Abstract: Disclosed herein are a planter apparatus and system. In one aspect, a planter system and apparatus can include one or more planting compartments, a water collection reservoir in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more planting compartments, and a water drainage system configured to drain water from one planting compartment into another planting compartment, drain water from one planting compartment into the water collection reservoir, or drain water from inside the water collection reservoir to outside the water collection reservoir, or a combination thereof. The planter apparatus may be further configured to include a water flow control component configured to: open for the flow of water through the water drainage system, and close, thus stopping the flow of water through the water drainage system based on the engagement and disengagement of a water drainage stopper mechanism at the base of the water drainage stopper.

Abstract: An automated animal feeder may have a pair of traditional pet bowls, one for food and one for water, and the water bowl may be physically lifted and dumped on a timed schedule as the water bowl may be mounted upon a hinged plate which swings up to empty the water bowl at programmed intervals controlled by a programmed logic controller, and the water bowl may be refilled whenever the weight of the bowl is light enough to indicate that the bowl is not full. Food may be metered by means of a portion control hopper located beneath the food supply hopper. The programmed logic controller (PLC) allows the timing of feeding and watering to be controlled by the user.

Abstract: An animal feeder apparatus includes a food storage hopper which includes a top hopper portion and a bottom hopper portion. A food retainer assembly is attached to the bottom hopper portion, and the food retainer assembly includes a top retainer portion, a bottom retainer portion, and top-to-bottom connection means connected between the top retainer portion and the bottom retainer portion. The top retainer portion includes a top food passage channel, and the bottom retainer portion includes a bottom food passage channel. A timer-controlled food distribution assembly is attached to the bottom retainer portion in registration with the bottom food passage channel, and a stand is provided for supporting the food storage hopper, the food retainer assembly, and the timer-controlled food distribution assembly. The animal feeder apparatus of the invention can be used to attract wildlife at predetermined times that can coincide when a hunter or wildlife photographer is near.

Abstract: A dispensing system (200) for chewable pet toys (100) contains multiple toys and dispenses them at intervals determined by one or more modes of operation. A display (220) and keypad (400) are used to enter programming data into the memory of a microprocessor (315). When the system is in operation, the display indicates progress through the program, the mode of operation whether MANUAL, RANDOM, or BMOD (behavior modification), the time elapsed, and the number of toys remaining. At various times, sounds emanate from a loudspeaker (320), vibration emanates from a vibrator (328), light emanates from a light source (325), and odor emanates from an odor generator (327). Toys are dispensed down a ramp (225), at predetermined times, or at predetermined times modified by random numbers. Predetermined dispensations permit modification of the pet's behavior (BMOD). Random variations on a predetermined schedule of dispensations (RANDOM) prevent the pet from memorizing a schedule.

Abstract: An automatic animal feeder includes a housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall having an opening therein. A plurality of food delivery assemblies is positioned in the opening. Each of the food delivery assemblies includes a food drawer slidably positioned in the opening. The drawer is selectively extended inwardly or outwardly of the housing when a rod threadably coupled thereto is rotated. A motor is mechanically coupled to the driving rod. A processor is mounted in the housing and is electrically coupled to each of the food delivery assemblies for selectively turning on the motors. A first time control is electrically coupled to the processor for selectively inputting a time and date when each of a selected one of the food trays will be extended outwardly from the housing. A cooling assembly is mounted in the housing for selectively cooling an interior of the housing.

Abstract: An automatic distributor of fish food for aquariums comprising a rotating container (30) for fish food, a cover (40), an electric motor (53) and transmission (54) for transmitting the motion to the rotating container (30). At the bottom (31) of the container (30) there is an housing (14) for the electric motor (53) and the transmission (54), and furthermore the rotation axis of the rotating container (30) is aligned with the motor axis of the electric motor (53).

Abstract: A timer produces a signal on an output at lunar transit time and at one half daily lunar cycle past lunar transit time. The timer is connected to a feeder to distribute feed to wild or domestic animals such as mammals, fish or birds. The timer includes a crystal oscillator and means for counting the oscillations.

