FR2781120A1 - Installation for automatic guiding and placing cattle in milking or feeding position - Google Patents

Abstract

The installation for automatically placing animals along and at the side of a pit (1) comprises a rack (4) defining individual spaces (5). Each space has an individual vertically sliding door (14) and a lower stop (11) on which the door rests in its lowered open position. A catch (52) locks the door in its closed position. The opening and closing of the individual doors is controlled by a roller (16) running along a ramp of a carriage (8) guided and driven along the rack.

Description

DEVICE FOR GUIDING AND SETTING UP

  AUTOMATICALLY ANIMALS IN POSITION OF

  MILKING AND / OR FEEDING AND INSTALLATION

PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST SUCH A DEVICE

  The invention relates to a device for automatically guiding and setting up in the milking and / or feeding position of animals such as sheep, goats, or the like, along and at the edge of a pit.

  a central pit - of a mechanized milking and / or feeding installation.

  Such a device is already known (cf. device marketed by the BAYLE establishments (LA LOUBIERE, FRANCE) under the name STALLE "2000" or FR-A-2.704.720) comprising at least one rack intended to be placed along a edge of the pit, and defining at least one series of slots, each slot being adapted to allow the passage of the head and / or neck of an animal, and defining an individual place for an animal, with, along the edge from the pit, an animal access corridor, one after the other, normally in single file, in their individual place. A carriage carries opening / closing means for each slot, and is guided and driven in translation along the rack. In this known device, the opening / closing means of each slot are formed by a folding accordion panel or a flexible curtain, one end of which is carried by the carriage, and which masks / unmasks the entrance to the slots. individual as you go

carriage movements.

  This known device is satisfactory but requires rails and members for guiding the carriage and the masking panel or curtain arranged in the upper part, which imposes a relatively high structure and

  cumbersome, heavy, complex and expensive.

  In addition, the panel or curtain is relatively fragile and can deteriorate in use. It therefore has a relatively short lifespan and must be changed regularly. These relatively frequent changes make the installation regularly unusable, and are therefore a major inconvenience for

  the breeder, and are expensive in labor and material.

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  There are also known installations comprising individual stalls closed by pivoting doors around vertical axes and adapted to be able to be opened by the entry of animals successively into the stalls. The doors must then be replaced manually in the closed position after milking. Such a device simplifies the entry of animals into the stalls, but does not make it possible to automate the milking and / or feeding of the animals. It also requires the production of complete individual stalls, with vertical side walls of separation, and successive manipulations of the doors to close them. In addition, this device does not guarantee the successive orderly filling of the stalls. Nothing prevents an animal from occupying an intermediate stall which is not the first unoccupied stall. In addition, if one of the normally closed doors is accidentally opened (for example by an animal occupying an intermediate stall), access

  stalls behind the door is prohibited.

  As such, it should be noted that if one could think of automating the operation of such pivoting doors using a trolley, this automation would require extremely heavy and complex mechanisms, inducing in particular a space requirement in height and in prohibitive width, significant cost, and adjustment and maintenance operations

regular, heavy and complex.

  Such a device would therefore have no real advantage compared to prior devices with simple rack and folding panel or

curtain driven by the carriage.

  The invention therefore aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device for automatically guiding and setting up in the milking and / or feeding position of animals, such as sheep, goats, or the like, along and at the edge of the '' a pit of a mechanized milking and / or feeding installation, comprising at least one niche rack and a

  carriage guided and driven in translation along the rack as mentioned above

  above, which is simpler and less expensive than prior devices.

  The invention aims in particular to propose such a device

  which is less bulky - especially in height -.

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  The invention also aims to provide such a device which is more resistant to use, whose maintenance is simpler, faster and

  more economical, and longer life.

  The invention also aims to propose a device compatible with milking facilities with central pit and allowing the entry and exit of animals in order, normally in single file, by a corridor formed between

  the edge of the pit and the rack.

  The invention also aims to propose a mechanized installation for milking and / or feeding with an access pit to the rear part of the animals, with a view to their milking, in particular with a central pit, having the same advantages. To do this, the invention relates to a device for guiding and automatically setting up in the milking and / or feeding position animals, such as sheep or goats, along and at the edge of a pit. a mechanized milking and / or feeding installation, comprising: - at least one rack intended to be placed along one edge of the pit, comprising at least one series of slots, each slot being adapted to allow passage of the head and / or neck of an animal and defining an individual place for an animal, with, along the edge of the pit, an animal access corridor, one after the other, normally in single file , in their individual place, at least one carriage carrying opening / closing means of each slot, - means for guiding and driving the carriage in translation along the rack, characterized in that the opening means / closing slots include: - at least one individual door a peculiar to a slot mounted vertically sliding with respect to the rack between an open position o it leaves free the passage defined by the slot for the head and the

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  neck of an animal, and a closed position where it obstructs the passage of the head of an animal by preventing access to the corresponding individual place, - means for blocking the individual door in the open position and closed position, - means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual door by the carriage, adapted so that in a first direction of movement in translation of the carriage relative to the rack, it successively controls the closing of the individual doors slots facing which it moves, while in a second direction opposite to the first, it successively commands the opening of the individual doors of the

  slots next to which it moves.

