Abstract:
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a mobile system for cleaning teats of milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are temporarily housed in a building and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started. The system includes a mobile cart configured for movement along a floor of the building and a container on the cart containing a disinfectant solution. A remotely operable hand-held applicator is provided in fluid communication with the container for cleaning teats of a milk producing animal. The system further includes a pump, a control circuit, and a motor, for operating the system to disinfect and clean the teats of the milk-producing animal. In an embodiment, the container, power source, control circuit and pump are disposed on the cart with the hand-held applicator operatively connected to the control circuit, motor and container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/695,596 filed Aug. 31, 2012, U.S. Provisional 61/708,135 filed Oct. 1, 2012, and U.S. Provisional 61/783,785 filed Mar. 14, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods that are used for cleaning teats of milk producing animals. More specifically, the invention pertains to those systems and methods that utilize hand-held applicators to apply a disinfectant solution to teats for cleaning the teats of a milk-producing animal. 
     A variety of different methods and systems are presently available for cleaning teats from animals that produce milk. Several methods incorporate or utilize manual labor for cleaning the teats including the immersion of the teat in a dipping cup that includes a cleaning or disinfectant solution for a period of not less than one minute. Typically such cleaning solutions are iodine-based solutions or may include 5,000 ppm of chlorine dioxide, and have a thick syrup-like consistency and/or contain conditioning additives. A worker inserts the teat in the dipping cup to immerse the teat in the disinfectant. This is done sequentially for all teats on the animal. Because the solutions are thicker or contain one or more conditioning compounds, the solutions leave a residue (sometimes a tacky residue) that must be removed from the teat before milking. Accordingly, a worker uses a towel to dry each teat in preparation for milking. Such methods that incorporate these manual steps may be impractical for larger dairies, which may include thousands of cows. In addition, such methods may be slower than systems that may include remotely operable solution applicators. 
     Systems are available that utilize rotating brushes in combination with a cleaning solution to clean teats. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,402,920 (referred to herein as the &#39;920 patent), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference and which is sold and distributed by Alpha Technology U.S.A Corporation. The teat cleaning system disclosed in the &#39;920 includes a controller or a programmable logic controller that controls delivery of disinfectant solution to a remotely operable hand-held applicator. 
     Currently available systems such as the aforementioned systems by Alpha Technology U.S.A. Corporation described above, and is the subject of the&#39;920 patent, are geared toward larger scale dairy operations in which cleaning and milking operations are conducted in an oversized parlor. These systems may include a wall mounted control box and relatively large disinfectant solution containers fixed at a location in the parlor, while the hand-held applicator is remotely operable. However, these systems may be less practical for smaller dairy parlors. A need has therefore been identified herein for a mobile system for cleaning teats of a milk-producing animal that is configured for use for smaller dairy farms that for example may have 500 or fewer cows and do not have the larger oversized milking parlors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in the following description in view of the drawings that show: 
         FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with the subject invention. 
         FIG. 2  provides a schematic diagram of the mobile system. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a mobile system in accordance with the subject invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing for the second embodiment opened and showing a power source and a pump in accordance with the subject invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective of the motor in a water resistant casing. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the motor casing partially opened. 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of the mobile system in accordance with the subject invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained. 
     With respect to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the mobile system  10  for cleaning teats of a milk-producing animal is illustrated. As shown, the mobile system  10  includes a cart  12  that is configured for movement along a floor of a building such as a milking parlor. More specifically, the cart  12  includes a generally horizontally disposed platform  14 , a first support member  28  and a second support member  30  all of which support one or more components of the system. 
     Generally, the components of the mobile system  10  may include a controller or control circuit  25 , a power source  20 , a pump  22 , a container  18  in which disinfectant solution  19  is stored, a hand-held applicator  32  and a motor  34 . These components are operatively associated to deliver the disinfectant solution  19  to a volume  32 A in the hand-held applicator  32  in which a teat of an animal has been inserted for cleaning the teat for milking. Scrubbing elements (not shown) in the volume  32 A of the hand-held applicator  32  are actuated by the motor  34  via an elongated flexible drive shaft  50  as disinfectant solution  19  is delivered to the hand-held applicator  32 . In addition, control circuitry is provided such that after a first time duration, during which time disinfectant solution  19  is supplied to the hand-held application  32 , and while the scrubbing elements are being actuated to clean a teat or teats, the scrubbing elements are actuated for a second time duration for a dry cycle. The term “control circuit” as used herein includes a PLC and/or a circuit with electronic components that controls the activation and deactivation of the system components as described below in more detail. 
