Pet Food Container with Protruding Flange for Automated Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet food containers are inconvenient to open and not suitable for automatic feeding devices, as they typically require manual operation and integrated covers that are prone to accidents.
Innovation Solution
A food container design with a snap-fitted cover body and a support member flange that protrudes beyond the container edge, allowing an animal food dispensing device to automatically open the container by limiting the can body's movement, combined with a pull-cover apparatus and press-can mechanism for automated operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pull ring integrated cover is used, then the container is easy to manufacture, but it is inconvenient to open and prone to accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separate components: a can body and a detachable cover body. The cover body can be opened independently from the can body, allowing the cover to be pulled away while the can body remains stationary. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling easy opening operation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through separate component assembly.
2Device complexity
If a pull ring integrated cover is used, then the container structure is simple, but it is not suitable for automatic feeding devices
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the cover body from the can body, the system enables automatic feeding device compatibility. The detachable cover body can be automatically pulled away by the device's opening mechanism, while the can body remains fixed. This maintains structural simplicity while adding the versatility needed for automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member with flange acts as an intermediary component between the can body and the automatic feeding device. It provides a connection interface that allows the automatic device to grip and pull the cover body without directly interacting with the can body, enabling automatic operation while maintaining simple container structure.
3Reliability
If the cover body is snap-fitted to the can body, then the container provides secure closure, but it requires automated mechanisms to open
Solution Approach 1:
The snap-fit connection between the cover body and can body provides secure closure during storage and transport. When opening is needed, the segmented design allows the cover body to be pulled away from the can body, with the snap-fit connection simply needing to be disengaged. This maintains reliable closure while keeping the opening mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A food container and an animal food dispensing device compatible with food container are provided. The food container includes a can body and a cover body. The can body includes a container body and a support member. The container body includes a container bowl portion. The support member includes a first flange portion, with one end being connected with an outer peripheral wall of the container bowl portion, and the other end extending outward in a direction away from the container body. The cover body includes a top surface portion and a side wall portion. The cover body is assembled to the can body, the container body is snap-fitted with the cover body, and an outer edge of the first flange portion protrudes beyond an outer peripheral surface of the cover body within a projection of the food container on a horizontal plane.