GB2488823A

GB2488823A - Animal cubicle cleaning system with motorised movable belt floor

Info

Publication number: GB2488823A
Application number: GB1104069.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Pluess
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-10
Filing date: 2011-03-10
Publication date: 2012-09-12
Also published as: GB201104069D0

Abstract

An animal cubicle cleaning system in the form of a movable belt 50 arranged to at least partially cover the floor of an animal cubicle [40, Figure 1], and a motor 60,70 for moving the belt as required. A scraper 130 and/or a water spray 120A,120B may be employed to clean the belt 50. The system may also include a sterilising and/or disinfecting device 110. The belt 50 may have a first end wound on to a first drum and a second end wound on to a second drum, or the belt may take the form of an endless conveyor belt held in a loop by two spaced drums (see Figure 5). A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed. The cleaning system may be used with multiple animal stalls [see Figure 1]. The invention is intended for use with animals, such as cows, which are housed inside buildings and require manure to be removed from their cubicles on a regular basis to avoid infection.

Description

An animal cubicle cleaning system The present invention relates generally to an animal cubicle cleaning system and a method of cleaning one or more animal cubicles and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility with housing for milking cows.

During winter cows are often typically kept indoors in large sheds. Each cow has its own cubicle where it sleeps and eats. It is also where the animals defecate.

When the cows leave their cubicles to be milked their cubicles may be cleaned to remove the manure that has collected. If the cubicles are not cleaned regularly, infection of the cows may occur leading to the loss of milk production either temporarily or permanendy.

The cleaning of the animal cubicles is traditionally effected by hand using brooms, shovels, and high pressure hoses. This is time consuming, labour intensive and expensive.

Consequenfly, it is desirable to have an improved method for cleaning cow cubicles which is less time consuming and labour intensive.

In a first aspect, the invention provides an animal cubicle cleaning system comprising a movable belt arranged to at least partially cover the floor of an animal cubicle, and a motor for moving the belt as required.

In this manner, any manure present on the belt will be moved away from the cubicle when the belt is moved. The belt may substantially completely cover the floor of the cubicle. The belt may comprise rubber and be similar to a conveyor belt.

However, the term "belt" may also include other materials and forms such as chain conveyors.

The motor may be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically driven. There may be two motors provided, one at each end of the belt.

The belt may he arranged in a loop around two drums. One or more motors motor may be provided to drive one or both drums. The upper belt may be the belt that is located within the animal cubicle. The lower belt may be located underneath the cubicle in a channel. Alternatively, it may be located underneath the upper belt but on top of the cubicle door.

In use, the belt may always be driven in one direction, however, it is also possible that the belt is driven first one way and then in the reverse direction the next time it needs moving and the cubicle cleaning. Another possibility is that the cleaning process requires the belt to be driven first one way and then the other way in one cleaning occurrence.

The belt may have two ends each end being windable onto a drum, the animal cubicle being located between the two drums. In this regard, the belt is not endless.

The portion of belt present in the cubicle may be wound onto one drum when cleaning is required, such that another portion of clean belt is unwound from the other drum.

The belt may be driven backwards and forwards as required. It is possible that after first installation there may be belt provided on one drum and none on the other. Each time the cubicle requires cleaning a portion of belt is \vound off the full drum and onto the empty drum. In this manner, the belt is moved in the same direction each cleaning occurrence and for several consecutive cleaning occurrences until such time as the full drum becomes empty and the empty drum becomes full. In other words there may he enough belt provided to cover the cubicle many times.

The animal cubicle cleaning system may include a belt cleaning device. This may take many different forms with various implements and cleanings methods, however, in one embodiment, it comprises a scraper. The scraper is arranged to slightly press against the belt to scrape off the manure and other detritus into a collection point.

More than one scraper may be provided. The one or more scraper may be arranged to scrape either or both surfaces of the belt. The scraper may be arranged to he at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal length of the belt to aid the cleaning thereof.

The animal cubicle cleaning system may comprise a water spray. This may have a relatively high pressure. Chemicals may be added to the water to aid the cleaning process.

The animal cubicle cleaning system may include a sterilising and/or disinfecting device for at least partially steriising and/or disinfecting at least a portion of the belt.

This may take the form of any one or more of hquid sprays, powder sprays, ultrasonic emitters and TJV light emitters.

A drier may also be provided for substantially drying the belt. This may take the form of an air drier and/or an infrared drier.

In a second aspect, the invention provides an arrangement of animal cubicles and an animal cubicle cleaning system according to the first aspect.

The arrangement of animal cubicles may be provided in a cow shed. There may be any number of animal cubicles arranged in a line such as more than forty, or even one hundred. There may be several lines within the same building, each line having its own animal cubicle cleaning system.

The manure and other detritus from one hne may be brought to a particular point from where it may be removed to stock piles etc. In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of cleaning one or more animal cubicles comprising the steps of: providing one or more animal cubicles; providing an animal cubicle cleaning system according to the first aspect; moving the belt when the one or more cubicles are unoccupied; and removing material located on the surface thereof leaving a clean area of belt in the one or more cubicles.

The belt may be wound onto a first drum at one end of the one or more animal cubicles and simultaneously wound off a second drum at the other end of the one or more animal cubicles.

Alternatively, the belt may be endless and be moved in a loop around a first drum located at one end of the one or more animal cubicles and around a second drum located at the other end of the one or more animal cubicles.

The step of removing material located on the surface of the belt may be effected by spraying water onto the belt.

Alternatively, or additionally, the step of removing any material located on the surface of the belt may he effected by scraping the belt.

The method may further include the step of sterihsing and/or disinfecting at least a portion of the belt.

The method may additionally include the step of drying at least a portion of the belt.

The invention provides for a way of relatively easily cleaning several animal cubicles in a faster than previous manner resulting in man power savings.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of one embodiment of an animal cubicle cleaning system; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of another part of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a simplified elevational side view of the system of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a simplified elevational side view of a different animal cubicle cleaning system.

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not he interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression cca device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to tlie present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Reference throughout this specification to cone embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may refer to different embodiments.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects he in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of

this description.

The invention will now be described by a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention. It is clear that other embodiments of the invention can he configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

In Figure 1 an animal cubicle cleaning system 10 is shown including an array of animal cubicles 40 each separated by walls, bars 30 or other such means. The term cubicles may be replaced by the term stalls.

The array of cubicles 30 are arranged substantially rectilinearly. The base 20 on which the cubicles are provided is concrete in this Figure, although other materials are possible.

A conveyor type belt 50 is arranged on top of the concrete. It extends from one drum 60 provided at one end of the array of cubicles 40 to another drum 70 provided at the other opposite end of the array. Each drum 60, 70 is powered by an electric motor 80, 90, and a control system (not shown) may be provided.

The belt may be wound onto one drum and wound off the other drum simultaneously such that it is moved relative to the cubicles 40. The system 10 includes cleaning and disinfecting apparatus 100 at each end adjacent each drum 60, 70, although this apparatus may be placed elsewhere along the belt 50 length.

In Figure 2 an enlarged view of the belt control and movement unit shown on the left hand side of Figure 1 is depicted. It comprises an electric motor 80 which drives a drum 60 onto which is wound conveyor-like belting 50. It also comprises belt washers 120A, 120B, a belt disinfecting or sanitising device 110 and a belt scraper 130.

The belt disinfecting or sanitising device 110 may emit a liquid spray and/or a TJV light.

One washer I 20A is shown in a vertical alignment above the belt 50, the other washer 120B is shown in a horizontal alignment adjacent the belt 50. The washers 120A, 120B may also comprise scrapers.

In Figure 3 an enlarged view of the belt control and movement unit shown on the right hand side of Figure 1 is depicted. It comprises an electric motor 90 which drives a drum 70 on which is wound conveyor-like belting 50. It also comprises belt washers 120A, 120B, a belt disinfecting or sanitising device 110 and a belt scraper 130.

Other apparatus may be provided such as belt monitor for may determining where a particular portion of belt 50 is in relation to the drum 70 and/or the cubicles 40.

One washer 120A is shown moved away from the belt 50, the other washer 120B is shown adjacent the belt 50. Alternatively, there may he only one washer 120A, 120B provided at each end of the belt which may be moveable between the two positions (horizontal and vertical) shown.

In Figure 4, one embodiment of the system 10 is shown including cubicles 40 separated by barriers 30. The belt 50 lies on top of mats 55 which overlie the concrete floor 20. The belt 50 has two ends, one of which is attached to the drum 60 on the left and the other of which is attached to the drum 70 on the right. The belt is moved back and forth as required. Cleaning occurs at either end, although it may take place at other locations too, such as at intermediate points between the two drums 60, 70.

In Figure 5, a different embodiment of the system 210 is shown. This system 210 has an endless or continuous belt 150 which is held in a loop about by two drums 160, 170. Each drum 160, 170 may be driven by an electric motor, although only one may be required to be driven. The belt 150 has an upper portion 1 SOB which overlies the concrete floor 20 and mats 55, and a lower portion I SOA \vhich lies underneath the mats 55. The lower portion ISOA may lie underneath the concrete floor 20 in a provided space, or on top of it and both options are shown in this Figure.

Although not shown in Figure 4 and 5, idlers and other such belt orientation controliers may be provided to direct the belt 50, 150 such that its location at any point may be selected. For instance, idlers may be provided along the length of the array to maintain its position and/or at either end to ensure that the belt runs substantially close to the floor 20 and/or mats 55.

Any detritus removed from the belts in any of the described embodiments may be directed into a holding area. This holding area (not shown) may be at one end of the array of cubicles, or at both ends thereof. Other possibilities are contemplated such as a central channel which runs at least partially along the length of the array of cubicles.

The channel may drain to a holding are which may he inside and/or outside the building within which the systems 10, 210 are located.

Claims

Claims I. An animal cubicle cleaning system comprising a movable belt arranged to at least partially cover the floor of an animal cubicle, and a motor for moving the belt as required.
2. The animal cubicle cleaning system of claim I, wherein the belt is arranged in a loop around two drums.
3. The animal cubicle cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the belt has two ends each end being windable onto a drum, the animal cubicle being located between the two drums.
4. The animal cubicle cleaning system of any preceding claim, including a belt cleaning device.
5. The animal cubicle cleaning system of claim 4, \vherein the belt cleaning device comprises a scraper.
6. The animal cubicle cleaning system of either one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the belt cleaning device comprises a water spray.
7. The animal cubicle cleaning system of any preceding claim, including a sterilising and/or disinfecting device for at least partially sterilising and/or disinfecting at least a portion of the belt.
8. An arrangement of animal cubicles and an animal cubicle cleaning system according to any preceding claim.
9. A method of cleaning one or more animal cubicles comprising the steps of: providing one or more animal cubicles; providing an animal cubicle cleaning system according to any one of claims I to 8; moving the belt when the one or mote cubicles are unoccupied; and removing material located on the surface thereof leaving a clean area of belt in the one or more cubicles.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the belt is wound onto a first drum at one end of the one or more animal cubicles and wound off a second drum at the other end of the one or more animal cubicles.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the belt is endless and is moved in a loop around a first drum located at one end of the one or more animal cubicles and around a second drum located at the other end of the one or more animal cubicles.
12. The method of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the step of removing material located on the surface of the belt is effected by spraying water onto the belt.
13. The method of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the step of removing any material located on the surface of the belt is effected by scraping the belt.
14. The method of any one of claims 9 to 13, further including the step of steriising and/or disinfecting at least a portion of the belt.
15. An animal cubicle cleaning system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A method of cleaning one or more animal cubicles substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.