Safety device for rotary milking parlour and rotary milking parlour comprising such safety device

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device for a milking parlour, comprising:-a rotating platform (1) having a plurality of milking compartments (2),-a fixed bridge (3) for allowing milk-producing animals to enter and exit the rotating platform before and after milking, the invention relates to a rotating platform (1) for a dairy animal, comprising:-a tread surface (6) configured to support the dairy animal when the dairy animal accidentally steps on the outside of the rotating platform (1),-a support structure (7) carrying the tread surface (6) and being pivotally arranged at a lower portion of the support structure (7) about a pivot axis (P), the pivot axis (P) allowing a pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, the invention relates to a safety arrangement for a rotary platform (1), comprising a fixed bridge (3), in order to allow a support structure (7) having a tread surface (6) to pivot away from the rotary platform (1) along the fixed bridge (3), and wherein the safety arrangement further comprises a sensor device (9) arranged to initiate an emergency stop of the rotary platform when a pivoting movement of the support structure (7) away from the rotary platform (1) about a pivot axis (P) is detected by the sensor device (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a safety device for a rotary milking parlor. In particular, the present invention relates to a safety device comprising a safety switch device for protecting humans and / or milking animals during operation of a rotary milking parlor, and to a rotary milking parlor comprising such a safety device. Background Art

[0002] The rotary milking parlor includes a rotating platform with a plurality of milking stalls and a fixed bridge, in which milking animals are milked, and a fixed bridge for allowing the milking animals to enter and leave the rotating platform as the rotating platform rotates. The fixed bridge is positioned close to the rotating platform so that the milking animals can safely cross narrow gaps, stand on the rotating platform and return after milking.

[0003] The rotating platform and the fixed bridge are elevated relative to a relatively wide worker area near the rotating platform, where dairy workers may be located to pre-treat the dairy animals (e.g., clean the teats of the dairy animals), attach the milking cup clusters to the dairy animals (and possibly also remove them), perform post-treatment (sterilize the teats after milking), and generally monitor the milking of the dairy animals. Between the worker area and the narrow gap between the fixed bridge and the rotating platform is a dangerous transition area. This transition area is very dangerous because dairy workers working around and near the rotating platform must be careful not to inadvertently pull their bodies and limbs into the narrow gap between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge. This transition area is also a critical location because after the milking process, the milking cup clusters may be lowered to a lower position, hanging outside the surrounding edge of the rotary milking platform. The milking cup clusters may be suspended on ropes or chains, so it is required that the milking cup clusters can be lowered correctly so that the ropes / chains of the milking cup clusters can enter the gap without the milking cup clusters getting stuck, damaged, and / or the ropes / chains of the milking cup clusters wearing out over time. The milking cluster also includes milk hoses which may need to enter the gap without getting stuck.

[0004] In order to solve these problems, different safety switching devices have been developed. Thus, it is known that a safety switching device designed as an emergency stop switch can be arranged in a critical transition region, with which the movement of the rotating platform can be stopped immediately.

[0005] One such safety switching device can be found in US 8 468 971 B2, which discloses a safety switching device for a rotating platform, the rotating platform having a fixed bridge and a gap arranged between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge. The safety switching device comprises a movable switch paddle and a signaling device located on the switch paddle for triggering an emergency stop or alarm function. The switch paddle is designed and mounted so that its distance from the peripheral edge of the rotating platform increases towards the free end of the switch paddle.

[0006] One problem that has not been fully solved in the prior art is the safety of the dairy animals. Given the limited space on and around the fixed bridges and the pressure situations that may arise, accidents may occur if the dairy animals accidentally step on the outside of the rotating platform at the fixed bridges when they are about to enter or leave the milking stalls of the rotating platform.