Abstract: An Automatic Dry Pet Food Dispenser releases measured quantities of dry pet food at pre-determined timed intervals over a several day period. The housing encloses a hopper, covered with a lockable lid. Underneath the hopper, a trough is pivotally mounted to the housing at its rear end. A front support of the trough is provided by a camshaft with several equally spaced cams, driven by a motor mechanism. The slope of the trough combined with its oscillating movement about the horizontal axis, caused by the rotating camshaft ensure the discharge of the material through the open front end of the trough into an external container. A timer controls the food quantity released at a single cycle and the schedule of operation.

Abstract: An automatic pet food dispenser at preset times and for a definite quantity includes a dispenser body, a food storing tank, a funnel-shaped receiver, a transporting mechanism. The transporting mechanism consists of a food pipe and a screw conveyer deposited in the food pipe and rotated by a motor for transporting pet food by the screw conveyer to let the food fall down from the storing tank, through the funnel-shaped receiver, and a timer for presetting times of start and stop and thus the period of operating time of the motor. The dispenser body has a food exit formed in a bottom wall and connected to the lower end of the food pipe, and a food trough movably provided in the bottom portion of the dispenser body to pulled out thereof to receive pet food falling down from the food exit.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and method are provided for the dispensing of particulate material from the gravitationally bottom discharge mouth of a hopper. In a presently preferred form, the particulate material moves downwardly first through a conically sided zone to a toroidally-configured aperture, and, after passage therethrough, moves downwardly through a cavity that preferably has a cross-sectionally circular perimeter. Centrally upstanding in the cavity is a body with preferably conically diverging sides over which the particulate material moves downwardly to a cover plate or deck which has a circumferentially extending discharge opening through which the particulate material is discharged. Most preferably, the body also extends upwardly through the aperture and through the conically sided zone. Particulate material downward movement and discharge is produced by shaking, preferably vibration, of the deck. A presently preferred particulate material is fish feed.

Abstract: A portable liquid dispensing apparatus for plant care having a microprocessor timer assembly (7) which communicates to a solenoid (1) that when activated moves the spring valve (2) to open position allowing air into the container (4) receiving air pressure inside the container (4) thereby getting gravity fed liquid flow out of liquid outlet (9).

Abstract: An automated frozen food dispenser for an aquarium includes an insulated housing which thermally insulates the dispenser. Inside the housing are compartments, arranged in a wheel, which are filled with a quantity of frozen food. The compartments rotate over a plate which has a hole directly above a trap door which remains closed unless acted upon. The compartments are mounted on a spoke and hub system. A rotation controller causes the compartments to rotate at a predetermined rate, such that the compartments, one at a time, hold their frozen food over the hole. The food then falls onto the trap door which leads to a vertical conduit in the bottom of the shell. A motor-driven piston is positioned above the compartment directly aligned above the trap door. At a predetermined schedule, the piston moves downward and opens the trap door. The frozen food is then dispensed out of the bottom of the dispenser.

Abstract: A Microprocessor controlled timer particularly adapted for control of an animal feeder with a display of program items and with user settable feeding times and duration of such feeding times based upon the microprocessor calculated sunrise and sunset times with a selector switch and a change switch and display of program items allowing user reprogramming of the timer; the timer being broadly usable for activation of electrical equipment when desirable activation is at times relative to sunrise and sunset and also being usable for activation of electrical equipment according to normal clock time.

Abstract: An autonomously operated automated food dispenser provides sustenance to one or more animals at prescribed intervals. The dispenser is portable and suitable for use for animals in space vehicle life support systems. A micro-controller controls operation of the outlet valve of a food reservoir that contains a food paste maintained under pressure by a pressurized gas source. Predetermined volume of food paste are extruded through the outlet upon the micro-controller's command. The food cannister is characterized by a novel two part assembly and houses a rolling diaphragm. Pressurized gas is applied to the bottom of the diaphragm, allowing the diaphragm to roll against the food paste, when the outlet valve is opened.