  Advantageously, all the slots have an individual door, with the possible exception of the end slot which can always remain open, and the adjacent slot (s) hidden by the carriage when only the end slot is open, the other slots being in the closed position, i.e. when the carriage is at the end of the rack

  after being moved in the first direction of travel.

  It has been found that the fact of using a plurality of individual doors for the slots, mounted vertically sliding, movable in vertical translation between the open and closed positions, instead of a panel or curtain, far from rendering the more complex device as one would expect, on the contrary makes it possible to simplify it, and to increase its reliability and its

lifetime.

  In particular, during the opening / closing movements, the individual doors do not interfere with the space on the pit side and leave the access corridor free, which makes it possible to reduce the width to the minimum necessary . On the other hand, the carriage extends at the front of the rack opposite the individual doors, that is to say essentially in the lower part of the rack to control the opening / closing movements of the individual doors. This results in a reduction in the overall height of the device, which in particular allows it to be used in buildings such as sheepfolds where it is sought, in particular for the sake of savings, for low

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  ceiling heights. In addition, the carriage protruding slightly in front of the individual doors in the access corridor for animals returning in single file, obliges each animal to bypass it, and to rotate naturally, facilitating its presentation in the free slot immediately adjacent to the cart where it should be installed. Advantageously and according to the invention, the device is further characterized in that each individual door is adapted and mounted relative to the rack so as to extend, in the open position in the lower part entirely below the normal high by relation to the soil of the necks

animals.

  Advantageously and according to the invention, the means for blocking each individual door in the open position comprise at least one lower stop on which the individual door rests by gravity

  when lowered to the low open position.

  Advantageously and according to the invention, the means for blocking each individual door in the closed position comprise at least one unlocking latch controlled by the carriage. Advantageously and according to the invention, such a latch is placed in the upper part of an amount

  vertical separation of the window and in the upper part of the individual door.

  Advantageously and according to the invention, the latch comprises a chin secured to the individual door and a latch pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis relative to the rack and returned to an at least substantially horizontal locking position where it is in abutment and at - beyond which it cannot pivot down so as to be able to support the handle of the individual door resting on the latch. In addition, the means for controlling the opening of the individual door comprise: - means adapted to be able to pivot the latch upwards from the locking position until it is released from the chin in one unlocking position, - means adapted to be able to raise the individual door and the chin resting on the latch from the locking position,

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  - means adapted to maintain the latch in the unlocking position while lowering the individual door, the chin

passing under the latch.

  Furthermore, advantageously and according to the invention, the means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual door comprise: a roller mounted freely rotatable relative to the individual door around an axis at least substantially horizontal and orthogonal to the direction of movement of the carriage, 1o - an inclined closing surface secured to the carriage adapted to be able to come into contact with the roller during the movement of the carriage, whereby the roller rolls on the inclined closing surface while ascending when the carriage moves in the first closing direction, the door

  individual being raised in the closed position.

  Advantageously and according to the invention, the means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual door comprise an inclined opening opening secured to the carriage adapted to be able to come into contact with the roller during the movement of the carriage, this by what the roller of the individual door rolls on the inclined opening range going up when the carriage moves in the second direction of opening, to a top of the inclined opening range adapted so that the chin has exceeded up the latch release position when the door roller

individual is on this top.

  Advantageously and according to the invention, the carriage extends at the front of the rack to pass opposite the individual doors, and comprises rollers rolling on at least one longitudinal lower rail secured to the rack. It carries a gate which can be placed either in a closed position where it closes the access corridor, or in an open position where it opens this access corridor. In addition, advantageously and according to the invention, the rack is provided with means for immobilizing the neck of each animal in each slot, with automatic individual locking and common unlocking.

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  controlled, and feeder means at the rear of each slot, the trolley comprising means for automatically distributing food in each feeder upon the arrival of an animal in the slot forming the place

corresponding individual.

  The invention extends to a mechanized installation for milking and / or feeding animals, such as sheep, goats, or the like, comprising a pit for access to the rear part of the animals with a view to their milking, and characterized in that it comprises, along at least one edge of the

  pit, a device according to the invention.

  The invention also relates to a device and an installation characterized in combination by all or some of the characteristics mentioned.

above or below.

  Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention appear in the appended figures representing, by way of example, an embodiment, and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view in section through a vertical longitudinal plane passing by the pit of an installation according to the invention and illustrating a device according to the invention in front view elevation, - FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in section through a vertical transverse plane, along line II of FIG. 1, - Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view through a vertical transverse plane along line III of Figure 1, illustrating an animal in the milking and feeding position, - Figure 4a is a schematic top view of an installation according to the invention provided with two devices according to the invention, one along each longitudinal edge of the pit, one of which (on the upper part of the figure) is shown during the entry and exit of the animals, and the other (on the lower part of the figure) is shown during feeding and milking the animals, - Figure 4b is a schematic top view similar to Figure 4a, one of the devices (upper part) being shown during access of animals successively to their individual place, the other

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  device (lower part) being shown at the end of feeding and milking, the animals being released and starting to come out, - Figure 5 is a schematic detail view in section on a vertical plane along line V of the Figure 2, - Figure 6 is a partial schematic elevational front view illustrating the opening / closing means and the locking means in the open position and in the closed position of the individual doors of a device according to invention, the carriage not being shown, - Figure 7 is a partial schematic view in l0 elevation rear view of Figure 6, - Figure 8 is a schematic detail view in section along line VIII of Figure 6 , - Figure 9 is a detail perspective view partially broken away of a locking latch in the closed position of a

device according to the invention.

  The installation for milking and feeding animals such as sheep, goats, or the like, shown comprises a central pit 1 having two longitudinal edges 2, 2a, 2b along which extends a device 3, 3a, 3b to guide and automatically set up successively the

  animals in milking and feeding position in their individual place.

  Each device 3, 3a, 3b comprises a rack 4, 4a, 4b forming a series of slots 5. Each slot 5 is adapted to allow the passage of the head and neck of an animal in this slot 5 and defines a place

  individual for an animal in the milking and feeding position.

  The rack 4, 4a, 4b is placed parallel to the edge 2, 2a, 2b of the pit 1 but at a distance from this edge 2, 2a, 2b so that the device 3, 3a, 3b defines, between the edge 2, 2a , 2b and the rack 4a, 4b, an access corridor 6, 6a, 6b of the animals successively to the different individual places, normally in single file. The width of the access corridor 6, 6a, 6b is defined to allow the passage of one animal, without normally authorizing the passage of two animals at the front. A guardrail 7, 7a, 7b is fixed along and above the edge 2, 2a, 2b of the pit 1 to prevent the animals from falling into the pit 1 all

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  by allowing access to the udders by the breeder placed in the pit 1, and the passage of the teats. Throughout the text of this patent application, the term "front" designates the side of the rack located towards the pit 1 and the access corridor 6, 6a, 6b, and the term "rear" designates the side of the rack 4 , 4a, 4b located opposite the pit 1 and the access corridor 6, 6a, 6b. Thereafter, a single device 3 is

described in more detail.

  The device 3 comprises a carriage 8, and means for guiding and driving the carriage 8 in translation along the rack 4. The guardrail 7 can be formed from a flexible tensioned cable connected to a safety sensor

  suitable for stopping the movement of the carriage 8 by simply pressing the cable.

  The rack 4 comprises a front longitudinal rail 9 associated and carried by feet 10, in particular two end feet 10 and, if necessary, one or more intermediate feet, at a height adapted so that the upper edge 11 of the rail 9 is below normal height, from the ground,

animal necks (Figure 3).

  Vertical uprights 12 for lateral separation of the slots 5 are fixed along the rail 9, regularly distributed and spaced from each other, and extending upward to define between them the slots 5. These uprights 12 carry, on the side of each slot 5 which they define, a vertical slide 13 extending over their entire height, formed of a U-shaped cross section profile oriented towards the adjacent upright 12 defining the slot 5. The two slides 13 facing each other of two adjacent uprights 12 allow between them the guiding in vertical translation of an individual door 2s 14 whose vertical edges 15 are introduced into the vertical slides 13. In this way, each slot 5 defined above the rail 9 between two uprights 12 (with the exception of the end slot (s) as specified below) comprises an individual opening / closing door 14 of its own and which is mounted movable, sliding healthy in vertical translation with respect to the rack 4 between

the two slides 13.

  Each individual door 14 is formed by a rigid flat rectangular plate carrying, at the top, a roller 16 mounted o10 2781120 freely rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation 17 perpendicular to the main plane of the individual door 14, orthogonal to the rail 9 and in the direction of movement of the carriage 8. The axis of rotation 17 projects forwardly with respect to the front face of the individual door 14, so that it can come to rest on an upper longitudinal free edge 11 of the rail 9, the roller 16 being placed beyond towards the front of this rail 9 in order to be able to cooperate with a ramp of

  open / close control 18 integral with the carriage 8.

  The axis 17 of the roller 16 and the upper edge 11 of the rail 9 form a lower stop blocking the individual door 14 in the low position 0 or opening of the slot 5. In the embodiment shown, the axis 17 of the roller 16 is placed high on the door 14 so that the latter does not come into contact with the ground in the low position. The door 14 then rests, via the axis 17 on the edge 11 of the rail 9 by gravity when it is in the low open position. As a variant or in combination, the individual door can rest on the ground, its lower edge coming into contact with the ground in the low open position, the ground then serving as a lower stop delimiting the position

door 14.

