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EP1263282A1 - Dispositif et procede de nettoyage des pis - Google Patents

Dispositif et procede de nettoyage des pis

Info

Publication number
EP1263282A1
EP1263282A1 EP01915995A EP01915995A EP1263282A1 EP 1263282 A1 EP1263282 A1 EP 1263282A1 EP 01915995 A EP01915995 A EP 01915995A EP 01915995 A EP01915995 A EP 01915995A EP 1263282 A1 EP1263282 A1 EP 1263282A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tube
teat
cleaning
level
floor surface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01915995A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Martin SJÖLUND
Nils-Erik Holmertz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DeLaval Holding AB
Original Assignee
DeLaval Holding AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DeLaval Holding AB filed Critical DeLaval Holding AB
Publication of EP1263282A1 publication Critical patent/EP1263282A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01J—MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
    • A01J7/00—Accessories for milking machines or devices
    • A01J7/04—Accessories for milking machines or devices for treatment of udders or teats, e.g. for cleaning

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning at least one teat of an animal, comprising a teat cleaning cup and a tube connected between said teat cleaning cup and a washing station, said tube being associated with a movable suspension for the tube and a lifting device for lifting up said suspension in relation to a floor surface in the vicinity of the animal.
  • the invention also relates to a method for cleaning the teats of an animal, comprising the steps of: attaching a teat cleaning cup to each teat manually, or by means of a milking robot, which teat cleaning cup via a tube is connected to a washing station and; lifting up said tube, by means of a movable suspension associated with the tube and a lifting device, in relation to a floor surface in the vicinity of the animal.
  • One essential step in the milking process for dairy animals is to effectively clean the teats of the animal to be milked before the actual milking can commence. If the teats are not properly clean, then the milk is likely to become contaminated by dirt on the teats and will not be suitable for human consumption. To obtain proper cleaning is especially difficult if an automatic milking system is used, since there is no checking performed by a person, as is the case during manual cleaning.
  • a teat cleaning cup which is connected to a washing tube, which in turn is associated with a washing station comprising a pump, a water supply means, a detergent and a waste water tank.
  • the free part of said washing tube which is situated between said teat cleaning cup and said washing station, is associated with a take-off mechanism comprising a movable support for the washing tube and a lifting device for lifting said support when activated.
  • said lifting device is deactivated and therefore, the washing tube must be kept from lying in a heap and collect dirt on the floor by means of a counterweight arrangement, which balances the weight of the washing tube.
  • the lifting device will be re-activated and thereby the teat cleaning cup will be pulled off the newly cleaned teat.
  • DE-A1 30 44 445 shows an arrangement for exerting a variable pulling force on a cluster of teat cups for milking by means of one or more hydraulic cylinders, which are connected to said cluster via wires.
  • Said hydraulic cylinders are activated by means of control valves to exert more or less pulling force on the cluster in a predetermined pattern, in order to accomplish an after-milking sequence.
  • Said wires may be linked to a pulley, which is releasably attached to the floor of the milking stall close to the animal. When the milking is all completed, the pulley is released and the hydraulic cylinders are activated to pull off the teat cups from the teats of the udder by means of the wires.
  • a device shown in US-A-3 870 021 comprises an automatic control for the support system of a milking cluster, which includes a milking cluster and an actuator which provides a lifting force for it.
  • a force sensor is arranged between the milking cluster and the suspension actuator, for measuring the pulling force exerted on the udder by the milking cluster.
  • Further means is provided for energising the actuator to raise or lower the cluster until the signal from the pulling force exerted by the cluster on the udder is within a predetermined range. Said means is also used for maintaining the pulling force within this predetermined range despite fluctuations in the height of the udder to thereby selectively stabilise the pull exerted by the milking cluster on the cow's udder.
  • WO 96/1310 illustrates a holder and take-off device with a tubular suspension rod having a horizontal foot bracket attached to it.
  • the suspension rod is fitted in a stationary, vertical stand permitting both vertical and rotational movement.
  • Fitted inside the suspension rod for weight compensation is a counterweight, which is connected to the suspension rod by a cord passing over a roller.
  • the cord passes through a gripping device connected to a lifting device.
  • the gripping device can adopt a first position in which the cord may pass through it unrestricted and the gripping device can also be moved by said lifting device into a second position, in which the cord is gripped and hence moves with the lifting device.
  • the forces produced by the lifting device compensates for a part of the weight of the counterweight, thus producing a corresponding force which is transmitted through the suspension rod to the foot bracket and hence to the milking appliance and generates the required milkout force.
  • the described prior art documents are directed to various ways to solve problems related to the suspension and control of a milking cluster, during milking, and the take-off of said milking cluster, after the milking has been completed, by means of mechanisms, which are associated with the milking cluster.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an improved teat cleaning device and method, which is suitable for keeping its washing tube lifted up from the floor of the milking stall, in such a manner that neither the washing tube nor the teat cleaning cups never touches the floor.
  • an activating means for variable activation of said lifting device is provided and depending on which, the suspension is maintainable in a first level A, in which the weight of the tube is balanced, at a first predetermined distance from the floor surface, and is movable into a second level B, in which the teat cleaning cup has been pulled off from said teat and is resting by means of the tube, at a second predetermined distance from the floor surface.
  • a corresponding method is characterised of the following steps being performed in dependency of an activating means for variable activation of said lifting device: maintaining the suspension in a first level A, at a first predetermined distance from the floor surface during a teat cleaning sequence, in order to balance the weight of the tube and; moving the suspension to a second level B, at a second predetermined distance from the floor surface after the teat cleaning sequence has been completed, for pulling-off the teat cleaning cup from said teat and keeping it resting near said second level B by means of the tube.
  • said lifting device comprises a cylinder unit, which is connected to a vacuum source by means of said activating means.
  • said activating means comprises a valve arrangement for adjusting the vacuum in said cylinder unit between a minimum value and a maximum value, which correspond to said first level A and said second level B respectively.
