Patent ID: 8397675

Claim:
A system for replenishing animal feed into an automatic feeder having a feed container configured for holding the animal feed, the system comprising: the automatic feeder comprising the feed container configured for holding the animal feed, the automatic feeder further comprising an opening in an underside of the feed container for passing the animal feed therethrough, the automatic feeder further comprising a dispensing mechanism in proximity to the opening for dispensing the animal feed externally from the feed container; a flange mounted on a side of the feed container, the flange having first and second holes; a first tube coupled to the first hole and projecting inside of the feed container; a second tube coupled to the second hole and projecting inside of the feed container; a first hose coupled to the first hole; a vacuum creating device; and a second hose coupled between the second hole and the vacuum creating device, wherein the first hose is configured for inserting into a receptacle storing the animal feed so that the vacuum creating device via the second hose causes a sufficient vacuum to be created within the feed container to draw the animal feed from the receptacle via the first hose into the feed container, wherein the first and second tubes are positioned inside of the feed container so that their open ends are proximate a top of the feed container so that the first tube does not become blocked by the animal feed until the feed container is nearly full of the animal feed, and so that the animal feed does not exit the feed container via the second tube until the feed container is nearly full of the animal feed, wherein the open ends of the first and second tubes are sufficiently positioned near opposite sides of the inside of the feed container so that the animal feed does not pass from the open end of the first tube to the open end of the second tube, but instead the animal feed drops from the open end of the first tube into the feed container.