     As shown schematically in  FIG. 2 , the container  18  is in fluid communication with the hand-held applicator  32  via pump  22 , solenoid valve  24  and conduit  40 . The controller or control circuit  25  may be in electrical communication with the power source  20  (via electrical line  59 ), pump  22  (via electrical line  57 ), solenoid valve  24  (via electrical line  55 ), motor  34  (via electrical line  53 ) and the hand-held applicator  32  (via electrical line  54 ). The controller  25  may be a programmable logic controller (PLC) and configured to function in a manner as described in detail in the &#39;920 patent, the content of which is and has been incorporated herein in its entirety. Alternatively, the controller  25  may be a control circuit that may include electronic components such as relays (solid state and/or mechanical), current transformers, transducers, etc., to control timing of delivery of solution and activation/deactivation of the motor  34  and motor pump  22  and/or the opening and closing of valve  24  and motor overload protection. 
     Again in reference to  FIG. 1 , the hand-held applicator  32  includes an actuating mechanism such as a trigger  42  to close an electrical switch  44 . When the switch  44  is closed, the controller  25  transmits one or more control signals to activate the motor  34 , the pump  22  and the solenoid valve  24 . To that end, the motor  34  actuates the flexible drive shaft  50  which in turn drives a gear assembly in the hand-held applicator  32  which causes the scrubbing elements to rotate or otherwise actuate. Simultaneously therewith, the valve  24  is opened and the pump  22  is activated to deliver disinfectant solution  19  from the container  18  to the volume  32 A of the hand-held applicator  32  via the fluid conduit  40 . The disinfectant solution  19  is supplied to the volume  32 A of the hand-held applicator for a first tune duration during a cleaning cycle. 
     In an embodiment, when the trigger  42  is released the controller  25  is configured such that the motor  34  continues to drive the flexible draft shaft  50  and the scrubbing elements are actuated for a second time duration to dry the teats during a dry cycle. While the embodiments described herein refer to a trigger  42  that is released to discontinue the supply of disinfectant solution  19  to the hand-held applicator  32 , the controller  25 , trigger  42  and switch  44  may be configured such that the trigger  42  may be depressed and released to initiate the supply of disinfectant solution  19  to the hand-held applicator  32 , and then after the first time duration the supply of disinfectant solution  19  is stopped and the scrubbing elements continue to move or rotate for the second time duration to dry the teats. 
     The disinfectant solution  19  is preferably an aqueous solution that has a viscosity or vapor pressure that is substantially equal to that of water and does not include conditioners, foaming agents and the like. In an embodiment, the disinfectant solution  19  contains chorine or a chlorine species and/or is an acidified sodium chlorite solution. An acidified sodium chlorite solution may contain about 100 ppm to about 200 ppm of chlorine dioxide, and preferably about 150 ppm of chlorine dioxide. Such a solution may be made by combining sodium chlorite with citric acid as described in the &#39;920 patent. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the power source  20  and container  18  are positioned on the platform  14 . Alternatively, the power source  20  and/or the container  18  are provided off-board. In such an embodiment, electrical cables and a fluid conduit are of sufficient length so the cart  12  may be moved to desired locations within a building for cleaning operations. 
     The mobile system  10  may range in size, wherein the amount of power supply for each system will be based on the size of the system and the number of animals to be serviced by each system. The power source  20  may include batteries that are deep cycle marine grade trolling motor batteries, either gel or wet cell. In a non-limiting example, the power source may include two 12 volt batteries. Other batteries that may be used to power the system  10  include the Odyssey® PC310 or PC535 batteries having a cyclic charge voltage of 14.4V-14.8V and a float charge voltage of 13.5V-13.8V. 
     The size of container  18  may also change depending on the size of the system  10 , in one particular example, the container  18  may be a 6½ gallon container in a smaller mobile system, or a 13 gallon container in a larger mobile system. The container  18  may also be embodied as multiple individual containers  18  each housing an amount of disinfectant solution for use. Each mobile system  10  will preferably have sufficient power and disinfectant solution to last throughout an entire cleaning operation. 
