Animal husbandry – Milkers – With automatic control
Patent
1996-03-14
1998-10-06
Weiss, John G.
Animal husbandry
Milkers
With automatic control
475299, A01J 300
Patent
active
058161899
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for automatic removal of a milking means from an animal's udder, comprising a motor and a removal means rotatable by the motor in a first direction, the removal means being adapted to pull the milking means off the udder when the milking means is rotated by the motor in said first direction, and to admit movement of the milking means for its attachment on to the udder when the removal means is rotated in an opposite, second direction.
THE TECHNOLOGICAL STATE OF THE ART
Such a removal device, which is known from WO 93/00002, has great advantages, since it may be designed in very small dimensions and with a low weight. In the known removal device, the removal means comprises a cord drum with a cord adapted to be connected to the milking means. However, the known removal device has a drawback, since it has appeared that a mechanical resistance must be overcome each time the cord is to be pulled out from the cord drum in connection with attachment of the milking means onto the teats of an animal. The reason for this resistance is the motor, which is connected to the cord drum during the operation thereof. When pulling out the cord from the cord drum it may certainly be considered that the resistance of the removal device is not particularly strong, but in connection with repeated pull outs it has, after all, appeared that the resistance may be strenuous for the milker to overcome.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to achieve an automatic removal device of the above described kind, which removes the above described disadvantage of the said known removal device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by a device of the initially described kind, which is characterized by a coupling device adapted to keep the removal means operably connected to the motor when the removal means is rotated by means of the motor in said first direction and to keep the removal means disconnected from the motor when the removal means is rotated in said second direction. Thus, the removal means can be rotated in said second direction without resistance from the motor when the motor is not in operation, whereby the milker easily can move the milking means for its attachment onto the udder.
Advantageously, there is a means provided for influencing the coupling device such that the removal means is automatically connected to the motor when driven for rotation of the removal means in said first direction, said means comprising a source of positive or negative pressure adapted for pneumatic influence of the coupling device.
Preferably, the motor is pneumatically operable for rotation of the removal means in said first direction and is connectible to said source. The coupling device is in this connection adapted to operably connect the removal means to the motor, substantially simultaneously with the connection of the motor to said source. This can suitably be achieved by pneumatically connecting the coupling device and the motor to each other.
The motor may be a rotary motor, wherein the coupling device is interconnected between the motor and the removal means. In this case the coupling device suitably comprises a gear change device adapted to give the removal means a speed of rotation which is lower than that of the motor, whereby the motor can be designed compact, at the same time as a desired torque can be achieved.
Advantageously, said source is a vacuum source, which enables use of existing vacuum system in the milking stall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be closer described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1A is a view of a longitudinal section through a removal device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 1B shows a detail in enlargement of a coupling device in engaged state of the removal device according to FIG. 1A,
FIG. 1C shows the same detail as shown in FIG. 1B, but with the coupling device in unengaged state,
FIG. 2 is an exploded view illu
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patent: 3789798 (1974-02-01), Reisgies et al.
patent: 4502353 (1985-03-01), Beaudoin
patent: 4651580 (1987-03-01), Deane
patent: 4791833 (1988-12-01), Sakai et al.
patent: 4976671 (1990-12-01), Andersson
patent: 5006100 (1991-04-01), Brandt et al.
Alfa Laval Agri AB
Cho David J.
Weiss John G.
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