Patent Publication Number: US-2023157258-A1

Title: Pet feeder

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to pet supplies technical field, more particularly, relates to a kind of pet feeder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As living standards improve, more and more families keep their pets. When people go work or leave home and can not feed their pets on time, they usually put grain in grain basins before they leave so that the pets can eat by themselves. But this may lead the pets to eat irregularly, resulting in pet indigestion and unnecessary feeding burden to the owner. Using the pet feeders, the owners can feed the pets regularly and quantitatively when the they are not at home. 
     However, the pet feeder in the prior art has the below deficiencies: the outlet of the pet feeder is not strictly closed so that the pets can open it easily to eat the grain in the pet feeder and the other animals such as roaches can enter the pet feeder from the outlet to eat pet food, resulting in waste and pollution of grain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a pet feeder to solve the deficiencies that the outlet of the pet feeder is not strictly closed so that the animals such as roaches can easily enter the pet feeder from the outlet to eat grain in it, resulting in waste and pollution of the grain. 
     In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a pet feeder, which includes a grain storage mechanism and a grain releasing mechanism. The grain storage mechanism is used for storing grain and provided with an outlet, the grain releasing mechanism is mounted on the grain storage mechanism and closed to the outlet. The grain releasing mechanism can deliver the grain in the grain storage mechanism to the outlet and close the outlet after the grain flows out from the outlet. 
     Optionally, the grain storage mechanism includes a bottom shell, the bottom shell is provide with a mounting housing, the outlet is provided on an outer wall of the bottom shell and is communicated with the mounting housing. The grain releasing mechanism includes a rotary disc and a driving assemble. The rotary disc is rotatably mounted in the mounting housing, the the rotary disc is provided with at least a grain tank and a block. The driving assemble is connected with the rotary disc and drives it to rotate. When the grain is released, the grain tank delivers the grain to the outlet, when the outlet is closed, the block moves to the outlet and closes it. 
     Optionally, the rotary disc is provided with at least a plurality of the blocks, the grain tank is formed between adjacent two of the blocks. 
     Optionally, an central of the rotary disc is provided with a connecting shaft, rotatably connected to the bottom shell. The driving assemble is connected with the connecting shaft and drives it to rotate. 
     Optionally, the grain storage mechanism includes a grain storage bucket with a grain cavity, the lower part of the grain storage bucket is provided with a connecting shell covering on the bottom shell. The interior of the connecting shell is provided with an inlet communicated with the grain cavity and the mounting housing. 
     Optionally, the interior of the connecting shell is provided with a scratching piece above the rotary disc, the bottom of the scratching piece is close to the rotary disc, the scratching piece separates the interior of the connecting shell into an anterior cavity and a posterior cavity. The inlet lies at the posterior cavity, the outlet lies at a side of the anterior cavity. When the rotary disc rotates, the scratching piece blocks the grain beyond the grain tank. 
     Optionally, the grain tank passes through the rotary disc. The outlet includes a first outlet and a second outlet arranged respectively on a side wall and a bottom wall of the bottom shell. The first outlet is connected with the second outlet and both are corresponding to the grain tank. 
     Optionally, the side wall of the rotary disc is provided with arc convex bars closed to an inner wall of the mounting housing. 
     Optionally, the pet feeder also includes an outer shell. The grain storage mechanism and the grain releasing mechanism both are arranged in the outer shell. The outer shell is provided with an inclined downward channel, an upper end of the channel is connected with the outlet, a lower end of the channel extends out the outer shell. 
     Optionally, the pet feeder also includes a plate for receiving the grain flowing out from the outlet. 
