AU484397B2 - Milking system - Google Patents

Description

66, 69 27n4 The present invention relates to milking systems

and especially to a milking parlor for milking large

numbers of cows in a safe and efficient manner.

Large dairies have progressed over the years from

the milking of cows by hand and using a milking stool,

to mechanized milking machines used in substantially

mechanized dairy parlors. In a typical operation a

mechanized milking machine is connected to each cow by

connecting teat cups to the cows. A cluster of teat cups

is connected to milk lines which are connected to pul-

sators to milk the cow. The milk lines are connected

to milk pails for accumulating the milk from the milking

operation. In small operations this may be performed in

cowsheds with the cows lined up side by side feeding from

a manger while being milked and frequently having a

liquid manure gutter for collecting the cow manure and

moving it from the cowshed for disposal.

Larger cow barns generally have stalls for confin-

ing the cows in a predetermined manner arranged side by

side in rows facing the feedway at one end and the manure

removal system at the opposite end.

In more modern facilities various types of systems

have been provided for loading cows for movement between

different positions during the feeding and milking oper-

ations. One class of system performing this function

uses a carousel platform for the milking station in which

each cow is loaded upon a circular platform then re-

strained in position by stalls placed on the platform

so that an operator properly located can connect teat

cups to each cow for milking the cow being held in the

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proper position by the stalls. Typical prior art may be

seen in U.S. Patent 3,095,854 and U.S. Patent 3,103,912.

Another milking parlor taught in the past would utilize

a series of endless conveyors supporting stalls which would

move down one side, or make a U-turn, come down the oppos-

ite side and make another U-turn to start over again,

such as illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 2,358,000. Finally,

U.S. Patent No. 3,402,699 provides for a system for

milking cows in which the cows are put into stalls on a

moving platform in which feed is delivered automatically

to the travelling stalls. The milking operation is

performed by milking units which travel on an adjacent

overhead track at the same rate as the moving platform.

Dairy parlors have generated numerous problems,

the more important ones of which include the time-consuming

operation of loading one cow at a time on to a moving

parlor and then unloading one cow at a time. e-sOne.

The present invention relates to a method and

apparatus for milking cows in a milking parlor. The method for milking cows comprises the steps of:

directing a plurality of cows onto a first movable shuttling platform;

moving said first shuttling platform in a

first direction between a loading position and a milking

position;

attaching a milking unit to and milking each

cow on said first shuttling platform;

returning said first shuttling platform to its

loading position by moving said first shuttling platform in

a second direction opposite to said first direction;

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66. 69 2 n4 directing a plurality of cows onto a second movable shuttling platform while said cows on said first

movable shuttling platform are in a milking position;

moving said second shuttling platform to a second position....

attaching a milking unit to and milking each

cow on said second shuttling platform; and

returning said second shuttling platform to its loading position by moving said second shuttling platform

in a second direction opposite to said first direction

whereby cows may be milked on a continuous batch basis.

A milking system comprising in combination:

a first movable shuttle platform having a

loading position for loading a plurality of cows onto said

shuttle platform and a milking position for milking cows on

said shuttle platform and being adapted to move between said

positions;

a second movable shuttle platform having a

loading position for loading a pluraltiy of cows thereonto

and a milking position for milking said cows thereon and

being adapted to move between said positions; said first and

second movable shuttle platforms being located in a spaced

relationship to each other;

means for directing cows onto one said movable shuttle platform at a time when said one platform is in a

loading position;

means for moving said first and second movable

shuttle platforms alternately from said loading to said

milking position and back to said loading position;

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66. 69 2n4 and

a milking station located adjacent said first

and second shuttle platforms milking positions whereby cows

on both said platforms can be milked by the same operator.

Other features and advantages of this invention

will be apparent from a study of the written description and the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred

embodiment of a milking parlor in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the

milking parlor in accordance with Figure 1 showing the unloading operation;

Figure 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the

operation of the shuttle platforms illustrated in Figuresl and 2; Figure 4 is a side sectional view of a portion

of the apparatus in accordance with Figures 1 through 3

illustrating the driving mechanism for the platform; Figure 5 is an end sectional view of the drive

mechanism in accordance with Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cutaway sectional view of the

coupling for coupling supply lines to the udder sprayer; Figure 7 illustrates a top sectional view of a

portion of the apparatus showing the udder sprayer; Figure 8 is a side sectional view of the operation

of the platform between driving wheels;

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6 6, 69 2 n4 Figure 9 and 9A illustrate perspective views of the

gate actuating mechanism;

Figure 10 and IOA illustrate perspective views of

the second gate actuating mechanism of Figures 9 and 9A

in a second position for operating a plurality of gates;

Figure 11 is a flow diagram of the method of operat-

ing the milking system of Figures 1 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the entrance gates

actuation mechanisms; and

Figure 13 is a sectional view of the manure sweepers.

