WO2019058311A1 - Dispositif d'alimentation d'animal domestique - Google Patents

Dispositif d'alimentation d'animal domestique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019058311A1
WO2019058311A1 PCT/IB2018/057281 IB2018057281W WO2019058311A1 WO 2019058311 A1 WO2019058311 A1 WO 2019058311A1 IB 2018057281 W IB2018057281 W IB 2018057281W WO 2019058311 A1 WO2019058311 A1 WO 2019058311A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
food
dispensing
water
feeding device
pet feeding
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2018/057281
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Tshepo NDLOVU
Leslie Becker
Ebrahim Bashir MAHOMED
Marius VILJOEN
Yumna PLOWKER
Pako MAGAGANE
Original Assignee
Ndlovu Tshepo
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ndlovu Tshepo filed Critical Ndlovu Tshepo
Publication of WO2019058311A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019058311A1/fr
Priority to ZA2020/04411A priority Critical patent/ZA202004411B/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
    • A01K5/01—Feed troughs; Feed pails
    • A01K5/0114—Pet food dispensers; Pet food trays
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
    • A01K5/02—Automatic devices
    • A01K5/0225—Gravity replenishment from a reserve, e.g. a hopper
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
    • A01K5/02—Automatic devices
    • A01K5/0275—Automatic devices with mechanisms for delivery of measured doses
    • A01K5/0283—Automatic devices with mechanisms for delivery of measured doses by weight

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a pet feeding device.
  • the invention also relates to a pet feeding system and to a pet feeding method.
  • Pet feeding is an important task and is typically required on a daily basis when caring for common pets, such as cats and dogs. Regrettably, in some cases, pet feeding may interfere with other activities and/or place an unwanted administrative or financial burden on a pet owner.
  • the need to feed a pet may prevent a pet owner from taking part in a leisure activity, such as going to a restaurant with colleagues after work.
  • a pet owner may be required to travel home during working hours to feed the pet before going out to the restaurant.
  • the pet owner's absence may require the pet to be housed in a kennel and may involve veterinarian services before or afterwards.
  • the pet owner may be required to make arrangements for someone else to feed the pet in the pet owner's absence.
  • Pet feeding devices have been developed in an attempt to alleviate the problems identified above.
  • the pet feeding devices of which the Applicant is aware (hereinafter referred to as "known pet feeding devices") are configured automatically to dispense predefined amounts of food and water at timed intervals.
  • one such a pet feeding device may include a motor-driven dispenser that operatively dispenses a predefined amount of food from a food storage bin and an electrically operated valve that operatively dispenses a predefined amount of water from a water tank.
  • known pet feeding devices have proven to be effective to some extent, a number of drawbacks may be associated with known pet feeding devices.
  • pet owners may have no way of knowing whether or not dispensing has actually taken place successfully (i.e. whether or not the required food and water have actually been made available to the pet) and/or whether or not there is sufficient food or water remaining in the pet feeding device to sustain the pet for a required period of time.
  • the present invention aims to address these and other issues, at least to some extent.
  • water is used for ease of reference, but the term should be interpreted to include any liquid that may be fed to a pet.
  • a pet feeding device which includes:
  • At least one storage unit configured to store pet food and/or water
  • a dispensing arrangement configured to dispense the pet food and/or water from the at least one storage unit
  • a communication unit configured wirelessly to communicate with a remote user device
  • a control unit communicatively coupled to the communication unit and configured to transmit dispensing instructions to the dispensing arrangement. More specifically, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pet feeding device which includes:
  • At least one storage unit configured to store pet food and/or water
  • a dispensing arrangement configured to dispense the pet food and/or water from the at least one storage unit
  • a communication unit configured wirelessly to
  • control unit communicatively coupled to the communication unit and configured to transmit dispensing instructions to the dispensing arrangement
  • dispensing instructions are based at least partially on the received user input
  • the user notification is at least one of:
  • a status notification providing an indication of an amount, level or availability of pet food and/or water in the at least one storage unit or in a food receiving unit and/or water receiving unit of the pet feeding device;
  • a dispensing notification providing an indication that pet food and/or water has been dispensed from the at least one storage unit
  • an alert notification providing an indication that an alert condition associated with the pet feeding device has been met.
