GB2570630A - Dip cup - Google Patents

Abstract

A dip cup 10 comprising: a body 10 which receives a treatment agent from a supply line 16, the body 10 is in the form of a conical well for receiving a teat to be treated; at least one reservoir 13 that is connected by a fluid pathway (figure 4) to the well (12 figure 4) so that treatment agent passes between the well (12) and the at least one reservoir 13 when the dip cup is tipped, thereby avoiding spillage of a treatment agent. The fluid pathway may be in the form of a kettle drain 21. A system is also claimed, where the dip cup may be deployed with a system which automatically records number of uses; amount of treatment agent needed and automatically orders a new supply when levels of treatment agent are running low.

Description

The present invention relates to a dip cup of the type used to treat or clean teats of animals such as cows, sheep and goats. More particularly the invention relates to a device for treating teats after milking.

Background

In order to reduce the risk of diseases such as mastitis, once teat cups of an automatic milking machine are removed from the teats, it is necessary to treat the teat with an agent which cleans and disinfects. This is often referred to as dipping and is ideally carried out immediately after milking. The aim of post-milking dipping is to remove contagious mastitis-causing pathogens that may have been deposited on the teat surface, including any that may enter the opened teat canal which is especially vulnerable after milking. Treatment agents or dip chemicals are also effective at killing bacteria present on any sores on the teats, promoting quicker healing.

It is also good dairy practice to clean teats prior to applying a milking machine and a different cleaning agent is used for this.

Dipping is performed manually using a dip cup. Dip cups are generally available as an injection moulded single component or as a multi part component typically comprising an inner cup shaped portion that is surrounded by an outer casing. Dip cups are conical or cup shaped, are dimensioned to receive a teat and have a body into which treatment agent is supplied from a reservoir, such as a drum or container, in sufficient quantities to coat the teat with the treatment agent.

Prior Art

An example of a dip cup is described in European Patent EP-B-2 482 640 (Ambic Equipment Limited). The dip cup described includes a cup for receiving an animal teat, with a baffle arranged to deflect treatment liquid in a desired direction around the inside of the cup.

A splash-guard is described in EP-A-0 869 748 (BOUDREAU) includes a gun-like grip handle, a trigger mechanism and a control valve connected to a pressurized treatment agent supply.

A fixed in-line teat cup is sized to receive a predetermined volume of treatment agent from a proportioning valve sufficient for treating four teats of a cow. A generally toroidal overflow chamber receives displaced treatment agent sufficient to seal a teat thereby forcing treatment agent into the teat strep canal and epidermis.

Another example of a dip cup for a teat is shown in Figure 1 (PRIOR ART) which depicts a dip cup, for example of the type disclosed in US-A-2009/084324 (Ambic Equipment Limited). The dip cup depicted includes one or more reservoir chambers formed by a limited circumferential extension of the body of a cup portion of the dip cup to form one or more indentations on the inside of the cup portion.

Although generally successful, many existing types of dip cup were prone to spilling the treatment agent whose viscosity is significantly more viscous than water. This spillage of treatment agent out of dip/teat cups occurred during manipulation or putting down of the teat cup where they could be inadvertently knocked or kicked over by a cow resulting in a waste of treatment agent which is expensive.

Many treatment agents have a viscosity greater than that of water at 1 mPa s (millipascal second) so as to ensure they are readily pourable and can be pumped. Despite their relatively high viscosities, treatment agents can be easily spilt out of dip/teat cups when the dip cup is inadvertently tilted or tipped which often occurs as it is passed from teat to teat or as the user walks from one cow to another.

The invention arose in order to overcome the problem of spillage of treatment agents from various types of dip cups and to prevent spillage occurring if dip cups were knocked, kicked over, or dropped.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a dip cup comprising: a body which receives a treatment agent from a supply line, the body is in the form of a conical well for receiving a teat to be treated; and at least one reservoir that is connected by a fluid pathway to the well so that treatment agent passes between the well and the at least one reservoir when the dip cup is tipped, thereby avoiding spillage.

The invention overcomes spillage and waste which is encountered in milking parlour when the dip cup is tilted or even when it is inverted. As a user moves from teat to teat in order to treat each teat after lactation, any treatment agent present in the cup adheres to the cup wall as the dip cup is tilted and rather than spill therefrom the treatment agent flows into reservoir. In a particularly preferred embodiment this is achieved by the bulbous shapes of the sub-reservoirs and the fact that they have a large surface area to which treatment agent adheres when the dip cup is inverted and from which relatively large surface area treatment agent flows back into the well when the dip cup is returned to its correct orientation.

Another advantage of the invention is that, due to the shape of the conical wells, and as treatment agent is delivered from a peripheral region from above the well, a sufficient amount of treatment agent is always retained on the wall of the well so as thereby ensuring substantially the entire surface of each teat is covered with the treatment agent.

Ideally the body of the dip cup has cut away portions defined on each lateral face so as to define a waist which assists in separating the teats. This has been found to be of particular benefit when using the dip cup because it enables the user to locate the dip cup to one side of a teat, move the teats apart and thereby offer the cup to the teat adjacent to the one which is moved aside of the cut away portion.

In some embodiments of the dip cup is provided in two portions: an upper portion which houses at least one reservoir; and a lower portion which houses the well and is ideally connected to a handle.

Preferably the upper and lower portions inter-engage and a gasket is located between them in order to prevent leakage from between the upper and lower portions of the dip cup. In another embodiment the gasket can be co-moulded with the well or the reservoir to simplify assembly.

Ideally the fluid pathway is defined in the handle and delivers treatment agent. A pressurising means, such as pump is ideally also connected in line in order to force treatment agent from a reservoir or tank.

A trigger device may be used to limit the amount of agent that is delivered. Optionally a dispensing means is provided in order to dispense the treatment agent. Where a dispensing means is employed a pump may also be provided in order to maintain a sufficient pressure head.

In some embodiments the well has a rim formed around its upper periphery and the reservoir is located on an opposite side ofthe rim to the bottom of the well. Drainage channels are provided between the at least one reservoir so that any treatment agent retained in the reservoir so that it drains into the well. Preferably the drainage channels through which the treatment agent flows from the reservoir to the well are shaped to direct treatment agent to the well.

A preferred shape of the, or each, drainage channel is in the form of a spout so as to encourage flow from a larger area into the well. Ideally the spout is shaped in the form of a kettle spout.

Preferably two kettle spouts are provided on opposite faces of the well, each connects the well to different sides of at least one reservoir.

Preferably two, three or preferably four separate sub-reservoirs are provided in the upper portion. The sub-reservoirs are ideally inter-connected one to another so as to permit liquid to pass therebetween.

Preferably the angle defined by the cone - hereinafter referred to as the conical angle - is between 4° to 40°, preferably between 6° to 30° and most preferably between 8° to 20°. The reason why it is desired to have the conical angle within these ranges is so that the treatment agent is able to drain quickly into the reservoir when the dip cup is tipped or inverted. Likewise the relatively steep sides of the well ensure the treatment agent drains from the at least one sub-reservoir into the well when the dip cup is returned to its correct orientation.

Ideally the surface finish of the well and surfaces in the dip cup are formed from a material whose properties ensure the effects of surface tension and viscosity of the treatment agent are sufficient that the treatment agent adheres to the interior well surface and flows to the at least one sub-reservoir in preference to spilling from the well.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an overall view of an example of a PRIOR ART dip cup connected to a bottle dispenser;

Figure 2 is an overall view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view looking in direction of arrow A on Figure 2 and shows internal details of the dip cup;

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 2 from above and shows external features of the dip cup;

Figure 6 is an overall view of Figure 2 and shows with its upper portion removed and shows a handle and a clip;

Figure 7 is an overall view of upper portion removed and inverted, and depicts internal surfaces of four sub-reservoirs; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatical representation of a system which includes the invention shown in Figures 2 to 7.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Referring to Figure 1, which shows an embodiment of a PRIOR ART teat bottle 1, which comprises: a dip cup consisting of an upper teat receiving well 2 atop a bottle 3 which in use receives teat treatment agent. A screw neck connector 4 connects the teat receiving well 2 to the bottle 3 in an off axis manner so as to ease use. A clip 5 enables the bottle 1 to be slung from a user’s belt or hung on a hook or rail when not in use.

