Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Method for cleaning teats of an animal
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a teat of an animal
with a teat
cleaning device having teat receiving means for accommodating a teat during a
cleaning process and cleaning means arranged for cleaning said teat.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
Finally, the invention also relates to an automated milking system comprising
the
apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When dairy animals are to be milked it is necessary to first clean the teats
of the
animal to avoid dirt present on the teats contaminating the collected milk.
Teat cleaning may nowadays be performed automatically, utilising robot systems
performing teat cleaning and other animal related processes, such as milking,
with
no or little human intervention.
These robot systems and their associated features, such as milking- and
cleaning
means, may be regarded as unpleasant to sensitive animals being exposed to,
par-
ticularly if the animal has no or little experience of what the animal related
process
implies.
Other animals may suffer from an increased sensibility due to a malady or an
injury
in the udder or in a teat, thereby experiencing discomfort during a cleaning
process,
if no consideration is taken to this disability.
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Accordingly, when an animal is exposed to a cleaning process, where no
considera-
tion is taken to its demands of comfort or its ability to accept the cleaning
process. it
may has difficulties to accustom to the cleaning process and may therefor
react with
e.g. insecurity or anxiety. Thus, if no special actions are taken for solving
these
problems, the animal may experience discomfort or dissatisfaction during the
cleaning process. Further problems to accomplish the intended cleaning process
may also arise, e.g. the animal may get scared when it is exposed to the
process, and
hence refusing to accomplish it, or starts mooing thereby worrying other
animals, or
even worse starts kicking, and thereby increasing the risks for damages, both
to it-
self but also by damaging equipment close at hand.
Consequently, it is of general interest to avoid these kinds of situations,
where the
above mentioned problems may arise. Instead the animal should accept the
cleaning
process, feel confident with it, and carry it through on a voluntary basis. It
is also
desirable that the animal is given a possibility to accustom to the cleaning
process
without force of any kind with respect to the needs of the animal.
A method for cleaning a teat with a teat cleaning device is disclosed in SE
9704 1 ~-
7, in which a teat is cleaned by being inserted into a teat cup and sprayed by
high
speed cleaning fluid ejected from a nozzle. However, no respect is taken if
the ani-
mal, being exposed to the cleaning process, suffers from discomfort.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to cause animals, such as cows, to
accept and
accustom to a cleaning process without suffering from discomfort, particularly
when
the animals is unfamiliar with what the cleaning process implies.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is obtained by a method, as initially defined, which is
characterised by
the steps of:
- determining said animal's ability to accept being exposed to a default
cleaning
process, and
- adapting said cleaning process in dependence of said ability.
By said method, is achieved a possibility to adapt the cleaning intensity on
the basis
of the needs of an individual animal to be cleaned.
Preferably, said adapted cleaning process is less intensive than said default
cleaning
process. Consequently, the animal may more easily accept the cleaning process.
Suitably, said adapted cleaning process includes cleaning the teat by means of
a
cleaning fluid flow which is less intensive than a default cleaning fluid
flow. In this
way a more gentle rinsing is realized.
Suitably, said adapted cleaning process includes cleaning the teat by means of
vac-
uum-supplying means providing said teat receiving means with an under-pressure
which is less intensive than a default under-pressure. Hereby a more gentle
cleaning
action is achieved.
The adapted cleaning process may also include cleaning the teat by means of
rotat-
ing brushes having a speed of rotation which is less intensive than a default
speed of
rotation. In this way a gentle mechanical cleaning of the teat is realized.
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Preferable, said adapted cleaning process is applied for a predetermined
number of
coming subsequent cleaning processes before a default cleaning process is
taken
into practise. In this way an animal with no or little experience of a
cleaning process
may more easily accustom to the cleaning process.
Suitably, said adapted cleaning process is successively intensified. in
subsequent
cleaning processes, until a cleaning intensity corresponding to said default
cleaning
process is achieved. Hereby is realised a transitory stage between an adapted
clean-
ing process and a default cleaning process which the animal more easily will
accept
and accustom to.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus
for
cleaning said teat, characterised by:
- means for determining said animal's ability to accept being exposed to a
default
cleaning process; and
- means for adapting said cleaning process in dependence of said ability.