  • the at least one storage unit may include one or both of a water storage unit and a food storage unit which are separate from or separated from each other.
  • the dispensing arrangement may include a water dispenser and/or a food dispenser.
  • the water dispenser may be configured to dispense water from the water storage unit to the water receiving unit and the food dispenser may be configured to dispense food from the food storage unit to the food receiving unit.
  • the water receiving unit and food receiving unit may be provided by trays or bowls.
  • the dispensing arrangement may be provided for the dispensing of food only.
  • the dispensing arrangement may be in the form of a food dispenser while a water dispenser of the pet feeding device functions automatically or is not included in the pet feeding device.
  • the dispensing arrangement may include a gravity feeding dispenser.
  • the dispenser may include an auger or screw arrangement (e.g. screw conveyer or Archimedes screw) configured for dispensing predetermined amounts of food by way of gravity feeding.
  • auger or screw arrangement e.g. screw conveyer or Archimedes screw
  • the water dispenser may include a siphon arrangement configured to provide fluid communication between the water storage unit and the water receiving unit, the water receiving unit being located operatively below the water storage unit.
  • the status notification may provide the indication of the amount, level or availability of pet food and/or water by expressing a percentage availability of one or more of: food in the food storage unit, food in the food receiving unit, water in the water storage unit, and water in the water receiving unit.
  • the dispensing notification may indicate that food and/or water was dispensed successfully into the food receiving unit and/or water receiving unit.
  • the control unit may determine that dispensing was successful or carried out and may, as a result, cause the dispensing notification to be transmitted.
  • the alert condition may include a determination that: food and/or water was not dispensed successfully, there is insufficient food and/or water in the pet feeding device, and/or the amount or level of food and/or water is below or above a predefined threshold.
  • the alert condition may be that there is a problem with the dispensing arrangement or the pet feeding device has been tampered with or damaged.
  • the communication unit may include a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) module.
  • the GSM module may be configured to receive a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
  • SIM Subscriber Identity Module
  • the GSM module may be configured to receive the user input from the user device via SMS.
  • the GSM module may be configured to transmit the user notifications to the user device via SMS.
  • the communication unit may form part of or be coupled to the control unit.
  • the communication unit may include a Wi-Fi module.
  • the Wi-Fi module may be configured to receive user input from the user device via the Internet and/or to transmit user notifications to the user device via the Internet.
  • the communication unit may be configured to employ any other suitable communication means or protocol. For instance, a 3G/4G/LTE/5G module may be provided.
  • the user device may be a mobile phone.
  • the user device may have a software application installed thereon by which a user of the user device is permitted to communicate with the pet feeding device.
  • the user device may be any other suitable electronic communications device, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer or a tablet computer.
  • the user notifications may thus be sent via the Internet or a data communication channel and may be displayed on the user device by way of a software application or website.
  • the user input may be transmitted via a software application or website.
  • the device may include sensory data reception means, sensory data recording means and/or sensory data transmission means.
  • the sensory data reception, recording and/or transmission means may include one or more of a speaker, a microphone, a camera and a display.
  • the device e.g. the communication unit, may be configured to receive sound, images and/or video transmissions from the user device and cause the received sound, images and/or video transmissions to be transmitted via the speaker and/or the display of the pet feeding device.
  • the communication unit may be configured to record sound, images and/or video using the microphone and/or camera of the pet feeding device and to transmit the recorded sound, images and/or video to the user device.
  • the user input may include one or more instruction.
  • the user input may include a dispensing time and/or a dispensing amount (quantity, mass or volume).
  • the user input may thus include or form part of a dispensing schedule.
  • the user input may include an immediate dispensing command.
  • the control unit may be configured to process the user input to obtain the dispensing instructions for transmission to the dispensing arrangement.
  • the user input may include an indication of the alert condition.
  • the user input may instruct the pet feeding device regarding when an alert is necessary, e.g. the user input may include a food threshold, and the pet feeding device may then establish that the alert condition has been met if the threshold is reached.
