System and method for cleaning teats of a milk-producing animal

• US 8,402,920 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpha Technology USA Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alpha Technology USA Corporation
• Inventors: Dole, Kevin, Herbin, Stanley B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott, Yvonne
• Application Number:
  US12/883,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20120067288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 119/14.18, 119/652, 119/664, 119/670, 424/661
• US Class Current: 119/14.18
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 7/04 for treatment of udders or teats, e.g. for cleaning

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for cleaning teats of multiple milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started. The system comprises an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area; and, a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning. The hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning teats of milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:

a disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area;

a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning;

a delivery station, comprising at least a pump and a conduit in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source, for delivering the disinfectant solution to the housing volume of the hand-held applicator with a predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide;

a motor operatively connected to the scrubbing elements to actuate the scrubbing elements;

a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator, the motor and the delivery station, that is configured to initiate the actuation of the scrubbing elements and delivery of the disinfectant solution to the hand-held applicator as the scrubbing elements are actuated; and

,

wherein the hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source, and the disinfectant solution is delivered to the hand-held applicator and applied to the teats in a non-foaming aqueous form having a viscosity and/or vapor pressure that is substantially equal to that of water.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the disinfectant solution delivered to the hand-held applicator contains about 100 ppm to 200 ppm by volume of chlorine dioxide.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the disinfectant solution delivered to the hand-held applicator contains about 150 ppm by volume of chlorine dioxide.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the scrubbing elements include a rotatable brush disposed in the housing for engaging an end of the teat through which milk is released, and the brush includes an array of bristles including a first set of bristles having a first length and a second set of bristles that have a second length that is longer than the first length.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein scrubbing elements comprise a plurality of rotatable brushes including the first brush and at least one second brush that engages an area of the teat above the teat end for teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the housing volume for cleaning, and each of the brushes includes nylon bristles and the brushes are rotated at a rotational speed from about 400 rpm to about 700 rpm.

6. A system for cleaning teats of milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:

an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area, wherein the disinfectant solution has a viscosity and/or vapor pressure substantially equal to water;

a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning;

a delivery station in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source, for delivering the disinfectant solution to the housing volume of the hand-held applicator with a predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide;

a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator and the delivery station, that is configured to initiate the actuation of the scrubbing elements and delivery of the disinfectant solution to the hand-held applicator as the scrubbing elements are actuated; and

,

wherein the hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source; and

,

wherein the one or more scrubbing elements includes at least two rotatable brushes disposed with the housing of the hand-held applicator wherein a first brush is positioned in the housing for engaging an end of the teat through which milk is released, and a second brush is positioned in the housing to engage an area of the teat above the end of the teat, and the first and second brushes comprise an array of nylon fibers and the brushes are rotated at a rotational speed from between about 400 rpm to about 700 rpm.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the brushes are rotated at a rotational speed of about 500 rpm to about 550 rpm.

8. A system for cleaning teats of milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:

an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area, wherein the disinfectant solution, when applied to the teats of an animal, has a viscosity and/or vapor pressure substantially equal to water;

a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning;

a delivery station in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source, for delivering the disinfectant solution to the housing volume of the hand-held applicator with a predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide;

a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator and the delivery station, that is configured to initiate the actuation of the scrubbing elements and delivery of the disinfectant solution to the hand-held applicator as the scrubbing elements are actuated; and

,

wherein the hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source; and

,

wherein the scrubbing elements include a rotatable brush disposed in the housing for engaging an end of the teat through which milk is released, and the brush includes an array of bristles including a first set of bristles having a first length and a second set of bristles that have a second length that is longer than the first length.

9. A system for cleaning teats of milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:

an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area, wherein the disinfectant solution, when applied to the teats of an animal, has a viscosity and/or vapor pressure substantially equal to water;

a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning;

a delivery station in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source, for delivering the disinfectant solution to the housing volume of the hand-held applicator with a predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide;

a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator and the delivery station, that is configured to initiate the actuation of the scrubbing elements and delivery of the disinfectant solution to the hand-held applicator as the scrubbing elements are actuated; and

,

wherein the hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source; and

,

wherein the scrubbing elements include a rotatable brush disposed in the housing for engaging an end of the teat through which milk is released, and the brush includes an array of bristles including a first set of bristles wherein each bristle has a free end that is positioned in the housing a first distance from an outside surface of the housing adjacent to an opening through which the teat is inserted and a second set of bristles wherein each bristle has a free end that is positioned in the housing a second distance from the outside surface of the housing and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

10. A system for cleaning teats of milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:

an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area, wherein the disinfectant solution, when applied to the teats of an animal, has a viscosity and/or vapor pressure substantially equal to water;

a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning;

a delivery station in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source, for delivering the disinfectant solution to the housing volume of the hand-held applicator with a predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide;

a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator and the delivery station, that is configured to initiate the actuation of the scrubbing elements and delivery of the disinfectant solution to the hand-held applicator as the scrubbing elements are actuated; and

