Automated feeding device

摘要

An automated feeding device for dispensing living insects to caged animals comprises a support frame detachably connected to an animal cage, a removable cassette assembly connected to the support frame and having a bottom plate with an annular portion having a smooth upper surface and a dispensing aperture therethrough, a top plate with an annular array of individual cells to hold live insects, each cell having a smooth interior surface devoid of insect grippable protrusions and an access opening for alignment with the dispensing aperture of the bottom plate with the top plate being rotatably mounted to the bottom plate for successive alignment of the access opening of the cells with the dispensing aperture and with the top plate in mating engagement with the bottom plate so that the smooth upper surface closes off the abutting access opening of the cells, the cassette assembly being removably mounted to the support frame to permit selective replacement of the cassette assembly, and an advancement mechanism for advancing the top plate to successively align the access opening of the next adjacent cell with the dispensing aperture.