Patent ID: 6553942
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: A01J

Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning teats of an animal; the apparatus comprising:a teat cleaning device (60) having cleaning means (70, 80, 90) for performing a cleaning action with regard to a teat of an animal; characterised by means (10, 15, 20) for establishing the identity of the animal to be cleaned; control means (30, 31, 40, 48) for controlling the teat cleaning device (60) in dependence on the established identity such that an individually adapted cleaning action is obtained, said control means (30, 31, 40, 48) including an information storage unit (40) having data records relating to a plurality of individual animals, wherein a data record includes control information indicative of a pre-determined cleaning requirement for an individual animal; means (48, 14) for fetching a selected control information data record in response to the established identity; and means (48, 12, 35) for delivering the selected control information (T) to the teat cleaning device (60) so as to cause the teat cleaning device (60) to perform the cleaning action in accordance with the pre-determined cleaning requirement for the identified animal, wherein said control means (30, 31, 40, 48) includes means (T1, T2) for causing an individually adapted duration of the cleaning action for the identified animal.