NZ570741A

NZ570741A - A method and device for automatic teat spraying

Info

Publication number: NZ570741A
Application number: NZ57074108A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Thomas Glover; Peter Kotts; Philip Johnston
Original assignee: Scott Milktech Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-22
Filing date: 2008-08-22
Publication date: 2010-09-30

Abstract

A teat washing system for a moving (rotary) milking platform 12 includes a teat spraying apparatus 4 mounted on a peripheral platform 1 and including a spray-head 5 that is extended over the milking platform to spray the teats of a cow standing in the platform bail and is then retracted from the platform. The spray-head is moved (along track 6) with the moving milking platform whilst the cows teats are being sprayed, and when retracted is moved to be in a position to be extended to spray the teats of the cow in the next bail.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> Our Ref: SCM002 Patents Form No. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 570741 Filed 22 August 2008 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC TEAT SPRAYING We, Scott Milktech Limited, a New Zealand company of 630 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin 9011, New Zealand, 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: P570741 2 A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC TEAT SPRAYING FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the spraying of an animal's teats while it is on a milking platform. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 In many dairy milking operations, animal teats are sprayed before and/or after milking. This spraying is done for a variety of reasons, including cleaning the teats with an anti-bacterial agent before milking to reduce milk contamination, and sealing the teats after milking to prevent diseases of the teats. 15 In the past, spraying of animal teats has always been done manually. This is labour intensive. Dairy farmers have increasingly looked to automation to reduce the labour of their operations. One such automated unit is the cup remover. However, as the person formerly removing the cups was 20 typically also spraying the teats, dairy farmers have either not fully realized the labour saving benefits of these devices, or have stopped teat spraying, thus risking harm to their herd. A number of automated spraying systems have been developed to 25 overcome this problem. One such system is the "Teat Minda" manufactured by Progressive Engineering Southland Ltd of Invercargill, New Zealand. In this system, a spray unit is mounted on the outside of the platform and a spray is directed at the animal's teats from behind the animal through its back legs. While this provides a good solution, the spray 30 does not always fully cover all the teats due to the legs obscuring the path of the spray, and due to the distance of the spray unit from the teats. P570741 Furthermore, such a system wastes a lot of spray which is very costly, as it needs to use a large fan spray to ensure it has the most chance of covering the teats. 5 Other systems, such as the "Walk Over Automatic Teat Spray System" from Milka-Ware Australia are mounted on the ground, and are activated by sensors which detect the presence of an animal above it. This type of system overcomes the issue of legs obscuring the spray. However as the spray unit is a long distance from the target, and the sensing means does 10 not accurately indentify the region of the animal where the udders are, a large amount of spray is wasted in the process. Such systems also are not able to operate on a rotary milking platform and are therefore not suitable for pre-milking teat treatment as the teats can become soiled while on the platform before milking cups are applied. 15 Many robotic milking systems also employ pre- and post-milking teat treatment. As these systems have accurate data of the position of the animal's teats, the teat treatment tends to be very targeted and there is hence very little wastage of the treatment solution. While most of these are 20 dedicated single-stall voluntary milking systems, Green Source Automation LLC has developed a stand-alone robotic teat treatment system designed to interface with rotary milking platforms, thus achieving accurate automatic teat treatment in a fast batch-milking installation. However, the complexity of such a system comes at a significantly greater 25 cost than the less accurate systems described earlier. US 6,394,029 discloses a teat spraying system in which the teat spraying apparatus is mounted underneath a rotary platform. The apparatus has means to follow the rotary motion of the platform, and as an animal rotates 30 above it a spray head raises up through a hole in the platform and sprays the teats while following the platform motion. Once the teats are sprayed, P570741 4 the spray head lowers back through the hole, and the unit traverses in the opposite direction to the platform motion until it reaches the equivalent hole in the next bail and begins the cycle again for the next animal. Such a system does not have the complexity of the robotic system, and is 5 therefore not as expensive. However, in contrast to the less complex solutions described earlier, it contains a reasonable degree of accuracy. The disadvantages of this system are: I. The spray head is presented at a large distance from the udders, so still wastes a significant amount of spray. 10 II. The hole in the floor of every bail of the milking platform is a dirt entrapment point, giving problems with both hygiene, and mechanical clogging of the spraying unit. III. A large amount of work (and hence expense) is required to retrofit such a system to an existing milking platform. 15 IV. The number of milking platforms which can accept such an installation underneath the platform is limited. V. Being under the platform, access for maintenance is very limited. It would be desirable to provide a teat treatment system at a reasonable 20 price with a reasonable amount of accuracy which is able to easily be retrofitted to most milking platforms or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. STATEMENTS OF INVENTION 25 According to one exemplary embodiment there is provided a milking system comprising: a continuously moving milking platform such as a rotary platform; a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head above the 30 milking platform so as to spray the teats of an animal when positioned on the milking platform. Preferably the spraying head of the teat spraying P570741 5 apparatus is configured to move with the milking platform as it moves over part of its range of movement. According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a milking 5 system comprising: an incrementally moving milking platform; a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head above the milking platform so as to spray the teats of an animal when positioned on the milking platform. Preferably the spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus is configured 10 to not move with the movement of the milking platform. Preferably the spraying apparatus is configured to spray the teats of the animal during the stationary phase of the milking platform's incremental movement. According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a milking 15 system comprising: a stationary milking platform; a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head above the milking platform so as to spray the teats of an animal when positioned on the milking platform. Preferably the spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus is configured to move along 20 the edge of the milking platform, stopping at each milking bail. Preferably the spraying apparatus is configured to spray the teats of the animal during the stationary phase of the movement along the edge of the milking platform. 25 According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a milking system comprising: a milking platform; a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head above the milking platform so as to spray the teats of an animal when positioned on the milking platform such that the spray cycle 30 consists of: P570741 I. Advancing the spray head under the animal to a position approximately immediately below the udders. II. Spraying upwards at the udders and teats. III. Withdrawing the spray head from under the animal. 5 According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a spraying apparatus for use with a continuously moving milking platform such as a rotary platform comprising: a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head 10 above the milking platform so as to spray the teats of an animal when positioned on the milking platform. Preferably the spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus is configured to move with the milking platform as it moves over part of its range of movement. 15 According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a spraying apparatus for use with an incrementally moving milking platform comprising: a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head above the milking platform so as to spray the teats of an animal when positioned on 20 the milking platform. Preferably the spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus is configured to not move with the movement of the milking platform. Preferably the spraying apparatus is configured to spray the teats of the animal during the stationary phase of the milking platform's incremental movement. 25 According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a spraying apparatus for use with a stationary milking platform comprising: a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head above the milking platform 30 so as to spray the teats of an animal when positioned on the milking platform. Preferably the spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus is P570741 configured to move along the edge of the milking platform, stopping at each milking bail. Preferably the spraying apparatus is configured to spray the teats of the animal during the stationary phase of the movement along the edge of the milking platform. 5 According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a spraying apparatus for use with a milking platform comprising: a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to extend a spraying head above the milking platform so as to 10 spray the teats of an animal when positioned on the milking platform such that the spray cycle consists of: I. Advancing the spray head under the animal to a position approximately immediately below the udders. II. Spraying upwards at the udders and teats. 15 III. Withdrawing the spray head from under the animal. According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a method of automated spraying of teats of an animal on a continuously moving milking platform comprising: determining that the spraying apparatus is in 20 the desired position relative to the milking platform; moving the spraying apparatus with the milking platform; extending an automated arm including a spraying head from a side of the milking platform above the milking platform and under the animal; spraying the teats of the animal; retracting the automated arm; and resetting the spraying apparatus to the start of its 25 travel. According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a method of automated spraying of teats of an animal on an incrementally moving milking platform comprising: determining that the spraying apparatus is in 30 the desired position relative to the milking platform and that the milking platform is stationary; extending an automated arm including a spraying P570741 8 head from a side of the milking platform above the milking platform and under the animal; spraying the teats of the animal; and retracting the automated arm. 5 According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a method of automated spraying of teats of an animal on a stationary milking platform comprising: determining that the spraying apparatus is in the desired position relative to the milking platform; extending an automated arm including a spraying head from a side of the milking platform above 10 the milking platform and under the animal; spraying the teats of the animal; retracting the automated arm; and moving the spraying apparatus along the side of the milking platform to the next bail.. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed 20 description of embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Figure 1 shows a generic side view of a teat spraying apparatus spraying the teats of an animal on a milking platform. 25 Figure 2 shows a plan view of a continuous-motion rotary milking platform and a teat spraying apparatus configured to suit this type of platform; Figure 3 shows a plan view of an incremental-motion rotary milking 30 platform and a teat spraying apparatus configured to suit this type of platform; and P570741 9 Figure 4 shows a plan view of a stationary milking platform and a teat spraying apparatus configured to suit this type of platform. 5 Figures 5 to 7 show isometric views of the teat spraying apparatus configurations of Figures 2 to 4. Figures 8a to 8e show the teat spraying sequence for a teat spraying apparatus configured to suit a continuous-motion rotary milking platform. 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure 1 a generic milking platform 11 is shown. On this milking platform 11 is an animal 15 either before or after milking. Typically 15 the milking platform 11 would be configured so that the animal 15 is oriented with its udders 16 close to the edge of the platform 11, although it will be appreciated that this configuration is not necessary for the invention disclosed herein. Also on Figure 1 is shown a teat spraying apparatus 1 mounted separately to the milking platform 11. When the teats of the 20 animal 15 are to be sprayed, the spray head carriage 4 of the teat spraying apparatus 1 advances forward above the platform 11 and below the animal 15 until the carriage 4 is at a position which is nominally underneath the udders 16 of the animal 15. The teat spraying apparatus 1 then proceeds to spray the spraying solution 17 at the udders 16 before 25 retracting ready to repeat the sequence on the next animal 15. As shown in Figures 2 to 7, the teat spraying apparatus 1 can be configured to suit a variety of different styles of milking platform. In Figures 2 and 5 the teat spraying apparatus 1 is configured to suit a continuous 30 motion milking platform 12, depicted in these figures as a rotary milking platform. In this configuration, the teat spraying apparatus 1 incorporates a P570741 10 sub-carriage 5 which runs along a track 6. The sub carriage 5 is configured to follow the motion of the milking platform 12 while at the same time advancing the spray head carriage 4, spraying the solution 17 (not shown in these figures) and retracting the spray head carriage 4. Once the 5 spray head carriage 4 has been retracted, the sub carriage 5 moves in the opposite direction to the milking platform 12, before stopping at the start of the track 6 and awaiting the next bail of the milking platform 12. 10 15 20 Figures 8a to 8e illustrate the operating sequence of a teat spraying apparatus configured to suit a continuous motion rotary platform. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art to extrapolate the operating sequence 25 for teat spraying apparatus configured to suit other platform configurations. In Figure 8a the teat spraying apparatus 1 is shown in its reset position with the sub carriage 5 at the start of its travel along the linear track 6, and the spray head carriage 4 in its furthest back position such that the spray head 2 is outside the platform 12. 30 In Figures 3 and 6 a configuration is shown where the milking platform 13 travels in an intermittent fashion at a pitch distance equal to the pitch of the milking bails. In this configuration the teat spraying apparatus 1 does not need to have means to follow the motion of the milking platform 13 as it can spray the teats while the milking platform 13 is in its stationary phase. In Figures 4 and 7 a configuration is shown where the milking platform 14 is stationary. In this configuration, the short track 6 of Figures 2 and 5 is replaced by a long track 10 which allows the spraying apparatus 1 to travel the length of the milking platform 14, stopping at each bail in order to spray the teats of the animal enclosed therein. P570741 11 In Figure 8b a trip dog 9 on the rotary platform 12 has come into contact with the catch 8 of the teat spraying apparatus 1. As the platform 12 continues to rotate, the trip dog 9 pushes the catch 8, thereby forcing the sub carriage 5 to travel along the linear track 6. Alternatively, the sub 5 carriage 5 could be driven by some means (e.g. electric motor drive) along the linear track 6 following activation of the sequence by a signal from a position sensor on the rotary platform 12. On activation of the motion of the sub carriage 5, the spray head carriage 4 is advanced by some means (e.g. pneumatic cylinder) to position the spray head 2 underneath the 10 animal approximately below the teats. The spray head 2 is preferably attached to the spray head carriage 4 by means of a flexible attachment 3 allowing the spray head 2 to be pushed out of the way in the event that it comes in contact with a solid object such as the legs of the animal. When the spray head 2 is located underneath the animal, the spraying solution is 15 sprayed upwards in the direction of the teats. When the spray cycle is complete as in Figure 8c, the spray head carriage 4 is retracted to withdraw the spray head 2 from beneath the animal. 20 In Figure 8d, the spray head carriage 4 is close to the end of its travel along the linear track 6. The catch 8 then engages with a ramp block (not shown) to move the catch 8 back from the trip dog 9, thus disengaging it. Alternatively, a sensor could be used to sense that either the spray head carriage 4 had withdrawn or the sub carriage 5 was near the end of its 25 stroke, and then initiate some means of propulsion (e.g. pneumatic cylinder) to withdraw the catch 8 from the trip dog 9. In a further embodiment the sub carriage 5 is driven along the linear track 6 at the same speed as the edge of the rotary platform 12 by a separate drive means such as electric motor drive, and sensing means such as described 30 above can be employed to actuate the reset motion of the sub carriage 5. P570741 12 In Figure 8e the catch 8 has been fully withdrawn from the trip dog 9, and the sub carriage 5 begins its motion to the reset position under some means of activation (e.g. pneumatic cylinder, or electric drive). 5 Other features can be added to the system for improved functionality. These features include sensing the presence of an animal in a bale before initiating the spraying apparatus cycle, sensing information from an animal identifier such as an RFID tag to determine information such as whether the animal has already been sprayed (e.g. if it has remained on the rotary 10 platform and is revolving again), and means of sensing the approximate position of the animal's teats such that the spray head 2 is located more precisely under the teats before the spray cycle is activated. The spraying apparatus of the present invention allows relatively accurate 15 positioning of the spray head in order to efficiently spray the spraying solution without excessive wastage. The general configuration allows it to be retrofitted to a high proportion of existing milking platforms. The relative simplicity of the spraying apparatus makes it a robust and cost effective solution. 20 While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages 25 and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant's general 30 inventive concept. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 09 August 2010 P570741 13 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> CLAIMS: 1. A milking system comprising: a moving milking platform; a peripheral platform; and a teat spraying apparatus on the peripheral platform configured to spray the teats of animals oh the milking platform in the following spraying sequence:

I. extending a spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus over the milking platform and moving the spraying head with the moving platform, spraying a prescribed region above the milking platform, corresponding to an expected location of the teats of an animal when positioned in a bail on the milking platform, and retracting the spraying head from the milking platform, and then II. by relative movement between the milking platform and the spraying head positioning the spraying head adjacent another bail of the milking platform.
2. A milking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the milking platform is a continuously moving platform.
3. A milking system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the milking platform is a rotary platform.
4. A milking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus is configured to move with the milking platform by means of mechanical engagement with the milking platform.
5. A milking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus is configured to move with the milking platform by sensing the position RECEIVED at IPONZ on 09 August 2010 P570741 14 of the milking platform and independently driving the spraying head at approximately the same speed as the milking platform.
6. A milking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the distance the spraying head moves with the milking platform is no more than the pitch distance of the milking platform bails.
7. A milking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spraying sequence is initiated by the position of the milking platform.
8. A milking system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the spraying sequence is initiated by mechanical means.
9. A milking system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the spraying sequence is initiated by electronic sensing.
10. A milking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the initiation of the spraying sequence is also dependant on signals from one or more sensors to confirm that there is an animal in the bail, and the teats of the animal are ready to be sprayed.
11. A milking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spray head is flexibly mounted to avoid injury to the animal or damage to the spray head if the animal and the spray head come in contact. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 09 August 2010 P570741 15
12.A spraying apparatus for use with a moving milking platform, the spraying apparatus being configured to be mounted on a peripheral platform and including a spraying head configured to spray the teats of animals on the milking platform in the following spraying sequence: I. extending a spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus over the milking platform and moving the spraying head with the moving platform, spraying a prescribed region above the milking platform corresponding to an expected location of the teats of an animal when positioned in a bail on the milking platform, and retracting the spraying head from the milking platform, and then II. by relative movement between the milking platform and the spraying head positioning the spraying head adjacent another bail of the milking platform.
13. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the spraying apparatus is configured for use with a continuously moving milking platform.
14.A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the milking platform is a rotary platform.
15. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the spraying head of the spraying apparatus is configured to move with the milking platform by means of mechanical engagement with the milking platform. RECEIVED at IPONZ on 09 August 2010 P570741 16
16. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the spraying head of the spraying apparatus is configured to move with the milking platform by sensing the position of the milking platform and independently driving the spraying head at approximately the same speed as the milking platform.
17. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the distance the spraying head moves with the milking platform is no more than the pitch distance of the milking platform bails.
18.A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the spraying sequence is initiated by the position of the milking platform.
19.A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the spraying sequence is initiated by mechanical means.
20.A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the spraying sequence is initiated by electronic sensing.
21. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 20 wherein the initiation of the spraying sequence is also dependant on signals from one or more sensors to confirm that there is an animal in the bail, and the teats of the animal are ready to be sprayed.
22.A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 21 wherein the spray head is flexibly mounted to avoid injury to the animal or damage to the spray head if the animal and the spray head come in contact.
23. A method of automated spraying of teats of an animal on a moving milking platform comprising: RECEIVED at IPONZ on 09 August 2010 P570741 17 I. determining when the spraying apparatus is in a desired position relative to the milking platform; II. extending a spraying head of the teat spraying apparatus over the milking platform and moving the spraying head with the moving platform, spraying a prescribed region above the milking platform corresponding to an expected location of the teats of an animal when positioned in a bail on the milking platform, and retracting the spraying head from the milking platform, and then III. by relative movement between the milking platform and the spraying head positioning the spraying head adjacent another bail of the milking platform.
24. A method of automated spraying of teats of an animal on a milking platform as claimed in claim 23 wherein the milking platform is a continuously moving milking platform, and the spraying apparatus moves with the milking platform while at the same time extending an automated arm including a spraying head from a side of the milking platform above the milking platform and under the animal; spraying the teats of the animal; and retracting the automated arm. SCOTT MILKTECH LIMITED </div>