US 12,446,544 B2
Automatic animal feeding system for self disposing of used food pods
Peter Franklin, Austin, TX (US); Jeffrey Pon, Southlake, TX (US); Matthew Firlik, Buena Park, CA (US); Eric Liu, Houston, TX (US); George Turvey, Brookdale, CA (US); and Charles Putland, Ben Lomond, CA (US)
Assigned to PAWS FORWARD INC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by PAWS FORWARD INC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/464,974.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/375,651, filed on Sep. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0081278 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. A01K 5/02 (2006.01); A01K 5/01 (2006.01); A01K 29/00 (2006.01); G06F 21/44 (2013.01); G06V 10/77 (2022.01); B67B 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 5/0283 (2013.01) [A01K 5/0114 (2013.01); A01K 5/0121 (2013.01); A01K 5/0128 (2013.01); A01K 5/0208 (2013.01); A01K 5/0225 (2013.01); A01K 5/0233 (2013.01); A01K 5/025 (2013.01); A01K 5/0275 (2013.01); A01K 5/0291 (2013.01); A01K 29/005 (2013.01); G06F 21/44 (2013.01); G06V 10/7715 (2022.01); B67B 7/38 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic pet feeding system that implements an automatic feeding process, the automatic pet feeding system comprising:
a base having a pod chamber, the base being rotatable about a center point within a disposal compartment;
a stationary plate having a disposal port that is above the pod chamber and parallel to the base, wherein the stationary plate is configured to remain stationary during rotation of the base;
a rotary plate positioned above the stationary plate and having a food pod holder with a depth and cross section area sized to hold a food pod, wherein the depth of the food pod holder defines a path toward at least one of: a weight sensor, the stationary plate, or the disposal port of the stationary plate;
a gear assembly defining a gear ratio between the rotary plate and the base; and
a base rotation motor that is actuatable to cause the rotary plate, the base, and the pod chamber to rotate, and wherein the rotary plate rotates at a different angular velocity than the base based on the gear ratio.