Referring now to the drawings and especially to

Figure 1, a milking parlor in accordance with the present

invention is illustrated as 10 located in a building 11

and having cows 12 being loaded onto a movable platform

13 from a holding pen formed by rails 14. Cows 12 are

directed through gate 15 which gate can be opened for the

cows to walk onto a fixed platform 16. Once on the plat-

form 16, a plurality of rotatable gates 17 have been

rotated to direct the cows into a plurality of stalls

formed by railings 18 for holding each cow in a predeter-

mined position with a feed bucket 20 at one end and an

udder sprayer 21 at the opposite end. Feed bucket

is attached to a gate 22 which rotates on a base disc 23

to allow the cows 12 to exit from the moving platform 13

when the gates 22 are opened. On the opposite side of

the fixed platform 16 are a second set of rotatable gates

24 similar to the gates 17 which are in their second

position preventing the cows from walking upon a plat-

form holding area 25 having a plurality of rotatable wheels

26 for a platform to roll upon. On either side of the

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66. 69 2 n4 platform areas are fixed floors 27 for the cows to exit

upon completion of the milking operation. The cows 12

are fed onto the platform 16 and into the individual

stalls formed by the railings 18 where they can feed

from the buckets 20, and have their udders washed and

aired through the udder washer 21 and in which the shuttle.

platform 13 may be moved on the wheels 26 to a second

or milking position 30. The second and parallel shuttle

platform 31 is illustrated in its milking position. The

two platforms 13 and 31 can thus alternately shuttle bet-

ween the loading positions and the milking positions so

that one can be loaded with cows while the other one is

having the cows milked and as the loaded platform comes

to the milking station, the cows thereon can be connected

for milking while the cows on the opposite platform can

be disconnected and shuttled back to the loading position

where they are unloaded by the rotation of the gates 22.

The gates 22 all work simultaneously to allow all the cows

to be unloaded at the same time as do the gates 17 and 24.

A wall 32 separates the loading end of the building 33

from the milking end of the building 30 and includes

openings 33 and 34 for the shuttling platforms to move

therethrough, as well as a door 35 through which an oper-

ator can walk. The openings 33 and 34 include blowers 36

placed thereover for delivering a curtain of air direct-

ly over the doorways 33 and 34 to prevent the entrance of

flys and insects into the milking area. The door open-

ings 33 and 34 each have doors 37 that slide to close the

openings 33 and 34. The milking end of the station 30 has

a continuation of the pair of tracks 25 having a plurality

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6 6,6 9 2 n74 of rollers 26 thereon for the platforms to ride on and has

a sunken area 38 which is the milking station in which the

operator works for connecting the cows up to milking

machines for milking the cows on either of the platforms.

In this view the second platform 31 is illustrated at the

milking station. A motorized milking chair 40 is illust-

rated in the milking station 38, and includes a milking

chair or stool 41 connected thereto which is connected

by linkage to a base 42 and rides on a track 43. This milking chair allows the operator to be moved back and

forth and to swing from one side to the other without con-

tinuously walking around and repeatedly standing up and

sitting down for connecting and disconnecting the teat

cups of the milking machine. This stool is powered from

an overhead boom 44 connected to the building 11 by boom

support 45 with a hanging hydraulic or electrical power

cable 46 which drives the hydraulic units 47 and 48 for

actuating the movement of the chair 41 upon a central

shaft 50 held by an upright frame 51. The unit is

propelled within the milking station sunken area by a

motor 52 driving wheels. The seal 41 can rotate on a

pinned shaft 53, as well as on a shaft 50, and a rubber

wheel 54, or the like, allows the seat additional support

on the base frame 42 and rotates around the base frame 42

as the seat is moved from one side to the other of the

milking station.

