Feeding system and process for behavioral modification of animals
AssigneeHill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.
InventorsJames P. Stadler, Philip W. Toll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention encompasses an automated animal feeding system, an automated process for feeding an animal and apparatus therefore. The invention also encompasses methods of behavioral modification of animals.
Claims74
An automated animal feeding system, which comprises at least one food container and system components comprising:
- (a) an animal identification system for identifying an animal which is using the feeding system;
- (b) a detector for detecting the presence of an animal positioned near the at least one food container;
- and
- (c) a barrier for controlling access to the at least one food container;
- wherein the system components are controlled by a controller.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a cueing device to the animal using the feeding system to leave the at least one food container.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a stimulus device for supplying a stimulus to the animal positioned near the at least one food container.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one food container and system components are integrated in a feeding station.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the animal identification system comprises a unique tag carried by the animal and a tag reader which communicates with the controller.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the parameter of the animal at the at least one food container is an identification of the animal.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the parameter of the animal at the at least one food container relates to the amount of food consumed by the animal.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the barrier comprises an access door to the at least one food container.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one food container is a plurality of food containers for providing different foods.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the cueing device emits an audible cue.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector for detecting the presence of an animal comprises an optical sensor.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the stimulus device comprises an air puff generator.
An automated animal feeding system according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller comprises a processor programmed with data relating to animal identification, food intake allowance, food identification, food amount, food container identification, food container tare weight, food container position, meal duration time or combinations thereof.
An automated process for feeding an animal, which process comprises:
- (a) providing at least one food container;
- (b) providing animal food in the at least one food container;
- (c) providing a barrier for preventing access to the food by the animal;
- (d) detecting whether the animal is near the at least one food container;
- if not, (i) deploying the barrier to prevent access to the food;
- if so, (ii) addressing the animal by supplying a stimulus and repeating step (d) until the animal is not near the at least one food container;
- wherein step (d) is controlled by a controller.
An animal feeding system for affecting behavioral modification of a non-human animal comprising:
- (a) an animal identification system for identifying an animal which is using the feeding system;
- (b) a barrier for preventing access to the at least one food container;
- (d) a cueing device for providing a cue to the animal using the feeding system to perform a certain action;
- (e) a detector for detecting whether the animal using the feeding system has performed a certain action;
- and
- (f) a stimulus device for supplying a stimulus to the animal positioned near the at least one food container;
- wherein the system components are controlled by a controller.
The animal feeding system according to any one of claims 42 to 55, wherein the detector for detecting the presence of an animal comprises an optical sensor.
A method of modifying the behavior of a non-human animal comprising:
- (a) identifying an animal subject for behavioral modification using an animal identification system associated with a feed container,
- (b) providing a cue to the animal using the feeding system to perform a certain action;
- and
- (c) detecting whether the animal using the feeding system has performed the certain action;
- wherein the system components are controlled by a controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.