  For mounting the roller 16 and its axis 17, a metal reinforcement 19 extends from the upper edge 20 of the door 14. This reinforcement 19 can be a stirrup or a simple metal plate. The axis 17 is formed by a horizontal screw 17 passing forwards through the reinforcement 19 and the door 14 and which is extended forward to carry the roller 16, preferably by means of a ball bearing. . At least one bolt 21 is provided between the axis 17 and the upper edge 20 of the door 14 to fix the reinforcement 19. A rubber protection is advantageously provided around the screw 17, in its free portion extending between the roller 16 and reinforcement 19, and intended to come into contact with the edge

  upper 11 of the rail 9 in the lower position.

  In the low open position, the individual door 14 allows the animal access to the individual place defined by the slot 5 between the vertical uprights 12. The free upper edge 20 of the door 14 defines the free lower edge of the slot 5. The height of the rail 9 relative to the ground, the height dimension of the door 14 and the height position of the axis 17 of the roller 16 are defined there so that the free upper edge 20 of the door 14 in position low opening either below the normal height above the ground of the necks of the animals, that is to say either at a suitable height to allow the passage of

  the head and neck of an animal above this edge 20 (Figure 3).

  In a variant not shown, the free lower edge of the slot 5 could also be defined by the upper edge 11 of the rail 9, the door 14

  being fully retracted under this edge 11 in the low open position.

  Anyway, in a preferred variant and according to the invention, the door 14 has a height less than the normal height, by l0 relative to the ground, of the necks of the animals, and extends entirely below this

  normal height in low open position.

  When the carriage 8 moves in a first direction of movement (device 3a in the upper part in FIG. 4a) and passes in front of an individual door 14 lowered into the low open position, the ramp 18 cooperating with the roller 16, raises the individual door 14 in the high closed position in which it extends between the uprights 12, thus preventing access

at the corresponding slot 5.

  At the rear of the rack 4, each individual place is provided with a manger 22. The rack 4 is advantageously equipped with means 23 to 30 for immobilizing the neck of the animals in place in each slot 5 comprising: fixed uprights 23, mounted and fixed on the rail 9 and behind the vertical uprights 12 for lateral separation of the slots 5; for each slot 5, a tilting immobilization lever 24 which is articulated on an upright 23, and whose upper end 27 is curved to pass over the neck of an animal to immobilize it, and whose end lower 28 is provided with a maneuvering extension 25 through the neck of the incoming animal and a locking member 26 such as a latch bolt returned to the deployed position by gravity and / or by a spring; a horizontal locking / unlocking bar 29 carrying locking stops for the locking members 26, and mounted along the rail 9 on which it can slide longitudinally horizontally between a locking position o the locking members 26 of the levers 24 can be locked in the immobilized position, and a position of

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  unlocking o the locking members 26 of the levers 24 are all released; and a jack (not shown), mounted on the rail 9 for controlling the movements of longitudinal translation of the bar 29 relative to the rail 9 between the positions

  locking and unlocking.

  When an animal arrives in the niche 5, it lowers the head to eat thereby actuating the lever 24, its neck pressing on the operating extension 25. The lever 24 switches to the immobilized position where it is locked. When all the animals have been put in place, have eaten and the milking is finished, the jack makes it possible to slide the bar 29, and thus to unlock and to actuate all the levers 24 which return to the release position o the animals can be released from the slots 5. These means 23 to are therefore of the type with automatic individual locking and unlocking

  common ordered. Other types of immobilization means, known in themselves-

  same, can be used as a variant.

  At the rear of the feeders 22, the device comprises a second longitudinal rail 31, called rear rail 31, parallel to the front rail 9 defining the slots 5, the two rails 9, 31 receiving the carriage 8, that is to say forming a raceway for this carriage 8. The two rails 9, 31 are fixed

  parallel to each other and form, with the rack 4, a stable rigid structure.

  The carriage 8 has the general shape of a stirrup and thus comprises: a front part 32 extending vertically in front of the rack 4 passing in front of the front rail 9, the doors 14 and their rollers 16; an upper part 33 carrying in particular a feed hopper for the feeders 22; and a rear part 34 extending vertically downwards from the rear of the upper part 33, for rolling on the rear rail 31. The upper part 33 is carried by the front parts

32 and rear 34.

  The front part 32 is provided, at the bottom, with idler rollers 35 rolling on the front rail 9 for guiding the carriage 8, namely for example two upper rollers and two lower rollers in the embodiment shown. Similarly, the rear part 34 is provided, at the bottom, with idler rollers 36 rolling on the rear rail 31 for guiding the carriage 8,

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  namely for example two upper rollers and two lower rollers. The

  castors 35, 36 have a horizontal axis of rotation orthogonal to the rails 9, 31.

