Rapid exit herringbone stall

A milking parlor entry/exit system for use in a parlor having a herringbone configuration in which the cows are angularly disposed in stalls defined by a herringbone rump rail and cow restraining framework in which the milking is done from the side of the cow's legs, said system comprising:

• an elongated rotating gate disposed on the framework and movable in a rotational manner and having elongated rails disposed at opposite ends of the gate,
• motive means for moving said gate from a first substantially vertical position to a first substantially horizontal position in which said rails do not obstruct the cow and the cow is allowed to exit from the milking stall,
• said motive means also rotating said gate from said substantially horizontal position to a second substantially vertical position so that one of said elongated rails engages the rump of the cow and urges the cow to exit the stall, with said rotational movement between said first substantially vertical position and said second substantially vertical position being substantially continuous with a hesitation in the movement at said first substantially horizontal position, and
• means for reversing the movement of said gate so that said gate returns to a third position short of vertical and one of said elongated rails engages the cow and urges said cow rearwardly toward said rump rail.