Animal husbandry – Milkers – With automatic control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2001-06-05
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Milkers
With automatic control
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240878
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to milking machine detacher mechanisms and particularly to an automatic milking machine detacher mechanism useful for being mounted in a sloping splash shield or other space-constrained location.
Automatic arm detachers for milking machines have been in use for many years. Typically, the detacher mechanism is mounted on a wall or a rail adjacent to the milking machine or is mounted inside a vertical splash shield to save space and maintain the cleanliness of the mechanism.
When the detacher mechanism is mounted inside of a cabinet or splash shield the mechanism includes a pneumatic cylinder, a chain, pulleys, and a counterweight that moves vertically as the detacher mechanism retracts the milking machine. Due to the length of the milking machine support arm and the distance between the detacher mechanism and the milking stall, the distance of vertical movement by the pneumatic cylinder piston and the counterweight is considerable. Where space is not a concern, such as in vertically oriented panels or splash shields, the traditional detacher arrangement is useful and dependable. When, however, vertical space is at a premium the traditional mechanism is not practical and will not work dependably.
Thus, there is needed a detacher mechanism for a milking machine that can be used in a sloping splash shield or other space that does not permit large vertical movement of mechanism components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A milking machine detacher in accordance with the present invention includes: a reciprocating piston that reciprocates in response to the action of a pneumatic cylinder or similar mechanism; a first clevis fixed to the reciprocating piston; a first chain having a first end fixed to the reciprocating piston and a second end; an articulated milker arm joined to the second end of the chain; a milker arm support joined to the articulated milker arm; a second clevis joined to the milker arm support and arranged to be engaged by the first clevis; a second chain having a first end connected to the milker arm support and a second end; and a counterweight joined to the second end of the second chain.
The milking machine detacher may further include: a sloped splash panel in which the piston, the first clevis, the second clevis are mounted, and the counterweight are mounted. The milking machine detacher milker arm support may include a tapered upper end for reducing necessary clearance within the sloped splash panel.
The milking machine detacher may further include an automatic controller for operating the piston, such as a programmable logic controller on a milking machine. The first clevis and the second clevis are preferably disengaged when the detacher is at a fully extended position, engaged during a detacher retracting movement; and disengaged at a detacher retracted position to provide an arc-shaped movement of the milker arm and avoid dragging a milking machine on the cow platform.
The milking machine detacher preferably includes a first roller fixed to the reciprocating piston and in sliding contact with the first chain; and a second roller fixed against vertical movement and in sliding contact with the first chain so that the chain will be retracted a distance greater that the distance the reciprocating piston. Further, the first clevis preferably includes a longitudinal horizontal axis, and the second clevis includes a longitudinal horizontal axis orientated at an angle to the horizontal axis of the first clevis so that the devises can transfer vertical load, but will slide relative to one another as the first clevis moves laterally during the retracting motion.
These and other features and benefits are described in detail below.
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Hein Patrick M.
Krause Robert G.
Larson Larry G.
Babson Bros. Co.
Lathrop & Clark LLP
Price Thomas
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