Automatic Self-Cleaning Animal Litter Apparatus
OwnerLouis Cornacchiainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is an automatic self-cleaning animal litter apparatus using a hopper/spout assembly and conveyer belt mechanism. The litter apparatus includes a conveyer belt that is controlled using a sensor and controller. The hopper stores fresh litter to be deposited onto the conveyer belt. The spout assembly provides thickness and location control of the fresh litter deposited onto the conveyer belt. A conveyer belt cleaning device underneath the conveyer belt mechanism rids the conveyer belt of the used litter and feces which are then dropped into the receptacle.
Claims18
An automatic self-cleaning animal litter apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a hopper;
- a conveyor belt mechanism;
- the enclosure comprising a top plate, a litter box opening, a back, and a front;
- the top plate being terminally connected to and supported by the front and back;
- the litter box opening being positioned on the top plate;
- the hopper being connected to the top plate and integrated into the side walls of the enclosure;
- the hopper comprising a feed, an exit, and a spout assembly;
- the exit being positioned between the edge of the litter box opening and the back of the enclosure;
- the spout assembly comprising a plurality of spouts and a control valve;
- the control valve being interiorly mounted to the hopper adjacent the exit;
- the plurality of spouts being perpendicularly connected to the control valve;
- the plurality of spouts being extended over the litter box opening of the enclosure;
- the conveyor belt mechanism comprising a first support panel, a second support panel, a drive belt, a drive roller, a passive roller, a motor assembly, a conveyor belt cleaning device, a control box, and an electronic box;
- the first support panel and the second support panel being mounted on and positioned across the top plate of the enclosure opposite to the hopper;
- each of the drive roller and the passive roller being mounted within the first support panel and the second support panel, adjacent each end of the first support panel and the second support panel;
- the drive belt being tightly wrapped around the drive roller and passive roller;
- the drive belt being positioned beneath the exit of the hopper and stretched across the entire length of the litter box opening of the enclosure;
- the motor assembly being exteriorly mounted to the first support panel, adjacent the drive roller;
- the motor assembly being connected to the drive roller;
- the conveyor belt cleaning device comprising a blade and a blade axle;
- the blade axle being mounted within the first support panel and second support panel of the conveyor belt mechanism;
- the blade axle being centrally positioned on the first support panel and second support panel;
- the blade being tangentially positioned on the blade axle;
- the blade being laterally in contact with the drive belt of the conveyor belt assembly opposite to the top plate of the enclosure;
- the electronic box being mounted to the first support panel of the conveyer belt mechanism adjacent to the back of the enclosure;
- the electronic box comprising a controller and a relay;
- the control box being exteriorly mounted to the hopper adjacent the feed;
- the control box comprising a sensor;
- the sensor of the control box and the relay of the electronic box being electrically connected to the controller of the electronic box;
- and
- the relay being electrically connected to the motor of the conveyor belt mechanism and the control valve of the spout assembly of the hopper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.