[0007] It would therefore be advantageous to achieve a safety device that overcomes or at least mitigates this disadvantage of the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a safety device for a rotary milking parlour, wherein the safety issues of both milking animals and dairy workers are addressed. This object is achieved by the present invention according to its first and second aspects.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a safety device for a rotary milking parlour, comprising:

[0010] - a rotating platform with a plurality of milking stalls,

[0011] a fixed bridge for allowing dairy animals to enter and leave the rotating platform before and after milking, and a gap provided between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge, wherein the safety device comprises a safety switching device configured to be positioned adjacent to the gap and adjacent to both the rotating platform and the fixed bridge for protecting humans and / or dairy animals during operation of the rotating platform,

[0012] The safety switch device comprises

[0013] - a treading surface configured to support a dairy animal that accidentally steps on the outside of the rotating platform,

[0014] a support structure carrying the treading surface and being pivotally arranged at a lower part of the support structure about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis allows a pivoting movement about a horizontal axis in order to allow the support structure with the treading surface to be pivoted along the fixed bridge away from the rotating platform,

[0015] and

[0016] The safety switching device further comprises a sensor device, which is arranged to initiate an emergency stop of the rotating platform when a pivoting movement of the support structure with the treading surface about the pivot axis away from the rotating platform is detected by the sensor device.

[0017] With the solution of the invention, it is possible to protect the dairy animals on the rotating platform and the operators working in the area close to the rotating platform from accidentally entering the gap between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge. Thus, the treading surface of the safety switching device provides a safe support structure for the dairy animals that may accidentally step on the outside of the rotating platform when moving close to the dangerous area between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge. The treading surface is thus configured to support at least one hoof of the dairy animal that accidentally steps on the outside of the rotating platform in the dangerous transition area to prevent the dairy animal from being seriously injured by its hoof / leg being stuck in the gap between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge. In addition, if the operator is tripped by the rotating platform or the dairy animal steps out of the rotating platform before stepping on the surface, the support structure will be pivoted away from the rotating platform by the leg of the human or the dairy animal, whereby the sensor device initiates an emergency stop to prevent any serious injury to the human or the dairy animal. The safety switching device also provides a safety barrier to prevent the operator from getting too close to the gap between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the tread surface of the safety switch device has

[0019] a front side, which is arranged facing the peripheral edge of the rotating platform,

[0020] - a first lateral side, the first lateral side being arranged facing the fixed bridge,

[0021] - a second lateral side, opposite to the first lateral side,

[0022] Wherein the second lateral side is inclined relative to the imaginary extension of the front side to form an angle of less than 90 degrees, preferably in the range of 80 to 60 degrees, as seen in the plane of the tread surface.

[0023] In other words, in the non-pivoted (non-activated) state of the safety switching device, the treading surface extends in a (horizontal) plane close to the rotating platform and the fixed bridge. Thus, when the safety switching device is arranged at a rotary milking parlor with its front side facing the rotating platform, the second lateral side is inclined so as to form an angle of less than 90 degrees, preferably in the range of 80 degrees to 60 degrees, with respect to a tangent line to the peripheral edge of the rotating platform at its intersection with the second lateral side, as seen in the (horizontal) plane of the treading surface.

[0024] The inclination of the second lateral side serves multiple purposes. Thus, the inclination will facilitate the outward pivoting movement of the support structure in order to initiate an emergency stop of the rotating platform in the event that an operator, an animal's leg or any other object applies a thrust towards the second lateral side of the tread surface of the safety switch device (i.e. the lateral side located furthest from the gap). Furthermore, the inclination of the second lateral side will also guide any ropes / chains of the milking cluster (suspended on the ropes / chains) and / or any milk hoses of the milking cluster into the gap between the fixed bridge and the rotating platform during the lowering of the cluster, thereby extending the service life of the ropes / chains or milk hoses.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the front side of the treading surface is arranged at a distance of less than 75 mm, preferably less than 55 mm, from the peripheral edge of the rotating platform.

[0026] The distance between the front side and the peripheral edge should preferably be the same size as the gap between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge, which is typically less than 75 mm, preferably less than 55 mm, and typically about 45 mm from the peripheral edge of the rotating platform. Thus, the distance should be smaller than the size of the legs or hooves of the dairy animal to prevent the legs / hooves from entering the gap, but large enough to allow the milk hose and / or rope / chain holding the milking cluster to pass smoothly.

