# US 9,433,189 B2 · Pop-top can food dispenser robot

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- Number: US 9,433,189 B2
- Document ID: US9433189B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/454,070
- Filed: 2014-08-07
- Published: 2016-02-11
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-07
- Applicants: Bruce Taneja
- Inventors: Bruce Taneja
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433189B2

## CPC

- A01K 5/0291: {with timing mechanisms, e.g. pet feeders}
- A01K 5/0114: {Pet food dispensers; Pet food trays (time-controlled A01K5/0291)}
- Y10S 901/02: Arm motion controller
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

An automatic pet wet canned food dispenser robot has a robotic arm comprised of mechanical elements and motors, and a programmed microprocessor. The programmed microprocessor guides the robotic arm to grasp a food can and utilize levers and/or motors to open the pop top can, then the microprocessor guides the robotic arm to invert the opened food can over an empty bowl and shake out the food contents into a bowl for a pet at predetermined times setup by the pet owner whose presence is not required at time of feeding. The current invention utilizes advanced automation and programming to overcome prior limitations to deliver freshly opened canned food to pets without human presence required at the time of operation and does not require use of a can opener for opening the pop top cans.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic wet food can opener and server machine, comprising
a) a wet food pull tab (pop top) can sensor
b) a programmed processor receiving input from said sensor; said processor commanding said motors' rotation,
c) a plurality of motors and elongated elements of predetermined lengths, wherein some of said elongated elements are connected to said motors so that said motors urge said elongated elements means for enabling physical movement of a hermetically sealed wet food pull tab (pop top) can to predetermined positions, and
d) at least one leverage element and at least one motor means for mechanically pulling tab on a hermetically sealed wet food pull tab (pop top) can thereby separating the lid of said food can,
whereby said wet food can will be opened and contents of said wet food can served at predetermined times without any human presence required.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 1, wherein said leverage elements can be utilized to mechanically open a tab of said can.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 1, comprising
a) said plurality of motors and elongated elements comprising a mechanical arm means for grasping and moving and inverting said wet food can, and
b) said leverage elements comprising a lever and a hook and said motor means for pulling tab on said food can thereby separating the lid of said food can, and
c) said programmed processor means for commanding said motors, whereby said wet food can will be opened and contents of said wet food can served at predetermined times without any human presence required.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The automatic wet food can opener and server of claim 3, wherein said leverage element hook is connected to said mechanical arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The automatic wet food can opener and server of claim 3, wherein said leverage elements a lever and hook are comprised into a single hook, whereby the hook provides a lever function.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 3, wherein said leverage elements can be utilized to mechanically push open a tab of said can.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server of claim 1, further including a touchscreen display means for displaying status and to allow user to enter times or intervals for when a wet food can will be opened and served by the present device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server of claim 1, further including a wireless interface such as Bluetooth and a smartphone application means for displaying status and to allow user to enter times or intervals for when a wet food can will be opened and served by the present device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server of claim 1, further including a network interface and a website means for allowing user to use a web browser to enter times or intervals for when a wet food can will be opened and served by the present device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server of claim 1, further including a can dispenser wherein the wet food cans are stored by user of the present device, wherein said plurality of motors and elongated elements remove said wet food can from said food can rack at predetermined time before being opened and served by the present device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 1, wherein said wet food pull tab (pop top) can sensor is an ultrasonic distance sensor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 1, wherein said wet food pull tab (pop top) can sensor is an infrared distance sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 1, wherein said wet food pull tab (pop top) can sensor is a camera.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 1, wherein said wet food pull tab (pop top) can sensor is a weight sensor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The automatic wet food can opener and server machine of claim 1, wherein said predetermined time is established by programmed processor.