Angled Litter Chamber with Segmented Rake for Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated litter devices often suffer from issues such as stuck rakes, clumps of waste and litter adhering to moving parts, reduced space and light for animals, and contamination transfer, which can lead to animal safety hazards and ineffective waste removal.
Innovation Solution
A litter device with a chamber that rotates at an angle of 80 degrees or less with a vertical plane, featuring a bonnet for coverage, a shield for internal surface protection, a weight detection sensor, and safety mechanisms to prevent animal contact with moving parts, ensuring adequate space, illumination, and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the litter box is covered to retain dust, smells, and litter, then contamination is reduced, but the space available for the pet and light in the litter box are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The litter box is divided into separate functional zones: a covered waste collection area and an uncovered animal activity area. The rake mechanism is segmented into a rake head and rake body, allowing the head to access waste while the body remains protected. This segmentation enables contamination control in specific areas without compromising overall animal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The rake acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers waste from the animal area to the collection area without direct contact by the animal. The cover serves as an intermediary barrier that contains dust and smells while allowing controlled access for waste removal. These intermediaries enable contamination control without fully enclosing the animal space.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the litter box is covered to retain dust, smells, and litter, then contamination is reduced, but the light in the litter box is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is applied selectively to specific areas where contamination control is needed (waste collection zone, rake mechanism) while leaving the animal activity area uncovered to maintain adequate lighting. This local application of covering allows dust and smell retention without significantly reducing light for the animal.
3Extent of automation
If a rake is used to remove waste automatically, then owner interaction is reduced, but the rake may get stuck, clumps of waste and litter may stick to the rake, and the rake may become dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The rake mechanism is designed with dynamic components including a motor-driven track system that moves the rake along a predetermined path, and a spring-loaded or flexible rake head that can adapt to variations in litter depth and waste distribution. The rake can be repositioned or reset automatically after each stroke, maintaining reliability through motion and adaptability rather than static rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The rake system is designed to self-reset and self-position after each waste removal stroke. The motor automatically returns the rake to its starting position, and the rake head may have self-cleaning features or design characteristics that prevent waste adhesion. This automated self-service reduces the need for manual intervention and maintains consistent operation.
4Productivity
If the chamber rotates at an angle of 80 degrees or less with a vertical plane, then waste removal is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber rotation angle is optimized to 80 degrees or less from the vertical plane, which is sufficient to achieve effective waste removal while avoiding the complexity of larger rotation angles. This parameter optimization balances productivity improvement with mechanical simplicity, preventing excessive complexity in the rotation mechanism while maintaining effective waste ejection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a safe and clean environment for animals by preventing contact with moving parts, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring effective waste removal without transferring contaminants, while allowing adequate space and illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a weight detection sensor, located in the support base and below the chamber, having an expandable and contractible member such as a spring
Implementation Method 2
a force sensitive monitoring device such as a force sensitive resistor placed between a rocker arm and the support base, so that as compression of the expandable and contractible member changes, the force sensitive member measures a change in weight of the device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A device comprising: a support base 100 and an chamber 20, located on the support base, having an entry opening 22 so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; wherein the chamber includes an axis of rotation that forms an angle of about 80 degrees or less with a vertical plane.