  • a user may wish to be informed when a pet does not consume enough food and/or water.
  • the alert condition may be met if food and/or water amounts or levels are above a certain threshold, e.g. after a certain period of time.
  • the control unit may include or be communicatively coupled to a processor.
  • the control unit may be provided by a printed circuit board (PCB).
  • the pet feeding device may further include a user interface.
  • the control unit may be configured to receive user input via both the user interface and the user device.
  • the communication unit may be configured to transmit the user notification to the user interface.
  • the user interface may include a display, e.g. a touch sensitive display.
  • the pet feeding device may further include at least one measuring unit or arrangement.
  • the at least one measuring unit or arrangement may include a food measuring unit and a water measuring unit.
  • the measuring units may be configured to measure an amount or level of food and/or water in the storage units and/or receiving units and transmit the measured amount/s to the control unit.
  • the at least one measuring unit may be at least one load cell and/or scale.
  • the control unit may be configured, in response to determining that a measured amount is below a predefined threshold, to generate and transmit a dispensing instruction to the dispensing arrangement and/or to instruct the communication unit to transmit a status notification or alert notification to the user device.
  • the control unit may be configured to determine or establish that the alert condition has been met.
  • the communication unit may be configured to transmit the alert notification or status notification to the user device.
  • the communication unit may thus transmit a status notification, showing the status of food and/or water in the pet feeding device, and/or an alert notification, informing a user that some form of alert condition has been met, in response to the control unit determining the fulfilment of the alert condition.
  • pet feeding system which includes a pet feeding device substantially as described above, wherein the pet feeding device is in wireless communication with a user device substantially as described above, the user device being configured to transmit user input to the pet feeding device and to receive the at least one user notification from the pet feeding device.
  • a pet feeding method which includes the steps of:
  • dispensing by the dispensing arrangement, food and/or water from at least one storage unit of the pet feeding device in accordance with the dispensing instructions;
  • the communication unit transmitting, by the communication unit, at least one user notification to the remote user device, wherein the user notification is at least one of: a status notification providing an indication of an amount, level or availability of pet food and/or water in the at least one storage unit or in a food receiving unit and/or water receiving unit of the pet feeding device;
  • a dispensing notification providing an indication that pet food and/or water has been dispensed from the at least one storage unit
  • an alert notification providing an indication that an alert condition associated with the pet feeding device has been met.
  • a computer program product including at least one computer-readable medium having stored thereon at least one computer program which, when executed by a computer or a computerised system, causes the computer or computerised system to perform a method substantially as described above.
  • the computer-readable medium may be a non-transitory computer- readable medium.
  • FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of a pet feeding device according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a front view of the pet feeding device of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 shows a side view of the pet feeding device of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 shows a top view of the pet feeding device of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 5 shows a first three-dimensional exploded view of the pet feeding device of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 6 shows a second three-dimensional exploded view of the pet feeding device of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a network topology including an embodiment of a pet feeding system according to the invention, wherein the system includes the pet feeding device of FIG. 1 ; and FIGs 8A to 8F show a plurality of exemplary screenshots taken from a user interface of a pet feeding device according to the invention.
  • FIGs 1 to 6 An embodiment of a pet feeding device 10 (hereinafter “the device 10") according to the invention is shown in FIGs 1 to 6.
  • the pet feeding device 10 has the following external components: a front panel 12, a rear panel 14, a top panel 16, or lid, and a base 18.
  • the base 18 is supported by four rubber protrusions, or feet 20, attached to bottom corner regions of the base 18.
  • a bottom of the base 18 is slightly raised, i.e. slightly spaced apart from a surface on which the device 10 is positioned, in use.
  • the base 18 extends forwardly away from the front panel 12 to define a food receiving tray 22 and a water receiving tray 24 below a bottom edge of the front panel 12.
  • the trays 22, 24 are separated from each other by a central, operatively upright ridge formation, or partition 26.
