System and method for cleaning teats of a milk-producing animal and monitoring teat cleaning procedures
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for monitoring teat cleaning and disinfectant procedures before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:
- a disinfectant solution source containing a disinfectant solution;
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 housing volume;
a motor operatively connected to the scrubbing elements;
a pump and conduit in fluid communication with the housing volume of the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source;
a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator, the motor and the pump, 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;
wherein the hand-held applicator includes a switch mechanism in electrical communication with the controller and the controller is configured such that when the switch mechanism is actuated the controller activates the motor to actuate the scrubbing elements and the controller is configured to activate the pump to control delivery of the disinfectant solution to the applicator for a first time duration as the scrubbing elements are actuated during a wash mode of a teat cleaning operation;
the controller further being configured to deactivate the pump at the end of the first time duration to discontinue the delivery of the disinfectant solution to the applicator and continue activation of the motor and actuation of the scrubbing elements for a second time duration without the disinfectant solution being supplied to the applicator during a dry mode of the teat cleaning operation; and
,wherein the controller is further configured to determine if a wash mode has been completed.
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Abstract
A system for monitoring a teat cleaning and disinfectant before a milking operation is started that comprises one or more controllers that are configured to monitor various operating parameters of the system. In an embodiment, the current supplied to a motor that drives scrubbing elements in an applicator in order to identify or determine when a teat of a cow is inserted and then removed from the applicator during a wash mode and dry mode. The controller is programmed to count each teat that is properly prepped for milking in order to determine the number of cows that have been properly prepped for milking. If certain thresholds, such as predetermined number of teats on a cow, have not been met a cow is not counted as having been properly prepped.
26 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring teat cleaning and disinfectant procedures before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:
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a disinfectant solution source containing a disinfectant solution; 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 housing volume; a motor operatively connected to the scrubbing elements; a pump and conduit in fluid communication with the housing volume of the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source; a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator, the motor and the pump, 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; wherein the hand-held applicator includes a switch mechanism in electrical communication with the controller and the controller is configured such that when the switch mechanism is actuated the controller activates the motor to actuate the scrubbing elements and the controller is configured to activate the pump to control delivery of the disinfectant solution to the applicator for a first time duration as the scrubbing elements are actuated during a wash mode of a teat cleaning operation; the controller further being configured to deactivate the pump at the end of the first time duration to discontinue the delivery of the disinfectant solution to the applicator and continue activation of the motor and actuation of the scrubbing elements for a second time duration without the disinfectant solution being supplied to the applicator during a dry mode of the teat cleaning operation; and
,wherein the controller is further configured to determine if a wash mode has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for monitoring teat cleaning and disinfectant procedures before a milking operation is started, the system comprising:
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a disinfectant solution source containing a disinfectant solution; 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 housing volume; a motor operatively connected to the scrubbing elements; a pump and conduit in fluid communication with the housing volume of the hand-held applicator and the disinfectant solution source; a controller, in electrical communication with the hand-held applicator, the motor and the pump, 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; wherein the hand-held applicator includes a switch mechanism in electrical communication with the controller and the controller is configured such that when the switch mechanism is actuated the controller activates the motor to actuate the scrubbing elements and the controller is configured to activate the pump to control delivery of the disinfectant solution to the applicator for a first time duration as the scrubbing elements are actuated during a wash mode of a teat cleaning operation; the controller further being configured to deactivate the pump at the end of the first time duration to discontinue the delivery of the disinfectant solution to the applicator and continue activation of the motor and actuation of the scrubbing elements for a second time duration without the disinfectant solution being supplied to the applicator during a dry mode of the teat cleaning operation; and
,wherein the controller is further configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with the wash mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification