Modular Battery Pet Feeder Auger Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet feeders are limited in their ability to dispense dry feed to pets, chickens, cage birds, fish, and wild birds over an extended interval and in metered amounts, and are often difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A feeder system comprising a hopper unit and a base unit with an electric motor, battery holder, and an auger mechanism that rotates to dispense dry feed in metered amounts, featuring an indexing mechanism for precise control and a control circuit to detect blockages and provide warnings, allowing for easy cleaning and filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a hopper-based dry feed dispensing system is used, then feed can be supplied over an extended interval, but the system becomes difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder is divided into separate modular components: a removable hopper unit that can be detached from the base unit. This segmentation allows the hopper to be easily removed for cleaning and refilling without disassembling the entire feeder system, thus maintaining extended feed storage capability while significantly improving cleaning ease.
2Measurement precision
If an auger mechanism with indexing is used for metered feed dispensing, then feed quantity control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical indexing mechanisms with a simpler electronic control system. A motor drives the auger, and a microprocessor-controlled system monitors and controls the number of rotations and speed, using sensors to detect feed flow and adjust dispensing accordingly. This substitution maintains precise metered feed quantity control while significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a battery-powered electric motor is used to drive the auger, then feeding flexibility is improved, but energy management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery-powered system incorporates automatic energy management features where the microprocessor monitors battery status and automatically adjusts operating parameters or provides low-battery warnings. This self-service approach allows the system to maintain feeding flexibility while managing energy complexity through automated monitoring and adjustment rather than manual intervention.
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 feeder system effectively dispenses dry feed in controlled, metered amounts over an extended period, is easy to clean and maintain, and provides flexible programming options for different animal feeding needs, enhancing feeding accuracy and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
An electric motor and a battery holder are adapted to mount at least one battery for driving the motor
Implementation Method 2
An auger is mounted for rotation about an axis within said chamber and arranged to receive drive from the electrical motor, the auger being adapted as it rotates to move feed along said chamber towards said discharge outlet
Implementation Method 3
A chamber is adapted to receive feed by gravity from a lower portion of the hopper
Data Source
AI summary
A feeder for feeding animals selected from domestic pets, cage birds, chickens, fish and wild birds. A hopper holds feed, an electric motor and a battery holder A chamber receives feed from the hopper, and has a discharge outlet for discharge of feed. An augur is mounted for rotation and receives drive from the electrical motor. As the augur rotates, it moves feed along the chamber towards the discharge outlet. An indexing mechanism indexes individual turns of the augur. The feeder supplies feed to the discharge outlet in metered amounts. The feeder is formed as two units, namely a base unit with a hopper unit mounted on the base unit. The base unit mounts the electric motor and battery holder. The hopper unit includes the hopper itself, the chamber and the augur. The hopper unit is freely separable from the base unit for cleaning or for filling the hopper.