GB2563481A

GB2563481A - A Milking Parlour

Info

Publication number: GB2563481A
Application number: GB1806048.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cashman William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-12
Filing date: 2018-04-12
Publication date: 2018-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-12
Also published as: IES20180072A2; IE87482B1; IE20180073A1; GB201806048D0; GB2563481B; IES86919B2

Abstract

A milking parlour comprising a plurality of making stations, preferably milking stalls, each with a manger 6, a feeder device 7 is mounted above the manger 6 having a feed hopper 10, an outlet 11 of the feed hopper 10 is control by a dispenser 14 to discharge animal feed into the manger 6. A remote controller 15 has a transmitter 16 for transmitting a radio control signal to a receiver 17 to control operation of the dispenser 14. Preferably the radio transceivers are paired so the controller only actuates an associated receiver. The dispenser may include a chute and a valve and/or a discharge auger. Each transmitter may be operable to communicate with the all the receivers. The controller is preferably mounted in the pit between the milking stations (5 Fig 1)

Description

“A bilking PaHour’* introduction

This invention relates to a milking parlour.

.According to the invention there is provided a milking parlour comprising a plurality of milking stations, a manger mounted at each milking station, a feeder device mounted above the manger, the feeder device having a feed- IWM for reception and storage of animal feed, the teed bppper having an outlet for discharge .of animal feed from the feed hopper to the manger, dispensing means to control, dispensing of animal feed from the feed hopper through the outlet to ths manger, a remote controller for the dispensing means, said remote comiolter having a transmitter for transmitting a radio control signal to an associated receiver connected io the feeder device dispensing means to control operation of the feeder device dispensing means, tn one embodiment of the invention each remote controller and the .associated receiver connected to the dispensing means are paired such that the controller only .actuates the associated receiver.

in another embodiment of the invention the dispensing means comprises a dispensing chute at the outlet of the feed hopper which directs animal feed from the feed hopper to the manger .and a discharge valve operable to close the outlet, said discharge valve being -connected to the receiver for operation by the remote cpntmlter

In another embodiment of the invention the dispensing means comprises a discharge auger mounted at the outlet with a drive motor for the discharge auger connected to the receiver for operation by the remote controller in ο- .4ner embodiment of the invention each transmitter is operable for communication w-ih ail of the receivers.

- 2Brief Description ©f the Drawings

The invention- will be more clearly understood by the following cfescriptipn of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the 5 accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig, 1 is a schemefo plan view ilfostrafen ©I a milking partour according to the inveniton; and

Fig. 2 is. a schematic dievational view iltosfetion of a feeder device incorporated in the miking parlour.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Refemng to the drawings, there js illustrated a milking parlour according to the invention indicated generally by tire reference numeral 1 The milking parlour 1 has a piursiity of milking stations or steiis 2 which, in this case are arranged in two rows 3, 4 on either side of a central aisle or pit 5. At an inner end of each stall 2 milking machines are provided (not shown) in the usual way for connection to each new for 20 milking cows in the stalls 2 in conventional fashion. A manger 6 is provided at an outer end of each stall 2 to allow a cow to feed while in the stall 2. At each stall 2 a feeder device 7'is mounted above the manger 6 to deliver a required feed to the manger 6 for consumption by the cow in the associated stall 2.

Each feeder device 7 has a feed hopper 10 for reception and storage of animal food. At a lower end of the hopper W an outlet 11 communicates with a discharge chute 12 for dispensing animal feed from the feed hopper 10 to the manger 6. Dispensing means 14 is provided at the outlet 11 for controlling the dispensing of animal fe^d to the manger 6. The dispensing means 14 may compose either a discharge varve or a discharge auger or any other suitable means to control the discharge of animal feed from the feed hopper 10 to themanger 6.

A remote controller 15, which can conveniently be mounted in the pit 5. is operably connected to the dispensing means 14 to control foe discharge of animal feed from 35 the feed hopper 10 to the manger 6, The controller 15 has a transmitter 16 for

-3transmitting a radio signal to an associated receiver 17 which is operably connected to the dispensing means 14 on the feeder device 7 to control operation of the dispensing means 14.

it will be noted that each transmitter 16 and the associated receiver 17 connected to the feed hopper dispensing- means 14 are paired such that each controller Ϊ5 only actuates the associated receiver 17 and dispensing means 14 in the steli 2 on which they are mounted.

In operation, cows are herded into cacti stall 2 and connected to the milking machine for milking the cows An operator moving through the pit 5 can then operate each feeder device 7 by means of the associated controller 15 to deliver the required feed material from the teed hopper 10 to (tie manger 6 for the cow in the stall 2.

it will be noted that each transmitter 16 end receiver 1? are paired to each other, that is each specific transmitter 16 will only work with a specific paired receiver 17 The transmitter 16 can be fitted to any controller used to control the feeders 7i The receiver 16 can be fitted to the feeders 7 to control valves or motors of the 'dispensing means 14 which regulates the dispensing of feed from the associated feed hopper 10 to the manger 6.

ft; te envisaged that in another embodiment of the invention each transmitter 16, or at least one of the transmitters 16, could include an operating mode m which the 25 transmitter 16 is capable of communicating with all of the receivers 17 tor discharging animal feed from ail of the feed hoppers 10 simultaneously.

In another variation a single transmitter 16 may be provided for communication with ail of the receivers 1.7 for operation of all the feed dispensers 14.

In ths specification the terms “comprise, comprises., comprised and comprising” or any variation thereof and the terms Tnclude. includes, Included- and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable sod they should, all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

Ths invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the .scope of the amended claims..

Claims

1. A milking parlour comprising s plurality of milking stations, a manger mounted at each milking station, a feeder device mounted above ths manger, the

5 feeder device having a feed hopper for reception and storage of animal teed, the feed hopper having ar- outlet for discharge of animal feed from ths feed hopper to the manger, dispensing means to control dispensing ©r animal feed from the feed hopper through the outlet to the manger, a remote controller for the dispensing means, said remote controller having a transmitter for 10 transmitting a radio control signal to an associated receiver connected to trip feeder device dispensing means to control operation of the feeder device dispensing means.,

2, The milking parlour as claimed in claim 1 wherein each remote .controller and

15 the associated receiver connected to the dispensing means are paired such that the controller only actuates the associated receiver.

3, The milking partour as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the dispensing means comprises a dispensing chute at the outlet of the feed hopper which

20 directs animal feed from the feed hopper to the manger and a discharge vaiye operable to close the outlet, said discharge valve being connected to fee receiver far operation by the remote controller,

4. The milking parlour as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing

25 means comprises a discharge auger mounted at the outlet with a dove motor for the discharge auger connected to the receiver for ep^atlgn by the remote controller.

5., The milking parlour ss claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each transmitter 30 Is operable for communication with all of the receivers.