Method for cleaning a teat of a female animal, milking method and cup for use with above mentioned methods
AssigneeMultinorm B.V.
InventorJeroen K. Verbrugge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This method of cleaning a teat of a female animal makes use of a cup provided with an opening for flushing washing and/or rinsing agent along the teat. Preferably, this method is included in automatic milking equipment.
Claims6
The method of milking the udder of a female animal which comprises the steps of fitting a casing around a teat hanging from the udder and in sealing relationship thereto, supplying a liquid cleansing agent to the interior of the upper portion of said casing to cause the cleansing agent to initially contact the upper portion of an associated teat, continuing to supply the liquid cleansing agent for a time sufficient to properly clean the teat, applying a negative pressure to the interior of the casing at a discharge disposed at the lower portion of the casing to withdraw liquid cleansing agent at the discharge and causing the cleansing agent to flow downwardly over the teat from top to bottom thereof to clean off dirt and minnimize the chance of dirt entering the teat orifice, and then terminating the supply of liquid cleansing agent.
A cup for milking and cleaning the teat of a female animal comprising an outer casing, an inner casing of flexible material having an upper and lower end and defining a space for receiving the teat of an animal, said inner casing being sealed with respect to said outer casing and defining a chamber therebetween, pressure means for supplying varying pressure to said chamber to cause massage of a teat disposed within said space, cleaning means for supplying a cleansing agent into said space for cleaninng a teat disposed within said space, said cleaning means including an inlet opening formed in said inner casing, a source of liquid cleansing agent connected with said inlet opening, said inlet opening being disposed adjacent the upper end of said inner casing for introducing cleansing agent into said inner casing and into initial contact with the upper portion of a teat received within said inner casing, and a discharge disposed adjacent the lower end of said inner casing for removing cleansing agent from said inner casing whereby cleansing agent flows downward over a teat received in said inner casing from top to bottom of the teat to minimize the chance of dirt entering the teat orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.