NZ613410B2

NZ613410B2 - Milking device

Info

Publication number: NZ613410B2
Application number: NZ613410A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Marc Peter Elvira Maria Kluytmans; Mourad Salaheddine; Pieter Cornelis Johannes Maria Streng
Original assignee: Pharming Intellectual Property Bv
Priority date: 2011-01-21
Filing date: 2012-01-19
Publication date: 2015-12-01

Abstract

milking device is disclosed. The milking device comprises a vessel (2) and cover plate (3) forming a sealed volume. The sealed volume is internally divided into a collecting chamber (4), a vacuum chamber (5) and an air intake chamber (6). The vessel (2) has first and second internal walls (7, 8) that separate the collecting chamber (4) from the air intake chamber (6) and the vacuum chamber (5). A partition wall (11) extends from a top portion of the second internal wall (8) at the side of the vacuum chamber (5) to a bottom portion of the first internal wall (7) at the side of the air intake chamber (6) and which separates the collecting chamber (4) in a lower collecting chamber portion (4a) and an upper collecting chamber portion (4b). The cover plate (3) comprises a plurality of conduits (15) which protrude from an outer surface of the cover plate (3) and extend through the cover plate (3) into the collecting chamber (4). An outlet portion (16) of each conduit (15) is adjacent to a bottom surface of the collecting chamber (4). The partition wall (11) comprises a plurality of openings on which tubings (12) are arranged where the number of tubings (12) corresponds to the number of conduits (15). An outer surface of the cover plate (3) comprises outward extensions of the conduits, which are arranged for connection to a flexible tube (38) of which a distal end can be equipped with a teat cup (30). hat separate the collecting chamber (4) from the air intake chamber (6) and the vacuum chamber (5). A partition wall (11) extends from a top portion of the second internal wall (8) at the side of the vacuum chamber (5) to a bottom portion of the first internal wall (7) at the side of the air intake chamber (6) and which separates the collecting chamber (4) in a lower collecting chamber portion (4a) and an upper collecting chamber portion (4b). The cover plate (3) comprises a plurality of conduits (15) which protrude from an outer surface of the cover plate (3) and extend through the cover plate (3) into the collecting chamber (4). An outlet portion (16) of each conduit (15) is adjacent to a bottom surface of the collecting chamber (4). The partition wall (11) comprises a plurality of openings on which tubings (12) are arranged where the number of tubings (12) corresponds to the number of conduits (15). An outer surface of the cover plate (3) comprises outward extensions of the conduits, which are arranged for connection to a flexible tube (38) of which a distal end can be equipped with a teat cup (30).

Description

Milking device Field The t invention relates to a milking device for rabbits. Also, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing such a milking device. Moreover, the present invention relates to a milking lation comprising such a milking device.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of the milking device.

Background In biotechnology there is an ng development to create genetically engineered animals for the production of human (compatible) substances such as proteins that can be used in treatment of human diseases. A recent example is the development of genetically engineered rabbits that produce the so-called Cl inhibitor protein in their milk.

To obtain such proteins or other substances from rabbit milk, lactating rabbits are to be milked mechanically on a daily basis, more or less in a r way as other milk producing species such as cows and goats. Milking devices from the prior art lly consist of a metal (preferably stainless steel) manifold coupled to teat cups by means of conduits. In such milking devices, the ld is further connected to a vacuum buffer for pumping milk from the manifold by use of a vacuum ﬂow. In the vacuum buffer the milk is separated from the vacuum ﬂow.

The milking s made from metal have some shortcomings that relate to the processing of the milk. Separation of the milk in the vacuum buffer can adversely affect the quality of the milk. Additionally, the g devices made from metal require strict cleaning to comply with official hygienic regulations relating to the production of medical substances. In respect to milking s with a former used stainless steel milking device, the manifold has channels that are ed to be small in order to obtain a better ﬂow of milk and provide a stable vacuum. However such a manifold with tiny ls is difﬁcult to clean as dried milk deposits often settle in the channels which deposits are not easily removed. These deposits can be a source of huge bio burden bursts in the milk during subsequent milking(s). Furthermore validating the cleaning s is problematic as it is difﬁcult to obtain samples for microbiological culture from the manifold channels.

It is an ive of the present invention to provide a milking device in which the shortcomings from the prior art are removed or mitigated, and the bio burden is reduced down to approximately zero levels.

Summary The present invention relates to a milking device comprising a vessel and cover plate; the vessel and the cover plate forming a sealed volume; the sealed volume being internally divided into a collecting chamber, a vacuum r and an air intake r; the collecting chamber being arranged between the vacuum chamber and the air intake chamber; the vessel having a first internal wall that separates the collecting chamber from the air intake chamber, a first passage between the collecting chamber and the air intake chamber being arranged at the first internal wall; the vessel having a second internal wall that separates the collecting chamber from the vacuum chamber, a second passage between the collecting chamber and the vacuum chamber being arranged at the second al wall.

Advantageously, the g device provides an improved tion of the milk from the vacuum. Moreover, the device according to the present invention has been especially designed to separate the ed milk from the vacuum in a way that prevents formation of froth which would otherwise build up and bring milk into the vacuum line thereby causing contamination of that vacuum line. The separation is described intra.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the milking device as described above, wherein the first passage is arranged between the first al wall and an internal surface of the cover plate, and the second passage is arranged between the second internal wall and an internal surface of the cover plate.

The milking device comprises a partition wall which extends from a top portion of the second internal wall at the side of the vacuum chamber to a bottom portion of the first al wall at the side of the air intake chamber and which separates the collecting r in a lower collecting chamber portion and an upper collecting r portion.

The cover plate comprises a plurality of ts which protrude from an outer e of the cover plate and extend through the cover plate into the collecting chamber; an outlet portion of each conduit being adjacent to a bottom surface of the collecting chamber; and the partition wall comprises a plurality of openings on which tubings are arranged, the number of tubings corresponds to the number of conduits; the tubings extending from the partition wall to the cover plate in such a way that each opening and tubing of the partition wall is arranged with an al diameter and a position on the partition wall to allow passage of the corresponding conduit of the cover plate through the partition wall into the lower ting chamber portion.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the milking device as bed above, n a perimeter surface of an upper edge of the vessel is arranged with a widened contacting surface and the cover plate is arranged with a secondary widened ting surface in such a way that the widened contacting surface of the vessel contacts the secondary d contacting surface of the cover plate.

An outer e of the cover plate comprises outward extensions of the conduits, arranged for connection to a le tube of which a distal end can be equipped with a teat cup.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the milking device as described above, wherein the outer surface of the cover plate ses a series of posts that are each shaped to receive the opening of one teat cup, each post serving as a support for the teat cup.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the g device as described above, wherein the cover plate comprises on its inner surface a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being arranged at a location between the first passage in the first internal wall and the collecting chamber, the second edge being arranged at a location corresponding between the second passage in the second internal wall and the collecting chamber.

The collecting chamber has an outlet for fluid, the air inlet chamber has an air inlet, and the vacuum chamber has an vacuum outlet.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the milking device as described above, n any one of the , the cover plate, and partition wall is manufactured from a plastic.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a milking lation comprising a milking device as described above, a vacuum pump, a roller pump and an air inlet device, an inlet of the vacuum pump being connected over a conduit with the vacuum outlet of the vacuum chamber, an inlet of the roller pump being connected over a conduit with the outlet for fluid of the collecting chamber, a valve of the air inlet device being connected to the air inlet of the air inlet chamber.

According to an embodiment, the t invention relates to the milking installation as described above, wherein an outlet of the roller pump is in fluid communication with a container for collecting fluid from the collecting chamber.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the milking installation as described above, wherein the valve of the air inlet device is configured to provide an, in alternation, opened and closed aperture for inlet of air or a gas such as nitrogen, into the air inlet chamber.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the milking installation as described above, r comprising a number of teat cups each connected by a respective flexible tube to one of the ts of the cover plate.

Also, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a milking device as described above, sing a casting or injection moulding of the vessel, the cover plate and the partition wall from a plastic.

According to an ment, the present ion relates to the method as bed above, comprising inserting the partition wall into the collecting chamber of the vessel; positioning the cover plate on the vessel in such a way that the widened contacting surface of the vessel contacts the secondary widened contacting surface of the cover plate.

According to an embodiment, the present invention relates to the method as described above, wherein the widened contacting surface of the vessel and the ary widened contacting surface of the cover plate are sealed together by a welding technique.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of a g device as described above, for milking animal species of the order Lagomorpha, in particular a rabbit and/or a hare, more in particular a genetically engineered rabbit.

Advantageous embodiments are further deﬁned by the dependent claims.

Brief description of drawings Below, the invention will be explained with reference to some drawings, which are intended for illustration purposes only and not to limit the scope of protection as deﬁned in the accompanying claims.

In the gs, Figure la and lb show a udinal cross-section of a milking device in an exploded view and an assembled view, respectively, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the vessel of the milking device, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the partition of the milking device, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the cover of the milking device, Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a teat cup of the milking device, and Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the milking device, and 2O Figure 7 schematically shows an installation comprising the milking device according to the invention.

In the ﬁgures, the same reference numerals refer to similar or cal components or es.

Detailed description Figure la and lb shows a longitudinal cross-section of a milking device according to an embodiment of the t invention, in an exploded and assembled view respectively.

The milking device 1 is a container which comprises a vessel 2 and a cover plate 3. The vessel 2 is formed as a volume deﬁned by outer side walls 2a and a bottom wall 2b, wherein the outer side walls 2a are joint to the perimeter of the bottom wall 2b.

The cover plate 3 is ed on and attached to the vessel 2 in such a way that a sealed volume is formed.

The volume of the vessel 2 is internally divided into a collecting chamber 4, a vacuum chamber 5 and an air intake chamber 6.

The collecting r 4 is separated from the air intake chamber 6 by a ﬁrst internal wall 7. The collecting chamber 4 and the air intake r 6 are in communication through a ﬁrst passage 9 which is arranged between the first internal wall 7 and the surface of the cover.

Further, the collecting chamber 4 is separated from the vacuum r 5 by a second internal wall 8. The collecting chamber 4 and the vacuum chamber 5 are in communication through a second passage 10 which is arranged between the second internal wall 8 and the surface of the cover.

Within the vessel 2, the collecting chamber 4 is arranged in between the air intake chamber 6 and the vacuum chamber 5, in such a way that in use, when a vacuum is maintained in the vacuum chamber, a ﬂow of air from the air intake chamber passes the collecting chamber before arriving in the vacuum chamber.

By arranging the chambers of the milking device in this manner, the separation of milk from the ﬂow of air towards the vacuum chamber is enhanced. In an embodiment, the air intake chamber may be arranged for producing a ﬂow of air that is pulsating so as to provide a pulsating re variation in the milking device which enhances the secretion of milk from the animal. 2O In an embodiment, within the first passage 9, a first edge 9A is ed on the inner e of the cover plate 3 as a guide and/or constriction for the air ﬂow from the air intake chamber to the collecting r, and within the second passage 10, a second edge 10A is arranged on the inner surface of the cover plate 3 as a guide and/or constriction for the air ﬂow from the collecting r to the vacuum chamber.

The cover plate 3 comprises a plurality of ts 15 which protrude from the outer surface of the cover plate 3 and extend through the cover plate 3 into the collecting chamber 4. An outlet portion 16 of each conduit 15 is arranged adjacent to the bottom surface of the collecting chamber 4. Each of the conduits 15 is coupled to a teat cup 30 by a ﬂexible tube 38. For reason of y, the coupling of the conduit 15 to its corresponding e tube 38 is only shown in figure 1b. (also see figure 6 and 7).

The ting chamber 4 comprises a partition wall 11 which extends from a top portion of the second internal wall 8 at the side of the vacuum chamber 5 to a bottom portion of the first internal wall 7 at the side of the air intake chamber 6. The partition wall 11 separates the collecting chamber 4 in a lower collecting r portion 4A and an upper collecting r portion 4B. This partition of the collecting chamber 4 insures separation of milk from the ﬂow of air while preventing build-up of froth towards the vacuum line.

The partition wall 11 comprises a plurality of openings on which tubings 12 are arranged. The tubings 12 extend from the partition wall to the cover plate 3.

The number of tubings 12 ponds to the number of ts 15. Each opening and tubing of the partition wall is arranged with an internal diameter and a position on the partition wall to allow passage of the corresponding conduit through the partition wall into the lower collecting chamber n.

The collecting chamber 4 comprises an outlet 21 for ﬂuid in the lower portion The air intake chamber 6 comprises an air inlet 17 for inlet of air. In an embodiment, the air-inlet comprises an inner air tube 18, which extends into the air intake chamber 6 towards the cover plate 3. The vacuum chamber 5 has a vacuum outlet 19. In an embodiment, the vacuum outlet 19 comprises an inner vacuum tube 20, which extends into the vacuum chamber 5 towards the cover plate 3.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the vessel of the g device.

In an embodiment, the vessel 2 has an elongated shape with rounded end 2O sections in which the vacuum chamber 5 and air intake chamber 6 are positioned at a tive end portion.

A perimeter surface of an upper edge of the vessel 2 is arranged with a widened contacting surface 22 for connection with the cover plate 3. The widened contacting surface 22 may have a e which mates with a proﬁle on a perimeter surface of the cover plate 3 (not shown).

Figures 3A and 3B shows a perspective view of the partition wall of the milking device of an upper surface 11A and a lower surface 11B, tively.

The partition wall 11 of the milking device 1 consists of a plate which can be positioned in the collecting chamber 4 of the milking device.

In an embodiment, the partition wall is oned in a detachable manner within the collecting chamber 4.

The plate of the partition wall comprises a plurality of openings 24, of which the locations correspond with the locations of the conduits 15 in the cover plate 3 (not shown). At the upper surface of the partition wall 11, the tubings 12 are ed at the location of the openings 24. The length of each tubing is d to the orientation of the partition wall in its position within the collecting chamber 4. Each tubing has such a length that a free end 12A of the tubing 12 extends to the level of the inner surface of the cover plate 3, when the cover plate is ed on the vessel 2.

The length of the tubings 12 varies lengthwise along the partition wall 11, since the partition wall is positioned in the collecting chamber 4 under a g angle.

Figures 4A and 4B show a perspective view of an outer and an inner surface respectively, of the cover plate of the milking device.

Figure 4A shows the outer surface of the over plate 3. The outer surface of the cover plate 3 comprises outward extensions 15A of the conduits 15. Each outward extension 15A can be connected to a ﬂexible tube 38 (not shown) of which a distal end can be equipped with a teat cup.

The outward extensions are arranged in two rows along the udinal center line of the cover plate 3 so as to coincide with the positions of the tubings 12 of the partition wall 11. Further, in an embodiment, the outer surface comprises a series of posts 26, which are each shaped to receive the opening of a teat cup. Each post 26 can serve as a support for a teat cup, when not in use. This helps seal the teat cup and avoid air being sucked into the milk chamber when not all nipples of the rabbit are used to 2O milk. In an ment, the posts 26 are arranged along a longitudinal side of the cover plate 3.

In an embodiment, a rib 27 is positioned in a center portion on the outer surface of the cover plate 3. Such a rib provides an increase in mechanical strength of the cover plate 3, when during use, a vacuum is created within the milking device. This rib is present at this position to simplify tion as a feed channel for the plastic material.

This rib has no technical impact on the milking of animals or a functioning of the device while milking.

Figure 4B shows the inner surface of the cover plate 3, that faces towards the collecting chamber 4. The cover plate 3 is equipped with the ts 15 that extend perpendicular from the surface of the cover plate. Further, the cover plate 3 comprises on its inner surface the edge 9A and the second edge 10A. The ﬁrst edge 9A is arranged at a location between the first e 9 in the first internal wall 7 and the collecting chamber in the vessel 2. The second edge 10A is arranged at a location n the second passage 10 in the second internal wall 8 and the collecting chamber 4.

A perimeter surface of an edge of the inner e of the cover plate 3is arranged with a secondary widened contacting surface 28 for connection with the contacting surface 22 of the vessel 2. The secondary widened contacting surface 28 may have a proﬁle which mates with the proﬁle on the perimeter surface of the vessel In an embodiment, the conduits 15 are integral with the cover plate.

Advantageously, such a construction can be obtained by injection moulding of the cover plate and the ts 15 (and the corresponding extensions 15A) as an al workpiece.

Alternatively, the conduits 15 and the corresponding extensions 15A are formed separately from the cover plate 3 and are ﬁxed to the cover plate.

Similarly, the posts 26 can be either integral with the cover plate or ﬁxed to the cover plate.

Figures 5A and 5B show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a teat cup of the milking .

A teat cup 30 for use with the milking device 1, is a tube 36, 37 which comprises a proximal portion 30, a center portion 32 and a distal portion 33. 2O The proximal portion is, in use, closest to the lactating rabbit and has an g 34, which is arranged to accept the teat of a lactating rabbit.

The proximal portion has a d surface so as to avoid injury to the rabbit.

The distal portion of the teat cup is ed for connection through the ﬂexible tube 38 (not shown) to the milking device of the present invention. The distal portion may be tapered for simplifying the connection with the ﬂexible tube.

Figure 5B shows a lengthwise cross-section of the teat cup. In the al portion 31, the teat cup has a widened tube portion 36 with, at a location in the center portion, a transition to a tube n 37 with a smaller diameter. The transition is arranged in such a way that the teat cup can be removably attached to one of the posts 26 on the cover plate 3.

In an embodiment, the internal diameter of the widened tube 36 is about 5 mm, and the smaller diameter tube 37 has a diameter of about 3 mm. The depth of the widened tube portion is about 12 mm, while the total length of the teat cup is about 33 Typically, the teat cup 30 is injection moulded from a plastic such as polypropylene. Advantageously, ion moulding allows to provide smooth surfaces without irregularities such as burrs that could injure the .

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the milking device in an assembled state.

For reason of clarity, ﬁgure 6 shows only one teat cup 30 that is connected by a respective ﬂexible tube 38 to one of the ts (15) of the cover plate.

Figure 7 schematically shows an installation comprising the milking device according to the invention.

The installation comprises the milking device according to the invention, a vacuum pump 40, a roller pump 42 and an air inlet device 44. Further, the installation comprises a number of teat cups each connected by a ﬂexible tube 38 to one of the conduits 15 of the cover plate 3. For use with rabbits, the number of teat cups connected to the milking device is typically eight.

An inlet of the vacuum pump 40 is connected over a conduit with the vacuum outlet 19 of the vacuum chamber 5. An inlet of the roller pump 42 which may be a displacement pump or peristaltic pump, is connected over a conduit with the outlet 21 ofthe collecting r 4. The roller pump is conﬁgured to pump milk from the 2O collecting chamber to a milk container 43. Advantageously, the roller pump allows to close off the low pressure in the milking device from the outer pressure in the milk container.

The air inlet valve 44 is connected to the air inlet 17 of the air inlet chamber 6.

In an embodiment, the air inlet valve 44 is conﬁgured to e an, in ation, opened and closed aperture for inlet of air or a gas such as nitrogen, into the air inlet chamber 6. In this manner, a pulsating pressure can be generated in the g device.

Such a pulsation facilitates the secretion of milk from the lactating animal.

According to an aspect of the invention, the g device is ctured from plastic.

In an embodiment, the vessel 2, the cover plate 3 and the ion wall 11 are each manufactured by means of injection moulding.

A very suitable plastic for this purpose is polypropylene or polyethylene. In a further embodiment for medical applications, a high grade polypropylene or hylene is used as plastic material compatible with medical hygiene practice. In a further embodiment, the milking device is ed as a disposable.

The manufacturing further comprises that the partition wall 11 is inserted into the collecting chamber 4 of the vessel 2. The cover plate 3 is positioned on the vessel 2 in such a way that the widened contacting e 22 of the vessel 2 contacts the secondary widened contacting surface 28 of the cover plate 3.

Subsequently, the widened ting surface 22 of the vessel 2 and the secondary widened contacting surface 28 of the cover plate 3 are sealed er by a welding technique. Such a welding technique may comprise friction g. ing to an aspect of the invention, the milking device as described above, is designed for use of milking animal species of the order Lagomorpha, in particular rabbits and/or hares, more in particular genetically engineered rabbits. The milking device as outlined herein is especially suited for milking s. However, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the technical aspects of the claimed device and its use can be extended to other (larger or smaller) animals, generally by adjusting its size and dimensions and number of in- and outlets, the applied synthetic material and form.

Claims

1. A milking device comprising a vessel and cover plate; the vessel and the cover plate forming a sealed volume; the sealed volume being 5 internally divided into a collecting chamber, a vacuum chamber and an air intake chamber; the collecting r being arranged n the vacuum chamber and the air intake chamber; the vessel having a first internal wall that separates the collecting chamber from the air 10 intake chamber, a first passage between the collecting chamber and the air intake chamber being arranged at the first internal wall; the vessel having a second internal wall that separates the collecting r from the vacuum chamber, a second passage between the collecting chamber and the vacuum chamber being arranged at the second internal wall; 15 wherein the milking device comprises a partition wall which s from a top portion of the second internal wall at the side of the vacuum chamber to a bottom portion of the first internal wall at the side of the air intake chamber and which separates the ting chamber in a lower collecting chamber portion and an upper collecting chamber portion; 20 the cover plate comprises a plurality of conduits which protrude from an outer surface of the cover plate and extend through the cover plate into the collecting chamber; an outlet portion of each conduit being adjacent to a bottom surface of the collecting r; and the partition wall comprises a ity of openings on which tubings are arranged, the 25 number of tubings ponds to the number of conduits; the tubings ing from the partition wall to the cover plate in such a way that each opening and tubing of the partition wall is arranged with an internal diameter and a position on the partition wall to allow passage of the corresponding conduit of the cover plate through the partition wall into the lower collecting chamber portion, 30 wherein an outer surface of the cover plate comprises outward extensions of the conduits, arranged for connection to a le tube of which a distal end can be equipped with a teat cup; n the collecting chamber has an outlet for fluid, the air inlet chamber has an air inlet, and the vacuum chamber has a vacuum outlet.

2. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the first passage is arranged 5 between the first internal wall and an internal surface of the cover plate, and the second passage is arranged n the second internal wall and an internal surface of the cover plate.

3. The milking device according to claim 1, n a perimeter surface of an 10 upper edge of the vessel is arranged with a widened contacting surface and the cover plate is arranged with a secondary widened contacting surface in such a way that the widened contacting surface of the vessel contacts the secondary widened contacting surface of the cover plate. 15

4. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the cover plate comprises a series of posts that are each shaped to receive the opening of one teat cup, each post serving as a support for the teat cup.

5. The milking device according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate comprises on 20 its inner e a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being arranged at a location between the first e in the first internal wall and the collecting chamber, the second edge being arranged at a location corresponding between the second passage in the second internal wall and the collecting chamber. 25

6. The milking device ing to any one of the preceding claims, n any one of the vessel, the cover plate, and ion wall is manufactured from a plastic.

7. A milking installation comprising a milking device according to claim 6, a vacuum pump, a roller pump and an air inlet device, an inlet of the vacuum pump being 30 connected over a conduit with the vacuum outlet of the vacuum chamber, an inlet of the roller pump being connected over a conduit with the outlet for fluid of the ting chamber, a valve of the air inlet device being connected to the air inlet of the air inlet chamber.

8. The milking installation according to claim 7, wherein an outlet of the roller pump is in fluid communication with a container for collecting fluid from the collecting chamber.

9. The milking installation according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the valve of the air inlet device is configured to e an, in alternation, opened and closed aperture for inlet of air or a gas such as nitrogen, into the air inlet chamber.

10 10. The milking installation according to any one of claims 7 – 9, further comprising a number of teat cups each connected by a tive flexible tube to one of the conduits of the cover plate.

11. A method of manufacturing a milking device according to any one of the claims 15 1 - 6, comprising: casting or injection moulding of the vessel, the cover plate and the partition wall from a plastic.

12. The method according to claim 11, sing: 20 inserting the partition wall into the collecting chamber of the vessel; positioning the cover plate on the vessel in such a way that the widened contacting surface of the vessel contacts the ary widened contacting e of the cover plate. 25

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the widened contacting e of the vessel and the secondary widened contacting surface of the cover plate are sealed together by a welding technique.

14. A use of a milking device according to any one of the claims 1 – 6, for milking 30 animal species of the order Lagomorpha.

15. A use according to claim 14, wherein the animal species is a rabbit and/or a hare.

16. A use according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the animal species is a genetically engineered rabbit. 5

17. A milking device substantially as herein described or exemplified, with nce to the accompanying drawings.

18. A milking installation substantially as herein bed or exemplified, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method according to claim 11, substantially as herein described or exemplified.

20. A use according to claim 14, substantially as herein described or exemplified. WO 99470