An implement for milking and/or cleaning the udder and/or teats of animals, and a teat cup

Abstract: The invention relates to an implement for milking and/or cleaning the udder and/or the teats of animals, comprising a milking machine and/or a cleaning device for cleaning the udder and/or the teats of an animal, being provided with at least one teat cup (4) and at least one disinfecting device (1) provided with at least one light source (3) transmitting ultraviolet rays, said light source (3) being disposed in the teat cup (4).

Description: The invention relates to an implement for milking and/or cleaning the udder and/or the teats of animals. Such an implement is known. In such an implement a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid is usually applied, having the disadvantage of being rather time-consuming and of eliminating not all the undesired micro-organisms. The invention aims at providing an implement in which the above-mentioned drawbacks do not occur or are at least minimized. In accordance with the invention this is achieved by an implement as defined in claim 1. According to an inventive feature, the light source transmits ultraviolet rays, having a wavelength ranging between 100 and 280 nanometres. Light having such a wavelength, also called UVC-light, appears to be particularly effective for eliminating undesired bacteria, such as the common E-coli bacterium. In this manner a so-called cross-infection between the animals, caused by the fact that the various parts of the milking machine and/or the cleaning device come into contact with the teats and/or the udder of various animals, is prevented. From the Russian patent 1159521 it is known per se to apply a UV-lamp in a milk tank for the purpose of killing the bacteria present therein. In another embodiment of the invention the light source is disposed in the pulsation space. In a simple embodiment of the invention, according to an inventive feature, at least part of the liner is made of a transparent material letting UV-rays through. For the purpose of avoiding in particular cross infection, the light source is arranged or disposed in the teat cup in such a manner that at least the upper part of the liner that comes into contact with the teat and/or the udder is exposed to the light of the light source. In accordance with an inventive feature, the disinfecting device comprises a tubular light source. The tubular light source can be inserted in a simple manner into the teat cup. In another embodiment of the invention, the light source is designed as an optical cable, such as a glass fibre cable. The invention also relates to a teat cup provided with a disinfecting device as described above. The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 shows a teat cup with the disinfecting device according to the invention included therein. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment in which the disinfecting device 1 is designed as a pin-shaped element 2 whose end is provided with a UVC-light source 3. Figure 1 is a cross-section of a teat cup 4 provided with a liner 5. The disinfecting device 1 comprises two UVC-light sources 3. The UVC-light sources 3 are connected to a (non-shown) energy source. In Figure 1 the disinfecting device 1 is included in the teat cup 4. The disinfecting device 1 comprises two UVC-light sources 3. The first light source 3 is disposed in the outer wall 7 of the teat cup 4 near the upper side thereof, whereas the second light source 3 is disposed in the outer wall 7 of the teat cup 4 near the lower side thereof. In order to obtain a proper disinfection of the liner 5 the latter is made of transparent material in the present embodiment. However, it will be obvious that it is also possible to arrange the UVC-light sources 3 in the liner 5 in such a manner that they are able to irradiate the interior of the liner 5.

Claims: An implement for milking and/or cleaning the udder and/or the teats of animals, comprising a milking machine and/or a cleaning device for cleaning the udder and/or the teats of an animal, being provided with at least one teat cup (4) and at least one disinfecting device (1) provided with at least one light source (3) transmitting ultraviolet rays, said light source (3) being disposed in the teat cup (4). An implement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light source (3) is disposed in the pulsation space. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least part of the liner (5) of the teat cup (4) is made of a transparent material letting UV-rays through. An implement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the rays have a wavelength ranging between 100 and 280 nanometres. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the light source (3) is arranged or disposed in the teat cup (4) in such a manner that at least the upper part of the liner (5) that comes into contact with a teat and/or an udder is exposed to the light of the light source (3). An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the disinfecting device (1) comprises a tubular light source. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source (3) is designed as an optical cable, such as a glass fibre cable. A teat cup provided with a disinfecting device provided with at least one light source (3) transmitting ultraviolet rays, said light source (3) being disposed in the teat cup (4). A teat cup as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the light source (3) is disposed in the pulsation space. A teat cup as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least part of the liner (5) of the teat cup (4) is made of a transparent material letting UV-rays through. A teat cup as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the rays have a wavelength ranging between 100 and 280 nanometres. A teat cup as claimed in any one of claims 8 - 11, characterized in that the light source (3) is arranged or disposed in the teat cup (4) in such a manner that at least the upper part of the liner (5) that comes into contact with a teat and/or an udder is exposed to the light of the light source (3). A teat cup as claimed in any one of claims 8 - 12, characterized in that the disinfecting device (1) comprises a tubular light source. A teat cup as claimed in any one of claims 8 - 13, characterized in that the light source (3) is designed as an optical cable, such as a glass fibre cable.

Inventors: OTTEN MARTIJN, VAN DEN BERG KAREL, OTTEN, MARTIJN, VAN DEN BERG, KAREL
Applicants: MAASLAND NV, MAASLAND N.V.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01J7
IPC codes: A01J7