ANIMAL STALL WITH TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS FOR AN ANIMAL RELATED MEANS

Abstract: The present invention relates to an animal stall comprising a stall fence means (2) forming an elongated animal space associated with at least one animal related means (4, 5, 6, 8, 13, 15). According to the invention, said stall fence means is adapted to receive said animal related means at at least two different positions on each side of an axis across said elongated animal space.

Description: ANIMAL STALL WITH TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS FOR AN ANIMAL RELATED MEANS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an animal stall comprising a stall fence means forming an elongated animal space associated with at least one animal related means. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such an animal stall is known from FR-A-964 184. This animal stall is provided with a feed trough at one end of the elongated animal space. EP-A-0 768 027 describes a double stall. The entrance direction of the stalls is the same, however on opposite sides. A milking stall is not pre-mounted in a factory, as it requires a lot of space during transport. Furthermore, a pre-fabricated stall requires a strong and heavy construction, as animals, in particular cows, are very strong themselves and would otherwise destroy the stall fences relatively quickly. For this reason, animal stalls are generally built at the farm. Stall fences of steel are moulded into concrete. Equipment to be mounted at the stall fence has to be adapted to the chosen design of the stall fence during the assembly. This is very time con- suming and therefore very expensive. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the design of animal stalls. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This has been solved by an animal stall as initially defined, which is characterised in that said stall fence means is adapted to receive said animal related means at at least two different positions on each side of an axis across said elongated animal space. Hereby is achieved an animal stall comprising different kinds of animal related means, which are prepared already at delivery to be mounted and adapted such that an animal is allowed to enter the stall in a predetermined direction, i.e. such that the body of the animal is positioned in the elongated animal in either way. This is important, as different markets request that animals should enter a milking stall from one direction, whereas other markets request the contrary. Furthermore, a more flexible design of stalls for large herds is achieved. Furthermore, the time for assembling the animal stall is reduced, resulting in a less expensive product. Preferably, said positions are substantially equidistant from said axis. Accordingly, the positions are opposed or inverted and predetermined. Suitably, said animal related means is provided with a fastening means adapted to be adjusted to both of said positions. Hereby, mounting thereof is allowed to be made quickly when assembling the stall at the farmer. Preferably, said fastening means is adapted to either of keeping and changing the orientation of said animal related means. Hereby, it is possible to arrange the animal related means at the other position, yet with maintained function. Suitably said animal related means is a feed trough, adapted to be arranged at opposite ends of said elongated animal space. Furthermore, said animal related means is a positioning means adapted to bear against an animal's rump, adapted to be ar- ranged at opposite ends of said elongated animal space, the feed trough and the positioning means being adapted to be mounted on either of said opposite ends. Hereby is achieved that the feed trough and the positioning means are interchangeable. Suitably, said animal related means is a first gate means and a second gate means for allowing entrance and exit, respectively, of an animal, or vice versa, wherein said first gate is associated with a first sensor means connected to a control means, and said second gate means is associated with a second sensor means connected to the control means, said control means being switchable from a first state, in which the first gate means allows entrance of an animal and said second gate means allows said animal to leave the animal space, to a second position, in which the second gate means allows entrance of the animal and said first gate means allows said animal to leave the animal space. Hereby is achieved that the control means is prepared to be adjusted for a desired entrance and exit direction of animals when mounting the animal stall at the farmer. Preferably, said animal related means is a teatcup magazine provided with a frame member and a magazine member, said frame member being adapted to receive the magazine member in two mutually opposite positions. Hereby, it is possible to mount the frame member in one direction for arranging the magazine thereon at stalls adapted for animals entering into the stall in one direction, and e.g. up-side- down for arranging the magazine thereon at stalls adapted for animals entering into the stall in the opposite direction. Suitably, a milking robot provided with a robot arm with teatcup gripper arranged substantially perpendicular to said robot arm, said teatcup gripper being provided with said fastening means for allowing said teatcup gripper to be mounted in a first and a second position. DRAWING SUMMARY Figure 1 illustrates a milking stall from above . Figure 2 illustrates the milking stall shown in Fig. 1 adapted