MILKING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MILKING AN ANIMAL

Abstract

A milking device and method for milking an animal includes a frame; a teat cup carrier connected pivotally to the frame; a number of receiving elements arranged in or on the teat cup carrier and configured to receive teat cups to which milk hoses are connectable for the purpose of discharging milk, a guide for moving the teat cups and/or milk hoses substantially vertically downward and pivoting the teat cup carriers relative to the frame; and a cylinder comprising a teat cup end and a guide end. The teat cup end is connected operatively to the teat cup carrier, and wherein the guide end of the cylinder is arranged in, on or at the guide, wherein the milking device comprises a rest state and a milking state and is displaceable from the rest state to the milking state by the cylinder.

Claims

1. A milking device, comprising: a frame; a teat cup carrier connected pivotally to the frame; a number of receiving elements arranged in or on the teat cup carrier and configured to receive teat cups to which milk hoses are connectable for the purpose of discharging milk, a guide for moving the teat cups and/or milk hoses substantially vertically downward and pivoting the teat cup carriers relative to the frame; and a cylinder comprising a teat cup end and a guide end, wherein the teat cup end is connected operatively to the teat cup carrier, and wherein the guide end of the cylinder is arranged in, on or at the guide, wherein the milking device comprises a rest state and a milking state and is displaceable from the rest state to the milking state by the cylinder.

2. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a first guide part for moving the teat cups and/or milk hoses substantially vertically, a second guide part for pivoting the teat cup carrier relative to the frame, and a connecting part for connecting the first guide part to the second guide part.

3. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises milk hose co displacing elements for co-displacing the milk hoses during movement through the first guide part.

4. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the first guide part is positioned above a second guide part in use.

5. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the first guide part has a directional component in a substantially vertical direction, wherein the second guide part has a directional component in a substantially horizontal direction, and wherein the connecting part comprises a curved guide part.

6. The milking device according to claim 5, wherein the curvature of the connecting part between the first and second guide part lies between 20?-150?.

7. The milking device according to claim 1, further comprising a pivot shaft arranged between the frame and the teat cup carrier and situated under a ground surface for supporting the animal for milking, and wherein the teat cup carrier is positioned substantially above the pivot shaft in use.

8. The milking device according to claim 6, wherein the teat cups are positioned under the ground surface in the rest state and are positioned at least partially above the ground surface in the milking state, wherein the milking device can be moved from the rest state to the milking state by means of a tilting movement over the pivot shaft.

9. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises at a first position a recess for allowing clearance of the guide end of the cylinder.

10. The milking device according to claim 7, further comprising a balancing element which is operatively connected to the pivot shaft.

11. The milking device according to claim 10, wherein the balancing element comprises a counterweight.

12. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the first guide part is arranged at a guide angle to a vertical plane.

13. The milking device according to claim 12, wherein the guide angle lies in the range of 5?-45?.

14. The milking device according to claim 1, further comprising a number of milk hose guides for guiding the milk hoses, wherein the milk hose guides are positioned substantially vertically under the receiving elements.

15. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the number of receiving elements is provided with sensors for determining the position of the teat cup.

16. The milking device according to claim 1, further comprising a flushing device, wherein the teat cups are directed toward or at the flushing device in the rest state.

17. The milking device according to claim 16, wherein the flushing device comprises a spring element for biasing the flushing device in the direction of the teat cup carrier, and wherein the flushing device has a number of flushing outlets positioned at an angle to a flushing plane of the flushing device.

18. (canceled)

19. A milking parlour provided with a milking device comprising: a frame; a teat cup carrier connected pivotally to the frame; a number of the receiving elements arranged in or on the teat cup carrier and configured to receive teat cups to which milk hoses are connectable for the purpose of discharging milk, a guide for moving the teat cups and/or milk hoses substantially vertically downward and pivoting the teat cup carriers relative to the frame; and a cylinder comprising a teat cup end and a guide end, wherein the teat cup end is connected operatively to the teat cup carrier, and wherein the guide end of the cylinder is arranged in, on or at the guide, wherein the milking device comprises a rest state and a milking state and is displaceable from the rest state to the milking state by the cylinder.