It should of course be realized that the milking

chair 40 can be any type of chair desired and the invent-

ion does not require a chair at all. The actual milking

machines can be connected through a plurality of pipes 54

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66. 6 9 2 n4

connected through building walls 11 with a large milk

storage container located outside of the actual milking

area 30 so that the operator can grab a cluster of teat

cups. and connect them and disconnect them from the pipes 54.

In the operation of the system, the gates 22, 17,

24 are actuated by the position of the platforms as will

be described in more detail. Actuation of the entire

system however can be operated through manual switches

by an operator and may include means for counting the

number of cows proceeding through the loading gate

Counter 56 has a rotatably biased, rotatably extending

post 57 with a cow engaging portion 58 which is bumped

by each cow as it passes through and then rotates back

to the initial position for counting the cows. A control

box 60 has a plurality of switches 61 and a red and green

light signal 62 that is mounted atop a vertically extend-

ing pole 63. Box 60 may contain microswitches to activate

different portions of the milking parlor 10 by a standing

operator and the lights 62 signals when the platform 13

or 31 is loaded and ready to be shifted from the loading

position to the milking position

Platform 13 includes a grill work 64 which allows

the excrement from the cows to fall into channels where

they are cleaned as will be discussed in more detail. It

should be noted at this point that platform 13 is separated

in two elongated platform sections, 65 and 66, separated

at 67. This allows one platform section 65 to be shifted

parallel to the other platform section 66. This is

accomplished by hydraulic cylinder 68 which is mounted to

a supporting bracket 70 which is rigidly attached to the

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66. 6 9 2 n4

platform section 66 with a hydraulic cylinder driving rod

71 rigidly attached to bracket 72 attached to platform

section 65, thus the actuating cylinder 68 is attached to

platform 66, while the rod is attached to platform 65 and

actuation of the cylinder rod will move platform section

relative to platform section 66. Actuation is accomp-

lished by the cylinder 68 coming in contact with a box

73 having a protruding nozzle 74 for each platform 13

and 31. It should be observed that the railings 18 for

the stalls are free telescoping members so that the move-

ment of the platform 65 relative to platform 66 will pull

the vertical rods 75 holding the telescoping railings 18

which will telescope in and out to adjust their length

and also the depth of the stall. This adjustment allows

adjustments to be madefor different size cows which are

normally batched according to size so that when the cows

are shifted to the milking station 30 they will be properly

adjusted to be connected to the milking machines. The

shifting of the platform 65 relative to the platform 66

also actuates the gates 22 to open these gates when

platform 65 is shifted over the maximum pull of the rod 71

as will be described in more detail. Shifting of plat-

form section 65 relative to section 66 when opening

gates 22 also acts to give the cows in the stalls a shift

outwards to help clear the stalls.

Returning to the milking station 30 it should be

observed that the railings or pipes 54 which are adapted

to receive the milk from the cluster of milk lines also

acts to maintain the cows in place and might include a

shield 76 to protect the milking station operator while

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6 6.6 9 2 n4

connecting and disconnecting the milking machines from

the cow. Shield 76 is located to also prevent injury to

the cows and is supported from above by pipe 54. Shield

76 can be movable vertically to different positions, if

desired.

Pads 29 located in each stall on the platforms 31

and 33 actuate pressure switches which can directly actuate

air valve. If all of the air valves are connected in

series a completed circuit will be accomplished by all

of the cows being loaded in the stalls for one platform

and this can be utilized to start the platforms only

when fully loaded without the aid of the operator. Press-

ure plates 29 can also be utilized to actuate the udder

sprayers 21 as each cow gets into position in the stall,

and can be used to actuate the gate 17 and 24 individually

as each is loaded.

Figure 2 illustrates the platform 13 after being

returned to the loading area 33 for unloading the cows 12

and in which the gates 22 have been opened by rotation on

their bases 23 which also hold the feeding pails 20. As

can be seen from this view, the cylinder 68 is attached

to the bracket 70 and pulls the bracket 72 to shift

platform section 65 relative to platform section 66. This

also pulls the vertical members 75 and causes the railings

18 to telescope to their shortest position. Gates 24 have

been rotated to their closed position. This view illust-

rates one cow 12 stepping out onto platform 27 within the

building 11 and has the guide railing 63 along with the

control box 60 with the switches 61 and lighting unit 62,

as well as the gates 15 and shows the wall 32 separating

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the milking station 30 having the track 25 with the

wheels 26 thereon. The shifting of platform section

relative to section 66 at the same time as opening the

gates 22 is an important feature in that it makes the

cows shift forward and starts them unloading. Normally

cows tend not to move until nudged in some manner which

usually requires an operator to unload a system for prompt

unloading.

Figure 3 more clearly shows the operation of the

the shuttling platforms by cutting away portions of

and separating the platform 13 from its track apparatus

having the wheels 26 mounted to steel channel members

mounted in the concrete floor 81, with the loading plat-

side and the unloading platform 27 on the form 16 on one

opposite side of the sunken track 25. The entire platform

and may be shifted relative to 13 rides on the wheels 26 of each other by having the platform section 66 made

steel channels 82, or the like, which have a shaft 83

thereto and extending through a slot 84 rigidly attached

in a channel 85 on the platform section 65. Shaft 83

has a pair of rubber wheels 86 rotatably attached thereto

85 of platform section 65 and for riding in the channels

includes a pair of stop members 87 for stopping the move-

of the wheels 86 in each direction. Actuation is ment

of course by the cylinder 68 mounted in the mounting

rod 71 attached to the bracket 72 bracket 70 with the

The plat- which is attached to the platform section 65.

two or more shafts 83 and wheels form section may include

to hold 86 for producing the necessary strength and support

the pairs of platform section together. This view also

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66, 69 2n4 illustrates the forming of a channel 90 for excrement from

the cows to fall into by falling through the grill 64

into the channel 90. The excrement is swept away by the

movement of the platform 13 into a ditch section 91 having

an auger 92 therein driven by a motor 93 which shifts the

waste for disposal. A pair of sweepers (Figure 13) push

the disposable organic material by the movement of the

platform and are mounted so as to swing in one direction

while riding over any material in the channels 90 but to

be blocked from swinging in the other direction so that

they engage and sweep only when the carriage is moving in

one direction even though the flaps are mounted at each

end for sweeping both sides of the ditch 91.

The driving system for driving the platforms is

illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and includes a motor

which is a hydraulically actuated motor but could of course

be a pneumatic or electric motor if desired. It is desir-

able to avoid the use of electricity on the platforms 13

and 31 and wherever possible to avoid electrical shock with-

in the operation of the parlor. In this case a pair of

tubes cables 96 are fed to the electric motor 95 for

actuation thereof upon the actuation of a solenoid valve

97. The motor 95 is reversible so that upon the proper

actuation of the solenoid valve 97 the motor can be driven

in either direction desired by the operator. The motor

is attached by a belt 98 to a pulley 100 which is attached

to a rotatable wheel 101. The wheel 101 can include a

wheel with a balloon tire mounted thereon and rides against

the bottom of the platform 102 to drive the platform in

accordance with the direction of rotation of the motor

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66,69 2 7 The wheel 101, pulley 100 and a rotatable shaft 102

which the pulley 100 is attached to for rotation therewith

and which is mounted to bearings 103 all ride on a movable

support member 104 which is pinned with pins 105 to brack-

ets 106 at one end and has a spring 107 mounted at the

opposite end for spring biasing the wheel 101 against the

bottom 102 of the platform 13 for providing the force

against the platform for driving the platform.

Figure 4 illustrates a slight modification in that

the spring 107 is replaced by a hydraulic cylinder actuat-

ing unit 110 having a rod 111 connected to a bracket 112

attached to the supporting member 104 and which may be

actuated to engage or disengage the wheel 101 with varying

amounts of force depending upon the actuation of the cyl-

inder 110. This simplified drive system allows the plat-

forms to be driven in either direction while preventing

any power units from having to be attached to the plat-

form 13 so that external connections for driving the plat-

form 13 are unnecessary. It should be realized that other

drive systems, such as using air actuated ram jets to

drive the platforms between locations is contemplated as

being within the scope of the invention. In the case of

ram jets they could be actuated by all of the pressure

plates 29 (Figure 1) being actuated in series to fire the

jet automatically.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the operation of the

udder washers, excrelnent handling system and connections

for the cylinder 68. The connecting valves for the plat-

forms 13 and 31 include a cone-shaped male connector 115

connected to the platform 13 and including a ball

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6 6 6 9 2 n4 checkvalve having a ball 116 and spring loaded by a

