Milking parlour with long milk tube support arrangement

Abstract

A milking parlour arrangement (1) is disclosed, comprising a milking stall (2) configured to accommodate an animal during milking of the animal, said milking stall (2) being located on a milking platform (3), an operator pit (4) provided at a rear end (5) of the milking platform (3), said operator pit (4) having an operator pit floor (6) which is lower in level than the milking platform (3), a milking apparatus (7) comprising a teat cup cluster (8), and a long milk tube (9) connected to the teat cup cluster (8), said milking apparatus being configured to be in an active state when the teat cup cluster (8) is attached to teats of the animal in the milking stall (2), and in an inactive state when the teat cup cluster (8) is suspended into the operator pit (4). A cradle (10) is attached to the long milk tube and an attachment body (11) is provided at the rear end of the milking platform (3), wherein one of the cradle (10) and the attachment body (11) comprises a magnet and the other of the cradle (10) and the attachment body (11) comprises a ferromagnetic material, and wherein in said active state the cradle (10) is attached to the attachment body (11) by a magnetic attraction force therebetween.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a milking parlour arrangement comprising; a milking stall configured to accommodate an animal during milking of the animal, said milking stall being located on a milking platform; an operator pit provided at a rear end of the milking platform, said operator pit having an operator pit floor which is lower in level than the milking platform; and a milking apparatus comprising a teat cup cluster and a long milk tube connected to the teat cup cluster, said milking apparatus being configured to be in an active state when the teat cup cluster is attached to teats of the animal in the milking stall, and to be in an inactive state when the teat cup cluster is suspended into the operator pit.

[0002] In a rotary parlour, the milking stall can also be the milking platform.

[0003] The rear end of the milking platform referred to here is the end of the platform towards which the animal, typically a cow, is assumed to face during milking. The operator is assumed to stand in the operator pit when pre-treating and attaching teat cup cluster liners to teats of an animal to be milked and / or post-treating teats of an animal that has been milked. BACKGROUND

[0004] In some milking parlour arrangements, a tube holder is provided to hold the long milk tube and pulsation tube in such a position that the teat cup cluster is in a good position and such that an even weight distribution from these tubes and the teat cup cluster is exerted on the teats of the animal. The tube holder holds these tubes in such a good position while the teat cup cluster is attached to the animal in the active position. However, after milking is completed, when the teat cup cluster is detached from the animal, the tube holder hinders the operator from post-treating the just milked animal or preparing for the next animal to be milked. A tube holder according to the prior art is disclosed in WO 2010 14811, for example.

[0005] Invention objectives

[0006] The object of the present invention is to present a milking parlour arrangement comprising a tube holder of a long milk tube, which tube holder enables stable holding of the milk tube when the teat cup cluster is in its active position, and which tube holder does not hinder the operator when the teat cup cluster is in the inactive position, while the operator stands in the operator pit to post-treat the freshly milked animal or to prepare for the next animal to be milked. Thus, the tube holder should allow the operator to easily attach and adjust the long milk tube during the operation in order to achieve proper tube alignment in the supported position when the teat cup cluster is in the active milking position. Proper tube alignment and support provide said even weight distribution from the teat cup cluster, which results in more efficient milking performance. Proper tube alignment and support should also provide easy detachment of the long milk tube from the supported position after the milking is completed, so that the operator can move away the tube holder and the milk tube. SUMMARY

[0007] The object of the present invention is achieved by means of a milking parlour arrangement comprising,

[0008] - a milking stall configured to accommodate an animal during milking of the animal,

[0009] said milking stall is located on a milking platform,

[0010] - an operator pit provided at a rear end of the milking platform, said operator pit having an operator pit floor, the level of which is lower than the level of the milking platform,

[0011] - a milking apparatus comprising

[0012] - a teat cup cluster, and

[0013] - a long milk tube connected to the teat cup cluster,

[0014] - said milking apparatus is configured to be in an active state when the teat cup cluster is attached to the teat of the animal in the milking stall, and in an inactive state when the teat cup cluster is suspended into the operator pit,

[0015] The milking parlour arrangement is characterized in that it comprises a cradle attached to the long milk tube and an attachment body provided at the rear end of the milking platform, wherein one of the cradle and the attachment body comprises a magnet and the other of the cradle and the attachment body comprises a ferromagnetic material, and in said active state the cradle is attached to the attachment body by magnetic attraction force therebetween.

[0016] In this way, at the start of the milking sequence, the operator can easily attach the cradle to the attachment body. The long milking tube is supported in the cradle and can be adjusted during operation to achieve proper tube alignment with the attached milking cluster. Furthermore, upon detachment of the milking cluster from the udder of the animal, the tube will follow the movement of the milking cluster, thereby detaching the cradle from the attachment body, so that the cradle including the milking tube does not hinder the operator in performing post-treatments on the animal, etc.

[0017] The rear end of the milking platform is one side or edge of the turning operator pit of the platform and can thus define a wall portion of the operator pit.

[0018] According to one embodiment, in said inactive state, the cradle is detached from the attachment body.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the magnet is a permanent magnet.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the attachment body comprises a ferromagnetic material and the cradle comprises a magnet.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the cradle comprises a sleeve with a through hole for connecting the cradle to the long milk tube, wherein an outer portion of the sleeve has a magnet holder with a pocket in which a permanent magnet is arranged.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the magnet is an electromagnet.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the milking parlour arrangement comprises a control unit for controlling operation of the electromagnet, and the control unit is configured to control the electromagnet based on input received manually from an operator and / or input received automatically from a sensor.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the milking parlour arrangement is a rotary milking parlour arrangement with a plurality of milking stalls distributed around a common rotation axis.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the milking parlour arrangement comprises a sensor for sensing a rotational position of said rotary milking parlour or of an individual milking stall and a control unit for controlling the electromagnet based on input received from said sensor. As an alternative, the sensor can be a sensor for sensing a position of a milking cluster, a milk flow through a milk tube or any other parameter reflecting a status of a milking session.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the mutual attraction presented by the magnet and the ferromagnetic material exceeds the gravitational force acting on the long milk tube (and the long pulsing tube) and is lower than the gravitational force acting on the milking cluster in combination with the milking platform. The magnetic attraction should be such that the carriage will separate from the attachment body as a result of the downward pressure thus created by the milking cluster and the milking tube and possibly further tubes attached to the carriage, taking into account the additional structural features of the parts involved (such as the milking cluster, the tube) and the height at which the milking cluster falls from the milking platform into the operator pit and exerts a force on the carriage.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the milking parlour arrangement comprises a cluster removal device which is connected by a rope to the milking cluster and is configured to retract the rope in order to pull the milking cluster out of the teat of the animal after the end of the milking operation. The cluster removal device is configured to pull the cluster into the operator pit. According to an embodiment, the cluster removal device comprises an arm which extends to a position above the operator pit, wherein the rope is guided by said arm such that when the rope is in the retracted, inactive state, the milking cluster will hang from said arm into the operator pit.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the cluster removal device is configured to cause the milking cluster to automatically fall into a position inside the operator pit, in the inactive state the milking cluster hanging from the cluster removal device in the operator pit in a position below the level at which the attachment body is positioned.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the attachment body is an integral part of the milking platform or is attached to the rear end edge of the milking platform. The attachment body can comprise a plate or the like.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the milking parlour arrangement comprises a pulsing tube which is configured to provide a pulsating vacuum to the milking cluster, and which is connected to and held by said carriage. The pulsing tube generally extends parallel to the long milk tube.

[0031] Further features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the milking parlour arrangement in an active state,

[0034] Figure 2 is Figure 1 is a view of the arrangement shown in an inactive state,

[0035] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the milking parlour arrangement in an active state,

[0036] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment on a rotary milking parlour arrangement, and

[0037] Figures 5a to 5c different views of the embodiment on a carriage in a milking parlour arrangement are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 A milking parlour arrangement 1 according to the invention is shown. The milking parlour arrangement comprises a milking stall 2 configured to accommodate an animal during milking of the animal. The milking stall 2 is located on a milking platform 3. The milking platform can be a stationary platform or a rotating platform. An operator pit 4 is provided at a rear end 5 of the milking platform 3, said operator pit 4 having an operator pit floor 6 which is lower in level than the level of the milking platform 3.

