A teat treatment apparatus comprising a tubular outer housing containing a tubular inner shell. The tubular inner shell includes a side wall defining a teat treatment cavity, including a central side wall portion. An inlet port extends through a side wall of the tubular outer housing and is in fluid communication with an annular cavity formed by the inner side surface of the tubular housing and an upper annular ridge, recessed central side surface, and lower annular ridge of the side wall of the tubular inner shell. Orifices are provided in the central side wall portion of the tubular inner shell. Each of the orifices is in fluid communication with the annular cavity and the treatment cavity, and each of the orifices defines an orifice axis directed at an oblique angle with respect to the central axis of the treatment cavity and downwardly with respect to the treatment cavity plane.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

A teat cleaning system provides a cleaning brush having first and second rotatable brushes that are rotated to clean the teat of an animal and to deliver a disinfectant, germicide, and/or purified water to the teat of the animal. During a cleaning mode, the disinfectant, germicide, and/or purified water may be delivered through the cleaning brush, and during a drying mode, no disinfectant or germicide is delivered to dry brush the teat of the animal for whisking away fluid and drying the teat.

A teat cleaning system provides a cleaning brush having first and second rotatable brushes that are rotated to clean the teat of an animal and to deliver a disinfectant, germicide, and/or purified water to the teat of the animal. During a cleaning mode, the disinfectant, germicide, and/or purified water may be delivered through the cleaning brush, and during a drying mode, no disinfectant or germicide is delivered to dry brush the teat of the animal for whisking away fluid and drying the teat.

A teat preparation system that includes a lightweight, compact hand piece designed to fit around the teat on a bovine to sequentially clean, dry and apply a post-dip solution to the teat. The system includes a control unit with a software program that controls the amount and delivery timing of pressure air, pre-dip solution and post-dip solution to the hand piece. The software program operates in one of two modes. The hand piece includes switches that control the operation of the control unit that control solenoids connected to a high pressure air source, a pre dip solution source and a post-dip solution source. Located inside the hand piece is a spray cylinder with a plurality of nozzles, The shape of the spray cylinder and the orientation of the nozzles create a venturi and produces a suction that draws and stretches the teat into the spray cylinder. The hand piece and the control unit may also be configured to strip the teat after applying the pre-dip solution.

A teat preparation system that includes a lightweight, compact hand piece designed to fit around the teat on a bovine to sequentially clean, dry and apply a post-dip solution to the teat. The system includes a control unit with a software program that controls the amount and delivery timing of pressure air, pre-dip solution and post-dip solution to the hand piece. The software program operates in one of two modes. The hand piece includes switches that control the operation of the control unit that control solenoids connected to a high pressure air source, a pre dip solution source and a post-dip solution source. Located inside the hand piece is a spray cylinder with a plurality of nozzles, The shape of the spray cylinder and the orientation of the nozzles create a venturi and produces a suction that draws and stretches the teat into the spray cylinder. The hand piece and the control unit may also be configured to strip the teat after applying the pre-dip solution.

A teat sprayer for use in dairy applications is described that uses an articulated arm and system to deliver a spray to a teat and move between multiple dairy animals. In one aspect the dairy animal teat treatment apparatus, comprises a spray inlet, a spray nozzle, a flow path extending between the spray inlet and the spray nozzle, and an articulated arm conveying the spray nozzle, movement of the articulated arm driven by an actuator. Articulated arm movement may be between a retracted position in which the spray nozzle and articulated arm are retracted and an extended position in which at least part of the articulated arm and spray nozzle thereon is extended, moving the spray nozzle to a position configured to be about an animal's udder. In a further aspect, the apparatus, comprises an animal sensor positioned generally above and behind an animal bail and directed generally downwards configured to sense the presence of an animal in the animal bail; and a controller configured to actuate spraying of the animal's teats from spray nozzle extension and retraction in response to a signal received from the sensor. The apparatus may act to reduce cost through reduced numbers of treatment apparatus and/or lower labour costs and expenses; increase accuracy/efficiency through automation and speed of treatment; address issues associated with the inconvenience/space constraints in dairy platform configurations; and minimise the number of sensors required and position these sensors away from the animal bail.

A teat sprayer for use in dairy applications is described that uses an articulated arm and system to deliver a spray to a teat and move between multiple dairy animals. In one aspect the dairy animal teat treatment apparatus, comprises a spray inlet, a spray nozzle, a flow path extending between the spray inlet and the spray nozzle, and an articulated arm conveying the spray nozzle, movement of the articulated arm driven by an actuator. Articulated arm movement may be between a retracted position in which the spray nozzle and articulated arm are retracted and an extended position in which at least part of the articulated arm and spray nozzle thereon is extended, moving the spray nozzle to a position configured to be about an animal's udder. In a further aspect, the apparatus, comprises an animal sensor positioned generally above and behind an animal bail and directed generally downwards configured to sense the presence of an animal in the animal bail; and a controller configured to actuate spraying of the animal's teats from spray nozzle extension and retraction in response to a signal received from the sensor. The apparatus may act to reduce cost through reduced numbers of treatment apparatus and/or lower labour costs and expenses; increase accuracy/efficiency through automation and speed of treatment; address issues associated with the inconvenience/space constraints in dairy platform configurations; and minimise the number of sensors required and position these sensors away from the animal bail.

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.