A ROTARY MILKING PARLOUR ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A rotary milking parlor arrangement comprising an annular platform rotatably arranged around a rotary axis, a plurality of milking stalls arranged on the platform, a stationary floor surface surrounded by an inner edge portion of the annular platform. The floor surface is provided at a lower elevation than the platform surrounding it, such that a vertical opening is formed to a space under the platform between the edge portion of the platform and the floor surface. Modular units, located in the space under the platform, comprise a front wall element closing a part of said vertical opening, the modular units configured to be attached to a lower surface of the platform and to house at least one milking component in the space under the platform.

Claims

1. A rotary milking parlour arrangement, comprising: an annular platform (2) rotatably arranged around a rotary axis (2d); a plurality of milking stalls (3) arranged on the platform (2); a stationary floor surface (10) located at an inside of the annular platform, delimited by an inner edge portion (2a) of the platform (2), the floor surface (10) being encircled by the annular platform (2) and positioned at a lower elevation than the platform (2), such that a space (29) is formed under the platform (2) between the edge portion (2a) of the platform (2) and the floor surface (10), a vertical opening into to the space facing inward toward the floor surface; and a modular unit (25) configured to be attached to the platform (2) in a mounting position in the space under the platform (2) and configured to house at least one milking component (27, 37, 39, 40), wherein the modular unit (25) comprises a front wall element (25a) closing a part of said vertical opening, and wherein the modular unit (25) is configured to be attached to a lower surface (2e) of the platform (2) and to house the at least one milking component (27, 37, 39, 40) in the space (29) under the platform (2).

2. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the front wall element (25a) has a vertical extension between an upper end located at substantially the same level as the platform (2) and a lower end located at a small distance above the floor surface (10) or at a lower level.

3. A rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the front wall element (25a) closes a part of a vertical opening formed at an inner edge portion (2a) of the annular platform (2).

4. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the front wall element (25a) has an extension in substantially one plane.

5. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the front wall element (25a) comprises at least one aperture (33b, 34b) to the at least one milking component in the modular unit (25) and an openable lid (33, 34) configured to cover said aperture (33b, 34b) when the openable lid is in a closed position.

6. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said openable lid is a service lid (33) which in an open position allows access to the at least one milking component in the modular unit (25).

7. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said openable lid is a washing lid (34) which in an open position allows access to a washing device (40) by which for washing teat cups (11) in a milking stall (3).

8. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said openable lid (33, 34) is pivotally arranged between a closed position and an open position around a pivot connection (33c, 34c) arranged at a lower side of the lid (33, 34).

9. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular unit (25) comprises at least one inlet opening (35) for a milk tube (36) that conducts milk from an animal in the milking stall (3).

10. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular unit (25) comprises at least one inlet opening (35) for a cleaning tube (36) that conducts cleaning liquid.

11. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the front wall element (25a) is formed by a metal sheet.

12. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular unit (25) comprises a substantially closed space in which the at least one milking component (27, 37, 39, 40) is mounted.

13. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of modular units (25) arranged in a manner such that the front wall elements (25a) of the modular units (25) together form a continuous wall closing an entirety of the vertical opening between the edge portion (2a) of the platform (2) and the stationary floor surface (10).

14. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 13, further comprising: one modular unit (25) for each milking stall on the platform.

15. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the front wall elements (25a) of all modular units (25) have one and the same width.

16. The rotary milking parlour arrangement according to claim 13, wherein modular units (25) are connected to adjacent modular units (25) by connection members (31, 32) configured to permit mounting of two adjacent modular units (25) in at least two different angles in relation to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention is now to be explained more closely by means of preferred embodiments, which are disclosed as examples, and with reference to the attached drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a rotary milking parlour with milking stalls for milking of animals,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a view from the underside of the platform in FIG. 1,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a view in the plane A-A in FIG. 2,

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a number of modular units in a connected state,

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a modular unit with two lids in a closed position,

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the modular unit in FIG. 5 when the lids are in an open position and