Abstract: An automatic liquid dispensing apparatus including a container for holding a dispensable liquid, a flow regulator which permits liquid to flow out of the container at a controlled rate which is independent of the quantity of liquid within the container, and a timing and dispensing assembly. The timing and dispensing assembly accumulates a quantity of the liquid from the flow regulator, and periodically dispenses a constant volume of the liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically dispensing measured amounts of hay to livestock on a selected schedule consists of a rectangular enclosure with a loading door on one side and dispensing doors on the opposite side. The enclosure is divided into adjacent cells by a series of parallel, off-angle partitioning walls, each cell being sized to accept a flake of hay or other appropriate single-feeding feed portion. The invention can be oriented horizontally in a top-loading, or rear-loading configuration, or vertically on its end, to accommodate different situations. In the top-loading configuration a hinged door that opens downward is attached to the bottom of each cell. A sequencing bar extends the length of the enclosure to hold the doors closed initially and to allow the doors to open and the flakes to be dropped on schedule when the bar is moved linearly. A rack and pinion, a drive motor, a timer controlled circuit, position tabs on the bar, and an electric sensing switch provide accurate means for this movement.

Abstract: A container and distributor of water is internally provided with a bath pivoted in such a way as to empty when full. A floating piston situated inside a chamber enables water delivery to the bath at a rate regulated by varying a water head in the chamber, and an outlet opening from the chamber conducts water into the bath. A rod, insertable in the outlet opening and movable upon pivoting of the bath, prevents a build-up of residues in the outlet due to impurities in the water such that the outlet opening does not become blocked or obstructed.

Abstract: A device for feeding animals moist and semi-moist food at selected times including a tubular casing having a convergent outlet and an open inlet. An extrusion assembly including a piston longitudinally movable in the tubular casing is provided and sized to be received in the tubular casing to travel a portion of the length thereof. A drive arrangement is provided to extend the piston into the tubular casing to extrude food through the outlet at selected intervals and for removing the piston from the tubular casing for refilling the tubular casing. Interval operational timing devices are provided for selecting the frequency and duration of the operation of the feeding cycles and can be operated by programmable time control devices. Additionally, solid state heating/cooling devices can be provided so that the food extruded from the tubular casing can be heated or cooled as desired for emission from the feeder.

Abstract: An automatic fish feeding system with a first feeder mounted on a first tank holding water and a school of fish and a second feeder mounted on a second tank holding water and a school of fish. Each of the feeders has a container for holding a supply of food and an electric motor for driving a food discharge conveyor for feeding food from the container into a tank. A control system for the feeders includes a power supply, a control center and a power lead connected to a station at each feeder. The control center, for a preselected time period, continuously distributes a first voltage to the station for each feeder and intermittently distributes a second voltage to the station for each feeder. The system has a power connection from the electric motor of the first feeder to the adjacent station, a power connection from the electric motor of the second and other feeders to adjacent stations.

Abstract: An improved dispensing apparatus for metering out feed to animals such as pets, or small livestock, such device delivering feed at pre-determined times and in a pattern which is consistent day-to-day so that the pre-selected feeding schedule is maintained. The device comprising a timer having a slowly rotating axial component, a dispenser in the form of a distribution wheel anchored to such axial component and disposed outwardly from the timer for axial rotation upon rotation of the axial component, and such distribution wheel including a series of axially spaced compartments for receiving feed from an associated hopper. The timer preferably rotates the axial component so that one standard rotation is completed in a 24-hour period. Accordingly, within such time period one complete rotation of the distribution wheel occurs.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a casing with a bottom and a container above the bottom. The bottom has a first opening extending therethrough while the container has an outlet adjacent to the bottom which lies on a straight line drawn across the first opening of the bottom. A food-carrying plate is provided between the container and the bottom and has a second opening which is aligned with the outlet of the container. An inverted U-shaped covering member includes a base disposed above the plate and has two arms connected to the bottom. The container is mounted on the base of the covering member. The covering member has a third opening formed through the base. The third opening is communicated with the outlet of the container and is aligned with the second opening of the food-carrying plate when the latter is not activated.

