Automatic animal food dispenser

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by the dispensing mechanism providing a surface to act as a sufficient seal at the hopper's feed exit to prevent the escape of feed, and an aperture to interrupt such sealing as said aperture aligns with the feed exit.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one and two, further characterised by the dispense mechanism being approximately a semi tube shape, which rotates about a horizontal, or it's longitudinal, axis.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one and two, further characterised by the dispense mechanism being approximately a semi tube shape, which rotates about a vertical, or it's longitudinal, axis.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one and two, further characterised by the dispense mechanism being an essentially flat surface, rotating about a vertical, or it's perpendicular, axis, moving said surface in an arc across the feed exit opening.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one and two, further characterised by the dispense mechanism being an essentially flat surface, rotating about a horizontal, or it's perpendicular, axis, moving said surface in an arc across the feed exit opening.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by the dispensing mechanism being able to provide a plurality of volumes of feed dispensed, by virtue of it's speed of rotation being alterable and/or selectable.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by the dispensing mechanism being able to dispense a plurality of feed volumes, or portions,

• through virtue of it's ability to perform a number of “to and fro” rotational motions about that point of alignment (with the feed exit) position, thus bringing about the situation where the aperture of the dispensing mechanism passes the feed exit, to once again seal, with each “to and fro” motion.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by the said aperture being of a size and shape to best provide a most desirable result of dispensing whatever food may be contained in the hopper, which will include the possibility of the said aperture being divided into, or arranged as, a number of apertures.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by the provision of an apron to the mouth of the feed exit, for the purpose of providing a physical interface between said feed exit and the dispensing mechanism that will negate, or reduce, the likelihood of them being jammed by the particles of food.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by said dispensing mechanism being rotated directly or indirectly by electrical or mechanical means.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by the housing also having a control panel for the owner's use, enabling the owner to view, set and/or control the dispense times, the volume and number of said dispenses, and the correct functioning of the machine or otherwise.

An automatic food dispenser as per claim one, further characterised by the dispenser having battery back-up, for the purpose of maintaining the electronic settings, and to keep the machine operable in the event of power interruption or disconnection.