Milking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10492459-B2
Application number	US-201515128241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2015
Priority date	May 9, 2014
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A milking system includes a milking device, and a milk storage system having: a temporary milk storage vessel for temporarily storing milk from a plurality of milking operations, a milk pipe from the milking device to the temporary milk storage vessel, a milk tank for storing the milk from the temporary milk storage vessel, a control unit, a main milk pipe from the temporary milk storage vessel to the milk tank, a pressurized liquid supply which is controllable by the control unit and is provided and configured to supply a pressurized liquid, other than milk, to the milk storage system, a first and a second discharge provided on the main milk pipe, a selection device which is controllable by the control unit and is on the main milk pipe towards the first discharge or the second discharge, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a milk transferring action for transferring milk in the main milk pipe into the milk tank with the aid of the pressurized liquid, wherein the liquid transferring action includes bringing the pressurized liquid supply and the first discharge into liquid connection with the main milk pipe, and breaking a liquid connection of the main milk pipe with the second discharge, allowing an amount of pressurized liquid to flow under pressure from the pressurized liquid supply into the main milk pipe, and breaking the liquid connection between the main milk pipe and the first discharge. Transferring the milk in this way means that it is subjected to less mechanical load and mixed with less air, which benefits the quality. The invention also provides a temporary milk storage vessel and method of this type.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A milking system, comprising:
at least one milking device with milking cups and a milk jar; and
a milk storage system,
wherein the milk storage system comprises:
a temporary milk storage vessel, not being said milk jar, configured to temporarily store milk for human consumption from a plurality of milking operations of the at least one milking device;
at least one milk pipe connected to the temporary milk storage vessel for supplying milk from the one or more milking devices to the temporary milk storage vessel;
a milk tank for storing the milk for human consumption from the temporary milk storage vessel;
a control unit for controlling the milk storage system; and
a main milk pipe from the temporary milk storage vessel to the milk tank,

wherein the milk storage system is configured to transfer the milk from the temporary milk storage vessel to the milk tank via the main milk pipe, and further comprises:
a pressurized liquid supply which is controllable by the control unit and is provided and configured to supply a pressurized liquid, other than milk, to the milk storage system;
a first discharge to the milk tank and a second discharge to a destination other than the milk tank, provided on the main milk pipe; and
a selection device which is controllable by the control unit and is on the main milk pipe, wherein the selection device is configured to selectively bring either the first discharge or the second discharge into liquid connection with the main milk pipe,

wherein the control unit is configured to perform a milk transferring action for transferring milk in the main milk pipe into the milk tank with the aid of the pressurized liquid,
wherein the milk transferring action comprises the steps of:
bringing the pressurized liquid supply and the first discharge into liquid connection with the main milk pipe;
breaking a liquid connection of the main milk pipe with the second discharge;
allowing an amount of pressurized liquid to flow under pressure from the pressurized liquid supply into the main milk pipe; and
breaking the liquid connection between the main milk pipe and the first discharge.

2. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to bring the main milk pipe and the second discharge into liquid connection, substantially simultaneously with the step of breaking the liquid connection between the main milk pipe and the first discharge.

3. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second discharge comprises a discharge or a plurality of separate discharges to a drain and/or waste liquid receptacle, in each case provided with a shut-off device which is controllable by the control unit.

4. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressurized liquid supply is provided on the main milk pipe, the selection device is a first selection device, and a second selection device is provided for selectively bringing either the temporary milk storage vessel or the pressurized liquid supply into liquid connection with the main milk pipe.

5. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressurized liquid supply comprises a connection to a water supply network or to a liquid container having a connecting pipe to either the temporary milk storage vessel or the main milk pipe.

6. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a pump system which is controllable by the control unit and serves to pump milk through the main milk pipe, which pump system is provided near the temporary milk storage vessel.

7. The milking system as claimed in claim 6 , comprising a device which is operatively connected to the control unit and serves to determine whether at least part of the main milk pipe contains milk, and
wherein the control unit is configured to control the pump system depending on an outcome of the determination, wherein the pump system has a first position with a low pump speed and a second position with a higher pump speed, and wherein the control unit is configured to set the pump system to the first position for pumping if the determination indicates that at least part of the main milk pipe is filled with milk, and to set the pump system to the second position for pumping if the determination indicates that no part of the main milk pipe is filled with milk.

8. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the main milk pipe has a volume Vh between the temporary milk storage vessel and the selection device, and wherein the control unit and the pressurized liquid supply are configured to allow at least a volume Vh of pressurized liquid to flow during the step of allowing an amount of pressurized liquid to flow from the pressurized liquid supply into the main milk pipe.

9. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a meter which is operatively connected to the control unit and is configured to determine a parameter value relating to the amount of pressurized liquid which has flowed into the main milk pipe, and wherein the control unit is configured to perform at least one action depending on the determined parameter value, wherein the action comprises breaking the liquid connection between the main milk pipe and the first discharge.

10. The milking system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the pressurized liquid supply is provided with a pump which is controllable by the control unit, and wherein the flow rate meter comprises a clock for determining the time period during which the pump supplies pressurized liquid.

11. The milking system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to process the sensor signal depending on the determined parameter value.

12. The milking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a sensor which is operatively connected to the control unit is provided in or on the main milk pipe, said sensor being configured to monitor a liquid property of liquid flowing past the sensor and to emit an associated sensor signal, wherein the control unit is configured to process the sensor signal and to at least break the liquid connection between the main milk pipe and the first discharge depending on the processed sensor signal.

13. The milking system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sensor is chosen from among a conductivity meter, an optical meter, a thermometer and an HF capacitance spectrum profiling meter.

14. A method in the milking system as claimed in claim 1 , said method comprising the step of using water for transferring milk obtained by the milking device through a pipe into a milk tank.

15. A method for pumping milk from a first storage vessel to a second storage vessel connected thereto via a milk pipe, in the milking system as claimed in claim 1 , said method comprising the step of:
at least partially filling the milk pipe with milk from the first storage vessel;
supplying a pressurized liquid, other than milk, to the main milk pipe under pressure and allowing the pressurized liquid to move in the direction of the second storage vessel, for the purpose of pushing at least part of the milk located in the milk pipe into the second storage vessel; and
closing off the main milk pipe.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the milking system comprises a plurality of milking devices, each having a milk jar, and wherein the first storage vessel is a temporary storage vessel which is configured to receive milk from a plurality of the respective milk jars.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 , comprising the step of monitoring a parameter value of the liquid in the main milk pipe, for the purpose of

Assignees

• Lely Patent Nv

Inventors

• Van Tilburg Ruben Alexander
• Dijkshoorn Dirk
• De Hullu Mattheus Jacob

Classifications

• A01J9/00 Primary

  Milk receptacles · CPC title

• A01J7/022

  Clean-in-Place Systems, i.e. CIP, for cleaning the complete milking installation in place · CPC title

• A01J5/007 Primary

  Monitoring milking processes; Control or regulation of milking machines · CPC title

• A01J5/044

  Milk lines or coupling devices for milk conduits · CPC title

• A01J7/027

  Vessel cleaning, e.g. cleansing of milk tanks, milk vessels or milk separators · CPC title