PBE-GROUP ELEVATOR FOR SALON TO ORDER
BACKGROUND AND COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to salons for milking, and more particularly to the group for milking, even more particularly to a system that saves work to the operator milkman to connect the cups of teat. The invention was achieved during continuous development efforts in relation to rotating milking salons, although the invention can be applied more broadly in parallel salons, chevrons or other types of salons, particularly where dairy units are connected in series. A feature to let the group down is known in the prior art in several types of rooms. After the nipple cups are released from the cow's nipples, the milking group is lowered to a position below the cow platform for a reverse purge operation, and to keep the group clean and protected from the legs of the cow as it leaves the room and while the next enters the room, and also to allow easier access to the cow's udder during preparation. In a rotating milking parlor, the cow enters by means of a stationary bridge to a rotating platform. The platform turns to the area of the operator where the preparation of the cow is made and the group is fixed. When the cow returns to the exit, it moves back toward the stationary bridge exit, leaving the platform. Before it comes out, and after the release of the nipple cups, the group is lowered by means of a rope to a lower position so that the group passes under the bridge, with the rope passing through a slot between the platform and the bridge. The speed of rotation of the platform is chosen to allow sufficient milking time and a sufficient detachment time before the cow returns to the bridge. Once the milking of the cow is completed, typically by the detected milk flow, the vacuum to the teat cup is cut so that the teat cups disengage from the cow's nipples, while at the same time The group's rope is retracted to take the group to a higher position, to prevent the group from falling on the cow platform. After a delay time, typically around 10 seconds, the rope is released, to lower the group to a lower position below the platform. The speed of rotation of the platform is also controlled so that the detachment and retardation noted are completed before the respective compartment is rotated back to the bridge, so that the group is below the platform and passes under the bridge, with the rope passing through the notched slot. After the group passes under the bridge, enter the area of the milking station with connection per operator. The operator milkman bends down and lifts the milking group and connects the teat cups to the cow nipples in the respective compartment, and the cycle continues. In the present invention, the group is elevated to an upper position above the platform after passing under the bridge and before milking. This reduces the time of connection for milking, eliminates the movement that makes the milkman operator to crouch while trying to grab the group, and allows easier access to the group. When the compartment on the platform has been rotated to the operating milkman in a milking station, or when the operating milkman is ready to milk a cow in a respective compartment as well as in a parallel or chevron room, the group is released from its position superior to be taken by the operator milkman and be connected to the nipples. Several pre-lift sequences can be used. In a sequence, the activation of the actuator of the connection command by means of the operator milkman in a milking station activates the retractor, provided by means of the release cylinder, in the current compartment to release the rope and group from the upper position to allow the connection of the nipple cups to the nipples of the cow in the current compartment, and simultaneously activate the retractor in a following compartment to retract the rope and lift the rope and the group in the next compartment to the top position so that when the platform rotates and the next compartment is delivered to the milking station, the group in the next compartment already rotated already is in the upper position and ready for connection without the operator milkman having to bend over and lift the group from the lower position. The milking operator in the milking station activates the connection command actuator in the next compartment already rotated to activate the retractor in the next compartment already rotated, to release the rope and the group from the upper position to allow the connection of the cups from nipple to cow nipples in the next compartment already rotated, and simultaneously activate the retractor in an additional next compartment towards a top position. Upon completion of milking, the group lowering sequence is carried out as in the prior art, as noted above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of a rotary milking parlor. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the sequence according to the present invention. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a schematic view of a part of the structure of Figure 2 and illustrates the operation according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figure 1 shows a rotary milking parlor
which includes a rotating platform 12 that rotates counter-clockwise as shown by arrow 14 around a PnO rontr.il 1 < XT •• i pl .i i.t fXi rn.t receives cows via a bridge bridge IB ue l ne a driveway 20 and an exit area 22. the platform has a plurality of compartmental dividers 24 circumferentially separated that define compartments to milk 26 among them. Each having an extendable and retractable plunger 68. The extended position is shown in Figure 3, and the retracted position is shown in Figure 4. The retractor to lower and raise the group elevates the group to a higher position as shown with group 40 in Figures 4 and 2, above the platform 12 ready to connect the cups of the nipple to the nipples, two of which are shown with 70 and 72 in Figure 2, of a cow in a respective compartment, and lower the group to a lower position as shown in FIG. shows with group 50 in Figures 3 and 2, below platform 12 after the nipple cups of the cow's nipples come off. Figure 2 shows a cow 74 in a compartment 76 between the compartment dividers 28 and 38, and shows a cow 80 in the compartment 82 between the compartment dividers 38 and 48, and shows a cow 84 in the compartment 86 between the dividers of compartment 48 and 78, and so on. The platform 12 has a circumferential edge 88, Figures 1 and 3, separated from the bridge 18 by means of a slot 90 that allows the rotation of the platform edge 88 passing through the bridge 18. Each group is fixed to a respective retractor by a rope respective, for example 92, 94, 96, etc. The rope has a retracted position when the group is in the upper position, Figure 4, and an extended position when the group is in the lower position, Figure 3. The rope passes through the slot 90 in the extended position noted, and the respective milking group, for example the group 50 in Figure 3, passes under the bridge 18. The plunger 68 of the release cylinder 66 is connected by means of a rope 96 by means of a reduction ratio of three to one pulleys , provided by a pulley 98 at the end of the plunger 68 and a pulley 100 mounted on the compartment divider. Three turns of the rope 96 extend around the pulleys as shown at 102, 104, 106 after which the rope passes through the guide sleeve 108 in a compartment divider 48 and then through the guide sleeve 110. mounted to the rail 112 extending radially outward from the compartment divider 48 so that the guide sleeve 110 is in an external position radially being at or beyond the platform edge 88. The retractor elevates the group to the upper position after having passed to the bridge 18 and before the connection of the nipple cups to the nipples, to prevent the operator milkman from bending down to lift the group from the lower position. Upon retraction of the air cylinder plunger as shown by arrow 114 in Figure 4, the cord 94 retracts and the group 40 is raised upwardly as shown by arrow 116 to the upper position as shown with the group 40 in Figure 2. Each compartment divider includes a connection command actuator 118, 120, 122, etc., operable by the operator milkman in a milking station 124 to: a) activate the retractor in the current compartment, by example 76, to release the rope 92 and group 30 from the upper position to allow the connection of the teat cups to the cow 74 in the compartment 76; and b) simultaneously activating the retractor 64 in a following compartment 82 to retract the cord 94 and raise the cord 94 and group 40 in the next compartment 82 to the upper position, such that when the platform 12 rotates to the next compartment 82. to the milking station 124, group 40 in compartment 82 is already in the upper position and ready for connection without the operator milkman having to bend down and lift the group from the lower position. After such rotation, the operator milking in the milking station 124 activates the connection command actuator 120 in the already rotated next compartment 82 to: a) activate the retractor 64 in the next compartment 82 already rotated to release the rope 94 and the group 40 from the upper position to allow the connection of the nipple cups of the cow nipples 80 in the next compartment already turned 82; and b) activating the retractor 66 in an additional next compartment 86 to retract the cord 96 and to raise the cord 96 and the group 50 in the next further compartment 86 to the upper position. With reference to Figure 5, the activation of the palm-operated operator of a palm button or switch 126 of the connection command actuator 118 cuts the air pressure in line 128 to the retraction inlet 130 of the air release cylinder 132 of the retractor 134 so that plunger 136 can be extended, allowing group 30 to start falling due to gravity. By activating the palm button 126, if desired, air pressure can be provided via the line 138 to the extension inlet 140 of the air cylinder 132, to assist in the extension of the plunger 136. The cord 96 is fixed to the end of the plunger 136. The operator milkman takes the group 30 while it starts to fall while the rope 92 extends, and connects the nipple cups of the nipples of the cow 74. When the palm button 126 is operated by means of the milkman operator at the milking station 124 in the
compartment 76, an electrical signal is sent simultaneously by an electrical line 142 to the connection command actuator 120 so that the latter provides air pressure on line 144 to the retraction inlet 146 of the air cylinder 148 of the retractor 64 of so that the plunger 150 retracts, i.e. moves downwardly in Figure 5, which is also downwardly as shown by the arrow 114 in Figure 4, to raise the rope 94 and the group upwards as shown with the arrow 116 towards the upper position as shown with a solid line in group 40 in Figure 2. Thus, when the compartment 76 is in the milking station 124, and the palm button 126 of the connection command actuator 118 is activated by the operator milkmaker, the retractor 134 is activated in the compartment 76, allowing the extension of the plunger 136 and the release of the rope 92 and the group 30 of the upper position to allow connecting the group 30 nipple cups to cow nipples 74, and simultaneously activating via line 142 the retractor 64 in the next compartment 82 to retract the plunger 150 and the rope 94 to raise the rope 94 and the group 40 in the next compartment 82 to the upper position as shown with the solid line in group 40 in Figure 2, so that
11 when the platform 12. rotates the next compartment 82 to the milking station 124, the group 40 in the compartment 82 is already in the upper position and ready to be connected without the dairy operator having to bend down and lift the group from the bottom position. When the compartment 82 has been rotated to the milking station 124, the operator milkman activates the palm button 152 of the connection command actuator 120 which cuts the air pressure in the line 144 to the retraction inlet 146 of the cylinder. air release 148, to allow the extension of the plunger 150 and in turn the extension of the rope 94 and a downward movement of the group 40 due to gravity, where the operator milkman takes the group 40 and connects the tetilla cups from this to the cow nipples 80 in the compartment 82. By activating the palm button 152, if desired air pressure can be provided in the line 154 to the extension inlet 156 of the air cylinder 148, to assist in the noted extension of the plunger 150. The activation of the palm button 152 also sends an electrical signal via the electric line 158 to the connection command actuator 122 in the compartment divider 48 which in turn provides a positive air pressure signal in the
12 line 160 to the retraction inlet 162 of the air release cylinder 66 of the retractor 62 so that the plunger 68 is retracted and moves downward in Figure 5 which in turn retracts the cord 96 and pulls the cord 96 and group 50 upwards to the upper position, which is what is desired because compartment 86 has already rotated beyond bridge 18. Therefore, when the operator milking at the milking station 124 activates the palm button 152 of the connection command actuator 120 in the next compartment 82 already rotated, which has been rotated to the milking station 124, the retractor 64 in the next compartment 82 already rotated is activated to release the cord 94 and group 40 from the upper position to allow the connection of the group 40 nipple cups to the cow 80 in the next compartment 82 already rotated, and simultaneously the retractor 62 in the next additional compartment 86 has been activated half nte line 158 to retract the string 96, and raise the string 96 and group 50 in the next further compartment 86 to the upper position. By continuing to rotate the platform 12, thus bringing the compartment 86 to the milking station 124, the operator milkman activates the palm button 164 of the connection command actuator 122, and the cycle noted
13 continues. The detachment of the group for milking the cow is in accordance with the prior art, as described above. Upon completion of milking, typically detected by milk flow, the vacuum is cut to the nipple cups, and the nipple cups are dislodged from the cow's nipples. Simultaneously with such detachment, the air release cylinder of the respective retractor retracts its respective plunger so that it in turn retracts the respective group cord and raises the group upwards to the upper position. The group is kept in the upper position for a given delay time, typically around 10 seconds, after which the group is lowered to the lower position. As noted above, the rotation speed of the platform 12 is chosen to allow sufficient time to complete the milking and for the time delay noted, so that the group is in the lower position before reaching the exit area 22 of the bridge 18, so that the group passes under the bridge and the rope passes through slot 90 while the platform rotates, all as is known in the prior art. In the presented embodiment, the next noticed compartment, such as 82 is immediately adjacent to the present compartment such as 76, without
14 no compartment between them. In other modalities, for example where two or more dairy operators are working at the same time, the next compartment may be separated from the current compartment by one or more compartments between them, particularly if the operators are working side by side in adjacent compartments , so that for example the activation signal on line 142, Figure 5, of the connection command actuator 118 would be provided to the connection command actuator 122 instead of 120. In addition to the group lowering function provided by the retractors 134, 64, 62, etc., such retractors combined with the current system and the combination and sequence of the connection command actuator, provide a pre-lift retractor of the group and control the elevation of the group to an upper position above of the platform before the respective compartment has been rotated to an operator milkman in a milking station , so that when the compartment has been turned to the milking station, the milking group is already in the upper position and ready for the connection of the nipple cups to the nipples of the cows, without the dairy operator having to crouch to raise the group to milk up to the top position. The system provides a
method to prevent the operator milkman from bending down to lift the milking group, by pre-lifting the group to a higher position above the platform before the respective compartment has been rotated to an operating milkman in a milking station . The system can be applied to several types of rooms, including rotating, parallel, chevron, and the like. The group lowering and lifting retractor raises the group to a higher position above the platform ready for connection of the nipple cups to the nipples of a cow in the respective compartment, and lowers the group to a lower position below of the platform after the detachment of the tetilla cups from the cow's nipples. Each compartment divider includes a connection command actuator operable by the operator milkman in a milking station to: a) activate the retractor in the current compartment to release the group from the upper position to allow the connection of the tetilla cups to the cow nipples in the current compartment; and b) activating the retractor in a next compartment to raise the group in the next compartment to the upper position so that when the operator milkman is ready to milk the cow in the compartmentNext, the group in the next compartment is already in the upper position and ready for the connection of the nipple cups to the nipples of the cow without the operator milkman having to bend down and lift the group from the lower position. When the operator milkman is in the next compartment he activates the connection command actuator in such next compartment to: a) activate the retractor in the next compartment for. release the group from the upper position to allow the connection of the nipple cups to the cow nipples in the next compartment; and b) activate the retractor in an additional next compartment to raise the group in the next additional compartment to the upper position so that when the operator milkman is ready to milk the cow in the next additional compartment, the group in the next additional compartment already it is in the upper position and ready for the connection of the nipple cups to the nipples of the cow without the dairy operator having to bend down and lift the group from the lower position. Several other types of systems and pre-lift sequences are possible. For example, if you do not want to send a pre-lift signal to an empty compartment, a proximity sensor can be provided in
17 the compartment so that if the compartment is empty the pre-lift signal of a previous compartment is diverted from the empty compartment and instead is sent to the next occupied compartment. In another alternative, a pre-lift signal can be sent simultaneously to more than one compartment, or to all compartments, the latter not being suitable for a rotating room but rather for parallel salons and chevrons. In another alternative, the pre-lift signal could be sent by a stationary point in a rotating room, instead of the previous compartment, so that when a compartment passes a given point during its rotation inside the room, such point triggers a activation of pre-lift command in the compartment that is passing by, so that the group is raised to its upper position and ready to be connected by a dairy operator later on. It is recognized that several equivalences, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the attached clauses.
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