A construction for automatically milking animals

Abstract: A construction for automatically milking animals comprises a milk box (1) with a milking robot, which is provided with a robot arm (5, 11) for connecting teat cups (6) to the teats of an animal (7) to be milked. The teat cups (6) are movable to under the udder of the animal (7) to be milked and away therefrom by means of the robot arm (5, 11). At the front side of the milk box (1) there is provided a feeding trough (8) which is movable between a first position beyond the reach of the animal (7) to be milked and a second position within the reach of the animal (7) to be milked. There are provided means (9, 14) for coupling the movement of the feeding trough (8) to the movement of the robot arm (5, 11). In this manner there is a clear relation between feeding and milking for the animal (7) to be milked. Moreover, the construction is very efficient.

Description: The invention relates to a construction for automatically milking animals according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a construction with a feeding trough that can be pivoted away is know, see e.g. EP-A-0 320 496. The invention aims at further developing and improving such a construction. According to the invention this is achieved by the measures described in the characterizing part of claim 1. In this manner there is a clear relation between feeding and milking for the animals to be milked. Moreover, the construction is very efficient. The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the construction according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a detail of the construction according to the arrow II in Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a construction according to the invention. The construction comprises a milk box 1, known per se, which is provided with a fencing 2 with an entrance gate 3 and an exit gate 4. A milking robot, also known per se, is provided with a robot arm 5 that is controllable in three dimensions for connecting teat cups 6 to the teats of an animal 7 to be milked (schematically indicated by dotted lines). The milking robot is further provided with non-shown milk lines, animal identification means and control equipment. The teat cups 6 are movable to just under the udder of the animal 7 to be milked and away therefrom with the aid of the robot arm 5. At the front side of the milk box 1, near the exit gate 4, there is provided a feeding trough 8 for feeding and/or watering the animal 7 to be milked. Said feeding trough 8 is movable between a first position beyond the reach of the animal 7 to be milked and a second position within the reach of the animal 7 to be milked. According to the invention, there are provided means for coupling the movement of the feeding trough 8 to the movement of the robot arm 5. In the embodiment shown the means comprise a fixed connecting arm 9 between the robot arm 5 and the feeding trough 8. Of course, other connections are possible as well. The feeding trough 8 is pivotable relative to the milk box 1 by means of a pivotable arm 10. The connecting arm 9 (see also the side view of Figure 2) is at one side (fixedly) connected with a telescopic part 11 of the robot arm 5, by means of which the teat cups 6 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the milk box 1, and is at its other side rotatably connected with a base 12 of the feeding trough 8. The base 12 is connected with the feeding trough 8 via a tube 13. The pivotable arm 10 is at one side rotatably connected with the milk box 1 and is at its other side fixedly connected with the base 12 of the feeding trough 8. There is further provided a cylinder 14 which is at one side rotatably fastened to the milk box 1 and is at its other side rotatably fastened to the connecting arm 9, approximately in the region where the latter is connected with the robot arm 11. The construction is capable of performing the movements of the feeding trough 8 and the robot arm 5 away from the animal 7 to be milked and/or towards the animal 7 to be milked by means of one single control element, such as e.g. the cylinder 14. This is illustrated by means of the elements 8a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 13a and 14a, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, which correspond to the pivoted-away position of the robot arm 5, 11, 11a and the feeding trough 8. The cylinder 14, 14a is then in an extended position. The shown means 9, 14 are suitable for having performed simultaneously the movements of the feeding trough 8 and the robot arm 5, 11 away from the animal 7 to be milked The movements of the feeding trough 8 and the robot arm 5, 11 towards the animal 7 to be milked are performed simultaneously as well. In a further, non-shown embodiment there are provided means which are suitable for having performed the movements of the feeding trough 8 and the robot arm 5 away from the animal 7 to be milked and/or towards the animal 7 to be milked with a particular interval. In that situation, said particular interval can be adjustable.

Claims: A construction for automatically milking animals, said construction comprising a milk box (1) with a milking robot, which is provided with a controllable robot arm (5, 11) for connecting teat cups (6) to the teats of an animal (7) to be milked, said teat cups (6) being movable for that purpose to just under the udder of the animal (7) to be milked by means of the robot arm (5, 11), a feeding trough (8) for feeding and/or watering the animal (7) to be milked being provided at the front side of the milk box (1), said feeding trough (8) being movable between a first position beyond the reach of the animal (7) to be milked and a second position within the reach of the animal (7) to be milked, characterized in that means (9, 14) are provided for coupling the movement of the feeding trough (8) to the movement of the robot arm (5, 11), said means being suitable for having performed the movements of the feeding trough (8) and the robot arm (5, 11) away from the animal (7) to be milked and/or towards the animal (7) to be milked with a particular interval. A construction as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said particular interval is adjustable. A construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means (9, 14) comprise a connection (9) between the robot arm (5, 11) and the feeding trough (8). A construction as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the feeding trough (8) is connected with the robot arm (5, 11) via a connecting arm (9). A construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the feeding trough (8) is pivotable relative to the milk box (1) by means of a pivotable arm (10). A construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the construction is suitable for performing the movements of the feeding trough (8) and the robot arm (5, 11) away from the animal (7) to be milked and/or towards the animal (7) to be milked by means of one single control element, such as e.g. a cylinder (14). A construction as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that one side of the control element (14) is fastened to the milk box (1) and its other end is fastened to the connecting arm (9).

Inventors: FRANSEN RENATUS IGNATIUS JOSEP, VAN DEN BERG KAREL, VAN DER LELY ALEXANDER, FRANSEN, RENATUS IGNATIUS JOSEPHUS, VAN DEN BERG, KAREL, VAN DER LELY, ALEXANDER
Applicants: LELY ENTPR AG, LELY ENTERPRISES AG
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01J5
IPC codes: A01J7, A01J5, A01K5, A01K1