spring 117 in the spray pipes 118. The connector 115

engages a cone-shaped female connection 120 located at

the end of the tracks. Platforms 13 are rising on and

include a one-way ball checkvalve having a ball 121,

spring biased by spring 122 so that when the platform 13

comes into contact with the end 123 of the track 25 the

connecting portion 115 will interconnect to portion 120 and

drive the ball 121 against the spring 122 to allow the

entrance of air or liquid sprays which force the ball 116

against the spring 117 to allow gas or liquids to pass

through the udder sprayer pipe 118. As can be seen from

Figure 7, there are a plurality of udder spray,.pipes 118

connected to a plurality of nozzles 115 and also to the

udder sprayer head 21 which can spray a mist of prepar-

ation solution such as a disinfectant as well as air to

remove excess water from cows' udders. The spray enters

individual circular chambers 124, circulates around and

out perforations 125 and spray head 121 and may pass into

the next connecting pipes 126 which connect one spray head

to the next spray head all the way to the opposite end of

the platform where a second set of nozzles 115 are connect-

ed to the pipes. In this way, one of the pipes 115 may

be utilized to spray air while the second may be utilized

for spraying a liquid, as desired. The center nozzle 129

is for air and includes vanes to generate a vortex in

the air. The grates 64 are placed over the pipes 118

and 126 for the cows to walk upon and allows materials

to fall therebetween around the pipes 118 and 126. It

is also contemplated that hoses wound or spring loaded

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6 6, 6 9 2 n4 reels could connect the platforms to the air and liquid

supplies without departing from the spirit and scope of

the invention. The stall rails 18 are shown in Figure 7

in each of two telescoped positions of the platform

sections 65 and 66 depending upon the position of the

driving rod 71 actuated by the cylinder 68. The gate 22

is also illustrated in two positions with the cow 12

feeding from the feed pail

Figures 8 and 13 illustrate the cleanup operation

for the solid waste and the drive mechanism. Platform

13 is seen riding on the wheels 26 driven by a pair of

wheels 101 driving the platform from either end of the

track with each wheel 101 being driven by its motor

and loaded upon a spring loaded support member 104 which

is pinned with a pin 105 to a bracket 106 at one end and

spring biased with a spring 107 at the opposite end.

Motor 95 is connected to a fluid drive line 96 connected

to solenoid valves 97 which allow actuation through a

remote microswitch actuating the solenoid 97. Nozzle

115 connected to pipes 118 and to the chambers 124,

covered with a perforated cover plate 21 are also illus-

trated as is the waste conveying trench 91 having an auger

92 driven by a motor 93. Waste is driven into the auger

trench 92 by means of sweeper 130 located on either end

of the platform 13 and pinned with pins 131 having a

shoulder 132 which allows the sweeper 130 to flip up and

ride over materials when the platform is moving in one

direction and then to flip down and maintain their posit-

ion for scraping solid waste materials when the platform

moves in the opposite direction so as to drive waste

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6 6.69 2 n4 materials into the trench 91 without pushing them in the

opposite direction.

Figures 9, 9A, and 10 and 10B, illustrate the mech-

anism for actuating the gates 21 through their base 23,

while Figure 12 illustrates the actuating mechanism for

gates 24. In Figures 9, 9A, and 10 and 10B, a portion .of

gates 22 attached to base 23 is illustrated in two separ-

ate positions with a fluid actuated cylinder 135 having

a driving rod 136 in its two positions, first with the

ramp 137 disengaged from the geared surface 138 and in

a second position with the ramp surface 137 engaged with

the gear 138. Gear surface 138 has gear teeth only

around a portion of a driving disc 140 which is fixedly

attached to shaft 141 for driving the shaft 141 when the

ramp 137 engages the gears 138. Ramp 137 has a surface

142 attached thereto back from the teeth 143 of the ramp

137 for lifting a latching member 144 when the hydraulic

cylinder 135 is in the position shown in Figure 9A which

in turn lifts a protrusion 145 from an opening 146 in the

disc 140. As can be seen from Figures 10 and 10A there

are a pair of openings 146 for each driving surface 140

for latching the driving surface in two different positions.

Latching member 144 is pinned with a pin 147 to holding

bracket 148 and is curved to ride over the linkage member

150 pinned at 151 to member 140. Lever 151 is connected

with a pin 152 to an actuating arm 153 which is in turn

connected to shaft 141 of a second gate 122 so that only

one rack 137 and member 140 would engage surface 138 as

required to drive all gates simultaneously. A second

member 154 is pinned also by pin 152 and drives another

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member 153 on the next gate's shaft 141.

Figures 9 and 9A illustrate the carriage in two

positions, while Figures 10 and 10A illustrate the same

apparatus in two positions. All of the parts are on the

carriage except for the cylinders 135 with the racks 137

and lifting members 142 which are attached to the floor

or base of the milking parlor. In operation, the platform

comes to its loading position 33 having the gates 22

closed but still loaded with the cows after completion

of the milking operation. The cylinder 68 (Figures 1,

2 and 3) actuates its rod 71 to shift the platform portion

relative to platform section 66 (-Figure 1) which oper-

ation simultaneously actuates the hydraulic cylinder 135

to engage the rack 137 teeth 143 with the teeth 138 of

member 140 and as platform section 65 and platform 13 is

moved by the cylinder rod 71, the member 140 is rotated

on the fixed rack 137 to open the gates 22 to let the

cows leave the stalls and simultaneously the stalls are

shortened by being straightened with the rails 18 tele-

scoping inward. Once the cows have unloaded from the stalls,

the operator actuates the hydraulic cylinder 68 and 135

through the use of solenoid valves such as illustrated

at 155 operated by a microswitch 156 which is connected

to the switching panel 60 (Figure Once the cylinder

68 returns the platform section 65 of platform 13 to

its original position relative to the platform section 66,

the gates will again be closed by the member 144 being

rotated by the rack 137 and the rack 137 can be lowered

by the hydraulic cylinder 135 which allows the latching

on member 144 to fall upon member 140 and to engage the

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66. 6 9 2 n next latching opening 146 to hold the gates 22 in a latched

position during the movement between loading position 33

and the milking position 30 of the platform 13.

The gates 24 are actuated in a similar manner as

illustrated in Figure 12 except that a rack 160 is fixedly

attached to the base of the milking parlor and engages

teeth 161 of a disc member 162 each time the platform

comes to the end of the loading position 33. The disc

member 162 is fixedly attached to shaft 168 which is

connected to the gates 124 and has a linkage 164 pinned

thereto by pin 165 which connects to an arm 166 fixedly

attached to the next gate's shaft 163. Linkage 164 is

connected by pin 167 which also connects the next linkage

164 for connecting the next gate. Thus the entire act-

uating mechanism is attached under the platforms so that

each time platform comes to the end of its track, the

teeth 161 engage the rack 160 shifting the gates 24 from

a closed to an open position and as soon as the platform

pulls away from the loading position 33 the teeth 161

which are still engaged with the rack 160 are rotated in

the opposite direction to close the gates 24 until the

platform returns. By the operation of several solenoid

valves which are actuated through microswitches in the

switchboard 60 the entire apparatus can be operated by

the actuation of the drive motor for driving the platforms.

The actuation of the cylinder 68 is to adjust one platform

section 65 relative to a second platform section 66

while opening and closing gates 22.

It should be noted that the operation of the gates

22 takes place as the platform section 65 approaches its

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66, 69 2 maximum movement relative to platform section 66 so that

adjustments can be made between platform sections 65 and

66 adjusting the depth of the stalls without opening the

gates 22. The gates 24 are of course opened and closed

automatically by the platforms arriving at the loading

station 33 by the rack 160 attached to the platform

engaging driving mechanism for the gates.

Other features such as the blowers 36 may also be

actuated from the control panel 60 if desired, without

departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The complete operation of the milking parlor is set

forth in the flow diagram of Figure 11 starting with the

cows in the cow holding pen and proceeding through a ser-

ies of steps ending with a step of recycling the shuttling

platforms. The loading area side gates 22 are closed as

the platform docks in the loading area, and the loading

areas entry gates 15 are opened and the cows pass by the

cow counting mechanism 58 to count the number of cows

proceeding into the cow loading area. As the proper

number of cows enter the cow loading area, the loading

area gate 15 is closed and the signal light 62 can be

switched on to signal that a proper number of cows has

been loaded to the platform. Platform section 65 then is

shifted forward by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 68

to adjust the stalls for the cows to the proper size

of cow being fed into the platforms.

