Abrégé

A dispenser (5) for dispensing discrete predefined quantities of animal feed to animals comprises first and second primary containers (28a, 28b) for ingredients of the animal feed. Primary metering augers (34) are provided in each primary container (28) for metering predefined quantities of the ingredients to produce a discrete predefined quantity of animal feed for dispensing to an animal. A radio frequency identity detector (82) located in the dispenser (5) identifies the identity of an approaching animal, and a microprocessor (48) in the dispenser (5) operates the primary metering augers (34) for metering out appropriate quantities of the ingredients in the first and second primary containers (28a, 28b) to produce a specific discrete predefined quantity of the animal feed for consumption by the animal. The discrete predefined quantity of the animal feed is presented to the animal in a dish-shaped base (22) of the dispenser (5). Data containing particulars of the sizes of the discrete predefined quantities of the animal feed for respective ones of the animals is stored in an electronic memory cross-referenced with the identities of the respective animals for reading by the microprocessor (48).

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 5/02 - Systèmes automatiques

Abrégé

A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a plurality of apparatus, each of which comprises a platform (11) which forms a segment of the rotary platform (1). The platforms (11) define respective animal accommodating locations (3) for animals to be milked. A communicating opening (20) in each platform (11) is closed by a pair of closure plates (25) which are pivotal upwardly into an open state for separating the hind legs of an animal. A carriage (14) which is slideably carried beneath the platform (11 ) of each apparatus (10) in the directions of the arrows A and B. A teat cup carrier (15) is pivotally mounted in the carriage (14) of each apparatus (10) and is pivotal from a first state with teat cups (16) in the carrier (15) in a protective state extending horizontally and a second state with the teat cups (16) in a ready state extending vertically upwardly and ready for manual placement onto the teats of an animal. The carriage (14) is urgeable into a first position with the teat cup carrier (15) in the first state and with the teat cups (16) sealably engaged in plug elements (45) which include jetters (47) for use in rinsing and washing the milking system. The carriage (14) is moveable from the first position to a second position with the teat cup carrier (15) substantially aligned with the udder of an animal so that when the teat cup carrier (15) is urged into the second state, the teat cups (16) can be manually urged upwardly by hand and attached to the teat of the animal.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01J 5/017 - Fixation ou libération automatiques des ensembles de ventouses
• A01K 1/12 - Postes de traite

Abrégé

A vacuum operated milking system (1) which is operable in a milking mode and a cleaning mode is provided with a vacuum system (8) which applies a vacuum to milking clusters (9) through a main milk pipeline (2) and a receiver (5) in which milk from the milking clusters (9) is collected. A pulsator valve (24) provides a pulsating vacuum to milk liners in the milking cluster (9) from the vacuum system (8). An accumulator (32) accumulates respective volumes of washing and rinsing water from a wash and rinse water trough (31) through a wash and rinse pipeline (30), which are accumulated in an annular holding chamber (43). During respective ones of a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle, a valve (54) applies atmospheric pressure to the volume of washing or rinsing water accumulated in the accumulator (32) which is urged with full flow characteristics through the main milk pipeline (2), the clusters (9) and a connecting pipe (10) for cleaning thereof. In order to minimise the maximum peak air demand on the vacuum system a control circuit (8) operates the pulsator valve (24) to apply a continuous vacuum to the milking clusters during periods when the valve (54) is operated for applying atmospheric pressure to the volume of washing or rinsing water in the accumulator (32) when the milking system (1) is operated in the cleaning mode.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01J 7/02 - Accessoires pour les machines ou les dispositifs pour la traite pour nettoyer ou désinfecter les machines ou les dispositifs pour la traite

Abrégé

Bail apparatus (1) comprises an overhead support member (3) which is suspended from an overhead support framework (14) by a linkage mechanism (11) from an operating member (12), so that the bail apparatus is operable in a lower operative state for separating animals and an upper release state for releasing the animals from a milking parlour (2). A plurality of bail elements (8) are mounted at spaced apart locations along the overhead support member (3), and each bail element comprises a partition element (22) which extends substantially transversely of the overhead support member (3) at an angle α of approximately 78.5°. A coupling bracket (17) couples each bail element (8) to the overhead support member (3). A mounting plate member (18) extending downwardly from the coupling bracket (17) is bent along a bend axis (50) which defines first and second forward abutment faces (51,52) and first and second rearward abutment faces (55,56) for facilitating engagement of the corresponding partition element (22) in a selected one of first and second selectable orientations with the partition element (22) extending in respective different directions from the overhead support member (3) at the respective angles α, α' of 78.5°. A forward engagement member (35) of a forward part (20) of each partition element (22) is provided for engaging a selected one of the first and second forward abutment faces (51,52) of the mounting plate member (18), and a rearward engagement member (30) of a rearward part (21) of each partition element (22) is provided for engaging a selected one the first and second rearward abutment faces (55,56) for locating the partition element (22) in the selected one of the first and second orientations.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 1/00 - Logement des animauxSon équipement