[0028] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a modular unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a rotary milking parlour for milking of cows 1. The milking parlour comprises an annular platform 2 having an inner edge portion 2a and an outer edge portion 2b. The platform 2 rotates during operation around a vertical rotary axis 2d. The platform 2 has an upper surface 2c forming a support surface for the cows 1 to be milked on the platform 2. A plurality of rotatable fence members 4 are arranged on the upper surface 2c of the platform 2. The rotatable fence members 4 are used for dividing the platform 2 into milking stalls 3 for receiving individual cows 1 in predetermined milking positions. By the use of rotatable fence members 4, it is possible to position the cows very close together on the platform 2. An outer fence arrangement 5 is mounted around a common part of the outer periphery of the platform 2. An inner fence arrangement 6 and a rumprail 7 are arranged at the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2. The object of the rumprail 7 is to position the rear part of the cows 1 in a predetermined milking position in the milking stalls 3. In this milking parlour, the cows 1 are arranged in a herringbone pattern with their heads at the outer edge portion 2b of the platform 2.

[0030] A milking robot arm 9 is arranged on a first stationary floor surface 10 located at the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2. In this case, the first floor surface 10 covers the whole central opening of the annular platform 2. Each milking stall 3 comprises a teat cup magazine 8 adapted to hold four teat cups 10 in a parked position when they are not used. The teat cup magazines 8 are arranged at the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2. In this case, the teat cup magazines 8 are arranged on one side of a cow 1 in a milking stall 3 and behind a cow 1 standing in an adjacent milking stall 3. When the cows 1 are arranged in a herringbone pattern on a platform 2, the above-mentioned space is normally empty. Therefore, it is very suitable to use this space for the teat cup magazines 8. A control unit 12 is adapted to control a schematically shown drive mechanism 13 which drives the platform 2. The drive mechanism 13 may comprise an electric motor, an integrated reduction gear box and a drive wheel mounted in contact with a lower surface of the platform 1. The drive mechanism 13 may be infinitely variable in speed in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. A position sensor 14 is adapted to sense the rotational position of the platform 2 and to send a signal to the control unit 12 about the actual position of the platform 2.

[0031] The rotary milking parlour comprises a waiting area 15 in the vicinity of the platform 2. The waiting area 15 has an entrance gate 16 provided with an identification sensor 17 and an entrance passage 18 leading to the platform 2. The entrance gate 16 is arranged in a front position of the entrance passage 18. The identification sensor 17 identifies the cows 1 in a first position of the entrance passage 18. The rotary milking parlour comprises an exit area 19 in connection to the platform 2. The cows 1 enter the exit area 19 when they leave the platform 2.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the platform 2 from below. The platform 1 has a lower surface 2e arranged between the inner edge portion 2a and the outer edge portion 2b. A first circular rail member 20 is fixedly attached to the lower surface 2e of the platform 2. The first circular rail member 20 may be directly or indirectly connected to the lower surface 2e of the platform 2. The first circular rail member 20 may, for example, be welded to the platform or indirectly connected to it via a suitable connection. The first rail member 20 is a part of a support arrangement for the platform 1. FIG. 3 shows some more components of the support arrangement of the platform 2. The support arrangement comprises a second circular rail member 21 arranged on a second floor surface 22 by means of a suitable number of support legs 23. The second stationary floor surface 22 under the platform 2 is located at a lower level than the first floor surface 10 in the central opening of the annular platform 2. The first rail member 20 and the second rail member 21 comprise each a beam with an I-shaped cross section. The second rail member 21 is arranged vertically below the first circular rail member 20. The support arrangement comprises a number of rollers 24 arranged in a vertical space between the first circular rail member 20 and the second circular rail member 21.

[0033] A number of modular units 25 are attached to the lower surface 2e of the platform 2 at the inner edge portion 2a. Each modular unit 25 is attached to the lower surface 2e of the platform 2 by means of suitable connection member 26. Each modular unit 25 supports a number of milking components used in a respective milking stall 2 on the platform. Each modular unit 21 is located substantially vertically below said milking stall 3. Thus, the numbers of modular units 25 are equal as the numbers of milking stall 3 on the platform 2. FIG. 3 shows one milking component in the form of an electrical control unit 27. The electric control unit 27 is mounted on a support beam 28 inside a closed space of a modular unit 25 in a position vertically below the platform 2. The modular units 25 comprise wall elements forming a closed space in the form of a cabinet encasing the electrical control unit 27.

