Cat Litter Box with Automatic Supply and Sealed Waste Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cat litter boxes are often odorous due to clumped litter that is difficult to separate and replace, leading to inefficient litter management.
Innovation Solution
A cat litter box with an automatic litter supplying device and a litter bag sealing mechanism that includes a rotation ring, rotation sheets, and a sealing mechanism to efficiently seal and replace litter bags, along with a litter dropping mechanism to transfer used litter to a removable lower compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual litter replacement is used, then device complexity is low, but productivity is low due to difficult separation and replacement of clumped litter
Solution Approach 1:
The litter box is divided into multiple compartments: a first container for storing clean litter, a second container for collecting soiled litter, and a transfer channel connecting them. This segmentation allows automated transfer of litter portions, improving replacement efficiency without requiring complex mechanical arms or robotic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A transfer channel acts as an intermediary structure between the first and second containers. This simple conduit enables automated litter transfer using basic mechanical components like rotating arms or gravity-fed systems, avoiding the need for complex sealed containment or sophisticated control mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If clumped litter is not sealed, then device complexity is low, but odor control is poor leading to harmful factors
Solution Approach 1:
The litter management system is segmented into clean and soiled zones with separate containers. The second container specifically collects clumped, odorous litter away from the cat's area, reducing odor exposure without requiring complex sealing mechanisms on the entire litter box.
Solution Approach 2:
Odorous clumped litter is extracted from the main litter area and transferred to a separate second container. This removal isolates the harmful odor source from the cat's environment without requiring complex sealing systems, as the soiled litter is physically separated and can be easily disposed of.
3Productivity
If automatic litter supply is added, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic supply system is segmented into a storage container for bulk litter and a dispensing mechanism that transfers litter to the active area. This division allows simple gravity-fed or mechanically-actuated dispensing without requiring complex sensors, motors, or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Clean litter is pre-stored in the first container in readiness for transfer. This preliminary preparation allows the automatic supply mechanism to simply activate when needed, using basic mechanical components rather than complex real-time decision-making systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A cat litter box includes: a box body, configured to be used by a cat to excrete feces; and an automatic litter supplying device, storing cat litter and configured to supply at least part of the stored cat litter into the box body. The automatic litter supplying device is disposed at a lateral side of the box body.