C. Van Der Lely N.v.

Karel Van Der Berg

Rene Fransen

A method an apparatus for automatically cleaning the udder and teats of an animal, following milking, wherein after the teat cups have been automatically removed from the teats of the animal, a robot arm moves under the teats of the animal which sprays an after-treating liquid upwardly in a fan-shaped pattern against the animal's udder and teats. The teat cups are moved away from the animal's udder and teats while they are being sprayed in a manner so that the teat cups which have been removed are never under an area which has just been sprayed by the fan-shaped pattern.

Method and apparatus for automatically cleaning the teats and udder of

An apparatus and method for automatically cleaning the teat cups of a milking apparatus. The teat cups are automatically removed by a robot arm from the animal's teats. Nozzles are provided which are automatically inserted into the openings for the teats located on top of the teat cups. In the cleaning operation, the nozzles are, in effect, connected to the teat cups and spray a cleansing and/or rinsing liquid through an upper set of outlets from the nozzle to clean the upper surfaces of the teat cups and through a lower set of nozzle outlets to clean and rinse the interior of the teat cups as well as the lines connected therewith. Associated with the nozzles are rotatable cleaning members for cleaning the animals' teats and udders in the vicinity thereof. Brushes and spray nozzles are provided for automatically cleaning these cleaning members after use. All operations are programmed to occur automatically without human assistance or intervention.

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Bleskengraaf, Netherlands

Karel Van Der Berg