MILKING SYSTEM PROVIDED WITH CENTRAL MILK CONDUITS, MILKING PARLOUR PROVIDED THEREWITH AND METHOD THEREFOR

Abstract

A milking system, a milking parlour with a milking system, and method therefor are provided. The milking system may include: two or more milking devices; a first central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a second central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a central liquid supply conduit; at least one milk tank connected to the first and second central milk conduit; a milk flow controller configured to switch between the first and the second central milk conduit as an active milk conduit for discharging milk to the at least one milk tank, wherein the other of the first and second central milk conduit is designated as an inactive milk conduit; and a flushing controller configured to control the flushing of one of the first and/or second central milk conduit which is designated as an inactive milk conduit.

Claims

1. A milking system, comprising: two or more milking devices; a first central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a second central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a central liquid supply conduit; at least one milk tank connected to the first and second central milk conduits; a milk flow controller configured to switch between the first and the second central milk conduit as an active milk conduit for discharging milk to the at least one milk tank, wherein the other of the first and second central milk conduit is designated as an inactive milk conduit; and a flushing controller configured to control the flushing of one of the first and/or second central milk conduit which is designated as an inactive milk conduit.

2. The milking system according to claim 1 further comprising a central liquid tank connected operatively to the central liquid supply conduit and configured to flush at least the first and second central milk conduit.

3. The milking system according to claim 1 further comprising a first milk buffer connected operatively to the first central milk conduit and a second milk buffer connected operatively to the second central milk conduit.

4. The milking system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second central milk conduits extend between the two or more milking devices and the milk tank.

5. The milking system according to claim 3, wherein the first and second central milk conduits extend between the two or more milking devices and the milk tank.

6. The milking system according to claim 1, wherein the flushing controller is configured to enable switching between the flushing circulation mode wherein flushing liquid is being circulated, and the flowthrough flushing mode wherein the flushing liquid flows through the conduits.

7. The milking system according to claim 5, wherein the flushing controller is configured to enable switching between the flushing circulation mode wherein flushing liquid is being circulated, and the flowthrough flushing mode wherein the flushing liquid flows through the conduits.

8. The milking system according to claim 1, wherein each of the two or more milking devices is provided with a pump for milk transport to the first and/or second central milk conduit.

9. The milking system according to claim 1 further comprising a second milk tank connected operatively to the first and/or second central milk conduit.

10. The milking system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the two or more milking devices further comprises a milking robot.

11. The milking system according to claim 1 further comprising a central discharge conduit.

12. The milking system according to claim 1 further comprising a central separation conduit.

13. A milking parlour provided with a milking system comprising: two or more milking devices; a first central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a second central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a central liquid supply conduit; at least one milk tank connected to the first and second central milk conduit; a milk flow controller configured to switch between the first and the second central milk conduit as an active milk conduit for discharging milk to the at least one milk tank, wherein the other of the first and second central milk conduit is designated as an inactive milk conduit; and a flushing controller configured to control the flushing of one of the first and/or second central milk conduit which is designated as an inactive milk conduit.

14. A method for milking an animal, the method comprising the steps of: providing a milking system and/or milking parlour according with the milking system comprising: two or more milking devices; a first central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a second central milk conduit connected operatively to the two or more milking devices; a central liquid supply conduit; at least one milk tank connected to the first and second central milk conduit; a milk flow controller configured to switch between the first and the second central milk conduit as an active milk conduit for discharging milk to the at least one milk tank, wherein the other of the first and second central milk conduit is designated as an inactive milk conduit; and a flushing controller configured to control the flushing of one of the first and/or second central milk conduit which is designated as an inactive milk conduit; switching with the milk flow controller between the first and the second central milk conduit as an active milk conduit for discharge of milk to the at least one milk tank, wherein the other of the first and second central milk conduit is designated as an inactive milk conduit; and controlling with the flushing controller the flushing of one of the first and/or second central milk conduit which is designated as an inactive milk conduit.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of flushing the inactive milk conduit while the active milk conduit is in use for discharging milk from the milking devices to the at least one milk tank.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of flushing one of the two or more milking devices while the active milk conduit is in use for discharging milk from the remaining of the two or more milking devices to the at least one milk tank.

17. The method according to claim 14 further comprising flushing the inactive milk conduit between the milking device and the milk tank, including a milk buffer arranged in the central milk conduit.

18. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of circulating flushing fluid over the fluid supply conduit and the milk conduit.

19. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of circulating flushing fluid over the fluid supply conduit and the milk conduit.

20. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of circulating flushing fluid over the fluid supply conduit and the milk conduit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Further features, advantages and details of the invention are described on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows an overview of a first embodiment of a milking system according to invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows an overview of a second embodiment of a milking system according to the invention;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a flushing process of a central milk conduit in a milking system according to one embodiment of the invention; and

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a flushing process of a separate milking device in a milking system according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] Milking system 2 (FIG. 1) comprises a number of milking devices 4, 4a,b,c,d. Milking system 2 is further provided with first central milk conduit 6 and second central milk conduit 8. Milking devices 4 are each connected individually via milk conduits 10, 10a,b,c,d to milk conduits 6, 8 by means of a number of valves 12.

[0061] In the shown embodiment conduits 10 are further connected via valves 14 to respective discharges 16. If desired, it is possible to connect separate discharges 16 via schematically shown central discharge conduit 18 and central discharge 20.