[0027] In another embodiment of the invention, the first lateral side and the second lateral side are both inclined, as seen in the plane of the treading surface, such that a front side of the treading surface is narrower than a middle portion thereof.

[0028] In particular, the tread surface may be mirror-symmetrical about a vertical median plane of the tread surface, wherein the first lateral side and the second lateral side are inclined at the same angle about an imaginary extension of the front side, as seen in the plane of the tread surface.

[0029] The fact that both the first lateral side and the second lateral side are inclined in this way provides the possibility to position the safety switching device on either or both sides of the fixed bridge. In other words, the same safety switching device can be located on the left and / or right side of the fixed bridge, while retaining the benefits of the previously described embodiments. Thereby, the same safety switching device can also be positioned on the preferred (exit) side of the fixed bridge, regardless of whether the rotary milking parlour is configured for clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, while retaining the benefits of the previously described embodiments. The safety switching device is preferably located on the exit side of the fixed bridge, but can also be located on the entrance side of the fixed bridge and provides greater safety in case the operator of the rotary parlour decides to run the rotary platform in the opposite direction.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the safety device also includes a bridge compensator, which is arranged to be positioned on a lateral side of the fixed bridge in a space formed between the fixed bridge and a first lateral side of the treading surface, and the bridge compensator includes an auxiliary treading surface to support the dairy animal when the dairy animal accidentally steps into the space.

[0031] The bridge compensator is particularly advantageous for rotary milking parlors, since in rotary milking parlors the treading surface of the safety switching device is inclined on both sides and the fixed bridge is not shaped to accommodate the safety switching device so as not to form an open space between the animal bridge and the first lateral side of the treading surface. This embodiment is particularly useful when the safety switching device is installed in an existing rotary milking parlor, since the existing fixed bridge is not suitable for the proposed design of the safety switching device.

[0032] In an embodiment of the invention, the treading surface of the safety switching device comprises openings which are arranged at the front of the treading surface adjacent to the front side of the treading surface to allow excrement to pass through the treading surface.

[0033] It is very important to keep the treading surfaces and working areas in a rotary milking parlour group clean and tidy. Therefore, openings are useful to allow dung from the milking animals to flow off the treading surfaces, thereby minimising the amount of dung on the treading surfaces.

[0034] In a particular embodiment, the front portion of the treading surface is formed by spaced-apart horizontal bars.

[0035] In one embodiment of the invention, the rear portion of the treading surface at a greater distance from the rotating platform than the front portion comprises a perforated steel plate, preferably comprising raised perforations, to increase friction and anti-slip properties. In this way, if a cow accidentally steps or slips beyond the extension of the front portion of the treading surface, the treading surface will be well adapted to function as a treading surface. The rear portion is positioned farther from the dairy animal and is not exposed to feces like the front portion, so that the rear portion can be composed of a functional perforated treading steel plate that provides support and anti-slip properties if a dairy animal steps or slips past the front portion of the treading surface.

[0036] In an embodiment of the invention, the sensor device is a (non-optical) proximity sensor device, which comprises a sensor arranged to detect the presence of a sensor target, wherein one (preferably the sensor) is fixedly arranged at a base of the safety switching device and the other (preferably the sensor target) is arranged on a support structure, wherein the support structure is pivotally connected to the base at a pivot joint forming a pivot axis.

[0037] The advantages of this type of proximity sensor device (e.g. magnetic, capacitive or inductive proximity sensors) are that it is not affected by dirt / feces / water, has a long service life and is reliable. The proximity sensor also allows the movement of the support structure to be immediately identified when the sensor target is no longer within the range of the sensor, so that the rotating platform can be stopped almost immediately in the event of an accident.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the pivot axis of the support structure is arranged at a certain horizontal distance from the rotating platform, wherein at least a major portion of the treading surface is positioned horizontally closer to the rotating platform than the pivot axis, so that the weight acting on the top of the major portion will not cause pivotal movement of the support structure.

[0039] This is advantageous because it provides a stable stepping support for the dairy animals without the risk of tilting the stepping surface and the stepping of the dairy animals will not cause an undesirable emergency stop.

