Animal husbandry – Milkers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-09
2001-07-31
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Milkers
C119S014180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267077
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning with a rinsing liquid at least part of one or more components of one or more milking machines for milking animals, said apparatus being provided with a rinsing liquid reservoir which is connected a rinsing liquid supply line wherein a first shut-off valve is included.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such cleaning apparatus which utilizes a rinsing liquid for cleaning purposes is known.
With such cleaning apparatus an additive is introduced, such as a base or an acid, to the rinsing liquid, usually in the rinsing liquid reservoir. Parts of the milking machine are cleaned with this solution. After a part of the machine has been cleaned with such a solution, said part is usually rinsed with a rinsing liquid in which no additives have been dissolved. For that purpose the rinsing liquid reservoir is filled again, whereafter the rinsing process can start. Filling again the rinsing liquid reservoir requires a great deal of time, while cleaning of the rinsing liquid reservoir itself is difficult.
An object of the invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks or at least minimize them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, the above object of the invention is achieved by providing a connection to the rinsing liquid supply line, between the first shut-off valve and the rinsing liquid reservoir, a first rinsing liquid discharge line in which a second shut-off valve is included, while the cleaning apparatus for cleaning with a rinsing liquid is further provided with a first metering device for adding an additive, such as e.g. a cleaning or disinfecting liquid or both to the liquid that has been supplied via the rinsing liquid supply line, the additive being introduced in the rinsing liquid supply line, preferably between the reservoir and the first shut-off valve, or in the first rinsing liquid discharge line, or both. The additive can also be introduced into the rinsing liquid discharge line before the first shut-off valve. By introducing the additive to the rinsing liquid directly in the rinsing liquid discharge line, the rinsing liquid reservoir is prevented from coming into contact with the additive. According to again another inventive feature, a third shut-off valve is included in the rinsing liquid supply line, between the rinsing liquid reservoir and the place where the first rinsing liquid discharge line is connected to the rinsing liquid supply line. This third shut-off valve makes it possible to close the rinsing liquid reservoir relative to the rest of the lines, so that the rinsing liquid can be introduced into the reservoir for the purpose of heat cleaning, while via the rinsing liquid supply line other parts of the milking machine can be cleaned with rinsing liquid. However, for the purpose of cleaning, such as descaling, the rinsing liquid reservoir, it is possible to introduce, by means of the metering device, an additive to the rinsing liquid that flows into the rinsing liquid reservoir.
According to an inventive feature, the additive is introduced at the place where the first rinsing liquid discharge line is connected to the rinsing liquid supply line. By introducing the additive at this juncture, only one connection between the metering device and the rinsing liquid lines is required, inasmuch as the flow direction of the rinsing liquid can be used either for conveying the additive to the rinsing liquid reservoir or for discharging the additive via the further rinsing liquid discharge line.
According to again another inventive feature, the first and second shut-off valves are integrated in a so-called three-way valve. According to a further inventive feature, in the situation that a three-way valve is applied, seen in the flow direction of the liquid supplied via the rinsing liquid supply line before the three-way valve, a connection is provided between the rinsing liquid supply line and the first rinsing liquid discharge line, in which connection a further shut-off valve is included.
In accordance with yet another inventive feature, the first rinsing liquid discharge line branches off in at least one further rinsing liquid discharge line in which a shut-off valve is included. This branching off enables other components of the milking machine to come into contact with the cleaning apparatus for cleaning with a rinsing liquid for the purpose of being cleaned. According to again a still further inventive feature, there is included a rinsing liquid buffer reservoir in at least one rinsing liquid discharge line. According to a still further inventive feature, to the rinsing liquid buffer reservoir is connected a pressure line, preferably a compressed air line, by means of which the liquid in the rinsing liquid buffer reservoir can be pressurized. In this manner certain components of the milking machine can be cleaned at a higher pressure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the rinsing liquid buffer reservoir or the rinsing liquid supply line or the rinsing liquid reservoir, or any combination thereof, a sensor is provided by means of which the concentration of the additive in the rinsing liquid can be determined. In this manner a rinsing liquid may be produced with a proper concentration of additive, so that an optimal cleaning or disinfection or both of components of the milking machine can take place. In order to avoid that the pressurization of the liquid in the rinsing liquid buffer reservoir influences the rinsing liquid circuit, a non-return valve is provided in the rinsing liquid discharge line above the rinsing liquid buffer reservoir. In order to prevent the rinsing liquid from being contaminated, according to an inventive feature, a filter is included in the rinsing liquid discharge line.
In accordance with another inventive feature, it is possible to connect to the further rinsing liquid supply line at least one milking robot for automatically connecting teat cups to an animal to be milked, or a cleaning device for the cleaning of cleaning members by means of which the teats or the udder or both of an animal to be milked are cleaned, or a further cleaning device by means of which at least part of the robot arm is cleaned, or a combination of such components.
For the purpose of pre-heating the rinsing liquid, such as water, there is included a heat exchanger in the rinsing liquid supply line. By means of the heat exchanger the heat which is released during cooling of the milk can be used for heating the rinsing liquid. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, included in the rinsing liquid supply line is a protecting device for preventing the rinsing liquid from flowing into the rinsing liquid supply line in the direction opposite to that towards the rinsing liquid reservoir. In this manner it is possible to prevent the water supply from being contaminated with rinsing liquid to which additives have been added.
The invention further relates to a milking machine comprising cleaning apparatus for cleaning with a rinsing liquid as described above.
The invention also relates to the method of the above-described apparatus, in which method rinsing liquid is supplied to a rinsing liquid reservoir via a rinsing liquid supply line, and the rinsing liquid can optionally be heated, after which, by means of a metering device, an additive, such as an acid or a base, is added to the rinsing liquid, optionally to a part thereof or to all the rinsing liquid in a rinsing liquid discharge line connected to the rinsing liquid reservoir, whereafter at least part of the milking machine is cleaned with the rinsing liquid.
The invention further relates to a method of cleaning at least part of the milking machine, in which method rinsing liquid is supplied to a rinsing liquid reservoir via a rinsing liquid supply line, and the rinsing liquid can optionally be heated, after which, by means of a metering device, an additive, such as an acid or a base, is introduced into the rinsing liquid, optionally to a part thereof or to all the rinsing liquid in a rinsing liquid
van den Berg Karel
van der Laan Rudolf E.
Jordan Charles T.
Maasland N.V. a Dutch Limited Co
Penrose Lucas Albright
Shaw Elizabeth
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