[0034] Due to the level difference between the platform 2 and the first wall surface 10, a vertical opening is formed between the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2 and the first floor surface 10. Said vertical opening extends around the whole circumference at the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2 and form a circle shape. The vertical opening leads to a space 29 under the platform 2. Each modular unit 25 comprises a front wall element 25a arranged substantially vertically below the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2. The front wall elements 25a has a substantially plane outer surface. Each front wall element 25a has an extension between an upper part connected to the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2 and a lower part located at a lower level than the level of the first floor surface 10. Thus, each front wall element 25a covers the opening in a vertical direction. Each front wall element 25a has a width such they together form a continuous wall extending around the whole circular-shaped opening. A protective plate member 30 is arranged at the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2. The protective plate member 30 may be a metal sheet extending obliquely upwards from a lower edge portion to an upper edge portion. The object of the protective member 30 is to protect operators working on the floor surface 10 in the centre of the platform 2. Furthermore, it prevents cows 1 from stepping outside the platform 2 and it prevents impurities to fall down from the platform 2 to the first floor surface 10.

[0035] The size of individual milking stalls 3 on a rotary platform is substantially the same independent of the number of the milking stalls 3 on a platform 2. The front wall elements 25a of the modular units 25 have a width such that it is possible to arrange the front wall elements 25a of the modular units 25 in a connected state such that their plane front wall elements 25a forms a regular polygon which substantially corresponds to the circle-shaped inner edge portion of the platform 2. Thus, the front wall elements 25a of the modular units 25 together form a continuous wall closing the whole vertical opening between the edge portions 2a of the platform 2 and the stationary floor surface 10.

[0036] The connected front wall elements 25a cover the whole circular-shaped opening at an inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2. However, by changing the number of modular units 25 and the angle between adjacent modular units 25 it is possible to use the same modular units 25 for platforms 2 of different sizes. FIG. 4 shows a number of modular units 25 linked together by means of a connection comprising an elongated plate-shaped connection member 31. The elongated connection member 31 comprises end portions with holes 32 for attachment of screws, bolts, rivets or the like in corresponding holes in the modular units 25. By using elongated connection members 31 of different length between the holes 32, it is possible to arrange the modular units 25 in different angles a in relation to adjacent modular units 25.

[0037] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a front view of one modular unit 25. The front wall element 25a comprises, at an upper portion, four inlet openings 35 for milk tubes 36 conducting milk from the teat cups in the milking stall 3. The front wall element 25a comprises two openable lids in the form of a service lid 33 and a washing lid 34. FIG. 5 shows the lids 33, 34 in a closed position and FIG. 6 shows the lids 33, 34 in an open position. Each lid 33, 34 comprises at least one grip member 33a, 34a by which is possible to grip and manually open and close the lids 33, 34. Each lid 33, 34 exposes in the open position an aperture 33b, 34b to the inner space of the modular unit 25. Each lid 33, 34 is pivotally arranged between the closed position and the open position by means of pivot elements 33c, 34c arranged at a lower side of the lids 33, 34. Such an arrangement of the pivot elements result in that the lid 33, 34 will hang downwards in a stable open position. The lids 33, 34 form in the closed position a part of the front wall element 25a. The lids 33, 34 are to be in a closed position when milking operations proceeds in the milking stalls 3 on the platform 2.