[0039] The milking parlour arrangement 1 further comprises a milking apparatus 7 comprising a cluster of milking cups 8 and a long milk pipe 9 connected to the cluster of milking cups 8. Further provided in parallel to the long milk pipe 9 is a pulsation pipe 19 configured to provide a pulsating vacuum to the cluster of cups 8. In Figure 1 the active state, the milking apparatus 7 is in an active state in which the cluster of milking cups 8 is attached to teats of an animal in the milking stall 2. On the other hand, Figure 2 a non-active state is shown after or before the milking sequence in which the cluster of milking cups 8 is removed from the animal and is suspended into the operator pit 4.

[0040] One end of the long milk pipe 9 is connected to the cluster of cups 8 and the other end is connected to a milk line (not shown) arranged at a level below the level of the milking platform 3. Said milk line can be arranged below the milking platform 3.

[0041] The milking parlour arrangement 1 further comprises a carriage 10 attached to the long milk pipe 9 and the pulsation pipe 19 and an attachment body 11 comprising a plate attached to a rear end edge or rim of the milking platform 3. One of the carriage 10 and the attachment body 11 comprises a magnet and the other of the carriage 10 and the attachment body 11 comprises a ferromagnetic material. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the attachment body 11 comprises the ferromagnetic material and the carriage 10 comprises the magnet, and the magnet is a permanent magnet.

[0042] In Figure 1 the active state, the carriage 10 is attached to the attachment body 11 by a magnetic attraction force therebetween. In Figure 2In the inactive state shown, the carriage 10 is detached from the attachment body 11. The length and position of the long milk tube 9 portion extending from the carriage 10 to the cup cluster 8 can be adjusted, and the position of the attachment body 11 is such that in the active state, when the milking cup cluster 8 is attached to the teats of the animal, the long milk tube 9 and the pulsation tube 19 will be aligned with the milking cup cluster 8 and partially lifted by the connection between the carriage 10 and the attachment body 11. Thus, the long milk tube and the pulsation tube will be properly aligned and will not exert any substantial downward pressure on the milking cup cluster 8. Consequently, the animal will experience less pulling force from the milking cup cluster 8, the long milk tube 9 and the pulsation tube 19.

[0043] In Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the rear end 5 of the milking platform 3 is a side or rim of the operator pit 4 of the milking platform 3, which side defines a wall portion of the operator pit 4.

[0044] Figure 3 An embodiment is shown in which the attachment body 12 carries a magnet and the magnet is an electromagnet. In this embodiment, the carriage 13 comprises a ferromagnetic material. In the active state of the electromagnet, the carriage 13 can be attached to the attachment body 12.

[0045] The milking parlour arrangement comprises a control unit 14 for controlling the operation of the electromagnet of the attachment body 12. The control unit 14 is configured to control the electromagnet based on input received manually from an operator. A push button 15 is also provided for manually activating and deactivating the electromagnet. A sensor 16 is also provided for sensing any one of the position of the milking cup cluster, the flow of milk through the long milk tube or any other parameter reflecting the status of the milking session. The control unit 14 is configured to control the electromagnet of the attachment body 12 based on input from the sensor 16. The control unit 14 can be configured to prioritize input from one of the push button 15 and the sensor 16. The push button 15 can be directly connected to the circuit powering the electromagnet and not connected to the control unit 14, whereby the push button 15 provides direct manual control of the electromagnet without involving the control unit 14. The control unit 14 including the push button 15 can also be incorporated into the shown cabinet including the milking cup cluster support arm 20.

[0046] Figure 4 Reference is made to Figure 3 The disclosed milking parlour arrangement is a perspective view of a rotary milking parlour arrangement having a plurality of milking stalls distributed around a common rotation axis. According to such an embodiment, the sensor 16 can be a sensor for sensing the rotational position of the rotary milking parlour or of an individual milking stall 2. Also, reference is made to Figure 1 The disclosed embodiment can be a rotary milking parlour arrangement corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figure 4 .