  In this way, the carriage 8 can move in horizontal translation along the rails 9, 31, in one direction or another, passing in front of each slot 5. The front part 32 of the carriage 8 forms a housing incorporating a disengageable motorized assembly for driving the carriage 8. This assembly comprises an electric motor 37 driving a drive roller 38 by means of a transmission 39 with bevel gear and reduction gear. The drive roller 1o 38 is adapted to be able to come into contact with a lower edge of the front rail 9. It is rotated by the motor 37 around a horizontal axis 41 orthogonal to the front rail 9, in a direction or in the other, according to the direction of rotation of the motor 37 which is of the type which can be controlled in both

sense of rotation.

  The whole is carried by a plate 42 articulated to the front part 33 of the carriage 8 around a horizontal axis 43 orthogonal to the rail 9 offset by

axis 41 of roller 38.

  A horizontal arm 44 is fixed integral with the plate 42 and is connected to a vertical control rod 45 which opens at the top of the front part 32 of the carriage 8 to be connected to an operating handle 46 accessible to the user, rotating around a horizontal axis 47. The end of the rod 45 is articulated to the eccentric handle 46. In this way, when the handle 46 is turned, the rod 45 moves in vertical translation, which rotates the arm 44 and the plate 42 around the axis 43, whereby the roller 38 is engaged, raised in touch with

  from rail 9, or disengaged, lowered away from rail 9.

  The handle 46 can also be replaced by a jack

ordered automatically.

  The front part 32 comprises a vertical wall 49 facing the rack 4 and towards the individual doors 14, and carrying the ramp 18 for controlling the opening and closing of the doors 14, which is arranged so that the rollers 16 carried by the doors 14 can come to roll on this ramp 18

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  when it passes in front of the doors 14 during the movements of the carriage 8 the

along the rails 9, 31.

  The ramp 18 includes a bearing, called inclined closing bearing 50, adapted to be able to come into contact with a roller 16 when the door 14 is in the low open position, during the movement of the carriage 8 in a first direction of movement (FIG. 4a and to the left in FIGS. 1 and 6) during which the carriage 8 controls the closing of the individual doors 14. To do this, the lower free end 51 of the inclined closing surface 50 extends below from the upper edge 11 of the rail 9 receiving the axis 17 of the rollers 16, and below the rollers 16 when their axis 17 is in abutment on this edge 11, in the low position for opening the doors 14. When the carriage 8 is moves by rolling along the rails 9, 31 in the first direction, the roller 16 of the door 14 being closed rolls on the inclined closing surface 50 by rising according to the inclination of this scope 50, whereby the door 14 is gradually raised in the closed position. The inclined closing surface 50 of the ramp 18 extends from a top 64, on the side oriented towards the first closing direction,

  down to its lower free end 51.

  The device also comprises means for blocking each individual door 14 in the high closed position, comprising, for each door 14, a latch 52 with automatic locking or controlled by the carriage 8 and with unlocking controlled by the carriage 8. This latch 52 is mounted at the upper end 53 of a vertical upright 12 for separating the

  slot 5 of door 14 and also in the upper part of this door 14.

  This latch 52 comprises a flange 54 integral with the door 14, formed of a horizontal rod extending the upper edge 20 of the door 14 laterally towards the vertical upright 12 by projecting horizontally from a vertical edge 15 of the door 14. The slide vertical 13 for guiding the door 14 on the side of the flange 54 is deep enough to allow the passage of the flange 54 in this slide 13 without interfering with the vertical movements of the

  door 14 between the closed and open positions.

  The latch 52 further comprises a latch 55 pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 56 which is parallel to the chin 54, by

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  compared to a rigid cover 57 itself mounted by bolts 58 at the upper end 53 of the vertical upright 12. The latch 55 is extended rearwards beyond its axis 56 by a control finger 59 of which it is integral in rotation. The cover 57 forms an upward V-shaped stop 60 for the control finger 59, this stop 60 defining an extreme horizontal locking position of the latch 55. The latch 55 in the locking position extends horizontally towards the forward with respect to its axis 56 and cannot pivot down beyond this position, so as to be able to support the stud 54 of the door 14 when the latter rests on the latch 55

in the locked position.

  The carriage 8 carries a cam 61 for maneuvering the control finger 59 comprising a range, called the locking range 62 and a

  range, called unlocking range 63.

  The locking surface 62 is inclined and adapted to come into contact with the control finger 59 and make it pivot downwards, the latch 55 being pivoted upwards when the carriage 8 moves in the first direction of closing of the doors 14. The inclined closing surface 50 of the ramp 18 and the locking surface 62 are placed and adapted so that the flange 54 projects upwards the latch 55 thus tilted when the roller 16 arrives at the top 64 of this inclined closing surface 50, then releases the latch 55 which is returned (by gravity or by a spring) in the locked position. The vertex 64 is at a height which is adapted so that the chin 54 protrudes upwards the position of the latch 55 pivoted towards the

  high when the roller 16 of the door 14 is on this vertex 64.

