Expelling Device Sheet Obstruction for Milking Stable Exit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Animals, particularly cows, tend to remain in milking stables after the milking session is over due to various reasons such as interest in neighboring food or animals, and existing devices often frighten or discomfort animals, affecting others not yet ready to leave or enter.

Innovation Solution

An expelling device with a vertically moving sheet that distracts animals by obstructing their view of neighboring stables, using a sheet that can be opaque and made of rubber, attached to a suspension arm and wire for manual or automatic control, to prevent access to neighboring food and animals, thereby encouraging exit through the rear part of the stable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If devices generating noise or pressurized air flow are used to force animals to leave, then animals are incited to exit the milking stable, but other animals not yet ready to leave or enter become uncomfortable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexit efficiencyVSAvoiddiscomfort to other animals

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet is positioned specifically adjacent to the lateral wall element to block the view of neighboring stables only for the animal that needs to be expelled. This localized intervention affects only the target animal's visual field without creating noise or air pressure that would disturb other animals in adjacent stables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet acts as an intermediary object between the animal and the distracting visual stimuli in neighboring stables. By introducing this physical barrier, the animal's view of food or other animals in adjacent stables is blocked, removing the incentive to remain without affecting other animals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If tactile methods are used to hit or frighten animals to leave, then animals are incited to exit the milking stable, but the method causes stress and discomfort to the animals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexit efficiencyVSAvoidstress to animals

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using harmful tactile stimulation to force animals out, the invention converts the potentially harmful visual attraction (neighboring animals and food) into a beneficial factor by blocking it. The sheet removes the distracting visual stimuli that cause animals to linger, allowing them to leave voluntarily without stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If noise-generating devices are used to expel animals, then animals are incited to leave the milking stable, but the noise makes it uncomfortable for other animals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexit efficiencyVSAvoidnoise discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces acoustic and pneumatic systems (noise and pressurized air) with a simple mechanical visual barrier. The sheet provides a silent, non-intrusive method to block visual stimuli, eliminating noise pollution while achieving the same goal of encouraging animal exit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11234412B2Expelling device and a milking arrangement provided with such a device

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 DELAVAL HLDG AB

AI summary

An expelling device is provided that is configured to incite an animal to exit from of a milking stable in which the animal is standing during a milking session. The milking stable has a front wall element and lateral wall elements and is configured to house an animal that is being milked in the milking stable with the head directed to and close to the front wall element. The expelling device includes a sheet configured to move vertically from an elevated position to a position adjacent to a front end of the milking stable and adjacent to a lateral wall element of the milking stable.