Gear-Rack Pet Feeder Lid for Precise Multi-Pet Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet feeders lack precise control over feeding, leading to issues such as food grabbing, mixed eating, and spillage, especially in multi-pet households, and require manual lid operation which is inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A pet feeder with a driving member and gear/rack transmission mechanism, combined with sliding grooves and limiting plates, ensures smooth and accurate lid movement, featuring a track groove and guide post structure for automatic opening and closing, and a disassembling design for easy cleaning, along with a reinforcing frame for structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual lid opening and closing design is used, then the structure is simple, but it is inconvenient to use and prone to failure after long-term use
Solution Approach 1:
The lid opening and closing mechanism is designed to operate automatically without manual intervention. The motor drives the gear system which actuates the lid, allowing the feeder to serve itself by automatically controlling lid movement based on feeding schedules or sensor input, eliminating the need for manual opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical lid operation is replaced with an automated motor-driven system. The motor provides powered actuation through gear mechanisms, substituting the manual mechanical action with an automated electromechanical system that is more reliable and convenient for long-term use
2Reliability
If an open lid design is used, then the feeding process is simple, but multiple pets can eat together causing food grabbing and mixed eating problems
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed as a dynamic component that can automatically open and close based on feeding requirements. The motor-driven mechanism allows the lid to transition between open and closed states automatically, enabling precise control over when food is accessible to pets, thereby preventing food grabbing and mixed eating in multi-pet households
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through sensors or timers that detect when feeding should occur and automatically actuate the lid opening and closing. This feedback-based control ensures precise feeding timing and prevents multiple pets from accessing food simultaneously, eliminating food grabbing and mixed eating problems
3Manufacturing precision
If a simple lid structure is used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the lid cannot accurately control the feeding object and leads to spillage and dampness
Solution Approach 1:
A gear transmission mechanism serves as an intermediary between the motor and the lid. The gear system provides precise mechanical transmission that controls the lid's opening and closing movements with high positioning accuracy. This intermediary mechanism translates the motor's rotational motion into precise linear movement of the lid, ensuring accurate feeding control while preventing spillage and dampness
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
Enables precise feeding by preventing multiple pets from eating together, reduces spillage and dampness, and allows for easy maintenance, addressing the limitations of conventional feeders.
Implementation Method 1
the driving member drives the transmission gear to rotate, which can drive the rack to reciprocate up and down
Implementation Method 2
at least two transmission gears, and two racks, the two racks are fitted on both sides of the back of the mounting plate, the rack is provided with a protrusion
Data Source
AI summary
A pet feeder is provided, including a lid and an open/close assembly. Two transmission gears of the open/close assembly are meshed with two racks. A driving member drives the transmission gear to rotate, driving the rack to move so that the lid is away from/covering the feeding bin opening. The technical solution of the present disclosure aims to automatically open and close the lid for feeding, so as to avoid multiple pets from eating together.