  The ramp 18 is extended beyond the apex 64 of the inclined closing span 50 by a span, called the inclined opening span

  , which descends downwards from the summit 64.

  The cam 61 is adapted to release the control finger 59 and the latch 55 when locking more quickly than the flange 54 does not descend towards the latch 55 when the roller 16 of the door 14 rolls down on the inclined opening range 65 from ramp 18. This release

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  is obtained in fact by the unlocking surface 63 against which the control finger 59 is in contact after having passed the lowest point 66 of the

  cam 61 at the junction of the locking 62 and unlocking 63 surfaces.

  The door 14 is then blocked and locked in the high closed position, the chin 54 resting on the latch 55 in abutment

  locking position (figure 9).

  When the carriage 8 moves in a second direction (FIG. 4b and to the right FIGS. 1 and 5), opposite to the first, by rolling on the rails 9, 31, it successively controls the opening of the individual doors 14 l0 of the slots 5 next to which it moves, which allows the establishment

  successive animals in individual places.

  The inclined opening range 65 of the ramp 18 extends from the top 64, on the side facing the second direction of opening, downwards, to a lower free end 67 which arrives at least below i5 rollers 16 doors 14 when they are placed in the high closed position. When the carriage 8 moves in the second direction, the inclined opening range 65 therefore comes into contact with a roller 16 which rolls while ascending on this range, which raises the door 14 and the flange 54 from the position lock. Simultaneously, the unlocking surface 63 of the cam 61 comes into contact with the control finger 59 to tilt the latch 55 upwards from its locking position until it is released from the latch 54 in a position unlocking (figure 8). In this unlocking position, the latch 55 no longer crosses the plane situated vertically from the chin 54 which can thus descend into the slide 13. The cam 61 keeps the latch 55 in the unlocking position at least until the chin 54 passes under latch 55 when the door 14 is lowered, the roller 16 having exceeded the apex 64 and rolling down on the inclined closing surface 50. The control finger 59 then passes beyond the lowest point 66 of the cam 61 and comes into contact with the locking surface 62 which releases it until it comes into abutment against the stop 60 of the cover 57, the latch 55 being again in the locking position but the flange 54 having passed under latch 55. The roller 16 rolls down on the inclined closing surface

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  until the axis 17 abuts against the rail 9, the door 14 being in

low opening position.

  The locking and unlocking surfaces 63 of the cam 61 can be at least substantially symmetrical with respect to each other with respect to the vertical passing through the lowest point 66 of the cam 61 and are inclined upwards. from this point 66. If necessary, the control finger 59 can carry a crazy rotating roller facilitating its movements relative to the contact of the cam 61. The cam 61 is formed of a rigid part fixed on a rod 68

  integral with the carriage 8, and is driven along the rack 4 by the carriage 8.

  The inclined opening span 65 and the inclined closing span 50 of the ramp 18 meet at the apex 64 and are at least substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to the vertical passing through this apex 64. But the scope inclined aperture 65 may not extend as far

  and as low as the inclined closing span 50.

  Advantageously, the ramp 18 is articulated by its apex 64 on the carriage 8 around a transverse horizontal axis, and the end 51 of the inclined closing surface 50 rests in abutment on the rail 9. In this way, in the first direction, the ramp 18 is held in position, the end 51 being in abutment on the rail 9, while, in the second direction, it can let pass a possible roller 16 which would be abnormally in the low position, the inclined reach of

closing 50 lifting.

  The front part 32 of the carriage comprises a vertical front wall 70 on which is mounted a door 71 adapted to be able to be placed either in a closed position where it transversely closes the access corridor between the rack 4 and the pit 1, or in an open position where it is folded against the vertical front wall 70 and opens the access corridor. The movements of this gate 71 between its open and closed positions can be controlled manually or by a double-acting cylinder not shown. Each access corridor 6a, 6b defines an inlet 72a, 72b located on the side of the end of the rack 4 reached by the carriage 8 at the end of the travel travel in the second direction of opening of the doors 14, and an outlet

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  73a, 73b located on the side of the end of the rack 4 reached by the carriage 8 at the end of the travel stroke in the first direction of closing of the doors 14. The outlet 73a, 73b is closed by a gate 74 which can also be controlled

  manually by a double-acting cylinder not shown.

  The carriage 8 also advantageously comprises means for detecting the presence and / or identification (known in themselves) of an animal in an individual place, an automatic distributor of a predetermined calibrated quantity of a ration of food. comprising a distribution hopper 69 in each feeder 22, and automatic means of command and control, also known in themselves, of the movements and of the position of the carriage 8, of the food distributor, of the gates 71, 74, of the motor 37 and, if necessary, of the clutch / disengagement of the drive roller 38 if an actuating cylinder is provided for this purpose. Security sensors can be provided to stop the movement of the carriage 8 in the event of abnormal effort, in particular on the gate 71 (for example in the event of an animal being trapped). Each vertical upright 12 for separating a slot 5 advantageously comprises a locating lug 75 (FIG. 8) extending towards the rear of the cover 57 of the latch 52, adapted to actuate a worn contactor

by the carriage 8.

