WO2000070934A1

WO2000070934A1 - Animal stall with gate adapted for goading the animal

Info

Publication number: WO2000070934A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001014
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Martin SJÖLUND
Original assignee: Delaval Holding Ab
Priority date: 1999-05-21
Filing date: 2000-05-19
Publication date: 2000-11-30
Also published as: SE9901859L; AU4968700A; SE9901859D0

Abstract

An animal stall (1) defining an animal space (6) for one animal (16), comprising an entrance gate (8), an exit gate (9) openable and closable by means of driving means (11, 12) associated with said control means, said gates being pivotable about substantially vertical axes. According to the invention, at least one of the gates (8, 9) is capable of swinging into the animal space (6) and is arranged to, when the animal is to move, goad the animal from behind.

Description

ANIMAL STALL WITH GATE ADAPTED FOR GOATING THE ANIMAL

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an animal stall defining an animal space for one animal comprising an entrance gate openable and closable by means of a first driving means associated with a control means and an exit gate openable and closable by means of a second driving means associated with said control means, said gates being pivotable about substantially vertical axes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such stalls are well known in the art, for instance from EP-A-0 270 165, wherein an animal stall is intended to be used for automatically performing milking on an animal present in the animal space. Such a stall is often referred to as an automatic milking stall.

The animal can be lured into the stall by the presence of food or by some attractive sound, or it might wish to be milked etc. The automatic milking stall is operated by control means, which operates, among other parts of the stall, the entrance and exit gates, identifies animals using sensors and performs specific events, such as milk- ing. The animal enters the animal stall through an entrance gate, is milked and thereafter, presumably, moves out of the stall through an exit gate.

In order to obtain efficient use of an animal stall it is desirable that each animal leaves the stall as soon as possible after the desired operation has been performed. Frequently, however, animals hesitate and stop for a moment, for some reason, when they are about to exit a stall. This delays animal traffic. Also, when an animal is about to exit, problems may occur if another animal tries to enter the stall through the exit gate. As a result, the animal inside stops, thus causing a temporary stop in the traffic. In EP 0 451 906 an attempt is made to make an animal leave the stall quickly. The head of the animal is pushed towards the exit gate by a rod, arranged near the head of the animal. Hereby the animal is forced out of the stall, allowing the animal no access to the fodder bin and thus excluding one of the reasons for staying. This is a brute way of directing the animals.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and more flexible stall for allowing a more efficient animal traffic through a stall. It is desirable to be able to direct the animal traffic to a most possible extent, in particular to achieve a fast operation, but at the same time treating the animals in a humane way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention has been achieved by an animal stall of the type defined in the introduction which is characterised in that at least one of the gates is capable of swinging into the animal space and is arranged to, when the animal is to move, goad the animal from behind. Hereby is achieved that either the animal is goaded into the stall, to move inside the stall or to move out of the animal stall.

Suitably, both gates are capable of swinging into the animal space, for goading the animal from behind.

Preferably, the gates are synchronised so that first the entrance gate, and then the exit gate, goads the animal out of the animal space. Hereby the two gates cause the animal to move.

Preferably, at least one of the gates is rotatably mounted. Hereby is achieved that a rotating gate can "sweep away" animals so that a zone free of animals is obtained, thus eliminating crowding at the gate. Suitably, at least one of the gates comprises a one way mechanism. Hereby is achieved that the driving means are partly relieved of some of the forces active during the goading and that the animal is not allowed to back and is moved forward using said driving means.

Appropriately at least one of the gates is adapted to temporarily allow a slightly reversed motion in comparison to the rotational motion of the goading. Hereby a more humane gate is achieved, wherein the gate is allowing irregular walk of the animal, pushing but ready to yield if it bumps hard into the animal when small pauses occur in the walk, etc.

Preferably, at least one of the gates has a reversible one-way mechanism and driving means adapted to be able to change the direction of the rotation. Hereby is achieved that when the entrance gate is in a position within the animal space it is possible for the entrance gate to change the direction and goad an animal trying to enter the entrance gate backwards out of the animal space. An animal can also be admitted entrance by opening the gate outwards and then closing it inwards. Later on the operation of goading the animal is performed.

Suitably, the entrance gate is arranged to close after goading the animal. Hereby is achieved that animals not wanted in the stall are denied entrance.

Appropriately the entrance gate is arranged to stay open after goading the animal. Hereby a defined passage is achieved allowing entrance of only one animal of a de- fined kind or breed at a time.