to entrance of an animal from an opposite direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 shows a milking stall 1 having a stall fence means 2, which defined an animal space. The stall fence means also comprises an entrance gate 4 and an exit gate 5. A feed trough 6 is mounted at one end of the animal space on the stall fence by means of a fastening means 7, whereas a cow position means 8 for positioning a cow in the animal space 3 to an appropriate position is arranged at the opposite end by means of fastening means 9, similar to the fastening means 7 of the feed trough. A teatcup magazine 10 is arranged on a frame 11, which is adapted to incline the teatcup magazine away from the stall fence. A milking robot 12 is provided with a robot arm 13 with a pneumatic cylinder 14 and a teatcup gripper 15. The robot arm 13 and the cylinder 14 are movably ar- ranged on the robot as such via fastening means 16 in the form of joints. The joints 16 are adapted to receive either of the robot arm 13 and the cylinder 14, which is performed by turning the robot arm up-side-down, resulting in different directions of the teatcup gripper 15. A prefabricated unit 17 comprises four milk meters 18 and four pulsators 19. The unit 17 is arranged underneath a user interface 20. Figure 2 shows a reversed milking stall. OPERATION The person performing the assembly of the animal stall e.g. moulds the stall fence 2 into the concrete of the floor. A post joining the gates 4 and 5 is also moulded into the floor. The feed trough 6, the cow positioning means 8, the teatcup magazine 10, the milking robot 12, the robot arm 13, the teatcup gripper 15, the unit 17 and the user interface are prepared already during the production thereof in a factory to be mounted on-site (at the farm) either as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, depending on the chosen entrance direction of the animal. Alternatively, they are delivered assembled according to the most common desire in that country or region. If a farmer wants the contrary, the person performing the assembly simply mounts the feed trough 6 and the cow positioning means at the opposite sides of the stall, turns the frame 11 e.g. up-side-down before mounting the teatcup magazine thereon, shifts the position of the robot arm 13 and the pneumatic cylinder etc. Furthermore, a control means associated with the gates 4 and 5 is adjusted to the chosen entrance direction of a cow, making the entrance gate an exit gate and vice versa. Wherever a cow has been mentioned, it should be understood that any milk animal is meant, such as a sheep, a goat, a horse or a buffalo.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An animal stall comprising a stall fence means (2) forming an elongated animal space associated with at least one animal related means characterised in that said stall fence means (2) is adapted to receive said animal related means at at least two different positions on each side of an axis across said elongated animal space. 2. An animal stall according to claim 1, wherein said positions are substantially equidistant from said axis. 3. An animal stall according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said animal related means is provided with a fastening means (7, 9, 16) adapted to be adjusted to both of said positions. 4. A animal stall according to claim 3, wherein said fastening means is adapted to either of keeping and changing the orientation of said animal related means. 5. An animal stall according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein said animal related means is a feed trough (6), adapted to be arranged at opposite ends of said elongated animal space. 6. An animal stall according to anyone of claims 5, wherein said animal related means is a positioning means (8) adapted to bear against an animal's rump, adapted to be arranged at opposite ends of said elongated animal space, the feed trough (6) and the positioning means (8) being adapted to be mounted on either of said opposite ends. 7. An animal milking stall according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said animal related means is a first gate means (4) and a second gate means (5) for allowing entrance and exit, respectively, of an animal, or vice versa, and wherein said first gate is associated with a first sensor means connected to a control means, and said second gate means is associated with a second sensor means connected to the control means, said control means being switchable from a first state, in which the first gate means allows entrance of an animal and said second gate means allows said animal to leave the animal space, to a second position, in which the second gate means allows entrance of the animal and said first gate means allows said animal to leave the animal space. 8. An animal stall according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said animal related means is a teatcup magazine provided with a frame member (11) and a magazine member (10), said frame member (11) being adapted to receive the magazine member (10) in two mutually opposite positions. 9. An animal stall according to anyone of the preceding claims, comprising a milking robot provided a robot arm (13) with teatcup gripper (15) arranged substantially perpendicular to said robot arm (13), said teatcup gripper (15) being provided with said fastening means (16) for allowing said teatcup gripper (15) to be mounted in a first and a second position.

Inventors: BIRK UZI, BIRK, UZI
Applicants: ALFA LAVAL AGRI AB, BIRK UZI, BIRK, UZI
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1