     The mobile system  10  may also include a battery charging station  47  which can be embodied in one example as an onboard battery charger as shown in  FIG. 8 , described in more detail below. The onboard battery charger may be embodied as a 6 amp dual bank charger and a fully waterproof marine grade charger. The battery charging station  47  may alternatively be positioned off-board. An example of a battery for use with two 12 volt batteries is a 6 amp dual battery charger sold by Marineco under the name GUEST®. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second support members  28 ,  30  are affixed to the platform  14 , the controller  25 , housed in a control box  26 , is mounted to the first support member  28 , and the motor  34  (in housing  36 ) is suspended from the second support member  30  above the platform  14 . In the embodiment shown and described herein, the first and second support members  28 ,  30  are mounted to the cart  12  at respective opposite ends of the platform  14 . However, it is possible that both the motor  34  and the controller  25  could be supported on a single support member; or only one of the controller  25  or motor  34  is supported on a support member. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the second support member  30 , has a generally cylindrical or pipe-like configuration and through which a flexible jacket  52 , housing the conduit  40  and electrical lines  54 , is routed. Accordingly, the support member  50  may include a vertical section  30 A having a bottom end affixed to the cart platform  14  and a horizontal section  30 B disposed at the top end of the vertical section  50 A. In addition, a downwardly curving end  30 C is provided to position the flexible jacket  52  relative to the motor  34 , which is attached to or suspended from the horizontal section  50 B, so that electrical lines  54  may be connected to the motor  34 . While the embodiment described herein includes the above described pipe-like or cylindrical support member, other structural configurations, such as flat or angled support members may be used to secure the flexible jacket  54  with conduits and electrical lines and position the same unobtrusively relative to system components and movement of the cart  12 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second support member  30 ′ is positioned towards a center of the platform  14  and is pivotal about its longitudinal axis as represented by arrow A. To that end, the second support member  30  in  FIG. 1  may also be pivotally mounted to the end of the platform  14 . Again with respect to  FIG. 3  and in  FIG. 5 , the first support member  28  takes the form of a housing on which the control box  26  is pivotally mounted to access an interior of the support member/housing  30 . More specifically, a cover  31  on the housing  28 ′ is pivotally attached to panels  28 A,  28 ′B and  28 C, and the control box  26  is mounted to the cover  31 . As further shown in  FIG. 4 , the power source  20 , pump  22  and solenoid valve  24  are mounted in the support member/housing  28 . 
     As indicated with reference to  FIG. 2 , the applicator  32  is connected in fluid communication with pump  22  and solenoid valve  24  by a flexible conduit/line  40  and in electrical communication to the controller  25  by electrical lines  54  which also electrically link the motor  34  and the controller  25 . In addition, electrical line(s) provide electrical communication between the control circuit  25  and the motor  34 . 
     The electrical lines  54  and conduit  40  are preferably housed within the flexible and insulated jacket  52  ( FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 ). The flexible jacket  52  extends underneath the platform  14  of the cart  12  and upward along the second support member  30 ,  30 ′ in one embodiment. The second support member  30 ,  30 ′ provides structural support for the flexible conduit  40  and the electrical lines  54  within the flexible jacket  52 . Accordingly, the second support member  30 ,  30 ′ keeps the flexible jacket  52 , out of the pathway of the cart  12  and avoids interference between flexible jacket  52  and other components of the system  10  or items within the milking parlor. 
     With respect to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the motor  34  may be encased within a cover  56  that is preferably fabricated of a water-resistant material such as vinyl. The cover  56  may include a flap  58  that overlaps a portion of the cover  56 . The cover  56  also includes a releasable attachment mechanism  67  along the flap  58  and cover  56  such as Velcro®. In addition, a zip fastener  60  is disposed along an edge  62  of the cover  56  and the flap  56  to further secure and seal the motor  34  in the cover  56 . Also illustrated are two sleeves  64  and  66  that are preferably fabricated of a resilient water-resistant material, such as neoprene, which fits snugly against the motor fixture, component couplings or system parts to further seal and protect the motor. Sleeve  64  receives a power inlet fixture  68  of the motor  34  and sleeve  66  receives an output end of the motor  34  or against jacket  54  which contains the flexible drive shaft  50  and conduit  40 . In addition, a strap  72  is provided to suspend the motor  34  in the cover  56  from the second support member  30 ,  30 ′. 
     In the non-limiting embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the container  18 ′, power source  20 ′, pump  22 ′, solenoid valve  22 ′, motor  34 ′ and control box  26 ′, with the control circuit/controller  25 ′ are positioned on, or adjacent to, the platform  14 ′. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of panels  76 A- 76 D are mounted to the platform  14 ′ and operatively connected to form a housing  74  in which the aforementioned components are contained. In addition, the battery charger  47 ′ may also be positioned in the housing  74  adjacent the power source  20 ′. As shown, the power source  20 ′ is disposed at a first end  14 ′A of the platform  14 ′ and the container  18 ′ is disposed toward the opposite second end  14 ′B. The control box  26 ′, with control circuit  25 ′, is mounted in the housing  74  adjacent to the solenoid valve  22 ′. 
