Milking process monitoring

Abstract

A method that can monitor a milking process is presented and, in particular, a method and apparatus that can effectively determine the stage of the milking process. An additional aspect is to provide a method that may measure a vacuum level associated with the milking process, receive an operational state of a valve associated with the milking process, and compare the vacuum level and valve operational state to criteria to determine the milking stage. Further, the method may be configured to issue an indication of the milking stage or issue an alarm if alarm conditions are satisfied.

Claims

1. A method of determining a current stage of a milking process in a milking system comprising a milking plant and a milk storage vat, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a processor, a vacuum signal indicative of a measured vacuum level associated with the milking process; and receiving, at the processor, a valve state signal indicative of an operational state of at least one valve associated with the milking process; and determining, using the processor, whether the current stage of the milking process is one of a plurality of stages comprising at least: an off-line stage during which the milking plant is not operational and the milk storage vat is substantially empty, a milking stage during which milk is extracted by the milking plant and transported to the storage vat, and an off-site stage during which the milking plant is not operational and the storage vat contains milk, wherein determining the current stage comprises comparing both the vacuum level and the operational state of the valve with predetermined criteria associated with the plurality of stages; and issuing an indication of the current stage of the milking process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stages comprise a washing stage.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: measuring at least one other factor in the milking process; transmitting this factor to the processor; comparing the measurement of the other factor to alarm conditions; and issuing an alarm if the alarm conditions are met.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the other factor is cleaning agent flow rate.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the other factor is wash water temperature, and the alarm condition is a predetermined temperature threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the valve state signal comprises receiving an inlet valve signal from an inlet valve to the milk storage vat, and an outlet valve signal from an outlet valve from the milk storage vat, wherein determining that the current stage is the milking stage comprises determining that (i) the vacuum level is indicative of vacuum being present, (ii) the operational state of the inlet valve indicates that the inlet valve is open, and (iii) the operational state of the outlet valve indicates that the outlet valve is closed.

7. An apparatus for determining a current stage of a milking process in a milking system comprising a milking plant and a milk storage vat, the apparatus including: a vacuum level sensor configured to output a vacuum signal indicating a measured vacuum level associated with the milking process; a valve configured to output a valve state signal indicating an operational state of the valve; and a processor configured to: receive the signals indicating vacuum level and valve state; determine whether the current stage of the milking process is one of a plurality of stages comprising at least: an off-line stage during which the milking plant is not operational and the milk storage vat is substantially empty, a milking stage during which milk is extracted by the milking plant and transported to the storage vat, and an off-site stage during which the milking plant is not operational and the storage vat contains milk, wherein determination of the current stage comprises comparison of both the vacuum level and the operational state of the valve with predetermined criteria associated with the plurality of stages; and issue an indication of the current stage of the milking process.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one additional sensor configured to communicate with the processor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to: receive at least one signal from the additional sensor indicating measurement of another factor; compare the measurement of the other factor to at least one alarm condition; and issue an alarm if the alarm conditions are met.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the additional sensor is a cleaning agent sensor configured to output a signal indicating a cleaning agent flow rate.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the additional sensor is a temperature sensor configured to measure wash water temperature, and the alarm condition is a predetermined temperature threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the alarm is a siren or light.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the alarm is an electronic message to a computer.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the alarm is an electronic message to a hand-held device.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the valve comprises an inlet valve to the milk storage vat, and the apparatus further comprises an outlet valve from the milk storage vat configured to output an outlet valve state signal indicating an operational state of the outlet valve, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the current stage is the milking stage when the vacuum level is indicative of vacuum being present, the operational state of the inlet valve indicates that the inlet valve is open, and the operational state of the outlet valve indicates that the outlet valve is closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and

(3) FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for determining a current stage of a milking process having a plurality of stages (generally indicated by arrow 1).

(5) The apparatus (1) includes a vacuum level sensor (2), configured to output a signal indicating a measured vacuum level. The vacuum is generated by a vacuum pump (3).

