Rotating Pet Feeder Ejection Structure for Quiet Portion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pet feeding machines lack control over the amount of feed ejected and generate loud noise due to the mechanical ejection mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A feeder design featuring a rotating ejection structure with ejection blades, a driving module, and a screening tray with partition grooves, which allows for controlled and quiet ejection of feed through a rotating mechanism, ensuring consistent feed distribution and reducing noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a push rod is used to push feed to the ejection area, then the feed can be moved to the ejection area, but the amount of feed pushed each time cannot be controlled, resulting in inconsistent ejection amounts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of feed ejectedVSAvoidcontrol precision of feed amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feed storage is divided into multiple compartments (first accommodating space and second accommodating space) with separate ejection mechanisms for each compartment. Each compartment has its own ejection blade that can independently control the ejection of feed, allowing precise control over the amount of feed ejected from each compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection blades are designed to rotate about rotation axes, transforming the static push rod mechanism into a dynamic rotating blade system. The rotation angle and speed of each ejection blade can be controlled independently, enabling precise control over the amount of feed ejected from each compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If an ejection rod is used to eject feed from the ejection area, then the feed can be ejected out of the machine, but a loud impact sound is generated during ejection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed ejection efficiencyVSAvoidnoise during ejection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection rod is replaced with rotating ejection blades that continuously rotate to eject feed. This dynamic rotating mechanism replaces the static impact-based ejection, significantly reducing the loud impact sounds while maintaining efficient feed ejection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical impact ejection system is replaced with a rotating blade ejection system. Instead of using a rod that impacts feed to eject it, the patent uses blades that rotate and gently propel feed outward, reducing mechanical impact and associated noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If feed is stored in a single hopper, then the structure is simple, but the feed accumulates unevenly on one side of the hopper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehopper structure simplicityVSAvoiduniformity of feed distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The single hopper is divided into multiple compartments (first accommodating space and second accommodating space), each with its own feed distribution and ejection mechanism. This segmentation ensures that feed is distributed more uniformly across different compartments rather than accumulating on one side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Ejection blades are introduced as intermediary elements between the feed storage compartments and the discharge. These blades actively manage feed distribution and movement, preventing uneven accumulation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively controls the amount of feed ejected and minimizes noise during operation by using a rotating ejection mechanism and a screening tray to group and distribute feed consistently, addressing the issues of uneven ejection and noise in existing machines.

Implementation Method 1

The position-returning member is a torsion spring or a tension spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11785917B2Feeder

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A feeder includes a housing, an ejection structure, and a driving module. The housing includes a discharge channel. The discharge channel has an accommodating space and a discharge port communicated with each other. The ejection structure includes an ejection blade. The ejection blade is rotatably disposed in the accommodating space. The driving module is configured to rotate the ejection structure, so that the ejection blade ejects the feed located in the accommodating space away from the discharge port. The driving module includes a position-returning member configured to maintain the ejection structure in a first rotational orientation relative to the housing. The driving module is further configured to rotate the ejection structure relative to the housing to exceed a second rotational orientation and then release the ejection structure.