     In addition, the control box  26 ′, pump  22 ′ and valve  24 ′ are disposed between the container  18 ′ and power source  20 ′. A partition  80  is provided to separate the delivery components  26 ′,  22 ′ and  24 ′ from the power source  20 ′ and motor  34 ′ to minimize the risk of wetting these electrical components. To that end, the conduit  40 ′ is piped from the solenoid valve  24 ′ underneath the platform  14 ′ to the first end and coupled at fixture  41  to panel  76 A and a conduit  40 ′A that extends to the hand-held applicator  32 ′. In addition, the flexible drive shaft  50 ′ is connected to a motor shaft  34 ′A of the motor  34 ′, and electrical lines  54 ′ and  54 ′A are connected at the panel  76 A using quick connect/disconnect couplings  78 ,  79 . With respect to the coupling between the drive shaft  50 ′ and motor  34 ′, coupling seals may be used to seal the motor  34 ′ from disinfectant solution that may drain form the hand-held applicator  32 ′ into the casing  46 ′. Also shown in  FIG. 7 , is an electrical coupling  82  connecting the charger  4 T to a plug (not shown), which can be connected to an electrical outlet as needed. Alternatively, the charge  47 ′ may also be located off board and connectable to the batteries  20 ′ as necessary for charging. 
     Electrical line  57 ′ provides electrical communication between the control circuit  25 ′ and the pump  22 ′. In addition, the control box  26 ′ is mounted in the housing  74  and disposed above the solenoid valve  24 ′ and electrical leads  55 ′ provide electrical communication between the valve  24 ′ and control circuit  25 ′. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 7 , the conduit  40 ′A and electrical lines  54 ′A are not encased within flexible casing  46 ′ as in the previously described embodiments. More specifically, the conduit  40 ′A and electrical lines  54 ′A are inserted into the flexible casing  46 ′ adjacent to the base of the hand-held applicator  32 . In addition, the cart  12 ′ may have a receptacle or holder  86  for storing the hand-applicator  32 ′ as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The operation and function of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  is similar as that described in reference to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . A control circuit  25 ′, used in place of a PLC, may include one or more relays, time delay relays and/or solid state relays to control the timing of the activation and deactivation of the pump  22  ( 22 ′), solenoid valve  24  ( 24 ′) and/or motor  34  ( 34 ′) for any of the above described embodiments. In addition, the control circuit  25 ,  25  may include a current transducer to monitor the level of current supplied to the motor. More specifically, a transducer may be used to detect if the current supplied to the motor  34 ,  34 ′ exceeds a predetermined threshold, and if that threshold is met, the current to the motor  34 ,  34 ′ is terminated to shut the motor  34 ,  34 ′ off. By way of example, the rise in current supplied to the motor  34 ,  34 ′ may indicate that the gear assembly and/or scrubbing elements are not functioning properly such as when the tail of a cow is caught in the hand-held applicator  32 ,  32 ′. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile system  10  may include a self-propelling mechanism for providing ease in movement of the mobile system  10  during use. The self-propelling mechanism may require its own motor on the cart  12 , and the self-propelling mechanism may be powered by the power source  20 . Additional power sources may be used to provide power to the system. The mechanism by which power is provided from the motor to the self-propelling source provides power evenly to wheels at both sides of the cart  12 . That is, to provide the same torque and speed simultaneously to each of the powered wheels under the controller or wheels under the first or second support members. The self-propelling mechanism can be powered on or off by a feature such as a button or a switch which can be located on any part of the mobile system  10 , but preferably on one of the first or second support members  48 ,  50 . 
     Furthermore, the mobile system  10  may include an engine provided to assist in movement of the system  10 . The system  10  may further include a seat or portion of the mobile system  10  provided such that the user of the mobile system  10  can be seated, and the engine can provide movement of the mobile system  10  during the procedure of cleaning and disinfecting the teats of the cows. 
     In an embodiment, a seat configured, for example, to provide support to one using the mobile system  10  embodiments described herein may be provided on the cart  12 . The seat may be attached to the cart  12 , and is preferably pivotally mounted to the cart such that when not in use, it can be placed in a storage position on the cart  12 . The seat may take the form of a stool with collapsing legs which are released when the seat is unfolded away from the cart  12  and positioned adjacent to the cart  12  for use, and collapsed when the seat is folded toward the cart  12  and positioned on the cart  12  for storage. In an embodiment, the seat may be mounted on any portion of the cart  12 , including, but not limited to, the platform  14 , either of the first or the second support member  28 ,  30 , or both. 
     In the embodiments described herein, the various components of the system including the cart  12 , the support members  28 ,  30 , and other components of the system  10  may be fabricated from any material of sufficient strength to support the components of the system  10 , and light enough so that the cart  12  can be moved across a floor by one user. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, stainless steel, plastic, fiberglass and other materials known in the art. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.