Self-cleaning pet litter apparatus and related method

A sensing mechanism for a litter apparatus, said litter apparatus including

• a base having
• a floor and
• an annular trough at the periphery of said floor;
• a turntable, rotatably mounted within said base and providing
• a central floor, surrounded by an annular trough;
• a pan, for holding a quantity of animal litter, said pan being rotatably driven about an axis with said turntable and tiltable with respect to said turntable;
• wherein said sensing mechanism comprises
• a plurality of weight sensors, carried in said annular trough of said turntable and
• an electrically activated track assembly, carried in said annular trough of said base;
• wherein said pan comprises
• a circular base, the underside of which is engageable with at least one said weight sensor in response to the presence of an animal in said pan.

A method for initiating a self-cleaning cycle in a litter apparatus comprising:

• providing a litter apparatus having
• a pan, providing a quantity of self-clumping litter, said pan being tiltably rotatable about an axis;
• a rake assembly, providing a rake, movable through said litter while said pan is rotating;
• and
• a controller, having a timer;
• providing a sensing mechanism comprising
• a plurality of weight sensors, and
• an electrically activated track assembly;
• and
• initiating a self-cleaning cycle whereby said track assembly is contacted by at least one said weight sensor in response to the weight of an animal in said pan and upon contact, said track assembly provides a signal to said timer which initiates a self-cleaning cycle after a pre-determined period.