It should be observed that the cows are normally

milked in batches with cows of similar size so that the

adjustment of the platform 65 can be adjusted for each

batch of cows of similar size so that the cow udders are

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6 6,6 9 2 n4 at the approximate correct position on the platforms for

connecting the milking machines. The platform exit gates

are also in a closed position at this point but the

loading area side gates or the particular area being loaded

are in their open position for the cows to load onto the

platform. Once the cows are loaded onto the platform the

cow udders are washed and the loaded shuttling platform

is actuated to move from the loading position 33 to .the

milking position 30 which actuates the loading area side

entry gates to their closed position until the trolley

returns. The milking room door 37 is opened and the

trolley moves into the milk room milking position 30 and

the milk room door 37 may be closed during the milking

operation. The air from the blower 36 blows over the

opening 39 to prevent the entry and exit of flies and

other insects. Once the loaded platform docks at the milk-

ing station, the udder preparation is sprayed upon the

udders for cleaning them and air is blown over the udders

to remove excess water from the cows' udders and massage

the udders in preparation for milking the cows. The milk-

ing machines are then connected to the cows and actuated

until the milking operation is completed at which time

the milking machines are disconnected and the cow udders

are sprayed with a teat dip solution spray. The milk

room door 37 may be opened if it was closed during this

operation and the platform undocked and moved back to

the loading area. Thus, as can be seen, a pair of plat-

fonnrms is alternately shuttling back and forth between

the milking and loading stations to keep the operator

continuously working with one shuttling platform or

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66. 69 2n4 the other while a second operator is loading and operating

the platforms from the loading position utilizing a

control panel 60 of Figure 1. The platform next docks

to unload at which time the cylinder 68 in Figure 1 is

actuated to move platform section 65 relative to platform

section 66 and platform 13 to its full shifted position

so that the gates 22 are opened while at the same time

shortening the individual stalls encouraging the cows

to promptly exit the platform stalls onto the unloading

platform 27 to eject the cows, at which point the cycle

begins again.

It is of course understood that the opposite plat-

form 31 is operating in the same manner alternately with

the platform 13 so that the operation is substantially

continuous even though the cows are being operated in

batches on the shuttling platforms.

A cow parlor has been disclosed herein but it should

be realized that other embodiments and equivalents are

anticipated as being within the spirit of the invention

and changes such as having the wheels 26 connected to the

platforms are contemplated. The batch loading and unload-

ing with the unloading being started by the shifting

platform sections greatly increases the efficiency of

the present parlor. This is enabled by the shuttling

platforms to maintain a continuous operation which can

be substantially automated. Variations in the drive

mechanism such as with ram jets are also contemplated,

and the present system can also be adapted for use to

feed other parlor systems.

-22- 4 84,3 97

Claims (1)

1. 6 6,69 2 n4 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. A method for milking cows comprising the steps

   of:

   directing a plurality of cows onto a first

   movable shuttling platform;

   moving said first shuttling platform in a f~irst direction between a loading position and a milking

   position;

   attaching a milking unit to and milking each

   cow on said first shuttling platform;

   returning said first shuttling platform to its loading position by moving said first shuttling platform in

   a second direction opposite to said first direction;

   directing a plurality of cows onto a second movable shuttling platform while said cows on said first

   movable shuttling platform are in a milking position;

   moving said second shuttling platform to a r4444;43ineF second secod zhttln;I mikin osition( (gtaching amilki g unit to and milking each cow on said second shuttling platform; and

   returning said second shuttling platform to its loading position by moving said second shuttling platform

   in a second direction opposite to said first direction

   whereby cows may be milked on a continuous batch basis.

   2. A method in accordance with claim 1 having the

   step of counting said plurality of cows being directed onto

   each movable shuttling platform. 3. The method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 in

   which the step of directing a plurality of cows onto each

   movable shuttling platform includes directing said cows in~ hotnL individual feeding stalls on each said platform.

   23. 4 84.397

   66. 6 9 2 4

   4. The method in accordance with claim 3 having

   the step of moving one elongated portion of each shuttling

   platform relative to a second elongated portion of each

   shuttling platform and telescoping the railings for said

   stalls in accordance with the size of the cows being

   directed into said stalls on said movable shuttling platforms.

