# US 10,478,276 B2 · Pellet delivery mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,276 B2 - Document ID: US10478276B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/675,630 - Filed: 2017-08-11 - Published: 2019-02-14 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-11 - Assignees: World Wildlife Fund, Inc.; United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service - Applicants: World Wildlife Fund, Inc.; Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service - Inventors: Kurt Edward Kreiger; Marc Randolph Matchett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478276B2 ## CPC - A61D 7/00: Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals (for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00) - A01K 5/0225: {Gravity replenishment from a reserve, e.g. a hopper (for poultry A01K39/012)} - A01K 5/0275: {with mechanisms for delivery of measured doses} - A61D 1/025: {Vaccination appliances (hypodermic syringes A61M)} - B65D 83/0409: {the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation (B65D83/0445 takes precedence)} - A61D: VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract Pellet delivery systems capable of reliably and precisely delivering pellets over a large area are disclosed. In some examples, the system can deliver one or more pellets in one delivery cycle using a slide chamber. In other examples, the system can deliver one or more pellets per delivery cycle using a rotating disk comprising one or more holes. In any of these examples, the system can eject the pellets using a projector and/or gravity. The pellet delivery system can, in various examples, be utilized in conjunction with a carrier such as an airborne, terrestrial or aquatic vehicle, or in other examples with a human or animal carrier. Examples of the disclosure are also directed to precise pellet delivery based on the location of the pellet deliver system, pellet delivery tracking, adjusting pellet delivery, and determining paths for efficient pellet delivery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pellet delivery apparatus, comprising: a loading assembly configured for arranging a plurality of pellets into one or more loading queues; and a projector assembly coupled to the loading assembly, the projector assembly configured for receiving one or more pellets from the one or more loading queues; wherein the projector assembly is further configured for periodically ejecting at least one pellet at a time in accordance with a predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hopper assembly coupled to the loading assembly and configured for storing a plurality of pellets, the hopper assembly including a stirring mechanism configured for agitating the pellets and pushing them toward the one or more loading queues. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control system communicatively coupled to the loading assembly and the projector assembly, the control system capable of triggering the delivery of pellets according to the predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pellet delivery apparatus is configurable for attachment to either an airborne carrier or a terrestrial carrier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 1, the projector assembly comprising: a plurality of delivery exits configured for ejecting a plurality of pellets at about the same time; and at least one projection mechanism operatively coupled with at least one of the delivery exits, each projection mechanism configured for projecting a pellet out of an operatively coupled delivery exit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 5, each of the at least one projection mechanisms being configurable for projecting the pellet out of the delivery exit at an adjustable velocity in accordance with the predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 5, the projector assembly further comprising three delivery exits and two projection mechanisms; wherein each of the two projection mechanisms are configurable for projecting a pellet out of one of the delivery exits at an adjustable velocity; wherein the projector assembly is configured for projecting a pellet out of another delivery exit using gravity; and wherein the three delivery exits and two projection mechanisms are configured for projecting three pellets in different directions in accordance with the predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 1, the loading assembly comprising: a housing having one or more horizontally oriented chamber passageways, one or more vertically oriented cylindrical tubes operable as the one or more loading queues and terminating at the one or more chamber passageways, and one or more exit holes at the bottom of the one or more chamber passageways that are offset with respect to the one or more loading queues; and one or more slide chambers configured for moving within the one or more chamber passageways, each slide chamber having a vertically oriented slide hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 8, the loading assembly further comprising a motor fixedly coupled to the housing and movably coupled to the one or more slide chambers, the motor configurable for sliding the one or more slide chambers within the one or more chamber passageways to allow one or more pellets to exit the loading assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 1, the loading assembly comprising: a loading tray having a horizontally oriented cylindrical recess, and one or more exit holes at the bottom of the cylindrical recess; one or more scraper bars coupled to the loading tray and configured for vertically covering the one or more exit holes; and a loading wheel configured for rotating within the cylindrical recess below the one or more scraper bars, the loading wheel including a plurality of cylindrically shaped and vertically oriented loading holes operable as the one or more loading queues. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 10, the loading assembly further comprising a motor fixedly coupled to the loading wheel, the motor configurable for rotating the loading wheel within the cylindrical recess to allow one or more pellets to exit the loading assembly. ### Claim 12 A method of pellet delivery, comprising: arranging a plurality of pellets into one or more loading queues; receiving one or more of the pellets from the one or more loading queues; and periodically ejecting the one or more pellets received from the one or more loading queues at least one pellet at a time in accordance with a predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: arranging the plurality of pellets into one or more vertically oriented loading queues; and after receiving the one or more pellets from the one or more vertically oriented loading queues, sliding the one or more pellets to an offset exit location in order to eject the one or more pellets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: arranging the plurality of pellets into one or more horizontally oriented loading queues, and rotating the one or more horizontally oriented loading queues in order to eject the one or more pellets. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: storing a plurality of pellets prior to arranging the plurality of pellets into the one or more loading queues; and agitating the stored pellets and pushing them toward the one or more loading queues. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising projecting at least one pellet at an adjustable velocity in accordance with the predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: projecting first and second pellets at an adjustable velocity; and projecting a third pellet using gravity; wherein the first, second and third pellets are projected in different directions in accordance with the predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 18 A pellet delivery apparatus, comprising: means for arranging a plurality of pellets into one or more loading queues; means for receiving one or more of the pellets from the one or more loading queues; and means for periodically ejecting the one or more pellets received from the one or more loading queues at least one pellet at a time in accordance with a predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for projecting at least one pellet at an adjustable velocity in accordance with the predetermined pellet distribution plan. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The pellet delivery apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: means for projecting first and second pellets at an adjustable velocity; and means for projecting a third pellet using gravity; wherein the first, second and third pellets are projected in different directions in accordance with the predetermined pellet distribution plan.