Automated Animal Feed Dispenser Drop Shelf Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated animal feed dispensers often fail to reliably deliver feed due to jamming issues, requiring a more dependable and efficient mechanism to replicate natural feeding patterns for livestock in captivity.
Innovation Solution
An automated animal feed dispenser utilizing a vertically stacked set of hinged drop shelving within a three-sided cabinet, where motorized latches controlled by a programmable electronic system sequentially drop the shelves to create a progressively angled slide for efficient feed delivery, ensuring reliable and timed dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional automated feed dispensers use mechanical conveyance systems, then feed can be delivered to animals, but the system is prone to jamming and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical conveyance systems with a simple gravity-based drop shelf mechanism. Feed is delivered by dropping shelves sequentially rather than using motors, belts, or mechanical conveyors, eliminating the jamming issues inherent in traditional mechanical systems while maintaining automated feed delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the complex mechanical transmission components from the feed delivery system. By using direct gravity feed through drop shelves, the system eliminates intermediate mechanical elements that could fail or jam, achieving simplicity and reliability simultaneously
2Productivity
If manual feeding is performed to ensure reliable feed delivery, then feed can be delivered consistently, but it requires significant owner time and capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automated feeding by programming the drop shelf sequence controller to operate independently. Once configured, the system automatically delivers feed according to predetermined schedules without requiring owner intervention, eliminating time loss while ensuring consistent feed delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary programming of feed delivery schedules and drop shelf sequences before operation begins. This advance configuration allows the system to autonomously execute feeding routines without real-time owner input, achieving both efficiency and reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If feed is delivered in large amounts less frequently, then owner time is reduced, but it does not replicate natural grazing patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the feed delivery process into multiple discrete drop shelf stages, each delivering a portion of the total feed amount. This segmentation enables replication of natural grazing patterns by providing small, frequent feed portions throughout the day, while the automated controller manages the complex multi-stage sequence without proportionally increasing owner involvement
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 solution provides a reliable and efficient method for timed feed dispensing, reducing the likelihood of jamming and ensuring consistent delivery of animal feed, aligning with natural grazing patterns, even in confined spaces.
Implementation Method 1
Each drop shelf could have a first edge and a second edge, the first edge connected to a rod, the rod substantially being located between and movably connecting to the two cabinet end walls, allowing the drop shelf to generally pivot about the rod/first edge
Implementation Method 2
the feed would hit and then be guided by the angled slide to the feed delivery slot to exit the cabinet's hollow interior
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the invention could be an automated animal feed dispenser and method, the automated animal feed dispenser comprising a three-wall cabinet generally forming a hollow interior and further defining a feed delivery slot that connects to an angled slide located within the hollow interior; a set of vertically-stacked and spaced-apart drop shelves support animal feed located within the hollow interior, each drop shelf hingedly connects to the cabinet; a set of latches supported by the cabinet, each latch comprises a motorized automotive door lock that controls the drop of a respective drop shelf; a latch control system operates the latches to drop the drop shelves in a timed and sequenced manner that allows dropped drop shelves to successively overlay one another to create a progressively angled slide that empties down upon the angled slide.