A METHOD OF AND A DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING A MILKING MACHINE AND/OR A CLEANING DEVICE FOR THE TEATS OF AN ANIMAL

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of disinfecting at least those parts of a milking machine and/or at least those parts of a cleaning device for cleaning the udder and/or the teats of an animal to be milked that come into contact with the udder and/or the teats of an animals. The relevant parts are disinfected with the aid of a light source having a wavelength ranging between 100 and 280 nanometres.

Description: A METHOD OF AND A DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING A MILKING MACHINE AND/OR A CLEANING DEVICE FOR THE TEATS OF AN ANIMAL The invention relates to a method of disinfecting at least those parts of a milking machine and/or at least those parts of a cleaning device for cleaning the udder and/or the teats of an animal to be milked that come into contact with the udder and/or the teats of an animal. Such a method is known. In such a method a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid is usually applied. Such a method has the disadvantage of being rather time-consuming and of eliminating not all the undesired micro-organisms. The invention aims at providing a method and/or a device in which the above-mentioned drawbacks do not occur or are at least minimized. In accordance with the invention this is achieved by means of a method in which the above-mentioned parts are disinfected with the aid of a light source. According to an inventive feature, the light source transmits ultraviolet rays. According to another inventive feature, the rays have 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. According to an inventive feature, for disinfecting various parts of the milking machine and/or the cleaning device, the light source and the parts to be disinfected are moved relative to each other. In this manner a great part of the machine and/or the device can be disinfected by means of one light source. According to an inventive feature, for the purpose of automating this relative movement, the parts to be disinfected are moved relative to each other by means of one or more operating members, such as a robot arm, for example. In accordance with an inventive feature, before an animal comes into contact with certain parts of the milking machine and/or with certain parts of the cleaning device, the relevant parts are disinfected by means of the light source. For obtaining a still better disinfection of the relevant parts, said parts are cleaned by means of a cleaning fluid before being disinfected and/or after having been disinfected by means of the light source. The invention further 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 and at least one disinfecting device provided with at least one light source transmitting ultraviolet rays and in which disinfecting device one or more of the above-described methods can be applied. According to an inventive feature, the rays have a wavelength ranging between 100 and 280 nanometres. In accordance with an inventive feature, the disinfecting device is fitted to the milking machine. According to another inventive feature, the disinfecting device is disposed on a robot arm which can be controlled automatically. In again another embodiment of the invention the light source is disposed on a flexible, controllable arm., such as an endoscope. According to another inventive feature, the light source may also be disposed in the teat cup. 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 and/or a light source which is fitted to an end of a pin-shaped element. The tubular light source and/or the pin-shaped element can be inserted in a simple manner into the teat cup and/or be passed through the milk line. 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 and/or a cleaning device provided with a disinfecting device as described above and suitable for being applied in a method or a device as described above. The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a UVC-light source which is designed as a pin-shaped element; Figure 2 shows a teat cup with the disinfecting device according to the invention included therein, and Figure 3 is a cross-section of a teat cup with a disinfecting device designed as an endoscope 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 a carrier 6 on which, in the present embodiment, there are disposed four pin-shaped elements 2 each provided with a UVC- light source 3, the arrangement being such that four teat cups can be disinfected simultaneously. The UVC-light sources 3 are connected to a (non-shown) energy source. The length and the diameter of the pin-shaped elements 2 are chosen in such a manner that the pin-shaped elements 2 can be introduced into the teat cup 4 at least along the greater part of the liner 5. The relative speed between the teat cups 4 and the pin-shaped elements 2 is chosen in such a manner that each part of the liner 5 is exposed sufficiently long to the UVC-radiation supplied by the light source 3, so that an optimal disinfection is obtained. In the present embodiment both the disinfecting device 1 and the teat cup 4 can be moved relative to each other by means of a (non-shown) robot arm during disinfecting. Figure 2 shows a second embodiment in which parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals . In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 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. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a disinfecting device 1 according to the invention, in which embodiment parts corresponding to those of the previous embodiments are again indicated by the same reference numerals. In the third embodiment of the invention the disinfecting device 1 is designed as an endoscope. The disinfecting device 1 comprises a reel 8 around which a cable 9 is wound, which cable 9 is provided at its end with a UVC-light source 3. The cable 9 can be wound and unwound automatically, the arrangement being such that the UVC-light source 3 can be passed through the teat cup 4 and through the (non-shown) milk line system or other parts of the milking machine that come into contact with milk.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of disinfecting at least those parts of a milking machine and/or at least those parts of a cleaning device for cleaning the udder and/or the teats of an animal to be milked that come into contact with the udder and/or the teats of an animal, characterized in that the relevant parts are disinfected by means of a light source (3). 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light source transmits ultraviolet rays. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the rays have a wavelength ranging between 100 and 280 nanometres . 4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for disinfecting various parts of the milking machine and/or the cleaning device, the light source (3) and the parts to be disinfected are moved relative to each other. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the relative movement is realized by means of one or more operating members, such as e.g. a robot arm. 6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, before an animal comes into contact with certain parts of the milking machine and/or with certain parts of the cleaning device, the relevant parts are disinfected by means of the light source (3). 7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the relevant parts are cleaned by means of a cleaning fluid before being disinfected and/or after having been disinfected by means of the light source (3). 8. 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, in which disinfecting device (1) the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 7 can be applied. 9. An implement as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the rays have a wavelength ranging between 100 and 280 nanometres. 10. An implement as claimed in claim 8 or 9 , charac- terized in that the disinfecting device (1) is fitted to the milking machine. 11. An implement as claimed in claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the disinfecting device (1) is disposed on a robot arm which can be controlled automatically. 12. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 8 - 11, characterized in that the light source (3) is disposed on a flexible, controllable arm or cable, such as an endoscope. 13. An ' implement as claimed in claim 8 or 9, charac- terized in that the light source (3) is disposed in the teat cup ( 4 ) . 14. An implement as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the light source (3) is disposed in the pulsation space . 15. An implement as claimed in claim 13 or 14, 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. 16. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 8 - 15, 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). 17. An implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the disinfecting device (1) comprises a tubular light source and/or a light source which is fitted to an end of a pin-shaped element (2). 18. 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. 19. A teat cup and/or a cleaning device provided with a disinfecting device, as described in any one of claims 1 - 16, and suitable for being applied in a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 7 and/or in an implement as claimed in any one of claims 8 - 18.

Inventors: OTTEN MARTIJN, VAN DEN BERG KAREL, OTTEN, MARTIJN, VAN DEN BERG, KAREL
Applicants: BERG KAREL VAN DEN, MAASLAND NV, OTTEN MARTIJN, MAASLAND N.V., OTTEN, MARTIJN, VAN DEN BERG, KAREL
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01J7
IPC codes: A01J7, A61D7, A61L2