Sealed Pet Feed Container With Weight-Triggered Refill Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feed storage solutions for domestic animals are prone to human error in re-filling, leading to irregular feeding and potential health issues due to stale or infected feed, and separate networked weight scales require calibration and expose feed to air, causing nutritional loss and pest infestation.
Innovation Solution
A sealed container with integrated weighing and air pumping systems, using a microcontroller to monitor feed weight and create a rarefied atmosphere, ensuring freshness and automated re-filling based on weight thresholds, connected to a manufacturer server for data processing and user notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual measurement and intuitive planning are used to manage feed stock, then simplicity of operation is maintained, but human error occurs leading to late re-filling and insufficient feed amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the container with integrated weighing devices, microcontrollers, and wireless communication modules to create a smart feed management system. This merging of functions eliminates manual measurement and intuitive planning, providing automated weight monitoring and re-filling notifications that prevent human error while maintaining operational simplicity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The container performs self-monitoring of feed weight through integrated sensors and automatically communicates re-filling needs via wireless communication. This self-service capability removes the need for human intervention in measurement and decision-making, ensuring reliable feed management without requiring the user to manually check feed levels.
2Extent of automation
If feed containers are combined with feeding devices and electronic portion-controlling tools, then automated feed management is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates weighing devices, microcontrollers, and wireless communication modules directly into the container structure, merging multiple functions into a single unit. This approach achieves automated feed management by continuously monitoring feed weight and automatically notifying users when re-filling is needed, without requiring separate complex feeding devices or portion-controlling tools.
3Extent of automation
If networked weight scales are used for smart ordering, then automated feed ordering is achieved, but calibration requirements and exposure to air cause nutritional loss and pest infestation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary sealing of the container before feed is exposed to air, and initiates automated communication for re-filling orders before feed contamination or nutritional loss occurs. The wireless communication module automatically notifies users or suppliers when feed weight reaches threshold levels, enabling proactive re-filling without exposing feed to harmful environmental factors.
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
Ensures high-quality feed storage by maintaining freshness and optimizing feed management through automated re-filling, reducing human error and preventing nutritional loss, while integrating with IoT for seamless logistics and user feedback.
Implementation Method 1
an air pump (6) having a control chip, a pressure sensor that is synchronized with the pump, and a pressure relief valve, while the microcontroller and the pump are connected to a power supply
Implementation Method 2
the lower portion of the body comprises a weighing device that is connected to a microcontroller
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a field of smart storage and management of food consumption by domestic animals, and it concerns a container for a dry feed and a system for managing availability of the feed in the container. The container comprises a weighing device that is connected to a microcontroller that comprises a wireless communication module and that is configured to periodically record a weight, to transmit data via at least one communication channel and to initiate communication, when the recorded weight equals to or less than a measured weight threshold, and a cap of the container is sealable owing to an air pump having a control chip, a pressure sensor that is synchronized with the pump, and a pressure relief valve. The management system combines the container and a server of a container manufacturer owing to tools for processing data about dynamics of changing of the feed weight depending on a container weight and a recording period, tools for transmitting a notification to at least one user via a mobile application and/or an API protocol, and tools for initiating communication with the at least one user. The solution ensures storage of the feed, management of the feed stock and planning of interaction with feed suppliers.