A dispenser for dispensing animal feed. An inlet tube in an upper region receives feed from a container and a dispensing tube intersecting the inlet tube defines an opening along a lower surface through which the feed can pass. A feed drive assembly, comprising radial vanes, rotates within the dispensing tube. Regions between vanes receive and hold feed from the inlet tube. Two switches activate a motor when either is closed, and the motor turns the feed drive assembly. A pivotable arm extends downwardly from the dispenser such that a force applied thereto (by an animal wandering below the dispenser) closes one of the switches to supply power to the motor or to a controller controlling operation of the motor. Rotation of the motor and thereby rotation of the feed drive assembly moves a region holding feed into alignment with the opening causing feed to be dispensed through the opening.

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.

A gravity flow feeder is disclosed having a vertically arranged, canister, funnel, chute, and trough arrangement wherein feed contained within each canister is allowed to flow down, aided by gravity, to settle within a feed trough. Use of a timing mechanism and a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder allows for the articulation of a closeable access to open or close the trough in order to protect the feed contained from the elements and scavenging animals and condition the timing of animal arrival at the feeder. Any number of feed containing canisters may be implemented in order to provide for mixing of various types of feed within the trough for maintenance of a balanced diet for desired animals.

A robust multiple compartment animal feeder. The device has multiple hoppers or containers, each of which is filled with feed. The device periodically releases a door, allowing food to fall from one of the hoppers. The use of a pin inserted into a latch allows substantial weight to be placed in the hopper. Pins are withdrawn from the latches by a line. The line periodically pulls one of the pins from a latch to release feed from the container with which the pin and latch are associated.

The invention provides an animal feeder augmentation apparatus, system and method of operation thereof. The apparatus provides for the controlled dispensing of animal feed from an animal feeder including a controller coupled to an actuator, where the controller provides power access from a battery to at least two communication modules, namely a low-power communications module and at least a first higher-power communications module. The low-power communication module includes a low-energy radio for substantially continuous operation when the animal feeder is being used. The first higher-power communications module includes a cellular telecommunications device for operation when the animal feeder needs to send or receive data outside of the range of the low-power communications module. The controller is coupled to the low-power communications module, and to the first higher-power communications module.

A system for bulk pet food dispersing. The system has one or more scales, and for each scale a pulley system and a pair of rails which can be used to lift a bulk bag of pet food into place above the scale and a gravity-fed dispenser, which can include a dispenser control. The bulk bag of pet food can attach to the pulley system using hooks, eyelets, knots, chains, etc., then raised into place using a crank which moves the pulley system. Users can then disperse the pet food from the raised bulk bag into their own bag using a dispenser control, such as a handle or lever.

An animal interaction device with a base, a housing, and a feeding mechanism having a rotatable platform mounted on the top surface of the base to rotate about an axis of rotation. There is a low profile drive cavity between the platform and the base and a food tray disposed on a top surface of the platform. A drive mechanism is located within the drive cavity and includes a drive mechanism with a curved rack gear engaged with the rotatable platform. There is a horizontally disposed worm drive mounted in communication with the curved rack gear to enable rotation of the rotatable platform about the axis of rotation. As the platform is rotated, the food tray moves from a first position where the tray is concealed under the housing to a second position outside of the housing, thereby allowing access to the food tray by an animal.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for providing aerial animal food delivery. In one embodiment, a system for providing aerial animal food delivery comprises: an unmanned aerial vehicle, an animal food container coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the animal food container being configured to hold animal food during transport by the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a central computer system communicatively coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the central computer system being configured to: instruct the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel to a service location at a service time with the animal food container and instruct a release of the animal food from the animal food container in an unpackaged form at the service location such that the animal food is accessible to and edible by one or more animals upon release.

The present disclosure includes a varmint shield for a wildlife feeder supported by at least one leg. The varmint shield includes a body having a length, a back side and a front side, a top end and a bottom end; and a first side and a second side. A notch is cut in the top end of the body. A plurality of mounting tabs are formed by bending the body at the notch toward the front side, each including at least one hole for receiving a fastening means such as a screw for securing the body to the wildlife feeder. The body of the varmint shield is bent along its length from the top end to the bottom end at an angle sufficient to deflect feed expelled from the wildlife feeder outwardly and away from the wildlife feeder. The body may also include beads formed along its length for structural strength and cuffs folded along its edges. A first shoulder and a second shoulder are preferably cut in the bottom end of the body. The first shoulder and the second shoulder preferably include edges folded to form cuffs. These cuffs aid in structural rigidity. At least one hole may be drilled in the body adjacent the bottom end for securing the body to the at least one leg of the wildlife feeder.

Provided is an automatic pet food supplier for a pet. The automatic pet food supplier may allow a body to constantly remain in a level condition on the floor through a height-adjusting function and simply disassemble a storage container from the body and a pet food discharger from the storage container. Here, blades configured to discharge pet food are arranged to seal a pet food discharge opening.