Preferably, the exit gate is arranged to close after goading the animal out of the animal space. Hereby is achieved that the animals are hindered from entering the stall the wrong way and if animals would attempt to enter the wrong way, they are goaded out of the animal stall. Suitably, there is a guide member at the entrance gate, defining a passage adapted to allow passage of only one animal, of a predetermined kind or breed, at a time.

Suitably, a pre-stall is mounted at the entrance gate and is oriented so that it creates a defined passage, adapted to allow entrance of only one animal of a predetermined kind or breed at a time, said entrance gate being capable of swinging through the pre-stall.

Suitably, there is a guard rail, extending in an arcuate manner, to create a protection for the animals from a rotating gate, at the same time defining a passage for only one animal at a time of a predetermined kind or breed.

Preferably a left long side fencing of a stall comprises an entrance gate, an exit gate and a fixed part in-between the gates.

Suitably the entrance gate is mounted at a rear fencing of said stall and the exit gate is mounted at a front fencing,

Preferably, the entrance gate and the exit gate are mounted in a predetermined angle relative to the left long side fencing.

Alternatively a fodder bin is attached to the exit gate. Hereby is provided a further way to lure the animal out of the stall, by removing the fodder bin, whereby the animal will follow the fodder bin out of the stall.

Suitably, at least one of the said rotatable gates comprises a further rotatable gate mounted at the same axis.

Suitably, an animal identification means associated with said control means is pro- vided for allowing identification of animal individuals. Hereby is achieved that the control means can control for example; if its milking time for the animal and it is to be admitted, if the animal is sick and it is not to be milked, only to be fed.

Preferably, an operation means associated with said control means is provided for performing an animal related operation on an animal in the animal space.

Preferably, said exit gate is adapted to be opened outwards and said entrance gate is adapted to be moved into the animal space after said operation has been performed.

Suitably, the gates are operated with a time delay after the established end of said performed operation.

Suitably, said operation means comprises a robot arm and at least one animal related device.

Preferably, said animal related device comprises at least one teatcup adapted to be attached to a teat of the animal by means of said robotic arm, for performing milking of the teat, and/or a teat cleaning device, and or a teat after-treatment device.

Suitably, each teatcup is associated with a sensor for establishing a ceasing milk flow from a corresponding teat, wherein the milking is finished when the sensor of each attached teatcup has sensed a ceasing milk flow. Hereby is achieved a way of determining if optional further treatment should start or if the end of the treatment has been achieved and operation of the gates should be started.

Appropriately at least one of the gates is provided with a gate position sensor. Hereby a more precise control of the gates is achieved.

DRAWING SUMMARY In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figs. 1-4 are top views of a first embodiment of an animal stall comprising an entrance gate and an exit gate, in various stages of operation, and figs. 5-6 are top views of further embodiments of an animal stall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of an animal stall 1 having a front fencing 2, a right long side fencing 3, a rear fencing 4 and a left long side fencing 5 defining an animal space 6. The left long side comprises a fixed part 7, an entrance gate 8 and an exit gate 9, each gate being hinged about a vertical axis. Both the en- trance gate 8 and the exit gate 9 of the left long side fencing 5 forms an angle with the fixed part 7, each having their free end closer to the right long side fencing 3. This location of the gates provides easy passage through the stall. At the front fencing 2 a fodder bin 10 is placed.

A first driving means 11 is provided for moving the entrance gate 8, and a second driving means 12 is provided for moving the exit gate 9. Both the first and the second driving means 11, 12 are associated with a control means (not shown). Each of the driving means 11, 12 comprises a motor 13 and a belt drive 14 engaging a wheel 15 mounted to the entrance gate. A one-way mechanism (not shown) for instance a ratchet mechanism is mounted at each gate for allowing the gate to rotate only in one direction.

An animal identification means for establishing the identity of an animal, comprising a transponder 17 and a transponder reader 18, is provided. A cow 16 provided with a transponder 17 is shown about to enter the stall 1. The entrance gate 8 has been opened in response to a transponder reader 18 associated with the control means and adapted to read the transponder 17. The control means has established that the cow is allowed to enter the stall 1 by identifying it. During the opening movement of the entrance gate 8 only the first driving means 11 is activated. A open position A of the entrance gate 8 is arrived at by moving the gate inwards, in a direction counter-clockwise. This is achieved by the animal pushing at the entrance gate or by activating the first driving means 11. Whether a cow is allowed entrance or not is decided by the control means. It is also possible to have a open position B outside the animal space 6.

A robot 19 with a robot arm 20 and a gripper 21 is provided for performing different operations, such as pre-treatment, milking, after-treatment, cleaning of the fur, examining of health state etc. Furthermore, suitable devices to be handled by the robot are provided, such as teatcups 22, in the figure shown in a teatcup magazine 23, and a teat cleaning device 24 and a teat after-treatment device 25, such as a teat spray.

Figure 2 shows the animal stall of figure 1 in which the cow 16 is inside the stall 1 and the entrance gate 8 has closed. The robot 19 is now started in response to a sen- sor (not shown) associated with said control means and indicating that the entrance gate 8 is closed.

After performing an operation, such as milking and optionally after-treatment of the udder, the cow should be let out of the animal stall 1 as soon as possible, as shown in figure 3, in order to allow another cow to be treated in the stall. This is performed by opening the exit gate 9 to a open position C, by means of the second driving means 12 and by moving the entrance gate 8 into the animal space 6 by means of the first driving means 11.

Because of the one way mechanism in the entrance gate 8 the cow 16 is not allowed to back out, and at the same time the first drive means 1 1 creates a goading motion, forcing the cow out through the exit gate.

When the cow has reached the position shown in figure 4, the exit gate 9 has been rotated by the second driving means 12 from its open position C and has entered into the animal space 6, as shown. During continued rotation to its closed position the exit gate is goading the cow completely out of the stall. In this way the cow is not allowed to stop on its way out of the stall.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the entrance gate 8 is located in the rear fencing 4 and the exit gate 9 is located in the front fencing 2 where a fodder bin 10 is located. The fodder bin 10 moves with the exit gate 9, whereby the cow 1 is lured to follow the food. A further reason for moving out of the stall is thus presented. The entrance gate may still follow the movement of the cow sensing the exit.

In fig. 6 a third embodiment is shown, wherein the entrance gate 8 and exit gate 9 are mounted in line with the fixed part 7 of the left long side fencing 5. The stall 1 further comprises means for creating both at the entrance and at the exit a passage 26 of a predetermined width for admitting passage of one animal at a time of a pre- determined kind or breed. At the entrance gate a guide member 27 is protruding from the axis of the entrance gate 8, angled in relation to the fixed part 7 of the left long side fencing 5, for creating a defined passage. At the exit gate a curved guard rail 28 is extending from the fixed part 7 of the left long side fencing 5 along the circular path travelled by the end of the exit gate, creating a safe area within which the exit gate 9 can rotate. The guard rail 28 creates a defined passage at the exit gate 9 since it ends at a certain distance from the front fencing 2.

In fig. 7 a fourth embodiment is shown, where at a stall 1 according to fig. 6, a pre- stall 29 is located at the entrance gate 8. The pre-stall 29 is an extra stall for achiev- ing an even better control of the admittance through the entrance gate 8, controlling that only one cow at a time is waiting to enter the animal space 6. The pre-stall 29 is located at the entrance gate 8 of the animal stall in angled relation to the fixed part 7 of the left long side fencing 5 of the stall 1. One cow is here shown waiting in the pre-stall 29 while another in the animal space 6 is being milked. The control means decides when the entrance gate 8 is to remain in an inner open position A, rotate through the left long side fencing 5 to an outer open position B and temporarily stop at a predetermined position out of the animal stall, creating a defined passage for only one animal at a time, or be closed.

Subsequently the cow next in line is allowed to enter if the entrance gate 8 remains in the position inside the stall 1 or if the entrance gate 8 is rotated to the open outer position.

When a cow is not allowed entrance by the system but still remains at the entrance gate 8, blocking the way for other cows, it is possible to remove the blocking cow by allowing the cow to enter the animal space and using the gates to force it through without letting it stop. Obviously this process can be repeated until an appropriate cow appears at the entrance.

In a further embodiment (not shown) the one way mechanism at the entrance door 8 is reversible and the driving means adapted to be able to change the direction of the rotation, allowing the entrance gate to rotate in the other direction. An example of a reversible one way mechanism is the reversible ratchet mechanism, which is known and is therefore not described. Such a design is suitable when, for example an animal is not allowed entrance, but has entered the animal space 6 when the entrance gate is in the inner position A in the animal space 6. Then the entrance door changes direction to clockwise and goads the animal front out of the animal space 6.

In a further embodiment the gates are adapted to temporarily allow a slightly reverse motion, so that if an animal stops and tries to move backwards or the gate stop the gate can yield slightly for example using a spring.

It should be noted that the mounting of the gates in the embodiments are shown only as examples. Each gate could for instance also be a double gate, having two wings. Either solidly attached to each other or two gates individual attached at the same axis, wherein two driving means are used for separately controlling each gate wing.

It should be noted that the means for creating a defined passage (27, 28) as shown in figure 6, could be adapted so that the same kind of means are used at both gates.

Further examples of how a constant defined passage can be made are easily conceivable and therefore the present invention is not limited by the examples given here.

It should be noted that drive means shown in fig. 1 are not shown in the figures 2-7, since they are shown as an example. Other types of drive means could as well be used.

It should be noted that the above mentioned operation and embodiments are made to elucidate the present invention, but does not limit the scope of the invention.

It should also be noted that the animal stall according to the invention is intended to be adapted to different kinds of lactating animals, such as cows, sheep, goats, horses and buffaloes.

It is noted that the driving means could alternatively comprise a single motor capable of operating both gates.

It should be noted that the entrance gate can be used to goad the animal as it enters the stall, if it hesitates in its motion and for some reason stops. This can be achieved using motion sensors, sending signals to the controlling means.

Claims

1. An animal stall (1) defining an animal space (6) for one animal (16), comprising an entrance gate (8) an exit gate (9) openable and closable by means of driving means (11, 12) associated with said control means, said gates being pivotable about substantially vertical axes characterised in that at least one of the gates (8,9) is capable of swinging into the animal space (6) and is arranged to, when the animal is to move, goad the animal from behind.

2. An animal stall (1) according to claim 1, wherein both gates (8,9) are capable of swinging into the animal space (6), for goading the animal (16) from behind.

3. An animal stall according to claim 2, wherein the gates (8,9) are synchronised so that first the entrance gate(8), and then the exit gate(9), goads the animal out of the animal space (6).

4. An animal stall (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the gates (8,9) is rotatably mounted.

5. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the gates (8,9) comprises a one way mechanism.

6. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the gates (8,9) is adapted to temporarily allow a slightly reversed motion in comparison to the rotational motion of the goading.

7. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the gates (8,9) has a reversable one-way mechanism and driving means (11,12) adapted to be able to change the direction of the rotation.

8. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein the entrance gate

(8) is arranged to close after goading the animal (16).

9. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein the entrance gate (8) is arranged to stay open after goading the animal (16).

10. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein the exit gate

(9) is arranged to close after goading the animal out of the animal space (6).

11. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, comprising a guide member (27) at the entrance gate (8), defining a passage (26) adapted to allow passage of only one animal, of a predetermined kind or breed, at a time.

12. An animal stall according any of the previous claims, comprising a pre-stall (29) mounted at the entrance gate (8) and oriented so that it creates a defined passage

(26), adapted to allow entrance of only one animal of a predetermined kind or breed at a time, said entrance gate being capable of swinging through the pre-stall.

13. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, comprising a guard rail (28), extending in an arcuate manner to create a protection for the animals from a rotating gate, at the same time defining a passage for only one animal at a time of a predetermined kind or breed.

14. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein a left long side fencing (5) of said stall comprises an entrance gate(8), an exit gate (9) and a fixed part (7) in-between the gates.

15. An animal stall according to any of the claims 1-13, wherein the entrance gate (8) is mounted at a rear fencing (4) of said stall and the exit gate (9) is mounted at a front fencing (2).

16. An animal stall according to any of the claims 1-15, wherein the entrance gate (8) and the exit gate (9) when closed are mounted in a predetermined angle relative to the left long side fencing (5).

17. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein a fodder bin (10) is attached to the exit gate (9).

18. An animal stall according to any of the claims 4-17, wherein at least one of the said rotatable gates (8, 9) comprises a further rotatable gate mounted at the same axis.

19. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein an animal identification means (17, 18) associated with said control means is provided for allowing identification of animal individuals.

20. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein an operation means (19) associated with said control means is provided for performing an animal related operation on an animal in the animal space (6).

21. An animal stall according to claim 20, wherein said exit gate (9) is adapted to be opened and said entrance gate (8) is adapted to be moved into the animal space (6) after said operation has been performed.

22. An animal stall according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the gates are operated with a time delay after the established end of said performed operation.

23. An animal stall according to any of the claims 20 to 22, wherein said operation means (19) comprises a robot arm (20) and at least one animal related device (22, 23, 24).

24. An animal stall according to claim 23, wherein said animal related device comprises at least one teatcup (22) adapted to be attached to a teat of the animal by means of said robotic arm (20), for performing milking of the teat, and/or a teat cleaning device (24), and or a teat after-treatment device (25).

25. An animal stall according to claim 24, wherein each teatcup is associated with a sensor for establishing a ceasing milk flow from a corresponding teat, wherein the milking is finished when the sensor of each attached teatcup has sensed a ceasing milk flow.

26. An animal stall according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the gates is provided with a gate position sensor.