Abstract:
An automated animal feeder may have a pair of traditional pet bowls, one for food and one for water, and the water bowl may be physically lifted and dumped on a timed schedule as the water bowl may be mounted upon a hinged plate which swings up to empty the water bowl at programmed intervals controlled by a programmed logic controller, and the water bowl may be refilled whenever the weight of the bowl is light enough to indicate that the bowl is not full. Food may be metered by means of a portion control hopper located beneath the food supply hopper. The programmed logic controller (PLC) allows the timing of feeding and watering to be controlled by the user.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    N/A 
       INVENTOR 
       [0003]    Paul Ernest Jones 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention relates generally to pet care devices, and specifically to automated food and water stations. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 
       [0005]    This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Pet and animal owners are aware that feeding and providing water for pets during brief absences is always a concern. Placing pets into pet care facilities usually results in the pet coming home with a case of “kennel cough” or similar extremely contagious disease, leaving pets even with friends or family forces the pet into strange surroundings and so on. 
         [0007]    It would be advantageous to leave a pet or animal in its normal living space, however, the problem of food and water still remains. In attempting to solve this problem a number of automated pet feeders have been proposed 
         [0008]    These devices provide a pet a means of receiving nourishment on a regular basis but have the extreme disadvantage that they either do not actually remove stale water or else require some plumbing to be done to provide some sort of flow through system. If they do provide clean water, it tends to be arranged in a large trough unfamiliar to the animal. 
         [0009]    It would be advantageous to provide food and water on a regular automated basis, but to also allow the animal to use familiar feeding bowls, and at the same time to provide a means of cleaning out the familiar feeding bowls. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     General Summary 
       [0010]    The present invention teaches that an automated animal feeder may have a pair of traditional bowls, one for food and one for water, such as pets are already accustomed to eating from. The water bowl may be physically lifted and dumped so as to remove dirty water, debris, dead insects or the like, and this operation can be followed immediately by the provision of fresh water. The food bowl may be replenished as well. 
         [0011]    The water bowl may be mounted upon a hinged plate which swings up to empty the water bowl at programmed intervals controlled by a programmed logic controller, and in addition the water bowl may be refilled whenever the weight of the bowl is light enough to indicate that the bowl is not full. 
         [0012]    The food supply may be metered by means of a portion control hopper located beneath the food supply hopper. 
         [0013]    By means of the programmed logic controller (PLC) the timing of feeding and watering may be controlled by the user. 
       Summary in Reference to Claims 
       [0014]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide a pet care device comprising: 
         [0015]    a cabinet and disposed below the cabinet a base, the cabinet and the base having a gap therebetween, the base having a flat upper surface comprising a hinge plate and a fixed plate; 
         [0016]    a water bowl disposed upon and attached to the upper surface hinge plate portion by a plurality of spring loaded pins which urge the water bowl upward when the water bowl is empty; 
         [0017]    the hinge plate having at least one hinge attached to a first edge of the hinge plate, the hinge also attached to the base, the hinge plate being rotatable upon the hinge from a first position in which the water bowl rests upright upon the base to a second position in which the bowl is substantially perpendicular to the first position, 
         [0018]    the hinge plate having on the upper surface a first switch (N-C) disposed so that when the water bowl is empty, the switch is in a first position, but when the water bowl is not empty the switch is in a second position, 
         [0019]    the base having a second switch (N-O) disposed so that when the hinged plate is in the first position the switch is in a first position, but when the hinged plate is not in the first position, the switch is in a second position, 
         [0020]    the base having within itself an electrical motor, the electrical motor driving a threaded axle worm drive, the threaded axle worm drive having riding thereupon and in threaded mechanical engagement thereto a worm gear, the worm gear attached to an arm at a first end of the arm, the arm attached to the hinge plate, 
         [0021]    the worm gear having a first position upon the worm drive in which the arm is in a first position, whereby the hinged plate rests in the hinged plate&#39;s first position and the water bowl rests upright upon the base when the worm gear is in the worm gear&#39;s first position, 
         [0022]    the worm gear having a second position upon the worm drive in which the arm is in a second position, whereby the hinged plate is in the hinged plate&#39;s second position when the worm gear is in the worm gear&#39;s second position; 
         [0023]    a third switch (polarity) which has a first mode in which a current may pass through the switch in a first direction and having a second mode in which the current may pass through the switch in a second direction, the third switch being disposed in a position such that when the worm gear reaches the second position upon the worm drive, the worm gear activates the third switch to change mode, 
