"Robot Washer" Automatically Cleans Confinement Buildings

"Robot Washer" Automatically Cleans Confinement Buildings BUILDINGS New Techniques 25-2-13 A new 4-WD robot automatically washes down livestock confinement buildings. The 4-WD Swedish-built robot is designed to work its way through a barn by itself so no operator needs to get soaked washing walls and ceilings. The machine is equipped with four stainless steel booms with eight spray nozzles that can be set to remain stationary or to rotate back and forth. With the arms fully extended total boom width is 20 ft. A chain and sprocket system is used to adjust boom angle and height. Each nozzle is fed by a separate rubber hose. A hand screw knob is used to adjust nozzle setting. The machine automatically steers itself, going up and down the aisles and washing floors, walls, and ceilings. The steering system uses four horizontal guide wheels, one at each corner of the machine, that contact the sides of walls, crates, or pens. The wheels also serve to stop the robot once it reaches the end of the building. The machine pauses, then the motor reverses direction and the machine goes down the aisle in the opposite direction. Once the machine reaches the end of the aisle you manually pull it over to the next aisle. The robot is equipped with two electric motors. One motor drives the pump that delivers the water, and the other chain-drives the wheels. A standard hose hooks up to the back of the unit. The unit's electro server steering system is operated by plugging a cord into any 220-volt, 3-phase outlet. "It won't call in sick, complain or sue for workmen's compensation," says Rodney Adkins, Adkins-Werntoft of North America, Inc., Fayetteville, N.C. "It has been used successfully in Europe for the past five or six years. The booms fold down against the side of the machine for transport. The narrowest overall width is only 31 in. so it'll go through a standard 32-in. wide door." Adkins has a business distributing pressure washers for hog buildings. Based on that experience he's convinced there's a need for this machine. Sells for about $32,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Adkins-Werntoft of North America, Inc., 2185 Angelia M St., Fayetteville, N.C. 28301 (ph 800 476-9274; fax 910 483-2175; E-mail: sales@robotwasher.com; Website: www.robotwasher.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.