GB1584577A

GB1584577A - Milking parlours

Info

Publication number: GB1584577A
Application number: GB4959677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GASCOIGNE GUSH AND DENT AGRICULTURAL Ltd
Current assignee: GASCOIGNE GUSH AND DENT AGRICULTURAL Ltd
Priority date: 1978-04-12
Filing date: 1978-04-12
Publication date: 1981-02-11

Description

(54) MILKING PARLOURS (71) We, GASCOIGNE GUSH & DENT CAgricultural) LIMITED, a British Company, of Berkeley Avenue, Reading, RG1 6JW, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by .the following statement: This invention relates to a milking parlour.

It is normal to feed cdnctntrates to milking cows in the parlour as a convenient method of encouraging the cows to enter the parlour, and in addition the animals can be individually identified and the appropriate ration measured out. In a herringbone milking parlour a plurality of stalls are arranged in a line and the cows overlap each other when they take up positions for milking and stand at an acute angle to the line of the stalls. A plurality of stalls is served by a single entry gate and a single exit gate, the cows being moved in and out in batches when the entry and exit gates are open. The term "herringbone milking parlour" as used herein denotes any parlour which satisfies the description just given.

When cows enter herringbone milking parlours they do so from one end, and the leading cows have to pass a number of mangers before taking up the correct position, i.e. the first cow in has to pass right along the parlour to the furthest away stall, the second cow has to pass along the parlour to the second to last stall and so on. It is normal practice for the animals to examine the mangers for food as they pass by, as food can be left by the previous batch of cows. Delays therefore occur as the cows enter the parlour and the operator is involved in urging the animals to move to the appropriate mangers.

When a string of cows is finished milking the same problems occur in inducing the animals to leave the parlour.

According to the invention, there is pro vided a herringbone milking parlour, as herein defined, comprising; a plurality of mangers and a gate for each. manger mov able between a position in which the manger is accessible to an animal and a position in which the manger is inaccessible.

In use, all the mangers are made inacces sible to cows entering the parlour except the manger adjacent to the exit gate. This manger is left accessible bwhen the exit gate is closed. Thus, the first animal of the string Xis encouraged to move down to the end of the parlour to reach the only accessible manger. The remainder of the string follow ing the first animal automatically each arrive at the first vacant position.

When milking is finished the operator opens the exit gate which nudges the first cow's head out of the manger and the remaining gates can be closed to force the cows' heads from the mangers.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying perspective drawing.

The herringbone milking parlour, part of ..which is shown, comprises mangers 8 each of which has a manger gate 1. The gates 1 are shown in the open position but the dotted.lines indicate position taken up when the manger gates are closed.

The gates may be controlled manually or as illustrated by a vacuum system 2, or by some other means, for example by the use of compressed air, hydraulic fluid or an electric actuator. They can be linked to a common operating rod 3 or can be operated independently.

Each gate 1 may pivot about a vertical axis (as illustrated) or about a horizontal axis or be displaced vertically or laterally.

Its construction can be of metal, wood or plastics material.

Optionally a manger gate 4 closest to the parlour exit gate .5 of the parlour, whilst being similar in design to the gates 1 is not linked to the common power source. Instead it is adapted to work in conjunction with the exit gate by being linked to the exit gate by a linkage 6 in such a manner that when the exit gate is open the manger gate 4 obstructs the manger. When the exit gate is closed the manger gate 4 is open.

As the means for operating the gates must be such that no injury can occur to the cows when the manger gates are opened and closed, it is highly desirable to have a system of locking the manger gates in a closed position. Without such a system of locking the cows could quite easily push the manger gates open with their heads. This locking can be achieved either by a mechanical over-centre locking device 7 as shown, locking linkages, solenoid operated bolts, or vacuum operated toggle catches. The locking device 7 shown is in the form of a rod which is pivotally attached at one end to the rod 3 and pivotally attached at the other end to the gate 1.

The present invention may be applied to any type of herringbone milking parlour.

An advantageous form of the invention however is a herringbone parlour using straight or cranked rump rails (not shown).

The mangers are advantageously constructed from glass fibre material, steel or concrete.

Control of the manger gates may be effected by an operator located in the parlour pit, or the manger'gates can be arranged to operate automatically at the appropriate time after the opening or closing of the entry and exit doors.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A herringbone milking parlour, as herein defined, comprising a plurality of mangers and a gate for each manger movable between a position in which the manger is accessible to an animal and a position in which the manger is inaccessible.

2. A milking parlour as claimed in claim 1 wherein powered means are provided for closing the gates.

3. A milking parlour as claimed in claim 2 wherein the powered means is provided by a pneumatic system.

4. A milking parlour as claimed in claim 2 wherein the powered means is provided by a hydraulic system.

5. A milking parlour as claimed in claim 2 wherein the powered means is provided by an electrical system.

6. A milking parlour as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the gates operate independently of one another.

7. A milking parlour as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein at least some of the gates operate in unison.

8. A milking parlour as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each gate is pivotal about a vertical axis.

9. A milking parlour as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein each gate is pivotal about a horizontal axis.

10. A milking parlour as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the gates are vertically displaceable.

11. A milking parlour as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the gates are laterally displaceable.

12. A milking parlour as claimed in any preceding claim which is provided with an exit gate adapted to close an exit from the milking parlour, and the manger gate nearest the exit ate is adapted to operate in conjunction wit the said exit gate so that when the exit gate is closed the said manger gate is open and vice versa.

13. A milking parlour as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for locking the gates in their closed positions.

14. A milking parlour as claimed in claim 13 wherein the locking means is an over-centre device.

15. A milking parlor substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. linked to the common power source. Instead it is adapted to work in conjunction with the exit gate by being linked to the exit gate by a linkage 6 in such a manner that when the exit gate is open the manger gate 4 obstructs the manger. When the exit gate is closed the manger gate 4 is open. As the means for operating the gates must be such that no injury can occur to the cows when the manger gates are opened and closed, it is highly desirable to have a system of locking the manger gates in a closed position. Without such a system of locking the cows could quite easily push the manger gates open with their heads. This locking can be achieved either by a mechanical over-centre locking device 7 as shown, locking linkages, solenoid operated bolts, or vacuum operated toggle catches. The locking device 7 shown is in the form of a rod which is pivotally attached at one end to the rod 3 and pivotally attached at the other end to the gate 1. The present invention may be applied to any type of herringbone milking parlour. An advantageous form of the invention however is a herringbone parlour using straight or cranked rump rails (not shown). The mangers are advantageously constructed from glass fibre material, steel or concrete. Control of the manger gates may be effected by an operator located in the parlour pit, or the manger'gates can be arranged to operate automatically at the appropriate time after the opening or closing of the entry and exit doors. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A herringbone milking parlour, as herein defined, comprising a plurality of mangers and a gate for each manger movable between a position in which the manger is accessible to an animal and a position in which the manger is inaccessible.