Milking Device with Ground-Level Teat Cup Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking devices require numerous operations and ergonomically adverse postures, leading to low output and hygiene issues due to dirt contamination from the ground surface.
Innovation Solution
A milking device with a vertically arranged cylinder and closure system that positions teat cups above the ground, allowing for simultaneous connection of teat cups to animal teats, reducing stress on animals and enhancing hygiene by preventing dirt entry through a partially closed ground surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If teat cups are moved upward from a position under the animal through an opening in the ground surface, then the complexity of operations is reduced, but dirt can find its way into the teat cups through the opening, reducing hygiene
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is designed to rotate between a closed position (blocking the opening) and an open position (allowing teat cup movement). This dynamic switching enables the system to maintain hygiene during storage while allowing operational access during milking, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and hygiene protection
Solution Approach 2:
The closure is positioned to automatically block the opening when not in use, preventing dirt contamination before it can affect the teat cups. This preliminary protective action ensures hygiene is maintained during the periods when the system is not actively milking
2Extent of automation
If a robot arm with lateral movement is used to attach teat cups to teats, then automation is increased, but the environment becomes less peaceful and animal stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the robot arm with lateral movement from the system. Instead, it uses a simpler vertical lifting mechanism that moves teat cups directly upward from the carrier, avoiding the complex lateral movements that cause animal stress while maintaining adequate automation for the attachment process
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using a horizontal robot arm approach, the invention inverts the approach by using vertical movement from below. The teat cups are lifted upward through the opening in the ground surface, attaching to the animal's teats from a downward trajectory, which is less disturbing to the animals
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the milking device is positioned under the ground surface, then hygiene is improved by preventing dirt entry, but access for attaching teat cups becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The closure rotates dynamically between closed and open positions, allowing the system to be positioned under the ground surface for hygiene while providing easy access during operation. The rotational mechanism enables the opening to be cleared when needed for teat cup attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The closure acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the need for ground-level positioning (hygiene) and the need for access (operation). By rotating the closure, it temporarily mediates access to the opening without requiring the entire system to be elevated
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a milking device for milking animals. The invention further relates to a milking system comprising a milking device and a method for milking an animal (75). The milking device comprises: - a frame (4); - a cylinder (6) connected operatively to the frame (4); - a teat cup carrier (8) which is connected operatively to the cylinder (6) and is movable relative to the frame (4) by the cylinder (6); and - a number of teat cups (10) placeable on or at the teat cup carrier (8), wherein milk hoses (12) can be connected to the teat cups (10) for the purpose of discharging milk, wherein the milking device comprises a rest state (50) and a milking state (52), wherein in the rest state (50) the teat cups (10) are positioned wholly under a ground surface (3), wherein in the milking state (52) the teat cups (10) are positioned at least partially above the ground surface (3), and wherein the milking device is displaceable from a rest state (50) to a milking state (52) by the cylinder (6), wherein the cylinder (6) comprises: - a first stroke (100, 106) which brings the teat cups (10) at least partially above the ground surface (3); and - a second stroke (102, 104) which co-displaces the milk hoses (12) in the direction of the ground surface (3).