         [0024]    the current from the third switch passing through the electrical motor, whereby when the third switch changes polarity, the electrical motor changes a direction of rotation, whereby the worm gear changes a direction of motion upon the worm drive; 
         [0025]    a food dish attached to the fixed plate of the flat upper surface of the base; 
         [0026]    a food supply container having a sloping bottom having a food supply aperture therethrough, the food supply aperture having a food supply spring loaded door with open and closed positions, the spring loaded food supply door having a spring which urges the spring loaded food supply door into the closed position, a first solenoid operatively mechanically attached to the spring loaded food supply door to move it to the open position, 
         [0027]    a portion hopper disposed immediately beneath the food supply aperture and having a first condition characterized by being full of food so that such spring loaded food supply door is blocked; whereby when the first solenoid opens the spring loaded food supply door, food within the food supply container may fall into the portion hopper only until the portion hopper is full; 
         [0028]    the portion hopper also having a sloped bottom, the sloped bottom having a portion hopper aperture therethrough; the portion hopper aperture having a portion hopper spring loaded door with open and closed positions, the portion hopper spring loaded door having a spring which urges the portion hopper spring loaded door into the closed position, a second solenoid operatively mechanically attached to the portion hopper spring loaded door to move it to the open position, 
         [0029]    a food supply conduit with an upper end disposed beneath the portion hopper aperture and a lower end disposed directly above the food bowl and operative to convey food from the food supply aperture to the food bowl, 
         [0030]    a water supply container having water therein, the water supply container being attached to a water supply, the water supply container having a float and plug attached to a water supply arm at a first end of the water supply arm, the water supply arm having a second solenoid attached to a second end of the water supply arm, 
         [0031]    the water supply arm having a first position in which the plug blocks a water supply aperture and a second position in which the plug does not block the water supply aperture, the float operative to maintain the arm in the second position and the plug not blocking the water supply aperture only while a first quantity of water remains within the water supply container, 
         [0032]    a water supply conduit with an upper end disposed beneath the water supply aperture and a lower end disposed directly above the water bowl and operative to convey water from the water supply aperture to the water bowl. 
         [0033]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide an animal care device comprising: 
         [0034]    a cabinet and a base disposed below the cabinet, the cabinet and the base having a gap therebetween, the base having a flat upper surface comprising a hinge plate and a fixed plate; 
         [0035]    a water bowl disposed upon and attached to the upper surface hinge plate portion by a plurality of spring loaded pins which urge the water bowl upward when the water bowl is empty; 
         [0036]    the hinge plate having at least one hinge attached to a first edge of the hinge plate, the hinge also attached to the base, the hinge plate being rotatable upon the hinge from a first position in which the water bowl rests upright upon the base to a second position in which the bowl is substantially perpendicular to the first position, 
         [0037]    the hinge plate having on the upper surface a first switch (N-C) disposed so that when the water bowl is empty, the switch is in a first position, but when the water bowl is not empty the switch is in a second position, 
         [0038]    the base having a second switch (N-O) disposed so that when the hinged plate is in the first position the switch is in a first position, but when the hinged plate is not in the first position, the switch is in a second position, 
         [0039]    the base having within itself an electrical motor, the electrical motor driving a threaded axle worm drive, the threaded axle worm drive having riding thereupon and in threaded mechanical engagement thereto a worm gear, the worm gear attached to an arm at a first end of the arm, the arm attached to the hinge plate, 
         [0040]    the worm gear having a first position upon the worm drive in which the arm is in a first position, whereby the hinged plate rests in the hinged plate&#39;s first position and the water bowl rests upright upon the base when the worm gear is in the worm gear&#39;s first position, 
         [0041]    the worm gear having a second position upon the worm drive in which the arm is in a second position, whereby the hinged plate is in the hinged plate&#39;s second position when the worm gear is in the worm gear&#39;s second position; 
         [0042]    a third switch (polarity) which has a first mode in which a current may pass through the switch in a first direction and having a second mode in which the current may pass through the switch in a second direction, the third switch being disposed in a position such that when the worm gear reaches the second position upon the worm drive, the worm gear activates the third switch to change mode, 
         [0043]    the current from the third switch passing through the electrical motor, whereby when the third switch changes polarity, the electrical motor changes a direction of rotation, whereby the worm gear changes a direction of motion upon the worm drive; 
         [0044]    a food dish attached to the fixed plate of the flat upper surface of the base; 
         [0045]    a food supply container having a sloping bottom having a food supply aperture therethrough, the food supply aperture having a food supply spring loaded door with open and closed positions, the spring loaded food supply door having a spring which urges the spring loaded food supply door into the closed position, a first solenoid operatively mechanically attached to the spring loaded food supply door to move it to the open position, 
         [0046]    a portion hopper disposed immediately beneath the food supply aperture and having a first condition characterized by being full of food so that such spring loaded food supply door is blocked; whereby when the first solenoid opens the spring loaded food supply door, food within the food supply container may fall into the portion hopper only until the portion hopper is full; 
         [0047]    the portion hopper also having a sloped bottom, the sloped bottom having a portion hopper aperture therethrough; the portion hopper aperture having a portion hopper spring loaded door with open and closed positions, the portion hopper spring loaded door having a spring which urges the portion hopper spring loaded door into the closed position, a second solenoid operatively mechanically attached to the portion hopper spring loaded door to move it to the open position, 
         [0048]    a food supply conduit with an upper end disposed beneath the portion hopper aperture and a food supply conduit having a lower end disposed in the gap and directly above the food bowl and operative to convey food from the food supply aperture to the food bowl, 
         [0049]    a water supply container having water therein, the water supply container being attached to a water supply, the water supply container having a float and plug attached to a water supply arm at a first end of the water supply arm, the water supply arm having a second solenoid attached to a second end of the water supply arm, 
         [0050]    the water supply arm having a first position in which the plug blocks a water supply aperture and a second position in which the plug does not block the water supply aperture, the float operative to maintain the arm in the second position and the plug not blocking the water supply aperture only while a first quantity of water remains within the water supply container, 
         [0051]    a water supply conduit with an upper end disposed beneath the water supply aperture and a lower end disposed in the gap and directly above the water bowl and operative to convey water from the water supply aperture to the water bowl. 
         [0052]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an animal care device further comprising: 
         [0053]    a programmable logic controller in operative electrical communication with the first and second solenoids and switch one and two, the programmable logic controller using switch one to determine when the water bowl is empty and activate the electrical motor, whereby the worm drive, worm gear, arm, and hinged plate cooperate to cause the water bowl to rise into the second position and thus empty. 
         [0054]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an animal care device further wherein: 
         [0055]    the activation of switch  3 , reversing the direction of the worm gear upon the worm drive, returns the water bowl to the upright position; and further wherein 
         [0056]    the programmable logic controller, using switch one and two, is operative to determine that the bowl is upright but empty and activate the second solenoid; 
         [0057]    whereby fresh water is supplied to the water bowl. 
         [0058]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an animal care device further wherein; 
         [0059]    the programmable logic controller is operative at a plurality of predetermined times to activate solenoid one; 
         [0060]    whereby fresh food is supplied to the food bowl. 
         [0061]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a pet care device further comprising; 
         [0062]    a plurality of spring loaded pins supporting and urging upward the portion control hopper, 
         [0063]    a fourth switch attached to the portion control hopper, the fourth switch having a first position assumed when the portion control hopper is not full and a second position assumed when the portion control hopper is full; 
         [0064]    the fourth switch further being operatively connected to such programmable logic controller. 
         [0065]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a pet care device further comprising; 
         [0066]    a relay under the control of the third switch, the third switch changing polarity by activating the relay, the relay having first and second states, the first state allowing current to flow normally, the second state caused by activation of the third switch and causing the current to reverse direction until the current is removed, whereat the relay returns to the first state. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0067]      FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a simplified preferred embodiment of the invention showing the water and food dishes and one overall configuration. 
           [0068]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view also showing electronic control components of a water reservoir and delivery system of the invention. 
           [0069]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view also showing electronic control components of a food hopper and delivery system of the invention. 
           [0070]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a water dish with cleaning mechanism of the invention, showing in addition the electronic and electro-mechanical components of the system which maintain clean water in the water bowl. 
           [0071]      FIG. 5  is a table showing switches and logic conditions for the water bowl controls, in particular, the switch statuses which are necessary in order to achieve controlled flow of water. 
           [0072]      FIG. 6  is a table showing the switches and logic for the water bowl controls, in particular, the switch statuses which are necessary in order to achieve controlled dumping of water. 
       
    
    
     INDEX TO REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         Cabinet  50   
         Base  52   
         Support/backplate  54   
         Controls  56   
         Water tank access  58   
         Food supply door  60   
         Water conduit lower end  62   
         Food conduit lower end  64   
         Hinge  68   
         Hinge plate  70   
         Water bowl  72   
         Food bowl  74   
         Fixed plate  76   
         Fresh water supply  102   
         Water tank  104   
         First solenoid  106   
         Flapper valve  108   
         AND gate  110   
         First solenoid arm  112   
         Connector  114   
         Valve seat  116   
         Water conduit  118   
         Electrical connection
       from solenoid one to   AND gate  120     
     
         Electrical connections
       to water bowl   switches  122     
     
         Electrical connection
       to PLC  124     
     
         Float  126   
         Water supply valve  128   
         Second solenoid  204   
         Storage hopper  202   
         Fourth switch (NO)  206   
         First pivot  208   
         Mounting pin  210   
         Spring  212   
         Third solenoid  214   
         Spring loaded door  216   
         Mounting bracket  218   
         Portion hopper  220   
         Mounting bracket  222   
         Second pivot  224   
         Sloped food hopper bottom  226   
         Sloped portion h. bottom  228   
         Spring loaded portion door  230   
         Electrical connection from
       second solenoid to   Fourth switch  232     
     
         Electrical connection from
       second solenoid to   PLC  234     
     
         Electrical connections from
       PLC to both   water bowl switches  236     
     
         Food conduit  240   
         Hinge  304   
         Dumping plate  306   
         Base cover/plate  308   
         First switch (NC)  310   
         Second switch (NO)  312   
         Worm gear  314   
         Dump motor  316   
         Programmable Logic
       Controller (PLC)  318     
     
         Third switch (Polarity)  320   
         Fifth switch (End of Cycle)  321   
         Spring loaded pins  322   
         Relay  323   
         Worm drive  324   
         Stop  326   
         Return Stop  327   
         Electrical connection
       from AND gate   to solenoid 1  328     
     
