JP6621100B2 - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a protruding object such as a nipple of a cow.

  The nipples of dairy cows may have dirt and germs attached. Therefore, in order to ensure hygienic milk production and to prevent dairy cow diseases such as mastitis, it is important to clean the teats before milking. Therefore, conventionally, it is known to manually clean and disinfect a rag or the like and to clean the nipple with a brush as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

JP 2002-354958 A JP 2008-206407 A

  However, in manual cleaning and disinfection such as a rag, mastitis and the like frequently occur due to insufficient cleaning or disinfection. Further, in the case of the brush-type cleaning device described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a residue is likely to be generated in the brush, and the cleaning device itself may become unsanitary. In order to prevent the cleaning device from becoming unsanitary, it is more troublesome to remove or disinfect the residue attached to the brush.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a hygienic cleaning device that can sufficiently clean and disinfect a protrusion-like object to be cleaned such as a nipple of a cow, and hardly generates a residue.

Cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes a container for containing the animal teats, the pH5.8~8.6 aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid, the washing solution the vessel containing either acidic water and alkaline water and the nipple allowed to flow between, and a cleaning means for cleaning the teats by contacting the cleaning liquid to the teat, and the groove on the arc which is curved convexly toward either the upper and lower, horizontal and At least one of the grooves inclined with respect to both of the vertical directions is formed on the inner surface of the container, and the cleaning means has both a tangential direction and a normal direction on the inner surface of the container in a plan view. By spraying the cleaning liquid along the inclined direction or the tangential direction, a swirling water flow that swirls around the nipple along the inner surface is formed. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, comprising: a container that contains an animal's teat ; and a cleaning liquid that includes any one of an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid having a pH of 5.8 to 8.6, acidic water, and alkaline water. flowed between the container and the nipple, and a cleaning means for cleaning the teats by contacting the cleaning liquid to said teat, the cleaning means, have a plurality of injection ports for injecting the cleaning solution The spray direction of the cleaning liquid in each of the plurality of spray ports is a direction inclined with respect to both the tangential direction and the normal direction on the inner surface of the container in a plan view, or the tangential direction, is a direction which forms a pivot water flow swirling around the nipple in one direction along said inner surface, by the plurality of ejection ports simultaneously injecting the cleaning liquid, the turning flow swirling in the one direction That form.

The cleaning device according to the present invention based on the above viewpoint is a device for cleaning a teat by bringing a cleaning liquid into contact with the teat instead of a brush. According to this, parts such as a brush that easily generate residue are not used for cleaning. Therefore, the cleaning device can be kept hygienic, and the time and effort for cleaning and disinfecting the cleaning device can be reduced. Moreover, even if any aqueous solution is used as a cleaning liquid, the cleaning effect and the disinfection effect can be ensured. In particular, according to the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid, the “water for food production” (pH 5.8 to 8.6) cleaning liquid can be drunk and the bactericidal effect can be secured by hypochlorous acid. Therefore, it is easy to keep the nipple at a pH suitable for the food environment while washing the nipple appropriately. In addition, it is a system that is easy to drain the used cleaning liquid as it is and has high environmental compatibility.

Further, in the present invention, the cleaning liquid flows between the container and the teat in at least one of the spraying and the temporary storage in the container. It is also possible to make it. According to this, spraying the washing liquid, forming a swirl flow, and, by temporarily storing the cleaning liquid in the container, it is possible to properly attach the washing liquid to the teat, cleaning of teats, disinfection It becomes possible to carry out appropriately.

Further, in the present invention, an opening into which the nipple is inserted from above is formed at the upper end of the container, an injection port for injecting the cleaning liquid near the upper end of the container, and a flow of the cleaning liquid at the lower end of the container. Each outlet is preferably formed. According to this, the cleaning liquid flowing in from the upper end of the container flows out from the container at the lower end. Therefore, the cleaning liquid flows smoothly through the container.

  In the present invention, at least one of a groove on an arc that is convexly curved upward or downward and a groove that is inclined with respect to both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction are formed on the inner surface. Preferably it is.

It is the schematic containing the partial cross section figure of the washing | cleaning apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line I-I ′ of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the lower part of the container in a modified example of the embodiment of FIG. 1 when a means for switching on / off the discharge of the cleaning liquid from the container is provided. It is sectional drawing of the modification of the container main body which concerns on embodiment of FIG.

  A teat washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment is a device for cleaning a teat of a cow. The cleaning device 1 includes a container 100, a cleaning liquid supply unit 10, a hose 20, and a hose 50. The container 100 is made of plastic or the like. The main body of the container 100 is cylindrical from the upper end to the vicinity of the lower end, and the lower end is hemispherical. An upper end of the main body of the container 100 is open, and an opening 120 is formed. In the side surface of the main body of the container 100, cleaning liquid injection ports 130 and 135 are formed immediately below the opening 120. The injection ports 130 and 135 extend along the horizontal direction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the injection ports 130 and 135 are along a direction inclined with respect to the tangential direction and normal direction of the inner surface of the main body of the container 100 in a plan view. Either one of the injection ports 130 and 135 may be provided. One of the injection ports 130 and 135 is connected to a cleaning liquid supply unit 10 described later through a rubber hose 20. In FIG. 1, as an example, the injection port 130 and the cleaning liquid supply unit 10 are connected. An outlet 150 that protrudes downward is formed at the lower end of the main body of the container 100. The outlet 150 is connected to the hose 50. The hose 50 is made of transparent rubber, and has a drain outlet on the side opposite to the side connected to the outlet 150. A milk cow's teat 200 (protruding object to be cleaned) is inserted into the container 100 from above through the opening 120. The inside of the main body of the container 100 has a shape that is slightly larger than the nipple. As a result, when the teat 200 is inserted into the container 100, a sufficient gap is formed between the inner surface of the main body of the container 100 and the teat 200 so that a flow of a cleaning liquid 300 described later is formed.

  The cleaning liquid supply unit 10 is installed outside the container 100. The cleaning liquid supply unit 10 and the container 100 are connected by a hose 20. The hose 20 is made of transparent or opaque rubber. One end of the hose 20 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply unit 10, and the other end is connected to the injection port 130. The cleaning liquid supply unit 10 stores a cleaning liquid 300 described later. In addition, the cleaning liquid supply unit 10 has a pump that feeds the stored cleaning liquid 300 to the injection port 130 via the hose 20. As the cleaning liquid 300, an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is used. This aqueous solution is compatible with “water for food production” (formerly “drinkable water”) in the Food Sanitation Act. For example, the pH is 5.8 to 8.6, and the chloride ion concentration is 200 mg or less per liter. Note that other disinfecting liquid may be used instead of the cleaning liquid 300.

  The cleaning liquid 300 may be manufactured using electrolysis as described below. For electrolysis, a container whose interior is divided into three chambers is used. The space in the container is divided into three chambers by providing two ion exchange membranes as partition walls in the container. That is, the three chambers are arranged in a row in the container with a total of two ion exchange membranes sandwiched between them. Of the three chambers, the outer two chambers are each provided with an electrode at a position close to the ion exchange membrane. One of the three chambers is filled with a sodium chloride aqueous solution, and the two outer chambers are filled with water. A voltage is applied between the two electrodes provided in the two outer chambers. As a result, sodium ions in one central chamber move through the ion exchange membrane to one of the two outer chambers on the electrode side that has become a cathode by applying a voltage. In addition, chloride ions in one central chamber move through the ion exchange membrane to one of the two outer chambers on the electrode side that becomes the anode by application of voltage. At this time, an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid and hydrogen chloride is generated on the anode side. An aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide is produced on the cathode side. The aqueous solution on the anode side is used as it is as the cleaning liquid 300, or an appropriate amount of the aqueous solution on the cathode side is mixed with the aqueous solution on the anode side, and the pH is adjusted and used as the cleaning liquid 300. In addition, when using a mixture of an aqueous solution on the anode side and an aqueous solution on the cathode side, in order to ensure the effect of hypochlorous acid, the two aqueous solutions are stored separately until immediately before use, and immediately before use. It is recommended to use a mixture. For example, even if the cleaning liquid supply unit 10 is configured such that the aqueous solutions are separately stored in the cleaning liquid supply unit 10 and the two aqueous solutions are mixed immediately before being sent to the injection port 130 or 135 via the hose 20. Good. Further, when a strong acidic aqueous solution is generated on the anode side, the aqueous solution (acidic water) may be used instead of the cleaning liquid 300. Further, an aqueous solution (alkaline water) on the cathode side may be used instead of the cleaning liquid 300.

  A method for cleaning the teat 200 using the cleaning apparatus 1 is as follows. First, the nipple 200 of the cow is inserted into the container 100 through the opening 120. Next, the cleaning liquid supply unit 10 is operated, and the cleaning liquid 300 is sent out to the injection port 130 or 135 via the hose 20. The cleaning liquid 300 sent from the hose 20 to the injection port 130 or 135 flows into the main body of the container 100 through the injection port 130 or 135. At this time, the cleaning liquid 300 is injected into the main body of the container 100 along the injection port 130 or 135. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning liquid 300 is injected into the container 100 along the direction inclined with respect to the normal direction and the tangential direction of the inner surface of the container 100 main body. The jetted cleaning liquid 300 flows down the space between the inner surface of the container 100 main body and the teat 200 while turning in the B direction along the inner surface of the container 100 main body. That is, a swirling water flow is generated by the cleaning liquid 300 in the space between the inner surface of the main body of the container 100 and the nipple 200. The surface of the nipple 200 is cleaned while the cleaning liquid 300 flows around the nipple 200 by the swirling water flow. Since the directions of the ejection ports 130 and 135 are inclined, such a swirling water flow is easily formed when the cleaning liquid 300 is caused to flow into the container 100 through the ejection ports 130 and 135. Note that the cleaning liquid 300 may not be allowed to flow into the container 100 from only one of the ejection ports 130 and 135 but may be allowed to flow from both the ejection ports 130 and 135. The cleaning liquid 300 that has cleaned the teat 200 is discharged from the outlet 150 through the hose 50 to the outside of the apparatus. In addition, the means provided with the injection ports 130 and 135 which wash | clean the teat 200 by forming a swirling water flow in the main body of the container 100, and the washing | cleaning liquid supply part 10 respond | corresponds to the washing | cleaning means in this invention.

  According to the cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment described above, parts such as a brush that are in direct contact with the teat 200 are not used for cleaning. Such parts are prone to residue. For this reason, it is difficult to maintain hygienic conditions unless the parts are separately cleaned or disinfected. On the other hand, according to the cleaning apparatus 1 that does not use such components, the apparatus can be kept hygienic without the need for cleaning and disinfection. Further, the container 100 is provided with injection ports 130 and 135 that are inlets of the cleaning liquid 300 at the upper end, and an outlet 150 is provided at the lower end. As a result, the cleaning liquid 300 flowing in from the injection port 130 or 135 smoothly flows downward. Further, the teat 200 is washed by forming a swirling water flow in the container 100. Therefore, the cleaning liquid 300 easily adheres to the entire teat 200, and the cleaning power increases. Further, there is an effect of massaging the teat 200 by the swirling water flow or the pulsation of the swirling water flow. This improves the milk output from the teat 200.

  In addition, the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) used for cleaning conforms to “water for food production” in the Food Sanitation Law (for example, pH and other conditions are suitable for drinking), and the cleaning liquid 300 The bactericidal effect can be ensured by the contained hypochlorous acid. Therefore, it is easy to maintain the conditions such as pH suitable for the food environment while cleaning the teat 200 appropriately. For example, if a cleaning liquid whose conditions such as pH are not suitable for drinking is used, it is necessary to wash away the cleaning liquid remaining on the teat 200 with water or the like whose conditions such as pH are suitable for drinking. In contrast, in the present embodiment, a cleaning liquid whose conditions such as pH are suitable for drinking is used. Therefore, it is not necessary to wash away the cleaning liquid. In addition, it is easy to drain the used cleaning liquid as it is, and is highly environmentally compatible.

(Modification)
Hereinafter, modified examples according to the above-described embodiment will be described. In the following, a configuration different from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described. Further, portions common to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those described above, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the two injection ports 130 and 135 are provided, but three or more may be provided. In addition, a plurality of injection ports may be scattered in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. For example, a plurality of injection ports may be provided at different positions in the vertical direction, and the cleaning liquid 300 may be simultaneously injected from these injection ports. According to this, the cleaning liquid 300 is directly sprayed on each part of the teat 200.

  In the above-described embodiment, the container 100 is composed of a single part. However, a highly flexible inner made of rubber or the like may be attached to the inside of the main body of the container 100. Moreover, a container may be comprised so that pressure can be applied to this inner from the outer side by mechanical means, such as a roller, and the teat 200 can be massaged through the inner.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ejection ports 130 and 135 for the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) are provided at the upper end of the container 100, and the outlet 150 for the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) is provided in the container. 100 is provided at the lower end portion. However, a spray port for the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) is provided at the lower end of the container 100, and an outlet for the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) is provided at the upper end of the container 100. May be. In this case, while the cleaning liquid 300 is filled in the container 100, the cleaning liquid 300 in the container 100 is swung around the teat 200 by the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) sprayed from the injection port, whereby the teat 200 is rotated. Washed. Excess cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) is discharged from the outlet.

