POSITION CONTROL OF PET BOWL
An automatic pet feeder, comprising a bowl with a plurality of compartments, a cover and a sensor, the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments, the bowl having location regions detectable by the sensor, each location region having a first edge and a second edge, the motor being driven at a first speed until the first edge is detected, and the motor being driven at a second, slower speed until the second edge is detected, stopping the motor.
1 . An automatic pet feeder, comprising:
a bowl with a plurality of compartments;
a cover; and
a sensor;
the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments;
the bowl having location regions detectable by the sensor;
each location region having a first edge and a second edge;
the motor being driven at a first speed until the first edge is detected; and
the motor being driven at a second, slower speed until the second edge is detected, stopping the motor.
2 . An automatic pet feeder, comprising:
a bowl with a plurality of compartments;
a cover; and
a sensor;
the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments;
the bowl having location regions detectable by the sensor;
the motor being driven at a first speed until a location region is detected; and
the motor being driven in the reverse direction at a second, slower speed until the location region is again detected, stopping the motor.
3 . A pet feeder according to claim 1 wherein the bowl features a band, and each location region comprises a gap or tab in the band.
4 . A pet feeder according to claim 3 wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor, positioned to detect when a radiation source is visible through each gap in the band.
5 . An automatic pet feeder, comprising:
a bowl with a plurality of compartments; and
a cover;
the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments; and
the cover being secured to the bowl by at least one resilient latch which engages with a corresponding aperture.
6 . A pet feeder according to claim 5 wherein the cover and bowl interact to provide a pivoting engagement at a point substantially diametrially opposite the at least one resilient latch.
7 . A pet feeder according to claim 6 wherein the pivoting engagement is provided by a hinge.
8 . A pet feeder according to claim 5 wherein two resilient latches and two apertures are provided, positioned on the pet feeder substantially diametrically opposite each other.
9 . A pet feeder according to claim 5 , wherein:
there is included a user interface for programming the rotation; and
the user interface being rendered substantially inaccessible by the cover when the cover is fitted over the bowl.
10 . An automatic pet feeder, comprising:
a bowl with a plurality of compartments;
a cover which may be removably fitted over the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments; and
a user interface for programming the rotation;
the user interface being rendered substantially inaccessible by the cover when the cover is fitted over the bowl.
11 . A pet feeder according to claim 10 , wherein
the bowl has location regions detectable by the sensor
each location region having a first edge and a second edge
the motor being driven at a first speed until the first edge is detected
the motor being driven at a second, slower speed until the second edge is detected, stopping the motor.
12 . A pet feeder according to claim 10 , wherein
the bowl has location regions detectable by the sensor
the motor being driven at a first speed until a location region is detected
the motor being driven in the reverse direction at a second, slower speed until the location
region is again detected, stopping the motor.
13 . A pet feeder according to claim 10 , wherein the bowl features a band, and each location region comprises a gap or tab in the band.
14 . A pet feeder according to claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor, positioned to detect when a radiation source is visible through each gap in the band.