Treatment agent from the bottle 3 is delivered to the receiving well 2 via a delivery tube (not shown) and then out of delivery nozzle 6 from where the treatment agent is squirted around rim 7 of the receiving well 2.

In use the teat (not shown) is submerged in the treatment agent. The bottle 3 is squeezed which displaces a volume of the treatment agent, causing the level of liquid to rise within the well 2. If too much treatment agent is used it overflows from the open of the dip cup 1. However, it is important that the level of treatment agent is sufficient to enable the whole of the teat to be submerged and treated in the receiving well 2.

Problems with the aforementioned combined bottle and dip cup are that, especially when cold, the plastics material becomes stiff, requiring substantial repeated effort from a user in order to pump treatment agent into the well of the dip cup.

Where there are many tens or even hundreds of cows, this repeated squeezing can give rise to muscle cramp or even repetitive strain injury.

Another problem has been that when the dip cup is tilted its contents spill and so are wasted.

The invention overcomes the aforementioned problem by providing an improved dip cup 10. Referring to Figures 2 to 4 there is shown a dip cup 10 which is in the form of a well 12 supported on a handle (not shown) extending from tube portion 14. A delivery line 16 delivers treatment agent from a drum 22 and is connected to the tube portion 14 leading to a handle (not shown) by way of a threaded collar 18. Referring briefly to Figure 8 the delivery line 16 is in turn connected to a pump 20 which pumps treatment agent that is stored in drum 22. Sensing and control equipment may be employed in order to monitor the amount of treatment agent in the drum as described in detail below with reference to Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 2, which shows an overall view of the dip cup 10 there is shown a body 10 which receives a treatment agent (not shown) through a supply line 16 via tube portion 14 leading to a handle (not shown). The body is in the form of a conical well 12 which is shaped to receive a teat (not shown) to be treated with the treatment agent.

A reservoir 13 is connected by a channel, such as a kettle drain 21, shown in Figure 4 or similar fluid pathway to the well 12 so that treatment agent is able to flow between the reservoir 13 (or in an alternative embedment a series of four sub reservoirs 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d) and the well 12 when the dip cup 10 is tipped. This avoids spillage of the expensive treatment agent.

Referring briefly to Figure 5, which is a plan view of an upper portion of the invention and shows the reservoir 13 divided into 4 separate sub-reservoirs 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d respectively. The four sub-reservoirs 13a to 13d are interconnected so that treatment agent is able to flow between them. The walls of the sub-reservoirs 13a to 13d are rounded in order to provide a larger surface area to which the treatment agent may adhere, and therefore the sub-reservoirs 13a to 13d act as a reservoir which releases a latent supply of treatment agent when the dip cup restored to its correct orientation after tipping.

Surrounding a lower surface, and conforming to the general shape of the upper portion 11a, is a gasket 30 whose shape and location is shown in Figure 3, which is a plan view looking in direction of arrow A of Figure 2. Gasket 30 is formed from a synthetic rubber material such as EPDM and is located in a stepped recess defined by inner recess wall 29a and outer recess wall 29b. Gasket 30 acts to seal the upper portion 11 a with the lower portion 11 b.

The combination of material properties of the material forming the dip cup inner surface, the conical angle of the well and the viscosity of the treatment agent, that is expected in a normal temperature range of say -5°C and 45°C, together ensure that an optimum is reached between sufficient adhesion to the walls of the well 12 whilst also ensuring sufficient flow of the treatment agent so as to continually coat and recoat the well walls as the dip cup 10 is tipped. Therefore rather than spill treatment agent the invention ensures that excess treatment agent flows into the reservoir 13 or sub-reservoirs 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d where it is temporarily contained and from where it returns to the dip cup via channels and is dispensed around upper well rim 32 of the receiving well 12.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 and shows in greater detail the relationship of fluid entry port 24 through which treatment agent passes and flows into the well 12. The treatment agent is delivered from the drum 22 via delivery 16 line into the well 12 of the dip cup and under pressure so it impinges deflector plate 40 which tends to disperse the treatment agent around the well rim 32. When this occurs some of the treatment agent is squirted into the sub-reservoirs 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d but the majority of it flows into the well cup. The relatively small amount of treatment agent that enters the sub-reservoirs 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d trickles into the well cup over a time period of less than 5 seconds.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing internal detail of the dip cup 10. Arrows X indicate the direction of flow from the well 12 to the sub-reservoirs 13a to 13d when the dip cup is tipped or inverted. Arrows Y indicate the direction of flow to the well 12 from the sub-reservoirs 13a to 13d when the dip cup is returned to its normal upright state when in use. This is important because the level of liquid has to be sufficient to enable the whole of the teat to be submerged in the treatment liquid whilst not overfilling the cup to the extent that the teat displaces treatment agent from the well

12.

In effect therefore the inner surface of the well 12 effectively extends, in a continuous manner, to the reservoir walls. If the level of treatment agent is high in the well 12, as the dip cup 10 is placed around a teat and the teat lowered into the treatment agent, any displaced liquid tends to rise up into the sub-reservoirs 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, rather than spill from the dip cup 10 and thereby further reducing spillage and waste.

Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 4 and is in respect of an above plan looking from above and shows external features of the dip cup 10 including the narrowing of the body along lateral edges. Figure 6 is an overall view of the dip cup 10 with its upper portion 11a removed. Figure 6 shows a tube portion 14 leading to a handle (not shown) handle 14 and a clip 15 and shows strengthening ribs 23 and the location and size of hook 15. Also shown are the well 12 and the relationship between inner recess wall 29a and outer recess wall 29b.

Figure 7 is an overall view of upper portion 11a removed and inverted and depicts internal surfaces of the four sub-reservoirs 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d. There is also shown the well rim 32 and a deflector plate 40 which disperses pressurised treatment agent around the well rim 32.

The dip cup 10 will now be described in use with reference to Figure 7 in which a user (not shown) offers the dip cup 10 to a cow’s udder (not shown). In order to operate the dip cup 10, a user introduces an appropriate quantity of treatment agent into the well 12 of the dip cup by for example squeezing the trigger 50 of the delivery line 16 and positions the dip cup 10 under the teat to be treated whilst at the same time moving an adjacent teat with a lateral face of the body of the cup 10 so as to separate teats and make space to receive a teat. The dip cup 10 is raised to immerse the teat in the treatment agent and then lowered the operation is repeated with the remaining other three teats.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the foregoing Figures and specific reference to Figure 8 which shows a diagrammatical overview of a system which includes the dip cup. Figure 8 is a diagrammatical representation of a system 100 which includes the invention shown in Figures 2 to 5 and a dispenser 23, a pump 20, a storage drum 22 and a sensing means 102 which senses the level of treatment agent in the drum. The system 100 measures and records the amount of treatment agent that has been dispensed.

A monitoring means 103 includes a memory 105 which records the total amount of treatment agent dispensed. When the volume of treatment agent drops below a predetermined volume processor 104 determines that a user defined threshold value has been reached and triggers a prompt to be sent to transmitter 106 from where a reorder signal is sent to a remote receiver 108 which may be at a supplier’s depot. The reorder signal includes the name and address of the user, the type of treatment agent required, a delivery deadline and a quantity request.

