Milking parlor with a drive system for milking parlor doors

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a milking parlor with a drive arrangement for milking parlor gates according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A milking parlor is used for the mechanical milking of milk-producing animals.

[0003] Dairy animals include cows, buffalo, goats, sheep, etc. The milking process can be automated using milking robots. Milking parlors can be used as single-stall parlors, but configurations with two or more parlors are also possible.

[0004] Milking parlor components include, for example, milking units, supply units, gates, gates, floor panels and the like.

[0005] A milking unit is also called a stall divider or side gate. The milking unit includes the milking robot and its associated drives.

[0006] WO 2013 / 135842 A1 describes a divider for a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking dairy animals. An arm assembly with a milking unit, arranged in a parked position within the divider, is specified. WO 2015 / 059439 A1 discloses a further milking parlor from the prior art.

[0007] Due to increasing demands, especially for high throughput, continuous and low-maintenance operation, there is a constant need for improved milking parlors with reduced costs.

[0008] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide an improved milking parlor.

[0009] This problem is solved by a milking parlor with the features of claim 1.

[0010] A milking parlor according to the invention for milking, in particular for automated milking, dairy animals comprises a column, a gate column with a pivotable entrance gate and a pivotable exit gate, and a bridge arranged on the column and the gate column. The milking parlor has a drive assembly which is arranged within the bridge and coupled to the entrance gate and the exit gate.

[0011] This design allows for a compact milking parlor layout. The drive mechanism is mounted in the bridge at a location above the milking parlor and above any cow being milked. All components required for swinging the gates, including the drive mechanism, are therefore out of reach of the cow being milked. This significantly reduces the risk of injury to the cow.

[0012] At the same time, the possibility of damage to the drive mechanism and its components, e.g., from being kicked by the animal being milked, is significantly reduced, as the animal cannot reach them. This can also increase throughput. Furthermore, the drives are protected against contamination (when using pneumatic cylinders: contaminated piston rods, for example, from fly droppings, can lead to defective piston rod seals on the pneumatic cylinder).

[0013] It is further advantageous for a compact design that the entrance gate is rotationally fixed to a vertically arranged entrance gate shaft, and that the exit gate is rotationally fixed to a vertically arranged exit gate shaft. In this way, the entrance gate shaft and the exit gate shaft, with their respective drive ends, can not only be mounted on the bridge but also protrude from it to allow for easy coupling with the gearboxes.

[0014] In a further embodiment, it is advantageously provided that the input gate shaft is connected to the at least one lever of the first gearbox in a rotationally fixed manner, and that the output gate shaft is connected to the at least one lever of the second gearbox in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0015] In another embodiment, the incoming gate shaft is arranged on one vertical longitudinal side of a support body of the gate column, and the outgoing gate shaft is arranged on the other vertical longitudinal side of the support body of the gate column. This allows the movable, rotating parts, namely the gate shafts, to be arranged in a compact and compact design, essentially out of reach of an animal being milked.

[0016] For a particularly advantageous flat design, the entrance gate drive and the exit gate drive can be arranged longitudinally inside the bridge.

[0017] Another advantage of a compact design can be achieved by arranging at least one lever of the first gearbox and at least one lever of the second gearbox one above the other inside the bridge.

[0018] In another version, the entrance gate drive and the exit gate drive can be designed as pneumatic cylinders and / or hydraulic cylinders. This results in a compact and simple design.

[0019] It is possible that the gearboxes may be designed not only with one lever, but with several levers to adapt to different torques and installation situations.

[0020] Each gearbox or gate drive can have additional stops, in particular adjustable stops, to define the open and closed positions of the gates. Such stops can also be equipped with electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic switches to shut off the drives in the end positions.

[0021] Further advantages and details will become apparent from the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures of the drawing. These show: Figures 1-2 are schematic perspective views of an exemplary milking parlor; Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the milking parlor according to [reference missing]. Figure 1 and 2 ; and Figures 4-7 show schematic perspective views of milking parlor gates in different positions.

[0022] The terms "above", "below", "left", "right" refer to the respective arrangement in the figures.

[0023] Figure 1 and 2 schematic perspective views of an exemplary milking parlor 1 are shown. This represents Figure 1 a view from one side of the gate T there, whereby Figure 2 a view of the opposite side, referred to here as supply side V, is shown. Figure 3 is a schematic top view of milking parlor 1 according to Figure 1 and 2 shown.

[0024] Milking parlor 1 is designed as a single milking parlor with a head end K, a back end R, a supply side V, and a gate side T. The head end K and the back end R form the narrow sides of milking parlor 1 and are opposite each other, while the supply side V and the gate side T, opposite each other, form the long sides of milking parlor 1.

[0025] The milking parlor 1 comprises a floor plate 2, a base plate 2a, a milking unit 3, a column 4, a gate column 5, a bridge 6, two milking parlor gates, one of which is called the entrance gate 7 and the other the exit gate 8, a rear gate 9, a front side gate 10, a trough gate 11 and a supply unit 12 (see Figure 2 and 3 ).

[0026] The base plate 2 forms a floor structure of the milking parlor 1 and partly a base for various milking parlor components, such as the milking unit 3, the column 4, the rear gate 9, the front side gate 10 and the supply unit 12.

[0027] The milking unit 3 with the feed unit 12, the column 4, and the front side gate 10 form a boundary of the milking parlor 1 on the feed side V. The opposite gate side T is bounded by the gate column 5 and the milking parlor gates 7 and 8, which are pivotally attached to the gate column 5. The entrance gate 7 forms a boundary of gate side T between the gate column 5 and the rear side R. The exit gate 8 forms a boundary of gate side T between the gate column 5 and the head side K. The rear side R is closed off between the entrance gate 7 and the milking unit 3 by the rear gate 10, with the trough gate 11 forming a boundary on the head side K.

[0028] Column 4 and gate column 5 are connected at their upper ends by bridge 6. Bridge 6 runs obliquely at an angle of approximately 70° to a longitudinal axis of milking parlor 1. Gate column 5 is positioned approximately in the middle of gate side T, while the other column 4 is positioned approximately in the front quarter towards head side K in the area of ​​supply side V.

[0029] An animal to be milked, e.g., a cow, enters milking parlor 1 through the open entrance gate 7 from gate side T. Entrance gate 7 is then closed. The animal then stands in milking parlor 1 with its head facing the head end and is milked by a milking robot (not shown) located in milking unit 3. The animal can receive feed in a trough 11a at trough gate 11. The feed can be individually prepared for each animal and fed into trough 11a, e.g., from various storage containers at / near / above column 4. This is not shown here, but is easy to imagine.

[0030] After milking, the exit gate 8 and the trough gate 11 are opened, allowing the animal to leave milking parlor 1 via gate side T and head side K. When the trough gate 11 opens, it swings towards the supply side V against the front side gate 10, such that a cover 10a attached to the side gate 10 covers the trough 11a. This prevents the animal from being held back in milking parlor 1 by any feed that may remain in the trough.

[0031] The function and design of the milking robot, its placement within milking unit 3, and the design of milking unit 3 are described in detail in document WO 2013 / 135842 A1, to which reference is made here. Supply unit 12 serves to supply milking unit 3 with energy (electricity, compressed air, cleaning fluids, etc.) and to transport the milked milk. Supply unit 12 also includes one or more control devices for the milking robot, gate drives, and the like.

[0032] The Figure 4-7 Figure 1 shows schematic perspective views of the milking parlor gates 7 and 8 in various positions. Gate post 5 is shown here without covers or panels for clarity. The bridge 6 has a housing 13, the lid of which is also not shown here, and a plate-shaped brace 22. The column 4 is shown in the Figure 4-7 not shown.

[0033] In Figure 4 Entrance gate 7 and exit gate 8 are closed. Figure 5 shows an open position of entrance gate 7, and Figure 6 represents an open position of exit gate 8. In Figure 7 Both entrance gate 7 and exit gate 8 are open.

[0034] The gate column 5 has a central cuboid support body 5a, which is arranged vertically. The width of the support body 5a in a longitudinal direction of the milking parlor 1 is shorter than the width of the bridge 6.

[0035] The support body is attached with its underside to a base 5b. The base 5b is in turn attached to the ground or the base plate 2 or another plate by means of fasteners not specified in detail. The upper side of the support body 5a is connected to the end of the bridge 6 facing the gate side T in a manner also not shown in detail.

[0036] A shaft is arranged on each side of the support body 5a, to which a milking parlor gate is attached.

[0037] The entrance gate 7 is attached to an entrance gate shaft 70. The entrance gate shaft 70 has a lower end with a bearing section 70a and an upper end with a drive section 70b. The entrance gate shaft 70 is attached to the Figure 4-7The right vertical side of the support body 5a is arranged vertically and has an entrance gate axis 70c about which it can be rotated in bearings 70d and 70e. The bearing 70d is attached next to the support body 5a on the base 5b, and the other bearing 70e is attached to the underside of the housing 13 of the bridge 6 next to the attachment of the housing 13 on the top of the support body 5a.

[0038] Similarly, the output gate 8 is connected to an output gate shaft 80. The output gate shaft 80 also has a lower end with a bearing section 80a and an upper end with a drive section 80b. Like the input gate shaft 7, the output gate shaft 80 is rotatably mounted on the other vertical side of the support body 5a in bearings 80d and 80e about an output gate axis 80c of the output gate shaft 80.

[0039] The respective upper ends of the drive section 70b of the input gate shaft 70 and of the drive section 80b of the output gate shaft 80 extend upwards through the respective bearings 70e and 80e and protrude into the interior of the housing 13 of the bridge 6 as drive ends 70f and 80f.

[0040] Bridge 6 incorporates a drive unit 14, which is designed to pivot the entrance gate 7 and the exit gate 8. The drive unit 14 allows the entrance gate 7 and the exit gate 8 to pivot independently. In other words, the entrance gate 7 and the exit gate 8 can be opened and closed independently of each other. These different positions are specified in the Figure 4-7 depicted.

[0041] In this embodiment, the drive arrangement 14 comprises an entrance gate drive 15 with a gearbox 20 and an exit gate drive 17 with a gearbox 21.

[0042] The entrance gate drive 15 and the exit gate drive 17 are designed as pneumatic cylinders and arranged longitudinally in the bridge 6 within the housing 13. The entrance gate drive 15 is pivotably mounted in the housing 13 of the bridge 6 via a bearing 15a. One end of its piston rod 15b is coupled to the associated gearbox 20. Similarly, the exit gate drive 17 is pivotally mounted in the housing 13 of the bridge 6 via a bearing 17a, with one end of the piston rod 17b of the exit gate drive 17 being coupled to the associated gearbox 21.

[0043] Gearboxes 20 and 21 are designed as lever gearboxes. Gearbox 20 comprises a lever 16, one end of which is pivotably coupled to the end of the piston rod 15b of the incoming gate drive 15 in an output bearing 15c. The other end of the lever 16 is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the drive end 70f of the incoming gate shaft 70. Similarly, the other gearbox 21 also comprises a lever 18. One end of the lever 18 is pivotally coupled to the end of the piston rod 17b of the outgoing gate drive 17 in an output bearing 17c, and the other end of the lever 18 is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the drive end 80f of the outgoing gate shaft 80.

[0044] In this embodiment, levers 16 and 18 are arranged one above the other. In the Figure 4In the closed positions of both gates 7, 8 shown, both levers 16, 18 are essentially parallel to the broad side of the bridge 6. Each lever 16, 18 is approximately aligned with its corresponding gate 7, 8 such that each lever 16, 18 points in the opposite direction to its corresponding gate 7, 8. Thus, the entrance gate 7 points in Figure 4 to the right, parallel to the long side of gate T of milking parlor 1, with the associated lever 16 running to the left. In the case of exit gate 8, it is the other way around.

[0045] In the Figure 4 In the positions shown of the entrance gate 7 and the exit gate 8, the piston rod 15b of the entrance gate drive 15 and the piston rod 17b of the exit gate drive 17 are extended.

[0046] When entrance gate 7 is open ( Figure 5The piston rod 15b of the gate drive 15 is retracted, and the lever 16, along with the gate 7, is pivoted clockwise around the gate axis 70c as viewed from above. In this position, the lever 16 may rest against a stop (not shown), which may determine the open position of the gate 7. This stop (not shown) may, for example, be located on the underside of the plate-shaped strut 22.

[0047] Figure 6 Figure 1 shows the position of the open exit gate 8. The piston rod 17b of the exit gate drive 17 is retracted. The lever 18 is pivoted counterclockwise around the exit gate axis 80c (viewed from above) with the exit gate 8. In this position, the lever 18 rests against a stop 19. The stop 19 can define the open position of the entrance gate 8.

[0048] It is also possible that both entrance gate 7 and exit gate 8 are open, as shown in Figure 7 This situation can occur, for example, when a cow is leaving milking parlor 1 and another cow is already entering milking parlor 1.

[0049] The drive assembly 14 is located in the bridge 16 at a position above milking parlor 1 and above any animal being milked in milking parlor 1. All components required for pivoting the gates 7, 8, including the drive assembly 14, are thus located out of the reach of the animal being milked. This significantly reduces the risk of injury to the animal. At the same time, the possibility of damage to the drive assembly 14 and its associated components, e.g., from being kicked by the animal being milked, is also significantly reduced, as the animal cannot reach them.

[0050] The drive arrangement 14 can be controlled, for example in the case of pneumatic cylinders, via valves that are also located in the bridge 6. These valves can be actuated by control air via control valves in the supply unit.

[0051] The embodiment described above does not restrict the invention, but it can be modified within the scope of the attached claims.

[0052] For example, it is conceivable that the stop 19 of the lever 18 and the unshown stop of the lever 16 also have electrical or pneumatic switching elements which automatically switch off the respective drive 15, 17 in the respective end position.

[0053] Instead of pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders or electromechanical adjustment drives with threaded spindles and nuts are also conceivable.

[0054] It is also conceivable that the gears 20, 21 could have other types of gears, such as gear drives, instead of levers 16, 18. A rack and pinion drive is also conceivable.

[0055] Another possibility is that the gears 20, 21 have multiple levers 16, 18. Reference sign

[0056] 1 Milking parlor 2 Base plate 3 Milking unit 4 Column 5 Gate column 5a Support body 5b Base 6 Bridge 7 Entrance gate 8 Exit gate 9 Gate 10 Side gate 10a Cover 11 Trough gate 11a Trough 12 Supply unit 13 Housing 14 Drive assembly 15 Entrance gate drive 15a Bearing 15b Piston rod 15c Output bearing 16 Lever 17 Exit gate drive 17a Bearing 17b Piston rod 17c Output bearing 18 Lever 19 Stop 20, 21 Gearbox 22 Bracing 70 Entrance gate shaft 70a Bearing section 70b Drive section 70c Entrance gate axle 70d, 70e Bearing 70f Drive end 80 Exit gate shaft 80a Bearing section 80b Drive section 80c Exit gate axle 80d, 80e Bearing 80f Drive end KHead side RBack side TGate side VSupply side

Claims

1. A milking parlor (1) for milking dairy animals, with a pillar (4), a gate pillar (5) with a pivoting entrance gate (7) and a pivoting exit gate (8), and a bridge (6) mounted on the pillar (4) and the gate pillar (5), wherein the milking parlor (1) comprises a driving assembly (14) which is coupled to the entrance gate (7) and the exit gate (8) and which comprises an entrance gate drive (15) and an exit gate drive (17), characterized in that the driving assembly (14) is mounted inside the bridge (6), and that the entrance gate (7) is pivotally coupled to the entrance gate drive (15) via a first gearing (20) and the exit gate (8) is pivotally coupled to the exit gate drive (17) via a second gearing (21), wherein the first gearing (20) comprises a lever gearing with at least one lever (16), and the second gearing (21) comprises a lever gearing with at least one lever (18).

2. The milking parlor (1) as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the entrance gate (7) is connected secured against rotation to a vertically mounted entrance gate shaft (70), and that the exit gate (8) is connected secured against rotation to a vertically mounted exit gate shaft (80).

3. The milking parlor (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the entrance gate shaft (70) is connected secured against rotation to the at least one lever (16) of the first gearing (20), and that the exit gate shaft (80) is connected secured against rotation to the at least one lever (18) of the second gearing (21).

4. The milking parlor (1) as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the entrance gate shaft (70) is mounted on a vertical longitudinal side of a support body (5a) of the gate pillar (5), and that the exit gate shaft (80) is mounted on the other vertical longitudinal side of the support body (5a) of the gate pillar (5).

5. The milking parlor (1) as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that the entrance gate drive (15) and the exit gate drive (17) are mounted lengthwise inside the bridge (6).

6. The milking parlor (1) as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the at least one lever (16) of the first gearing (20) and the at least one lever (18) of the second gearing (21) are arranged one above the other inside the bridge (6).

7. The milking parlor (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the entrance gate drive (15) and the exit gate drive (17) are designed as a compressed air cylinder and / or hydraulic cylinder.

8. The milking parlor (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the milking parlor (1) is set up for the automated milking of dairy animals.