Patent ID: 7377232
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: A01J

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for selecting a liquid topical composition capable of forming a topical application on a surface of at least a part of an udder, in particular a teat, of an animal from an available multiplicity of such compositions, each composition of said multiplicity thereof being different than other compositions of said multiplicity thereof, and thereafter applying the selected composition as a topical application on such a surface, said apparatus comprising: a source providing a respective separate supply of each composition of said multiplicity thereof; an applicator adapted and arranged for applying a topical composition selected from said multiplicity thereof and received from said source as a topical application on said surface, said applicator normally being located at a predetermined standby location; a robot arm operably associated with the applicator and actuatable for moving said applicator from said standby location and into a position for applying the selected composition as said topical application on said surface, said predetermined standby location normally being remote from said robot arm, said applicator being completely separated from the robot arm when it is in said standby location; and a control device operatively connected to the robot arm for actuating the latter to cause the robot arm to move the applicator from said standby location and into said position and thereafter cause the applicator to apply the selected composition to said surface, said control device being adapted and arranged to (1) receive and analyze information relating to the condition of said surface and/or the climatic conditions of the animal environment, (2) use such information to select an appropriate topical composition from among said multiplicity thereof to be applied as said topical application on said surface, and (3) manipulate the robot arm accordingly.