[0040] In an embodiment of the invention, the tread surface extends horizontally from the upper end of the support structure towards the rotating platform. This is a preferred way to achieve a tread support that can be stepped on without triggering an emergency stop.

[0041] In particular, in an embodiment of the invention, the tread surface extends at a substantially right angle to the support structure, and wherein the support structure extends substantially vertically from a base of the safety switching device.

[0042] In addition, to further inform the operator of the rotary milking parlor, a warning signal may be emitted when the emergency stop is activated to indicate that the support structure has shifted and an emergency situation is imminent. Such an indication may be set according to functional conditions and a degree of preference and may include a light signal and / or an audible alarm.

[0043] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a rotary milking parlour comprising:

[0044] - a rotating platform with a plurality of milking stalls,

[0045] - a fixed bridge for allowing dairy animals to enter and leave the rotating platform before and after milking, wherein a gap is provided between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge; and a safety device comprising a safety switching device positioned adjacent to the gap and adjacent to both the rotating platform and the fixed bridge for protecting humans and / or dairy animals during operation of the rotating platform, characterised in that the rotary milking parlour thus comprises a safety switching device according to the invention or any of the preceding embodiments of the invention.

[0046] In an embodiment of the milking parlor, the fixed bridge comprises an entrance side arranged to allow milking animals to enter the rotating platform and an exit side for allowing milking animals to exit, and wherein the safety switching device is arranged adjacent to the exit side of the fixed bridge.

[0047] It is advantageous to position the safety switch device adjacent to the exit side of the fixed bridge, since it is then positioned at a position where the rotating platform rotates towards the fixed bridge, and in particular towards the gap between the rotating platform and the fixed bridge, during normal forward operation, thereby preventing accidents where human or animal limbs enter said gap on the exit side of the fixed bridge. However, safety can obviously be further improved if another safety switch device is also adjacent to the entry side of the fixed bridge. This also prevents accidents where human or animal limbs enter said gap in the event that the operator of the rotary milking parlour wishes for some reason to temporarily stop the rotating platform and rotate it in the reverse direction opposite to the normal forward rotation.

[0048] Other embodiments and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0050] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rotary milking parlor with a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0051] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a safety switch device in a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0052] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Top view of the safety switching device shown,

[0053] Figure 4 is a side view of the safety switchgear in its initial position.

[0054] Figure 5 is a side view of the safety switchgear in a slightly tilted position.

[0055] Figure 6 is a side view of the safety switchgear in the fully tilted position,

[0056] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the base of the safety switchgear,

[0057] Figure 8 is a top view of the safety switchgear and bridge compensator, and

[0058] Fig. 9Top view of the safety switchgear and optional compensator bridge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] exist Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , a rotary milking parlor with a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0060] The rotary milking parlor comprises a rotating platform 1 having a plurality of milking stalls 2. A fixed bridge 3 for allowing animals to enter and leave the rotating platform 1 is arranged with a gap 4 between the peripheral edge 22 of the rotating platform 1 and the fixed bridge 3. In the figure, the rotating platform 1 is arranged to rotate in a clockwise direction during normal milking operation, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown by arrow D in FIG.

[0061] The safety arrangement comprises a safety switching device 5 arranged at an area 13, where a dairy worker may be located during operation. In particular, the safety switching device 5 of the invention may thus be arranged to protect both dairy workers and dairy animals during milking.

[0062] The safety switch device 5 is arranged adjacent to both the rotating platform 1 and the fixed bridge 3 for protecting the dairy animals from the gap 4 when the dairy animals enter and / or leave the rotating platform 1 via the fixed bridge 3. In the embodiment shown, the fixed bridge comprises an entrance side 28 (left side in the figure) for allowing dairy animals to enter the rotating platform 1 and an exit side 29 (right side in the figure) for allowing dairy animals to leave the rotating platform 1. In the embodiment shown, the safety switch device 5 is arranged adjacent to the exit side 29 of the fixed bridge 3.

[0063] As shown, the rotating platform 1 and fixed bridge 3 are raised to a similar height above the operator area 13, allowing dairy workers to stand and perform tasks (such as handling milking clusters) at a comfortable height.

[0064] Figure 2 The safety switchgear 5 is shown in more detail in FIG, which comprises a stepping surface 6 raised to the same height as the rotating platform 1 and the fixed bridge 3. The stepping surface 6 is configured to support a dairy animal which accidentally steps on the outside of the rotating platform 1 when leaving the rotating platform 1.

[0065] The treading surface 6 is carried by a support structure 7 which is pivotally arranged at a lower part 8 of the support structure 7 about a pivot axis P, wherein the pivot axis P allows a pivoting movement about a horizontal axis in order to allow the treading surface 6 of the safety switching device 5 to pivot in a direction away from the rotating platform 1. In the embodiment shown, the support structure 7 comprises two spaced-apart legs, each of which is pivotally arranged at a respective base support 24.

[0066] The lower part 8 of the support structure 7 comprises a support column 31, preferably one at each leg of the support structure 7, which extends downwards at an angle towards the rotating platform 1 to provide support against the front of the base support 24. The support column 31 is arranged to support the legs of the support structure 7 when the weight of the dairy animal acts on the treading surface 6 of the safety switching device 5, wherein the support column 31 can rest on the base support 24 to provide a reaction force to the applied weight. The pivot axis is formed by two pivot joints 27, which allow the support structure 7 to pivot relative to the base support 24. Each leg of the support structure 7 thus comprises a pivot joint 27, wherein the horizontal pivot axis P extends through the two pivot joints 27.

[0067] The safety arrangement further comprises a proximity sensor device 9 which is arranged to initiate an emergency stop of the rotating platform 1 when a pivoting movement of the support structure 7 with the tread surface 6 about the pivot axis P away from the rotating platform 1 is detected by the proximity sensor device 9. The proximity sensor in the embodiment shown is an inductive proximity sensor device 9. The pivoting movement of the support structure 7 can thereby also activate a warning signal to inform the operator of the emergency stop.

[0068] like Figure 3 As shown, the tread surface 6 of the safety switching device 5 has a front side 10 arranged to face the peripheral edge 22 of the rotating platform 1, a first lateral side 11 arranged to face the fixed bridge 3, and a second lateral side 12 opposite to the first lateral side 11 and arranged away from the fixed bridge towards the operator area 13. The front side 10 is preferably configured with a length extension corresponding to the required safe braking distance on the rotating platform 1. Therefore, if the emergency stop is activated and the rotating platform 1 is designed to stop within 350 mm, the front side 10 has an extension (length) of at least 350 mm.

[0069] The treading surface 6 of the safety switching device 5 preferably comprises openings 15 which are arranged to allow dirt / faeces and water / liquids to pass through the treading surface 6. In particular, the front part 20 of the treading surface 6 of the safety switching device 5 is thus formed by horizontal bars 16 which have openings 15 between each other. The openings 15 should be small enough that a dairy animal cannot pass through, but should be large enough that feces can pass through.

[0070] In the embodiment shown, the rear portion 23 of the treading surface 6, which is at a greater distance from the rotating platform 1 than the front portion 20, is formed by a perforated friction steel plate, which is well adapted to function as a treading surface when a cow accidentally steps or slips outside the extension of the front portion 20. Since the rear portion 23 is located farther from the dairy animal and is less exposed to feces, it may not be necessary to provide an opening of the same size as the front portion 20.

[0071] As in Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen in the figure, the second lateral side 12 of the treading surface 6 is inclined so as to form an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to an imaginary extension of the front side 10, as seen in the plane of the treading surface 6. In other words, the second lateral side 12 forms an acute angle with a tangent to the peripheral edge of the rotating platform 1 at its intersection with the second lateral side 12, as seen in the horizontal plane of the treading surface 6. This angle is less than 90 degrees, preferably in the range of 80 to 60 degrees, and will force the safety switching device 5 outwards away from the rotating platform 1 when a dairy worker, a milk-producing animal or any other object follows the rotating movement of the rotating platform 1 and exerts a force in a tangential direction to the direction of rotation D of the rotating platform. In the embodiment shown, the angle is about 70 degrees.

[0072] When the safety switching device 5 is forced away from the rotating platform 1 , the pivoting or tilting movement of the safety switching device 5 will be detected by the sensor device 9 , thereby initiating an emergency stop.

[0073] In the embodiment shown, the first lateral side 11 and the second lateral side 12 of the treading surface 6 of the safety switching device 5 are both inclined, as seen in the plane of the treading surface 6, so that the front side 10 is narrower than the middle part 14 of the treading surface 6. More precisely, the first lateral side 11 and the second lateral side 12 are mirror-symmetrical about the vertical middle plane of the treading surface 6, wherein the first lateral side 11 and the second lateral side 12 extend at an angle of about 70 degrees relative to an imaginary extension of the front side 10. Therefore, the safety switching device 5 can be positioned on either side of the fixed bridge 3, depending on the direction in which the rotating platform 1 is configured to rotate during normal (milking) operation of the rotary milking parlor. In particular, the safety switching device 5 of this embodiment is positioned next to the outlet side 29 of the fixed bridge 3. However, another safety switching device 5 of this embodiment can also be positioned close to the inlet side 29 of the fixed bridge 3.

[0074] like Figure 4 , wherein the safety switching device 5 is shown from the side in the upper right position, the treading surface 6 extends approximately at a right angle, typically at an angle of 90 degrees, relative to the support structure 7. The support structure 7 thus extends approximately vertically, whereby the treading surface 6 extends approximately horizontally from the upper end of the support structure 7 towards the rotating platform 1.

[0075] exist Figure 5 In the embodiment, the safety switching device 5 is shown from the side in a slightly inclined position and Figure 6 In FIG. 5 , the safety switching device 5 is shown in a fully tilted position.

[0076] like Figures 4 to 6As shown, the horizontal pivot axis P of the support structure 7 is arranged at a certain horizontal distance from the rotating platform 1, which faces the front side 10 of the treading surface 6 during operation, so that at least a large part or in this case the entire treading surface 6 is positioned closer to the rotating platform 1 in the horizontal direction than the horizontal pivot axis P, so that the weight acting on the top of the treading surface 6 will not cause any pivoting movement of the support structure 7.

[0077] exist Figure 7 , the lower part 8 of the support structure 7 is shown in detail. As shown, the inductive proximity sensor device 9 is arranged to detect the presence of a sensor target 26, wherein once the sensor target 26 is moved out of the range of the sensor 9, the sensor 9 provides a signal, which can be set according to preference by tuning the sensitivity of the sensor. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the sensor is activated when the tilt of the support structure 7 reaches a certain tilt angle. The proximity sensor device 9 is connected to the control unit via a wire 25, but can also be connected wirelessly to the control unit and provided with, for example, a battery as a power source.

[0078] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the inductive proximity sensor device 9 is configured to Figure 5 The emergency stop is initiated at the tilt angle shown, which corresponds to approximately 5 degrees from the vertical. However, the sensor device can also be arranged to activate the emergency stop at a tilt angle of approximately 5 degrees from the vertical. Figure 6 The angle of inclination shown activates the emergency stop and corresponds to an angle of approximately 20 degrees or to any angle therebetween. Figure 6 The tilting shown corresponds to a full tilting, wherein further tilting is prevented by a stop 33 arranged at the lower part 8 of the support structure 7 .

[0079] In addition, if Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the spring 30 may preferably be arranged at the lower portion 8 of the support structure 7 to act on the support structure 7 toward its upper right position, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown. Therefore, a certain (small) spring force must be overcome to be able to tilt the safety switch device 5 backwards and activate the emergency stop. In this way, the spring 30 prevents the dairy worker or any other person / object from accidentally hitting the safety switch device 5 and thereby triggering an undesired emergency stop. Therefore, the spring 30 avoids such an accidental activation.

[0080] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the fixed bridge 3 has an inclined side on the exit side 29, which corresponds to the inclined lateral sides of the safety switching device 5, so that there is no opening large enough for a dairy animal to enter the space between the fixed bridge 3 and the treading surface 6 of the safety switching device 5. However, this may not always be the case.

[0081] That is, Figure 8 and Fig. 9 In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed bridge 3 may be substantially at right angles to the adjacent portion of the rotating platform 1, so that there will be an open space 19 between the first lateral side 11 of the safety switching device 5 and the fixed bridge 3. The open space 19 may have a triangular shape that is widest near the rotating platform 1 and decreases towards the rearmost portion of the tread surface 6 of the safety switching device 5.

[0082] In this fixed bridge configuration, a bridge compensator 17 can be installed in an open space 19 formed between the fixed bridge 3 and the first lateral side 11 of the safety switch device 5, and the bridge compensator 17 includes a stepping surface 18 for dairy animals to leave (or enter) the rotating platform 1 to ensure that the dairy animals will not step down into the space, thereby avoiding injuries to the dairy animals or other undesirable accidents.

[0083] The tread surface 18 of the bridge compensator 17 may have a triangular shape so as to effectively cover the extension of the open space 19 between the fixed bridge 3 and the first lateral side 11 of the safety switch device 5. Specifically, the shape of the tread surface 18 of the bridge compensator 17 may be individually shaped to cover the extension of the open space 19 between the fixed bridge 3 and the first lateral side 11 of the safety switch device 5 of a specific rotary milking parlor.

[0084] The tread surface 18 of the bridge compensator 17 may include openings arranged to allow feces to pass through the bridge compensator 17, and in particular, the tread surface 18 may include horizontal bars 21 arranged at a distance from each other to allow feces to pass therebetween.

[0085] The openings arranged to allow dung to pass through the treading surface 18 of the bridge compensator 17 and the treading surface 6 of the safety switching device 5 are naturally dimensioned to not allow hooves of dairy animals to enter such openings, for example between the bars defining the openings.

[0086] like Fig. 9As shown, in this embodiment, the tread surface 18 of the bridge compensator 17 includes a corner edge 36 that extends a little further outward from the inner corner extending toward the front side 10 of the tread surface 6 of the safety switch device 5. This is effective because the tread surface 6 of the safety switch device 5 can have a rounded edge between the first lateral side 11 and the front side 10 of the tread surface 6, and the corner edge 36 can fill the rounded edge to minimize the opening between the bridge compensator 17, the safety switch device 5 and the rotating platform 1. The corner edge 36 can be formed as one of the horizontal bars 21 (specifically, the horizontal bar closest to the rotating platform 1) extends longer than the triangle relative to the overall shape of the tread surface 18 of the bridge compensator 17.

[0087] Above, the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims are also possible.

Claims

1. A safety device for a rotary milking parlor, comprising: - a rotating platform (1) having a plurality of milking stalls (2), - a fixed bridge (3) for allowing dairy animals to enter and leave the rotating platform before and after milking, and a gap (4) arranged between the rotating platform (1) and the fixed bridge (3), wherein the safety device comprises a safety switch device (5) configured to be positioned adjacent to the gap (4) and adjacent to both the rotating platform (1) and the fixed bridge (3) for protecting human operators and / or the dairy animals during operation of the rotating platform (1), Characterized in that the safety switch device (5) comprises - a treading surface (6) configured to support the dairy animal if it accidentally steps on the outside of the rotating platform (1); - a support structure (7) carrying the treading surface (6) and being arranged pivotally about a pivot axis (P) at a lower part of the support structure (7), wherein the pivot axis (P) allows a pivoting movement about a horizontal axis in order to allow the support structure (7) with the treading surface (6) to be pivoted along the fixed bridge (3) away from the rotating platform (1), and The safety arrangement further comprises a sensor device (9) which is arranged to initiate an emergency stop of the rotating platform when a pivoting movement of the support structure (7) about the pivot axis (P) away from the rotating platform (1) is detected by the sensor device (9).

2. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the tread surface (6) of the safety switch device (5) has: - a front side (10) facing the peripheral edge (22) of the rotating platform (1), - a first lateral side (11) arranged facing the fixed bridge (3), - a second transverse side (12) opposite to said first transverse side (11), Wherein the second lateral side (12) is inclined relative to an imaginary extension of the front side (10) so as to form an angle less than 90 degrees, preferably in the range of 80 to 60 degrees, as seen in the plane of the tread surface (6).

3. A safety device according to claim 2, wherein the front side (10) of the tread surface (6) is arranged at a distance of less than 75 mm, preferably less than 55 mm, from the peripheral edge (22) of the rotating platform (1).

4. A safety device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first lateral side (11) and the second lateral side (12) are both inclined, as seen in the plane of the treading surface (6), so that the front side (10) is narrower than the middle part (14) of the treading surface (6).

5. A safety device according to claim 4, wherein the treading surface (6) is mirror-symmetrical about a vertical middle plane of the treading surface (6), wherein the first lateral side (11) and the second lateral side (12) are inclined at the same angle with respect to an imaginary extension of the front side (10), as seen in the plane of the treading surface (6).

6. The safety device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a bridge compensator (17), which is arranged to be positioned on the lateral side of the fixed bridge (3) in the space (19) formed between the fixed bridge (3) and the first lateral side (11) of the treading surface (6), and the bridge compensator (17) comprises an auxiliary treading surface (18) to support the dairy animal when the dairy animal accidentally steps into the space (19).

7. A safety device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the treading surface (6) of the safety switch device (5) comprises an opening (15), which is arranged adjacent to the front side (10) of the treading surface (6) at the front part (20) of the treading surface to allow feces to pass through the treading surface (6).

8. Safety device according to claim 7, wherein the front part (20) of the tread surface (6) is formed by spaced-apart horizontal bars (16).

9. Safety device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear part (23) of the tread surface (6) at a greater distance from the rotating platform (1) than the front part (20) comprises a perforated steel plate, preferably a perforated friction steel plate.

10. A safety device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device is a proximity sensor device (9), the proximity sensor device comprising a sensor arranged to detect a sensor target (26), wherein one of the sensor (9) and the sensor target (26) is fixedly arranged at a base (24) of the safety switch device (5), and the other of the sensor (9) and the sensor target (26) is arranged on the support structure (7), wherein the support structure (7) is pivotally connected to the base (24) at a pivot joint (27) forming the pivot axis (P).

11. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot axis (P) of the support structure (7) is arranged at a certain horizontal distance from the rotating platform (1), and wherein at least a portion of the treading surface (6) is positioned closer to the rotating platform (1) in the horizontal direction than the pivot axis (P), so that the weight acting on the top of at least a portion of the treading surface (6) will not cause pivotal movement of the support structure (7).

12. Safety device according to claim 11, wherein the tread surface (6) extends substantially horizontally from the upper end of the support structure (7) towards the rotating platform (1).

13. A safety device according to claim 12, wherein the tread surface (6) extends substantially at a right angle to the support structure (7), and wherein the support structure (7) extends substantially vertically from a base (24) of the safety switching device (5).

14. A rotary milking parlor comprising: - a rotating platform (1) having a plurality of milking stalls (2), - a fixed bridge (3) for allowing dairy animals to enter and leave the rotating platform before and after milking, and a gap (4) arranged between the rotating platform (1) and the fixed bridge (3), wherein the safety device comprises a safety switch device (5) which is positioned adjacent to the gap (4) and adjacent to both the rotating platform (1) and the fixed bridge (3) for protecting humans and / or the dairy animals during operation of the rotating platform (1), characterized in that the rotary milking parlor comprises the safety device according to any of the preceding claims with the safety switch device (5).

15. A milking parlor according to claim 14, wherein the fixed bridge (3) comprises an entrance side (28) and an exit side, wherein the entrance side is arranged to allow the milking animals to enter the rotating platform (1), and the exit side is used to allow the milking animals to leave the rotating platform (1), and wherein the safety switching device (5) is arranged adjacent to the exit side (29) of the fixed bridge (3).

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