  • said valve arrangement is infinitely variable.
  • said valve arrangement is variable in steps.
  • said valve arrangement comprises a cut-off valve and an adjustable bypass arrangement.
  • said valve arrangement comprises a cut-off valve, which is provided with a bleeder device.
  • said bleeder device is constituted of a suction pipe.
  • said bleeder device involves a recess.
  • said bleeder device involves a protrusion.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a teat cleaning device comprising an embodiment of a tube-lifting device with a corresponding suspension for the tube in a first level
  • Figure 2 is a view according to figure 1 , but with said suspension for the tube in a second level.
  • Fig. 1 shows a cleaning device for cleaning the teats of an animal, comprising a teat cleaning cup 1, which is connected to a washing tube 2, which in turn is associated with a washing station 4.
  • a teat-cleaning device of this kind are well known in the relevant technical field, they are not described in more detail here.
  • the part of said washing tube 2, which is intermediate said teat cleaning cup 1 and said washing station 4 is associated with a movable suspension embodied by a displaceable pulley 6, for the washing tube, and a lifting device 8 for lifting said pulley when activated.
  • Said lifting device may advantageously be operated by means of a preferably horizontally mounted pneumatic cylinder 10, in which a piston 12 is displaceably arranged and connected to one end of a wire 14.
  • a rotatable pulley 16 is stationary arranged at a location in the displacement direction of said piston, which location is adapted to the stroke of the piston.
  • Said wire 14 is arranged to run over said rotatable pulley 16 and thereafter turn downwards and be extended in an essentially vertical direction towards a floor surface 18.
  • the wire 14 is with its other end attached to said displaceable pulley 6, which constitutes the movable support for the tube 2.
  • the length of the wire 14 is also adapted to the stroke of the piston, the length of the washing tube 2 and the position of the animals udder.
  • the displaceable pulley 6 is movable at least between a first level A and a second level B, depending on the stroke of the piston 12, its own weight and the weight of the tube 2.
  • the displaceable pulley 6 may be provided with a pick up device 19 for catching the teat cleaning cup 1, after it has been pulled off the teat 1 and reached the displaceable pulley 6.
  • Said pick up device may be embodied by means of a rubber or plastic material plate 19, which is associated with the suspension attachment between the displaceable pulley and the wire 14.
  • the plate 19 may be arranged with an opening 20, through which the tube 2 may slide, until the teat cleaning cup hits the plate, during the movement of the displaceable pulley 6 from the first level A to the second level B.
  • the cylinder 10 is by means of an activating means 21 connected to a vacuum source 22, which advantageously can be the regular vacuum source of the milking system.
  • Said activating means 21 may involve a conventional cut-off valve 24 in combination with a pressure reducing or pressure increasing device such as a by-pass arrangement 26, e.g. a tube provided with an adjustable restriction of a conventional type.
  • a by-pass arrangement may be provided with a cut down cross section area, e.g. by means of a restriction hole, bleeder hole, a bleeder screw, a venturi tube or the like, in order to let through a small amount of air.
  • said cut-off valve 24 may be modified by means of a small suction pipe, a recess or a protrusion in such a way, that it never is completely tight when closed.
  • said cut-off valve 24 may involve a combination of a conventional cut-off valve and a throttle valve alternatively a damper valve, so long as the valve is designed for or provided with means for regulating the amount of "bleeding air".
  • the extent of activation of the pneumatic cylinder and also the magnitude of the piston force F is adaptable to the weight of the washing tube 2.
  • the activating means 21 may be manually adjusted, but may even be automatically adjusted by means of a not shown control unit, which may be arranged to control the washing station 4 as well.
  • a not shown control unit which may be arranged to control the washing station 4 as well.
  • vacuum fluctuations due to the dynamic movements of e.g. a milking robot, would be avoidable by means of a small regulating device.
  • Said device would preferably be of a similar kind as is used to control the milking in milking systems according to the Duovac ® concept of Alfa Laval Agri AB, which is designed to relatively accurately maintain a constant vacuum level in the system.
  • Fig. 1 shows the displaceable pulley 6 in a first level A, at a first distance dj from a floor surface 18 during a teat cleaning sequence.
  • the above-described lifting device 8 is suitable to exert a relatively small tube-lifting force f on the tube 2, via the displaceable pulley 6.
  • This force f may be adjusted, by means of said activating means 21, until sufficient to maintain the displaceable pulley 6 in the first level A, in which the weight of the tube 2 is balanced and the teat cleaning cup 1 still remains attached to a teat 28.
  • the first level A may be put at the first predetermined distance d, from the floor surface 18, which means that the tube 2 is balanced with all parts kept away from touching the surface of the floor.
  • Fig. 2 shows the displaceable pulley 6 in a second level B, at a second distance d 2 from the floor surface 18, after the teat cleaning sequence has been completed.
  • the above-described lifting device 8 has been fully activated by means of the activating means 21, which means the cut-off valve 24 has been set fully open and thereby the teat cleaning cup 1 has been pulled off the newly cleaned teat 28.
  • the lifting device 8 is suitable to exert a relatively large tube-lifting force F on the tube 2, via the displaceable pulley 6.
  • this force F may be adjusted, by means of said activating means 21, until sufficient only to maintain the displaceable pulley 6 in the second level B, in which the weight of the tube 2 is balanced.
  • the second level B may be put at a second predetermined distance d 2 from the floor surface 18.
  • This means the tube 2 is balanced with all parts kept away from touching the surface of the floor 18 and the teat cleaning cup 1 resting near the second level B, by means of the tube 2, displaceable pulley 6 and catching device 19.
  • the lifting device and activating means are also applicable to the control of milk tubes and the like to keep said tubes out of the way.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de nettoyage d'au moins un pis (28) d'un animal. Ce dispositif comprend un gobelet de nettoyage (1) et un tube (2) monté entre ce gobelet et une station de lavage (4). Le tube (2) est associé à une unité cylindrique (10, 12) par un fil (14) et une poulie mobile (6) pour pouvoir être soulevé rapport à la surface du sol (18). L'unité cylindrique (10, 12) peut être activée de façon variable à l'aide d'une source de vide (22) par l'intermédiaire d'un système de valves (24, 26) en vue de tenir le tube (2) à un premier niveau (A) ou à un deuxième niveau (B) au-dessus de la surface du sol (18).
EP01915995A 2000-03-17 2001-03-16 Dispositif et procede de nettoyage des pis Withdrawn EP1263282A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0000891 2000-03-17
SE0000891A SE516770C2 (sv) 2000-03-17 2000-03-17 Uppbärningsanordning för slang till spenrengöringsanordning och förfarande för uppbärande av slangen
PCT/SE2001/000548 WO2001067848A1 (fr) 2000-03-17 2001-03-16 Dispositif et procede de nettoyage des pis

