# US 8,770,146 B2 · Methods and apparatus for applying teat dip to a dairy animal

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- Number: US 8,770,146 B2
- Document ID: US8770146B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/843,071
- Filed: 2013-03-15
- Published: 2013-10-10
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2009-09-04
- Assignees: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH
- Applicants: GEA Farm Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert L. Buck; Kevin L. Torgerson; Matthew J. Stuessel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770146B2

## CPC

- A01J 7/04: for treatment of udders or teats, e.g. for cleaning
- A01J 5/00: Milking machines or devices (A01J1/00, A01J3/00 take precedence)
- A01J 5/007: Monitoring milking processes; Control or regulation of milking machines
- A01J 5/08: Teat-cups with two chambers
- A01J: MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS

## Abstract

Methods and apparatus are used at the end of a dairy animal milking process to stop milking pulsation in an off position and then applying a teat dip into a milker unit teat cup liner to improve dip coverage on the teat.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of automatically applying a dip to a dairy animal teat, the method comprising the steps of:
discontinuing pulsation to a pulsation chamber between a teat cup and a liner;
maintaining atmospheric pressure in the pulsation chamber;
maintaining vacuum in the liner; and
applying teat dip to an upper portion of the dairy animal teat.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of:
allowing the vacuum in the liner to at least partially spread dip along the dairy animal teat.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of discontinuing pulsation to the pulsation chamber has a duration of between about 0.1 second and about 10 seconds before applying the teat dip.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of discontinuing pulsation to the pulsation chamber has a duration of between about 0.1 seconds and about 3 seconds before applying the teat dip.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of discontinuing pulsation to the pulsation chamber has a duration of between about 3 seconds and about 30 seconds before applying the teat dip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying dip comprises the step of applying dip having a viscosity of between about 1 centipoise and about 20 centipoise.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying dip comprises the step of applying dip having a viscosity of between about 21 centipoise and about 40 centipoise.