JP2001352853A - Device for giving feed - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for giving feed capable of giving a little amount of feed, exactly measured feed, etc., instead of a keeper and changing the amount and species per one feed. SOLUTION: This device for giving feed is equipped with a belt 2 for transferring rotation of one side to that of the other side by hanging the belt on at least two rotative rings or shaft rings, measures 1 for containing feed F for one dose and arranged on the belt 2 and a motor 7 for rotating the rotative ring or the shaft ring on one side of the belt 2 and the feed in the measure 1 is fallen down by inversing the measure 1 on the belt 2 by rotating the motor 7. By this device, a small amount of feed F is given or a exactly measured feed is given instead of a keeper even when the keeper is away from home. Further, the amount or species of the feed can be varied one by one in every measure and the device is flexibly corresponding to habit and health condition of a pet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bait administration apparatus for administering bait to a companion animal, and more particularly to a bait administration apparatus which administers a predetermined amount of bait for a designated time on behalf of an owner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Pets such as ornamental fish such as tropical fish and small animals such as birds and hamsters are bred in specified enclosures and cannot feed themselves. There must be. However, there are cases where the owner has to leave the pet for a long time due to travel or the like, and in such a case, a device for periodically feeding the pet to the pet instead of the owner has been proposed.

[0003] For example, as shown in FIG.
A feed box 70 having an opening 1 at one position, a feed box rotating device 72 for rotatably supporting the feed box 70 and rotating the feed box 70 once at a desired timing, and transmitting a rotation timing to the feed box rotating device 72. A timer 73 is provided.

[0004] The bait box 71 is formed in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape. When a surface rotatably supported by the bait box rotating device 72 is a bottom surface, bait is provided on one of four side surfaces which becomes a top surface when stopped. The administration port 70 is open. Therefore, usually the feed box 71
The feed port 70 is open above the feed box 71 so that the feed F stored in the feed box 70 does not spill from the feed port 70. When the bait box 71 rotates once by the bait box rotating device 72, the bait outlet 70 makes a round from the upper side to the lower side and further upwards, and the bait F drops only when the bait outlet 70 faces downward. I do. Conventionally, the feed administration port 72 is configured such that the opening area can be adjusted, and the amount of the food F dropped is adjusted by adjusting the opening area according to the rotation speed of the feed box 71.

[0005]

If the pet animal is as small as a tropical fish or the number of breeding animals is small, the amount eaten at a time is small, so the amount of food must be strictly measured and given. Occurs. In addition, depending on the habits and health conditions of pet animals, the amount of food consumed at one time is not always constant, and the types are not necessarily the same.

However, since the conventional feed dispenser adjusts the opening area in accordance with the rotation speed of the feed box and adjusts the amount of drop of the feed, a small amount of the feed is dispensed, or only the measured amount of the feed is measured. Cannot be administered. Therefore, in the conventional feed administration device, the feed is excessively supplied, which may impair the health condition of the pet animal or contaminate the inside of the aquarium with the remaining food. Further, since the conventional food administration device is configured to administer the same food in the same amount, it is not possible to flexibly cope with the change of the dosage or the type of food between morning, noon and night.

[0007] In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a small amount of food or a strictly weighed amount of food can be administered in place of the owner, and the amount and type of food at each time can be controlled. It is a technical object to provide a feed administration device that can be changed.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following means. That is, the bait administration device of the present invention includes a belt that transmits one rotation to the other through at least two rotating wheels or axle wheels, and a bait that stores the bait to be administered at one time and is disposed on the belt. A motor for rotating one of the rotating wheels or the axle of the belt, and the rotation of the motor causes the box on the belt to be inverted and the bait in the box to fall.

According to this configuration, the box for storing the food to be administered at one time is transported on the belt, and the food is dropped from the box with the reversal of the belt, so that even if the owner is absent, the owner is not present. Alternatively, a small amount of food or a precisely weighed amount of food can be administered. Also, since a plurality of squares are provided on the belt and are configured to circulate and move with the belt, the amount and type of food can be changed for each square, and it is possible to flexibly respond to the habits and health of the pet animal. Note that a prime mover that rotates the belt may use a timer that can set an operation time in advance as a trigger for starting operation. The prime mover may be an electric motor or a mainspring screw type that does not require a power supply.

Further, the bait administration device of the present invention comprises a box for storing a bait to be administered at one time, a disk-shaped rotary table having a plurality of said boxes arranged on the circumference thereof, A support placed on the upper surface and rotatably supported, a pit provided on the support and for dropping the bait when any of the boxes has moved to the upper position, and rotating the rotary table to rotate the rotary table. A rotating mechanism for moving any one of them to the upper position of the pit.

[0011] According to this configuration, since the box for storing the food to be administered at one time is provided and the stored food is dropped from the pit, the small amount of the food can be substituted for the owner even if the owner is absent. Or a precisely weighed amount of food. In addition, a plurality of boxes are provided on the rotating table, and the rotating table is rotated by the rotating mechanism to move the box to the upper position of the hole, so that the amount and type of bait for each box corresponding to one batch is determined. It can be changed and can flexibly respond to the habits and health of pets. Note that a timer capable of setting an operation time in advance may be used as the rotation mechanism as a trigger for starting operation.

Further, in the bait administration device of the present invention, the turntable is provided so that the box can be turned upside down freely.
The pit can be exemplified by a configuration in which the square is inverted when any of the squares moves to the upper position.

Furthermore, in the bait administration device of the present invention,
The rotation mechanism may be a ratchet mechanism having a ratchet plate that rotates synchronously with the rotary table, and a push rod that rotates the ratchet plate by a predetermined angle as the actuator moves forward and backward.

Furthermore, in the bait administration device of the present invention,
The rotation mechanism may be a rack-and-pinion mechanism having a pinion that rotates in synchronization with the rotary table and a rack that rotates the pinion by a predetermined angle in accordance with advance and retreat of an actuator.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a bait administration device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. [Structure of Feed Feeding Apparatus] As shown in the side view of FIG. 1, the feed feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment has a box 1 for storing a feed F to be fed at one time, and two shaft rings (pulleys) 3a. , 3b to transmit one rotation to the other, and one of the belts 2 includes a motor 7 for rotating the pulley 3b.

The box 1 is formed in a hollow bottomed cube. The food F to be administered at one time is weighed and stored in the hollow box 1 in an appropriate amount. The eight boxes 1 are arranged on the belt 2 at intervals of S. A hollow cylindrical hinge 1a is fixed to each of the boxes 1 in parallel with the bottom wall.

The belt 2 is formed in an endless shape, and as shown in FIG. 2, a pin 2a having both ends fixed is provided on the upper surface thereof. The pin 2a is inserted into the hollow hinge 1a of the box 1, and swingably supports the box 1 around the hinge 1a. Therefore, the eight boxes 1 are supported by the pins 2a, so that even if the belt 2 is inverted, the bait F only falls and does not fall.

The pulleys 3a, 3b are connected to tension shafts 6a, 6
b so as to be integrally rotated.
The belt 2 is rotatably supported by side plates 4 and 5 sandwiched from both side surfaces.

A motor 7 is fixed to the side plate 4.
Is connected to the tension shaft 6b. Therefore,
When the pulley 3b and the tension shaft 6b are rotated by the motor 7, the pulley 3a and the tension shaft 6a are rotated via the belt 2. The pulleys 3a and 3b and the tension shafts 6a and 6b apply an appropriate tension to the belt 2 so that the rotation of the pulley 3b is transmitted to the pulley 3a without fail.

The motor 7 is configured to, once started, move the belt 2 by a predetermined distance S and then stop.
The timer 8 can set an operation time in advance as a trigger for starting the operation of the motor 7.

Next, the operation of the bait administration apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. In addition, the owner weighs the food F to be administered at a time four times each according to the habits and health of the pet animal, and stores the food F in advance in the remaining four cells 1 except for the inverted cell 1. And Also, it is assumed that the owner sets the input time (for example, every 8 hours) using the timer 8, and sets the preset time so as to be a trigger for starting the operation of the motor 7 at the set time. Further, it is assumed that the bait administration device is mounted on the upper part of the fishbowl with the pulley 3a side facing the inside of the fishbowl.

When the desired time set by the timer 8 and 8 hours have elapsed, the motor 7 is started to rotate the pulley 3b and the tension shaft 6b, and the pulley 3a and the tension The shaft 6a is rotated. Then, the belt 2 moves a predetermined distance S, and the belt 2
The box 1 on the side of the pulley 3a is inverted in synchronization with the rotation of, and the bait F is dropped into the fishbowl. The motor 7 stops after moving the belt 2 by a predetermined distance S, and waits for the next operation start trigger.

