U.S. patent application number 15/507720 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-19 for spiraling frustoconical dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is CLEVERPET, INC. Invention is credited to Jarrod BARKER, Rodney BROWN, Daniel KNUDSEN, Aaron NOTT, Leo TROTTIER.
Application Number | 20170295750 15/507720 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60039267 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170295750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TROTTIER; Leo ; et
al. |
October 19, 2017 |
SPIRALING FRUSTOCONICAL DISPENSER
Abstract
A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects includes
a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped.
The first housing portion has a first end proximate a supply of
objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are
to be dispensed. There is a spiral race, disposed on an interior
surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first
end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the
objects to be dispensed travel.
Inventors: |
TROTTIER; Leo; (San Diego,
CA) ; KNUDSEN; Daniel; (San Diego, CA) ;
BARKER; Jarrod; (Richmond, AU) ; BROWN; Rodney;
(Richmond, AU) ; NOTT; Aaron; (Richmond,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CLEVERPET, INC |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60039267 |
Appl. No.: |
15/507720 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
August 28, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2015/047431 |
371 Date: |
February 28, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62045262 |
Sep 3, 2014 |
|
|
|
62044104 |
Aug 29, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 5/0114 20130101;
B65D 83/0409 20130101; A01K 5/0233 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01K 5/02 20060101
A01K005/02; B65D 83/04 20060101 B65D083/04; A01K 5/01 20060101
A01K005/01 |
Claims
1. A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects,
comprising: a housing having a first housing portion which is
conically-shaped, the first housing portion having a first end
proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location
where the objects are to be dispensed; and a spiral race, disposed
on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending
from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion,
along which the objects to be dispensed travel.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a second
housing portion with a first end and a second end; wherein the
first end of the first housing portion is interconnected with the
first end of the second housing portion.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second housing portion is
frusto-conical in shape.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the first housing portion and the
second housing portion are mechanically detachable.
5. The device of claim 2, wherein the second housing portion has a
hopper in its interior for holding a supply of objects.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein surface of the hopper is angled
to urge the objects toward the first housing portion.
7. The device of claim 5, wherein the second housing portion
includes an opening with a mechanically detachable lid through
which the supply of objects can be introduced to the hopper.
8. The device of claim 2, wherein the second housing portion
includes a spiral race disposed on its interior surface which
aligns with the spiral race disposed on the interior surface of the
first housing portion; the second housing portion holding a supply
of objects.
9. The device of claim 5, wherein the housing has a longitudinal
axis and the spiral race on the interior surface of the first
housing portion is disposed about the longitudinal axis.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the second housing portion
includes a plurality of aggregating ribs on the interior surface of
the second housing portion, the aggregating ribs having lengths
substantially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and
widths substantially in a direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein the housing has a longitudinal
axis and the spiral races on the interior surfaces of the first and
second housing portions are disposed about the longitudinal
axis.
12. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second housing
portions are frustoconical in shape.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first end of the first
housing portion is wider than the second end of first housing
portion.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing is disposed on a
mount to enable rotation of the housing about the longitudinal
axis; wherein when the housing is rotated the objects to be
dispensed travel from the hopper along the spiral race due to
frictional engagement between the spiral race and the objects.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the housing is angled upwards,
relative to a surface on which the device is disposed, from the
second end of the second housing portion to the second end of the
first housing portion.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the second end of the first
housing portion comprises an opening for the exit of the
objects.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein the objects to be dispensed are
particles of food.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the particles range from 0.4 cm
to 4.0 cm.
19. The device of claim 16, further including a drive system
configured to cause rotation of the housing.
20. The device of claim 19, further including a controller in
communication with the drive system to control rotation of the
housing to dispense objects from the opening in the second end of
the first housing portion one object at a time.
21. The device of claim 1, wherein the spiral race includes a
spiral wall extending from the interior surface of the first
housing portion.
22. The device of claim 1, wherein the spiral wall extending from
the interior surface of the first housing portion is formed by
indenting an exterior surface of the first housing portion.
23. A system for training animals, comprising: a food container; an
interactive device for providing stimulation to the animal in order
to elicit a response from the animal; and a dispensing device for
sequentially dispensing individual particles of food to the food
container in response to input from the interactive device, the
dispensing device including: a housing having a first housing
portion interconnected to a second housing portion, the first
housing portion being conically-shaped and having a first end
interconnected to the second housing portion and a second end
proximate the food container; wherein the first housing portion has
a spiral race disposed on its interior surface extending from the
first end to the second end of the first housing portion, and
wherein the second housing portion has a hopper in its interior for
holding a supply of food particles; a mount on which the housing is
rotatably mounted to enable rotation of the housing about a
longitudinal axis of the housing; wherein when the housing is
rotated the food particles travel from the hopper along the spiral
race due to frictional engagement between the spiral race and the
food particles, until the particles are individually dispensed
through an opening in the second housing portion to the food
container.
24. The system of claim 23 wherein the housing of the dispensing
device is detachable from the mount.
25. The system of claim 23 wherein the housing is inclined at an
upward angle from the second housing portion to the first housing
portion.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein one or more of the following
parameters can be adjusted to control the travel of food particles
along the spiral race: the angle of incline of the housing, the
rotational speed of the housing, and the height, pitch and
frictional properties of the spiral race.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.371, this application is a U.S.
National Phase application of PCT/US2015/047431 filed Aug. 28,
2015, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/045,262, filed Sep. 3, 2014 and
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/044,104, filed Aug. 29, 2014,
all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present device relates to the dispensing of items from
an available plurality of items and more particularly to a device
for dispensing individual pieces of food in an interactive animal
training system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Dispensing apparatus for objects have been developed over
the years in many configurations. In the case of the dispensing of
food in small sizes, for instance gum balls dispensed in candy
dispensers, and as shown herein, kibble and animal treats dispensed
from a supply of such, the majority of such dispensing devices are
not well adapted to dispense a single item, when the supply of such
items, for instance as noted dry kibble for dogs and cats, comes in
a large stacked or reservoir-held supply. Using the example of
kibble, because it is lightweight, dry, and generally within a
small deviation in size, dispensers such as shoveling devices, or
drop-filling devices, are generally unable to dispense a single
kibble, repeatedly. Herein, the process of sequentially dispensing
a single item from a larger supply of such items is known as
"singulation" and systems that do this are said to "singulate".
[0004] Further, when the housed-supply is of unequal or numerous
sizes, dispensing devices, especially in the noted arena of pet
food dispensers, are unable to sort the housed-supply to deliver
smaller, or larger sized individual kibble, or item, from the mix
of sizes. Further, the ability to repeat this sorting where a
single maximum or minimum sized object, from a stored supply of
such objects in varying sizes, and to do so repeatedly, while
concurrently dispensing a single unit at a time, is not found in
the prior art.
[0005] As such, there is an unmet need for a dispensing device,
which is employable to dispense individual units, from communicable
supplies of a product or material, stored for such dispensing. Such
a device should be employable to repeatedly, and reliably dispense,
a single unit from the supply of food, or other material being
dispensed whether the supply thereof is heterogeneous or
homogeneous in nature. In addition to singular repeated sequential
delivery, such a device ideally also should be mechanically and
operably configurable, to sort the available supply of such
material by size, and to then dispense individual units of
substantially the same size from the available supply, while
rejecting the units of material which are either larger or smaller
than is wanted for dispensing. Still further, such a device should
be able to concurrently sort the dispensed material to size and
concurrently deliver individual units thereof, singularly and
sequentially, as needed, and do so reliably.
[0006] The forgoing examples of related art and limitation related
therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and
they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and
claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and
understanding of the specification below and the accompanying
drawings. Further, while the device and method herein are directed
to the dispensing of food for animals from a supply thereof
available for ease of understanding of the principals of operation
of the device, in no manner should such be considered limiting and
those skilled in the art will immediately ascertain on reading this
disclosure other modes of employment of the dispensing apparatus.
All such uses and deployments as would occur to those skilled in
the art, are considered to be within the scope of this
application.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
dispensing component which may be adapted for use with any
dispensing apparatus or may be employed by itself for singular
dispensing sequentially of individual objects from a supply
thereof.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device
and method which will reliably and sequentially deliver or
dispense, single individual items from a supply thereof,
irrespective of whether the supply is formed of a heterogeneous or
homogeneous mix of the items being delivered.
[0009] It is an additional object of this invention to provide such
a dispensing component which may also be mechanically, or
operationally, configured to sort the material dispensed and
deliver individual units thereof, sequentially and substantially of
a determined size.
[0010] In accordance with the invention, there is a device
employing a spiraling frustoconical race to communicate individual
items to a dispensing end, from a reservoir of such items located
at a lower end of the device. Additionally, the dispensing
apparatus is configurable to provide a sorting of the available
supply of items fed to the race by size, depending on the actual
configuration and rotational speed of the device in operation.
While employable to sort or dispense individual items from a supply
thereof for a multitude of purposes, the device herein is currently
adapted for the dispensing of kibble or dry pet or dog treats
although those skilled in the art will recognize numerous other
applications which are considered within the scope of this
application.
[0011] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as
embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention
provides a device and method for the reliable sequential dispensing
of respective individual objects or items, from a communicable
supply of such items or objects. The device can be employed by
itself, once placed in communication with a supply of objects to be
dispensed, or, it may be employed in operational engagement with
any component or machinery required to singulate, or sequentially
dispense individual items or objects, from the available
communicated supply thereof to be dispensed.
[0012] In a mode disclosed herein for the dispensing of pet treats
or food, for a convenient understanding of the invention and its
operation, the device is employable to dispense individual dry pet
treats or kibble, from a supply thereof available. In operation
generally, individual objects from the supply available are
repeatedly dispensed and as shown herein used for dispensing
individual dog treats or kibble, individual pieces of the dry
kibble or treats, can be operatively dispensed by the device upon
initiation of operation by communicating power to a motor which
will operate the device to dispense.
[0013] Shown in the various figures, the device whether employed as
a unitary dispensing component or in combination with machinery
adapted to dispense, is formed as a frustoconical housing which is
adapted for rotation when operatively engaged to a dispensing
apparatus. The housing features a novel spiral race extending from
a first side edge engaged with the interior surface of the sidewall
of an interior cavity of the housing, defined by the sidewall. The
race extends to a distal edge a distance away from the engagement
with the sidewall of the housing. So engaged, the race follows a
spiral pathway within the interior cavity from the widest portion
of the frustoconical housing, to an aperture located at the
opposite and narrower end of the housing.
[0014] The housing is engaged to rotate along a central axis which
is positioned at an inclining angle placing the narrower end of the
housing elevated above the wider end of the housing. During
rotational movement of the housing around its axis, imparted by
energizing an operatively engaged electric motor, the race on the
interior cavity which is in communication with the supply of
individual objects to be dispensed within the wider end of the
interior cavity, through a frictional engagement with individual
pieces or objects, will transport respective individual objects or
pieces upward within the interior cavity along the spiral race.
[0015] Upon reaching the aperture located at the elevated narrow
end of the housing, the individual objects, or in this case, pieces
of kibble, are ejected from the housing through the aperture. Once
ejected from the interior cavity by the motion of the race, the
objects may be dispensed using the force of the falling object to
operatively dispense it.
[0016] As shown herein in use in operative engagement with a
dispensing apparatus, a chute is positioned in operative engagement
with the aperture of the device whereby ejected objects such as
kibble from the supply within the housing, are directed during
falling to a bowl. In the mode herein to dispense pet food or
treats, the bowl receiving the falling kibble may be initially
positioned out of reach of the animal and thereafter positioned for
consumption of the kibble in the bowl, by translation of the bowl
from a covered position to an uncovered position wherein the
animal, such as a dog, may eat and enjoy the dispensed food or
treat.
[0017] While as noted the device is employable to dispense
individual units from any heterogeneous or homogeneous supply of
such, the device may also be employed to sort and dispense one size
range of objects from a supply having varying sizes of such which
is housed within the wider end of the interior cavity. The size
elevated and ejected by the spiral race, can be limited by the
distance of extension of the race from the interior sidewall of the
housing. Such may be adjusted to cause differing sizes to be
transported up the race while others are rejected due to falling
from an elevated position on the race which is sized to cause such
a tumble. Additionally, the rotational speed of the housing, and
thus the speed of the race, can be adjusted to enhance such a
sorting due to gravitational pull and sliding of individual objects
on the race which are too large to be supported during the rotation
of the housing.
[0018] In one aspect, the invention features a device for
sequentially dispensing individual objects including a housing
having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped. The first
housing portion having a first end proximate a supply of objects
and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be
dispensed. There is a spiral race disposed on an interior surface
of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to
the second end of the first housing portion, along which the
objects to be dispensed travel.
[0019] In other aspects of the invention one or more of the
following features may be included. The housing may comprise a
second housing portion with a first end and a second end, wherein
the first end of the first housing portion is interconnected with
the first end of the second housing portion. The second housing
portion may be frusto-conical in shape. The first housing portion
and the second housing portion may be mechanically detachable. The
second housing portion may have a hopper in its interior for
holding a supply of objects and wherein a surface of the hopper may
be angled to urge the objects toward the first housing portion. The
second housing portion may include an opening with a mechanically
detachable lid through which the supply of objects can be
introduced to the hopper. The second housing portion may include a
spiral race disposed on its interior surface which aligns with the
spiral race disposed on the interior surface of the first housing
portion; the second housing portion holding a supply of objects.
The housing may have a longitudinal axis and the spiral race on the
interior surface of the first housing portion is disposed about the
longitudinal axis. The second housing portion may include a
plurality of aggregating ribs on the interior surface of the second
housing portion, the aggregating ribs having lengths substantially
in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and widths
substantially in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis. The housing may have a longitudinal axis and the spiral races
on the interior surfaces of the first and second housing portions
are disposed about the longitudinal axis. The first and second
housing portions may be frustoconical in shape. The first end of
the first housing portion may be wider than the second end of first
housing portion. The housing may be disposed on a mount to enable
rotation of the housing about the longitudinal axis; wherein when
the housing is rotated the objects to be dispensed travel from the
hopper along the spiral race due to frictional engagement between
the spiral race and the objects. The housing may be angled upwards,
relative to a surface on which the device is disposed, from the
second end of the second housing portion to the second end of the
first housing portion. The second end of the first housing portion
may comprise an opening for the exit of the objects. The objects to
be dispensed may be particles of food and the particles may range
from 0.4 cm to 4.0 cm. There may further be included a drive system
configured to cause rotation of the housing. There may also be
included a controller in communication with the drive system to
control rotation of the housing to dispense objects from the
opening in the second end of the first housing portion one object
at a time. The spiral race may include a spiral wall extending from
the interior surface of the first housing portion. The spiral wall
may extend from the interior surface of the first housing portion
is formed by indenting an exterior surface of the first housing
portion.
[0020] In another aspect of the invention, there is a system for
training animals, comprising a food container and an interactive
device for providing stimulation to the animal in order to elicit a
response from the animal. There is a dispensing device for
sequentially dispensing individual particles of food to the food
container in response to input from the interactive device. The
dispensing device includes a housing having a first housing portion
interconnected to a second housing portion. The first housing
portion is conically-shaped and has a first end interconnected to
the second housing portion and a second end proximate the food
container. The first housing portion has a spiral race disposed on
its interior surface extending from the first end to the second end
of the first housing portion, and the second housing portion has a
hopper in its interior for holding a supply of food particles.
There is a mount on which the housing is rotatably mounted to
enable rotation of the housing about a longitudinal axis of the
housing. When the housing is rotated the food particles travel from
the hopper along the spiral race due to frictional engagement
between the spiral race and the food particles, until the particles
are individually dispensed through an opening in the second housing
portion to the food container.
[0021] In other aspects of the invention one or more of the
following features may be included. The housing of the dispensing
device may be detachable from the mount. The housing may be
inclined at an upward angle from the second housing portion to the
first housing portion. One or more of the following parameters may
be adjusted to control the travel of food particles along the
spiral race: the angle of incline of the housing, the rotational
speed of the housing, and the height, pitch and frictional
properties of the spiral race.
[0022] As noted while the frustoconical housing and
narrowing-spiral race are shown in a mode for dispensing pet food
or treats and used in combination with dispensing machinery, the
device is capable of employment by itself to dispense single units
from any supply thereof and also could be employed for any number
of other dispensing and/or sorting tasks. Consequently, with
respect to the above description, before explaining at least one
preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed frustoconical
dispensing and sorting device and method in detail, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to
the details of construction and to the arrangement of the
components in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The frustoconical housing with spiral narrowing race may
be adapted for use in various other modes and combinations and is
also capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and
carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled
in the art. Any such alternative configuration as would occur to
those skilled in the art is considered within the scope of this
patent. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only
nor exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the
disclosed frustoconical dispensing device and method. It is
intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to
be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than
limiting in any fashion.
[0024] In the drawings:
[0025] FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a dispensing device for
pet food, having the frustoconical dispensing device herein in
operative engagement therewith.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of FIG. 1, along line 2-2.
[0027] FIG. 3 depicts a view of the frustoconical housing device
herein showing the sidewall forming the exterior surface and an
inclined operational axis.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of FIG. 3, along line 4-4.
[0029] FIG. 5 depicts a sectional view of FIG. 3, along line
5-5.
[0030] FIG. 6 depicts one mode of the device herein engaged with
the component of FIG. 1 which is shown with the outer housing
removed.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows another view of the device as engaged in FIG.
6, showing the gravitational delivery of ejected material or
objects from the interior cavity of the housing, through a chute to
a dispensing bowl.
[0032] FIG. 8 depicts an alternate embodiment of the frustoconical
housing device.
[0033] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of FIG. 8 along line 9-9.
[0034] FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of the frustoconical first
housing portion.
[0035] FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of FIG. 10 along line
11-11.
[0036] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the wider, second housing
portion.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a different isometric view of the second housing
portion shown in FIG. 12.
[0038] FIGS. 14a-c show another embodiment of a frustoconical first
housing portion, which is made by two injection molded halves which
are combined to form the final assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-13, wherein similar
components are identified by like reference numerals, there is
shown an exemplar dispensing device 10 which could be utilized in,
for example, interactive animal training system 1, FIG. 1. As shown
in FIG. 2, device 10 is operationally engageable for dispensing,
using an inclined orientation of the first, narrower section 12 of
the frustoconical housing 14, elevated above the wider, second
section 15. So positioned in an incline, powered means for rotation
such as the gears 16 operatively connected to a motor (not visible
in FIG. 2) are employed to rotate device 10 to dispense and/or sort
individual items, such as pieces of animal food. The items exit the
first portion 12 proximate the narrow end and travel down a chute
17 and into dispensing bowl 18. The food in dispensing bowl 18 can
be made accessible to an animal according to a desired feeding
and/or training algorithm implemented by training system 1. Such a
training system and algorithm is described in U.S. Provisional
Application titled No. 62/045,262, filed on Sep. 3, 2014, and in
PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2015/047896, filed on Sep. 1,
2015.
[0040] As seen in FIG. 3, frustoconical housing 14 of device 10 is
defined by an exterior sidewall 19 forming the exterior surface of
housing 14 and, as noted, may be employed for singular dispensing
sequentially of individual units from any heterogeneous or
homogeneous mix of material or objects, by itself, or in
combination with other mechanical dispensing components as shown
herein. In use singularly or in combination with another component,
the incline shown in FIG. 2, is again depicted in FIG. 3 which
shows the axis 20 running through the center of the housing 14, at
an incline thereby elevating the first, narrower section 12 of the
housing 14, above the wider, section 15. In all modes of operation
some such incline is employed, however the angle of incline may be
adjusted to help sort the material being dispensed, or to better
deliver individual objects or pieces during operation.
[0041] In FIG. 4 is depicted, a sectional view of FIG. 3, along
line 4-4 thereof, showing the interior cavity 22 of the housing 14.
The first section 12 removably engages with second section 15 and
each section 12 and 15 may be frusto-conical in shape. Second
frustoconical section 15 has a hopper portion 21 which is
configured to hold the supply of material to be dispensed from the
elevated aperture 24 after travel up the spiraling race 26. The
lower section 15 is depicted with a mechanically removable door 23
through which new objects may be introduced into hopper portion 21
of the housing 14.
[0042] The spiraling race 26, as shown in more detail the sectional
view of FIG. 5 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3, extends from a first
side edge of race 26 engaged with the interior sidewall 19' of
interior cavity 22 of the housing 14. The race 26 extends to a
distal edge a distance "L" away from the engagement with the
sidewall 19'. So engaged, the race 26 follows a spiral pathway
within the interior cavity 22 from the second frustoconical section
15 of the housing to the first frustoconical section 12 and out
aperture 24 located at the elevated end housing 14.
[0043] When operatively engaged to rotate along a central axis 20
positioned at the noted inclined angle, e, the race 26 in
communication with the supply of individual objects to be dispensed
from hopper 21 within the second frustoconical section 15, through
frictional engagement with individual pieces or objects, transports
respective individual objects or pieces upward within the interior
cavity 22 along the spiral race 26 wherein the pieces are ejected
individually from the aperture 24 for dispensing.
[0044] The frictional properties of the sidewall 19' and/or the
spiral race 26 may be modified to provide different levels of
singulation for objects of different textures to be dispensed. For
example, a textured surface, or dimples, or a pattern of raised
dots may be added to the surface if the supply of objects to be
singulated has a smoother texture. Singulation of differently sized
objects may be achieved by changing the height "L" of the race (see
FIG. 5), the cross-sectional aspect, or the pitch (number of
spirals) of the race along the housing wall. In combination with
the frictional properties of the sidewall and race, these
parameters may be altered to service different collections of
objects for singulation. Larger objects, for example, will be less
likely to climb to the top of the spiral before falling back down
due to their mass. Likewise, the race height "L" can be made higher
or lower depending on the objects to be dispensed, or it may have a
different value along the extent of the race. If the race height
"L" is small enough, a certain percentage of objects will tumble
backward down the housing as their centers of gravity reside above
"L" and they are no longer supported by the race. This is a key
feature of a mechanism that supports singulation; as objects
progress along the race in the direction of the longitudinal axis,
they lift up the sidewall and end up perched atop the particle that
had just been below them along the race. Since they are now perched
atop a second object, they are more likely to be above the race
height "L" and often fall backward, leading to only the piece that
had been below continuing up along the race. In this way, groups of
objects that might otherwise have been dispensed together are
separated and singulated.
[0045] The angle, .theta., of elevation of the device, as well as
the speed of rotation of the device, have a large effect on the
characteristics of singulation. In certain embodiments, the
parameters of device angle, device speed, race height and pitch,
and frictional properties of the race and side walls can be made to
lead to not only singulation of objects, but a sorting of objects
based on their parameters, e.g. a smaller value of "L" will lead
to, on average, smaller pieces being dispensed sooner than larger
pieces.
[0046] The above described parameters may be adjusted based on the
particular application and/or objects to be dispensed.
[0047] The device 10 is shown in one mode of use in FIGS. 6 and 7,
where it is incorporated in the animal interactive training system
1, FIG. 1. At the end of second frustoconical section 15 housing 14
is affixed to a mount (not shown) and at the end of first section
12 housing 14 is affixed to mount 30 which together support housing
14 and allow it to rotate about axis 20. This is accomplished by
motor 31 driving gear 32 and gear 16 affixed to housing 14. The
rotation of gear 16 causes housing 14 to rotate about axis 20. As
housing 14 rotates, objects in hopper 21 are propelled along race
26 until they are ejected from the aperture 24 of the housing 14.
