AQUARIUM FEEDING MACHINE WITH FOOD CARTRIDGE SYSTEM AND METHODS

1 . A food cartridge for mounting in an automatic feeding device; the food cartridge comprising:

(a) a casing having a surrounding wall and opposite closed end walls defining an interior volume therein; the casing having a feed aperture in at least one of the surrounding wall or closed end walls;

(b) a one-time removable cover-piece removably covering the feed aperture; and

(c) a chute secured within the casing having a feed inlet opening in communication with the interior volume and a feed outlet opening at the feed aperture.

2 . The food cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a scoop secured within the casing and connected to the chute in proximity to the feed inlet opening.

3 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 and 2 further comprising fish food in the interior volume.

4 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein the chute is secured to one of the end walls of the casing.

5 . The food cartridge of claim 2 and any one of claims 1 , 3 , and 4 , wherein the scoop is secured to one of the end walls of the casing.

6 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 5 wherein the feed aperture is located in the surrounding wall.

7 . The food cartridge of claim 6 , wherein the feed aperture is against one of the end walls.

8 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 7 wherein the surrounding wall is tubular and the end walls have a flat exterior.

9 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 8 wherein the casing comprises a disposable plastic.

10 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 8 wherein the casing comprises biodegradable plastic usable as filter material for an aquarium filter.

11 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 10 wherein the casing includes means for releasably connecting to a feeding device.

12 . The food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 11 wherein the casing includes a color-indicative of nutrition content of fish food in the interior volume.

13 . A feeding device for feeding aquarium fish; the feeding device comprising:

(a) a housing containing a motor;

(b) a drum having a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about the axis by the motor; and

(c) the food cartridge of any one of claims 1 - 12 removably and replaceably secured to the drum and being rotatable with the drum.

14 . The feeding device of claim 13 further comprising a clamp secured to the housing constructed and arranged to permit the housing to be removably clamped to an aquarium.

15 . The feeding device of any one of claims 13 and 14 further comprising a controller in communication with the motor; the controller being programmable to set feeding times and a number of rotations of the drum at each feeding time.

16 . The feeding device of any one of claims 13 - 15 further comprising means for releasably holding the food cartridge.

17 . A method for automatically feeding fish in an aquarium; the method comprising:

(a) providing a housing with a motor and a drum rotatable by the motor;

(b) providing a food cartridge containing fish food therein;

(c) removing a cover-piece from the cartridge to expose a feed aperture; and

(d) mounting the food cartridge to the drum so that the food cartridge rotates with the drum.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(a) when the food cartridge is spent, removing the food cartridge from the drum and disposing or recycling the cartridge;

(b) providing a second food cartridge containing fish food therein;

(c) removing a cover-piece from the second food cartridge to expose a feed aperture; and

(d) mounting the second food cartridge to the drum so that the second food cartridge rotates with the drum.

19 . The method of claim 17 wherein the step of mounting the food cartridge includes fitting together a projection and receiver arrangement on the food cartridge and housing or drum.

20 . The method of any one of claims 17 - 19 wherein the food cartridge is according to any one of claims 1 - 12 .