Feeding apparatus and discharging adjustment structure thereof

A feeding apparatus includes a storage chamber, an ejection channel and a discharging adjustment structure. The storage chamber has a discharging hole. The ejection channel communicates with the storage chamber through the discharging hole. The discharging adjustment structure is disposed in the storage chamber and includes a fixing member and a baffle. The fixing member is disposed on a side wall of the storage chamber and is adjacent to the discharging hole. The baffle is movably disposed on the fixing member, and one end of the baffle is adjacent to the discharging hole.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to feeding apparatus and, more particularly, to a discharging adjustment structure of the feeding apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

More and more families or individuals keep pets, but a busy life makes it difficult for the pet keepers to feed their pets regularly. In order to solve the problem of the pet keepers being unable to feed their pets when they are outside the home, an automatic feeding apparatus is available on the market. The pet keeper can put the pet food into a storage chamber of the feeding apparatus directly; then this kind of feeding apparatus can provide a meal of pet food at a predetermined time. In addition to the daily two or three meals, the pet keepers often reward pets by giving them pet food or snacks. Therefore, another automatic feeding apparatus capable of flinging pet food toward a pet is commercially available, and this kind of feeding apparatus enhances the interaction between the pet and pet keeper.

This type of automatic feeding apparatus (i.e., feeding a pet by flinging food) has a complicated ejection mechanism, and it only flings a small amount of pet food to prevent the pet food from becoming stuck in the automatic feeding apparatus and preventing normal operation. This type of automatic feeding apparatus mainly comprises a storage chamber, a push rod, an ejection channel and an ejection mechanism. The push rod is disposed in the storage chamber. The storage chamber has a discharging hole, and the storage chamber communicates with the ejection channel through the discharging hole. First, the pet keeper can put a certain amount of pet food into the storage chamber. When an ejection function is activated, a small amount of pet food can be pushed to the discharging hole by the push rod and enters the ejection channel through the discharging hole. Then the small amount of pet food in the ejection channel can be ejected to the outside of the automatic feeding apparatus by the ejection mechanism, thereby achieving the effect of feeding the pet by flinging food.

However, the size of the discharging hole is constant, so the amount of the pet food entering the ejection channel cannot be adjusted. Therefore, this type of automatic feeding apparatus cannot achieve the function of reducing the amount of pet food in an ejection. Furthermore, the sizes of the grains or pellets of pet food of different brands or types may be different, so pet food of different brands or types may easily become lodged in the automatic feeding apparatus. The size of the discharging hole of the conventional automatic feeding apparatus cannot be adjusted according to the grain size of the pet food. Therefore, the prior art still has room for improvement.

SUMMARY

In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a feeding apparatus which comprises a discharging adjustment structure to overcoming drawbacks of the prior art, namely, that the discharging hole of the conventional feeding apparatus cannot be adjusted.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the present disclosure provides a feeding apparatus, which comprises a storage chamber, an ejection channel and a discharging adjustment structure. The storage chamber has a discharging hole. The ejection channel communicates with the storage chamber through the discharging hole. The discharging adjustment structure is disposed in the storage chamber and comprises a fixing member and a baffle. The fixing member is disposed on a side wall of the storage chamber and is adjacent to the discharging hole. The baffle is movably disposed on the fixing member, and an end of the baffle is adjacent to the discharging hole.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the present disclosure further provides a discharging adjustment structure, which is applied to a feeding apparatus. The feeding apparatus comprises a storage chamber and an ejection channel, and the storage chamber has a discharging hole that communicates with the ejection channel. The discharging adjustment structure comprises a fixing member and a baffle. The fixing member is disposed on a side wall of the storage chamber and is adjacent to the discharging hole. The baffle is movably disposed on the fixing member, and an end of the baffle is adjacent to the discharging hole.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the baffle moves relative to the fixing member, the baffle adjusts the size of the discharging hole.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixing member has a convex portion, and the baffle has a groove. The baffle is sleeved on the convex portion of the fixing member with the groove.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the discharging adjustment structure further comprises an anti-slip member, which is disposed between the fixing member and the baffle.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the anti-slip member is disposed on an outer surface of the fixing member, and the anti-slip member contacts an inner surface of the baffle.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixing member has at least one first positioning portion, and the baffle has at least one second positioning portion. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are concave and convex structures and engage with each other.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixing member has at least one rib, and the baffle has at least one convex portion. The rib and the convex portion press against each other.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle is divided into a first area and a second area, the first area being away from the discharging hole and the second area being adjacent to the discharging hole.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hardness of the first area is greater than the hardness of the second area.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle comprises at least one stress weakening structure, which is disposed on the second area.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle comprises a curved opening, which is located at the end of the baffle adjacent to the discharging hole.

As above, according to the feeding apparatus and its discharging adjustment structure of the present disclosure, the discharging adjustment structure includes a fixing member and a baffle. The fixing member is adjacent to the discharging hole, and the baffle is movably disposed on the fixing member. Thereby, the baffle is able to move relative to the fixing member and control the area of the discharging hole that the material passes through. Therefore, the feeding apparatus and its discharging adjustment structure of the present disclosure can be applied to material in pellet or other granular forms (i.e., pet food) of different sizes and meet the requirement of reducing the amount of pet food in an ejection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the structure and characteristics as well as the effectiveness of the present disclosure to be further understood and recognized, detailed description of the present disclosure is provided as follows along with embodiments and accompanying figures.

FIG.1illustrates a perspective view of a feeding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;FIG.2illustrates a cutaway view along line A-A of the feeding apparatus shown inFIG.1; andFIG.3illustrates a cutaway view along line B-B of the feeding apparatus shown inFIG.1. Referring toFIG.1,FIG.2andFIG.3, in this embodiment, a feeding apparatus1is applied to an automatic feeding apparatus for flinging pet food toward a pet to be fed to achieve the effect of feeding and interacting with a pet at the same time. In this embodiment, the pet food or a pet snack is hereinafter referred to as the material. In another embodiment, the material is a toy that the pet plays with. A user (pet keeper) can put the feeding apparatus1in a living room, a pet playroom or the like. The feeding apparatus1may be set to discharge pet food regularly or be controlled remotely.

The feeding apparatus1comprises a storage chamber10, an ejection channel20, a discharging adjustment structure30and a push rod40. The storage chamber10is used for accommodating the material (such as pet food), and the push rod40is disposed on the bottom side of the storage chamber10. The storage chamber10has a discharging hole11, which is located between the storage chamber10and the ejection channel20. In other words, the ejection channel20communicates with the storage chamber10through the discharging hole11. When the user (pet keeper) activates an ejection function, a motor (not shown in FIG.) moves the push rod40toward the storage chamber10. Further, when the push rod40moves toward the discharging hole11, a portion of material in the storage chamber10may be pushed to the discharging hole11, and the portion of material may drop into the ejection channel20through the discharging hole11. It should be noted that an ejection mechanism (not shown in FIG.) is disposed on the bottom side of the ejection channel20, and the ejection mechanism is used to eject the material in the ejection channel20to the outside of the feeding apparatus1to achieve the effect of feeding pets by flinging food.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.3, the discharging adjustment structure30is disposed in the storage chamber10, and the discharging adjustment structure30comprises a fixing member31and a baffle32. The fixing member31is disposed on a side wall12of the storage chamber10and adjacent to the discharging hole11. In this embodiment, the fixing member31is disposed on the inner side wall storage chamber10. In another embodiment, the fixing member31may be disposed on the outer side wall of the storage chamber10and only needs to be adjacent to the discharging hole11; however, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Further, the baffle32is movably disposed on the fixing member31such that an end of the baffle32is adjacent to the discharging hole11. Therefore, the baffle32is able to adjust the area of the discharging hole11that the material passes through (as shown inFIG.5AandFIG.5B) by moving relative to the discharging hole11.

FIG.4illustrates an enlarged view of a discharging adjustment structure as shown inFIG.3after assembly. Referring toFIG.3andFIG.4, the fixing member31and the baffle32are connected by a concave-convex structure such that the baffle32is able to be disposed on the fixing member31and move relative to the fixing member31. In this embodiment, the two opposite sides of the fixing member31each have a convex portion311, respectively. Correspondingly, the two opposite sides of the baffle32each have a groove321, respectively. The baffle32sleeves on the convex portion311of the fixing member31by the groove321. In other words, the groove321sleeves on the convex portion311such that the baffle32can move relative to the fixing member31. Specifically, the convex portions311are located on the right and left sides of the fixing member31and the grooves321are located on the right and left sides of the baffle32such that the baffle32is able to move upward or downward relative to the fixing member31.

FIG.5AandFIG.5Billustrate a schematic view of the movement of the discharging adjustment structure shown inFIG.3. Referring toFIG.5AandFIG.5B, when the user (pet keeper) puts the material (pet food) into the storage chamber10, the user can also adjust the position of the baffle32to adjust the area of the discharging hole11that the material passes through. For example, if the average grain size of a granular material (pet food) is smaller or the amount of food needs to be reduced, the user can push down the baffle32(as shown inFIG.5B) such that one end of the baffle32covers a portion of the discharging hole11to reduce the area of the discharging hole11that the material passes through. In contrast, if the average grain size of the granular material (pet food) is larger, the user can pull up the baffle32(as shown inFIG.5A) to increase the area of the discharging hole11that the material passes through.

Referring toFIG.3andFIG.4, preferably, the discharging adjustment structure30further comprises an anti-slip member33, and the anti-slip member33is disposed between the fixing member31and the baffle32. The anti-slip member33may be, but is not limited to, a rubber material, which can achieve the effect of fixing the relative position of the baffle32and the fixing member31. Further, the rubber material can also function as a damper with great effect such that the baffle32can move to any position smoothly without a step difference and be fixed in that position.

Specifically, the anti-slip member33is disposed on an outer surface312of the fixing member31, and the anti-slip member33contacts an inner surface322of the baffle32. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the side surface of the fixing member31that is not connected to the storage chamber10is called the outer surface312, and the side surface of the baffle32that is adjacent to the fixing member31is called the inner surface322. Referring toFIG.4, preferably, the inner surface322of the baffle32has a convex portion323that presses against the anti-slip member33. It should be noted that the anti-slip member33directly contacts the inner surface322of the baffle32to achieve the same positioning effect.

In another embodiment, the anti-slip member33may also be disposed on the inner surface322of the baffle32and contacts the outer surface312of the fixing member31, and it can also achieve the positioning effect aforementioned. In another embodiment, the fixing member31can also comprise at least one first positioning portion, and the baffle32comprises at least one second positioning portion, correspondingly. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are able to engage with each other. For example, the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are concave-convex structures. Specifically, the outer surface312of fixing member31may have a plurality of grooves (as the first positioning portions), and the inner surface322of the baffle32has a contact spring (as the second positioning portion). The contact spring (second positioning portion) moves in a compressed state. When the contact spring (second positioning portion) moves to the groove (first positioning portion), the contact spring (second positioning portion) pops up and into the groove (first positioning portion) to achieve the effect of multi-stage positioning. It should be noted that the anti-slip member33, the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion can be configured according to variable design requirements, and that both can achieve the positioning effect.

Preferably, the fixing member31has at least one rib313, the baffle32correspondingly has at least one convex portion324, and the rib313and the convex portion324press against each other. In this embodiment, the rib313is located on the outer surface312of the fixing member31, and the convex portion324is located on the inner surface322of the baffle32. One end of the convex portion324presses against the rib313to reduce the gap between the fixing member31and the baffle32such that the baffle32and the fixing member31are prevented from shaking when the baffle32is moving.

The baffle32may be divided to a first area325and a second area326. The first area325is away from the discharging hole11, and the second area326is adjacent to the discharging hole11. TakingFIG.5AandFIG.5Bas an example, the first area325is located on an upper area of the baffle32, which is the area constantly connected to the fixing member31. In other words, when the baffle32is pressed down, the first area325still has a structure (i.e. the groove321) connecting the fixing member31. The area of the baffle32outside the first area325is called the second area326, so the second area326is adjacent to the discharging hole11.

Preferably, the hardness of the first area325is greater than the hardness of the second area326. Specifically, the baffle32may be formed by double injection molding (also known as two-component injection molding). The first area325is a hard plastic member, such as polycarbonate (PC), and the second area326is a soft member, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). With the first area325being a hard material, the baffle32and the fixing member31may be firmly connected, and the baffle32may stably move relative to the fixing member31. The second area326is the soft member to prevent the material (pet food) from being damaged by the baffle32.

Preferably, the baffle32further comprises at least one stress weakening structure327, which may be preferably disposed on the second area326. The stress weakening structure327may be, but is not limited to, a recess or a through groove. The stress weakening structure327is able to weaken the structure in the second area326to achieve a better effect of preventing the material from being damaged.

Preferably, the baffle32further comprises a curved opening328, which is located at the end of the baffle32adjacent to the discharging hole11. In other words, a bottom edge of the baffle32is the curved opening328. Generally, the discharging hole11is a circular opening, and the shape of the curved opening328corresponds to the shape of the discharging hole11such that the push rod40can more easily push the material into the ejection channel20.

The present disclosure further comprises a discharging adjustment structure, which is applied in the feeding apparatus. The feeding apparatus comprises a storage chamber and an ejection channel. The storage chamber has a discharging hole that communicates with the ejection channel. The discharging adjustment structure comprises a fixing member and a baffle. The fixing member is disposed on a side wall of the storage chamber and is adjacent to the discharging hole. The baffle is moveably disposed on the fixing member, and one end of the baffle is adjacent to the discharging hole. The other details of the discharging adjustment structure are the same as those described in the aforementioned embodiment and thus will not be described in detail herein.

As above, according to the feeding apparatus and the discharging adjustment structure of the present disclosure, the discharging adjustment structure includes a fixing member and a baffle. The fixing member is adjacent to the discharging hole, and the baffle is movably disposed on the fixing member. Thereby, the baffle is able to move relative to the fixing member and control the area of the discharging hole that the material passes through. Therefore, the feeding apparatus and its discharging adjustment structure of the present disclosure can be applied to a material (i.e., pet food) having grains of different sizes and meet the requirement of reducing the amount of pet food in an ejection.

It should be noted that the described embodiments are only for illustrative and exemplary purposes and that various changes and modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the application as disposed by the appended claims.