초록 ▼

A self-cleaning litter apparatus (30) comprises a base (31); a turntable (32), rotatably mounted within the base; a pan (33), for holding a quantity of animal litter, the pan being rotatably driven with the turntable; a rake assembly (36), providing a rake movable through the animal litter; a waste

A self-cleaning litter apparatus (30) comprises a base (31); a turntable (32), rotatably mounted within the base; a pan (33), for holding a quantity of animal litter, the pan being rotatably driven with the turntable; a rake assembly (36), providing a rake movable through the animal litter; a waste receptacle (37) for receipt of animal waste deposited in the litter, the receptacle providing a door (155) selectively moving to open and close the receptacle relative to movement of the rake assembly; a sensing mechanism (120) comprising a plurality of weight sensors (66 ), and an electrically activated track assembly (121) for determining the presence of an animal in the pan; a drive mechanism ( 170) for rotating the turntable, driving the rake assembly and operating movement of the door and, a controller (259) having a timer, and selectively providing power to the sensing mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A self-cleaning litter apparatus comprising: a base; a turntable, rotatably mounted within said base; a pan, for holding a quantity of animal litter, said pan being rotatably driven with said turntable; a rake assembly, providing a rake movable through the animal litter; a wa

What is claimed is: 1. A self-cleaning litter apparatus comprising: a base; a turntable, rotatably mounted within said base; a pan, for holding a quantity of animal litter, said pan being rotatably driven with said turntable; a rake assembly, providing a rake movable through the animal litter; a waste receptacle for receipt of animal waste deposited in the litter, said receptacle providing a door selectively moving to open and close said receptacle relative to movement of said rake assembly; a sensing mechanism for determining the presence of an animal in said pan; a drive mechanism for rotating said turntable, driving said rake assembly and operating movement of said door; and a controller, having a timer and selectively providing power to said sensing mechanism and said drive mechanism. 2. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turntable is dish-shaped and includes a central floor, surrounded by an annular trough, a peripheral wall, and a ring gear carried on the outer side of said peripheral wall, said annular trough carrying a plurality of weight sensors. 3. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said weight sensors comprise a body, providing a head, having a shaft extending downwardly therefrom and a base, terminating in a foot; an opposed set of spring feet; and means for joining said feet to said shaft. 4. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said body is mounted in said annular trough and said base is mounted underneath said annular trough. 5. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turntable is dish-shaped and includes a central floor, surrounded by an annular trough, said central floor providing a plurality of foot wells. 6. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said pan comprises a circular base; a coupling at the center of and underside of said circular base; and a plurality of feet, projecting downwardly from said circular base radially outwardly of said coupling, said feet engaging said like plurality of foot wells when said pan is positioned on said turntable. 7. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a hub-spindle assembly on the bottom side of said central floor of said turntable, said assembly having means for connecting said turntable to said base and a spindle articulating with said litter pan. 8. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said pan further comprises a plurality of feet, projecting downwardly from said circular base radially outwardly of said coupling, said feet engaging said like plurality of foot wells when said pan is positioned on said turntable; and a plurality of buttons, projecting downwardly from said circular base radially outwardly of said feet, each said button being located above the head of a weight sensor and engageable therewith in response to weight in said pan sufficient to tilt said pan on said spindle. 9. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said base includes a floor and an annular trough at the periphery of said floor; wherein said sensing mechanism comprises said plurality of weight sensors and a track assembly, carried in said annular trough of said base, said track assembly being connected to said controller; and wherein said pan further comprises a plurality of feet, projecting downwardly from said circular base radially outwardly of said coupling, said feet engaging said like plurality of foot wells when said pan is positioned on said turntable; and a plurality of buttons, projecting downwardly from said circular base radially outwardly of said feet, each said button being located above the head of a weight sensor and engageable therewith in response to weight in said pan sufficient to cause said spring feet to engage said track assembly. 10. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turntable is dish-shaped and includes a central floor, said central floor providing a hub-spindle assembly on the bottom side thereof, said assembly having means for connecting said turntable to said base and a spindle articulating with said litter pan. 11. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said base provides a floor carrying an open hub at the center thereof; wherein said hub-spindle assembly comprises a hub, extending from the bottom of said central floor and said spindle comprises members, forming a rounded end and joined to a platform, and a plurality of fingers which are communicable with said open hub. 12. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said pan comprises a circular base, and a coupling at the center of and underside of said base, engaged by said spindle. 13. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a supporting and centering mechanism for said turntable; wherein said base includes a floor, an annular trough at the periphery of said floor, a shelf encompassing said trough and in inner wall, said trough carrying said supporting and centering mechanism. 14. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said supporting and centering mechanism comprises a plurality of rollers, rotatably mounted in said shelf, the axis of rotation for said rollers being co-linear with the radius of said floor; and a plurality of wheels, rotatably mounted in said shelf, the axis of rotation for said wheels being perpendicular to the radius of said floor. 15. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said turntable is dish-shaped and includes a central floor, surrounded by an annular trough, wherein said rollers engage the central floor of said turntable and wherein said plurality of wheels engage the outer edge of said annular trough of said turntable. 16. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of weight sensors and a track assembly, carried in said annular trough of said base, said track assembly being connected to said controller. 17. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rake assembly comprises a central shaft, said shaft carrying a rake holder, provided at an end of said shaft and rotatable therewith; a wheel, rotatable about said shaft; a small cam; an upper main driving shaft; a large wheel, rotatable about said shaft; a key cam wheel provided at the other end of said shaft; said small cam, upper main driving shaft and key cam wheel being rotatable with said shaft; a second shaft, affixed at one end to said upper main driving shaft, generally perpendicularly to said central shaft and extending downwardly from said upper main driving shaft; a lower driving shaft, affixed to the other end of said second shaft. 18. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said lower driving shaft is engageable with said drive mechanism. 19. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a drive gear, intermeshing with a plurality of gears; a motor, driving said drive gear; one of said plurality of gears, engageable with said turntable and one of said plurality of gears, connected to said lower driving shaft. 20. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said base provides an upper compartment, upon which said rake assembly is mounted; and a lower compartment, housing said drive mechanism. 21. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said upper compartment provides a floor, upon which is carried a rake assembly base; a ramped platform, engageable with said key cam wheel; a separate platform, carried by said rake assembly base, engageable with said small cam; and a step, engageable with a cam carried by said key cam wheel. 22. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 20, said apparatus further comprising a mechanism, for opening said waste receptacle, wherein said lower compartment inboard and outboard switches, and said lower driving shaft provides an outwardly directed cam, engageable with said inboard and outboard switches; and an inwardly directed link arm, said arm being connected to said mechanism for opening said waste receptacle. 23. A self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 22, wherein said waste receptacle comprises a waste compartment; and a hinged door, covering said compartment, and said mechanism for opening said waste receptacle comprises a door pusher, pivotally connected to the outside of said compartment and communicating with said hinged door to raise and lower it; a lever, pivotally engaged to a wall of said waste compartment and providing a cam engageable with said door pusher; and a link arm, pivotally connected to said inwardly directed link arm at one end and pivotally connected to said lever at the other end, whereby said door is raised and lowered in response to rotation of said lower main driving shaft. 24. A sensing mechanism for a litter apparatus, said litter apparatus including a base having a floor and an annular trough at the periphery of said floor; a turntable, rotatably mounted within said base and providing a central floor, surrounded by an annular trough; a pan, for holding a quantity of animal litter, said pan being rotatably driven about an axis with said turntable and tiltable with respect to said turntable; wherein said sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of weight sensors, carried in said annular trough of said turntable and an electrically activated track assembly, carried in said annular trough of said base; wherein said pan comprises a circular base, the underside of which is engageable with at least one said weight sensor in response to the presence of an animal in said pan. 25. A weight sensing mechanism, as set forth in claim 24, wherein said weight sensors comprise a body, providing a head, having a shaft extending downwardly therefrom and a base, terminating in a foot; an opposed set of spring feet; and means for joining said feet to said shaft. 26. A weight sensing mechanism, as set forth in claim 25, wherein said body is mounted in said annular trough and said base is mounted underneath said annular trough. 27. A weight sensing mechanism, as set forth in claim 26, said pan further comprising a plurality of buttons, projecting downwardly from said circular base, each said button being located above said head of a weight sensor. 28. A method for initiating a self-cleaning cycle in a litter apparatus comprising: providing a litter apparatus having a pan, providing a quantity of self-clumping litter, said pan being tiltably rotatable about an axis; a rake assembly, providing a rake, movable through said litter while said pan is rotating; and a controller, having a timer; providing a sensing mechanism comprising a plurality of weight sensors, and an electrically activated track assembly; and initiating a self-cleaning cycle whereby said track assembly is contacted by at least one said weight sensor in response to the weight of an animal in said pan and upon contact, said track assembly provides a signal to said timer which initiates a self-cleaning cycle after a pre-determined period. 29. A method for initiating a self-cleaning cycle in a self-cleaning litter apparatus, as set forth in claim 28, wherein said self-cleaning cycle comprises the steps of moving said rake assembly from its parked position, through an arc within said litter pan concurrent with rotation of said pan and at a slower rpm than the concurrent rotation of said pan, with said rake partially submerged in the litter carried by said litter pan; rotating said rake upon a longitudinal axis as said rake moves arcuately through said litter to scoop any deposited clumped liquid and solid waste material out of said litter; depositing said material from said rake outside of said pan, while said pan continues its rotation; reversing the rotation of said rake, longitudinally and arcuately, and of said pan, whereby said rake is returned to its parked position; and ceasing movement of said rake assembly and said pan.