         Electrical connection from
       motor to PLC  330     
     
         Electrical connection from
       third switch to motor  332     
     
         Electrical connection from
       second switch to   PLC  334     
     
         Arm  338   
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0157]      FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a simplified preferred embodiment of invention showing the water and food dishes and one overall configuration. Cabinet  50  is shown as a fairly conventional rectangular configuration but can be any desirable shape or omitted entirely. Base  52  is disposed beneath cabinet  50  and attached thereto by means of support/backplate  54 , however, the relationship of the two is defined by the gap therebetween, not necessarily by the means of connection. For example, the base  52  might rest up on the ground while the cabinet  50  may be attached to a wall, without any supporting connection between the two portions. 
         [0158]    In general, the gap between the two parts is of sufficient size so that the water bowl  72  may swing up along with hinge plate  70  to a substantially vertical orientation in which the bowl will empty itself. For example, in this  FIG. 1  the cabinet is narrow enough so that the bowl may pass partially in front of the cabinet, but in other configurations the gap may be wider than the bowl&#39;s height when on edge. 
         [0159]    Controls  56  allow the user to program the times of feeding and dumping of the water bowl. 
         [0160]    Water tank access  58  is provided both to allow access to the water tank equipment within the cabinet and also to allow a user to manually fill the water tank when the water supply  102  is not used, or in embodiments which have no water supply  102 . In general, water supply  102  may simply be a nipple or the end of a tube, or it may be threaded as shown with a normal male connector or threaded with a normal female connector (thus allowing attachment to a garden hose), or other configurations. 
         [0161]    Food supply door  60  allows access to the food supply within cabinet  50  so the user may fill the food supply. 
         [0162]    Water conduit lower end  62  is depicted projecting from the lower side of cabinet  50 , as is, food conduit lower end  64  however in embodiments these may project from the front face of the cabinet, may be connected to the bowl, etc. 
         [0163]    Hinge  68  allows hinge plate  70  to raise up, thus carrying water bowl  72  to the vertical orientation previously mentioned. It will be appreciated that the water bowl  72  has a first position, normally upright, for holding food, when the hinge plate  70  is flat to the base  52 . Water bowl  72  also has a partially vertical or perpendicular position, which may be past vertical, prior to vertical, etc, in which the bowl  72  does not hold water. 
         [0164]    Food bowl  74  may in embodiments be arranged in a manner similar to water bowl  72 , however, in the preferred embodiment it is fixed on fixed plate  76  of base  52  and does not rotate. 
         [0165]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view also showing electronic control components of a water reservoir and delivery system of the invention. In the preferred embodiments, fresh water supply  102  feeds water tank  104  by means of water supply valve  128 . Water supply valve  128  provides water to the tank  104  when the water level in the tank is reduced, for example by means of float  126  which operates the water supply valve  128 . In a first position, the float actuates the valve to open allowing water in: this would correspond to a reduced water level due to the tank having supplied/supplying water. In a second position, the float closes the valve, this would correspond to the water level being at the desirable level. 
         [0166]    First solenoid  106  controls flapper valve  108  by means of first solenoid arm  112 , which has connector  114  attached to flapper valve  108 . Normally flapper valve  108  sits in valve seat  116 , but when pulled upward by an activation of first solenoid  106 , the flapper valve opens and water pressure or other design of the valve allow it to remain open until the water level has dropped substantially, which occurs as water pressure forces the water in the tank through valve seat  116  (at the upper end of the conduit) and into water conduit  118  to finally pass through the lower end of the conduit  62  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0167]    Electronic control of this water supply mechanism consists of AND gate  110  (op-amp) which has an operative electrical connection to solenoid one  120  and another pair of operative electrical connections from water bowl switches (connection  122 , switches seen in later diagram). Finally, there is also an operative electrical connection to the programmable logic controller (PLC/PLI)  124 . 
         [0168]    In use, water is delivered when the two water bowl switches indicate that the bowl is in the normal upright position but light enough (in a raised position) to indicate that it is not full of water. 
         [0169]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view also showing electronic control components of a food hopper and delivery system of the invention. 
         [0170]    Second solenoid  204  is disposed close to, or attached on the side of, storage hopper  202  which holds food for the animal. First pivot  208  is of a triangular configuration, with three pivot points, one attached to the fulcrum (shown as the food supply in this case), another on the arm to solenoid  204  and a third pivot point on the arm going toward spring loaded door  216 . 
