NZ580616A - Improvements in & relating to initiating control of apparatus associated with a rotary dairy platform - Google Patents

Abstract

An initiation control apparatus (1) for use with a rotating dairy platform (3) is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises following means for following the rotational progress of the dairy platform (3). The following means is coupled to positioning means for determining a relative rotational position of the rotating dairy platform (3). The positioning means comprises rotating indexing means (8), sensing means and a controller (9). The sensing means interacts with the rotating indexing means (8) to determine direction and degree of rotation of the indexing means (8). The controller (9) receives and interprets information from the sensing means. The indexing means (8) comprises a rotating index element with optically different features. The sensing means comprises at least one optical emitter (15) and at least one optical receiver (16) capable of detecting and responding to optically different features of the rotating index element. The controller (9) is able to output a signal comprising at least one or both of a trigger signal to activate an event and information about the rotation position of the rotating dairy platform (3). The following means comprises at least one travelling wheel (4) capable of interacting with a feature of the rotating dairy platform (3).

Description

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 Ourref: 72-4131 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN & RELATING TO INITIATING CONTROL OF APPARATUS ASSOCIATED WITH A ROTARY DAIRY PLATFORM I Double K Electronics Ltd, a New Zealand Company of Aviation way, Palmerston North, New Zealand; hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 IMPROVEMENTS IN & RELATING TO INITIATING CONTROL OF APPARATUS ASSOCIATED WITH A ROTARY DAIRY PLATFORM FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention is directed to apparatus for determining the relative position of 5 rotation or travel of a rotary platform such as used in dairy sheds, and for initiating a control or trigger signal when a predetermined position has been reached. Initiation of the signal may be conditional upon additional criteria.

BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION The present invention focuses on the initiation of apparatus in a dairy shed comprising 10 a rotary milking platform, and in which the timing of the initiation of this apparatus may depend on one or more factors including the relative rotational position of the rotary platform. For simplicity the description shall relate to the problems and issues of this applications, though it is also envisaged that the present invention may find other applications.

The typical dairy shed is a harsh environment. It is typically wet, and harsh or corrosive chemicals are often used. Typically sensitive electronic equipment is located away from areas it can be affected.

A problem occurs with the automation of equipment sometimes used around the shed. One good example is the use of teat spraying apparatus to help guard against mastitis. 20 Several commercial powered models are available, but the problem lies with the timing and operation of the equipment. Ideally the initiation and timing is automated - a busy farmer may be elsewhere around the platform when the teat sprayer needs to be triggered. They may also trigger it at an inappropriate time if distracted - a result can be to hit an animal in the leg rather than spraying between their legs in the udder 25 region. Apart from possible injury to an animal, this can also train animals to be suspicious of the milking bail and more likely to protest during the milking operation.

Accordingly there is a need for apparatus which can trigger the initiation of apparatus such as teat sprayers at appropriate times during the rotation of a platform. Ideally, but Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 not necessarily, they should also be able to gauge when it is appropriate to do so. Ideally also, they should designed to withstand the normal rigours of a dairy shed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to consider and address at least some of the above problems.

At the very least it is an object of the present invention to provide the public with a useful alternative choice.

Aspects of the present invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the ensuing description.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus for use with a rotating dairy platform, comprising following means for following the rotational progress of said dairy platform, and said following means coupled to positioning means for determining a relative rotational position of said rotating dairy platform; said positioning means comprising rotating indexing means, sensing means interacting with said rotating indexing means to determine both direction and degree of rotation of the indexing means, and a controller for receiving and interpreting information from said sensing means; said controller able to output a signal comprising at least either or both of a trigger 20 signal to activate an event, and information about the rotation position of said rotating dairy platform, and in which the following means comprising at least one travelling wheel capable of interacting with a feature of said rotating dairy platform.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control 25 apparatus, substantially as described above, in which there is a biasing mechanism applying a pressure on a said travelling wheel against said feature of said rotating dairy platform.

Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which said feature of said rotating dairy platform is a drive rail for said platform.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control 5 apparatus, substantially as described above, in which a said rotating indexing means comprises features which interact with said sensing means as the rotating index means rotates.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the indexing means comprises 10 magnetically different regions which a detected by magnetic sensors.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the indexing means includes one or more discrete magnets, and the magnetic sensors are Hall Effect sensors.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control 15 apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the indexing means comprises a rotating index element with optically different features.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the sensors interact with said rotating index element on the basis of optical reflectance, and said rotating index 20 element comprises optically different features which have different reflectances for the working wavelengths of either or both an emitter and receiver.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the sensors work on optical transmission through a said rotating index element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which a said rotating index element optically different features comprising clear and opaque regions for the working wavelengths of either or both an emitter and receiver.

Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which a clear region comprises a removed region in a said rotating index element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control 5 apparatus, substantially as described above, in which there are a plurality of optically different features distributed about a said rotating index element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which there are between 12 and 90 different optical features about a said rotating index element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the sensors comprise at least one optical emitter and at least one optical receiver.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the sensors comprise at least two 15 receivers associated with an emitter or an emitter set, positioned such that interaction with the rotation of the rotating index element will first trigger a different receiver of the two or more receivers than it would if the rotating index element was rotating in the opposite direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control 20 apparatus, substantially as described above, which use emitters and sensors operating in the infrared region.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, which includes bail sensing means for determining when a new bail on the platform is present.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the bail sensing means sensors one or more of: the metal of the fence between bails, a special applied bail sensor trigger device positioned on the rotating platform, and a signal from a controller for the rotating platform.

Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which said controller counts signals from the sensors to determine the relative position of the rotating platform.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control 5 apparatus, substantially as described above, in which said controller resets or adjusts its count when a signal indicating a new bail is received from a bail sensing means.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the controller keeps a stored count of signals, from the sensing means of the positioning means, associated with the 10 distance between bails based on information from bail sensing means, and wherein this stored count of signals is reset or altered upon receiving new information from bail sensing means.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the stored count of signals 15 averages the number of counted signals, from the sensing means of the positioning means, associated with the distance travelled over a discrete number of bails, and in which said discrete number is two or higher.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the controller uses a count of 20 signals to determine when the rotating platform has progressed to a predetermined position part way through a bail.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which said predetermined position is when the rotating platform has aligned itself substantially such that a point which is 25 substantially midway in a bail is aligned with a predetermined point.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which said controller initiates a trigger signal for external apparatus when the platform has progressed to a predetermined position or alignment.

Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, which also includes occupation sensing means to determine if an animal occupies a particular bail, and in which said trigger signal for external apparatus is not initiated if the occupation sensing means indicates 5 that no animal occupies a bail.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the controller keeps a memory of bails that have already travelled past a particular point, and will not initiate a said trigger signal for external apparatus if the memory indicates that a bail has already 10 travelled past said particular point.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the controller can receive bail reset information, upon which time the memory of bails is updated such that a trigger signal for external apparatus can be initiated if a bail travels past said particular point 15 another time.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which said bail reset information comprises one or more of: a signal from a manually operated switch, information from a controller for an automated milking system associated with the rotating platform, and 20 information from a controller for rotation of said rotating platform.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, which includes cup sensor means which senses if milking cups of an automated milking system are present on an animal, and wherein the controller will not initiate a trigger signal to external apparatus if said cup 25 sensor means indicates their presence on an animal in a bail with which the trigger signal is associated.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which a controller can accept information from an automated milking system associated with said rotating platform, 30 and wherein the controller will not initiate a trigger signal to external apparatus if said Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 information from the automated milking system indicates the presence milking cups on an animal in a bail associated with the trigger signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which the controller includes a learning 5 setup function in which a user will operate said rotating platform in the normal direction of travel for a predetermined distance, and in which the controller will take information from both bail sensing means and from sensed data from rotation of the indexing means to calibrate and store information relating to one or more of: the normal direction of rotation of the platform, the averaged sensed distance between 10 bails, and the number of bails associated with the platform.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, configured to initiate the operation of same when the initiation control apparatus determines that the platform has progressed to a particular point.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, in which initiation of teat spray operation is dependent upon additional sensor and/or information criteria being met.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, when installed on a rotary dairy platform.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided initiation control apparatus, substantially as described above, when coupled to an automated milking system associated with said rotary dairy platform.