[0062] Central milk conduits 6, 8 discharge milk supplied via milking devices 4 to milk tank 22 via first buffer vessel 24 and respectively second buffer vessel 26 via schematically shown filters 28, 30 and a number of valves 32, 34, 40, 42. In the shown embodiment non-return valve 44 for milk tank 22 is further provided. Heat exchangers 36, 38 are optionally provided.

[0063] For cleaning/flushing of milking system 2 a central liquid supply conduit 46 which is provided with the relevant liquid from buffer 48 is provided in the shown embodiment. The relevant liquid is here supplied via valves 50a,b,c,d to respective milking devices 4 via respective non-return valves 52a,b,c,d. The flushing liquid can then be carried via conduits 10 to discharge 16, and optionally further via central discharge conduit 18 to central discharge 20.

[0064] Via valves 54, 56 the flushing liquid can also be carried from central liquid supply conduit 46 to the respective central milk conduit 6, 8 for cleaning/flushing thereof. Discharge thereof can take place at (a) desired location(s) (not shown). In the shown embodiment supply of flushing liquid takes place via liquid supply conduit(s) 64 provided with valves 66. Milk conduits 6, 8 are optionally operatively connected to central liquid supply conduit 46 via conduit 64 and valves 66. Valves 66 are preferably provided here such that flushing liquid can circulate around the circuit in question. It will otherwise be apparent that diverse configurations of milking systems 2 according to the invention are possible.

[0065] Separated milk can optionally be discharged via schematically shown separation conduit 58. It will be apparent that this can take diverse forms.

[0066] Milking devices 4 can further comprise diverse types of milking device, also including milking robots. Milking system 2 is preferably placed in milking parlour 60.

[0067] In the shown embodiment milk pump 62 is provided downstream of valve 34. It will be apparent that, if necessary and/or desired, such a milk pump can also be applied for other milking devices 4a,b,c,d.

[0068] In the shown embodiment of milking system 2 milk flow controller 68 controls inter alia valves 12 and determines thereby which of the central milk conduits 6, 8 will be used for transport of the milk obtained at milking device 4 to milk tank 22. Milk flow controller 68 thereby determines which of the central milk conduits 6, 8 is in use as active conduit at any moment, and which conduit can be designated as inactive in that moment and is for instance available for cleaning/flushings. In this embodiment such a cleaning/flushing process is controlled via flushing controller 70, which can control inter alia valves 56 and 54. It is hereby possible to actively use one central milk conduit 6, 8 for transport of milk and to flush the other central milk conduit 6, 8 simultaneously. Milk flow controller 68 and flushing controller 70 can be provided as separate controllers (shown schematically in FIG. 1) and can also be integrated into a single controller 72 which can possibly also be used to control other (operating) processes (likewise shown schematically in FIG. 1). Flushing controller 70 can also be used for flushing/cleaning the individual milking devices 4 by controlling valves 50a,b,c,d and 52a,b,c,d. The flushing liquid can be discharged by then controlling valves 12, 14 accordingly in the shown embodiment.

[0069] It will be apparent that shown milking system 2 can have further components such as pumps, valves, filters, sensors and the like, which are not shown specifically as such in the shown embodiment (FIG. 1) for the sake of legibility.

[0070] In an alternative embodiment milking system 102 (FIG. 2) is likewise provided with two central milk conduits 6, 8 and a number of milking devices 4. Milking system 102 is additionally provided in this shown embodiment with first milk tank 122a and second milk tank 122b. Other components of milking system 102 are the same or similar components as described for milking system 2, including for instance valves 12, 14, 52, 54, 56 and so on. If desired, it is also possible to provide central discharge conduit 18 and separation conduit 58.

[0071] During use, milking systems 2, 102 are switched at various moments using controllers 68, 70, 72. Any further processes thereof will be further described below.

[0072] Flushing process 202 (FIG. 3) for flushing central milk conduits 6, 8 starts from an operating situation in which milking process 204 is active. After switching process 206 first central milk conduit 6 is flushed in flushing process 208, while second central milk conduit 8 can be used to continue milking process 204a. After flushing process 208, switching process 206a is performed and, if desired, second central milk conduit 8 can be flushed via flushing process 208a while central milk conduit 6 is in use for milking process 204b at that moment. After this flushing process 208a the starting position for milking process 204 is returned to via switching process 206b. It will be apparent that it is also possible with flushing process 202 to flush only one of central milk conduits 6, 8 and/or to flush further central milk conduits.

[0073] Use is for instance made of flushing process 302 (FIG. 4) to flush separate milking devices 4, 4a,b,c,d. In the shown embodiment it is made possible in the starting situation of milking process 304 to supply milk from milking devices 4a,b. This can be discharged via central milk conduits 6, 8 to milk tank 22, 122a, 122b in the relevant milking systems. If it is for instance desired to flush milking device 4b, flushing controller 70 is activated via switching process 306, such that milking device 4a can continue milking via milking process 304a and milking device 4b can be flushed via flushing 308. After flushing process 308, another state is switched to via switching process 306a, for instance the state in which milking device 4a is flushed in flushing process 308a and milking device 4b supplies milk via milking process 304b. After flushing process 308a it is possible to return to the regular milking process 304 via switching process 306b. It will be apparent that it is also possible with flushing process 302 to flush only one of milking devices 4 and/or to flush further milking devices 4.

[0074] It will be apparent that processes 202, 302 can be performed with milking systems 2, 102. It will also be apparent that somewhat alternative embodiments thereof are also possible, wherein use is made of central milk conduits 6, 8 and the corresponding relevant components of milking systems 2, 102.

[0075] The present invention is by no means limited to the above described embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.