(6) The apparatus (1) also includes a cleaning agent flow rate sensor (4), configured to output a signal indicating a measured cleaning agent flow rate. Cleaning agent is released from a cleaning agent system (5).

(7) The apparatus (1) also includes an inlet valve (6), and an outlet valve (7), each connected to a milk storage vat (8) and configured to output a signal indicating the respective valve's operational state.

(8) The apparatus (1) also includes a processor (9) configured to receive the signals indicating vacuum level, cleaning agent flow rate and valve state.

(9) The processor (9) is configured to determine the current stage of the milking process by comparison of the vacuum level, flow rate and valve state with predetermined criteria associated with the plurality of stages stored in memory (10), and issue an indication of the current stage of the milking process.

(10) The milking process includes the stages of:

(11) an off-line stage, during which the apparatus (1) is not operational;

(12) a milking stage, during which milk is extracted by at least one milking station (11) and transported to the vat (8);

(13) a washing stage, during which a cleaning agent is released by the cleaning agent system (5);

(14) an off-site stage, during which the apparatus (1) is not operational and the vat (8) contains more than a particular level of milk; and

(15) a deactivation stage, during which the apparatus (1) can be run for maintenance purposes and no alarm conditions are presented.

(16) Further details with regard to determination of the current stage are discussed with reference to FIG. 2. The apparatus (1) also includes additional sensors or components connected to the processor (9). These include a line temperature sensor (12), a vat temperature sensor (13), vat stirrer (14), and vat level sensor (15).

(17) The processor (9) is configured to compare measurements provided by these sensors in order to determine whether an alarm condition has been met (discussed further with reference to FIG. 2).

(18) The alarm may be issued via a siren/strobe unit (16), a message to a mobile device (17), or an email and/or an alert in associated software on a personal computer (18).

(19) FIG. 2 illustrates the stages of the milking process, and how the current stage is determined, together with the alarm conditions associated with each stage. It should be appreciated that the specific thresholds discussed are illustrative and not intended to be limiting. Specific conditions will likely vary between Integers of FIG. 1 may be referred in the course of describing the process.

(20) Stage 100 is the off-line stage.

(21) Where vacuum is detected, the inlet valve (6) is open, and the outlet valve (7) is closed, the current stage is determined to be the milking stage (101).

(22) At this time, a timer (not illustrated) is started.

(23) The alarm conditions associated with the milking stage (101) include:

(24) vat inlet valve (6) closed;

(25) vat outlet valve (7) opened;

(26) milk level as measured by vat milk level sensor (15) is high;

(27) milk temperature as measured by line temperature sensor (12) is high after 10 minutes;

(28) vat stirrer (14) is not operating after 45 minutes; and

(29) milk temperature as measured by vat temperature sensor (13) is high.

(30) If loss of vacuum is detected while in the milking stage (101), the current stage is determined to be the off-line stage (100).

(31) From the off-line stage (100), if vacuum is detected and cleaning agent flow detected the current stage is determined to be the washing stage (102).

(32) Alternatively, from the milking stage (101) if cleaning agent flow is detected the current stage is determined to be the washing stage (102).

(33) At this time, the timer is started.

(34) The alarm conditions associated with the washing stage (102) include:

(35) vat inlet valve (6) open; and

(36) wash water temperature as measured by line temperature sensor (12) does not reach desired temperature (e.g. 55 .degree. C.). It should be appreciated that the desired temperature will be determined by the composition of the cleaning detergents added to the water, and the temperature required for optimal performance of the detergent.

(37) From the washing stage (102), if a loss of vacuum is detected, the current stage is determined to be the off-site stage (103).

(38) Alarm conditions associated with the off-site stage (103) include:

(39) milk temperature as measured by vat temperature sensor (13) is high after 180 minutes from entry into the washing stage (102).

(40) From the off-site stage (103), if vacuum is detected together with the inlet valve (6) being open and the outlet valve (7) closed, the current stage will be determined to be the milking stage (101).

(41) Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.