In this manner, the feeding operation is repeated four times in total, and the feeding can be performed on behalf of the owner for 32 hours after the setting. In addition, the bait F stored in the square 1
May be different for each cell 1.

[Other Embodiment] A bait administration apparatus according to another embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment,
The present invention will be described as a bait administration device that administers bait five times at desired intervals instead of the owner. As shown in the side view of FIG. 3, the bait administration device according to the second embodiment has a box 10 for storing the bait F to be administered at one time, and a disk-shaped box 10 at regular intervals on this circumference. , A supporting table 30 for rotatably supporting the rotating table 20, a pit 40 provided on the supporting table 30, and rotating the rotary table 20 to move the box 10 to an upper position of the pit 40. The rotating table 20, the support 30, and the rotating mechanism 50 are provided on a substrate 60.

The box 10 is formed as a hollow bottomed cube. The bait F to be administered at one time is measured and stored in the hollow box 10 in an appropriate amount. A hollow cylindrical hinge 11 is fixed to each of the boxes 10 in parallel with one side wall. The hinge 11 has a length substantially equal to the width of the box 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the turntable 20
Six notches 21 are formed at equal intervals on the circumference (60 ° intervals) so that the bottom of the box 10 can drop. On the upper surface of the turntable 20, there are provided pins 22 having both ends fixed with the notches 21 interposed therebetween. This pin 21
Is inserted into the hollow hinge 11 of the square 10 and the hinge 1
The box 10 is supported so as to be able to be turned around with 1 as a fulcrum. Accordingly, the six boxes 10 are arranged on the notches 21 at intervals of 60 ° and supported by the pins 22 so that they can be turned over toward the notches 21 of the rotary table 20, and are moved downward from the notches 21. Does not fall.

A rotating shaft 23 is vertically provided on the lower surface of the rotating table 20 (see FIG. 3). The rotation shaft 23 has an upper end fixed to the center of the turntable 20 and a lower end fixed to the ratchet plate 51.

The support 30 is composed of a donut-shaped disk 31 and a column 32 for supporting the disk 31 from below.
2 is fixed to the upper surface of the substantially central portion of the substrate 60 so that the substrate 6
It is fixed on 0.

The outer diameter of the donut portion of the disk 31 is substantially the same as that of the rotary table 20, and the inner diameter thereof is larger than that of the rotary shaft 23. The rotary table 20 is placed on the disk 31 such that the rotary table 20 is slidably rotatable on the disk 31 with the rotary shaft 23 inserted into the inner diameter thereof.
A drop hole 40 is formed on the outer circumference of the disk 31 so that the bottom of the box 10 can drop.

The notch 40 is a notch provided on the outer circumference of the disk 31, and its shape is substantially the same as that of the notch 21 of the turntable 20. The size of the notch 21 of the turntable 20 is equal to or slightly larger than the size of one notch 21. That is, the size of the pit 10 is such that when the pit 10 falls into the pit 40 and is suspended by the pins 22, the pit 10 is tilted to such an extent that all the food F in the pit 10 falls. It is formed in size. A tapered surface is formed at a corner on the upper surface side of the periphery of the pit 40. This tapered surface is
When the rotating table 20 is slid and rotated on the disk 31 when the rotary table 20 slides on the disk 31 when the box 10 falls into the pit 40 and is suspended by the pins 22, the box 10 does not mesh with the peripheral edge of the pit It is formed so as to be able to climb up on the disk 31 smoothly along.

The column 32 is formed in a pipe shape, and has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ratchet plate 51. The support 32 has an opening 32a in a part of the side wall.
The push rod 52 for transmitting the rotational movement to the ratchet plate 51 is formed in the opening 32 a from the outside of the support column 32.
Are provided so as to be able to operate with respect to.

The rotating mechanism 50 is a mechanism that rotates the rotary table 20 at a desired time and transports the box 10 to a position matching the upper position of the pit 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the rotation mechanism includes a ratchet plate 51, a push rod 52 for pushing and rotating the ratchet plate 51, and a push rod 52.
, A power supply 54 for driving the actuator 53, and an actuator 53
And a timer 55 for setting the operation timing of the.

The ratchet plate 51 is formed in a disk shape.
At the center of the upper surface, six radial ridges 51a are provided at equal intervals (60 ° intervals) on the upper surface of the disk. This ridge 51a
Has one side edge formed on a vertical surface and the other side edge formed on a slope (see FIG. 6).

