Dip cup

Abstract

A dip cup 10 comprises a cup 12 for receiving a teat, the cup 12 being connected or connectable to a supply of teat treating liquid including a foaming agent, foaming elements 34, 36 for mixing air and the teat treating liquid to produce foam, and a regulator device 16 for setting an air-to-liquid ratio. The regulator device 16 is selectable or adjustable based on the teat treating liquid, so that a specified air-to-liquid ratio is achieved.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A dip cup for receiving a teat, said cup being connectable to a supply of a teat treating liquid, said liquid including a foaming agent and said liquid is entrained with air, said dip cup comprising at least two removable foaming elements for mixing the teat treating liquid and the entrained air to produce a foam with a desired foam bubble size, wherein each removable foaming element comprises:
 a planar mesh of woven material having a thickness; and   a rigid support ring, each rigid support ring having a top annular rim surface and a bottom annular rim surface, wherein the planar mesh is connected to and bounded along its peripheral edge by the rigid support ring and wherein a distance between the top and bottom annular rim surfaces is greater than the thickness of the planar mesh, wherein said at least two removable foaming elements are coaxially superposed one on top of another to form a stack within a portion of the cup, and the top annular rim surface of the rigid support ring of a lower removable foaming element in the stack engages with the bottom annular rim surface of an adjacent rigid support ring of an upper removable foaming element defining a constant spacing between said at least two adjacent planar meshes.   
     
     
         18 . A dip cup according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a container for holding said teat treating liquid;   a liquid supply line which connects the container to the cup;   a source of compressed air; and   and one or more air passages for delivering the compressed air into the teat treating liquid.   
     
     
         19 . A dip cup according to  claim 18 , wherein the container is compressible and the source of compressed air is provided by squeezing the compressible container to force the air within it to flow along the one or more air passages into the teat treating liquid. 
     
     
         20 . A dip cup according to  claim 18 , wherein the cup is mounted on a hand operated lance, said lance is connected to said supply of teat treating liquid; and a source of compressed air.