   The method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims including the step of unloading cows from

   each said shuttling platform upon said shuttling platform

   returning to said loading position.

   6. The method in accordance with claim 5 in which

   said step of unloading said cows includes shifting of said

   one elongated portion of each shuttling platform relative

   to the second elongated portion of each shuttling platform

   to partially eject cows from said platform.

   7. The method in accordance with any one of the

   preceding claims having the step of spraying said loaded

   cows' udders while on said platform.

   8. The method in accordance with claim 7 including

   docking said platform to couple spray hoses to said platform

   for spraying said cows loaded on said platform.

   9. The method in accordance with any one of the

   preceding claims, including the step of sweeping cow manure

   into a ditch with wipers attached to said shuttling platforms.

   The method in accordance with any one of the

   preceding claims including the steps of driving said movable

   shuttling platform over a track of wheels with a driving

   wheel located beneath said shuttles.

   11. The method in accordance with any one of the

   preceding claims in which the step of directing a plurality

   24 484,3 97

   66, 692n4

   of cows onto a movable platform includes moving said

   plurality of cows onto a loading platform opening into a

   plurality of individual feeding stalls on one said platform.

   12. A milking system comprising in combination:

   a first movable shuttle platform having a loading position for loading a plurality of cows onto said

   shuttle platform and a milking position for milking cows on

   said shuttle platform and being adapted to move between said

   positions; a second movable shuttle platform having a

   loading ?osition for loading a plurality of cows thereonto

   and a milking position for milking said cows thereon and

   being adapted to move between said positions; said first and

   second movable shuttle plz.tforms being located in a spaced

   relationship to each other;

   means for directing cows onto one said movable

   shuttle platform at a time when said one platform is in

   a loading position;

   means for moving said first and second movable shuttle platforms alternately from said loading to said milking position and back to said loading position;

   and

   a milking station located adjacent said first and second shuttle platforms milking positions whereby cows

   on both said platforms can be milked by the same operator.

   13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which

   each movable shuttling platform includes a plurality of individual stalls having telescoping dividing rails for

   holding each individual cow therein.

   25 484,3 97

   66. 69 2 n4

   14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13

   including a mechanism for shifting a portion of each

   movable shuttling platform relative to a second elongated

   portion of each movable shuttling platform for varying the

   angle of each stall on each movable platform in accordance

   with the size of the cows being loaded and for assisting

   in ejecting cows during unloading.

   The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 or 14

   in which each movable shuttling platform includes an

   unloading gate for unloading cows from each platform stall

   at said loading position and ejecting cows.

   16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 15 in which

   the movement of each said platform section relative to the

   other platform section actuates the opening of the unloading

   gates for each stall along each said platform.

   17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 in which

   two sets of gates are located on a loading platform area

   adjacent each shuttling platform-which gates are opened only

   on the side having a platform in the loading position.

   18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 in which

   said gates on said shuttling platforms have an actuating

   mechanism actuated by the shuttling platform docking at the loading position.

   19. The apparatus in accordance with any one of I8 claims 12 to=-9, in which said milking station includes a

   power actuated milking stool adapted to position the

   operator next to either of said platforms in the milking

   position and having means to move said stool along said milking station.

   26 4 84.3 97 f 66,692 n

   The apparatus according to any one of claimsl2

   to 20, in which each said platform includes a plurality of

   udder sprayers and air nozzles for spraying the cows on

   said platform and directing air onto the udders.

   21. The apparatus according to claim 21 in which said air nozzles on said platform includes vanes for generating

   a vortex of air toward the cows' udders.

   22. A method for milking cows substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying

   drawings. 23. An apparatus for milking cows substantially as

   hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying

   drawings

   DATED THIS 31st day of March 1977

   HUBERT HUDSON JACOBS and VIRGINIA MICHAEL JACOBS By their Patent Attorneys:

   CLEMENT HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia.

   -_27 484.3 97

   66 69 2R4.

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   .39 .39 4 84,3 97

   66. 69 2n4

   AUTOMATED y;e ICOW SHUTTUNG PLATFORM MILKING SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

   COW LOADING LOADING HOLDING AREA SIDE AREA ENTRY PEN GATES CLOSE GATES OPEN

   UDDER UDDER PREP WARM AIR SPRAY MASSAGE

   41 4 84.3 97