Patent ID: 7487742

Claim:
An apparatus for removing animal waste from litter, the apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical enclosure in which litter is contained and having a longitudinal rotational axis extending therethrough and a generally cylindrical inner surface extending about the rotational axis; a separating device configured to separate animal waste from the litter when moved through the litter; a rotary drive operable to directly rotate the separating device in the cylindrical enclosure and through the litter in the enclosure for separating wastes; a support having a rotary bearing surface configured to support the enclosure so that the longitudinal rotational axis thereof extends generally horizontally and to allow the generally cylindrical enclosure to rotate on the rotary bearing surface and about the rotational axis as the separating device is rotated therein; and a radial outer scraping edge of the separating device engaged with or closely adjacent the enclosure inner surface to form a scraping interface therebetween with frictional forces at the scraping interface indirectly transmitting the rotary drive forces from the rotary drive to the cylindrical enclosure to cause the cylindrical enclosure to rotate on the rotary bearing surface.