  The milking and feeding process implemented with such a device is as follows. Initially, the carriage 8 being placed on the side of the entrance 72a, 72b of the corridor, all the individual doors are in the low open position. The gates 71 and 74 are closed (device 3b, Figure 4a). The carriage 8 moves towards the outlet 73a, 73b in the first direction of closing of the doors 14, the animals following the gate 71 closed by the carriage 8 (device 3a, FIG. 4a). Simultaneously, the different individual doors 14 close as the carriage 8 passes in front of these doors 14. The animals then do not have access to the corresponding slots 5. When the carriage 8 arrives at the last slot 5 on the side of the outlet 73a, 73b, the gate 71 of the carriage 8 is

  open. This last slot 5 has no door and always remains open.

19 2781120

  In the embodiment shown, the carriage 8 has a length such that it masks two slots 5. In this case, the two slots 5

  located before the last slot 5 may be free of individual doors 14.

  They are in fact masked by the carriage 8 when it is in the extreme position towards the outlet 73a, 73b. The first animal bypasses the front part 32 of the carriage 8 and is naturally led to the individual place of this slot 5. It places the neck in the slot 5, which activates the immobilization lever 24 which locks. The animal is detected, the distribution of the corresponding quantity of food is carried out, then the carriage 8 moves in the second direction of opening of the individual doors 14, which has the effect of freeing the subsequent individual place adjoining the previous one. As it moves, the carriage 8 opens the individual doors 14 of the slots in front

  which it passes (device 3a, figure 4b).

  These steps are repeated until all the individual doors 14 are opened, the animals being in place and immobilized in each slot 5 of the rack 4, the carriage 8 being placed at the end of the side of the entrance 72a, 72b (device 3b, figure 4a). The teats are placed on each animal as they are placed. The gate 71 carried by the carriage 8 is then closed. At the end of the milking and feeding of the animals, the exit gate 74 is open and the immobilization levers 24 are all unlocked for

  release the animals which come out through the outlet 73a, 73b (device 3b, figure 4b).

  This exit is favored by the new movement of the carriage 8 in the

  first direction, for the entry of a new series of animals in the corridor 6a, 6b.

  It should be noted that the device according to the invention is simple,

inexpensive, robust and reliable.

  It also has the advantage of a small overall height, the carriage 8 with the means 18 for controlling the doors 14 and the drive means 37, 39 extending at the front of the rack 4, the rails 9, 31 of

  guide of the carriage 8 which can be placed in the lower part.

  The device according to the invention can be the subject of various variants compared to the preferred embodiment described above and

2781120

  shown in the figures. In particular, it is possible to provide several successive racks 4 in length, or, for each rack 4, several distinct series of slots 5 and several trolleys 8, one for each series of slots 5. Nothing prevents, although this variant is less advantageous, that the individual doors 14 open upwards and not downwards if space is available above the device. The movements of the carriage 8 and the various commands (food distribution, opening / closing of the gates, etc.) can be entirely automatic or, on the contrary, more or less manual. The gates 71, 74 may not be leaves with a vertical pivot axis, but with a horizontal axis or foldable structures in a known manner. Other embodiments of the locking latches can be envisaged. For example, the latch of the latch can be secured to the door while the upright is secured to the rack. Several latches 52 can be provided for each door 14, in particular a second latches for locking the doors 14 in the open position, and the latches (the) can be arranged in the middle part or in the bottom part of the uprights 12 and

doors 14.

  The invention is applicable to sheep or goats, in particular for sheep, but also for milking and / or feeding other

  animals such as cattle or others.

21 2781120

Claims (14)

