Teat Cup Magazine Positioning in Rotary Milking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In rotary milking parlours, especially the Parallel Rotary system, the positioning of teat cup magazines is impractical due to close cow proximity, leading to restricted access and labor-intensive teat cup handling, particularly when animals are entering or exiting stalls.
Innovation Solution
A teat cup magazine with automated means to move between predefined storage and working positions, guided by a cam arrangement connected to the rotating platform, ensuring efficient access and attachment of teat cups to animals, with options for multiple working positions during the milking process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If teat cup magazine is positioned at the entrance to the stall in parallel rotary systems, then access to the magazine is improved, but animal access to the stall is impeded and animals become distressed
Solution Approach 1:
The teat cup magazine is made movable between a storage position (away from the stall entrance) and a working position (near the udder). This dynamic repositioning allows the system to optimize for animal access during entry/exit phases and for operator access during milking phases, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and animal welfare
Solution Approach 2:
The milking process is segmented into distinct phases (animal entry, milking, animal exit), with the magazine positioned differently for each phase. During entry/exit, the magazine is in storage position; during milking, it moves to working position. This temporal segmentation allows both animal access and operator access to be optimized at different times
2Object-affected harmful factors
If teat cup magazine is positioned away from stall entrance to improve animal access, then animal distress is reduced, but access by operator to milking equipment is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine dynamically transitions from storage position (improving animal access) to working position (improving operator access). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing different positions optimized for different operational needs throughout the milking cycle
3Ease of manufacture
If operator moves teat cup cluster across rear of animal for attachment, then teat cups can be attached to teats, but labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine is positioned to enable automated or semi-automated teat cup attachment without requiring the operator to manually move the cluster across the animal. The system is configured so that teat cups can be attached directly from the magazine position, allowing the animal or automated mechanisms to facilitate the attachment process rather than requiring intensive manual intervention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates efficient and consistent teat cup management, reducing labor intensity and ensuring unobstructed animal access to stalls, while allowing for automated teat cup attachment and removal, enhancing the overall milking process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
guided by a cam arrangement connected to the rotating platform
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for locating a teat cup for use in a milking parlour. Apparatus is provided comprising a milking stall (7) provided on a rotatable platform (9) and means (19, 21, 23, 25) for controlling movement of a teat cup magazine (20) relative to said stall (7). The controlling means permits movement of said magazine (20) between first and second predefined positions relative to the milking stall (7).