Wet Feed Bag Dispensing with Airtight Dose Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal feed dispensers for wet feed require manual refilling, lead to overconsumption and waste, and fail to provide bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection.
Innovation Solution
A device with an electromechanical system that selectively opens and closes the bag neck, using gripping elements and squeezing/pressing mechanisms to dispense precise doses of wet feed while maintaining airtightness and preventing oxidation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a whole bag of wet feed is consumed for each dose dispensed, then the animal receives sufficient feed, but feed waste and overconsumption occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the feed dispensing process into controlled portions. The bag is equipped with a closing element that can selectively open and close the neck, allowing the device to dispense specific doses (e.g., 50g, 100g) rather than requiring the animal to consume the entire bag. This segmentation enables precise dosage control and prevents overconsumption and waste.
2Ease of operation
If the feed receptacle and opening mechanism remain in contact with air, then access is simple, but bacteriological and anti-oxidation protection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies preliminary anti-action by equipping the bag with a closing element that maintains an airtight seal at the neck. This pre-established protection prevents bacteriological contamination and oxidation before the animal accesses the feed. The closing element remains in place during storage and only opens temporarily during dispensing, then closes again to restore protection.
3Device complexity
If manual refilling is required for each dispensing, then the device structure is simple, but user convenience and autonomy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables self-service by allowing the user to load a single bag of feed once, after which the automated closing element and electromechanical device handle all subsequent dispensing operations autonomously. The closing element automatically opens and closes the bag neck, and the electromechanical system controls the dispensing process, eliminating the need for manual refilling for each dose and significantly improving user convenience.
4Productivity
If the bag neck remains open for feed dispensing, then feed can be accessed, but oxidation and bacterial contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element operates through periodic action, cycling between open and closed states. It opens the neck briefly during dispensing to allow feed access, then closes immediately afterward to restore protection. This periodic opening and closing enables efficient feed dispensing while minimizing exposure time to air, thereby maintaining feed quality and preventing oxidation and bacterial contamination.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (2) for dispensing animal feed, the device (2) comprising a casing (6) inside which a feed receptacle (8A) and a wet feed dispensing unit (10) are arranged. The wet feed dispensing unit (10) is suitable for receiving a removable bag (4) of wet feed provided with an opening neck for the bag (4), the wet feed dispensing unit (10) comprising:—an electromechanical device (24) for supplying wet feed from the bag (4) to the feed receptacle (8A), comprising means (36B) for squeezing and/or pressing the bag (4) and means (38, 38A, 38B) for pinching at least one edge of the bag (4), said pinching means (38, 38A, 38B) being motorized and being mounted so as to be movable between a push position in which said at least one edge of the bag (4) is pushed towards the neck, and a pull position in which said at least one edge of the bag (4) is pulled away from the neck; and—means for controlling the electromechanical device (24), which are able to control dispensing of the wet feed from the bag (4) towards the feed receptacle (8A).