,

wherein the hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source; and

,

the disinfectant solution source comprising an aqueous concentrated chlorite salt solution and a citric acid solution, wherein the chlorite salt solution contains about 32,000 ppm by volume of a chlorite salt, and the citric acid solution has a 50% molar concentration of citric acid in water, and the system further comprises;

an activation system, in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator, that mixes the citric acid with the chlorite salt solution at a predetermined ratio to form a concentrated chlorine dioxide solution having a concentration of about 3,200 ppm to about 9,600 ppm of chlorine dioxide;

the delivery station including a dilution station, in fluid communication between the hand-held applicator and the activation system and in electrical communication with the controller, whereupon command from the controller the concentrated chlorine dioxide solution is diluted to a predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide delivered to the hand-held applicator.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the dilution station comprises:

a static mixer in fluid communication with a water source, the activation system and the hand-held applicator;

a pump disposed between the static mixer and the activation system, and the pump is in electrical communication with the controller, whereupon command from the controller, pumps the concentrated chlorine dioxide at a predetermined flow rate from the activation system to the static mixer;

a valve, disposed between the water source and the static mixer, that is in electrical communication with the controller and is opened upon command from the controller when the pump is commanded to pump the concentrated chlorine dioxide from the activation system to the static mixer;

a regulator disposed between the static mixer and the water source for controlling the flow rate of the water to the static mixer for diluting the concentrated chlorine dioxide to the predetermined concentration; and

,

wherein the disinfectant solution is delivered at the predetermined concentration to the hand-held applicator upon activation of the pump and opening of the valve.

12. A system for cleaning teats of multiple milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:

an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area;

a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which a plurality of rotatable brushes are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the housing volume for cleaning;

a delivery station in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source, for delivering the disinfectant solution to the housing volume of the hand-held applicator with a predetermined concentration of an active disinfectant compound in the disinfectant solution;

a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator and the delivery station, that is configured to simultaneously initiate the rotations of the brushes and delivery of the disinfectant solution to the hand-held applicator; and

,

wherein the hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source and at least one first brush engages an end of the teat through which milk is released and the at least one first brush includes an array of bristles including a first set of bristles having a first radial length and a second set of bristles having a second radial length that is longer than the first radial length.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the brushes comprise at least one second brush that engages an area of the teat above the end of the teat engaged by the at least one first brush.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the bristles on the first and second brushes are composed of nylon fibers and the brushes are rotated at a rotational speed of up to about 900 rpm for cleaning a teat.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide in the solution delivered to the hand-held application is about 100 ppm to about 200 ppm by volume.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide in the solution delivered to the hand-held application is about 150 ppm by volume.

17. A method for cleaning teats of multiple milk-producing animals during a milking operation, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before the milking operation is started, the method comprising:

providing a source of an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution at a location within or at the parlor;

delivering, for a first predetermined time duration, the aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution containing a predetermined concentration of about 150 ppm to about 200 ppm of chlorine dioxide by volume to a housing of an hand-held applicator having a teat inserted within a volume of the housing and the applicator having movable scrubbing elements in the housing element;

simultaneously actuating the scrubbing elements for cleaning the teats in the presence of the solution for the predetermined time duration, wherein the applicator is remotely operable relative to the solution source; and

,

wherein the scrubbing elements include a rotatable brush disposed in the housing for engaging an end of the teat through which milk is released, and the brush includes an array of bristles including a first set of bristles having a first length and a second set of bristles that have a second length that is longer than the first length.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of providing the source of the disinfectant solution comprises providing the solution with chlorine dioxide at a higher concentration than as delivered to the hand-held applicator, and diluting the disinfectant solution to the predetermined concentration before the solution is delivered to the hand-held applicator.

19. A method for cleaning teats of multiple milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started, the method comprising:

providing a source of an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution at a location within or at the parlor by providing the solution with chlorine dioxide at a higher concentration than as delivered to the hand-held applicator, and diluting the disinfectant solution to the predetermined concentration before the solution is delivered hand-held applicator;

delivering, for a first time duration, the aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution containing a predetermined concentration of about 150 ppm to about 200 ppm of chlorine dioxide by volume to a housing of a hand-held applicator having a teat inserted within a volume of the housing and the applicator having movable scrubbing elements in the housing volume; and

,

simultaneously actuating the scrubbing elements for cleaning the teats in the presence of the disinfectant solution for the first time duration, wherein the applicator is remotely operable relative to the solution source;

providing control logic in electrical communication with a motor that drives the scrubbing elements, in electrical communication with a pump that is in fluid communication with the solution source and in electrical communication with a valve, which is in fluid communication with a water source; and

,

wherein the control logic is configured to simultaneously activate the motor, activate the pump and open the valve to dilute the concentrated solution to the predetermined concentration, deliver the solution at the predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide and actuate the scrubbing elements for the first predetermined time duration.

20. A method for cleaning teats of multiple milk-producing animals prior to a milking operation, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before the milking operation is started, the method comprising:

providing a source of an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution at a location within or at the parlor;

delivering, for a first time duration, the aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution containing a predetermined concentration of about 150 ppm to about 200 ppm of chlorine dioxide by volume to a housing of a hand-held applicator having a teat inserted within a volume of the housing and the applicator having movable scrubbing elements in the housing volume; and

,

simultaneously actuating the scrubbing elements for cleaning the teats in the presence of the solution for the first time duration, wherein the applicator is remotely operable relative to the solution source;

actuating the scrubbing elements for a second time duration after the first time duration has elapsed in order to dry the teats.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the second time duration is of a sufficient length of time so that some residual solution remains on the teat.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein a residual amount of disinfectant solution remains on the teat after the second time duration elapses.