Sequence Gate Assembly for Automated Animal Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing milking arrangements require additional devices to urge animals to leave their milking places, which occupy space and may not prioritize animal comfort, and lack efficient automation for animal flow during milking processes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sequence gate assembly with a third drive device that moves between elevated and closed positions to act as both an entry and exit mechanism, controlled by a system that automatically adjusts the entrance gate operation based on the sequence gate's position, eliminating the need for separate urging devices and enhancing space utilization and animal comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional devices are installed to urge animals to leave their milking places, then the completeness of animal exit is improved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of animal exitVSAvoidnumber of additional devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sequence gate assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it guides animals into milking places during entry, and urges animals to leave during exit. By making the sequence gate assembly multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate urging devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable animal exit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the entry guidance function and the exit urging function into a single sequence gate assembly. This merging of functions reduces the total number of devices required in the system, addressing the contradiction between reliability of animal exit and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If separate urging devices are installed to ensure animals leave milking places, then the animal exit reliability is improved, but the space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal exit reliabilityVSAvoidspace utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sequence gate assembly serves dual purposes: guiding animals into milking places and urging them out. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate urging devices, thereby improving space utilization while maintaining animal exit reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If manual intervention is used to manage animal flow, then the equipment complexity is reduced, but the productivity and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidanimal flow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sequence gate assembly is designed to automatically urge animals to leave their milking places without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates animal flow by using the sequence gate assembly to guide entry and trigger exit, thereby maintaining equipment simplicity while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control system monitors the position of the sequence gate assembly and automatically controls the entrance gate based on this feedback. This automated feedback mechanism improves animal flow efficiency without requiring manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between equipment simplicity and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If the sequence gate assembly remains in the first position during milking, then the animal comfort is improved, but the exit efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal comfortVSAvoidexit efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sequence gate assembly is designed to be dynamic, moving between the first position (during milking) and the second position (for exit). This dynamic positioning allows the system to optimize animal comfort during milking by keeping the gate elevated, and then efficiently urge exit by lowering the gate, thereby resolving the contradiction between comfort and exit efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11304402B2Milking arrangement and a method of milking animals therein

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 DELAVAL HLDG AB

AI summary

A milking arrangement includes a milking module having at least two milking places, a front gate assembly, a sequence gate assembly, an entrance gate, an independent first drive device for moving the front gate assembly between lower and upper positions, and a second drive device for moving the entrance gate between open and closed positions. An independent third drive device moves the sequence gate assembly from a first position to a second elevated position in which the sequence gates are located at a level above and behind animals standing in respective milking places. The sequence gate assembly being configured to move from the second position to the first position such that the sequence gates urge animals standing in their respective milking places to leave the milking places. A control arrangement controls opening of the entrance gate on basis of the position of the sequence gate assembly.