EP0636313A2
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EP
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A construction for automatically milking animals
Assignee: Maasland NV
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Filing: 1994-07-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A construction for automatically milking animals, comprises a shed (1), in which the animals can move about freely, comprising a milking box (10), a feeding station (4, 5) and a plurality of resting boxes (2). With the aid of a cow identification sensor (14) present in each resting box (2), it can at all times be established which animal is present in which resting box (2), whilst the resting boxes (2) include means (19, 20) for forcing an animal resting in this resting box (2) to leave same.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelis Van Der Lely
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:29
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K11/00; A01K11/006; A01J; A01J5/00; A01J5/017; A01J5/0175; A01K1/00; A01K1/12; A01K15/00; A01K15/02; A01K15/029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A construction or a similar arrangement for automatically milking animals, such as cows, comprising a milking box (10) and a plurality of resting boxes (2), characterized in that a resting box (2) includes means (20) for compelling the animal resting in the resting box (2) to leave same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A construction as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a resting box (2) includes a cow identification sensor (14) which, together with a transponder (15) to be carried by the animal, forms part of a cow identification system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A construction for automatically milking animals, such as cows, comprising a milking box (10) and a plurality of resting boxes (2), characterized in that a resting box (2) includes a cow identification sensor (14) which, together with a transponder (15) to be carried by the animal, forms part of a cow identification system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a resting box (2) includes a warning member (19) for warning animals not to enter the resting box (2), or to warn an animal present in the resting box (2) to leave same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A construction for automatically milking animals, such as cows, comprising a milking box (10) and a plurality of resting boxes (2), characterized in that a resting box (2) includes a warning member (19) for warning animals not to enter the resting box (2), or to warn an animal present in the resting box (2) to leave same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A construction as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the warning member (19) is constituted by a computer-controlled flashing light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A construction as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the flashing light (19) is screened off in such a manner that it is not visible in other resting boxes (2).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A construction as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the flashing light (19) becomes operative when the animal present in the resting box (2) is to be milked.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A construction as claimed in one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that, if the animal has not left the resting box (2) a predetermined number of seconds after the warning member (19) has become operative, there is triggered an expelling member (20) giving electroshocks to the animal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A construction as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the intensity of the electroshocks can be increased automatically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A construction as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the electroshock-producing expelling member (20) is formed by a freely suspended electric fence (22) wire attached via a conical spring to a holder above the relevant resting box (2).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A construction as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the floor of the resting box (2) is provided with a ground plate (23).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a resting box (2) includes a disinfecting implement (27, 28) for disinfecting the resting area after the animal has left the resting box (2).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A construction for automatically milking animals, such as cows, comprising a milking box (10) and a plurality of resting boxes (2), characterized in that a resting box (2) includes a disinfecting implement (27, 28) for disinfecting the resting area after the animal has left the resting box (2).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A construction as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a line (27) runs along the resting boxes (2) for the supply of a disinfecting liquid, whilst sprayers having a computer-controlled valve (28) are connected thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a power supply cable (24) as well as a process-control cable (25) for the individual resting boxes (2) are provided along the resting boxes (2).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A construction as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that a computer system is present for controlling via the process-control cables (25) a warning member (19) and/or an expelling member (20) and/or a disinfecting implement (27, 28) accommodated in a resting box (2).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resting boxes (2) are arranged along the outer wall of the construction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A construction as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the floor of a resting box (2) and also the outer wall of the construction near the resting box (2) are provided with a thermal insulation (17).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A construction as claimed in claim 18 or 19, characterized in that there are approximately eighty resting boxes (2).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a number, preferably eighty, of feeding stations (4, 5).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes an area where the animals can walk about freely and from where they can reach the resting boxes (2), the feeding stations (4, 5) and the milking box (10).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the milking box (10) includes at least one milking robot for automatically connecting teat cups to the teats of an animal and for automatically milking an animal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
A construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a computer system, with the aid of which the animal can be milked for 5 to 10 minutes and with the aid of which an animal can be encouraged to take food, to ruminate and to rest for approximately 500 minutes, while walking about, computer-controlled means being present for automatically repeating this cycle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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