The invention is a dispensing module for use in delivering measured doses of feed supplement to an animal. It comprises a storage container for holding the supplement and a metering module that is rotatably connected to the storage container for dispensing a measured (pre-determined) dose of the supplement. The dispensing module is adapted to be moved between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, the measured dose of the supplement is able to be dispensed out of the dispensing module. In the closed configuration, the measured dose of the supplement is prevented from being be dispensed out of the dispensing module. Compressed air can be used to send the dose to an outlet when the dispensing module is closed.

The present disclosure discloses a feeding apparatus, which includes an ejection mechanism, a motion sensor and a control module. The ejection mechanism includes a motor unit and a push rod unit. When the motion sensor detects the movement of the push rod unit, the motion sensor sends a motion signal. The control module includes a driving unit and a timing unit. The driving unit drives the motor unit turning forward and turning reverse. The timing unit stores a predetermined time. When the timing unit receives an action signal, the timing unit starts timing and sends a forward signal to the driving unit to drive the motor unit turning forward. When the timing unit determines that it has exceeded the predetermined time without receiving the action signal, the timing unit sends a reverse signal to the driving unit to drive the motor unit turning reverse.

An automatic feeding device allows automated access by a pet to wet food based on specific criteria, such as a lapsed time, so the pet is taken care of during of an extended absence of the pet owner. The apparatus has at least one holder that stores portion containers containing the wet food which are then opened as needed. In one aspect, the automatic feeding device transfers a cut-off lid using a gripping element having two clamping jaws that can be moved relative to one another for gripping a tear tab formed on a lid of the portion container. The gripping element is accommodated on a carriage which can be moved on a rail arrangement that traverses the portion container to be opened. Alternatively, an endless punching knife has a blade for punching a portion container lid and the holder has a retrieval device for retrieving the separated lid.

An animal scratching post with food dispenser is described. Embodiments of the animal scratching post can include, but are not limited to, a base structure, a control module, an activation module, a food dispensing device, and one or more scratch pads operatively connected to the activation module. The base structure can include one or more perches and an internally located conduit for delivering food from the food dispensing device to a lower section of the base structure. The control module can be configured to receive a signal from the activation module indicating the scratch pad has been interacted with by an animal and send a signal to the food dispensing device to dispense food.

Method, means, and system for a mobile, self-moving, automated animal corral or confinement system.

Disclosed herein are various aspects of animal feeders and animal feeding systems. In one aspect, the animal feeding system includes: (1) a container for receiving feed therein, (2) a sensor, (3) a controller, (4) a communications module coupled with the controller and configured for both short-range and long-range communication with at least one user interface and the at least one sensor, (5) a dispenser for dispensing feed, and (6) a gate connected with a motor, the gate for controlling the flow of food from the container to the dispenser, the gate controlled by a motor, wherein the controller is configured to automatically regulate feeding times according to the location of the animal feeding system and the corresponding sunrise and sunset times of the location.

One variation of a method for selectively serving primary reinforcers to an animal includes: accessing a set of characteristics of an animal and estimating a target caloric intake of the animal based on the set of characteristics; identifying a type of primary reinforcer loaded into a training apparatus configured to dispense units of the primary reinforcer based on behaviors performed by the animal responsive to commands output by the training apparatus; in response to identifying the type of primary reinforcer as a first primary reinforcer, loading a first nutrient profile for the first primary reinforcer; and, in response to the first nutrient profile specifying a first caloric density of units of the first primary reinforcer, loading a first training protocol for a first training session for the animal onto the training apparatus based on the target caloric intake of the animal.

A pet food dispenser that includes two containers configured to receive and store pet food and/or water wherein the two containers are movable in a vertical direction. The pet food dispenser includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion includes an interior volume. Disposed in the interior volume of the upper portion is a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a shaft, a drive pulley and a second pulley located at an opposing end of the shaft. A motor is operably coupled to the drive pulley and a belt operably couples the drive pulley and the second pulley. Container mounts are operably coupled to the shaft and the belt and are movable in conjunction with the directional movement of the belt. Support ring members are formed with the container mounts and are operable to receive and support the two containers.

An automatic pet feeder with cooler has a compartmentalized serving tray and a thermoelectric cooling peltier device with a condensation collector. The tray rotates inside an insulated enclosure with an opening just sufficient to expose food from one of the compartments on the tray for household pets. The wet pet food in remaining enclosed compartments is kept at a cold temperature, similar to a refrigerator, thereby preventing bacterial spoilage of pet food over a longer time periods. Since the thermoelectric cooling peltier device surface cools down below ambient temperature, condensation forms on it and drips down into the condensation collector where it is channeled to away where it can evaporate. Using an included user interface, a human user of the device can enter the times when the serving tray should rotate such as to expose one of the various enclosed food compartments on the serving tray for a household pet. This exposed compartment allows a pet to eat from this automatic pet feeder without requiring presence of a human user at the time the pet needs to be fed wet food.

An automatic feeding device for animals is described herein. The automatic feeding device includes a hopper and a dispenser. The hopper includes a bulk container for storing feed and a feed outlet. The dispenser includes an enclosure containing a power source, an electric motor, and a controller. The dispenser also includes dispensing means connected to the electric motor and configured to dispense feed received from the feed outlet when the electric motor is energized. The controller can be configured to energize the electric motor according to a schedule based at least in part on a selection of at least one astronomical event and at least one corresponding offset time.