  1 / - Device for guiding and automatically putting in position for milking and / or feeding animals, such as sheep or goats, along and at the edge of a pit (1) of a mechanized installation milking and / or feeding, comprising: - at least one rack (4) intended to be placed along an edge (2a, 2b) of the pit (1), comprising at least one series of slots (5 ), each slot (5) being adapted to allow the passage of the head and / or neck l0 of an animal, and defining an individual place for an animal, with, along the edge (2a, 2b) of the pit (1), an access corridor (6a, 6b) of the animals, one after the other, normally in single file, in their individual place, - at least one carriage (8) carrying means (14, 16 , 18, 11, 17, 52) opening / closing of each slot (5), - means (9, 31, 35 to 47) for guiding and driving the carriage (8) in translation along the rack (4), characterized in that the mo yen (14, 16, 18, 11, 17, 52) for opening / closing slots (5) include: - at least one individual door (14) specific to a slot (5) slidably mounted vertically relative to the rack ( 4) between an open position where it leaves free the passage defined by the slot (5) for the head and neck of an animal, and a closed position where it obstructs the passage of the head of an animal in preventing access to the corresponding individual place, - means (11, 17, 52) for locking the individual door (14) in the open position and in the closed position, - control means (16, 18) the opening and closing of the individual door (14) by the carriage (8) adapted so that in a first direction of movement in translation of the carriage (8) relative to the rack (4), it successively controls the closing individual doors (14) of the slots (5) opposite which it moves, while in a 22 2781120   second direction opposite to the first, it successively commands the opening of   individual doors (14) of the slots (5) opposite which it moves.   2 / - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each individual door (14) is adapted and mounted relative to the rack (4) so as to extend, in the open position in the lower part entirely in   below normal high relative to the ground of the necks of animals.   3 / - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means (11, 17) for locking the individual door (14) in the open position comprise at least one lower stop (11) on which the individual door l0 ( 14) rests by gravity when it is lowered to the low open position.   4 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the means (52) for locking the individual door (14) in the closed position comprise at least one latch (52) with unlocking controlled by the carriage (8).   / - Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the latch (52) is placed in the upper part of a vertical upright (12) of   separation of the slot and in the upper part of the individual door (14).   6 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the means (52) for locking the individual door in the closed position comprise at least one latch (52) comprising a lug (54) integral with the individual door (14) and a latch (55) pivotally mounted around a horizontal axis (56) relative to the rack (4) and returned to an at least substantially horizontal locking position where it is in abutment and beyond which it cannot pivot down so as to be able to support the bar (54) of the individual door (14) resting on the latch (55), and in that the means for controlling the opening of the individual door (14) comprise: - means (59, 61) adapted in order to be able to pivot the latch upwards from the locking position until it is released from the lug (54) in an unlocking position, 23 2781120   - means (18) adapted to be able to raise the individual door (14) and the chin (54) resting on the latch (55) from the locking position, - means (18, 59, 61) adapted to maintain the latch (55) in the unlocked position while lowering the individual door   (14), the chin (54) passing under the latch (55).   7 / - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the chin (54) is disposed in the upper part of the individual door (14) and in that the latch (55) is mounted in the upper part of an amount   vertical (12) lateral separation of the corresponding slot (5).   8 / - Device according to one of claims 6 and 7,   characterized in that the latch (55) is integral in rotation with a control finger (59) adapted to cooperate with a cam (61), integral with the carriage   (8), for operating the control finger (59).   9 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized in that the means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual door (14) comprise: - a roller (16) mounted freely rotatable relative to the individual door (14) about an axis (17 ) at least substantially horizontal and orthogonal to the direction of movement of the carriage (8), - an inclined closing surface (50) integral with the carriage (8) adapted to be able to come into contact with the roller (16) during movement of the carriage (8), whereby the roller (16) rolls on the inclined closing surface (50) going up when the carriage (8) moves in the first direction of closing, the individual door (14) being raised in position closing.   / - Device according to claims 6 and 9, characterized   in that the inclined closing surface (50) has a top (64), the height of which is adapted so that the lug (54) has passed upwards the unlocking position of the latch (55) when the roller (16) is on this vertex (64). 24 2781120   11 / - Device according to claims 9 and 10, characterized   in that the means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual door (14) comprise an inclined opening surface (65) integral with the carriage (8) adapted to be able to come into contact with the roller (16) at during movement of the carriage (8), whereby the roller (16) of the individual door (14) rolls on the inclined opening surface (65) rising when the carriage (8) moves in the second direction of the opening, up to a vertex (64) of the inclined opening surface (65) adapted so that the lug (54) has passed upwards the unlocking position of the latch (55) when the roller (16 )   of the individual door (14) is on this vertex (64).   12 / - Device according to claims 10 and 11,   characterized in that the inclined closing span (50) and the inclined span   opening (65) meet at the same vertex (64).   13 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 12,   i5 characterized in that the carriage (8) extends at the front of the rack (4) to pass opposite the individual doors (14), and comprises rollers (35, 36) rolling   on at least one longitudinal lower rail (9, 31) integral with the rack (4).   14 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 13,   characterized in that the carriage (8) carries a gate (71) which can be placed either in a closed position where it closes the access passage (6a, 6b), or in   an open position where he opens this access corridor (6a, 6b).   / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 14,   characterized in that the rack (4) is provided with means (23 to 30) for immobilizing the neck of each animal in each slot (5), with individual locking   automatic and with common unlocking commanded.   16 / - Device according to one of claims 1 to 19,   characterized in that the rack (4) comprises means (22) forming a feeder at the rear of each slot (5), and in that the carriage (8) comprises means (69) for automatically distributing food in each feeder (22) on arrival of an animal in the niche (5) forming the place corresponding individual. 2781120   17 / - Mechanized installation for milking and / or feeding animals, such as sheep or goats, comprising a pit (1) for access to the rear part of the animals for milking, and characterized in what it includes, along at least one edge (2a, 2b) of the   pit (1), a device according to one of claims 1 to 16.