Dispensing devices and methods are provided. A dispensing device comprises an opening accessing an insertion path thereof, two opposing surfaces configured to compress a flexible package inserted into the insertion path while moving across the flexible package in two directions, and an opener configured to bend an opening region of the package out of a plane defined by the flexible package and further configured to cut a distal portion of an opening region of the flexible package. A method of dispensing product from a flexible package is also provided.

A pet snack machine, including an outer shell and a sealing cover, wherein the sealing cover comprises a cover, a knob, a connector and an elastic element, one end of the connector is abutted against the knob, and the other end thereof passes through the cover and is provided with an abutting part, the inner side of the outer shell is provided with a grid blocking part, the abutting part is capable of being abutted against the lower side of the grid blocking part, the elastic element is provided in the cover, and both ends of the elastic element are abutted against the cover and the connector respectively, so that the knob is rotated, and the connector is movable in the direction close to the knob under the action of the elastic element to separate the abutting part from the grid blocking part.

An automatic pet feeder, comprising a bowl with a plurality of compartments, a cover and a sensor, the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments, the bowl having location regions detectable by the sensor, each location region having a first edge and a second edge, the motor being driven at a first speed until the first edge is detected, and the motor being driven at a second, slower speed until the second edge is detected, stopping the motor.

An apparatus engageable with a container of pet food for preparing the pet food includes a water source, a water pump, and a water heater. The water pump causes a first amount of water to flow to the heater where the first amount is heated and then causes the heated first amount to flow into the pet food whereby the pet food is heated to a first temperature and moistened to a first moistness level. A timer monitors a first steeping period after the first amount has flowed into the pet food, then the water pump causes a second amount of water to flow to the heater. The second amount then flows into the pet food. The second amount is heated such that the pet food obtains a second temperature cooler than the first temperature and moistened to a second moistness level moister than the first moisture level. The timer then monitors a second steeping period after the second amount has flowed into the pet food and then actuates a ready indicator to indicate that the pet food is properly heated and moistened for serving.

A feeding apparatus, disposed in a detecting room having therein a target object, includes a fixing element, at least one target sensing unit, a rotating element, a driving module, and a control unit. The fixing element includes at least one lens disposed on a sidewall of the fixing element. The lens converges an infrared radiation in the detecting room onto the target sensing unit which then generates a position signal corresponding to the target object. The rotating element is disposed on one side of the fixing element. The rotating element includes a discharge channel. The driving module is connected to the rotating element. The control unit is coupled to the target sensing unit and the driving module to receive a position signal from the target sensing unit and control the driving module to drive the rotating element according to the position signal.

A system for filling a feed mixer, the system comprising: a feed intake device configured to take in a feedstock from a stockpile; a feed processing system for processing the feedstock and directing the processed feedstock into a container of the feed mixer; and a controller associated with the feed processing system, the controller configured to control processing of the feedstock by the feed processing system based on a prescribed recipe.

An animal feeding apparatus is related, including a base and a reservoir connected to the base, the medium in the reservoir is driven into or out of the reservoir through a port of the reservoir. The base includes a first cavity communicating with the reservoir, and a second cavity adjacent to and communicating with the first cavity. A piston is movable positioned in the first cavity, and having a first force end away from the reservoir. An activator is movable positioned in the second cavity, and having a second force end away from the reservoir. An linkage member is formed between the first cavity and the second cavity, and engages with the piston and the activator and guide the piston and the activator to move in two opposite directions to get the medium to move into or out of the reservoir. An animal feeding method is also related.

A pet feeding device (10) and method for supplying and opening filled containers (12) are presented, wherein a lid of a container being opened and/or folded back in a direction opposite to the opening direction is biased in a direction opposite to the opening direction.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to selectively inducing ingress and/or egress of live food creatures (FCs) relative to a reservoir using a controllable light source based on innate behavior(s) of the FCs. In an illustrative example, a feeder for dispensing live food to a carnivore may have a (partially) opaque chamber configured to receive FCs. A controlled light source may, for example, be selectively operable to illuminate at least part of the chamber. A carnivore interface may, for example, be in communication with the chamber via at least one dispensing aperture and be configured to present a dispensed FC to the carnivore. Operation of the controlled light source in a dispensing mode may induces motion of the FCs in the chamber towards the carnivore interface to be presented as food to the carnivore. Various embodiments may advantageously induce self-dispensing and/or self-retention of insects as food.

The invention relates to a system comprising at least one smart tag for animals on a farm and a multiplicity of devices which are configured to have an interaction with the animals, the smart tag being provided with at least one transmitting and receiving apparatus, at least one processor, at least one memory and at least one sensor which are communicatively connected with each other, characterized in that the smart tag is configured to comprise and send out command data intended to selectively control a device of a multiplicity of different type devices autonomously and wirelessly.