DRAWING SUMMARY
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with
refer-
ence to the appended drawings in which:
fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a cleaning device,
where a
method according to the invention may be implemented;
fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a cleaning device,
where
a method according to the invention may be implemented; and
fig. 3 illustrates schematically a flowchart of a method according to the
present in-
vention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figures 1 and 2 show two embodiments of a device intended for cleaning and pre-
y milking an animal. where the method according to the present invention may
be im-
plemented. The invention is not limited to the use of these devices, but is
also con-
ceivable to adopt to other devices featured in a similar manner. Consequently,
the
devices themselves do not depict any inventive features, but serve just as an
exam-
ple in which the inventive method may be adopted.
Referring to figure 1. a first embodiment of a teat cleaning and pre-milking
device 1
is shown, comprising a teat receiving means in the shape of an approximately
cylin-
drical teatcup 2 with a teat receiving opening 3 in its upper end surface 5.
Teatcup is
intended to be placed under the udder of an animal to be milked with opening 3
be-
low a teat 7 which is to be cleaned. Teatcup 2 is then raised so that teat 7
enters
through opening 3. Opening 3 has sealing means 9 in the shape of a resilient
sealing
collar 9 which is in substantially airtight sealing contact with the udder
when teat 7
is fully inserted into teatcup 2. Teatcup 1 has cleaning means 11 in the form
of at
least one approximately tangential inlet nozzle 11 near to the upper surface
5. A
cleaning fluid supplying means 13 in the form of a hose 13 is connected to a
clean-
ing fluid supply (not shown). A vacuum supplying means 17 in the form of a non-
collapsible pipe 17, connected to a vacuum supply (not shown), is connected to
an
outlet opening 19 in the base of teatcup 1 via a valve means 21.
A teat is cleaned by being inserted into teatcup 2 and sprayed by high speed
clean-
ing fluid ejected from nozzle 11. The impact of the fluid on a circular inner
wall 23
of the teatcup 2 produces vortices which clean the teat due to their turbulent
motion.
This turbulent motion, and consequential cleaning effect, can be increased and
ad-
justed, for example, by pulsating and/or varying the intensity of the fluid
flow, in-
jecting air into the fluid flow and applying a vacuum to the teatcup. The
cleaning
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fluid leaves the teat cup 2 via outlet opening 19 which has an outlet 25 with
a non-
return valve 27 which permits the cleaning water to drain away either to a
sewage
system or to a storage system for possible examination and recycling.
Preferably the
draining of the cleaning fluid from the teat cup 2 is assisted by a vacuum
(not
shown) applied to the outlet 25. Using a vacuum causes the teat to expand
which
cracks and loosens any dried-on matter on the teat. This makes it easier to
remove
the dried-on matter during the cleaning process.
Referring to figure 2, a second embodiment of a teat cleaning and pre-milking
de-
vice 30 is shown, comprising a teat receiving means in the shape of a box-like
holder 32 with a teat receiving opening 34 in its upper end surface 36. Holder
32 is
intended to be placed under the udder of an animal to be milked with opening
34
below a teat 38 which is about to be cleaned. Holder 32 is then raised so that
teat 38
enters the holder through opening 34. Opening 34 has sealing means 40 in the
shape
of a resilient sealing rubber or plastic collar 40 which is in contact with
the udder
when teat 38 is fully inserted into holder 32. Holder 32 contains a plurality
of
cleaning means 42 shown here as elongated cylindrical brushes 44 with bristles
46.
Holder 32 also contains cleaning fluid supplying means 48 in the form of a
hose 48
connected to a cleaning fluid supply (not shown), and vacuum supplying means
52
in the form of a non-collapsible pipe 52 connected to a vacuum supply (not
shown).
Vacuum supplying pipe 52 is connected to an outlet opening 54 in the base of
holder 32 via a valve means 56. Brushes 44 are each orientated with their
longitu-
dinal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of upper surface 36 and
are ar-
ranged in a circle with a central space 58 able to receive a teat. Brushes 44
are ro-
tatably mounted on holder 32 and can be rotated by driving means 60.