Abstract: A dispenser for smoothly and reliably dispensing flowable or particulate matter such as fish food is provided, in which dynamic gravity of the matter itself is utilized to regulate dispensing of the same in an uncomplicated manner. The dispenser has a container adapted to be mounted upon a rotatable shaft and having a hollow interior with two openings therethrough for communicating with external surroundings. A partition is mounted within the container interior for dividing a portion of the container interior into a plurality of compartments. The partition extends between the openings to limit quantity of matter falling into one of the compartments as the container rotates. A duct is mounted to rotate with the container and communicates with one of these openings. As the container rotates, the partition regulates the quantity of matter falling into the dispensing compartment and directs matter not discharged from the dispensing compartment back into the other compartment.

Abstract: An automatic fishfood dispenser includes a container having a flexible base, a dispensing mechanism, and a battery pack. The base has a channel through which the outflow of fishfood is communicated to an outlet in the dispensing mechanism. A grooved rod is disposed in the channel for feeding the food from the container to the outlet. The rod has a semi-cylindrical member or eccentric mounted at one end thereof which causes the base to vibrate when the grooved rod is rotated by a battery operated motor at its other end. The base also includes a cavity in which a vibration motor is located which rotates an eccentric to vibrate the base. A quantity of fishfood to be dispensed and a time interval is preset by a user for the automatic dispensing of a quantity of fishfood at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A system for proportional liquid dispensing of two liquids, the first of which can comprise the main flow drinking water supplied to livestock or poultry and the second of which can comprise controlled quantities of medication or nutrient to be introduced into the drinking water. Comprising the system is a solenoid operated pump for discharging controlled quantities of the second liquid into the main flow. A flow meter emits an electrical signal of the main flow rate at any given time while an optical pressure sensor emits an electrical signal indicative of the static pressure of the main flow. Logic circuits combine the flow rate and pressure signals for varying pump operation to controllably maintain a predetermined mixture ratio of the two liquids.

Abstract: A casing has a rotary plate which divides the casing into an upper portion and a lower portion and a driving unit to rotate the rotary plate. The rotary plate has a first opening formed through it. The upper portion has a container holding a feeding stock and the lower portion has a top plate with a second opening through it. The container has an outlet which aligned with the first opening of the rotary plate when the rotary plate is rotated to a first position and a second position where the first opening of the rotary plate is aligned with the second opening of the top plate of the lower portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for metering a unitary food substance, such as a hard dog biscuit, to a pet during time when the pet may be left alone, more particularly, an above ground-level mounted device, which is mounted on, for example, a door, consisting of an outer holder having a bottom opening which is fitted with an insert that creates equal-sized areas for placement of the unitary food substance. Upon rotation, by a continuous turning means, of either the insert or the holder, the bottom opening of the holder becomes sequentially positioned directly underneath the each unitary food substance holding area causing the unitary food substance to fall to the ground at various times.

Abstract: An automatic feeder for tropical fish comprises a rotatable container containing granular feed and a driving device for rotating the container only at preselected times to discharge a predetermined amount of feed from the container. A switch turns on a drive motor at the preselected times to rotate the container, and a pre-settable timer controls the actuation of the switch. The container has a rectangular shape and is divided into a feed-receiving portion and a feed-discharge portion which communicate with each other through an adjustable opening. Rotation of the container through one revolution causes a predetermined amount of feed to flow from the feed-receiving portion through the opening into the feed-discharge portion for discharge from the container.

Abstract: An automatic pet feeder is shown, havin a flat cylinder-like feeding tray and a timer, which is a 24-hour clock. The clock has many slits at the contour of the face to stick the pins in for transferring the turning motion of the clock to the feeding tray. The feeding tray has a wheel-like carrousel inside the case, which is sectioned with separators into small feed boxes, with as many juts sticking out in even length to the center of the circle for receiving the turning motion of the clock which is placed inside the case on the floor. The feed boxes have flaps to drop the feed from the carrousel when the feed box passes over an opening which is made on the floor of the casing.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus, especially intended for particulate pet food, comprising a hopper having a metering chamber thereunder. The metering chamber has a tumbler rotatable by a motor and controlled by a control means. The tumbler has a longitudinal cavity to receive and dispense pet food and is journalled to the metering chamber with a flap bearing resiliently on it. The tumbler has a plurality of spaced apart fins radiating from it to prevent accumulation of dust and to inhibit jamming of the mechanism. The tumbler is also easily removable for cleaning. Also disclosed are food and water containers.

