GB2307393A

GB2307393A - Teat-cup cluster removal device

Info

Publication number: GB2307393A
Application number: GB9624308A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Jennings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-22
Filing date: 1996-11-22
Publication date: 1997-05-28
Also published as: GB9624308D0; IES950889A2; IES70659B2

Abstract

Upright support 4 carries a horizontally swingable arm 10 which guides a cluster removing cord 12. Piston 6 is caused to move by a vacuum thus retracting cord 12 and removing the cluster (fig 2). The cord runs within the arm and is guided by pulleys 15 and 16.

Description

A TEAT-CUP CLUSTER REMOVAL DEVICE Technical Field The invention relates to a teat-cup cluster removal device for use with milking apparatus. More particularly, it relates to a device for controlling and supporting the teat-cup cluster on removal from an animal being milked.

Background Art Conventional milking apparatus includes a teat-cup cluster comprising four teat-cups which fit onto the cow's teats. The cups include resilient liners, and means for applying a vacuum pulse to the liners to milk the cow. The teat-cup cluster is connected by a flexible tube to a stainless steel milk line by means of which milk is drawn off under vacuum. A vacuum line is also connected to the teat-cup cluster.

At the end of milking, the source of vacuum is disconnected from the teat-cups. In order to prevent the teat-cup cluster from falling off the cow onto the floor of the milking parlour, it is known to provide means for assisting in the removal and retraction of the teat-cup cluster. The known means comprises a cylinder and piston arrangement operated by the vacuum pump of the milking apparatus. The vacuum cylinder is positioned above the milking stall, and at the end of milking, vacuum is automatically applied to the cylinder to withdraw the piston. A cord is attached between the piston and the teat-cup cluster so that as the piston is withdrawn upwardly, the cord is pulled to remove the cluster from the cow and to raise the cluster relative to the cow.

The difficulty with the known arrangement is that on retraction of the cord, the teat-cup cluster tends to swing free, and swings about the milking stall, which is undesirable. Also, there is a risk that the cluster may strike the ground and become contaminated by dirt. If the known arrangement is situated near a wall there is a tendency for the teat-cup cluster to strike the wall when being retracted.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a cluster removal device which will maintain better control over the removal and retraction of the cluster than heretofore has been the case.

Sumnarv of the Invention Accordingly, the invention provides a teat-cup cluster removal device comprising a substantially upright support, which is adapted to be mounted above the milking stall, and which carries a cluster retraction means, a substantially horizontally-disposed swinging arm pivotally mounted at or adjacent the bottom of the upright support, and adapted to swing in a substantially horizontal plane relative to the support, a cord, connected at one end to the cluster and at the other end to the retraction means, and guide means on the swinging arm for guiding the cord along the arm.

Preferably, the swinging arm is hollow, and the guide means for the cord comprises guide wheels rotatable within the swinging arm.

Thus, at the end of the milking cycle, the vacuum-operated retraction device is actuated to withdraw the cord through the swinging arm. The withdrawal of the cord removes the cluster from the cow, and the cluster is held by the swinging arm at about hand height, so that it is convenient for the milking operator to attach the cluster to the next cow to be milked. Also, the tension in the cord causes the swinging arm to move to one side of the milking stall such that the cluster does not obstruct the entry of the next cow to the milking stall. Also, the swinging arm keeps the cluster well away from the floor of the milking stall. If mounted on or near a wall the teat-cup cluster removal device keeps the cluster away from the wall.

Brief DescriDtion of the Drawings One embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a teat-cup cluster removal device of the invention, showing the teat-cup cluster in a lowered position; Figure 2 is an elevation of a teat-cup cluster removal device of the invention, showing the teat-cup in a raised position; Figure 3 is an isometric view of part of the device, and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the device shown in Figure 3.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, the teat-cup cluster removal device of the invention comprises an upright support 1 which suitably, is mounted on the cross-over bar which forms the back bone of the milking parlour.

Suitably, the upright 1 is in the form of a cylindrical metal tube. A movable support bracket 2 is attached adjacent a top end of the upright 1, and a second support bracket 3 is positioned adjacent the lower end of the upright 1. The support brackets 2 and 3 support a cylindrical cluster retraction device 4. The cluster retraction device 4 is a known device and comprises a cylinder 5 containing a reciprocating piston 6 slidable within the cylinder 5. A pipe 7 connects the interior of the cylinder 5 with the vacuum pump of the milking machine. The cluster retraction device operates, in well-known manner, to withdraw the reciprocating piston up the cylinder, under vacuum, at the end of the milking cycle.

A flat, substantially horizontal plate 8 is fixed to the bottom end of the upright 1. The plate 8 has mounted thereon a pivoting bush 9. The bush 9 suitably contains an annular ring of PTFE material. A horizontally disposed swinging arm 10 is mounted for rotation within the bush 9 by means of a downwardly extending pivot 11 which engages in the bush (see Fig. 4). The PTFE material reduces friction so that the arm 10 can swing freely about the bush 9. The pivot 11 suitably comprises a steel spigot welded to the side of the arm 10.

Preferably, the swinging arm 10 is hollow. In the embodiment shown, it is a hollow stainless steel box-section, such that a cord 12, connected at one end to the piston 6, and at the other end to a teat-cup cluster 13 (see Fig. 1) may travel through the hollow interior of the swinging arm 10.

Guide means are provided for guiding the cord 12 through the swinging arm 10. These guide means comprise firstly a nylon bush 14, which extends downwardly from the outer end of the swinging arm 10. The bush 14 guides the cord through a hole in the arm 10 into the interior of the arm where the cord turns through a right angle about a rotatable nylon wheel 15 journalled in the interior of the swinging arm 10. The cord travels through the hollow interior of the arm 9 to the other end 0 of the arm where it is turned through a further 90 by a second nylon wheel 16. The exit from the swinging arm 10 is provided by means of a hollow steel spigot 17 which is welded to the top wall of the arm 10.

The interior of the spigot is provided with an annular bush 18, of PTFE, through which the cord travels. The bush 18 protects the cord from friction and allows it to pass easily from the swinging arm 10.

As shown in Figure 3, the spigot 17 engages with a bush 19 which extends from the bottom of the bracket 3. This bush 19 guides the cord to the inside of the cylinder 5. Within the cylinder, the cord engages with a pulley 20 attached to the lower end of the reciprocating piston 6. The free end of the cord is fixed to the wall of the cylinder 5.

To commence milking a cow, the teat-cups of the teat-cup cluster 13 are attached, by the milking operator, to the teats of the cow in a well-known manner. Vacuum is applied to the teat-cups through vacuum line 21 to pulsate the cups. Milk is withdrawn from the teat-cups by a milk line 22, under vacuum, in well known manner. At the end of the milking cycle, the vacuum line 21 is closed to release the teat-cups.

Simultaneously, vacuum is supplied to the cylinder 5 to withdraw the reciprocating piston 6 up the cylinder. This causes the cord 12 to move upwards in the cylinder to assist in pulling the teat-cups from the cow, and simultaneously withdrawing the teat-cup cluster 13 to the position shown in Figure 1 where it hangs below the end of the swinging arm 10. As the cord 12 is drawn up the cylinder 5, it travels about the pulley 20 and the wheels 15, 16.

The retraction of the cord 12 acts to apply tension to the swinging arm 10 which causes the arm to move sideways to bring the cluster 13 to the side of the milking stall. Also, the cluster 13 is kept well above the floor of the milking stall by the arm 10, preferably at hand height, so that it is readily accessible to the operator when he wishes to apply the teat-cups to the next cow to be milked.

If desired the arm 10 may be extendible to allow adjustable positioning of the teat-cup cluster 13 when not in use. Stops can also be provided to limit the degree of rotation of the arm 10 about pivot 11. In some cases it may be desirable to limit the rotation of the arm to 1800. Provision may be made for electrical switches on the device.

Claims

1. A teat-cup cluster removal device comprising a substantially upright support, which is adapted to be mounted above a milking stall, and which carries a cluster retraction means, a substantially horizontally-disposed swinging arm pivotally mounted at or adjacent the bottom of the upright support, and adapted to swing in a substantially horizontal plane relative to the support, a cord, connected at one end to the cluster and at the other end to the retraction means, and guide means on the swinging arm for guiding the cord along the arm.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the swinging arm is hollow, and the cord travels through the interior of the arm along said guide means.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the guide means comprises rotatable wheels or pulleys journalled in the swinging arm.

4. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the cluster retraction means comprises a piston connected to the cord which is reciprocally movable within a cylinder, which is mounted on the upright support.

5. A teat-cup cluster removal device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, tie accompanying drawings.