A teat 38 is cleaned by first being fully inserted into holder 32 and then
being
brushed by rotating brushes 44 preferably while cleaning fluid is supplied
through
cleaning supplying means 48. Cleaning fluid can be supplied as a pulsating
stream
to improve the cleaning effect. The cleaning fluid leaves the holder via
outlet open-
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ing 54 which has an outlet 62 with a non-return valve 64 which permits the
cleaning
water to drain away either to a sewage system or to a storage system for
possible
examination and recycling. Preferably the draining of the cleaning fluid is
assisted
by a vacuum (not shown) applied to the outlet 62.
Now referring to figure 3, showing a schematic flowchart of a method according
to
the invention. Before a cleaning process can commence the method according to
the
invention requires that an animal is identified. The reason for the
identification is to
reveal information concerning the ability of the animal to accept being
exposed to a
normal or default cleaning process, for enabling an adaptation of the cleaning
inten-
sity to an individual animal, and for achieving an improved cleaning process.
It should be noted that the expression cleaning process refers to an
occurrence, per-
formed before every milking process, for cleaning the teat of an animal. The
expres-
sion default cleaning process refers to a cleaning process having a cleaning
intensity
generally applied, and the expression adapted cleaning process refers to a
cleaning
process having a cleaning intensity departing from the cleaning intensity of a
default
cleaning process and which is adapted with respect to the animal to be
cleaned.
The identification may be accomplished in any known manner, both manual and
automatic identification are conceivable. This matter is not restricted by the
method
according to the invention, the main thing is that any for the purpose
interesting and
relevant animal related information is revealed. Clearly, the identification
may be as
simple as a recognition by a farmer, who is familiar with the animal and also
is con-
scious of the habits and manners of the animal to be cleaned, or it can be
performed
automatically by means of any suitable prior art solutions, e.g. a transponder
con-
nected to an animal and a transponder reader attached to a surrounding stall.
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g
This animal related information may be stored in a controlling unit (not
shown),
connected to the identifying means and controlling the cleaning process, but a
sepa-
rate storage means (not shown) is also conceivable.
Information revealed during this identification step may be the number of
times the
animal has been subjected to a cleaning process and applied cleaning
intensities
during these earlier cleaning processes, state of health of the animal.
occurred prob-
lems during earlier cleaning processes, i.e. all relevant matter and
parameters that
may affect the ability of the animal to accept the cleaning process.
The revealed information is interpreted and treated by the controlling unit,
which by
means of pre-recorded algorithms and/or programs deals with the information in
a
suitable manner. The information revealed may also be displayed on a screen,
and
work as a base of decision for a farmer to take suitable further manual
measures (not
shown).
With knowledge of this animal related information the controlling unit or the
farmer
can adapt cleaning settings, defining the cleaning intensity, on the basis of
the re-
vealed information, and determine whether default cleaning settings D,
defining a
default cleaning intensity of the cleaning process, should apply, or if
adapted clean-
ing settings E, defining an adapted cleaning intensity of the cleaning
process, should
apply instead.
If the animal is considered as having ability to accept a normal cleaning
intensity,
the default cleaning settings D can apply, and the cleaning process may
commence
and will be performed as earlier described. These default cleaning settings D
refer to
e.g. the intensity D 1 of the cleaning fluid flow and the amount of applied
vacuum
D2 to the teat cup. These default cleaning settings D may differ beriveen
different
animal breeds, and they are basically empirically derived and acquired by
experi-
ence, which during practice has shown a sufficiently satisfactory cleaning
effect.
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However, if the animal is considered as not having ability to accept a normal
clean-
ing intensity, i.e. the animal has not been subjected to this kind of cleaning
process
before, or it has. but does not feel comfortable with the cleaning process
yet, or the
animal suffers from e.g. an infection in the udder, causing the teats to feel
sore, a
default cleaning intensity can not apply. Accordingly. the default cleaning
settings
D, defining the default cleaning action, have to be rejected and instead
adapted
cleaning settings E, defining an adapted cleaning intensity should apply.
