Pet Snack Machine Sealing Cover and Dispensing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional pet feeding machines have issues with the cover being easy to loosen during closure, poor sealing performance, and lack of control over the amount of snacks dispensed, leading to inconvenience and poor interaction with pets.

Innovation Solution

A pet snack machine design featuring a sealing cover with a knob, connector, and elastic element for secure closure, an unloading mechanism with double food stirring trays for controlled snack dispensing, and a cam ejection mechanism with a double-shockproof spring mechanism to ensure stable and precise snack distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cover is made simple to open and close, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing performance deteriorates and the cover is easy to loosen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cover operationVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover mechanism transitions from a static simple latch to a dynamic spring-loaded system. The elastic element provides automatic engagement force when the cover is closed, ensuring firm sealing, while the knob with connector allows easy one-handed operation to overcome this spring force and open the cover. The system adapts its holding force based on the closed/open state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover assembly is divided into functional segments: the cover body, the elastic element (independent buffering component), the connector (transmission component), and the knob (operation component). This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally - the elastic element ensures sealing, the connector transmits force, and the knob provides user interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the cover is firmly fixed when closed, then the sealing performance is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidease of cover operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded mechanism creates a dynamic balance between holding force and opening force. The elastic element provides continuous pressure to maintain sealing, but this same spring force can be easily overcome by the user applying force to the knob, enabling easy opening. The system naturally transitions between states without requiring excessive force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the unloading mechanism uses positive and negative rotation to reduce material blockage, then the reliability is improved, but the control over the amount of single unloading deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial flow reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol of unloading amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The transition chamber is divided into multiple transition units by partition plates, and the food stirring tray is segmented into multiple stirring units. This segmentation allows the system to process material in controlled portions, ensuring reliable flow through each unit while maintaining precise control over the total unloading amount through the rotation angle of the stirring units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The food stirring tray rotates to a predetermined angle position, dynamically adjusting the amount of material transferred from the storage bin to the projection bin. This controlled rotation provides both reliable material flow (by ensuring material moves through the system) and precise dosage control (by limiting the rotation angle and thus the amount transferred).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the unloading mechanism is simple, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control over the amount of single unloading deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunloading mechanism complexityVSAvoidcontrol of unloading amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a simple rotating food stirring tray mechanism that can be controlled to stop at a predetermined angle. This dynamic positioning allows precise control of unloading amount without requiring complex dosing mechanisms. The rotation angle directly correlates to the amount of material transferred, providing intuitive control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

5Manufacturing precision

If the upper food stirring plate is provided as an arc-shaped food stirring plate and is obliquely provided on the post part, then the manufacturing precision is improved for avoiding material blockage and splashing, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecise snack distributionVSAvoidunloading mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upper food stirring plate is designed with an arc-shaped (curved) geometry rather than a flat plate. This curvature is optimized to guide material flow smoothly, preventing blockages and splashing. The arc shape naturally directs material along a controlled path, improving distribution precision while adding only moderate geometric complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 machine provides a secure and convenient way to store and dispense pet snacks, ensuring firm closure, easy operation, and precise control over snack amount, reducing material blockage and splashing, while enhancing interaction with pets.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic element (15) is provided in the cover (12), wherein both ends of the elastic element (15) are abutted against the cover (12) and the connector (14) respectively, and the elastic element (15) is in a deformed state; the knob (11) is rotated, and the connector (14) is movable in the direction close to the knob (11) under the action of the elastic element (15)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the ejection cam drives the thrust spring to accumulate power, the thrust spring provides ejection power for the slider after being released

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

the damping spring has the damping function so that the device is more stable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 4

the guide rod makes the sliding process of the slider more stable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 5

the arc-shaped guide plate is abutted against the connector and is matched with the spring so as to convert the rotation of the knob into linear sliding of the connector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3850944B1Snack machine for pets
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 BEIJING KITTEN & PUPPY TECH CO LTD
  • EP3850944B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3850944B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3850944B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The utility model provides a pet snack machine, which relates to the technical field of pet snack devices, and solves the technical problems in the prior art that the cover of the traditional pet feeding machine is easy to loosen during closing and is complicated to operate during opening, comprising an outer shell and a sealing cover, wherein the sealing cover comprises a cover, a knob, a connector and an elastic element, one end of the connector is abutted against the knob, and the other end thereof passes through the cover and is provided with an abutting part, the inner side of the outer shell is provided with a grid blocking part, the abutting part is capable of being abutted against the lower side of the grid blocking part, the elastic element is provided in the cover, and both ends of the elastic element are abutted against the cover and the connector respectively, so that the knob is rotated, and the connector is movable in the direction close to the knob under the action of the elastic element to separate the abutting part from the grid blocking part; the sealing cover of the utility model is not only firm during closing and good in sealing performance, but also only needs to rotate the knob during opening, which is convenient and quick to operate.