         [0171]    Beneath spring loaded door  216 , which is normally held closed by its spring-loading despite the weight of food in the food supply hopper, there is disposed portion hopper  220 . At least one mounting pin  210  having spring  212  supports the mounting bracket  222  of portion hopper  220 . In the preferred embodiments, spring  212  urges the portion hopper into an upward position when empty and allows it to compress spring  212  and go lower when food is therein. Fourth switch  206  (Normally Open or NO) has two positions, one attained when the portion hopper is raised and one when the portion hopper is lowered, as mounting brackets  218  and  222  (or other fixed parts of the mechanism) may cooperate to operate the fourth switch  206 . 
         [0172]    When the portion hopper has food therein fourth switch  206  is open, with no signal, and a third solenoid  214  may open spring loaded door  230  in a manner similar to the action of solenoid  204  and door  216 , again by means of a three sided pivot  224 . Note that at most times food in the portion hopper  220  will keep it lowered (SW 4  open) and awaiting a signal from PLC  318  to solenoid  214  to dispense the food. 
         [0173]    Mounting bracket  218  is the fixed connection for pins  210 . Sloped food hopper bottom  226 , and sloped portion hopper bottom  228  allow food to roll comfortably downward through the respective spring-loaded doors. 
         [0174]    Electrical connection from second solenoid to fourth switch  232  allows the switch  206  to control the solenoid  204 , in particular, the switch will cause the solenoid to cease opening the door  216  when the portion hopper is full. 
         [0175]    In alternative embodiments, the portion hopper may simply become full and prevent further food from entering via door  216 . 
         [0176]    PLC  318  may be seen. It may control operation of the device, for example, causing feeding to occur at programmed times, and causing emptying of the water bowl to occur at preprogrammed times. It may also cause feeding or watering “on demand” if the user activates one of controls  56  to do so, or if the animal has been trained to do so. 
         [0177]    Electrical connection  234  from second solenoid to PLC  318  allows the PLC to begin operating the solenoid (feed the animal) at programmed times. 
         [0178]    Electrical connections  236  from PLC  318  to both water bowl switches allow the PLC to monitor the state of the bowl: upright, tilted, full, not full, empty, etc. 
         [0179]    Food conduit  240  has its upper end disposed beneath the portion hopper spring loaded door  230  and its lower end  64  disposed above the food bowl  74 . 
         [0180]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a water dish with cleaning mechanism of the invention, showing in addition the electronic and electro-mechanical components of the system which maintain clean water in the water bowl. Hinge  304  allows dumping plate  306  to lift off of base cover/plate  308  and thus up-end the water bowl  72 , emptying it while it is tilted. 
         [0181]    First switch (NC)  310  measures the status of the water in the bowl: when the bowl is full, the switch  310  will be in a first position but when the bowl is not full, the switch  310  will be in a second position. Similarly, second switch (NO)  312  monitors the hinge plate  306 , thus when the hinge plate  306  is tilted upward, the second switch will over-ride the first switches indication that the bowl is seemingly empty. 
         [0182]    Worm gear  314  rides upon worm drive  324  and is thus propelled along the drive by the direction of rotation of dump motor  316 . Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)  318  may thus set dump motor  316  into operation at a given time, causing the worm gear  314  to move toward the far distal end of the worm drive  324 , which pushes arm  336 , attached to hinge plate  316  (and not to cover plate  308 ). Arm  336  then lifts hinge plate  316 . However, when worm gear  314  activates polarity switch (third switch)  320  mounted upon stop  326  at which third switch  320  signals relay  323  to reverse the current flow to motor  316 , causing the motor to reverse direction, worm gear  314  to retreat back toward motor  316  and the hinge plate  316  to return to the horizontal position. Relay  323  has first and second states: in the first (normal) state current flows so as to drive worm gear  314  toward stop  326  and dump the bowl  72 , while in the second state current flows so as to drive worm gear  314  toward return stop  327 . At the end of the travel of worm gear  314 , it will close switch  321 , signaling the end of the cycle, the termination of current will deactivate relay  323 , and thus at the beginning of the next cycle current will once again flow so as to dump out the bowl  72 . 
         [0183]    Spring loaded pins  322  urge the bowl  72  upward when it is not full or optionally when it is empty, but allow it to drop and alter the position of switch  310  when it is full or optionally, when it is not empty. 
         [0184]    Electrical connection from AND gate to solenoid one  328 , electrical connection from motor to PLC  330 , electrical connection from third switch to motor  332  and electrical connection from second switch to PLC  334  allow the PLC and switches to control operation of the hinge plate/dump motor/etc. 
         [0185]      FIG. 5  is a table showing switches and logic conditions for the water bowl controls, in particular, the switch statuses which are necessary in order to achieve controlled flow of water. 
         [0186]      FIG. 6  is a table showing the switches and logic for the water bowl controls, in particular, the switch statuses which are necessary in order to achieve controlled dumping of water. 
         [0187]    The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims.