Food product dispensing apparatus
US4779569A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 1987 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01K5/0114
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An animal food product dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having a food dispenser port and a hopper, or similar storage container for storing food, mounted inside with a feed port through which food is transferred by gravity flow to an articulated chute assembly. The articulated chute assembly has walls for guiding food between the feed port and the dispenser port. A reciprocating driver element coupled to the chute assembly moves portions of the chute assembly up and down with respect to a fixed pivot point adjacent to the feed port between food collection and dispensing positions. A lower support can be used adjacent to the storage container for supporting a lower portion of the storage container and guiding food into the articulated chute assembly. The reciprocation drive comprises a push bar attached between the chute assembly and a cam driven by an electric motor at a predetermined rate. A switch provides electrical power to the motor when the articulated chute assembly is not in the food collection position and a relay provides electrical power to the motor for a predetermined length of time regardless of the articulated assembly chute position. In further aspects of t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.