container storage subassembly configured to store a plurality of containers in a closed configuration, wherein the container storage assembly includes: i) a hopper having a hollow interior in which the plurality of containers may be stacked and retained; ii) an inlet opening and an outlet opening providing access into the hollow interior; and c a restraint mechanism for retaining the plurality of containers within the hopper which is located at or adjacent to the outlet opening.Claim 2. The feeding assembly of Claim 1, wherein the container storage subassembly includes a compression device adapted to apply a compression force onto one or more containers stored within the hopper.Claim 3. The feeding assembly of Claim 2, wherein the compression device cooperates with the restraint mechanism to apply the compression force onto the one or more containers located between the compression device and the restraint mechanism.Claim 4. The feeding assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the compression device includes a compressing portion which is located within the hopper.Claim 5. The feeding assembly of Claim 4, wherein the compressing portion has a two-dimensional shape which is substantially reciprocal with an interior cross-section of hollow interior of the hopper, a two- dimensional shape of the one or more containers, or both.Claim 6. The feeding assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the hopper includes a channel along its length and the compression device is engaged inside the channel such as to allow linear movement of the compression device within the channel.Claim 7. The feeding assembly of Claim 6, wherein a handling portion extends from the compressing portion and is within the channel.Claim 8. The feeding assembly of Claim 7, wherein the handling portion is configured to allow for a user to manually move the compression device toward and / or outside of the hopper.Claim 9. The feeding assembly of Claim 8, wherein the compression device includes a biasing device which biases the compression device toward the outlet opening and the user is able to apply a force toward the inlet opening to manually move the compression device.Claim 10. The feeding assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the compressing device includes a biasing device which biases the compression device toward the outlet opening, the restraint mechanism, or both.Claim 11. The feeding assembly of Claim 10, wherein the biasing device includes one or more springs, elastomeric materials, or both.Claim 12. The feeding assembly of Claim 11, wherein the one or more springs include one or more compression springs, extension springs, or both.Claim 13. The feeding assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the feeding assembly includes a counter configured to determine a number of containers stored within the hopper.Claim 14. The feeding assembly of Claim 13, wherein the counter includes one or more position sensors configured to cooperate with the hopper, the compression device, or both.Claim 15. The feeding assembly of Claim 13 or 14, wherein the counter is affixed to an interior of a housing adjacent to the container storage subassembly, the hopper, or both.Claim 16. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the counter includes an array of sensing devices configured to detect a position of compression device along the hopper.Claim 17. The feeding assembly of Claim 17, wherein the counter includes an array of hall effect sensors along a length of a circuit board.Claim 18. The feeding assembly of Claim 16, wherein the compression device includes one or more features detectable by the array of sensing devices.Claim 19. The feeding assembly of Claim 18, wherein the compression device includes a magnet detectable by the array of sensing devices.Claim 20. The feeding assembly of Claim 19, wherein the magnet is retained by and / or within a handling portion of the compression device.Claim 21. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 16 to 20, wherein a position of the compression device along the hollow interior is associated with a number of containers stored within the hopper.Claim 22. The feeding assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the container storage subassembly includes a handle configured to allow a user to remove the container storage subassembly from the feeding assembly, hold the container storage subassembly, and / or install the container storage subassembly into the feeding assembly; and optionally, wherein the handle is pivotably mounted at or near an inlet opening of the hopper.Claim 23. The feeding assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the container storage subassembly includes a lock system configured to removably engage the container storage subassembly with a housing of the feeding assembly.Claim 24. The feeding assembly of Claim 23, wherein the container storage subassembly includes one or more release latches.Claim 25. The feeding assembly of Claim 24, wherein the one or more release latches are configured to retract into the hopper to disengage from the housing and extend from the hopper to engage with the housing.Claim 26. The feeding assembly of Claim 25, wherein the one or more release latches are directly or indirectly connected to a handle of the container storage subassembly.Claim 27. The feeding assembly of Claim 26, wherein the one or more release latches are configured to retract into the hopper when the handle is lifted and extend from the hopper when the handle is lowered.Claim 28. The feeding assembly of Claim 26 or 27, wherein the one or more release latches are directly or indirectly connected to the handle such as to convert rotation of the handle into linear movement of the one or more latches.Claim 29. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 24 to 28, wherein the one or more release latches are on a same side of the hopper which faces toward a housing, includes a cutout along a length of the hopper, includes a channel along a length of the hopper, or a combination thereof.Claim 30. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 23 to 29, wherein the feeding assembly includes one or more sensing devices configured to detect the container storage subassembly being installed on the feeding assembly.Claim 31. The feeding assembly of Claim 30, wherein the one or more sensing devices include one or more sensing devices in proximity to one or more latch openings which receive one or more release latches.Claim 32. The feeding assembly of Claim 31, wherein the one or more sensing devices include one or more photodetectors, optical encoders, hall effect sensors, capacitive position sensors, inductive sensors, proximity sensors, the like, or any combination thereof.Claim 33. The feeding assembly of Claim 32, wherein the one or more sensing devices include one or more photodetectors, optical encoders which detect one or more release latches being seated and engaged with the housing.Claim 34. The feeding assembly of Claim 32, wherein the one or more sensing devices include one or more hall effect sensors and the one or more release latches include one or more magnets, and wherein the one or more hall effect sensors detect the presence of the magnet when the one or more release latches are seated and engaged with the housing.Claim 35. The feeding assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the restraint mechanism includes a retaining clip.Claim 36. The feeding assembly of Claim 35, wherein the retaining clip has a hollow bottom or an opening in the bottom such as to allow for a line of sight of one or more identification sensors through the hollow bottom to an identifier on a bottom of a container in the retaining clip.Claim 37. The feeding assembly of Claim 35 or 36, wherein the retaining clip is assembled to the container storage subassembly, a base of the feeding assembly, or both.Claim 38. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 35 to 37, wherein the retaining clip includes a container holder configured to hold the container against gravity.Claim 39. The feeding assembly of Claim 38, wherein the container holder includes a pair of guide arms which project outward.Claim 40. The feeding assembly of Claim 39, wherein the pair of guide arms are configured to sit under a flange of the container and adjacent to a food cavity of the container.Claim 41. The feeding assembly of Claim 38 and 49, wherein the pair of guide arms are statically fixed.Claim 42. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 35 to 41, wherein the restraint mechanism includes one or more biasing devices.Claim 43. The feeding assembly of Claim 42, wherein the one or more biasing devices are configured to deflect when a retrieving force is applied onto a container held within the restraint mechanism.Claim 44. The feeding assembly of Claim 42 or 43, wherein the one or more biasing devices includes a latch part of a container holder.Claim 45. The feeding assembly of Claim 44, wherein the latch is between a pair of guide arms.Claim 46. The feeding assembly of Claim 45, wherein the latch is located on a rear of the container holder between the pair of guide arms.Claim 47. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 44 to 46, wherein the latch is configured to project upward and engage with an interior of a flange of the container (e.g., between food cavity and a downward projection portion of flange) until deflected.Claim 48. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 43 to 47, wherein the one or more biasing devices include one or more biasing arms.Claim 49. The feeding assembly of Claim 48, wherein the one or more biasing arms include a pair of biasing arms.Claim 50. The feeding assembly of Claim 49, wherein the pair of biasing arms are located above a pair of guide arms.Claim 51. The feeding assembly of Claim 49 or 50, wherein the pair of biasing arms are configured to be on adjacent sides of the container, on top of a container, or both.Claim 52. The feeding assembly of Claim 50, wherein the pair of biasing arms may prevent side ways movement of the container, upward movement of the container, or both within the retaining clip.Claim 53. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 48 to 52, wherein the biasing arms are configured to deflect upward and / or outward when a retrieving force is applied to the container.Claim 54. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; b a container handling subassembly configured to retrieve and retain the container and display in the feeding area; c a transport subassembly affixed to the container handling subassembly and configured to move the container handling subassembly within the feeding assembly.Claim 55. The feeding assembly of Claim 54 including any of the features from Claims 1 to 53.Claim 56. The feeding assembly of Claim 54 or 55, wherein the feeding assembly includes a holding support extending between two bearings, wherein the two bearings are engaged with the transport subassembly; and optionally, wherein the two bearings are engaged with one more rotary shafts of the transport subassembly such as to convert rotation to linear motion and move the container handling subassembly fore aft within the feeding assembly.Claim 57. The feeding assembly of Claim 56, wherein the container handling subassembly includes a cradle affixed atop the holding support and configured to retain the container.Claim 58. The feeding assembly of Claim 57, wherein the cradle includes a bottom wall between two opposing side walls.Claim 59. The feeding assembly of Claim 58, wherein the two opposing side walls are adjacent the two bearings.Claim 60. The feeding assembly of Claim 57 to 59, wherein the cradle is movable relative to the holding support such as to lift and lower relative to the holding support.Claim 61. The feeding assembly of Claim 60, wherein the cradle is movably affixed to the holding support by one or more lift linkages.Claim 62. The feeding assembly of Claim 61, wherein the one or more lift linkages include at least two or more lift linkages.Claim 63. The feeding assembly of Claim 62, wherein the one or more lift linkages are mounted to the holding support and to the bottom and / or the side wall of the cradle.Claim 64. The feeding assembly of Claim 63, wherein the cradle includes one or more bearings which receive a lifting force to cause the lift linkages to rotate and lift the cradle away from the holding support.Claim 65. The feeding assembly of Claim 64, wherein the feeding assembly includes one or more lift surfaces formed near the feeding area within an interior surface of a housing or similar that come into contact with the cradle (e.g., bearings) to apply the lifting force.Claim 66. The feeding assembly of Claim 65, wherein the lifting force raises the container into a container display opening in the feeding area.Claim 67. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 54 to 66, wherein the container handling subassembly includes one or more latches configured to retain the container within the container handling subassembly.Claim 68. The feeding assembly of Claim 67, wherein the one or more latches are configured to engage with one or more keying features of the container.Claim 69. The feeding assembly of Claim 68, wherein the one or more keying features include one or more notches or indentations formed in one or more flanges of the container.Claim 70. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 67 to 69, wherein the one or more latches include one or more pivoting arms.Claim 71. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 67 to 70, wherein the one or more latches are affixed to a cradle of the container handling subassembly with one or more biasing devices and allow for movement of the container in only one direction within the container handling subassembly.Claim 72. The feeding assembly of Claim 71, wherein the one or more latches are affixed to one or more side walls of the cradle.Claim 73. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 67 to 72, wherein the one or more patches include a pair of latches affixed to opposing side walls of a cradle of the container handling subassembly.Claim 74. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 54 to 73, wherein the feeding assembly includes one or more sensing devices configured to detect one or more positions of the container handling subassembly within the feeding assembly.Claim 75. The feeding assembly of Claim 74, wherein the one or more sensing devices include one or more photodetectors, optical encoders, hall effect sensors, potentiometers, capacitive position sensors, inductive sensors, magneto strictive sensors, proximity sensors, rotary encoder, linear encoder, or a combination thereof.Claim 76. The feeding assembly of Claim 75, wherein the container handling subassembly includes one or more position flags extending therefrom.Claim 77. The feeding assembly of Claim 76, wherein the one or more position flags may extend from a holding support, bearing, or both; and wherein the one or more position flags may extend toward a rear, front, and / or side of the feeding assembly.Claim 78. The feeding assembly of Claim 76 or 77, wherein the one or more position flags are configured to be detected by the one or more photodetectors, optical encoders.Claim 79. The feeding assembly of Claim 76 or 77, wherein the one or more position flags include one or more magnets and are configured to be detected by the one or more hall effect sensors.Claim 80. The feeding assembly of Claim 79, wherein the one or more hall effect sensors include a plurality of hall effect sensors arranged as an array on a circuit board; and wherein the circuit board is arranged parallel to a path of travel of the container handling subassembly.Claim 81. The feeding assembly of Claim 81, wherein the transport subassembly and / or container handling subassembly are mounted to a mid-support within the feeding assembly which defines a channel for movement of the container handling subassembly and the circuit board is arranged adjacent to the channel and retained by the mid-support.Claim 82. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; and b a waste collection subassembly with a waste receptacle in the form of waste carousel which rotates for collecting the container after being presented for consumption.Claim 83. The feeding assembly of Claim 82, wherein the feeding assembly includes any of the features of any of Claims 1 to 81.Claim 84. The feeding assembly of Claim 82 or 83, wherein the waste carousel is rotatably mounted to a waste drawer, within a base of the feeding assembly, or both.Claim 85. The feeding assembly of Claim 84, wherein the waste drawer is removable from the base.Claim 86. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 82 to 85, wherein the waste carousel includes a track about its periphery configured to be rotatably engaged with a drive unit.Claim 87. The feeding assembly of Claim 86, wherein the track is formed as a crown gear, spur gear, or both.Claim 88. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 82 to 87, wherein the waste carousel is generally cylindrically shaped with a side wall and a bottom wall.Claim 89. The feeding assembly of Claim 88, wherein the side wall and bottom wall are connected by an intermediate wall which curved inward into the interior of the waste carousel.Claim 90. The feeding assembly of Claim 88 or 89, wherein the bottom wall includes a conical portion projecting inward into the interior of the waste carousel.Claim 91. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 88 to 90, wherein a pivot is received within a pivot opening in the bottom wall.Claim 92. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 82 to 91, wherein the waste carousel includes a liner therein having a reciprocal shape to the waste carousel.Claim 93. The feeding assembly of Claim 92, wherein the liner includes keying feature engage with a reciprocal feature of the waste carousel so as to be statically affixed to and rotate with the waste carousel.Claim 94. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 82 to 93, wherein the feeding assembly is configured to rotate the waste carousel in one or more drop patterns to evenly distribute a plurality of cups about an interior of the waste carousel.Claim 95. The feeding assembly of Claim 94, wherein the one more drop patterns include a sequential drop method, a lug nut drop method, an alternating drop method, or a combination thereof.Claim 96. The feeding assembly of Claim 94 or 95, wherein the waste carousel is divided out into a plurality of receiving areas, either physically and / or via the drop pattern.Claim 97. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 82 to 96, wherein the waste carousel includes one or more magnets which cooperate with one or more hall effect sensors to determine a position of the waste carousel.Claim 98. The feeding assembly of Claim 97, wherein the one or more magnets are associated with one or more receiving areas.Claim 99. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 82 to 98, wherein the feeding assembly includes one or more sensing devices for sensing a presence of the waste receptacle within the feeding assembly, a position of the waste carousel within the feeding assembly, or both.Claim 100. The feeding assembly of Claim 99, wherein the one or more sensing devices include one or more position sensors.Claim 101. The feeding assembly of Claim 100, wherein the one or more position sensors include one or more photodetectors, optical encoders, hall effect sensors, potentiometers, capacitive position sensors, inductive sensors, magneto strictive sensors, proximity sensors, the like, or a combination thereof.Claim 102. The feeding assembly of Claim 101, wherein the one or more position sensors include one or more hall effect sensors mounted in the base and which cooperate with one or more magnets part of the waste carousel.Claim 103. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 100 to 102, wherein the one or more position sensors are associated with a drive unit (e.g., motor) which rotates the waste carousel.Claim 104. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including: a a feeding area configured to display the container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; and b a container opening subassembly comprising a pair of jaws configured to grasp and pinch a leading edge of a lid to remove a lid from the container such as to provide the container in the open configuration.Claim 105. The feeding assembly of Claim 104 including any of the features of any of Claims 1 to 103.Claim 106. The feeding assembly of Claim 104 or 105, wherein the pair of jaws includes one or two moveable jaws.Claim 107. The feeding assembly of Claim 106, wherein the container opening subassembly includes a drive unit which indirectly or directly drives movement of at least one of the jaws.Claim 108. The feeding assembly of Claim 107, wherein the container opening subassembly includes a cam which is driven by the drive unit and which the cam converts the torque into linear movement of at least one moveable jaw.Claim 109. The feeding assembly of Claim 108, wherein the cam has a uniform radius or varying radii.Claim 110. The feeding assembly of Claim 108 or 109, wherein the cam is center or off-center relative to a drive shaft of the drive unit.Claim 111. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 108 to 110, wherein the cam includes a first compressing portion having a smaller radius and a second compressing portion having a larger radius.Claim 112. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 108 to 111, wherein the container opening subassembly includes a bearing which cooperates with the cam and a movable jaw of the pair of jaws.Claim 113. The feeding assembly of Claim 112, wherein the bearing is statically affixed or otherwise engaged with the movable jaw.Claim 114. The feeding assembly of Claim 113, wherein the bearing is located within a slot of the movable jaw.Claim 115. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 112 to 114, wherein the bearing is sandwiched between an outer surface of the cam and a surface of a slot.Claim 116. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 106 to 115, wherein the pair of jaws includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw.Claim 117. The feeding assembly of Claim 116, wherein the lower jaw is a motor driven jaw.Claim 118. The feeding assembly of Claim 117, wherein a drive unit drives movement of the lower jaw via a cam.Claim 119. The feeding assembly of Claim 118, wherein the lowerjaw moves toward the upper jaw, a casing of the container opening subassembly, or both to place the pair of jaws in a closed position.Claim 120. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 116 to 119, wherein the upper jaw is a static jaw, spring driven jaw, or both.Claim 121. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 104 to 120, wherein the container opening subassembly includes one or more biasing devices to aid in moving the jaws into the closed position, apply a gripping force, moving the jaws into an open position, or any combination thereof.Claim 122. The feeding assembly of Claim 121, wherein the one or more biasing devices include one or more springs, elastomeric materials, or both.Claim 123. The feeding assembly of Claim 122, wherein the one or more springs include one or more compression springs, extension springs, or both.Claim 124. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 104 to 120, wherein the container opening subassembly is located along a path of travel of a container handling subassembly such as to open the container as it is moved to the feeding area.Claim 125. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 104 to 124, wherein the container opening subassembly is located along a path of travel of a container handling subassembly away from a feeding area.Claim 126. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 104 to 125, wherein the container opening subassembly includes a disposal subassembly configured to urge the lid off a container base, the container out of the container handling subassembly, or both.Claim 127. The feeding assembly of Claim 126, wherein the disposal subassembly includes a crash bar, a jaw, or both.Claim 128. The feeding assembly of Claim 127, wherein the jaw is one of a pair of jaws of the container handling subassembly.Claim 129. The feeding assembly of Claim 128, wherein a surface of the jaw faces toward the feeding area, front of the feeding assembly, or both.Claim 130. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 127 to 129, wherein the jaw is the lower jaw.Claim 131. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 127 to 130, wherein the jaw is configured to interfere with movement of the container when being retracted from the feeding area and urges the container off of the container handling subassembly.Claim 132. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 127 to 131, wherein the crash bar is able to lift and lower.Claim 133. The feeding assembly of Claim 132, wherein the crash bar is rotatable to lift and lower.Claim 134. The feeding assembly of Claim 132 or 133, wherein the crash bar is engaged with one or more of the jaws such that motion of the jaws causes movement of the crash bar.Claim 135. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 127 to 134, wherein the crash bar is able lift out of the way when the container opening subassembly is opening the container and lower to interfere with and apply a disposing force onto the lid, the container, or both.Claim 136. The feeding assembly of Claim 135, wherein the crash bar lowers when lower jaw moves to an open position and is configured to contact a lid of the container after being peeled off such as to urge the lid off of the container base.Claim 137. A feeding assembly comprising: a a base including one or more weight sensors; b a mid-support including a container handling subassembly for moving one or more containers within the feeding assembly, wherein the mid-support rests upon and or / is affixed to the one more weight sensors while being free of direct attachment to the base; and c a container storage subassembly affixed indirectly or directly to the base while being free of contact to the mid-support and free of having any weight detected by the one or more weight sensors.Claim 138. The feeding assembly of Claim 137, wherein the feeding assembly includes any of the features of any of Claims 1 to 136.Claim 139. The feeding assembly of Claim 137 or 138, wherein the base includes one or more mounting brackets having the one more weight sensors affixed thereto.Claim 140. The feeding assembly of Claim 139, wherein the one or more mounting brackets are on one or more side walls, a bottom wall, or both.Claim 141. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 137 to 140, wherein the mid-support includes one or more mounting brackets extending therefrom and which affix the mid-support to the one or more weight sensors.Claim 142. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 137 to 141, wherein the container storage subassembly is retained within a top cover and the top cover is affixed to the base while being free of contact with the mid-support.Claim 143. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 137 to 141, wherein the feeding assembly includes a base cover located atop the base and above the mid-support upon which the container subassembly is affixed.Claim 144. The feeding assembly of Claim 143, wherein the base cover is directly affixed to the base while being free of any contact with the mid-support and the one or more weight sensors.Claim 145. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 137 to 144, wherein the mid-support supports a transport subassembly, container opening subassembly, and container handling subassembly.Claim 146. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 137 to 145, wherein the one ormore weight sensors are configured to detect a presence of a container onto a container handling subassembly, consumption of food from the container, removal of the container from the container handling subassembly, or any combination thereof.Claim 147. The feeding assembly of any of Claims 137 to 146, wherein the one ormore weight sensors include a plurality of weight sensors.Claim 148. The feeding assembly of Claim 147, wherein the plurality of weight sensors are symmetrically placed on opposing sides of the mid-support.Claim 149. The feeding assembly of Claim 147 or 148, wherein the plurality of weight sensors include two or more weight sensors to six or less weight sensors.Claim 150. A method of operating a feeding assembly comprising: a a container handling subassembly automatically retrieving a container of the food from a container storage subassembly; b the container handling subassembly automatically moving the container to a feeding area and presenting the container for consumption; c automatically opening the container by a container opening subassembly in route to the feeding area; and d automatically disposing of the container from the container handling subassembly into a waste collection subassembly.Claim 151. The method of Claim 150 implementing the feeding assembly of any of Claims 1 to 149.Claim 152. The method of Claim 150 or 151, wherein the method includes automatically identifying an animal via a camera, one or more animal identification sensors, or both.Claim 153. The method of any of Claims 150 to 152, wherein the method includes automatically opening a lid to allow access to the container, closing a lid to prevent access to the container, or both.Claim 154. The method of Claim 153, wherein the method includes opening and / or closing the lid based on identifying the animal as an animal allowed to have access, prohibited from having access, or both.Claim 155. The method of any of Claims 150 to 154, wherein the retrieving includes a container handling subassembly at least partially entering into or being received by a hopper, receiving clip, or both.Claim 156. The method of Claim 155, wherein the container handling subassembly applies a receiving force to overcome a biasing force of a retaining clip such that the container transfers from the receiving clip to the container handling subassembly.Claim 157. The method of any of Claims 150 to 156, wherein the method includes automatically confirming the container handling subassembly is in the loading position, a container has been retrieved by the container handling subassembly, or both via one or more sensing devices.Claim 158. The method of any of Claims 150 to 157, wherein the method includes a transport subassembly causing movement of the container handling subassembly from the container storage subassembly toward the feeding area.Claim 159. The method of any of Claims 150 to 158, wherein the method includes the container opening subassembly gripping a lid from the container and applying a peeling force.Claim 160. The method of Claim 159, wherein the method includes one or a pair of jaws moving into a gripping position and gripping a leading edge of the lid to apply the peeling force.Claim 161. The method of Claim 150 or 160, wherein the container handling subassembly moves past the container opening subassembly, the container opening subassembly moves away from the container handling subassembly, or both move in opposing directions to result in the peeling force.Claim 162. The method of any of Claims 150 to 161, wherein a container handling subassembly lifts the container into a container display opening to be presented in the feeding area.Claim 163. The method of Claim 162, wherein the container handling subassembly includes a platform which lifts away from a holding support upon receiving a lifting force to result in lifting of the container.Claim 164. The method of any of Claims 150 to 163, wherein the container remains on display in the feeding area until a pre -determined condition is met.Claim 165. The method of Claim 164, wherein the predetermined condition includes a duration of time, a weight of the container, detecting an animal leaving proximity of the feeding assembly, combination thereof.Claim 166. The method of any of Claims 150 to 165, wherein the disposing includes application of a disposing