These details may or may not need to be verified by a purchaser in order to place an order but once the order is placed an instruction is sent to an inventory manager or stock control system 110 which may be in a warehouse. Printer 112 prints an order, an address form and an invoice. The signals referred to may be transmitted via wireless, hardwire connection or as a short messaging service (SMS) to a remote mobile communication device.

A sacrificial stub or edge (not shown) may be provided in order to protect the dip cup for example when it is suspended and rubs against a surface such as a wall or floor.

The invention has been described by way of example only and is ideally suited for dispensing treatment agents such as KENOSTART (RTM) barrier teat dip, although it will be appreciated that other barrier teat dips may be used with the dipping cup.

It is also understood that variation may be made to the aforementioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined in the claims.

Parts List

PRIOR ART dip cup upper teat receiving well lower bottle screw neck connector clip delivery nozzle rim dip cup

11a upper portion b lower portion well reservoir

13a sub-reservoir

13b sub-reservoir

13c sub-reservoir

13d sub-reservoir tube portion 14 leading to a handle (not shown) hook delivery line clip threaded neck collar connecting line or hose pump channel or kettle spout storage drum strengthening rib entry port inner recess wall outer recess wall gasket well rim deflector trigger system sensing means monitoring means processor memory transmitter remote receiver inventory management means/stock controller printer

Claims (20)

1. A dip cup comprises: a body which receives a treatment agent from a supply line, the body is in the form of a conical well for receiving a teat to be treated; and at least one reservoir that is connected by a fluid pathway to the well so that treatment agent passes between the well and at least one reservoir when the dip cup is tipped thereby avoiding spillage of a treatment agent.

2. A dip cup according to claim 1 wherein dip cup is formed from two interengaging portions: an upper portion which houses the at least one reservoir; and a lower portion which houses the well and is connected to a handle.

3. A dip cup according to claim 2 wherein a fluid pathway is defined in the handle.

4. A dip cup according to claim 1 wherein the well has a rim and the at least one reservoir is located on an opposite side of the rim to the bottom of the well.

5. A dip cup according to any preceding claim wherein in use the at least one reservoir is located above the well so that treatment agent retained therein drains into the well through at least one kettle spout.

6. A dip cup according to claim 5 has two kettle spouts located opposite one another and each connecting the well to different sides of the at least one reservoir.

7. A dip cup according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one reservoir comprises two, three or preferably four separate sub-reservoirs.

8. A dip cup according to claim 7 wherein the sub-reservoirs are inter-connected one to another so as to permit liquid to pass therebetween.

9. A dip cup according to any preceding claim wherein an internal angle enclosed by a cone that defines the well (the conical angle) lies between 4° to 40°.

10. A dip cup according to claim 9 wherein the internal angle defined by the cone (the conical angle) lies between 6° and 30°.

11. A dip cup according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the internal angle defined by the cone (the conical angle) lies between 8° and 20°.

12. A dip cup according to any preceding claim wherein a surface of the well is coated with a scratch resistant synthetic plastics material.

13. A dip cup according to any preceding claim wherein the well has a rim formed around its upper periphery.

14. A dip cup according to claim 13 wherein the at least one reservoir is located on an opposite side of the rim to the bottom of the well.

15. A dip cup according to any preceding claim wherein drainage channels are provided between the at least one reservoir and the well.

16. A dip cup according to any preceding claim wherein a deflector is provided which deflects treatment agent around an upper periphery of the well.

17. A dip cup according to any preceding claim includes a sacrificial stub or edge for protecting the dip cup.

18. A system includes the dip cup according to any of claims 1 to 17 connected to and supported by a handle with a trigger, the handle includes a channel for connection to a delivery line and a pump; the trigger, when actuated, causes or permits treatment agent to be delivered to the dip cup.

19. A system according to claim 18 which when connected to the pump has a monitoring means, which in use monitors an amount of treatment agent dispensed; a memory records the total amount of treatment agent dispensed; a processor determines when a user defined threshold value has been reached and triggers a prompt to be sent to transmitter which transmits a reorder signal to a remote receiver.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein a printer is associated with the remote receiver.