US 12,433,250 B2
Method and apparatus for monitoring and/or controlling food access for a caged animal
Yaser Maddahi, Winnipeg (CA); and Ali Maddahi, Winnipeg (CA)
Assigned to Tactile Robotics Ltd., Winnipeg (CA)
Filed by TACTILE ROBOTICS LTD., Winnipeg (CA)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/186,289.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/321,368, filed on Mar. 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0292706 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. A01K 5/02 (2006.01); A01K 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 5/0291 (2013.01) [A01K 29/005 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control apparatus for controlling access of an animal in a cage to a consumable, the cage including a stationary receptacle suspended within the cage and supporting the consumable therein such that the consumable is accessible to the animal in the cage through an access opening of the stationary receptacle in which the stationary receptacle comprises a grate formed of bars with gaps between the bars defining said access opening, the control apparatus comprising:
an access door arranged to be supported for movement relative to the stationary receptacle between a closed position blocking access of the animal in the cage to the access opening of the stationary receptacle and an open position in which the access opening of the stationary receptacle is substantially unobstructed by the access door;
a door actuator arranged to drive displacement of the access door between the open position the closed position; and
a controller comprising a memory storing programming instructions thereon and a processor arranged to execute the programming instructions stored on the memory whereby the controller is arranged to actuate the door actuator to open and close the access door according to respective scheduled times stored on the controller.