The push rod 52 is a cylindrical rod, and a claw 52a having a right-angled triangular side face is formed at the tip end with one side facing the tip. The push rod 52 is mounted on the substrate 6 with the rear end as a fulcrum.
The push rod 5 is rotatable along the upper surface so that the rotating claw 52a engages with the ridge 51a of the ratchet plate 51.
The rear end of 2 is rotatably supported.

The actuator 53 is driven by the electromagnetic force to
3a is a solenoid that moves forward and backward. The actuator 53 is fixed on the substrate 60. This fixed position is
The advancing / retreating direction of the shaft 53a is orthogonal to the axis of the push rod 52, and the tip of the shaft 53a is engaged with the center of the push rod 52 and can be pressed. The stroke of the shaft 53a is
The length is such that the ratchet plate 51 is rotated by 60 ° via the push rod 52 as the shaft portion 53a advances. When the ratchet plate 51 rotates by 60 °, the notch 21 (or the box 10) of the rotary table 20 that rotates in synchronization with the ratchet plate 51 and the drop hole 40 of the disc 31 are assembled so as to match. . That is, at the time of assembly,
The notch 21 (or the square 10) and the pit 40 match, and one of the squares 10 is in a suspended state in the inverted state, so that the remaining five squares 10 can store the bait F.

Further, the actuator 53 includes a timer 5
5 and a power supply 54. Timer 55
Is a known device that can set a desired time. Usually, the circuit is in an OFF state, and the circuit is turned on when the set time is reached.
In this state, electricity is supplied to the actuator 53.

In the vicinity of the push rod 52, a spring portion 56 for constantly urging the push rod 52 toward the shaft 53a of the actuator 53 is provided. The urging force of the spring portion 56 is smaller than the forward / backward movement of the actuator 53,
Can press the push rod 52 against the urging force of the spring portion 56. The spring portion 56 may be a rod-shaped spring or a leaf spring.

Next, the operation of the bait administration apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. In addition, the owner weighs the food F to be administered at a time five times each according to the habits and health of the pet animal, and stores the food F in the remaining five cells 10 in advance in the order of insertion except for the cell 10 which is inverted at the time of assembly. Shall be
It is also assumed that the owner sets the input time (for example, every 8 hours) using the timer 55, and sets the timer 55 in advance so that the power is turned on at the set time. Further, it is assumed that the bait administration device is placed on the upper part of the fishbowl with the pit 40 facing the inside of the fishbowl.

The desired time set by the timer 55, 8
When the time has elapsed, the timer 55 is turned on, and the power supply flows to the actuator 53. Then, the shaft portion 53a of the actuator 53 advances, and presses the push rod 52 against the urging force of the spring portion 56. Since the rear end of the push rod 52 is rotatably supported, the push rod 52 pivots around the rear end, and engages the claw 52a on the distal end with the vertical surface of the ridge 51a of the ratchet plate 51 to set the engaging portion to the action point. The ratchet plate 51 is rotated by 60 °.

Then, the rotary table 20 rotates 60 ° in synchronization with the rotation of the ratchet plate 51,
The notch 21 (or the square 10) of the above and the drop hole 40 of the disk 31 match. Then, the box 10 is inverted, and the stored bait F is administered into the fishbowl.

The shaft 53a of the actuator 53
Retreats, the push rod 52 is pressed toward the shaft 53a by the urging force of the spring 56. At this time, the claw 5 of the push rod 52
Due to the urging force 2a, the ratchet plate 51 moves up the slope of the adjacent ridge 51a to the vertical surface side.

In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the box 10 is inverted at the position of the pit 40 and the food is administered. However, as another embodiment (third embodiment), the rotary table plane of FIG. As shown in FIG.
It may be a hole surrounded by 1.

That is, in the bait administration apparatus according to the third embodiment, the configuration of the box 100 is such that six holes are formed in the rotary table 120 at the same pitch and at equal intervals (60 ° intervals).
Annular side walls having a predetermined height around each of the holes
Surrounded by 101. On the other hand, the disc 130 on which the rotary table 120 is slidably rotated is provided with a drop hole 140 having the same pitch as the holes on the rotary table 120 and having the same or slightly larger diameter as the holes on the rotary table 120. Is formed. It should be noted that the third embodiment is different from the second embodiment described above.
The only difference from the above is the difference between the shapes of the square 100 and the pit 140. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment,
The description is omitted.