  • the device 10 has a height of approximately 575 mm and a width (in both directions) of approximately 420 mm. It will, however, be appreciated that other embodiments of the device may have substantially different dimensions without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the external components identified above house a number of internal components which permit automated pet feeding and additional functionality, as will be described in detail below.
  • Openings 28, 30 are provided on either side of the front panel 12.
  • the openings 28, 30 reveal parts of a food storage unit 32, or food hopper, and a water storage unit 34, or water bottle/receptacle, respectively.
  • the food storage unit 32 and the water storage unit 34 are located between the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 and are operatively also covered by the top panel 16.
  • the food storage unit 32 and the water storage unit 34 are separated by a planar, operatively upright internal panel 44 (see FIGs 5 and 6).
  • the top panel 16 is hingedly connected to the rear panel 14 (see FIGs 3 and 4), while the front panel 12 is completely removable from the remainder of the external components.
  • the top panel 16 can be opened and/or the front panel 12 can be removed, in use, to permit the food storage unit 32 and the water storage unit 34 to be accessed and filled (manually) with pet food and water, respectively.
  • a food dispenser 36 is located below the food storage unit 32.
  • the food dispenser 36 includes an outer housing 38, an inner housing 40 and a screw arrangement 42 in the form of a screw or auger conveyer.
  • the screw arrangement 42 is positioned in the inner housing 40 and is configured for feeding predetermined amounts of food from the food storage unit 32 to the food receiving tray 22, via the food dispenser 36.
  • the screw arrangement 42 is coupled to a servo motor arrangement (not shown) and is adjustable so as either to retain food in the food storage unit 32 or cause food to be conveyed through the screw arrangement 42 and fall through a food slot 46 in which the screw arrangement 42 terminates, into the food receiving tray 22.
  • Activation, or a particular actuation (e.g. actuation into an opening or dispensing mode), of the servo motor arrangement may result in the food slot 46 being "opened", i.e. brought into fluid communication with the interior of the food storage unit 32, for a certain period of time, to allow a predefined amount of food to be gravity-fed from the food storage unit 32 through the food slot 46 and into the food receiving tray 22.
  • the food slot 46 may not be in fluid communication with the interior of the food storage unit 32, thereby preventing food from falling freely out of the food storage unit 32. It will be appreciated that the "opening" of the slot 46 may occur for a predefined period of time to allow the appropriate amount of food to drop. Alternatively, the amount of the food in the storage unit 32 or tray 22 may be measured and dispensing may stop once the storage unit 32 or tray 22 reaches a predefined amount or level.
  • a water dispenser in the form of a siphon arrangement 48 is located below the water storage unit 34.
  • the siphon arrangement 48 permits water from the water storage unit 34 to fill the water receiving tray 24. In use, when the tray 24 is at a full water level, pressure will prevent further water from escaping from the water storage unit 34, while water will travel into the water receiving tray 24 via the siphon arrangement 48 if a pet drinks from the tray 24 and the water level of the tray 24 drops.
  • a plug element 50 is shown.
  • a portion of the plug element 50 is eatable in the siphon arrangement 48, as shown in these drawings, to prevent water from escaping from the water storage unit 34, e.g. when the device 10 is not in use.
  • the plug element 50 would typically be removed from the position shown in FIGs 1 and 4 when the device 10 is in use.
  • Load cells 52, 54 are coupled to bottom regions of the food storage unit 32 and water storage unit 34 respectively.
  • the load cells 52, 54 are configured to measure the amount of food in the food storage unit 32 and the amount of water in the water storage unit 34, respectively.
  • load cells or other measuring devices may also be coupled to the trays 22, 24 (or one of the trays 22, 24).
  • the device 10 may further include one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs), one example of which is indicated by reference numeral 58 in FIGs 5 and 6, and another example of which is indicated by reference numeral 61 in these drawings.
  • PCBs 58, 61 are operatively positioned below the top panel 16.
  • a GSM module may also be included or may form part of one of the PCBs 58, 61 .
  • the top panel 16 is provided with a SIM card hatch 60 covering a hatchway 56 through which a SIM card can be inserted into the GSM module.
  • a user interface 62 in the form of a touch-sensitive display is incorporated into the top panel 16 and may be covered by a transparent cover element 63. Operatively, the display 62 is positioned below an opening 56 which may be covered by the cover 63.
  • One or both of the PCBs 58, 61 are configured to act as a control module of the device 10.
  • the control module may be configured to control dispensing operations, to control the GSM module and to control the user interface 62.
  • the GSM module acts as a communication unit of the device 10 for receiving data from a user's communication device and for transmitting data to the user's communication device.
  • the control unit may be in wired communication with the dispensing arrangement, e.g. the servo motor arrangement, the load cells 52, 54 and the user interface 62.
  • the topology 70 of FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a system for feeding a pet.
  • the system includes the device 10 substantially as described with reference to FIGs 1 to 6.
  • the device 10 is in wireless communication with a remotely located user device 72.
  • the user device 72 is a mobile phone of a user 74 (e.g. a pet owner).
  • the user device 72 is configured to communicate with a GSM module 71 of the device 10 over a cellular network 76.
  • the device 10 is located in a home 78 of the user 74 such that a pet 80 of the user 74 can be fed while the user 74 is away from the home 78 (and/or automatically while the user 74 is at the home 78).
  • the GSM module 71 is configured wirelessly to receive user input from the user device 72, in this case via SMS.
  • the control unit 73 of the device 10 is in turn configured to receive the user input from the GSM module 71 , process the user input to obtain dispensing instructions, and to transmit the dispensing instructions to the food dispenser 36 (i.e. the servo motor arrangement, to cause food to be dispensed into the tray 22).
  • the siphon arrangement 48 operates independently, i.e. not based on instructions from the control unit 73.
  • a water dispenser may be provided which also receives dispensing instructions from the control unit 73.
  • Various user input i.e. instructions
  • the instructions may include a dispensing schedule, e.g. exact times or time intervals and amounts to be dispensed.
  • the GSM module 71 is also configured to transmit user notifications to the user device 72 via SMS.
  • the device 10 is configured to provide the user 74 with indications of the status and activity of the device 10 to provide the user 74 with greater certainty regarding the availability of food/water and whether or not dispensing is actually taking place.
  • One or more of the following user notifications may be transmitted:
  • a status notification data obtained by the control unit 73 from the load cells 52, 54 regarding the amount of food and/or water left in the storage units 32, 34 may be transmitted to the user device 72 to provide the user 74 with an indication of the availability, level or amount of food/water. This may, for instance, be expressed as a percentage remaining or a percentage used.
  • the status notification may be transmitted automatically, e.g. at certain time intervals, or in response to a request from the user 74, e.g. the user 74 may send an SMS with the text "STATUS" to the GSM module 71 , in response to which the control unit 73 causes a status notification to be generated and sent back by the GSM module 71 .
  • a dispensing notification an SMS may be transmitted to the user device 72 each time dispensing takes place.
  • the control unit 73 may be configured to determine, e.g. by reading data from the load cells 52, 54 and/or by obtaining feedback from the servo motor arrangement or a component coupled thereto, that food and/or water has actually been dispensed into one or both of the trays 22, 24.
  • measuring devices may be coupled to the trays 22, 24 which may provide an indication that food and/or water has been dispensed into one or both trays.
  • the user 74 may be provided with confirmation in the form of a dispensing notification.
  • the dispensing notification may be transmitted automatically, e.g. each time dispensing takes place, or in response to a request from the user 74 checking whether dispensing has taken place. In some cases, the dispensing notification may be sent by the device 10 without first checking whether dispensing was actually successful.
  • the control unit 73 may be configured to establish an alert condition and the user device 72 may be notified of such alert condition.
  • the alert condition may, for instance, be a determination that a measured amount of food/water is below a predefined threshold or that there is no food/water left in the food storage unit 32 / water storage unit 34.
  • the alert condition may be a determination that dispensing was unsuccessful or that dispensing has not occurred as scheduled.
  • the control unit 73 may determine that although a dispensing instruction was transmitted to the servo motor arrangement controlling dispensing from the food storage unit 32, the amount of food in the food storage unit 32 has remained the same or has not reduced to a predefined extent.
  • the alert notification may simply be a status notification sent when a risk event is sensed.
  • This feature may allow the user to transmit user input, e.g. an immediate dispensing command, or to take other action such as arranging for human intervention, to ensure that the pet 80 has enough food/water.
  • the control unit 73 may be configured to generate and transmit a dispensing instruction of its own accord if an alert condition is established or sensed. This dispensing instruction is an emergency dispensing instruction and is not based directly on user input. It should be understood that various other alert conditions may be programmed into or transmitted to the device 10, either remotely from the user device 72 or using the user interface 62 on the device 10.
  • control unit 73 may be configured such that, in response to receipt of an SMS with the text "F1 " by the GSM module 71 , a predefined portion of food is dispensed.
  • the control unit 73 may be further configured such that, if the GSM module 71 receives the text "F2" in an SMS, two times the predefined portion of food is dispensed.
  • the control unit 73 may also be configured, in response to receipt of a query message from the user device 72, to transmit a user notification to the user device. For instance, if the GSM module 71 receives an SMS with the text "Q", a status notification may be transmitted to the user device 72.
  • control unit 73 is not only configured to receive user input from and transmit notifications to the user device 72.
  • the control unit 73 is also in communication with the user interface 62 incorporated in the device 10 and is configured to receive user input from and transmit notifications to the user interface 62.
  • FIG. 8A illustrates an example of a status notification displayed on the user interface 62.
  • the status notification provides an indication of the amount of food and water remaining in the water and food storage units.
  • the pet feeding device may also be configured to measure an amount of food in the food receiving tray and display such amount as "%Bowl". In such a case, an additional measuring arrangement may be required for the tray.
  • the status notification also indicates the number of times the pet 80 has been fed since a previous refill.
  • a status notification transmitted to the user device 72, as described with reference to FIG. 7 above, may include similar information.
  • the two dots shown below the picture of the dog in FIG. 8A may change colour during dispensing or to indicate some sort of alert or status.
  • the user interface 62 may allow the user 74 to provide various forms of dispensing instructions, as described above, and to calibrate the device and/or adjust other settings associated with the device. Examples of these features are illustrated in FIGs 8B to 8F.
  • FIG. 8B illustrates a main menu.
  • Setup menu may be used, e.g., to change a date and time or service provider, calibrate scales/measuring devices and set up communications settings.
  • Manual feed may be selected to dispense food into the food tray immediately, i.e. it may provide an immediate dispensing instruction.
  • “Feed set” may be used to change or switch between modes such as automatic feeding, manual feeding or for the enabling of user notifications.
  • FIG. 8C illustrates the setup menu. This example of the setup menu provides the following options:
  • FIG. 8D illustrates the communications menu where the features listed under "Comms" can be accessed.
  • FIG. 8E illustrates the calibration menu.
  • the food hopper, water receptacle and food bowl can be calibrated to ensure that they perform accurate measurements.
  • the food hopper and water receptible may be calibrated before food or water is added to the device to set empty levels. They may then be filled completely, after which full levels may be set. This may also be done in respect of the trays in cases where the trays are also actively measured/monitored.
  • FIG. 8F illustrates the feeding setup menu where the features listed under "Feed set" above may be accessed.
  • the features and menus described above with reference to a user interface of the pet feeding device may be implemented as a software application.
  • the user may be provided with a mobile application that provides the user interface and functionality as shown in FIGs 8A to 8F allowing for remote interaction with the pet feeding device.
  • the electrical/electronic components described herein may be battery-powered or powered via a main power supply of a building.
  • sensory data transmission, recording and/or reception means may be included in the pet feeding device.
  • sensory data transmission means in the form of a speaker may be provided in the pet feeding device to call out a pet's name when it is feeding time.
  • Sensory data recording means in the form of a microphone may also be provided, allowing sounds from the pet to be recorded and then transmitted to the owner's device. This may essentially provide two-way communication between a pet and an owner.
  • Embodiments of the present invention permit a user (pet owner or other individual) to control and schedule the dispensing of food and/or water remotely, and also to adjust such a schedule remotely, if necessary.
  • the user may also be notified that dispensing has occurred, i.e. that the pet has received the required food and/or water.
  • the user may remain informed, in some cases from a remote location, regarding whether or not there is sufficient food or water remaining in the pet feeding device to sustain the pet for a required period of time.
  • the present invention may also ensure that the user is informed should a dispensing problem (alert condition) arise, e.g. should there be a problem with a food dispensing mechanism.
  • Embodiments of the present invention further provide for remote communication (one- way or two-way communication) between a pet owner and a pet.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Birds (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Feeding And Watering For Cattle Raising And Animal Husbandry (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif d'alimentation d'animal domestique (10). Le dispositif comprend au moins une unité de stockage (32, 34), un agencement de distribution, une unité de communication et une unité de commande. L'unité ou les unités de stockage (32, 34) sont conçues pour stocker des aliments pour animaux domestiques et/ou de l'eau. L'agencement de distribution est conçu pour distribuer les aliments pour animaux domestiques et/ou l'eau à partir de l'unité ou des unités de stockage. L'unité de communication est conçue sans fil pour recevoir une entrée d'utilisateur en provenance d'un dispositif d'utilisateur à distance et pour transmettre au moins une notification d'utilisateur au dispositif d'utilisateur à distance. La notification d'utilisateur est une notification d'état et/ou une notification de distribution et/ou une notification d'alerte. L'unité de commande est couplée en communication à l'unité de communication et est conçue pour transmettre des instructions de distribution à l'agencement de distribution. Les instructions de distribution sont basées au moins partiellement sur l'entrée d'utilisateur reçue.
PCT/IB2018/057281 2017-09-21 2018-09-21 Dispositif d'alimentation d'animal domestique WO2019058311A1 (fr)

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CN110800636A (zh) * 2019-12-10 2020-02-18 山东农业工程学院 一种宠物交互喂养装置
US20210195873A1 (en) * 2018-08-06 2021-07-01 KSRM Co., Ltd. Smart pet care system
WO2024081386A1 (fr) * 2022-10-12 2024-04-18 Reliable Pet Solutions Llc Dispositif d'alimentation automatique pour animal de compagnie

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US20150068463A1 (en) * 2013-09-08 2015-03-12 Jason Worry Pet treat dispenser system
EP2923567A1 (fr) * 2014-03-26 2015-09-30 Pfeiffs Feeder AB Unité de commande de distributeur de nourriture pour gibier ou poisson
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WO2016142866A1 (fr) * 2015-03-09 2016-09-15 I Pet Interactive Technology (Hk) Co., Ltd. Système d'alimentation automatique pour animaux de compagnie

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US20150342150A1 (en) * 2012-09-19 2015-12-03 Krystalka R. Womble Method and System for Remote Monitoring, Care and Maintenance of Animals
US20160029592A1 (en) * 2013-06-19 2016-02-04 Radio Systems Corporation Networked Automatic Animal Feeding System
US20150068463A1 (en) * 2013-09-08 2015-03-12 Jason Worry Pet treat dispenser system
EP2923567A1 (fr) * 2014-03-26 2015-09-30 Pfeiffs Feeder AB Unité de commande de distributeur de nourriture pour gibier ou poisson
US20160021848A1 (en) * 2014-07-28 2016-01-28 James MOYER Automated Animal Feeder
WO2016117764A1 (fr) * 2015-01-23 2016-07-28 Mcaresys Corporation Internet des objets apte à une communication bidirectionnelle avec un animal de compagnie à l'aide d'un téléphone mobile
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20210195873A1 (en) * 2018-08-06 2021-07-01 KSRM Co., Ltd. Smart pet care system
CN110800636A (zh) * 2019-12-10 2020-02-18 山东农业工程学院 一种宠物交互喂养装置
CN110800636B (zh) * 2019-12-10 2022-03-04 山东农业工程学院 一种宠物交互喂养装置
WO2024081386A1 (fr) * 2022-10-12 2024-04-18 Reliable Pet Solutions Llc Dispositif d'alimentation automatique pour animal de compagnie

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