The adapted cleaning settings E refer, just like the default cleaning settings
D to e.g.
the intensity E1 of the cleaning fluid flow and the amount of applied vacuum
E2 to
the teat cup. These adapted cleaning settings E may also differ between
different
animal breeds but may also be animal dependent, thereby varying between
different
individuals of animals.
The settings E may be empirically derived and acquired by experience, which
dur-
ing practice has shown that some animals with less ability to accept a default
clean-
ing intensity, using default cleaning settings D, instead accept an
individually
adapted cleaning intensity using settings E. It is also conceivable that the
adapted
cleaning settings E are determined in terms of percentage of the default
cleaning
settings, e.g. E = D~25 %, E = D~50 % or E = D~75 % etc.
However, it is important mentioning the fact that at least a minimum under-
pressure
and intensity of the cleaning fluid flow is applied, i.e. providing the teat
cup with
2~ , enough under-pressure for retaining against the udder and for providing a
minimum
sufficient cleaning action of the teat.
The adaptation in accordance with the inventive method is proceeded by
applying
an individually adapted intensity E 1 of the cleaning fluid flow into the teat
cup 2,
which is less than the default intensity D 1 of the cleaning fluid flow, when
the
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cleaning process commences. Without any further actions, and if provided under-
pressure in the teat cup corresponds to the default setting D2, this would
imply an
increased under-pressure in the teat cup, since the intensity of the cleaning
fluid
flow has decreased. Accordingly, the provided under-pressure is adapted to E2,
5 which is less than D2, for balancing the increase in under-pressure.
Advantageously, there is a dependency between the intensity of the cleaning
fluid
flow and the provided under-pressure so that the balancing is achieved
automati-
cally when an adaptation is made.
10 If the teat receiving means comprises cleaning means in the shape of
rotating
brushes 44 arranged for cleaning the teats during the cleaning process, the
animal
may experience discomfort if a normal default speed D3 of rotation of the
rotating
brushes applies, if the animal has a less ability to accept the cleaning
process. Con-
sequently, the speed of rotation of the rotating brushes has to be altered
from the de-
fault speed D3 of rotation to the adapted speed E3 of rotation, where E3 is
less than
D3, in accordance with the inventive method.
The actions, discussed above, could affect the cleaning result negatively, but
it is
conceivable and perhaps also a requirement to extend the time the cleaning is
in
progress. The time the cleaning is in progress may be determined for example
by
experiment, but also by means of detecting means (not shown) detecting, e.g.
pres-
ence of dirt in the cleaning fluid.
When the cleaning process is considered as complete the settings D or E of the
pres-
ent cleaning process may be stored in the storage means or said controlling
means
which contains the other animal related information. It is important that this
storage
means is updated continuously, so that a desired and relevant cleaning action
is
achieved next time this information is revealed.
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It is important to accentuate the fact that for animals, considered as not yet
experi-
enced, the above mentioned adapted cleaning settings E are just thought to be
used
during a transitory stage or an accustoming period, not permanently and as
soon as
the animals are considered as experienced, the default cleaning settings D men-
tioned above will apply in coming cleaning processes.
To this end, adapted cleaning settings E could apply for a predetermined
number of
subsequent cleaning processes, e.g. the first five or ten times the animal is
subjected
to the cleaning process. After theses five to ten times the animal could
possibly be
considered as fully accustomed, and default settings D could apply in future
subse-
quent cleaning processes.
The cleaning intensity could also be incrementally intensified in subsequent
clean-
ing processes until the default cleaning intensity is achieved, where the size
of the
incremental increase may vary between animal individuals.
It is also conceivable that, during a cleaning process, increase the cleaning
intensity
for example, linearly increasing the cleaning intensity from zero, at the
beginning of
the cleaning process, to a suitable cleaning intensity, e.g. E = D ~ 75 %, at
the com-
pletion of the cleaning process. Accordingly, an enhanced acceptance of the
clean-
ing process may be achieved.