  In the above-described embodiment, the injection ports 130 and 135 are along the direction inclined with respect to the tangential direction and the normal direction of the inner surface of the container 100 in plan view. However, instead of or in addition to the injection ports 130 and 135, an injection port along the tangential direction of the inner surface of the container 100 in a plan view may be provided. In this case, the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) that flows in the tangential direction of the inner surface of the container 100 along the injection port flows along the inner surface of the container 100 as it is. Therefore, a swirl water flow is smoothly formed in the container 100.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) forms a swirling water flow to clean the nipple 200, but the nipple is stored by storing the cleaning liquid 300 (or other disinfecting liquid) in the container. 200 may be washed. When cleaning the nipple 200 by storing the cleaning liquid 300, the cleaning liquid 300 is injected from the vicinity of the upper end, the cleaning liquid 300 is filled between the container 100 and the nipple 200 and left for a predetermined time, and then the cleaning liquid 300 is discharged from the outlet 150. To do. In this case, it is preferable to provide means for switching on / off the discharge of the cleaning liquid 300 from the container 100. For example, the drainage switching unit 170 in FIG. 3 includes pressing portions 171 and 172 that press the hose 50 from both sides, and solenoids 173 and 174 that displace the pressing portions 171 and 172 with respect to the hose 50. When storing the cleaning liquid 300 in the container, as shown in FIG. 3B, the pressing parts 171 and 172 are pressed against the hose 50 by the solenoids 173 and 174 so that the cleaning liquid 300 does not pass. The hose 50 is closed. When discharging the cleaning liquid 300 out of the container, as shown in FIG. 3A, the pressing portions 171 and 172 are retracted from the hose 50 to the solenoids 173 and 174, and thereby the hose 50 passes through the cleaning liquid 300. Is released. A valve that opens and closes the outlet 150 may be provided as means for switching on / off the discharge of the cleaning liquid 300 from the container 100. Further, the container 100 may be provided with means for spraying the cleaning liquid 300 onto the teat 200. As described above, it is only necessary to provide a cleaning means for performing spraying, forming a swirling water flow, or temporarily storing in a container. As a result, the cleaning liquid can be appropriately attached to the teat 200, and the cleaning can be appropriately performed. Note that the teat 200 may be cleaned by combining two or more of spraying the cleaning liquid 300, forming a swirling water flow, and storing the cleaning liquid 300 in the container 100.

  Further, the cleaning liquid 300 may be provided in the container 100 such that the cleaning liquid 300 sprayed through the spraying opening hits the tip of the teat 200. In this case, it is preferable that an outlet for the cleaning liquid 300 is provided on the side of the lower end of the container 100. A means for spraying the cleaning liquid 300 toward the tip of the teat 200 may be provided.

  Further, instead of the container 100, a container 410 or 420 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B in which grooves are formed on the inner surface may be used. For example, in the groove 411 formed in the container 410, an arc-shaped groove 412 that is convexly curved upward and an arc-shaped groove 413 that is curved convexly downward are continuous vertically. The grooves 421 formed in the container 420 are formed in a lattice shape by intersecting a plurality of grooves inclined with respect to both the horizontal and vertical directions. Such a groove is preferably formed so that a swirling water flow can be easily formed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the protruding object to be cleaned is a nipple of a cow, but is not limited thereto. It may be a nipple of an animal other than a dairy cow. Further, the present invention can be applied not to the nipple but also to a protruding object such as a finger.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning apparatus 10 Cleaning liquid supply part 100 Container 120 Opening 130, 135 Injection port 150 Outlet 200 To-be-cleaned object 300 Cleaning liquid

Claims (5)

A container for containing the animal's teats ;
A cleaning liquid containing any one of an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid having a pH of 5.8 to 8.6, acidic water and alkaline water is allowed to flow between the container and the teat, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the teat by Cleaning means for cleaning the nipple ,
At least one of a groove on an arc that is convexly curved upward or downward and a groove that is inclined with respect to both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction are formed on the inner surface of the container,
The cleaning means comprises:
In the plan view, by swirling the cleaning liquid along a direction inclined with respect to both a tangential direction and a normal direction on the inner surface of the container or along the tangential direction, the periphery of the nipple is swung along the inner surface. A cleaning device that forms a swirling water flow. A container for containing the animal's teats ;
A cleaning liquid containing any one of an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid having a pH of 5.8 to 8.6, acidic water and alkaline water is allowed to flow between the container and the teat, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the teat by Cleaning means for cleaning the nipple ,
The cleaning means has a plurality of injection ports for injecting the cleaning liquid,
The spray direction of the cleaning liquid in each of the plurality of spray ports is a direction inclined with respect to both a tangential direction and a normal direction on the inner surface of the container in a plan view, or the tangential direction, and is on the inner surface. Along the direction of forming a swirling water flow that swirls around the nipple in one direction,
The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of injection ports simultaneously spray the cleaning liquid to form a swirling water flow that swirls in the one direction. The cleaning means further causes a cleaning liquid to flow between the container and the teat in at least one of spraying and temporarily storing in the container. Item 3. The cleaning device according to Item 1 or 2 . An opening into which the teat is inserted from above is formed at the upper end of the container, an injection port for injecting the cleaning liquid is formed near the upper end of the container, and an outlet for the cleaning liquid is formed at the lower end of the container. The cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein At least one of a groove on an arc that is convexly curved upward or downward and a groove that is inclined with respect to both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction are formed on the inner surface. Item 3. The cleaning device according to Item 2 .

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