Milking equipment and method

Abstract

In apparatus and methods for applying treatment and cleaning fluid to cows teats and the teat cups of milking equipment, post-milking, each teat cup ( 1 ) has a nozzle ( 13 ) in the head portion ( 6 ) of the flexible liner ( 3 ) of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end ( 4 ) of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle ( 13 ) into the head portion of the liner ( 3 ) just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, as a result, the teat cup wipes the injected fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat with the treatment fluid. When the teat cup ( 1 ) falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner ( 3 ) may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle ( 13 ). Flushing fluid can then drain downwardly from the liner and through its mouth ( 7 ). The discharge end ( 4 ) of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve ( 20 ) which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A teat cup ( 1 ) comprising a flexible liner ( 3 ) for engaging about a teat of an animal to be milked, said liner having a head portion ( 6 ), at one end, provided with a mouth ( 7 ) through which the teat is engageable with the liner, and a milk discharge passageway ( 4   a ) at the opposite end, and nozzle means ( 13 ) for discharging fluid into the head portion ( 6 ) of the liner, characterised in that the nozzle means ( 13 ) is arranged to discharge fluid in a direction towards the discharge passageway ( 4   a ) of the liner ( 3 ). 
     
     
         27 . A teat cup as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the head portion ( 6 ) of the liner has an internal annular cavity ( 9 ) which, when the teat cup is engaged with an animal's teat, forms a void ( 10 ) between the side of the teat and the interior of the head portion, and wherein the nozzle means ( 13 ) is arranged to discharge fluid into the cavity ( 9 ) in the head portion. 
     
     
         28 . A teat cup as claimed in  claim 26 , including a non-return valve ( 35 ) connected to the nozzle means and via which fluid is supplied to the nozzle means. 
     
     
         29 . A teat cup as claimed in  claim 26 , including a shut-off valve ( 20 ) connected to the discharge passageway ( 4   a ) of the teat cup for shutting off fluid flow from the teat cup into a milk tube downstream of the teat cup. 
     
     
         30 . A teat cup as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the shut-off valve ( 20 ) comprises a valve body ( 21 ) having a milk passageway ( 22 ) connected to the liner ( 3 ), a valve chamber ( 25 ) in the valve body connected to the milk passageway via an opening ( 26 ) in the wall of the passageway ( 22 ), a valve member ( 27 ) in the form of a flexible membrane disposed in sealing relation between the chamber ( 25 ) and the opening ( 26 ), and means ( 29 ) for connecting the chamber to a source of fluid pressure, whereby the application of fluid pressure to the chamber ( 25 ) extends and/or expands the membrane through the opening ( 26 ) into the milk passageway so that it seals the passageway ( 22 ) and shuts off fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
         31 . A teat cup as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the membrane valve member ( 27 ) has a cap-like shape which, in the unactuated position of the valve member, projects into the valve chamber ( 25 ) with the cavity in the cap facing the passageway ( 22 ), whereby application of fluid pressure to the chamber ( 25 ) turns the cap valve member inside out so as to project across the passageway ( 22 ) in sealing relation with the wall or walls of the passageway. 
     
     
         32 . A teat cup as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the nozzle means comprises a single nozzle ( 12 ). 
     
     
         33 . A teat cup as claimed in  claim 26 , including a delivery tube ( 14 ) connected to the nozzle means ( 13 ) for supplying fluid thereto, said delivery tube being attached to or integral with the teat cup. 
     
     
         34 . A milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 26 , a plurality of short milk tubes ( 11 ) respectively connecting the discharge passageways ( 4   a ) of the teat cups to a clawpiece which collects milk discharged from the teat cups preparatory to onward delivery. 
     
     
         35 . Milking equipment including a milking cluster comprising a plurality of teat cups ( 1 ), each of which comprises a flexible liner ( 3 ) for engaging about a teat of an animal to be milked, the liner having a head portion ( 6 ), at one end, provided with a mouth ( 7 ) through which the teat is engageable with the liner, and a milk discharge passageway at the opposite end, nozzle means ( 13 ) for discharging fluid into the head portion ( 6 ) of the liner, a plurality of short milk tubes respectively connecting the discharge passageways of the teat cups to a claw piece which collects milk discharged from the teat cups for onward delivery, and a cluster remover for effecting take-off of the cluster from the animal's udder, characterised by control means for initiating supply of treatment fluid to the nozzle means of the teat cups as the teat cups are withdrawn from the teats so that withdrawal of the teat cups wipes the fluid down the teats. 
     
     
         36 . Milking equipment as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the nozzle means ( 13 ) of each teat cup is arranged to discharge fluid in a direction towards the discharge passageway ( 4   a ) of the associated liner ( 3 ). 
     
     
         37 . Milking equipment as claimed in  claim 35 , including a non-return valve ( 35 ) connected to the nozzle means and via which fluid is supplied to the nozzle means. 
     
     
         38 . Milking equipment as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the nozzle means of each teat cup comprises a single nozzle ( 12 ) directed into an internal annular cavity ( 9 ) within the head portion ( 6 ) of the associated liner. 
     
     
         39 . Milking equipment as claimed in  claim 35 , including a shut-off valve ( 20 ) connected to the discharge passageway ( 4   a ) of each teat cup for shutting off fluid flow from the teat cup to the claw piece. 
     
     
         40 . A method of milking comprising the steps of applying a teat cup ( 1 ) to a teat of an animal to be milked, said teat cup including a flexible liner ( 3 ) engaging about the teat, and having a head portion ( 6 ), at one end, provided with a mouth ( 7 ) through which the teat is engaged with the liner, and a milk discharge passageway ( 4   a ) at the opposite end, activating the cup to perform a milking operation, and, when the milking operation is terminated, discharging treatment fluid into the head portion ( 6 ) of the liner ( 3 ) and withdrawing the teat cup from the teat, characterised by discharging treatment fluid into the head portion ( 6 ) of the teat cup ( 1 ) and on to the teat as the teat cup is withdrawn, and utilising withdrawal of the teat cup to wipe the fluid down the teat. 
     
     
         41 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , including detecting when milking is to be terminated and, in response to said detecting step, withdrawing the teat cup ( 1 ) from the teat and discharging treatment fluid into the head portion ( 6 ) of the teat cup and onto the teat such that withdrawal of the teat cup from the teat substantially coats the teat with the treatment fluid. 
     
     
         42 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the treatment fluid is discharged into a void ( 9 ) formed between the teat and the head portion ( 6 ) of the liner ( 3 ). 
     
     
         43 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , including the steps of allowing the teat cup ( 1 ) to fall into an inverted position, after withdrawal from the teat, with the head portion ( 6 ) of the teat cup being directed downwardly, and flushing the interior of the liner ( 3 ) with treatment fluid, washing and/or drying fluid discharged upwardly into the liner from the head portion ( 6 ). 
     
     
         44 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , including the step of shutting off the discharge passageway ( 4   a ) of the liner ( 3 ) upon withdrawal of the teat cup so as to prohibit fluid from contaminating harvested milk. 
     
     
         45 . A method as claimed in  claim 40  including the step of applying a pulse of compressed air to the interior of the head portion ( 6 ) of the liner, subsequently to the discharge of fluid thereinto, so as to facilitate removal of the teat cup ( 1 ) from the teat.