US3741162A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic animal feeding machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-09-25
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1990-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A feeding machine for animals comprising a rotatable bin for feed having separated compartments which can be selectively rotated by an automatic timing mechanism to release feed and, optionally, water into a feeding chute.
Inventors
- 👤 A Lopez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:26
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
An automatic feeding machine for animals comprising a supporting structure, a rotatable feed bin mounted within said supporting structure, said feed bin having vertically sectioned separate open-bottomed compartments, a feed chute mounted within said supporting structure beneath one of said compartments and extending down therefrom exterior of said structure to an outlet to provide a means for releasing feed contained in said feed bin, a closing means member cooperating with said feed bin so as to close the open bottom of the compartments thereof except the one positioned over the feed chute, drive means interconnected to said feed bin adapted to rotate it so that each of its separate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feed chute and release feed contained therein, an automatic control means interconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate rotation of said feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control means comprising a rotatable cam having a series of spaced concave pockets on its peripheral surface, an axle interconnecting said feed bin, said drive means and said rotatable cam, a timer clock including a rotatable timer plate having a tripper pin extending out from a peripheral portion thereof positioned so as to engage and turn said rotatable cam at preselected intervals, a switch for actuating said drive means including an on - off button engaging the periphery of said rotatable cam operated by contacting the selectively spaced concave pockets thereon as it is selectively rotated said drive means actuated to turn said feed bin to release feed from a compartment therein by a selected time interval controlled by said timer clock so that the tripper pin engages and turns said rotatable cam enough to cause the switch on-off button to slide out of the concave pocket onto the adjacent peripheral surface to turn the drive means on and continue to rotate said axle, feed bin, and rotatable cam until said switch button slides into the next adjacent concave pocket on the surface of said cam when the switch is thereby turned off.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
An automatic feeding machine for animals comprising a supporting structure, a rotatable feed bin mounted within said supporting structure, said feed bin having vertically sectioned separate open-bottomed compartments, a feed chute mounted within said supporting structure beneath one of said compartments and extending down therefrom exterior of said structure to an outlet to provide a means for releasing feed contained in said feed bin, a closing means member cooperating with said feed bin so as to close the open bottom of the compartments thereof except the one positioned over the feed chute, drive means interconnected to said feed bin adapted to rotate it so that each of its separate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feed chute and release feed contained therein, an automatic control means interconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate rotation of said feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control means comprising a rotatable cam having a series of spaced concave pockets on its peripheral surface, an axle interconnecting said feed bin, said drive means and said rotatable cam, a timer clock including a rotatable timer plate having a tripper pin extending out from a peripheral portion thereof positioned so as to engage and turn said rotatable cam at preselected intervals, a switch for actuating said drive means including an on - off button engaging the periphery of said rotatable cam operated by contacting the selectively spaced concave pockets thereon as it is selectively rotated said drive means actuated to turn said feed bin to release feed from a compartment therein by a selected time interval controlled by said timer clock so that the tripper pin engages and turns said rotatable cam enough to cause the switch on-off button to slide out of the concave pocket onto the adjacent peripheral surface to turn the drive means on and continue to rotate said axle, feed bin, and rotatable cam until said switch button slides into the next adjacent concave pocket on the surface of said cam when the switch is thereby turned off.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 1 which includes an inlet hose for providing water which is connected to a source of water, an outlet hose interconnected to said inlet hose through a check valve, said outlet hose positioned to open adjacent to said feed chute to supply water to feed released therefrom, and an actuating arm connected to said check valve so positioned that it bears against the vertically sectioned compartments of said feed bin and opens said check valve to allow water flow as the feed is released and to close it after the feed has been released from one of said feed bin compartments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 2 which includes a drinking water dispenser comprising a bottle holder attached to said supporting structure, a water pan positioned below said bottle holder and a bottle mounted upside down in said bottle holder positioned so that its neck extends into said water pan so that when filled with water it is automatically dispensed by gravity to level within said pan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
228 words
An automatic feeding machine comprising a supporting structure, a rotatable feed bin mounted within said supporting structure, said feed bin having vertically sectioned separate open-bottomed compartments, a feed chute mounted within said supporting structure beneath said feed bin and extending down therefrom exterior of said structure to an outlet, so as to provide a means for releasing feed contained in said feed bin, closing means cooperating with said feed bin so as to close the bottom portion of each of said feed bin compartments except one positioned over the said feed chute which is open to release feed, drive means interconnected to said feed bin to rotate it so that each of its separate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feed chute and releaSe feed contained therein, automatic control means interconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate said rotation of said feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control means including a clock, a rotatably mounted timer member adjacent to said clock having spaced contact elements on its periphery equal to the number of compartments in the feed bin, a tripper pin extending from said clock and movable to engage one of said contact elements at preselected times and to move said rotatably mounted timer member, a switch interconnected to said timer member and to the drive means which turns it on and off.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
228 words
An automatic feeding machine comprising a supporting structure, a rotatable feed bin mounted within said supporting structure, said feed bin having vertically sectioned separate open-bottomed compartments, a feed chute mounted within said supporting structure beneath said feed bin and extending down therefrom exterior of said structure to an outlet, so as to provide a means for releasing feed contained in said feed bin, closing means cooperating with said feed bin so as to close the bottom portion of each of said feed bin compartments except one positioned over the said feed chute which is open to release feed, drive means interconnected to said feed bin to rotate it so that each of its separate compartments can be selectively moved to open over said feed chute and releaSe feed contained therein, automatic control means interconnected to said drive means to selectively actuate said rotation of said feed bin at predetermined times, said automatic control means including a clock, a rotatably mounted timer member adjacent to said clock having spaced contact elements on its periphery equal to the number of compartments in the feed bin, a tripper pin extending from said clock and movable to engage one of said contact elements at preselected times and to move said rotatably mounted timer member, a switch interconnected to said timer member and to the drive means which turns it on and off.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the rotatably mounted timer has a cam surface provided with a series of spaced concave pockets in its rotated periphery, said switch resiliently presses against said cam surface and periodically drops into said concave pockets to turn it on and off as said cam element is rotated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 5 wherein, when the tripper pin extending from said clock engages one of said contact elements of said timer member, said timer member is rotated sufficiently thereby to cause said switch to be moved out of a concave pocket to the adjacent cam surface to turn the switch and connected motor ''''on'''' so as to continue rotating the timer member until said switch drops into the next adjacent concave pocket wherein the switch is turned ''''off''''.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 6 which includes an inlet hose for providing water which is connected to a source of water, an outlet hose interconnected to said inlet hose through a check valve, said outlet hose positioned to open adjacent to said feed chute to supply water to feed released therefrom, and an actuating arm connected to said check valve so positioned that it bears against the vertically sectioned compartments of said feed bin and opens said check valve to allow water flow as the feed is released and to close it after the feed has been released from one of said feed bin compartments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
An automatic feeding machine as defined in claim 4 which includes a drinking water dispenser comprising a bottle holder attached to said supporting structure, a water pan positioned below said bottle holder and a bottle mounted upside down in said bottle holder positioned so that its neck extends into said water pan so that when filled with water it is automatically dispensed by gravity to level within said pan.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |