Rotary parlour for milking of animals

• US 20040020442A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delaval Holding AB (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Delaval Holding AB (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Märtensson, Bengt-G?ouml;ran
• Granted Patent: US 6,802,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/14.04
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/126 Carousels

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary parlour for milking of animals, especially cows (1). The parlour includes a rotary platform (2) having dividing members (3) arranged to divide the platform (2) into stalls. The dividing members (3) have a substantially straight extension between a first end (4) and a second end (5). The dividing members (3) are each connected to a feeding trough (7) constituting a unit arranged tumably around a vertical axis (8). A center (9) of the feeding trough (7) is located at a distance from a vertical plane (10) extending through he first (4) and second (5) ends of the dividing member (3). By such an arrangement of the feeding trough (7) in relation to the dividing member, it is possible for the animals to stand in a naturally straight position and to eat from the feeding troughs (7) during the milking operation.

Claims

1. A rotary parlour for milking of animals (1), wherein the parlour comprises

a rotary platform (2) arranged to form a support surface for the animals (1),

stalling means arranged to divide the platform (2) into stalls receiving individual animals (1), wherein the stalling means comprise dividing members (3) having a first end (4) and a second end (5) and being turnably arranged around a respective vertical axis (8), wherein the dividing members (3), in a stalling position, are arranged to be located between adjacent animals (1) with the first end (4) located at a radially outer position in relation to the second end (5),

control means arranged to control the turning of the dividing members (3) around the respective vertical axis (8)

and feeding troughs (7), which each has a centre (9) and is connected to a respective one of the dividing members (3), characterised in that the centre (9) of each feeding trough (7) is located at a distance from a vertical plane (10) extending through the first (4) and second (5) ends of the respective dividing member (3).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the centre (9) of the respective feeding trough (7) is located at a straight-lined distance of 0,2 to 0,6 meters from the vertical plane (10).

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the feeding troughs (7) are rigidly connected to the respective dividing member (3).

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vertical axes (8) are positioned to extend through the respective feeding trough (7).

5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the vertical axes (8) are positioned to extend through the centre (9) of the respective feeding trough (7).

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vertical axis (8) of the respective dividing member (3) is positioned at a shorter distance from the first end (4) than from the second end (5).

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said control means comprises first guide means arranged to turn the dividing members (3) to the stalling position.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that said first guide means comprises a guide wheel (11) connected to each dividing member (3) and a guide rail (12) arranged to extend around at least a part of the platform (2).

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said control means comprise second guide means arranged to turn the dividing members (3) to an open position enabling entering of the animals (1) to the stalls.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterised in that the second end (5) of the dividing member (3) is located in a radially outer position in relation to the first end (4) in said open position.

11. A device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that said second guide means comprise a guide member (18) arranged to run along a cam surface (19) sloping in such a manner that the guide member (18) is urged to a position of the cam surface (19) corresponding to the open position of the dividing member (3).

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that each dividing member (3) has an essentially straight extension between the first (4) and second (5) end.

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stalling means is arranged to position the animals (1) in a herringbone pattern along the platform (2).

14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rotary parlour comprises an entry (14) for the animals (1) to the platform (2).

15. A device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the rutary parlour comprises an exit (15) for the animals (1) from the platform (2).

16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each stall comprises milking means (20).