Rotating Inner Compartment Fish Feeder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic fish feeding apparatuses are prone to feed degradation due to moisture and light exposure, particularly when located above heated aquariums, leading to spoilage and reduced feed quality.

Innovation Solution

A feeding apparatus with an inner and outer compartment configuration that allows for alignment and rotation around a horizontal axis, incorporating opaque materials to block light and a labyrinth seal to prevent moisture intrusion, ensuring the feed remains protected from environmental factors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the feeding apparatus is placed above the aquarium for convenient feeding, then the feeding operation is simplified, but the feed is exposed to moisture and light causing degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding operation convenienceVSAvoidmoisture and light exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The feeding apparatus is divided into an inner compartment for storing feed and an outer compartment that serves as a protective housing. The inner compartment can be rotated independently within the outer compartment, allowing the feed to be shielded from harmful environmental factors while maintaining access for feeding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner compartment is nested within the outer compartment, with the inner compartment containing the feed and the outer compartment providing protective enclosure. This nested structure allows the feed to be protected from moisture and light while the entire apparatus remains positioned above the aquarium for convenient feeding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the compartment is made opaque to block light, then feed protection from light degradation is improved, but visibility for monitoring feed levels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight protectionVSAvoidfeed level visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The outer compartment is made opaque to block light from reaching the feed, while a specific local area includes a transparent window that allows visual monitoring of feed levels. This local transparency provides the necessary visibility without compromising the overall light protection for the feed storage area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 apparatus effectively protects the fish feed from moisture and light, maintaining its quality and extending its shelf life by ensuring it remains dry and shielded from degradation, even when placed above an aquarium.

Implementation Method 1

at least partially including an opaque material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a labyrinth seal to prevent moisture intrusion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLabyrinth seal:

Data Source

PatentUS11617355B2Feeding apparatus and method for operating a feeding apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 TETRA GMBH

AI summary

A feeding apparatus includes an inner compartment having a first opening; and an outer compartment having a second opening. At least one of the inner compartment and the outer compartment is configured to be movable relative to the other one of the inner compartment and the outer compartment from a first position in which the first opening is out of alignment with the second opening to a second position in which the first opening is aligned with the second opening.