     Compared with the prior art, one or more or more of the above pet feeders provided in embodiments of the present invention have at least one of the following technical effects: 
     In releasing the grain, the grain releasing mechanism can deliver the grain in the grain storage mechanism to the outlet, then the grain flows out of the outlet for the pet eating. After the grain flows out, the grain releasing mechanism can close the outlet strictly so that the other animals such as roaches can not enter the grain storage mechanism from the outlet, thereby protecting the gain in the rain storage mechanism from waste and pollution. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to more clearly illustrate the technical schemes in the embodiments in the present invention, the drawings needed in the embodiments or the prior technical description are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments in the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, additional drawings may be obtained according to the drawings below without creative work. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the pet feeder according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an insection view of the pet feeder according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is an insection view of a part of the pet feeder according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a part perspective view of the pet feeder according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a decomposition view of the pet feeder according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     In order to make the invention purpose, the technical scheme and the technical effect more clearly be understood, the invention is further explained in combination with the concrete embodiment below. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to interpret the invention and are not used to limit the invention. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the attached drawings, in which the same or similar labels represent the same or similar elements or elements with the same or similar function. The embodiments described below by reference to the attached drawings are exemplary and are intended to explain embodiments of the present invention and cannot be understood as limits in the present invention. 
     In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the directional indications involved in the embodiments, such as the “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “rear”, “internal” and “external”, indicating orientation or location relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship showed in the figures. These directional indications are only for describing the embodiments in the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or the element must be constructed and operated in a specified azimuth, which cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention. 
     Further, the terms “first”, and “second” are used only for description purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining “first” and “second” may expressly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, the “plurality of” means two or more unless otherwise specifically limits. 
     In the embodiments of the invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms, “installed”, “connected”, “or” fixed should be generally understood, for example, a fixed connection, or a removable connection, a mechanical connection or an electrical connection, or an directly connection or an indirectly connection through an intermediate media, or a connection within two elements or the interaction of two elements. For those of ordinary skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiment of the present invention may be understood under specific circumstances. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  3   , in one embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  1 - 5   , a pet feeder includes a grain storage mechanism  100  and a grain releasing mechanism  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , the grain storage mechanism  100  is used for storing grain and provided with an outlet  110 . The grain releasing mechanism  200  is mounted on the grain storage mechanism  100  at a position closed to the outlet  110 . The grain releasing mechanism  200  can deliver the grain in the grain storage mechanism  100  to the outlet  110  and close the outlet  110  after the grain flows out from the outlet  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , in releasing the grain, the grain releasing mechanism  200  can deliver the grain in the grain storage mechanism  100  to the outlet  110 , then the grain flows out of the outlet  110  for the pet eating. After the grain flows out, the grain releasing mechanism  200  can close the outlet  110  strictly so that the other animals such as roaches can not enter the grain storage mechanism  100  from the outlet  110 , thereby protecting the gain in the rain storage mechanism  100  from waste and pollution. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the grain storage mechanism  100  includes a bottom shell  120 . The bottom shell  120  is provided with a mounting housing  121 , the outlet  110  is provided on the bottom shell  120  and is communicated with the mounting housing  121 . The mounting housing  121  is in a cylindrical shape. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the grain releasing mechanism  200  includes a rotary disc  210  and a driving assemble  240 . The rotary disc  210  is contained in the mounting housing  121  and is rotatably mounted in it, the rotary disc  210  is provided with at least a grain tank  211  and at least a block  212 . The driving assemble  240  is connected with the rotary disc  210  and drives it to rotate. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , when releasing the grain, the grain in the gain storage mechanism  100  is delivered to the grain tank  211 , the driving assemble  240  drives the rotary disc  210  to rotate so that the grain tank  211  delivers the grain to the outlet  110 . Then the grain flows out from the outlet  100  for the pet to eat. When closing the outlet  110 , the driving assemble  240  drives the rotary disc  210  to rotate so that the block  212  moves to the outlet  110  and closes it. The pets can not move the block  212 , the outlet  110  is closed strictly and the gain can not flow out. At the same time, the other animals such as the roaches can not enter the gain storage mechanism  100  from the outlet  10 , thereby protecting the grain in the grain storage mechanism  100 . 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the rotary disc  210  is provided with a plurality of the blocks  212 , the grain tank  211  is formed between adjacent two of the blocks  212 . The rotary disc  210  is roughly in a fan shape. Specifically, the number of the block  212  is three, correspondingly, the number of the grain tank  211  is three. 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the centre of the rotary disc  210  is provided with a connecting shaft  230 , rotatably connected to the bottom shell  120  so that the rotary disc  210  is rotatably mounted in the mounting housing  121  and stably rotates. The driving assemble  240  is connected with the connecting shaft  230  and drives it to rotate, thereby rotating the rotary disc  210 . The rotary disc  210  has a simple structure and can rotate stably. 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the rotary disc  210  can fixed on the connecting shaft  230  by screw connection, bonding connection and the like. 
     Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the driving assemble  240  is gear motor, a shaft of the gear motor is fixed with the connecting shaft  230 , the gear motor drives the connecting shaft  230  to rotate. In some other embodiments, the driving assemble  240  includes a motor and a gear  220  sleeved at the lower end of the connecting shaft  230 . A shaft of the motor is provided with a first gear meshed with the gear  220 . The motor drives the connecting shaft  230  to rotate by the first gear and the gear  220 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the grain storage mechanism  100  includes a grain storage bucket  130  with a grain cavity  131 . The grain is stored in the grain cavity  131 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the lower part of the grain storage bucket  130  is provided with a connecting shell  140 , the mounting housing  121  is formed an inlet at its upper end. The connecting shell  140  covers on the bottom shell  120 , and the connecting shell  140  is communicated with the mounting housing  121 . 
     Further, the connecting shell  140  can be connected with the bottom shell  120  by screw connection, bonding connection and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the interior of the connecting shell is provided with an inlet  141  communicated with the grain cavity  131  and the mounting housing  121 . The grain in the grain cavity  131  is delivered through the inlet  141  to the grain tank  211  in the mounting housing  121  under the gravity. Then the rotary disc  210  is rotated, and the grain in the grain tank  211  is delivered to the outlet  110 . 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the bottom centre of the mounting housing  121  is provided with a first mounting hole  122 . The top centre of the the connecting shell  140  is provided with a second mounting hole  142 . The two end of the connecting shaft  230  are connected rotatably with the first mounting hole  141  and the second mounting hole  142 . The installation of the connecting shaft is stable. 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the top of the connecting shaft  230  is provided with a cover  231 , larger than the second mounting hole  142 , acting as a limit to prevent the connecting shaft  230  from taking off from the second mounting hole  142 . 
     Wherein, the driving assemble  240  is connected to the lower end of the connecting shaft  230  and drives it to rotate. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the interior of the connecting shell  140  is provided with a scratching piece  143  above the rotary disc  210 , the bottom of the scratching piece  143  is close to the rotary disc  210 . The scratching, piece  143  separates the interior of the connecting shell into an anterior cavity  140   a  and a posterior cavity  140   b.  The inlet  141  lies at the posterior cavity  140   b,  the outlet  110  lies at a side of the anterior cavity  140   a.  When the rotary disc  210  rotates and the grain passes the scratching piece  143 , the scratching piece  143  blocks the grain beyond the grain tanks  211  so that the grain delivered through the grain tank  211  to the outlet  110  is just the capacity of one of the grain tanks  211 , that is to say each time the amount of the grain output from the outlet  110  is the capacity of one grain tank  211 , thereby realizing the quantitative delivery of the grain, which avoids the phenomenon of uneven amount of pet grain. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the scratching piece  143  includes multiple scraping strips  143   a  arranged in a line and formed in a comb shape. The gaps between adjacent two scraping strips  143   a  are less than the size of the grain so as to avoid the grain passes the gaps. The scratching piece  143  is set in a comb shape, when the scratching piece  143  blocks the grain, it also can guide the grain to be arranged orderly, so that it is not easy to jam. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the top of the scraping piece  143  extends a mounting plate  143   b  fixed with the connecting shell  140  by screws, it is easy to install. Wherein, the middle of the scraping piece  143  has an avoiding position  143   a  for the connecting shaft  230 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and.  FIG.  5   , the grain tank  211  passes through the rotary disc  210 , the outlet  110  includes a first outlet  111  and a second outlet  112  at the side wall and the bottom wall of the bottom shell  120  respectively. The first outlet  111  and the second outlet  112  are connected, when the rotary disc  210  moves to the outlet  110  with the grain tanks  211 , the first outlet  111  and the second outlet  112  are corresponding with the grain tanks  211 . 