Automatic can food feeder and related method

An automatic can feeder system, comprising

• a housing comprising a trash area disposed between a supply area and a serving area, and a working area disposed above the trash area;
• a trash bin located in the trash area, the trash bin comprising a trash bin lid configured to horizontally translate along a track between a closed state and an opened state;
• one or more vertical posts configured to move horizontally within the housing from the supply area to the serving area;
• and
• an engagement member comprising a pivoting latch rotatably coupled to the trash bin lid about a center axis, the engagement member being configured to engage with and receive a horizontal force from the one or more vertical posts, wherein the engagement member is rotatably configurable in a plurality of positions, wherein a first position of the plurality of positions comprises engagement with the one or more vertical posts, and a second position of the plurality of positions comprises disengagement from the one or more vertical posts;
• wherein horizontal translation of the one or more vertical posts results in the trash bin lid translating horizontally along the tracks, and further wherein the one or more vertical posts are configured to move the trash bin lid from the opened state to the closed state and from the closed state to the opened state.