Space Divider of a Milking Parlor Arrangement, and Milking Parlor Arrangement

• US 20150189854A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Krone, Otto, Hensel, Derk, Mader, Thomas, Hnscheid, Armin, Hille, Dieter, Schneider, Erich, Trossehl, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 10,849,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/003 Movable milking machines
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/007 Monitoring milking processes; Control or regulation of milking machines
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/017 Automatic attaching or detaching of clusters
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/0175 Attaching of clusters
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 5/041 Milk claw
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 7/02 for cleaning or sanitising milking machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 7/025 Teat cup cleaning, e.g. by rinse jetters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/12 Milking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/123 Mobile milking parlours
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/126 Carousels

Abstract

A space divider (4) of a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″) for at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T), wherein the space divider (4) is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal (T) to be milked, has an arm device (6) having a milking cluster (5), which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device (6) is arranged with the milking cluster (5) in the parking position in the space divider (4) and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal (T) to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof in fully automatic operation or semi-automatic operation. The space divider (4) is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals (T), so that many animals (T) can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″) while the smallest possible amount of space is required.

Claims

1. A space divider of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, wherein the space divider is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of an animal space, the space divider comprising:

an arm device; and

a milking cluster joined to the arm device for adjustment between a parking position wherein the arm device and the milking cluster are arranged in the space divider and a working position determined to be between front and hind legs of the animal to be milked.

3. The space divider of claim 1, wherein the arm device is further adjustable between the parking position, the working position, and a positioning position for automatically positioning the milking cluster in relation to a teat attaching position, and the milking cluster comprises

at least one position sensor to gather data for adjusting the milking cluster into the positioning position.

4. The space divider of claim 1, wherein, the arm device working position is a predetermined and fixed preliminary position.

5. The space divider of claim 4, wherein in the parking position and in the preliminary position, teat cups of the milking cluster are upright and relatively close to one another above a collecting piece at a distance from the collecting piece, and the teat cups of the milking cluster are releasable from the preliminary position into a milking position, in which the teat cups of the milking cluster are movable away from the collecting piece to the milking position.

6. The space divider of claim 5, and further comprising:

a segment element disposed between each teat cup and the collecting piece and sized to determine a distance of each teat cup from the collecting piece in the parking position.

7. The space divider of claim 6, and further comprising:

at least one traction mechanism is guided through a passage in the segment element, the traction mechanism being fastened at one end to a teat cup and coupled at the other end to an actuating device.

8. The space divider of claim 7, wherein the actuating device tensions the traction device in the parking position and in the preliminary position, and wherein in the parking position and in the preliminary position, an associated teat cup of the milking cluster is held upright above the collecting piece at the distance from the collecting piece.

9. The space divider of claim 8, wherein the collecting piece is joined to a milking cluster carrier, wherein the connection is held firmly together in the parking position and in the preliminary position and is loosened in the milking position.

10. The space divider of claim 9, wherein the collecting piece in the milking position is loosened in such a manner that it is movable within predetermined limits relative to the milking cluster carrier.

11. The space divider of claim 7, wherein the actuating device comprises:

a pneumatic cylinder.

12. The space divider of claim 1, wherein the arm device comprises:

an upper arm and

a lower arm pivotably joined to the upper arm.

13. The space divider of claim 12, wherein the lower arm is joined to the milking cluster carrier.

14. The space divider of claim 1, and further comprising:

an arm device drive unit joined to the space divider.

15. The space divider of claim 1, and further comprising:

an arm device drive unit arranged below a milking platform of the milking parlor.

16. The space divider of claim 1, wherein the space divider defines an opening in which the arm device and the milking cluster are arranged when in the parking position.

17. The space divider of claim 16, wherein the arm device with the milking cluster is arranged in the parking position within a section of the space divider that is disposed below the milking parlor.

18. The space divider of claim 16, wherein the opening 40 in the space divider is closeable with a protective covering.

19. The space divider of claim 16, and further comprising:

a milking cluster cleaning device arranged in the space divider.

20. The space divider of claim 1, and the arm device comprises:

a parallel guide for adjusting the milking cluster.

21. The space divider of claim 1, wherein the space divider is preassembled with an arm unit for installation into a milking parlor.

2. (canceled)

22. A milking parlor arrangement with at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, the milking parlor arrangement comprising:

at least one space divider arranged on a longitudinal side of the milking parlor the space divider comprising;

an arm device; and

a milking cluster joined to the arm device for adjustment between a parking position, a milking position, and a working position, and the arm device and the milking cluster are arranged below a milking platform in the milking parlor when in the parking position and in a position determined to be toward a rear of the animal when in the working position.

24. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 22, characterized in that, in semi automatic operation, wherein the arm device is further adjustable between the parking position and the working position, wherein the working position includes a predetermined and fixed preliminary position in which the milking cluster is accessible for attachment to animal teats.

25. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 22, wherein the arm device is pivotable about a horizontal axis between the parking position and the working position.

30. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 22, wherein the milking parlor is a rotary milking parlor.

31. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 30, wherein the rotary milking parlor is an external rotary milking parlor.

23. A milking parlor arrangement comprising:

at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals and at least one space divider, wherein the space divider is arranged on a longitudinal side of the milking parlor, and, the milking parlor arrangement comprises;

an arm device and a milking cluster, which are adjustable between a parking position, wherein the arm device and the milking cluster are arranged below a milking platform and a working position.

26. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 23, and further comprising:

a cleaning device joined to the space divider, and wherein the arm device in the parking position supports the milking cluster for engagement with the cleaning device.

27. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 23, wherein the milking cluster is arranged upside-down when in the parking position.

28. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 23, and further comprising:

at least one arm device drive unit engaged with the arm device, and the arm device drive unit is arranged in the space divider.

29. The milking parlor arrangement of claim 23, and further comprising:

at least one robot device to adjust the arm device and the milking cluster between a preliminary position and the working position.