The present invention has been developed for use with a rotary platform, such as commonly used in milking sheds. For simplicity of description, embodiments of the 25 present invention suited for such use are described, though it should be realised that the present invention may find use in analogous situations outside of dairy sheds.

The present invention may take many forms but typically comprises following means, positioning means, and a controller. In simple terms the following means typically comprises means for following the rotational progress of a rotary platform. An Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 interaction with the positioning means allows the positioning means to obtain information for determining the position or progress of the platform, while the uses this information from the positioning means to determine when certain events should happen. While the exact interrelationship may vary in different embodiment, preferred 5 embodiments of the present invention allow for the initiation of a trigger signal when the rotary platform is in a certain rotational position (and may also require additional criteria to be met), and/or to provide information about the relative rotational position of the platform. The following description will provide further insight as to the exact nature of different embodiments of the present invention.

The following means may take many forms, though in the relatively rugged environment of a dairy shed it is considered that simplest may be best in terms of longevity. Accordingly preferred embodiments use a wheel, which is basically a rotating wheel which rotates in response to rotation of the platform. While a geared wheel arrangement could be used (which interacted with a toothed wheel associated 15 with the platform), initial experimentation by the applicant indicated that a rotating wheel which ran against an element of the platform could work reliably. Hence, preferred embodiments rely on a following wheel, which can be a simple wheel with an outer rubber tyre or rim portion, which run along a convenient element such as the drive rail of most (if not all) common rotary platforms. Running along any other 20 suitable component of the platform can also be considered.

While the following wheel is simple, potential issues identified were possible long term calibration problems leading to misalignment - something of some concern for a device used to gauge the rotational position of a rotary platform. Such calibration issues could occur if the wheel ever slipped (dairy sheds are a wet environment), encountered 25 foreign material on the path it travelled, or if there was wear on the path it travelled, or due to slow calibration drift over time. Further investigation indicated that where these issues could be a problem, corrections could be made to the way the controller operated and interacted with various received information so as to reduce the impact of calibration issues. These will be discussed later herein.

Generally, where a follower wheel is used, some form of associated biasing mechanism is also used to ensure a pressured contact of the follower wheel against the platform. A Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 simple spring and/or suspension arrangement can be used to maintain the wheel against the rotary platform. It should also be appreciated that a following wheel may also comprise a carriage assembly with multiple wheels.

The following means interacts with the indexing means of the positioning means, 5 generally by some form of transmission means. This may comprise a direct rotational connection, a geared connection, a pulley connection, and/or any one or more means of transmitting the rotation of the following means to the indexing means in a proportional (generally linearly proportional) manner. Typically this is transmitted as a rotational motion to the indexing means, though other transmission methods may be employed -10 e.g. conversion to reciprocating motion, etc. For simplicity of description we shall limit our description to rotational transmission - i.e. rotation of the following means causes rotation of the indexing means.

While the indexing means may take many forms, most embodiments rely upon a rotating index element such as a disc. The indexing means interacts with sensing 15 means, the nature of which also affects the nature of the rotating index element. While various combinations of indexing and sensing means may be used - e.g. magnets and hall effect sensors, encoded magnetic stripes and readers, etc. - preferred embodiments rely on optical sensing means. These, along with the indexing means, are housed typically within a sealed housing to protect them against the environment and foreign 20 material.

Optical methods may rely upon transmission or reflection, and in each case the rotating index element will exhibit regions with different optical characteristics - particularly in the working spectral range of the sensors in use. Typically the IR region will be used as the sensors can be filtered to remove ambient visible light (which could interfere 25 with operation), and because emitter/receiver pairs in this spectrum are readily available.

In preferred embodiments transmissive methods are used with an emitter on one side of the rotating index element shining through transparent portions of the index element to a receiver on the other side, or where the emitted light (we shall include IR within the Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 definition of light, but exclusive from 'visible light') is blocked by opaque portions of the rotating index element.

By this method, the emitter/receiver pair will see a series of pulses as the rotating index element rotates. Increasing the number of alternating transparent and opaque portions 5 on the rotating index element can increase the number of pulses per revolution, which increases the potential resolution of the controller in determining the rotational position of the platform. Where each transparent/opaque combination occupies a 10° segment of the rotating index wheels, then rotational accuracies approaching 1mm are possible for a typical rotating dairy platform. Accordingly most embodiments of a rotating 10 index element will have between 12 and 120 optical features (an optically transparent/opaque pair representing two optical features) distributed about the index element.

A rotating index element may be formed in different manners. Some examples include an optically clear material (with respect to the working spectrum of the emitter/receiver 15 pair) with opaque portions formed thereon. Another is to place windows or apertures in an optically opaque material. Various options may be considered.

In practice sensing means comprising a single emitter/receiver pair can provide information about distance rotated (i.e. the rotating platform) but not necessarily direction. Accordingly, preferred embodiments include multiple emitters interacting 20 with an optical feature. These may have individual or common associated emitters. In practice if both are subject to a transparent portion of the rotating index element, then which emitter is first affected by the transition to an adjacent opaque portion will depend on which direction the rotating index element is rotating. In such cases the controller makes a note of this and takes this into account when determining the exact 25 position of the rotary platform.

As can be seen, the positioning means through the use of indexing and sensing means, can create information for the controller regarding the degree and direction of rotation of the following wheel, which reflects the rotation of the platform. The controller can then deal with this information in different ways.

Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 For instance the controller can merely keep count of how many 'pulses'-we shall assume an embodiment of positioning means which provides a plurality of pulses each time a rotating index element rotates. Movement in one direction may cause pulses to be added, while reverse movement may subtract pulses. The total number of pulses can 5 be used to calculate the angular position of the rotating platform.

While this is a simple system, we have previously mentioned that calibration drift may lead to inaccuracies over time. This may be addressed in many ways, including having one or more checkpoints which send a signal to the controller. The controller can then use this information to reset or amend where the platform is, so that it becomes self-10 correcting. These checkpoints may be markers or triggering devices positioned regularly about the platform, or which trigger every revolution. Information may also be provided from control apparatus associated with rotation of the platform, and/or automated milking systems mounted thereon. A wide variety of embodiments of calibration checkpoints may be considered, though preferred embodiments rely on a 15 sensor to detect the fence/rail between individual rails. This can provide for more accurate self-calibration than a checkpoint which occurs once every revolution of the platform.

Accordingly, using the bail fence sensor example, the controller can count the pulses between individual bail fences. These may be averaged, reset, or otherwise 20 manipulated. Additionally or alternatively, the controller may count the pulses over a discrete number of bails and average these out. A controller may also note the variation of standard deviation of differences in pulse counts and apply these to its calculations regarding position.

In many cases the initiation control apparatus needs to trigger an event when a bail is 25 substantially centred with respect to a reference point. This reference point may be apparatus which is external or independent (of movement) to the platform. Accordingly the controller will typically calculated how many pulses past, or before, a bail sensor trigger (or other calibration checkpoint) that an event trigger needs to be initiated.

Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 More sophisticated embodiments may also introduce additional criteria for there to be the initiation of an event trigger. For instance, a proximity sensor may determine if an animal is present in the bail before a trigger signal can be initiated.

Other sensing means, and/or information from an automated milking system, may be 5 evaluated to determine if the milking cups have yet been removed from an animal -particularly important when the external apparatus to be triggered is teat spraying apparatus.