[0038] When the service lid 33 is in the open position, a service aperture 33b is exposed in the front wall element 25a. The service aperture 33b provides access to milking components mounted inside the modular unit 25. A mounting beam 28 is arranged in the inner space of the modular unit 25. The mounting beam 28 supports a number of milking components in the milking stall 3. In this case, the milking components comprise four milk meters 37. The milk meters 37 measure the milk flow in the respective milk tubes 36 conducting milk from the teat cups 11 in the milking stall 3 to a main milk line 38 which collects milk from several milking stalls 3 on the platform 2. Another milking component is the already defined electrical control unit 27. A further milking component is a washing valve 39 which controls the supply of washing water to a washing device 40 by which it is possible to wash the teat cups 11 in the milking stall 3. The washing device 40 is mounted in the inner space of the modular unit 25 behind the washing lid 34. Other milking components such as pulsators for the individual teat cups may also be mounted in the inner space of the modular unit 25. During service, repair and replacement of the milking components 27, 37, 39 in the modular unit 25, the service lid is moved to an open position. The service aperture 33b is exposed and an operator allows access to the milking components inside the modular unit 25 in a simple manner.

[0039] When the washing lid 34 is in the open position, the washing aperture 34b is exposed in the front wall element 25a. The washing aperture 34b provides access to an inner space of modular unit 25 in which the washing device 40 is arranged in an inactive state. The washing device 40 comprises four candle-shaped members mounted on a support mechanism. When it is time to wash the teat cups in a milking stall 3, the washing lid 34 is moved to the open position. The washing device 40 is moved out from the washing aperture and turned to a washing position in which the candle-shaped members have a vertical extension with the free ends directed upwardly. Thereafter the teat cups 11 are placed on the candle-shaped members. The washing valve 39 is set in an open position and washing water is supplied to the candle-shaped members and the teat cups 11. When the washing process of the teat cups 11 is finished, the teat cups 11 are brought to the storing device 8 in the milking stall 3. The washing device 40 is moved back to the inner space of the modular unit 25 and the washing lid 34 is closed. The washing device 40 has a protected position inside the modular unit 25 under the platform 2 in the inactive state when milking processes proceeds in the milking stalls 3 on the platform 2.

[0040] The environment on and at the side of a rotary platform 2 is relative dirty. The platform 2 and the surfaces around the platform 2 are spoiled with water with regular intervals. Furthermore, kicks and pushes from the cow can be very powerful. Consequently, it is important that the milking components 27, 37, 39, 40 have a protected mounting position on the platform 2. The modular unit 25 provides a closed inner space which is arranged in a position under the platform 2. The milking components are here out of reach of the cows 1 standing on the platform 2. Furthermore, the front wall elements 25a of the modular units 25 cover the whole opening between the inner edge portion 2a of the platform 2 and the floor surface 10 in the centre of the platform 2 such that dirt and washing water can not penetrate into the space 29 under the platform 2 via said opening. Consequently, the milking components are also protected from dirt and washing water in the modular units 25.

[0041] Since the front surfaces 25a of the modular units 25 have a substantially plane outer surface, they form in a connected state a wall in the form of a regular polygon. Such a wall is free from projecting portions. The risk that an operator working on the floor surface 10 gets caught is here substantially eliminated. The front surfaces 25a of the modular unit 25 also protects other components arranged under the platform 2 such as the rollers 24 and the other components 20-23 of the support arrangement of the rotary platform 2. Since the modular unit 25 can be used in platforms of different sizes, it can be manufactured in relatively large quantities to a relatively low cost.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the modular unit 25. The front wall element 25a of this embodiment of the modular unit 25 comprises, at an upper portion, a first nipple 41 defining an opening 35 through the front wall element 25a. An end portion of a flexible milk tube conducting milk from all teat cups in the milking stall 3 is configured to be attached to the first nipple 41. A milk line 41a receives the milk from the first nipple 41 at the inside of the modular unit 25. The front wall element 25a comprises, at an upper portion, a second nipple 42 defining a second opening 35 through the front wall element 25a. An end portion of a flexible tube conducting cleaning liquid is configured to be attached to the second nipple 42. A cleaning liquid line 42a receives the cleaning liquid from the second nipple 42 at the inside of the modular unit 25. In this case, the washing device 40 is mounted on the inner surface of the washing lid 34. When the washing lid 34 has been pivoted from a closed position to an open position it hangs downwardly in contact with the front wall element 25a and with the washing device 40 in an active position in which it is ready to be used.

[0043] The invention is not restricted to the described embodiment but may be varied freely within the scope of the claims.