Rotating Tray Pet Feeder for Precise Food Dispensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet feeders do not effectively control the amount of food dispensed and often scatter food, making it difficult for pets to access remaining food, especially when administering medication, as they rely on the pet owner to manage the feeding process.
Innovation Solution
A pet feeding device with a rotating tray and stirring assembly that allows for controlled dispensing of feed pellets based on time and amount, using a motor-driven rotation mechanism and photo-sensitive switch to ensure a fixed number of pellets are dispensed per unit time, preventing scattering and ensuring easy access to food.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple container is used for pet feeding, then the device is easy to manufacture and clean, but the amount of food cannot be controlled and food scatters easily
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding device is segmented into multiple functional components: a rotating tray with multiple compartments for different food types, a separate water dispenser, and a controlled dispensing mechanism. This segmentation allows precise control over food distribution while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The tray is designed to rotate dynamically, allowing the pet to access different food compartments by moving the tray. This dynamic element provides controlled food dispensing without complex mechanisms, as the rotation is manually operated or pet-initiated
2Device complexity
If a simple container is used for pet feeding, then the device structure is simple, but food is pushed to the edge and cannot be accessed by pets
Solution Approach 1:
The food container is divided into multiple compartments arranged radially on the rotating tray, with each compartment accessible through designated openings. This segmentation ensures food remains organized and accessible without being pushed to edges
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding device transitions from a static two-dimensional container to a three-dimensional rotating structure with vertical compartments and radial access points. This dimensional change allows pets to access food from multiple angles without pushing it to the edge
3Manufacturing precision
If a rotating tray with multiple openings is used, then food amount can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating tray is segmented into multiple standardized compartments with predetermined opening sizes and positions. This segmentation enables precise food portion control while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple through repetitive modular elements
Solution Approach 2:
The device controls food amount by changing geometric parameters of the tray openings and compartments rather than using complex dosing mechanisms. By varying opening dimensions and tray rotation positions, precise food control is achieved with minimal mechanical complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a pet feeding device provides a feeding mechanism on a basis of fixed time and fixed amount of food for a pet. The pet feeding device includes a base and a rotatable tray. The base has a first opening and a second opening communicated with each other, and the second opening connects the base and an exterior environment. The rotatable tray having third openings is assembled to the base and rotates about an axis. The feed pellets received in the pet feeding device fall into the third openings with a rotation of the rotatable tray. In a process of rotation, the first opening covers portion of the third openings correspondingly in a unit time, and the feed pellets in the corresponding third openings drop out of the pet feeding device via the first opening and the second opening.