20. A method for milking an animal, comprising of: providing a milking device comprising: a frame; a teat cup carrier connected pivotally the frame; a number of receiving elements arranged in or on the teat cup carrier and configured to receive teat cups to which milk hoses are connectable for the purpose of discharging milk, a guide for moving the teat cups and/or milk hoses substantially vertically downward and pivoting the teat cup carriers relative to the frame; and a cylinder comprising a teat cup end and a guide end, wherein the teat cup end is connected operatively to the teat cup carrier, and wherein the guide end of the cylinder is arranged in, on or at the guide, wherein the milking device comprises a rest state and a milking state and is displaceable from the rest state to the milking state by the cylinder, wherein the milking device is in the rest state; moving the guide end of the cylinder through the second guide part so that the teat cup carrier is pivoted relative to the frame; moving the guide end of the cylinder through the first guide part so that the cylinder releases the teat cups and/or milk hoses, wherein the milking device is moved into the milking state; arranging the teat cups on teats of the animal for milking; and milking the animal for milking.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: releasing a vacuum from the teat cups; moving the guide end of the cylinder through the first guide part for the purpose of taking back the milk hoses, whereby the teat cups are removed from the teats of the animal for milking; and moving the guide end of the cylinder through the second guide part so that the teat cup carrier is pivoted relative to the frame, wherein the milking device is moved into the rest state.

Description

[0065] Further features, advantages and details of the invention are described on the basis of embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0066] FIGS. 1A-B are a perspective view and side view of a milking device in the milking state;

[0067] FIGS. 2A-B are a perspective view and side view of a milking device in the intermediate state; and

[0068] FIGS. 3A-B are a perspective view and side view of a milking device in the rest state.

[0069] Milking device 2 (FIG. 1A) is provided in ground surface 4. Ground surface 4 is configured to support the animals for milking, for instance goats. Opening 6 is provided in ground surface 4. Frame 8 of milking device 2 is arranged in opening 6. Frame 8 comprises two vertically extending plates 8a, 8b. Teat cup carrier 10 is connected pivotally to frame 8 by means of pivoting connection 12. Pivoting connection 12 makes teat cup carrier 10 pivotable about pivot axis 13 in direction A. In the shown embodiment teat cup carrier 10 comprises two receiving elements 14. Receiving elements 14 are configured to receive teat cups 16. Teat cups 16 can be connected to the teats of an animal for milking.

[0070] Milking device 2 further comprises cylinder 18 which is operatively connected with a teat cup end (not shown) to teat cup carrier 10. Guide end 20 is arranged in guide 22a, 22b opposite the teat cup end. In the shown embodiment guide end 20 is provided with roller 21 which is positioned in guide 22a, 22b formed as a guide groove. Guide end 20 can be moved effectively through guide 22a, 22b by roller 21. Two milk hose co-displacing elements 23 are further arranged on guide end 20 for the purpose of co-displacing the milk hoses of teat cups 16. Guide 22a, 22b is arranged in extending plates 8a, 8b. Guide 22a, 22b comprises first guide part 24a, 24b, second guide part 26a, 26b and connecting part 28a, 28b. First guide part 24a, 24b extends partially in a substantially vertical direction Y and is configured to move guide part 24a, 24b in a substantially vertical direction Y when cylinder 18 extends or retracts. Second guide part 26a, 26b extends partially in a substantially horizontal direction X and is configured to move guide part 24a, 24b in a substantially horizontal direction X when cylinder 18 extends or retracts.

[0071] First guide part 24a, 24b comprises recess 30 on its upper side. Recess 30 is a widened portion of first guide part 24a, 24b. Recess 30 allows guide end 20 to move in horizontal direction X at the moment that milking device 2 is in milking state 40. Downward directed counterweight 32 is further connected to pivoting connection 12. Counterweight 32 is configured to prevent undesired tilting of teat cup carrier 10 about pivot axis 13 when milking device 2 is in milking state 40.

[0072] Cylinder 18 (FIG. 1B) comprises housing 34 in which is arranged piston 36 which is movable in the housing. Also shown in FIG. 1B is teat cup end 38 of cylinder 18, wherein teat cup end 38 is connected to teat cup carrier 10. Mounted on guide end 20 of piston 36 is roller 21. Milking device 2 further comprises flushing device 44. First guide part 24a extends in direction B. Second guide part 26a extends in direction C. The angle ? between first guide part 24a and second guide part 26a, i.e. the angle between direction B and direction C, is about 50? in the shown embodiment. Cylinder 18 is further placed at a guide angle ? relative to vertical direction 19. Guide angle ? is about 30? in the shown embodiment. Arranged on receiving element 14 is induction sensor 46, which generates a signal when metal element 48 arranged on teat cup 16 is non-adjacent to induction sensor 46. The position of teat cup 16 can hereby be effectively determined.

[0073] Piston 36 (FIGS. 2A-B) can extend such that guide end 20 of cylinder 18 has moved through first guide part 24a, 24b and is positioned in connecting part 28a, 28b. Owing to the movement of guide end 20 to connecting part 28a, 28b, milk hoses 50 are co-displaced substantially downward in vertical direction Y by milk hose co-displacing elements 23. By co-displacing milk hoses 50 in downward direction the teat cups 16 connected to milk hoses 50 are automatically moved downward and received in receiving elements 14. In FIGS. 2A-B milking device 2 is in intermediate state 41, wherein intermediate state 41 is a transitional state between milking state 40 and rest state 42.

[0074] Guide end 20 (FIGS. 3A-B) of milking device 2 is positioned at end position 52 of second guide part 26a, 26b, whereby milking device 2 is in rest state 42. Second guide part 26a, 26b extends at least partially in horizontal direction X, whereby pivot axis 13 is situated between connecting part 28a, 28b and end position 52 as seen in horizontal direction X. Teat cup carrier 10 is hereby pivoted about pivot axis 13 in milking state 42. In rest state 42 piston 36 has performed its maximum stroke and is thus fully extended. Due to the pivoting of teat cup carrier 10, ridge 54 has been arranged against side edge 56 of opening 6. Cover 58 of teat cup carrier 10 hereby closes opening 6, whereby contamination of teat cups 16 in rest state 42 is prevented. In rest state 42 teat cups 16 are positioned against flushing device 44. Flushing device 44 is embodied here as a flat plate 60 in which flushing outlets 62 are arranged. Flushing outlets 62 are provided at an angle relative to the normal of flat plate 60, this enabling effective flushing under the edge of teat mouth 64.

[0075] In an embodiment according to the invention milking device 2 is in rest state 42 when the milking process starts, wherein guide end 20 is in end position 52 of second guide part 26a, 26b. Piston 36 is in wholly extended state, whereby guide end 20 is furthest removed from housing 34. Piston 36 is then retracted into housing 34, whereby rollers 21 of guide end 20 are moved through second guide part 26a, 26b in horizontal direction X. Teat cup carrier 10 is pivoted over pivot axis 13 by the horizontal movement of guide end 20 and the operative connection between teat cup end 38 and teat cup carrier 10. When guide end 20 is positioned in connecting part 28a, 28b and milking device 2 is in intermediate state 41, teat cup carrier 10 is pivoted over pivot axis 13 such that teat cups 16 are directed substantially vertically upward through opening 6 of ground surface 4.

[0076] Piston 36 can then be retracted further into housing 34 so that roller 21 of guide end 20 is moved through first guide part 24a, 24b. Milk hoses 50 are hereby released so that teat cups 16 can be arranged on the teats of the animal for milking. When guide end 20 is positioned in recess 30, milking device 2 is in milking state 40. In milking state 40 milk hoses 50 are wholly released. Recess 30 allows guide end 20 to move in horizontal direction X, whereby teat cup carrier 10 can co-displace with the movements of the animal for milking. In the shown embodiment counterweight 32 is connected to pivoting connection 12 so that teat cup carrier 10 is positioned in stable manner in any position and tilting of teat cup carrier 10 through to one side is prevented. When teat cups 16 are removed from receiving elements 14 so as to be arranged on the teats of the animal for milking, this is detected by induction sensor 46. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention a vacuum is automatically created in milk hoses 50 of teat cups 16 after removal from receiving elements 14 is detected.

[0077] After milking of the animal, teat cups 16 are removed and piston 36 extends from housing 38, whereby guide end 20 moves through first guide part 24a, 24b and milk hoses 50 are co-displaced by milk hose co-displacing elements 23, whereby teat cups 16 are placed into receiving elements 14. After guide end 20 has been moved through first guide part 24a, 24b and is situated in connecting part 28a, 28b, guide end 20 is moved through second guide part 26a, 26b. During the movement of guide end 20 through second guide part 26a, 26b teat cup carrier 10 is tilted over pivot axis 13. Ridge 54 hereby falls onto side edge 56 of opening 6. When guide end 20 is positioned at end position 52, milking device 2 is in rest state 42. In rest state 42 teat cups 16 are tilted against flat plate 60 of flushing device 44, after which teat mouths 65 of teat cups 16 can be flushed effectively by flushing outlets 62.

[0078] The present invention is by no means limited to the above described embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.