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1263282A1 true EP1263282A1 (fr) 2002-12-11

Family

ID=20278849

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01915995A Withdrawn EP1263282A1 (fr) 2000-03-17 2001-03-16 Dispositif et procede de nettoyage des pis

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1263282A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2001242939A1 (fr)
SE (1) SE516770C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001067848A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE0201596D0 (sv) * 2002-05-29 2002-05-29 Delaval Holding Ab A device for cleaning the teats of an animal
EP2523545B1 (fr) 2010-01-12 2015-06-17 DeLaval Holding AB Système de positionnement pour au moins un élément tubulaire flexible relié à un élément en forme de gobelet
US11439117B2 (en) 2018-11-07 2022-09-13 Gea Farm Technologies, Inc. Milking cluster support arm with automatic hose support drop

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DD146784A1 (de) * 1979-12-27 1981-03-04 Dieter Bothur Nachmelk-und melkzeugabnahmevorrichtung
DE4438236C1 (de) * 1994-10-26 1995-11-02 Westfalia Separator Ag Trag- und Abziehvorrichtung für Melkzeuge
SE9704516D0 (sv) * 1997-12-04 1997-12-04 Alfa Laval Agri Ab Retraction means
SE514007C2 (sv) * 1998-09-04 2000-12-11 Alfa Laval Agri Ab Skyddsorgan vid anordning för djurskötsel

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0167848A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001242939A1 (en) 2001-09-24
WO2001067848A1 (fr) 2001-09-20
SE0000891L (sv) 2001-09-18
SE516770C2 (sv) 2002-02-26
SE0000891D0 (sv) 2000-03-17

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