A controller ideally also keeps track on bails which have already had a trigger signal initiated. The apparatus may be set up so that a second (or further) trigger signal is not 10 initiated until a full revolution of the platform has occurred, or a release signal sent in relation to a bail (e.g. a manual switch, or information from automated milking system that a cow has exited the bail, etc.). This prevents multiple triggering if a farm reverses the platform (e.g. by one or more bails) to deal with a problem. Hence the controller may include a memory for each bail.

The controller may also include an automated setup routine which requires the operator to perform a preset sequence of steps once initiated. This may require starting the platform in the normal direction of operation and running it for a minimum number of bails. Various steps may be included to help the initiation control apparatus to perform an initial self calibration so that it at least knows the normal direction of travel and a 20 nominal distance between bails.

As can be appreciated, a wide number of different embodiments of the present invention can be created which all embodiment the same general principles. It is considered that understanding these variations will be well within the grasp of a skilled reader given the description herein.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an top diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of the indexing wheel of the embodiment of figure 1, and Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 Figure 3 is a top diagrammatic view of how the embodiment of figure 1 can be integrated with a rotary platform.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 provides a diagrammatic view of the features of a preferred embodiment of the 5 present invention. The initiation control apparatus (generally indicated by arrow 1) is mounted adjacent to a monitored bail ((310) in figure 3) on a dairy platform (3) and preferentially interacts with a feature such as the drive rail (2) on the underside of most diary milking platforms (3).

Here a follower wheel (4) of approximately 75mm diameter sports a rubber tyre portion 10 (5) - this may be solid or pneumatic. A biasing assembly (6) maintains the follower wheel (4) against the drive rail (2). The biasing assembly (6) should allow for at least 100mm travel in most instances as the drive rail of many older platforms are not perfectly centred, or not perfectly circular.

In this embodiment the biasing means supports both the follower wheel (4) and the 15 housing (7) for the indexing means (generally indicated by arrow 8) and controller (9). A transmission shaft (11) links rotation of the follower wheel (4) to an index wheel (12). This (referring to figure 2) comprises a solid opaque disc of approximately 30mm diameter with removed portions (14) representing transparent regions for an emitter (15) and receiver (16) (as shown in figure 1). The size of the opaque and transparent 20 regions also reflect the size of the emitters and receivers used - in the illustrated embodiment a pair of emitters (15) and receivers (16) are used so as to enable the direction of rotation of the index wheel to be determined (see earlier in the specification).

In the described embodiment there are actually 36 opaque/transparent portions 25 distributed about the disc (12), with each pair occupying a sector angle of approximately 10°. The number of portions can be varied.

The manufacture of the index wheel (12) can also be varied. Another option, for instance, is to use an optically transparent disc with opaque portions printed or Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 laminated thereon. Printing processes may provide closer tolerances, allowing for a more compact indexing means (8) to be constructed.

The outputs from the emitters (15) and receivers (16) connect to controller (9). This also receives sensor data from a bail fence sensor (20) and may also receive inputs from 5 additional sensors such as an animal proximity sensor (21) to detect the presence of an animal (30), and a milking cup sensor (22) to determine if milking cups are still present in the udder region of the animal (30) (though alternatively a signal from automatic milking apparatus may be used).

The bail fence sensor (20) senses when a bail fence (27) goes past. The controller can 10 utilise this signal for self-calibration- this has been described in detail previously within the specification. In this embodiment the controller optimally counts the pulses (from indexing means (8)) for four bails and averages this to find the typical number of pulses for a typical bail's width. This may be continually updated, or only calculated when a user initiated calibration process is run.

The controller (9) also provides an output trigger signal for external apparatus - in this case a teat sprayer (25) is represented. Ideally this operates when there is alignment between the sprayer (25) and midpoint of the bail (310), particularly as the sprayer must extend between the legs of an animal (30). The controller will typically analyse the number of pulses past when the bail fence sensor (20) is triggered for when the 20 sprayer (25) and bail (310) midpoint align. Compensation may also be made for the speeds of the platform and sprayer, such that trigger signal initiation may occur prior to alignment. The controller (9) may also take account of the speed of the platform as it nears the middle of the bail (310)- this can be calculated from the interval between pulses occurring. This data can be used for compensation in trigger signal timing.

Trigger signal initiation may also be dependent on the status of additional sensors (20, 21). If either or both are in a predetermined state, then a trigger signal will not be initiated. An audible and visible warning device (32) on top of the sprayer (25) will activate instead if a trigger signal is with-held due to the status of sensors (20, 21).

The controller in this embodiment will also not initiate a trigger signal if the platform is 30 moving in a reverse direction. Further, the controller (9) will keep a memory of bails Received at IPONZ on 19 April 2011 with animals in which a trigger signal has been initiated. Once it records a trigger signal has been initiated for a bail, it will not allow retriggering unless a further event occurs - this may comprise one or more of: a signal from an automated milking system's controller that the animal in the bail has been released, a manual reset by a 5 user, or when the platform has advanced by a particular number of bails past the bail in question (this may be loosely based on the number of bails the platform must advance until the animal is released, or more simply half the number of bails in the platform). These features prevent double spraying of animals in the case that the platform is manually reversed (one or more times) by an operator. Of course, the controller (9) of 10 this embodiment will initiate a trigger signal in the event that there is realignment of a bail (midpoint) with sprayer (25) if it is noted that no trigger signal initiated the last time it was aligned - this is assuming the bail trigger memory has not been reset in the meantime.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it 15 should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as described herein.

It should also be understood that the term "comprise" where used herein is not to be considered to be used in a limiting sense. Accordingly, 'comprise' does not represent nor define an exclusive set of items, but includes the possibility of other components 20 and items being added to the list.

This specification is also based on the understanding of the inventor regarding the prior art. The prior art description should not be regarded as being authoritative disclosure on the true state of the prior art but rather as referencing considerations brought to the mind and attention of the inventor when developing this invention.

Received at IPONZ on 16 December 2011

Claims (4)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Initiation control apparatus for use with a rotating dairy platform, comprising following means for following the rotational progress of said dairy platform, and said following means coupled to positioning means for determining a relative rotational position of said rotating dairy platform; said positioning means comprising rotating indexing means, sensing means interacting with said rotating indexing means to determine both direction and degree of rotation of the indexing means, and a controller for receiving and interpreting information from said sensing means; and wherein the indexing means comprises a rotating index element with optically different features; and in which said sensing means comprise at least one optical emitter and at least one optical receiver capable of detecting and responding to said optically different features of the rotating index element; said controller able to output a signal comprising at least either or both of a trigger signal to activate an event, and information about the rotation position of said rotating dairy platform, and in which the following means comprises at least one travelling wheel capable of interacting with a feature of said rotating dairy platform.
2. 2. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a biasing mechanism applying a pressure on a said travelling wheel against said feature of said rotating dairy platform.
3. 3. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which said feature of said rotating dairy platform is a drive rail for said platform.
4. 4. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensors interact with said rotating index element on the basis of optical reflectance, and wherein the optically different features o f said rotating index element comprise different reflectances for the working wavelengths of either or both of said optical emitter and said optical receiver. Received at IPONZ on 16 December 2011 - 18 - 5. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensors work on optical transmission through said rotating index element. 6. Initiation control apparatus as claimed as claimed in claim 5 in which said rotating index element has optically different features comprising clear and opaque regions for the working wavelengths of either or both of said optical emitter and said optical receiver. 7. Initiation control apparatus as claimed as claimed in claim 6 in which a clear region comprises a removed region in said rotating index element. 8. Initiation control apparatus as claimed as claimed in any one of claims 4 through 7 in which there are a plurality of optically different features distributed about said rotating index element. 9. Initiation control apparatus as claimed as claimed in claim 8 in which there are between 12 and 90 different optical features about said rotating index element. 10. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensors comprise at least two receivers associated with said optical emitter, or a set of same, positioned such that interaction with the rotation of the rotating index element will first trigger a different receiver of the two or more receivers than it would if the rotating index element was rotating in the opposite direction. 12. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 4 through 10 which use emitters and sensors operating in the infrared region. 13. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes bail sensing means for determining when a new bail on the platform is present. 14. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which the bail sensing means senses one or more of: the presence of metal in a fence between bails, a special applied bail sensor trigger device positioned on the rotating platform, and a signal from a controller for the rotating platform. Received at IPONZ on 16 December 2011 - 19- 15. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said controller counts signals from said sensing means to determine the relative position of the rotating platform. 16. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, when dependent upon either claim 13 or claim 14 in which said controller resets or adjusts its count when a signal indicating a new bail is received from said bail sensing means. 17. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 16, or claim 15 when dependent upon either claim 13 or claim 14, in which the controller keeps a stored count of signals, from the sensing means of the positioning means, associated with the distance between bails based on information from bail sensing means, and wherein this stored count of signals is reset or altered upon receiving new information from bail sensing means. 18. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 17 which the stored count of signals averages the number of counted signals, from the sensing means of the positioning means, associated with the distance travelled over a discrete number of bails, and in which said discrete number is two or higher. 19. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 through 18 in which the controller uses a count of signals to determine when the rotating platform has progressed to a predetermined position part way through a bail. 20. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 19 in which said predetermined position is when the rotating platform has aligned itself substantially such that a point which is substantially midway in a bail is aligned with a predetermined point. 21. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in either claim 19 or claim 20 in which said controller initiates a trigger signal for external apparatus when the platform has progressed to a predetermined position or alignment. 22. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 21 which also includes occupation sensing means to determine if an animal occupies a particular bail, and in which said Received at IPONZ on 16 December 2011 - 20- trigger signal for external apparatus is not initiated if the occupation sensing means indicates that no animal occupies a bail. 23. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in either claim 21 or claim 22 in which the controller keeps a memory of bails that have already travelled past a particular point, and will not initiate said trigger signal for external apparatus if the memory indicates that a bail has already travelled past said particular point. 24. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 23 in which the controller can receive bail reset information, upon which time the memory of bails is updated such that said trigger signal for external apparatus can be initiated if a bail travels past said particular point another time. 25. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in 24 in which said bail reset information comprises one or more of: a signal from a manually operated switch, information from a controller for an automated milking system associated with the rotating platform, and information from a controller for rotation of said rotating platform. 26. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 through 25 which includes cup sensor means which senses if milking cups of an automated milking system are present on an animal, and wherein the controller will not initiate said trigger signal to external apparatus if said cup sensor means indicates their presence on an animal in a bail with which the trigger signal is associated. 27. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 through 26 in which a controller can accept information from an automated milking system associated with said rotating platform, and wherein the controller will not initiate said trigger signal to external apparatus if said information from the automated milking system indicates the presence milking cups on an animal in a bail associated with the trigger signal. 28. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 13, or any one of claims 14 through 27 when dependent upon claim 13, in which the controller includes a learning setup function in which a user will operate said rotating platform in the normal direction of travel for a predetermined distance, and in which the controller will take information from both bail sensing means and from sensed data from rotation of the indexing Received at IPONZ on 16 December 2011 - 21 - means to calibrate and store information relating to one or more of: the normal direction of rotation of the platform, the averaged sensed distance between bails, and the number of bails associated with the platform. 29. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the controller compensates for the rotational speed of the platform and adjusts the timing of the initiation of said trigger signal. 30. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the controller times the duration of signal information obtained from the indexing means to gauge the rotational speed of the platform. 31. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims coupled with teat spray apparatus and configured to initiate the operation of same when the initiation control apparatus determines that the platform has progressed to a particular point. 32. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 31 in which initiation of teat spray operation is dependent upon additional sensor and/or information criteria being met. 33. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when installed on a rotary dairy platform. 34. Initiation control apparatus as claimed in claim 33 when coupled to an automated milking system associated with said rotary dairy platform. 35. Initiation control apparatus, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Shutt Fisher Holdings Limited by its Attorneys Received at IPONZ on 16 December 2011 - 22- IPRIMA