force onto the container such as to urge the container out of the container handling subassembly and into the waste collection subassembly.Claim 167. The method of Claim 166, wherein a jaw, crash bar, or both of the container opening subassembly applies the disposing force onto the container.Claim 168. The method of Claim 167, wherein the disposing force is applied as the container handling subassembly moves away from the feeding area back toward the container storage subassembly.Claim 169. The method of any of Claims 150 to 168, wherein the method includes rotating a waste carousel to receive the container.Claim 170. The method of Claim 169, wherein the rotation is according to one or more drop patterns.Claim 171. The method of any of Claims 150 to 170, wherein the method includes automatically determining an amount of food consumed by an animal.Claim 172. The method of Claim 171, wherein an initial weight of the container prior to being presented in the feeding area and / or being presented to the animal for consumption and a final weight of the container after removal from a feeding area and / or after being presented to the animal for consumption is obtained via one or more weight sensors; and wherein the difference between the final weight and the initial weight is correlated to the amount consumed by the animal.Claim 173. The method of any of Claims 150 to 172, wherein the method includes automatically determining an inventory of one or more containers stored within the container storage subassembly.Claim 174. The method of any of Claims 150 to 173, wherein the method is stored as a set of computer readable instructions on a non-transitory computer readable medium.Claim 175. A feeding assembly comprising: a) a housing including: i) a base; ii) a mid-support retained within the base; iii) a base cover affixed to the base concealing an interior of the base; iv) a top cover affixed to the base cover; b) a container storage subassembly affixed to the base cover and top cover, wherein the container storage subassembly includes a hopper configured to retain a plurality of containers; c) a container handling subassembly configured to retrieve a container from the container storage subassembly and / or a restraint mechanism near an outlet of the hopper, and move within the feeding assembly to move the container to a feeding area and way from the feeding area; d a transport subassembly affixed to the mid-support and the container handling subassembly, wherein the transport subassembly is configured to cause linear motion of the container handling subassembly within the feeding assembly; e a container opening subassembly located above the container handling subassembly and the transport subassembly, the container opening subassembly having a pair of jaws configured to pinch a leading edge of the lid and apply a peeling force to remove the lid as the container handling subassembly moves from the container storage subassembly to the feeding area; f a waste collection subassembly located below the container handling subassembly and container opening subassembly configured to receive the lid once removed and a base of the container once removed from the container handling subassembly.Claim 176. The feeding assembly of Claim 175 including any of the features of any of Claims 1 to 149 and being implemented with the method of any of Claims 150 to 174.Claim 177. A feeding assembly configured to automatically present a food to an animal for consumption, the feeding assembly including a feeding area configured to display a container in an open configuration such as the food can be consumed directly therefrom; and the feeding assembly including one or more of: a a container storage subassembly configured to store a plurality of containers in a closed configuration, wherein the container storage assembly includes: i) a hopper having a hollow interior in which the plurality of containers may be stacked and retained; ii) an inlet opening and an outlet opening providing access into the hollow interior; and b a restraint mechanism for retaining the plurality of containers within the hopper which is located at or adjacent to the outlet opening; c a container handling subassembly configured to retrieve and retain the container and display in the feeding area;d) a transport subassembly affixed to the container handling subassembly and configured to move the container handling subassembly within the feeding assembly; e) a waste collection subassembly with a waste receptacle in the form of waste carousel which rotates for collecting the container after being presented for consumption; f) a container opening subassembly comprising a pair of jaws configured to grasp and pinch a leading edge of a lid to remove a lid from the container such as to provide the container in the open configuration; g) a base including one or more weight sensors; h) a mid-support including the container handling subassembly for moving one or more containers within the feeding assembly, wherein the mid-support rests upon and or / is affixed to the one more weight sensors while being free of direct attachment to the base; and / or i the container storage subassembly affixed indirectly or directly to the base while being free of contact to the mid-support and free of having any weight detected by the one or more weight sensors.

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