NZ609571B2 - Teatspray Mixer - Google Patents

Abstract

teat spray mixing and dispensing machine 1 pumps controlled amounts of teat spray concentrate and emollient concentrate from respective containers 8, 10 into a mixing tank 6 to which a controlled amount of water from 12 is also added. As required, the pump 17 pumps mixed liquid from the tank 6 to the sprayer of a teat spraying apparatus until the level of liquid in the tank is detected to be low by a level switch, and then another batch of the liquid is mixed for dispensing. The machine includes and is controlled by a PLC 3 which is responsive to the low level signal from detector 21 and controls the timed operation of the concentrate and emollient pumps 17, 18, and the water valve 17 to get the correct ratios and quantities in the mixture as set by selectors 13, 14, and controls the outlet pump 7. the sprayer of a teat spraying apparatus until the level of liquid in the tank is detected to be low by a level switch, and then another batch of the liquid is mixed for dispensing. The machine includes and is controlled by a PLC 3 which is responsive to the low level signal from detector 21 and controls the timed operation of the concentrate and emollient pumps 17, 18, and the water valve 17 to get the correct ratios and quantities in the mixture as set by selectors 13, 14, and controls the outlet pump 7.

Description

Patents Form No. 5 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Teat Spray Mixer I, Malcolm Craig Burrows, a New Zealand citizen, of 76 Juliet Street, Stratford 4332, New Zealand, hereby declare this invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: TITLE Teat spray mixer.

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a teat spray mixer. A preferred form of the invention relates to a teat spray mixer suitable for use with teat sprayers for dairy cows.

BACKGROUND It is known to spray the teats of dairy cows with teat spray mixture after milking cups are removed from the teats of the cows during the milking process. This is to reduce the risk of infection to the teats or udders which may affect cow health and reduce the quantity and quality of milk produced. Typically, teat spray concentrate is mixed with water and optionally emollient to obtain the teat spray mixture to be applied to cow teats. To maximise its effectiveness, the teat spray mixture should be mixed regularly in small batches so that it is fresh and should comprise a predetermined ratio of concentrate, and emollient when used, to water. It can be difficult and labour intensive to prepare fresh batches with the desired ratio to keep up with demand. It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to go at least some way toward addressing these issues or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

The term “comprising” and derivatives thereof, eg “comprises”, if and when used herein in relation to a combination of features should not be taken as excluding the possibility that the combination may have further unspecified features. For example, a statement that an arrangement “comprises” certain parts does not mean that it cannot also, optionally, have additional parts.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a teat spray mixing apparatus when used for mixing teat spray concentrate with water for use with a teat sprayer for cleaning dairy cow teats comprising: a) a container; b) control means; c) first transfer means adapted to enable movement of teat spray concentrate; d) second transfer means adapted to enable movement of water; e) sensing means; and f) an outlet; the apparatus formed so that the control means activates the first transfer means to facilitate a flow of a predetermined amount of the concentrate to the container, and activates the second transfer means to facilitate a flow of a predetermined amount of water to the container, such that a mixture of the concentrate and water is in the container and flows from the container to the outlet to the teat sprayer to be sprayed onto the dairy cow teats, and the sensing means detects when the mixture falls below a predetermined level in the container and sends a signal to the controller to cause the first and second transfer means to repeat the above.

Preferably the controller comprises a programmable logic controller.

Preferably the first transfer means comprises a pump.

Preferably the second transfer means comprises a valve.

Preferably the sensing means comprises a liquid low level switch.

Preferably the apparatus is adapted to enable a 4 to 1 ratio of water to concentrate in the container.

Preferably the apparatus is adapted to enable a 7 to 1 ratio of water to concentrate in the container.

Preferably the apparatus is adapted to enable a 9 to 1 ratio of water to concentrate in the container.

Preferably there is a third transfer means which is adapted to enable movement of emollient such that emollient can become part of the mixture.

Preferably the control means is able to control the third transfer means.

Preferably emollient can enter a flow of water prior to the container.

Preferably emollient can enter a flow of mixture prior to the container.

Preferably a fourth transfer means is able to force mixture from the container to the outlet.

Preferably the fourth transfer means comprises a pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a teat spray mixer; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inside portion of the teat spray mixer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to figures 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment of the invention a teat spray mixer 1 for use with teat spraying of dairy cows during milking comprises a housing 2, a programmable logic controller 3, a teat spray concentrate pump 4, an emollient pump 5, a mixture drum 6, and a delivery pump 7. The pumps are preferably self priming diaphragm pumps although other kinds of pump may be used.

The mixer 1 is connected to a container of teat spray concentrate 8 by a concentrate tube 9 and to a separate container of emollient 10 by an emollient tube 11. A water tube 12 connects the mixer 1 to a water source external to the mixer 1. The teat spray concentrate and the emollient each comprise various known original equipment manufacturer (O EM) chemicals. The teat spray concentrate is formulated to assist in killing bacteria that may infect cow teats.

Prior to use the mixer 1 user, typically a dairy farmer, decides on the desired amount of concentrate that will go into a teat spray mixture. This can be set by a concentrate selector 13 set in the housing 2. The selector 13 is a knob that can be manipulated by hand to one of three positions and determines how much concentrate will be drawn into the drum 6 during operation of the mixer 1. In the preferred embodiment the selector 13 has settings for a mix of water to concentrate of 4 to 1, 7 to 1, and 9 to 1 i.e. 4 parts water to 1 part concentrate, 7 parts water to 1 part concentrate, and 9 parts water to 1 part concentrate.

While the concentrate and water are prerequisites for the teat spray mixture, it is preferred to also add emollient to the mixture. Emollient assists in moisturising the cow teats to minimise the risk of infection which may result from cracked teat skin.

The desired concentration of emollient in the teat spray mixture can be set by an emollient dial 14. The dial 14 can be turned by hand to one of three settings. In the preferred embodiment the dial 14 has settings for the emollient to constitute 5 percent, 10 percent, or 15 percent of the mixture.

Both the concentrate selector 13 and the emollient dial 14 have an off setting to turn off the supply of either concentrate or emollient if it is desired to have either a mixture of concentrate and water only, or a mixture of emollient and water only. In an alternative embodiment there is a separate on/off button for each of the concentrate pump 4 and emollient pump 5 to enable supply or to turn off supply of either substance as required.

In use, once the desired ratios of concentrate and/or emollient have been set, water is drawn from the water source up the water tube 12 and through a first water filter 15 toward the drum 6. After the filter 15, the water flow passes through a 5 litres per minute Maric™ valve 16, to facilitate a constant flow rate, and through a solenoid valve 17 opened by the controller 3. Concentrate is drawn up the concentrate tube 9 through a second filter 17 by the concentrate pump 4 and into the drum 6. Emollient is drawn up the emollient tube 11 through a third filter 18 by the emollient pump 5 and into the drum 6. The concentrate, emollient and water flows merge into a tube 19 which is connected to the drum 6.

The functioning of the solenoid valve 17 and the pumps 4,5 is timed by the controller 3 in order to fill the drum with the correct ratio of concentrate, emollient and water.

For example, in a given cycle the water may flow for longer than the concentrate, and the concentrate may flow for longer than the emollient so that the desired ratio is drawn into the drum 6. A full level is determined by the controller 3 timing the predetermined amounts of each liquid into the drum 6. The solenoid valve 17 and the pumps 4,5 are turned off by the controller 3 when the drum 6 is filled to the required level. It is desirable for the teat spray mixture to be as fresh as possible and so in the preferred embodiment 20 litres is mixed in one batch.

The teat spray mixture is then ready to be dispensed. The controller 3 activates the delivery pump 7 to send the mixture from the drum 6 by way of a delivery tube 19 with the aid of an accumulator 20 to a spray apparatus (not shown) separate to the mixer. The spray apparatus may be a spray gun, for example. As milking cups are removed from cow teats during milking the spray gun mounted in the milking stalls sprays the mixture onto the teats. As the batch is dispensed the level in the drum 6 reduces until it is at a liquid low level switch 21 set near the base of the drum 6. The switch 21 is designed to sense that the mixture has emptied out of the drum 6 to the level of the switch and sends a signal to the controller 3 which then repeats the cycle so long as the mixer 1 is activated.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. A teat spray mixing apparatus when used for mixing teat spray concentrate with water for use with a teat sprayer for cleaning dairy cow teats comprising: 5 a) a container; b) control means; c) first transfer means adapted to enable movement of teat spray concentrate; d) second transfer means adapted to enable movement of water; 10 e) sensing means; and f) an outlet; the apparatus formed so that the control means activates the first transfer means to facilitate a flow of a predetermined amount of the concentrate to the container, and activates the second transfer means to facilitate a flow of a 15 predetermined amount of water to the container, such that a mixture of the concentrate and water is in the container and flows from the container to the outlet to the teat sprayer to be sprayed onto the dairy cow teats, and the sensing means detects when the mixture falls below a predetermined level in the container and sends a signal to the controller to cause the first and 20 second transfer means to repeat the above.

2. A teat spray mixing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a programmable logic controller. 25

3. A teat spray mixing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first transfer means comprises a pump.

4. A teat spray mixing apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the second transfer means comprises a valve.

5. A teat spray mixing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing means comprises a liquid low level switch.

6. A teat spray mixing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, 35 adapted to enable a 4 to 1 ratio of water to concentrate in the container.