[0047] In both presented embodiments, the mutual attraction that the magnets and ferromagnetic material can present exceeds the gravitational force acting on the long milk tube 9 and the long pulsing tube 19 and is lower than the gravitational force acting on the milking cluster 8 in combination with the milk tube 9 and the pulsing tube 19. The magnetic attraction should be such that, taking into account the additional structural features of the parts involved, such as the milking cluster 8, the tubes 9, 19, and the height at which the milking cluster 8 falls from the milking platform 3 into the operator pit and exerts a force on the carriages 10, 13, the carriage 10 will at least detach from the attachment body 11, 12 as a result of the downward pressure of the cluster drop with the long milk tube 9 and the pulsing tube 19 attached to the carriage 10.

[0048] The milking parlour arrangement comprises a cluster removal device 17 which is connected to the milking cluster 8 by means of a rope 18. The cluster removal device 17 is configured to retract the rope 18 in order to pull the milking cluster 8 out of the teats of the animal after the end of the milking operation. The cluster removal device 17 is configured to pull the milking cluster 8 into the operator pit in an inactive state of the milking cluster 8, as shown in Figure 2 According to one embodiment, the cluster removal device 17 comprises an arm 20 which extends to a position above the operator pit 4. The rope 18 is guided by said arm such that, when the rope is in a retracted, inactive state, the cluster 8 will hang from said arm 20 into the operator pit 4.

[0049] The cluster removal device 17 is configured to cause the milking cluster 8 to automatically fall into a position inside the operator pit 4, in which the milking cluster 8 is at least initially hanging in the operator pit from the cluster removal device 17, in an inactive state, in a position below the level at which the attachment body 11, 12 is positioned.

[0050] Figures 5a to 5c Different views of the embodiment on the carriage 10 in the milking parlour arrangement 1 according to the invention are shown. Figure 5a A perspective view of the carriage 10 is shown, which comprises a sleeve 10a which forms a through-hole 10b for the long milk tube 9 of the milking cluster 8. The inner diameter of the through-hole 10b is thus adapted to the diameter of the long milk tube 9, such that the sleeve 10a fits tightly around the long milk tube 9. In this way, the carriage 10 will remain in the desired position and support the long milk tube 9 in the active milking position. However, the size of the through-hole 10b can be configured such that the position of the carriage 10 on the long milk tube 9 can be adjusted manually with the hand. Figure 5b A side view of the carriage 10 according to the embodiment is shown, in which Figure 5c A side view of the carriage 10 according to the embodiment is shown, in which Figure 5bFig. 2 shows a cross-section taken in the direction of A-A in Fig. 1. As can be seen, the cradle 10 also comprises a holder of permanent magnets 10d extending along the sleeve 10a on the outer portion. The permanent magnets 10d are arranged in pockets 10c of the holder. For example, the sleeve 10a and its magnet clips can be manufactured (moulded) integrally from a plastic material, wherein the permanent magnets 10d are inserted into the pockets 10c. Furthermore, the permanent magnets 10d can be fixed firmly in the pockets 10c by means of, for example, glue or resin. High-strength permanent magnets, such as neodymium magnets having a lifting capacity in the range of 9 to 13 kg, are preferably used in order to provide adequate support for the teat cup set and the tube. The permanent magnets 10d in the present embodiment are neodymium magnets having a lifting capacity of approximately 11 kg. The magnetic force should not be too strong, because it can hamper proper release during removal of the cup set and dropping of the cup set, and furthermore, it is difficult to adjust the position of the cradle during operation.

[0051] List of reference numbers

[0052] 1 milking parlour arrangement

[0053] 2 milking stall

[0054] 3 milking platform

[0055] 4 operator pit

[0056] 5 rear end

[0057] 6 operator pit floor

[0058] 7 milking apparatus

[0059] 8 teat cup set

[0060] 9 long milk tube

[0061] 10, 13 cradle

[0062] 10a sleeve of the cradle

[0063] 10b through hole of the long milk tube

[0064] 10c pocket of the permanent magnet

[0065] 10d permanent magnet

[0066] 11, 12 attachment body

[0067] 14 control unit

[0068] 15 push button

[0069] 16 sensor

[0070] 17 cup set removal device

[0071] 18 cord

[0072] 19 pulse tube

[0073] 20 arm

Claims

1. A milking parlour arrangement (1) comprising, - a milking stall (2) configured to accommodate an animal during milking of the animal, the milking stall (2) being located on a milking platform (3), - an operator pit (4) provided at a rear end (5) of the milking platform (3), the operator pit (4) having an operator pit floor (6) which is lower in level than the milking platform (3), - a milking apparatus (7) comprising: - a teat cup cluster (8), and - a long milk tube (9) connected to the teat cup cluster (8), - the milking apparatus being configured to be in an active state when the teat cup cluster (8) is attached to teats of the animal in the milking stall (2), and in an inactive state when the teat cup cluster (8) is suspended into the operator pit (4), characterized in that the milking parlour arrangement comprises a carrier (10, 13) attached to the long milk tube and an attachment body (11, 12) provided at the rear end of the milking platform (3), wherein one of the carrier (10, 13) and the attachment body (11, 12) comprises a magnet and the other of the carrier (10, 13) and the attachment body (11, 12) comprises a ferromagnetic material, and in that in the active state the carrier (10, 13) is attached to the attachment body (11, 12) by magnetic attraction therebetween, the mutual attraction exerted by the magnet and the ferromagnetic material exceeding the gravitational force acting on the long milk tube (9) and being lower than the gravitational force acting on the teat cup cluster (8) in combination with the milk tube (9).

2. A parlor arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in the inactive state the carrier (10, 13) is detached from the attachment body (11, 12).

3. The parlor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the magnet is a permanent magnet.

4. A parlor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the attachment body (11) comprises the ferromagnetic material and the carrier (10) comprises the magnet.

5. A parlor arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the carrier (10) comprises a sleeve (10a) having a through hole (10b) for connecting the carrier (10) to the long milk tube (9), wherein an outer portion of the sleeve (10a) has a magnet holder with a pocket (10c) in which a permanent magnet (10d) is provided.

6. A parlor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magnet is an electromagnet.

7. A parlor arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the attachment body (12) comprises the electromagnet.

8. A parlor arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the milking parlour arrangement comprises a control unit (14) for controlling operation of the electromagnet, and the control unit (14) is configured to control the electromagnet based on input received manually from an operator and / or input received automatically from a sensor (16).

9. A parlor arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the milking parlour arrangement is a rotary milking parlour arrangement having a plurality of milking stalls (2) distributed around a common rotation axis.

10. A parlor arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the milking parlour arrangement comprises a sensor (16) for sensing a rotational position of the rotary milking parlour or of the milking stall (2) individually and a control unit (14) for controlling the electromagnet based on input received from the sensor (16).

11. A parlor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The milking parlour arrangement comprises a cup cluster removal device (17) connected by a rope (18) to the milking cluster (8) and configured to retract the rope (18) in order to pull the milking cluster (8) out of the teats of the animal after the end of the milking operation.

12. A parlor arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that The cup cluster removal device (17) is configured to automatically drop the milking cluster (8) into a position inside the operator pit (4), in the inactive state, the milking cluster (8) is suspended in the operator pit from the cup cluster removal device (17) in a position below the level at which the attachment bodies (11, 12) are positioned, wherein the mutual attraction provided by the magnet and the ferromagnetic material is lower than the downward pressure acting on the carriage during the drop of the milking cluster.

13. A parlor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The attachment bodies (11, 12) are integral parts of the milking platform (3) or are attached to the rear end edge of the milking platform.

14. A parlor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The milking parlour arrangement comprises a pulsation tube (19) configured to provide a pulsation vacuum to the cup cluster (8), and the pulsation tube (19) is connected to the carriage (10, 13) and is held by the carriage.

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