When storing the food F in the box 100, FIG.
As shown in (a), a disk 130 surrounded by an annular side wall 101 is shown.
Store in the upper hole. The rotation table 120 side is 60
8B, and as shown in FIG.
When the side hole and the pit 140 match, the food F in the box 100 is administered.

In the third embodiment, the rotary table 120 is used.
When is rotated, the bait F is pushed by the annular side wall 101 and the disc 130 is rotated.
The bait F preferably has a pellet-like shape and is easy to move because it has a simple structure to move on.

In the second embodiment, the rotating mechanism 50 is described as a ratchet mechanism using the ratchet plate 51. However, the rotating mechanism can rotate the rotary table 20 by a predetermined angle (for example, 60 °). Any configuration may be used. For example, a rack and pinion mechanism that converts a linear motion into a rotary motion may be used.

Next, a case where a rack and pinion mechanism is used as a rotation mechanism as Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
Note that, in FIG. 9, when the same reference numerals are used as in the first embodiment, they have the same configuration as in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the fourth embodiment, the lower end of a rotary shaft 23 vertically suspended from the lower surface of the rotary table 20 is fixed to the pinion 201, and the rotary table 20 is connected to the pinion 20 via the rotary shaft 23.
Rotate synchronously with 1. The shaft 5 of the actuator 53
A rack 200 extends from the end of 3a, and the rack 200 and the pinion 201 are engaged with each other, so that the movement of the shaft portion 53a of the actuator 53 is converted into a rotational motion by the rack 200 and the pinion 201. And rack 200 and pinion 201
The ratio of the number of teeth to that of the shaft 53a (or the rack 200) is 1
The stroke is designed so that the pinion 201 rotates 60 °.

[0049]

According to the present invention, a box for storing bait to be administered at one time is transported on a belt, and the bait is inverted and the bait is dropped from the box, so that the owner is absent. It is also possible to administer a small amount of food on behalf of the owner or a precisely weighed amount of food. Also, since a plurality of squares are provided on the belt and are configured to circulate and move with the belt, the amount and type of food can be changed for each square, and it is possible to flexibly respond to the habits and health of the pet animal.

Further, according to the present invention, a box for storing the food to be administered at one time is provided, and the stored food is dropped from the pit, so that even if the owner is absent, a small amount can be substituted for the owner. Or a precisely weighed amount of food.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bait administration device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bait administration device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a bait administration device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a bait administration device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a turntable of the bait administration device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a cell according to the third embodiment, and FIG.
8 shows the case where the food is stored, and FIG. 8B shows the case where the food is administered.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a bait administration device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional bait administration device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Square 2 ... Belt 3a, 3b ... Pulley 4, 5 ... Side plate 7 ... Motor (motor) 8 ... Timer 10 ... Square 11 ... Pinge 20 ... Rotary table 21 ... Notch 22 ... Pin 23 ... Rotary shaft 30 ... Support stand 40: Drop hole 50: Rotating mechanism 51: Ratchet plate 52: Push rod 52a: Claw 53: Actuator (solenoid) 54: Power supply 55: Timer 60: Substrate

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A belt that transmits one rotation to the other by rotating it over at least two rotating wheels or axle wheels, a bait that stores food to be administered at one time, and is arranged on the belt, and one of the belts. And a prime mover for rotating the rotating wheel or the axle, wherein the bait on the belt is inverted by the rotation of the prime mover to drop the bait in the bait. 2. A box for accommodating food to be administered at one time, a rotating table having a disk shape and a plurality of said boxes installed on the circumference thereof, and a rotating table mounted on the upper surface to be rotatable. A supporting base, a pit provided on the supporting base for dropping the bait when any of the squares has moved to an upper position, and rotating the rotary table to position any of the squares at the upper position of the pit. A feed mechanism, comprising: a rotating mechanism configured to move the feed device to a predetermined position. 3. The bait dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the turntable is provided so that the cell can be turned upside down, and the trap hole turns over the cell when any of the cells moves to an upper position. . 4. The ratchet mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rotating mechanism includes a ratchet plate that rotates in synchronization with the rotary table, and a push rod that rotates the ratchet plate by a predetermined angle by moving an actuator forward and backward. A bait administration device according to any of the preceding claims. 5. The rack and pinion mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rotating mechanism is a rack and pinion mechanism having: a pinion that rotates in synchronization with the rotary table; and a rack that rotates the pinion by a predetermined angle by moving an actuator forward and backward. Feeding device.