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , because the grain tank  211  passes through the rotary disc  210 , it is convenient for the grain in the grain cavity  131  of the grain storage mechanism  100  enters the grain tank  211  from the inlet  141  and the grain tank  211 . Simultaneously, when the grain is delivered, the rotary disc  210  brings the grain tank  211  to the outlet  110 , so that the grain in the grain tank  210  is delivered from the first outlet  111  and the second outlet  112 . It is not easy to dam and convenient for the pets to eat. 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the side wall of the rotary disc  210  is provided with arc convex bars  213  closed to the inner wall of the mounting housing  121 . When the rotary disc  210  rotates, the arc convex bars  213  contacts with the inner wall of the mounting housing  121  to protect the rotary disc  210  to rotate stably in the mounting housing  121 . And the contacting area of the arc convex bars  213  and the inner wall of the mounting housing  121  is less so that the friction between them are reduced, the resistance is reduced, the wear is reduced, and the movement is smooth. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the pet feeder also includes an outer shell  300 . The grain storage mechanism  100  and the grain releasing mechanism  200  both are arranged in the outer shell  300 . The outer shell  300  is provided with an inclined downward channel  310 , an upper end of the channel  310  is connected with the outlet  110 , a lower end of the channel  310  extends out the outer shell  300 . The channel  310  has the function of feeding, and the grain flowing out from the outlet  110  is transported to an outside of the outer shell  300  along the channel  310 . Simultaneously, the outlet  110  is arranged in the outer shell  300 , the channel  310  is long enough to protect the outlet from touching by the pets, thereby that the pets can not easily touch the block  212  and move the block  212 . 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the channel  310  is tubular tubular, which is convenient for conveying the grain. Preferably, the channel  310  is circular tubular. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , the top of the grain storage bucket  130  is provided with an opening  133  and a top cover  132  matched with the opening  133 . When the top cover  132  is moved, the grain can be put into the grain storage bucket  130  through the opening  133 . When the top cover  132  covers the opening  133 , the opening  133  is closed. 
     Specifically, in some embodiments, a side of the top cover  132  is connected with the grain storage bucket  130  at a side of the opening  133  by a shaft or a hinge, the top cover  132  can be opened and closed the opening by rotation. In some other embodiments, the top cover  132  is not connected with the outer shell  130 , it is a separated structure from the outer shell  130 . The user can take the top cover  132  from the outer shell  130  or covers it on the outer shell  130 . 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the pet feeder also includes a plate  320  for receiving the grain flowing out from the outlet  110 . The grain in the outlet  110  delivers to the plate  320  along the channel  310  under its gravity. The plate  320  is convenient for pets to eat the grain 
     Wherein, the plates is mounted on the outer shell  300  below the channel  310  by card connection, screw connection, etc. 
     In some embodiments according to the present invention, referring to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the outer shell  300  is provided with a battery warehouse  330 . The battery warehouse  330  is used for containing a battery which is coupled electrically with the driving assemble  240 . The battery supplies power for the driving assemble  240 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the out shell  300  is provided with a electric control assemble  340 . The driving assemble  240  and the battery are coupled electrically with the electric control assemble  340 . The electric control assemble  340  may be a PLC, an integrated chip, or an integrated circuit board according to desired. The electric control assemble  340  belongs to the prior art that those skilled in the prior art should know, therefor the present invention is not describe the principle. 
     The above are only better embodiments of the invention and are not used to limit the invention, and any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the invention shall be included within the protection of the invention. The above are only better embodiments of the invention and are not used to limit the invention, and any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the invention shall be included within the protection of the invention.