GB2199477A - Automatic device and container for supplying food to animals - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic feeding device for animals comprises box or housing (1) in which two food containers for semisolids and liquids are installed and which has cover (9) provided with aperture (10) for each set. Each food supplying set includes a rotatable disc (2) provided with a series of openings (5) each of which holds a respective container (6) which is initially full and sealed. Cutter (11) cuts the seal of each container in turn and electric motor (3) drives associated disc (2) to bring, in turn, each unsealed container (6) into registry with the respective opening (5) in cover (9) so that the contents are accessible to an animal. An adjustable timer (4) is provided for each disc (2) and allows associated motor (3) to drive disc (2) through a predetermined angle of rotation at preset time intervals. An audible device (15) may be activated each time a fresh container (6) is made accessible to the animal. <IMAGE>

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION Titlel Automatle Device and Container for Supplying Food to Animals.

This invention relates to a device and the oorresponding container for supplying food to animals, particularly household pets, such as dogs and cats, The ald problem posed by having to feed household pets when thnje owtern are away for several days is wellknown, given that the collaboration of a neighbour who is nut always available bile s to be sought, or the animal has to bs taken to, with the problems that this represents, or it lias to be sent to a special residence which is ununlly expensive.

The dnvioe in question solves this problem fully for it automatically takes bare of glving, with the desined fiequoncy, two containers to which the animal has access; one of them contains semisolid food, even of different types in accordance with the animal's diet, while the other has liquld type food, auch as milk or simply water.

Witii this, for example, for an absence of one week, the device shall have two sste with seven containers each, so that sach day of the week, two containers, one of each group, are avallable for the animal, and all this is regulated by two timers inoorporated in the equipment.

Each container, on the other hand, is characterized by the fact that initially it is sealed and airdtight, its uppor base in of a material which can be cut by a cutter or similar obJoot alld which has, on the lateral periphery adjacent to the cdge of its upper base, a perimeter tooth ing of teeth parallel to i;he shaft of the actual container forming a crown gear which oan be meshed with a pinion in the device at a given point in time.

The mentioned crown gear protrudes substantially from the body of the aotual container so as to serve as an input stop with the corresponding opening for a rotating plate of the mentioned device a The invention will now be further described,by wny of example with reference to the drawings,in which:: Fig.1 is a vertical cross section through one embodiment of a device according to the invention; , Fig.2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig.l with the cover partly cut away to show interior details; Fig.3 is n sitlo elevation of a container for use with the device shown in Figs.1 and 2;and Fig.4 is a plan view of the container shown in Fig.3.

In acoordance with type drawings, the automatio device for supplying food to animals consists of a box or housing -1" on whose inside two rotating discs -2- are arranged, which are driven by respective stepping motors -3- controlled in turn by two adjustable timers -4-.

On the periphery of each of the mentioned discs -2- there is a certain numer (seven in the illustrated example) of circular opening -5- into which both containers -6- can be put as a oup or oan, which have a toothed rim -7- by their upper bane -8-, This rim "7- serves as an input stop for the actual oontainer -6- in the respective opening -5- cf the diso -2-, so that the same containers -6- are suspended from the mentioned dises -2- and their upper base -8- is above them.

The houslng -1- with the desoribed dises -2- is covered by a osvar -9- whish has two notches -10- through which two nontalnorn -6@- (one of sach group or diso) are accessible.

From the area of the oover -9- corresponding to the container -6a- which is to be found before the notch. -10-, in nunordance with t)ie rotation direction of each disc -2-, an appendix donoonds in the form of a cutter -11- accompanied by a corrsaponding groove -12- madej in the actual cover -9-.

On the other hand, opposite each container -6a- located beneath the cutter -11- and groove -12-, there are two pinions -13- meshed with the respective rim -7- of the former and driven by two stepping motors -14- likewise driven by the mentioned tuners -4-. Likewise, a hooter -15- is envieaged, whose operating time shall be mentioned ed later.

For the operation of this device, a container -6- of the type desoribed, which shall obviously be full and closed, is introduced in each opening -5- o the discs -2-. Each timer -4- is regulated for a specific timetablo, bo(;)i being the same or different, for example, at 12 c'clook and with a 24 hour frequency, When the indionted time arrives, the respective timer -4- which may be of who known type, connects the motor -14- of the pinion -13- which, on being meched with the rim -7- of the sprrespondlng container -6a- impresses a complete turn on it, with which the cutter -11- located on the actual container -6a- cuts round its upper base -8-.The mentioned cut base -80- is automatically sent outside through the corresponding groove -12- of the cover -9-, and the respective container is fully open, Once the mentioned container is open, the respective timer -4- connects the motor -3- of the corresponding disc -2which advances one step, that is, a small turn equivalent to the angle existing between two iramediate containers -6-, which in the case of the example would be approximately 51 25'.

With all this, the opon container -6d- unmeshes from the pinion -13-, in situnted beneath the corresponding notch -10- and can be reached by the enimal in question. The name timer -4- then notivatenthe hooter -15- giving the mentioned animal a signal which the animal will soon identify as the prosence of one or two new containers -6d- (one of each group or diso) ready to be eaten.

At the same time, a new container will have been meshed with the pinion -13- and under the influence of the cutter -11- for another cycle to be repeated like that described 24 hours later (according to the mentioned example). And when thin new ayole is carried out, the container -6pwhich was assesnible before through the corresponding notch, shall be removed from the same and be hidden, whether the amimal had finished its contents or not, and thus the animal shall have frech food and/or drink in good condition every 24 hours (in accordance with the same example).

The dovice is completed with a preferably self-supported electric current supply, for example a battery -16- 90 as to ensure its functioning even in the event of a power failure, and with a switch -17- for connecting the actual device or for leaving it out of service.

In accordance with figures 3 and 4, the corresponding container for the described device consists, as has already been suggested, of a can or cup type body -6- which con tails n prepared food product, or simply water, to be takon by t)io animal, such an a dog or cat. Initially, the mentioned container -6- with the food or liquid inside in airlight and sealed on its upper base -8- and on it;n lower base it is fitted with a recess -18-.

Beside its upper base -8-, the same container -6- is fitted with peripheral toothing in the form of a crown gear -'7- wiiioii can mesh with the pinion -13- at a given point ifl time. This crown gear -7- protrudes as a rim from t)ie rest of--the body of the container -6-.

For its une, the mentioned container which is full, air tight and sealed, is put in a circular opening -5- in the plate -2- of the automatic food or liquid dispenser; the montioned rim made up of the crown gear -7- acts as an input stop within the mentioned opening -5-. With the turning. of the mentioned plate -2-, the actual con- tainer -6- is transferred towards the cutter -11- action zone, taking contact with its upper base -S-; at the same time, ttie mentioned crown gear -7- establishes con tact wit; ;)i the pinion -75- of the actual device which im prenney on it a rotating movement around the ehaft of the actual contalner -6- and the mentioned cutter -11- outs round the upper base -8-, with the mentioned container -6- being openod and its contents accessible to the animal in question.

The Rntno container -6- siiall have on its side the necessary insoriptions -19- for identifying its contents in the sector trade.

Claims (8)

1.- Automatic device for supplying food to animals, characterized essentially by the fact that it consists of a box or housing in which two food supplying sets for semisolids and liquids respectively are installed and whioh is oovered by a cover with an access notch for each set, with each one of the mentioned supplying sets including: a rotating disc, peripherically provided with a series of circular holes an equal distance apart, in which a reripective oontaiiier initially full and sealed can be introduced; organs for opening the full container situated immediately before the notch in the device covert means for transferring and making the mentioned full container, already opened, ooinoide underneath the mentioned notch so that it is accessible to the animal; a oonventional hooter for informing the animal each time a new full open container appears under that notch; and an adjustable timer of a known type for periodically activating the mentioned opening, transfer and advising organs.

2.- Devioe in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the organs for opening the full container located before the access notch consist of a. fixed cutter descending from the cover of the device and contacting with the upper base of the mentioned container, as well as a pinion which, in the mentioned position of the mentioned container, is meshed with the actual contained and which can be driven by an electric stepping motor which on being aotivated by the timer brings about its turn and that of the mentioned container, with which the cutter cuts round the upper base which ie turn is automatically expelled outside through a groove in the .oover of the device near the mentioned outter.

3." Device in accordance with the above claims, char acterized by the faot that the means for transferring the full, recently opened container and making it coincide underneath the notch in the cover, oonsist of an electric stepping motor linked to the cup-holding disc and which, on being aotivated following the opening of that container, impressed a small turn on the mentioned disc, positioning the repeated container beneath that notch.

4.- Devioe in accordance with the above claims, char acterized by the faot that each time the cup-holding disc makes the small turn, a new container comes into contact with the opening means the container which was in the mentioned means and which has already been opened, is positioned aooessibly beneath the notch and the one which was under the mentioned notch is removed and is onoe again hidden beneath the cover of the device.

5," Davice in accordance with the above claims, characterized by the fact that the mentioned timer, eleotric motore and hooter are supplied by a preferably self-supported eleotrio current supply, such as a battery.

6.- Oontainer for automatic food suppliers for animals, characterized essentially by the fact that, shaped as a cup cr can, full and initially sealed, the actual container is fitted with an annular rim adjacent to the edge of its upper base, which substantially protrudes beyond the reet of the body of the same container, this rim being provided with a peripherical toothing as a crown gear which can be meshed with the pinion of the mentioned dispenser, the upper base of the mentioned container being of a material which oan be cut by the cutter of the mentioned device, the container then being opened and its contents accessible to the animal in question.

7. An automatic device for supplying food to animals substantially ns described herein with reference to the drawings.

8. A container for use with the device claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or 7 and substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.