Abstract: An automatic fishfood dispenser includes a food container, a dispensing mechanism, and a battery pack. A transparent plastic food container is provided with a removable cover and is integrally formed with a channel through which an outflow of fishfood is communicated to an egress provided in said dispensing mechanism. A grooved spindle positioned in the channel when stationary blocks a flow of fishfood from the channel, but when rotating distributes a quantity of fishfood to the egress. A battery powered motor operating in conjunction with a timer controls the rotation of the grooved spindle. A quantity of fishfood to be dispensed and a time interval preset by the user by means of the timer allows for the automatic dispensing of a quantity of fishfood at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A device for watering plants adapted to be installed within the soil. It includes a perforated sleeve within which is accommodated a perforated tubular insert. The sets of holes in the insert and sleeve are respectively located so as to be selectively registerable with each other. When these sets of holes are not in registration, the sleeve holes are closed to prevent contaminants from entering and blocking the perforations. This is particularly advantageous when the device is being inserted into the soil. Movement of the insert relative to the sleeve after the device is implanted can be used to bring the perforations into registration with each other to allow the flow of water outward into the soil to nourish the plant. A spiral ridge is provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve to facilitate insertion of the device into the soil by rotation of the sleeve. Also, the top of the device is attachable to a container having a selectively closable opening in its bottom.

Abstract: An automatic watering system for decorative plants which has adjustable timing capabilities for providing periodic, unattended watering of plants. It further includes tubing with branching capability so that complex distribution systems that are unobstrusive and concealable may be constructed. It may have check valves and T-sections with built-in valves to prevent flooding. It has a unique monitoring system that indicates an alarm indication in case of flooding or failure to provide water. The system may be constructed as a low pressure system for small installations or a high pressure system drawing water directly from the water mains.

Abstract: A mechanism which periodically releases a quantity of material stored in a container at predetermined intervals of time. The container is partially open and hollow, and is mounted pivotally on a first axle. The mechanism includes a counter-weight for the container. The counter-weight is sufficient to maintain the container in an upright position when empty but insufficient to maintain the container in the upright position when full. The mechanism further includes a catcher having first and second plates disposed perpendicularly or obiquely to one another. The first plate includes a closed notch near the center and an open notch at one edge of the first plate. The catcher is pivotally mounted on a second axle which passes through the closed notch. The mechanism further includes a stop member which extends from one side of the container. The stop member is disposed in the open notch of the catcher prior to release, and holds the container in an upright position until released.

Abstract: A programmable automatic feeder for pets and other animals dispenses a measured amount of food at a predetermined time. A digital clock control mechanism, including an adjustable portion control knob, controls the energization of a battery-operated motor. The motor drives an eccentric weight to vibrate a vibrating conveyor pan attached to the motor. The vibrating conveyor pan is resiliently mounted on a fixed plate secured within the housing, and the vibrating conveyor pan is disposed below the open bottom portion of a hopper disposed within the housing. When the vibrating conveyor pan is vibrated, the food is dispensed rearwardly off the pan and into a curved chute. The food falls down the chute and is accessible to the animal through an opening in the front wall of the housing.

Abstract: A water volume indicator for an animal waterer which includes a balance beam of substantial mass which supports a water receptacle such that when water is removed the balance beam will pivot to open a valve to allow water to be fed into the bowl and which has a switch which is actuated by movement of the balance beam to close a circuit to actuate a timer such that the time that the valve was opened to add water can be determined. This allows the operator to determine how much water has been removed from the bowl by the horse or other animal and thus the amount of fluid intake by the animal is determined.