Animal husbandry – Milkers – Methods of milking
Patent
1995-09-29
1998-02-03
Swiatek, Robert P.
Animal husbandry
Milkers
Methods of milking
119 1418, 119 141, A01J 500
Patent
active
057133018
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This Patent Application is a Continuation of PCT/NL94/00066 (filed Mar. 29, 1994 designating the United States), which claims the priority date of The Netherlands' Patent Application 9300578, filed Apr. 1, 1993.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically milking animals, such as cows, comprising a milking robot with teat cups which can be connected to the teats of an animal. In particular, the implement is characterized in that the teat cups are non-rigidly connected to their respective carriers, that there are at least two carriers, and the carriers are pneumatically movable in at least two directions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art of automation for the dairy industry has disclosed many implements for automatically milking animals, such as cows.
One such implement is known from European Patent No. EP-A-O 532 066. This document discloses robot for an automatic milking machine comprising four telescopic arms for attaching all four teat cups to the animal's teats. These four arms slide along a rotary shaft so that, once they reach a certain height, they can position the teat cups following polar coordinates. They are connected to a common frame wherein they are individually movable in an upward and downward direction. Further, these robot arms are movable in a horizontal plain. The frame as a whole is movable whereby the robot arms are movable from the rear side of an animal to between its hind legs, particularly by means of the telescopic supporting structure. In other words, they are designed to be introduced between both hind legs of the animal which can lead to the animal's discomfort, especially if the hind legs are naturally close to each other, since for the animal, this requires a rather unnatural situation, whereby the animal's hind legs are forced in a spread position.
Another such implement is disclosed in European Patent Number EP-A1-0 306 579, wherein two robot arms, which include teat cups, are arranged on either side of the milking compartment. The carriers are individually movable from a rest position, obliquely disposed in the milking compartment, to a working position under the animal's udder and extending in at least two different directions. However, each of these robot arms carries only one teat cup, with the consequence that two further robot arms are added. These latter robot arms are mounted under the floor of the milking parlor. Further, the robot arms on either side of the milking parlor are not movable in a horizontal plane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A mechanism for automatically milking animals, in order to improve the efficiency, will provide that the connection of the teat cups to the teats is effected without delay. According to the invention, the apparatus is therefore characterized in that a milking compartment includes at least two carriers with teat cups. These carriers are movable from a rest position to a working position, and can be extended in at least two different directions. As a result thereof, the teat cups near the udder of the animal can be disposed near to each other, without the carriers of the teat cups interfering with each other.
In connection with a further feature of the invention, the teat cups are connected to carriers which are pneumatically movable in such a way that, during milking, the teat cups can be moved back and forth by the air in the pneumatic system. This configuration allows the animal to move back and forth in the milking compartment during milking.
In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, during milking, the carriers of the teat cups are arranged in an approximately horizontal plane in the shape of a star around the udder of an animal. This star-shaped configuration of the carriers carrying the teat cups around the udder of the animal results in an advantageous connection of the cups to the teats.
In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, a plurality of carriers are present for one or more teat cups, of which, during milking
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Abbott Yvonne R.
Albright Penrose Lucas
Swiatek Robert P.
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