Once ejected, they travel down chute 17 to a dispensing bowl 18. As
noted above, the device 10 may be employed to deliver single units
of food to dispensing bowl 18 reliably, no matter the difference in
size or mass of the supply.
[0048] In certain embodiments a controller in communication with
the drive system controls rotation of the housing 14 to dispense
objects from the opening in the second end of the first housing
portion one object at a time. The controller causes the housing 14
to rotate through one full rotation during which an object may or
may not be dispensed based upon the arrangement of objects within
the housing and especially at the end of the race 26 where it ends
in the opening 24. After the rotation, the controller, in
communication with an infrared optical transmitter 50 and an
infrared optical sensor 51 senses the reflectance of the bowl 18.
The reflectance of an empty bowl and a bowl with an object in it
being previously characterized, the controller makes a
determination of whether an object has been dispensed in the bowl
18. If it has, the device 10 is not rotated further until the
object in the bowl 18 is no longer present (after e.g. being
presented to an animal and consumed by the animal). If no object is
detected in the bowl 18, the device 10 is rotated again, and the
sensing procedure continued until an object is detected to have
been dispensed.
[0049] FIGS. 8-13 depict another embodiment of the invention,
namely device 10a. As noted, it can be seen in FIG. 8 that the
housing 14a can be fitted with a removable door 23a though which
new objects can be introduced into hopper 21a of interior 22a of
the housing 14a. FIG. 8 also depicts the longitudinal axis 20a
formed by mounting the device 10a using a gear 16a affixed to one
end of housing 14a and a fixed rotational pivot 42 at the other end
of housing 14a. FIG. 9 shows a cross section of FIG. 8 and depicts
the spiral race 26a only in the first frustoconical portion 12a of
the housing 14a, while the second frustoconical portion 15a of the
housing 14a is fitted with aggregating ribs 41 along the sidewalls.
The aggregating ribs 41 collect and funnel the objects to be
dispensed toward the spiral race 26a. The aggregating ribs 41 have
lengths substantially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal
axis 20a and widths substantially in a direction perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis 20a. The surface of hopper 21a is angled
downward toward the beginning of spiral race 26a of first
frustoconical section 12a to ensure the items in the hopper 21a are
urged toward the race 26a to ensure a constant feeding of
items.
[0050] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a more detailed view of the first
frustoconical portion 12a, including a view of the aperture 24a
through which objects are dispensed. FIGS. 12 and 13 depict the
interior of the second frustoconical portion 15a of the housing
14a, with multiple views of the aggregating ribs 41. In FIGS. 12
and 13, the removable door 23a is shown removed, providing access
to the interior 22a of the housing via aperture 43 when the door
23a is removed.
[0051] An alternative embodiment in which the device 10 may be
modified for production via injection molding techniques, by
producing the first narrower section 12b is formed from two
separate molded parts, 52b and 52b' (FIGS. 14a and b,
respectively), divided longitudinally, are attached to each other
permanently subsequent to molding. A similar procedure can be used
on the second, wider section 15b as shown in FIG. 14c. In this
embodiment, the race 26b and 26b' is defined by protrusions, e.g.
protrusion 54b and 54b', formed on the interior surface 19b and
19b' which are indentations in the exterior wall, e.g. 56b' as
shown in FIG. 14c. Therefore, housing 14b has a cross section that
becomes more triangular in shape as the race 26b and 26b' proceeds
from the lower, wider end of the housing 14b to the higher,
narrower end of housing 14b.
[0052] As noted, any of the different configurations and components
can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and
described herein. Additionally, while the present dispensing
invention has been described herein with reference to particular
embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes
and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures.
[0053] Further, it will be appreciated that in some instance some
features, or configurations, or steps in formation of the invention
could be employed without a corresponding use of other features
without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in
the following claims. All such changes, alternations and
modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are
considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly
defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *